Baby stroller with park brake

An all-terrain stroller having a pair of rear wheels, each having a receiver fixedly attached thereto for rotation therewith. The receiver has a plurality of circumferentially distributed receiver openings which open inward toward the opposite rear wheel. A pair of brake rods is movably supported by the rear axle of the stroller for lateral movement of each toward and away from one of the receivers under the urging of a coil spring. A foot pedal actuator is rotatable between brake engaged and disengaged positions. The foot pedal carries a cam which moves the brake rods toward and into one of the receiver openings of the corresponding receiver when the brake pedal is rotated to engaged position to lock the rear wheels against rotational movement. The cam permits withdrawal of the brake rods from the receiver openings when the foot pedal is rotated to the disengaged position. The foot pedal is provided with stops to limit rotation of the foot pedal beyond the engaged and disengaged positions. The strollers uses a frame with a pair of substantially straight horizontal base frame tubes which are each rotatably connected to the rear axle by a connector having a transverse tubular portion which rotatably receives the rear axle.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to baby strollers, and more particularly, to 
all-terrain baby strollers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Traditionally, baby strollers have been used to push an infant slowly on a 
relatively hard, smooth floor or sidewalk. As a result, the strollers were 
made small and light. These strollers work well enough at slow speed, but 
are extremely unwieldy and even dangerous on rough surfaces or at higher 
speeds. 
As parents have become more health conscious in recent times, jogging and 
fast walking has become a popular pastime. Because baby strollers were not 
designed to be operated at high speed or on rough terrain, parents could 
jog or fast walk only when another person was available to baby-sit. As 
any parent knows, it is not always easy to find babysitters, so the 
ability of the parent to stay in shape by jogging or fast walking was 
severely limited. 
Even for non-jogging parents, the need for an improved baby stroller has 
been apparent. The small, plastic wheels customarily used for baby 
strollers are almost useless when it is desired to walk with an infant in 
a grassy park or on a rough road or sidewalk. Parents end up not walking 
with the infant at all or only walking in limited areas. 
All-terrain baby strollers have been designed to overcome these problems. 
These strollers typically employ much larger wheels, often large bicycle 
tires. The stroller frame and frame connections are constructed to be 
stronger and larger to handle the heavy duty use they may receive. It is 
now quite common to see a parent pushing an infant while jogging, fast 
walking or even just slow walking in grassy, bumpy -areas or over other 
rough terrain. 
These new strollers are sometimes equipped with conventional caliper brakes 
actuated by a hand lever to help slow and stop the stroller. Once stopped, 
however, there has been no effective way to insure the stroller does not 
roll away while the parent removes his or her hands from the stroller, 
such as to tie a loose shoe lace, other than a tether line attached at one 
end to the stroller and at the other end to the parent. Of course, the 
parent could continue to apply the caliper brake, but doing so is 
difficult or impossible in many situations, and inconvenient in most 
others. If the stroller is not equipped with a caliper brake, no sure way 
exists to prevent the stroller from rolling away, especially when parked 
on an incline. 
It can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for a park brake for 
use on a stroller, especially an all-terrain stroller. The present 
invention provides such a park brake. The brake has a simple and 
inexpensive construction, is easy to use and provides a reliable and safe 
brake. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention resides in a portable baby stroller and a park brake 
therefor. The baby stroller has a frame with a rear, transversely 
extending axle and a rear wheel mounted to the axle at an end thereof for 
rotation relative to the frame. A receiver is fixedly attached to the rear 
wheel for rotation with the rear wheel. The receiver has a plurality of 
circumferentially positioned openings on an inward side thereof in 
concentric relation to the axle. 
A brake member is supported by the frame for lateral movement relative to 
the axle toward and away from the receiver, and is restrained against 
rotation about the axle. In a preferred embodiment, the brake member is a 
brake rod. The brake member is outwardly movable to position an outward 
end thereof in a correspondingly positioned one of the receiver openings, 
and inwardly movable to withdraw the outward end from the receiver opening 
within which positioned. 
An actuator is in operative engagement with the brake member. The actuator 
includes a manually operable control member movable between a brake 
engagement position and a brake disengagement position. In the preferred 
embodiment, the actuator includes a foot pedal rotatably supported by the 
axle. 
