A child's stroller, pusher, pram which folds into a compact unit. The handle, seat, frame and undercarriage are interconnected by a linkage so that the components fold down towards the wheels as the wheels move towards each other.

This invention relates to a folding child's carriage or stroller. 
FIELD OF INVENTION 
Folding strollers are well known, and while many of them fold to a fairly 
convenient size, they often do not readily fold into a small compact unit 
which can be easily carried and/or stored. Also it is often desirable that 
the strollers be carried by a car or the like, and if it can be folded 
into a small package or volume, then it can be more easily stowed in the 
car, for example in the boot, or inside the car between the seats or the 
like. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
One type of folding stroller is shown in Australian Pat. No. 493,928 which 
shows a stroller or folding baby carriage which folds into a long compact 
package. However this still has, when folded, a length approximating the 
length from the handle to the front wheels. This long folded unit has the 
disadvantages due to this length when folded. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a stroller which can be folded 
into a small compact unit, and which can be easily carried by a person. 
Thus there is provided according to the invention an improved child's 
stroller comprising an upper horizontal frame and beneath that a 
horizontal seat frame, these frames being connected by a pantograph 
linkage, with the handle being articulated and connected both to the upper 
frames and to an upper leg of the pantograph linkage, the seat frame 
carrying frameworks for the wheels, the rear wheel frame being connected 
to the lower end of the pantograph frame and connected by linkages to the 
seat frame, so that on folding of the handle portions forwardly over the 
upper frame, that the upper frame and seat frame both move slightly 
forwardly, which forward movement draws the rear wheels forwardly to be 
adjacent the front wheels so that the whole unit collapses downwardly into 
a small compact unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The upper horizontal frame 1 can conveniently comprise a U-shaped frame 
having a horizontal bar 2 across the front on which the child may rest the 
hands and side bars 3. The handle has at its upper end a U-shaped 
handle-shaped structure 4, a lower handle link 5 and a lower handle 
portion 6. Handle portion 6 extends from the bottom of the upper portion 
of the handle 4 to the rear portion of the side bars 3 of upper frame 1, 
with handle link 5 extending to and pivoted at 7 to the side arms 3 
rearwardly of link 6 and extending to the upper rear end of the arm 8 of 
the pantograph linkage, this linkage arm 8 being pivoted at this end to 
the handle link 5 and not to the upper frame 1. 
This pantograph linkage arm 8 of the linkage is pivoted at 9 at its lower 
end to the forward end of the seat frame 10, and the other link 11 of the 
pantograph linkage is pivoted at 12 at its upper forward end to the side 
arms 3 of the upper frame 1, and at its other end extends past the seat 
frame 10 and is pivoted at 13 to a pivot rod 14 situated beneath the seat 
frame 10 and extending across the width of the stroller. 
This pivot rod 14 is supported at 13 from the seat frame by a small seat 
frame link 15 which in the erected position of the stroller extends 
forwardly and downwardly from pivot 16 on the rear of the seat frame 10. 
The front wheels 17 are carried on a frame 18 which includes an axle 19 
joining the front wheels, and a pair of links 20 extending rearwardly and 
upwardly from the axle 19 to be pivoted to the pivot rod 13. The front 
wheel frame 18 is braced by a pin front bracing link 21 extending from the 
seat frame 10 at pivots 9 downwardly to the links 20 of the front wheel 
framework 18. 
The rear wheels 22 are also supported and pivoted to the pivot rod 14 
extending across beneath the rear of the seat frame 10, the rear wheel 
frame links 23 being located by a control link 24 extending from pivot 9 
at the forward end of the seat frame 10 to the links 23 forming the rear 
wheel frame. 
Thus in the erected position of the stroller, the stroller cannot fold or 
collapse under the weight of the child in the stroller, for the weight of 
the child tends to force the seat frame 10 toward the rod 14 on which the 
front 18 and rear wheel frames 23 are pivoted, thus tending to spread the 
wheels 17 and 22, but these being prevented from spreading by the bracing 
link 21 and control link 24. 
Also when the stroller is collapsed, the seat frame link 15 pivots 
rearwardly about its pivot 16 to the seat frame 10, and thus pivot from 
its over centre position downwardly and then rearwardly causing the seat 
frame 10 to rise and the rear wheels 22 to move forwardly, but the weight 
of the child in the seat frame would prevent this movement from occurring 
when the stroller is in the erected condition. 
