Armrest folding device for a foldable stroller

A foldable stroller includes a stroller frame having two side frame portions, each of which includes a push rod, a leg rod, a pivot joint, and an armrest assembly including an armrest and an armrest folding device. The pivot joint has an upper joint member connected to the push rod, and a lower joint member connected to the leg rod. The armrest folding device includes: a connecting unit connected fixedly to the armrest, connected pivotally to the lower joint member, and having a guide slot formed therethrough; and a guide pin connected to the the upper joint member and extending through the guide slot. When the push rod is rotated relative to the leg rod, the guide pin moves between too opposite ends of the guide slot to thereby rotate the connecting unit relative to the lower leg rod.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Application No. 201210490949.5, filed on Nov. 27, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a foldable stroller, and more particularly to an armrest folding device for a foldable stroller.

2. Description of the Related Art

How to fold a stroller is important for design of a foldable stroller. A foldable stroller typically includes an armrest unit in consideration of safety of a child seated thereon. A looking device has been designed to lock an armrest on a stroller frame, and is operable to unlock the armrest from the stroller frame, thereby allowing the armrest to be folded. That is, operation of the locking device is required for folding of the foldable stroller, thereby resulting in difficulties during use of the foldable stroller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide an armrest folding device for a foldable stroller, which is configured such that an armrest can be automatically folded during folding of the stroller.

According to this invention, a foldable stroller includes a stroller frame having two side frame portions, each of which includes a push rod, a leg rod, a pivot joint, and an armrest assembly including an armrest and an armrest folding device. The pivot joint has an upper joint member connected to the push rod, and a lower joint member connected to the leg rod. The armrest folding device includes: a connecting unit connected fixedly to the armrest, connected pivotally to the lower joint member, and having a guide slot forced therethrough; and a guide pin connected to the the upper joint member and extending through the guide slot. When the push rod is rotated relative to the leg rod, the guide pin moves between two opposite ends of the guide slot to thereby rotate the connecting unit relative to the lower leg rod.

As such, when the push rod is rotated relative to the leg rod, an angle formed between any two of the arm, the push rod, and leg rod can be changed, so that the armrest can be folded and unfolded without any operation of the armrest folding device by the user. That is, the folding and unfolding processes of the foldable stroller are simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to this invention when it is an unfolded state;

FIG. 2is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating an armrest folding device;

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the armrest folding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the armrest folding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5is a fragmentary perspective view of the armrest folding device of the preferred embodiment when it is in an enfolded state;

FIG. 6is a fragmentary perspective view of the armrest folding device of the preferred embodiment when it is in a folded state;

FIG. 7is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when it is in a folded state;

FIG. 8is a perspective view of a connecting unit and an armrest of the preferred embodiment, an armrest body of the armrest being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 9is an exploded perspective view of the armrest of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 10is a perspective view of the connecting unit and the armrest of the preferred embodiment, the connecting unit being shown in phantom lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a foldable stroller according to this invention includes a bottom frame11, two leg rods3connected respectively to front ends of two horizontal rails or the bottom frame11, two push rods2connected respectively end pivotally to and disposed above the two leg rods3, a seat13disposed between the leg rods3, a footrest14connected between the two horizontal rails of the bottom frame11and between lower ends of the leg rods3, four wheels12disposed respectively on the lower ends of the leg rods3and rear ends of the two horizontal rails of the bottom frame11, and two armrest assemblies8each including an armrest81and an armrest folding device.

With further reference toFIGS. 2,3, and4, the push rod2and the leg rod3at the same side are interconnected by a pivot joint4. The pivot joint4includes upper and lower joint members41,42connected respectively to the push rod2and the leg rod3. Each of the upper joint members41has an upper connecting portion411disposed at an upper end thereof and connected to the corresponding push rod2. Each of the lower joint members42has a lower connecting portion421disposed at a lower end thereof and connected to the corresponding leg rod3. A lower end of each of the upper joint members41is connected to an upper end of the corresponding lower joint42, such that they are rotatable about a pivot axis43. The armrest folding devices are disposed respectively on the pivot joints4. since the stroller frame of the foldable stroller has two symmetric side frame portions, only one of the side frame portions will be described hereinafter.