The actuator moves the brake member toward the receiver to position the 
outward end thereof in the correspondingly positioned receiver opening 
when the control member is moved to the brake engagement position. The 
actuator moves the brake member away from the receiver to withdraw the 
outward end thereof from the correspondingly positioned receiver opening 
when the control member is moved to the brake disengagement position. In 
the preferred embodiment, each of the rear wheels is provided with a 
receiver and a brake member that operates therewith. 
The actuator includes a cam carried by the control member and engaging the 
brake member so as to progressively move the brake member toward the 
receiver as the control member is moved from the brake disengagement 
position toward the brake engagement position. The actuator includes a 
bias member biasing the brake member away from the receiver, and into 
operative engagement with a cam. The cam includes a lock portion engaged 
by the brake member as the control member approaches the brake engagement 
position. The lock portion is oriented to produce substantially no lateral 
movement of the brake member toward the receiver as the control member is 
moved further toward the brake engagement position. In the preferred 
embodiment, the receiver includes a plurality of radially extending ribs 
which define the receiver openings therebetween. In one embodiment, the 
receiver is formed as an integral part with a wheel hub for the rear 
wheel. In another embodiment, the receiver is formed as a separate part 
fixedly attached to the wheel hub. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from 
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present 
invention is embodied in an all-terrain baby stroller 10 having a foldable 
frame 12 with a rear axle assembly 14. Left and right rear wheels 16 are 
rotatably mounted to the rear axle assembly 14. The forward end of the 
frame 12 has a single front wheel 18 rotatably mounted thereto. The frame 
12 includes left and right side horizontal base frame tubes 20 extending 
rearwardly from the front wheel 18, in parallel spaced-apart relation to 
each other, to the rear axle assembly 14. The horizontal base frame tubes 
20 are manufactured from straight tube stock without the need to use a 
bending operation to form the horizontal base frame tube. The horizontal 
base frame tubes 20 are oriented at a 90.degree. angle with respect to the 
rear axle assembly 14. 
The frame 12 also includes left and right, downwardly sloping upper frame 
tubes 21 which at a rearward end define an arcuate handle 22 and extend 
downwardly therefrom to the horizontal base frame tubes 20 at a position 
near the rearwardmost extent of the front wheel 18. The forward ends of 
the upper frame tubes 21 are releasably coupled to the horizontal base 
frame tubes 20 by left and right frame connectors 25 to permit folding of 
the stroller 10. The handle 22 is positioned at a height convenient for a 
user to push the stroller 10. 
The frame 12 further includes left and right upright support tubes 24 
extending between the rear axle assembly 14 and the upper frame tubes 21 
at a position below and forward of the handle 22. The upright support 
tubes 24 are pivotally connected to the upper frame tubes 21 by pivot 
joints 23, and fixedly connected to the rear axle assembly 14 by couplers 
as will be described below to permit folding of the stroller when the 
frame connectors 25 are released to free the forward ends of the upper 
frame tubes from the horizontal base frame tubes 20. 
The rear axle assembly 14 uses a non-rotating tubular metal axle 26 (best 
shown in FIG. 2) having left and right ends, each with a threaded insert 
(not shown) to threadably receive a threaded axle bolt 28 on which a 
corresponding one of the left and right rear wheels 16 is rotatably 
mounted. Each of the horizontal base frame tubes 20 is coupled to the 
tubular axle 26 by a first coupler 30 with a tubular connector portion 32 
rotatably receiving the tubular axle 26 therethrough to permit rotation of 
the horizontal base frame tubes relative to the tubular axle upon folding 
of the frame 12 for storage. The first coupler 30 also has a frame tube 
receiver portion 34 within which a corresponding one of the left or right 
horizontal base frame tubes 20 is inserted and fixed in place using a 
rivet 36. A gusset 38 is fixedly attached to both the tubular connector 
portion 32 and the frame tube receiver portion 34 of each first coupler 30 
to rigidly hold them together. 
