Abstract:
An apparatus for a convertible front  12  and rear  14  stroller having a pivotal locking device  22, 24  fastened to the stroller legs  18, 20  whereby the front and rear stroller can be removably fixedly attached thereto. The tandem strollers  12, 14  perform as a single stroller and can easily be separated to function as independent strollers. The connectors  22, 24  can be stowed against frame members  18, 20  when desirable using a locking pin  40.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to infant stroller and, more specifically, to a stroller having a pivotal locking device fastened to the stroller legs whereby another stroller having a similar locking device can be fixedly attached thereto. The tandem strollers perform as a single stroller and can easily be separated to function as independent strollers. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   There are other carriage devices designed for toddlers. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,186 issued to Chatfield on Mar. 26, 1929. 
   Another patent was issued to Crim, et al. on Sep. 16, 1980 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,132. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,089 was issued to Thiesson on Sep. 8, 1981 and still yet another was issued on Feb. 21, 1989 to Redmond, et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,938. 
   Another patent was issued to Clausen on Nov. 13, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,656. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,121 was issued to Fraynd, et al. on Jun. 4, 1996. Another was issued to Aaron et al. on Jul. 6, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,892 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 11, 2000 to Yang as U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,087. 
   Another patent was issued to Brewington, et al. on Mar. 4, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,294. Yet another U.K. Patent No. GB 2 152 447 was issued to Giordani on Aug. 7, 1985. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,707,186 
   Inventor: R. H. Chatfield 
   Issued: Mar. 26, 1929 
   A carriage having extendible axles for also supporting a go-cart when in extended positions, and an extendible handle for connection with the go-cart when in extended position. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,132 
   Inventor: Paul E. Crim, et al. 
   Issued: Sep. 16, 1980 
   An apparatus for transporting a patient from a zone having one level or type of contamination to a zone having a lesser level of such contamination, while minimizing the likelihood of contamination from the first zone being carried by the transport apparatus into the second zone. The apparatus includes a patient transport stretcher provided with means for locking it in end-to-end relationship with a wheeled surgical bed. The bed and stretcher are provided with rollers by which a patient-carrying litter may be easily moved from one to the other. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,089 
   Inventor: Henry F. Thiessen 
   Issued: Sep. 8, 1981 
   This invention is an attachment apparatus operable to interconnect two bicycle members in a side-by-side relationship. The attachment apparatus includes a main support coupling means to interconnect the bicycle members and a steering coordinator means to interconnect the steering mechanism on each bicycle member. The main support coupling means is connected to each steering post housing on each bicycle member to permit a constant distance between each bicycle member while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The steering coordinator means interconnects the turning forks on each bicycle member to assure joint and same turning of each front wheel member when steering the bicycle members. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,938 
   Inventor: Thomas Redmond, et al. 
   Issued: Feb. 21, 1989 
   A device is provided for connecting two baby strollers together consisting of a pair of bracket units spaced apart and clamped between frames of the baby strollers so that one person can operate the strollers simultaneously for transporting two babies therein. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,656 
   Inventor: Kenneth A. Clausen 
   Issued: Nov. 13, 1990 
   This stroller has a series of seats at cut-out areas in a tray supported on columns secured to a wheeled floor panel. A tongue is also secured to the floor panel, the entire assembly being marketable as a kit of an easily assembled components. The seats are slings of fabric, the ends of which traverse slots in the tray. These are secured with dowels engaging loops in the fabric above the tray. The slots are enlarged on the top surface of the tray to retain the dowels against endwise slippage. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,121 
   Inventor: Saul Fraynd, et al. 
   Issued: Jun. 4, 1996 
   A device is provided for engaging and disengaging any two baby strolling devices consisting of two components spaced apart and coupled by a snap release connector. When mounted between the frames of any two baby strolling devices (given that it can rotate at any angle), instandem allows any one person to operate the two strolling devices simultaneously as well as. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,892 
   Inventor: Christine Aaron, et al. 