Each of the armrest folding devices includes a connecting unit6and a guide pin7.

With particular reference toFIG. 3, the connecting unit6includes an armrest-connecting member61and a joint-connecting member5connected pivotally to the lower joint member42. The armrest-connecting member61is sleeved fixedly on the joint-connecting member5. In this embodiment, the armrest-connecting member61is connected fixedly to the joint-connecting member5by two rivets (not shown). A pivot pin9extends through the armrest-connecting member61and the joint-connecting member5, and is threaded in a hole422in the lower joint member42, so that the armrest-connecting member61and the joint-connecting member5are rotatable about the pivot pin9. The joint-connecting member5has a guide slot51formed therethrough and disposed above the pivot pin9. The guide pin7extends through the guide slot51to connect fixedly with the upper joint member41at an end thereof. An opposite end of the guide pin7has a diameter greater than the width of the guide slot51to confine the guide pin7within the guide slot51. When the upper and lower joint members41,42are rotated relative to each other, the guide pin7moves within the guide slot51to rotate the armrest-connecting member61and the joint-connecting member5relative to the lower joint member42about the pivot pin9and the hole422. Hence, the joint-connecting member5rotates relative to each of the upper and lower joint members41,42by a predetermined angle to rotate the armrest81relative to the push rod2and the leg rod3between an unfolded position and a folded position.

With particular reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, the guide slot51has first and second ends511,512. The distance between the first end511and the pivot pin9is greater than that between the second end512and the pivot pin9. When the stroller is in an unfolded state, the guide pin7is disposed at the first end511, as shown inFIG. 5. When the stroller is converted from the unfolded state to a folded state shown inFIG. 7, the push rod2is rotated relative to the leg rod3to thereby move the guide pin7from the first end511to the second end512, as shown inFIG. 6.

With particular reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the armrest-connecting member61has a plate body61′, an engaging projection62extending from a side surface of the plate body61′, and a locking hole63formed through the engaging projection62and the plate body61′.

With further reference toFIGS. 8,9, and10, the armrest81includes an armrest body82, a mounting member83, a locking member84, and a return spring85. The armrest body82has a first sidewall822and a second sidewall823that are spaced apart from each other. The first sidewall822is formed with an engaging groove821for engaging the engaging projection62, and a tapered groove825. The second sidewall823is formed with an opening824allowing for accession to the locking member84, so as to operate the locking member84.

The mounting member83is disposed fixedly between the first and second sidewalls822,823of the armrest82, and includes a base portion831, an anchoring hook832disposed at an end of the base portion831one engaging the tapered groove825, and a positioning shaft post833disposed at an opposite end at the base portion831.

The locking member84is sleeved rotatably on the positioning shaft post833, and has an operating pushbutton842extending outwardly from the opening824, and a hook portion841engaging removably the locking hole63. By pressing the operating pushbutton842, the locking member84is pivotable to remove the hook portion841from the locking hole63.

The return spring85is disposed between the operating pushbutton842and the first sidewall822for biasing the locking member84to maintain engagement between the hook portion841and the locking hole63. When it is desired to remove the armrest81from the connecting unit6, it is only necessary to press the operating pushbutton842. Subsequently, the armrest81can be pulled outwardly to move on the engaging projection62to separate from the connecting unit6.

In view of the above, when the push rod2is rotated relative to the leg rod3to drive rotation of the upper and lower joint members41,42relative to each other, the guide pin7is moved within the guide slot51to rotate the joint-connecting member5and the armrest-connecting member61relative to the lower joint member42by an angle, thereby unfolding or folding the armrest81. In this manner, the folding process of the foldable stroller is simplified.