Each of the upright support tubes 24 is coupled to the tubular axle 26 by a 
second coupler 40 with a tubular connector portion 42 receiving the 
tubular axle 26 therein. The tubular connector portion 42 and the tubular 
axle 26 are fixedly attached together by a rivet 44. The second coupler 40 
also has a frame tube receiver portion 46 within which a corresponding one 
of the left or right upright support tubes 24 is inserted and fixed in 
place using a rivet 48. A gusset 50 is fixedly attached to both the 
tubular connector portion 42 and the frame tube receiver portion 46 of 
each second coupler 40 to rigidly hold them together. As a result, the 
upright support tubes 24 and the tubular axle 26 are fixed together and 
rotate as a unit when the frame 12 is folded for storage. With this 
arrangement, the first coupler 30, which holds one of the horizontal base 
frame tubes 20, and the second coupler 40, which holds one of the upright 
support tubes 24, can be freely rotated relative to each other by a 
sufficient amount to allow the folding of the upright support tubes 
downward relative to the horizontal base frame tubes for folding of the 
stroller 10. 
As best shown in FIG. 4C, each of the left and right rear wheels 16 
includes a rim 52 on which a tire 54 is mounted. The rim 52 includes a hub 
56 having a central aperture 58 through which one of the axle bolts 28 
extends for rotation of the wheel on the axle bolt. The hub 56 includes a 
central portion 60 and a receiver portion 62 extending circumferentially 
about the hub central portion 60. The receiver portion 62 has a plurality 
of uniformly sized receiver openings 64 which are arranged 
circumferentially about the hub central portion 60 in concentric 
arrangement with the tubular axle 26 when the wheel is mounted to the rear 
axle assembly 14. The receiver openings 64 of each rear wheel 16 open 
axially inward toward the other rear wheel. 
The receiver portion 62 has a cylindrical outer wall 66 which extends 
circumferentially about the hub central portion 60 and is radially spaced 
apart therefrom in concentric relation thereto. A plurality of radially 
extending ribs 68 extends between the hub central portion 60 and the 
receiver portion outer wall 66 to define the receiver openings 64 
therebetween. The ribs 68 have a laterally inward edge portion 70 with a 
wall thickness which tapers laterally inward. 
The rim 52 also includes a plurality of radially extending support ribs 72 
extending between the receiver portion outer wall 66 and an outer portion 
74 of the rim on which the tire 54 is directly mounted. In the embodiment 
of the rear wheel 16 shown in FIGS. 1-4C, the hub 56, including the 
receiver portion 62, are formed integral with the rim 52 from a molded 
plastic material such that the receiver portion rotates with the rim as 
the rear wheel rotates. 
The stroller 10 further includes left and right brake rods 76, each 
slidably supported below the rear axle assembly 14 and in spaced-apart 
parallel alignment with the tubular axle 26 by an outer support member 78 
and an inner support member 80 spaced laterally apart from the outer 
support member. The inner support member 80 for each of the brake rods 76 
has a tubular portion 82 receiving the tubular axle 26 therethrough and is 
fixedly attached to the tubular axle and thereby prevented from rotating 
relative thereto by a rivet 84. The inner support members 80 for the two 
brake rods 76 are positioned on the tubular axle at a central portion 
thereof but are spaced apart laterally from each other. Each of the 
tubular connector portions 32 of the first couplers 30 is rotatably 
mounted on the tubular axle 26 at a position between the corresponding 
inner support member 80 and the tubular connector portion 42 of the second 
coupler 40 on the same side of the tubular axle 26 to restrain lateral 
movement of the tubular connector portion 32 on the tubular axle. 
The outer support member 78 for each of the brake rods 76 also has a 
tubular portion 86. The tubular portion 86 of the outer support member 78 
supporting the left brake rod is positioned laterally outward of and 
adjacent to the tubular connector portion 42 of the second coupler 40 at 
the left axle end. The tubular portion 86 of the outer support member 78 
supporting the right brake rod is positioned laterally outward of and 
adjacent to the tubular connector portion 42 of the second coupler 40 at 
the right axle end. Each of the tubular portions 86 receives therein a 
sleeve (not shown) which extends axially therethrough and into the 
adjacent tubular connector portion 42 of the adjacent second coupler 40, 
and terminates at the threaded insert (not shown) to which the axle bolt 
28 is threadably attached. The sleeve has an inner diameter sized to allow 
the axle bolt 28 to pass therethrough. With this arrangement, the tubular 
portions 86 of the outer support members 78 are prevented from rotating 
relative to the tubular axle 26. 