   Issued: Jul. 6, 1999 
   A device for use in conjunction with strollers for securely connecting single strollers together, allowing two or more children, to be safely and effectively transported. The stroller connecting device(s) are easily detachable. The apparatus comprises an adjustable supporting member with a clamping, or other fastening, mechanism at each end. The clamping mechanisms, generally, have two jaws, rotatably connected to one another to grasp and lock a stroller shaft. The fastening mechanism preferably fastens securely onto the shafts of the strollers, providing stable operation during movement. Each jaw, of the fastening mechanism, receives and firmly grasps one shaft of the stroller. The support is preferably comprised of two tubes, with the relative position of the tubes to one another being adjustable, and thus, allowing the distance from one stroller to the other to be variable. Together, the supporting member and fastening mechanisms allow the connecting apparatus to securely, safely and rigidly connect two or more strollers. The stroller connecting devices are generally placed in two of three locations on the shafts of each stroller. Usually, two connecting devices are sufficient to provide the necessary control and stability. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,087 
   Inventor: Chih-Huang Yang 
   Issued: Jul. 11, 2000 
   A multi-seat stroller includes a stroller frame having a front wheel-carrying portion, a rear wheel-carrying portion spaced apart from the front wheel-carrying portion in a longitudinal direction and mounted with a rear footrest member, and a seat-mounting portion extending in the longitudinal direction between the front and rear wheel-carrying portions. Each of a non-detachable seat member and a detachable seat member has a backrest portion and a horizontal seat portion provided with a retaining unit for mounting pivotally the backrest portion on the seat portion such that the backrest portion can be selectively disposed in one of a folded state, where the backrest portion overlies the seat portion, and an extended state, where the backrest portion extends vertically from the seat portion. The seat portion of the non-detachable seat member is mounted fixedly on the seat-mounting portion of the stroller frame, whereas the seat portion of the detachable seat member is movably disposed on the seat-mounting portion so as to be spaced apart from the non-detachable seat member in the longitudinal direction. A seat-locking unit is provided on the seat-mounting portion of the stroller frame for retaining removably the seat portion of the detachable seat member on the seat-mounting portion. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,294 
   Inventor: Mark Everett Brewington, et al. 
   Issued: Mar. 4, 2003 
   A convertible tandem stroller includes a releasable lateral and longitudinal coupling system for permitting cojoint and independent movement of a pair of strollers. The coupling system does not have to be removed and stowed for independent operation. To permit compact lateral coupling of the strollers, one of the front wheels may be raised during tandem operation by a hinge assembly and tethering connector. 
   U.K. Patent Number 2,152,447 
   Inventor: Gloria Giordani, et al. 
   Issued: Aug. 7, 1985 
   Pushchair with a reclinable backrest, characterized by the fact that it comprises a frame, a seat having the said backrest supported on a first structure connected to the said frame, a base, two side walls supported on a second structure hinged to the said first structure in such a manner as to adjust the angle of the latter in relation to the said second structure, and a body for each of the said side walls for connecting the said backrest to the respective said side wall and so enabling various angular adjustments to be made to the said backrest. 
   While these strollers may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a front and rear stroller having a pivotal locking device fastened to the stroller legs whereby the front and rear stroller can be removably fixedly attached thereto. The tandem strollers perform as a single stroller and can easily be separated to function as independent strollers. The connectors can be stowed against the frame members when desirable using a locking pin. The prior art currently provides for the purchase of a side by side double stroller without consideration of whether the user already possesses one stroller. The present invention provides means whereby parents can purchase a single stroller having a locking element forming an integral part therewith and if a second stroller is needed, another stroller having the locking element can be purchased and joined with the first to form a tandem stroller, which can be easily detached at the user discretion. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a stroller having means for engaging a second similar stroller and becoming locked thereto. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a stroller having pivotal members fastened to the leg elements of said stroller. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stroller wherein said pivotal members form one part of a locking device. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a stroller wherein said locking device provides means whereby similar locking device strollers are tandem when engaged. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a stroller that when joined with another stroller having the locking device the strollers perform as a single stroller. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a user can selectively attach or detach a first and second stroller. 
   Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
   The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a stroller having a pivotal locking device fastened to the stroller legs whereby another stroller having a similar locking device can be fixedly attached thereto. The tandem strollers perform as a single stroller when attached and can easily be separated to function as independent strollers. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the coupling in the locked position and the spring collapsed. 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of the coupling in the open position and the spring extended. 
   

   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the present invention drawings.
           10  present invention     12  front stroller     14  rear stroller     16  user     18  rear frame member     20  front frame member     22  first coupling member     24  second coupling member     26  sliding support member     28  securing pin     30  pivot pin     32  coupling     34  spring     36  frame apertures     38  aperture     40  locking pin     42  child compartment     44  wheels       

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims. 
   Turning to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention  10  discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers  12 ,  14  which can be controlled by one user  16 . The coupler of the present invention  10  is shown attached to the left and right, front and rear frame members of strollers  12 ,  14  with each stroller having a child carrying compartment  42  and wheels  44 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention  10  discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers herein showing rear stroller  14 . Also shown are the rear frame member  18  of the front stroller, the front frame member  20  of the rear stroller  14 , the first coupling member or rear connection support member  22  and the second coupling member or front connection support member  24 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. The present invention  10  discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Shown are the rear frame member  18  of the front stroller, the front frame member  20  of the rear stroller, the rear connection support member  22  and the front connection support member  24 . Also shown are front and rear sliding support members  26  with aperture  38  along with the slidable, removable securing pin  28  and corresponding apertures. Also shown are front and rear frame apertures  36  and multiple pivot pins  30  and corresponding apertures. Locking pin  40  is placed in aperture  38  to lock member  26  in place. The frame members  18 ,  20  each have first  30 , second  38 , and third  36  transverse frame apertures therein. 
   Turning to  FIG. 4 , shown therein is a side view of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Shown are the rear frame member  18  of the front stroller, the front frame member  20  of the rear stroller, the rear connection support member  22  and the front connection support member  24 . Also shown are the sliding support members  26  with aperture  38  along with the slidably removable securing pin  28 . Also shown are multiple pivot pins  30  and frame apertures  38  which mates with aperture  38  and receives a locking pin  40 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 5 , shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention. The present invention discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Shown are the rear frame member  18  of the front stroller, the front frame member  20  of the rear stroller, the rear connection support member  22  in the stowed position and the front connection support member  24  in the stowed position. Also shown are pivot pins  30  and securing pin  28  partially removed from its aperture. Also shown is sliding member  26  with aperture  38 . By way of comparison,  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the present invention  10  in a first operative position with rear connection  22  and front connection being coupled at  28  to each other with each having a horizontal member coupled together at  28  and an angled member  26 ; whereas,  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  show the members  22 ,  24  in a second stowed position against the frame members  18 ,  20 . In the stowed position, a locking pin  40  would be inserted through apertures  36 ,  38  so as to lock sliding support member  26  to the frame members  22 ,  24 . Securing pin  28  is removed when the members  22 ,  24  are in the stowed position and secured in place when the members  22 ,  24  are coupled together. 
   Turning to  FIG. 6 , shown therein is a side view of the present invention. The present invention discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Also shown are stowed rear connection  22 , stowed front connection  24 , pivot pins  30 , and securing pins  28 . Also shown are member  26  and aperture  38  for receiving locking pin  40 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 7 , shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention. The present invention discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Shown are the rear frame member  18  of the front stroller, the front frame member  20  of the rear stroller, the rear connection support member  22  and the stowed front connection support member  24 . Also shown is the sliding support member  26  with aperture  38  for receiving locking pin  40  along with the removable securing pin  28 . Also shown are pivot pins  30  and frame aperture  36 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 8 , shown therein is a top view of the coupling  32  in the locked position and the spring  34  collapsed. The present invention discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system  32  therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Also shown are front  24  and rear  22  connections, pivot pins  30 , and securing pin  28 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 9 , shown therein is a top view of the coupling  32  in the open position and the spring  34  extended. The present invention discloses a convertible tandem stroller with a releasable longitudinal coupling system  32  therein for permitting conjoined and independent movement of multiple strollers. Also shown are front  24  and rear  22  connections, pivot pins  30 , and securing pin  28 .