Each of the outer and inner support members 78 and 80 for each brake rod 76 
has a downwardly projecting guide portion 88 with a laterally extending 
guide hole 90 slidably receiving the brake rod therein and permitting its 
free lateral movement toward and away from the adjacent one of the rear 
wheels 16, but restraining the brake rod against rotation about the 
tubular axle 26. The guide portions 88 hold the brake rods 76 at a 
position spaced below and away from the rear axle assembly 14 and parallel 
thereto. The guide portions 88 guide lateral movement of the brake rods to 
ensure their alignment with the receiving openings 64. 
The left brake rod 76 is movable laterally to the left a sufficient 
distance beyond the left end of the tubular axle 26 and toward the 
receiver portion 62 of the left rear wheel 16 to position an outward end 
92 of the left brake rod in one of the receiver openings 64 of the 
receiver portion of the left rear wheel aligned therewith so as to 
selectively inhibit rotation of the left rear wheel. The left brake rod is 
movable laterally to the right a sufficient distance away from the 
receiver portion of the left rear wheel to withdraw the outward end 92 of 
the left brake rod from the receiver opening so as to selectively allow 
rotation of the left rear wheel. Similarly, the right brake rod 76 is 
movable laterally left and right a sufficient distance to allow the 
outward end 92 of the right brake rod 76 to be positioned in and withdrawn 
from one of the receiver openings 64 of the receiver portion 62 of the 
right rear wheel aligned therewith to selectively inhibit and allow 
rotation of the right rear wheel. By simultaneously moving both of the 
left and right brake rods 76 laterally outward and into one of the 
receiver openings 64 with which aligned, a park brake is provided to 
prevent rotation of both rear wheels 16 and hence undesired movement of 
the stroller 10 when parked. 
It is noted that the receiver openings 64 of the receiver portion 62 of 
each hub 56 have sufficient size and are spaced radially outward of the 
hub central portion 60 as to be in radial position to receive the outward 
end 92 of the corresponding brake rod 76. Since the receiver openings 64 
are circumferentially distributed about the tubular axle, one of the 
receiver openings will always be in position to receive the guide rod 
regardless of the rotational position of the rear wheel. As previously 
noted, the inward edge portion 70 of the ribs 68 which define the receiver 
openings 64 have an inward taper which minimizes the resistance 
encountered should the outward end 92 of the brake rod 76 hit the inward 
edge portion 70 of one of the ribs 68 when the brake rod is moved 
laterally outward for insertion into one of the receiver openings to 
engage the park brake. For the same reason, the outward end 92 of the 
brake rod 76 is somewhat rounded. 
To control lateral movement of the brake rods 76 and serve as an actuator 
of the brake rods 76, a manually operable foot pedal 94 is provided. As 
best shown in FIG. 5, the foot pedal 94 has a tubular connector portion 96 
rotatably receiving the tubular axle 26 therethrough to permit rotation of 
the foot pedal about the tubular axle between a park brake engaged 
position and a park brake disengaged position. The foot pedal 94 has an 
upper surface 99 which, by pressing downward thereon with the user's foot, 
rotates the foot pedal to the engaged position. A plurality of raised 
portions 101 on the upper surface 99 reduce slippage when contact is made 
with the foot. 
The foot pedal 94 is returned to the disengaged position by applying an 
upward force on an underside 103 (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) thereof with 
the user's foot. Of course, the user may also bend down and operate the 
foot pedal with his or her hand. 
The foot pedal connector portion 96 is rotatably mounted on the tubular 
axle 26 between the tubular portions 82 of the inner support members 80 to 
restrain lateral movement of the foot pedal 94 on the tubular axle. The 
brake rods 76 are each biased to move laterally inward toward the foot 
pedal 94 by a coil spring 95 mounted thereon inward of the outer support 
member 78 supporting the brake rod and outward of a pair of ears 97 formed 
on each brake rod. 
As best shown in FIG. 5, the foot pedal 94 includes a cam 96 having a left 
cam surface 98 slidably engaged by an inward end 100 of the left brake rod 
76 under the urging of the spring 95 mounted thereon, and a right cam 
surface 102 slidably engaged by an inward end 104 of the right brake rod 
under the urging of the spring 95 mounted thereon, as the foot pedal 94 is 
rotated between the disengaged and engaged positions, as best shown in 
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. The inward end 104 of each brake rod 76 carries a 
plastic tip to reduce friction as the inward ends 100 and 104 of the brake 
rods slide along the left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102. 
The left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102 of the cam 96 each has a flat 
end portion 106 adjacent to the end portion 106 of the other which is 
engaged by a corresponding one of the inward ends 100 and 104 of the left 
and right brake rods 76 when the foot pedal 94 is in the disengaged 
position as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A. When the foot pedal 94 is in this 
position, the brake rods 76 are moved inward under the urging of the 
springs 95 away from the receiver portions 62 with the outward ends 92 of 
the brake rods moved out of the receiver openings 64 to permit uninhibited 
rotation of the rear wheels 16. A shallow recess 108 is provided in each 
flat end portion 106 of the left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102 to 
receive a corresponding one of the inward ends 100 and 104 of the brake 
rods 76 therein to assist in holding the foot pedal 94 in the disengaged 
position. 
The left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102 of the cam 96 also each have a 
sloped midportion 110 which diverges in the laterally outward direction 
from the other cam surface to progressively move the left and right brake 
rods 76 laterally outward toward the corresponding left and right receiver 
portions 62, respectively, as the foot pedal 94 is moved from the 
disengaged position shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A toward the engaged position 
shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B. The sloped midportions 110 of the left and right 
cam surfaces 98 and 102 diverge sufficiently so that as the foot pedal 94 
is rotated toward the engaged position, the outward ends 92 of the brake 
rods 76 will move laterally a sufficient amount to each enter into one of 
the receiver openings 64 with which aligned. The outward ends 92 each 
serve as a stop by engaging one or the other of the adjacent pair of ribs 
68 which define the receiver opening into which the guide rod extends 
should the rear wheel 16 to which the receiver portion 62 is fixed begin 
to rotate as a result of the stroller 10 being left on an incline, being 
pushed, or otherwise. 
The left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102 of the cam 96 also each include 
a flat end portion 112 laterally spaced apart from the end portion 112 of 
the other which is engaged by a corresponding one of the inward ends 100 
and 104 of the left and right brake rods 76 as the foot pedal 94 is moved 
into the engaged position as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B. The flat end 
portion 112 is oriented to produce substantially no lateral movement of 
the brake rods 76 as the foot pedal is moved through the final rotation to 
reach the engaged position. In that way, the laterally inward forces 
applied on the brake rods 76 by the springs 95 will not cause a rotational 
force on the cam 96 which could cause the foot pedal 94 to unintentionally 
rotate back toward the disengaged position. This serves to lock the brake 
rods 76 in their laterally extended positions in the receiver openings 64. 
A shallow recess 114 is also provided in each flat end portion 112 of the 
left and right cam surfaces 98 and 102 to receive a corresponding one of 
the inward ends 100 and 104 of the brake rods 76 therein to further assist 
in holding the foot pedal in the engaged position. The recess 114 also 
serves to create an audible noise when the inward ends of the brake rods 
snap into place to assure the user that the park brake is engaged. 
To prevent rotation of the foot pedal 94 beyond the disengaged position 
when being moved thereto from the engaged position, the foot pedal has a 
stop wall 116 which engages the brake rods 76 to limit rotational movement 
of the foot pedal in one rotational direction. To prevent rotation of the 
foot pedal 94 beyond the engaged position when being moved thereto from 
the disengaged position, the underside 103 of the foot pedal is sized to 
serve as a stop which engages the brake rods to limit rotational movement 
of the foot pedal in an opposite rotational direction. 
An alternative embodiment of the rear wheel 16 incorporating the receiver 
portion 62 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. In this 
embodiment, the rear wheel utilizes conventional metal spokes 120 
extending between the rim 52 and the hub 56, and the receiver portion 62 
of the hub 5 is formed as a separate part and fixedly attached to the hub 
so that the receiver portion rotates with the rim. The receiver portion 62 
is secured to the remainder of the hub 56 by the axle bolt using a nut 
(not shown) threadably received thereon in position between the receiver 
portion and the end of the tubular axle 26. 
It will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention 
have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various 
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the 
appended claims.