On the lower portion of the upper handle 4 there is attached a bracket 25 
to the arms 26 of which are pivoted by pivot 27 of the upper ends of the 
handle link 5. 
The upper ends of the lower handle 6 are pivoted by pivot pins 28 to the 
bracket 25 below and in line with the upper handle 4. A latch 29 is 
pivoted to the pivot pins 28 and is adapted to engage the pin 30 to lock 
the upper handle 4 and the lower handle 6 and the handle link 5 together. 
A locking mechanism 31 locks the wheels in the spread condition and 
comprises an over-centre locking latch having a front locking link 32 
pivoted to the link 20 and a rear locking link 33 pivoted to the rear 
wheel frame 23, the two links 32 and 33 being pivoted together. The rear 
of the front link 32 is provided with a stop 34 so that the hinging is 
prevented just over centre. A locking plate 35 is provided so that by foot 
pressure on the plate 35 the links 32, 33 are moved to their locked 
over-centre position. 
The links 33 on each side of the stroller extend beyond the links 23, 
extending upwardly to a cross-bar 36. 
In order to collapse the stroller the latch 29 is released, and by pressing 
on the cross-bar 36, the locking links 32,33 brake as shown in FIG. 3, 
thus starting the collapsing or folding of the stroller. The rear of the 
upper portion of the handle then moves downwardly and the lower handle 6 
and handle link 7 pivot forwardly about their pivots to the upper frame 
and the pantograph link. 
When this occurs due to the pantograph linkage 8, 11 as the stroller is 
collapsed the upper frame 1 and seat frame 10 both tilt downwardly at 
their forward end and move slightly forwardly and collapse downwardly in a 
parallel motion arrangement, this movement through link 11 moving rod 14 
and link 15 to swing rearwardly, the rear ground wheel control link 24 
thus causing the rear wheel frame 23 to move forwardly as the link 15 
moves rearwardly, the movement continuing until the rear wheels 22 are 
situated adjacent the front wheels 17 as shown through FIGS. 4 and 5. 
In the collapsed position the frames 1 and 10 are virtually in contact with 
each other with the handle folded downwardly on top of the frame 1 and the 
rear wheels 22 folded forwardly underneath to adjacent the front wheels 
17, with the seat frame 10 collapsing downwardly also. 
Thus it will be seen that by merely grasping the handle and lifting that 
the stroller is automatically re-erected, and the locking clip can be 
placed in position over the lower portion of the handles. 
In another form the rear wheel frame does not have an axle extending across 
between the two wheels, but can comprise a U-shaped bracket extending from 
each wheel upwardly to adjacent the rod to which it could be attached as 
by welding, this U-shaped bracket stabilizing the wheels, and allowing and 
providing a greater clearance so that there is no tendency of the users 
toes or feet to kick the rear axle. 
With strollers and prams, one of the essential requirements of any braking 
system therefor, must be that the brakes must be firmly and positively 
applied, and that the brakes must not inadvertently release, such as by a 
child rocking backwards and forwards or bouncing in the pram or stroller. 
Also the brakes while being positively applied, must be such that on 
actuating the braking handle or device by the user, that irrespective of 
the position of the wheel or wheels, that the brakes are applied. 
It is known with some form of braking devices, where for example a rod or 
the like is inserted between the spokes of a wheel, that it can occur that 
the rod instead of being positioned between the spokes, hits one of the 
spokes and this prevents the rod from being inserted between the spokes, 
and thus while the user would assume that the brake has been applied, it 
is to be realised that the brake has not been applied and thus the 
stroller or pram or other carriage in which the child is sitting could 
easily roll away. 
Pivot rod 14 in the preferred embodiment is utilized as an operating bar 
for the brakes, and the pivot rod 14 is adapted to be turned by a handle 
52 in order to apply the brakes. 
Attached to the centre of the pivot rod 14 is a crank 37 which extends 
generally rearwardly, to this crank 37 being pivoted a rear push rod 38 
which extends downwardly toward the rear axle. 
However at the end of the push rod 38 there is provided a rear brake rod 
39, this rod extending across the stroller generally parallel to the rear 
axle, each end of the rod being adapted to engage a respective rear wheel 
22 by pressing against the rolling surface of the wheel. 
The brake rod 39 is guided in its movement by brackets 40 on the rear 
links, these brackets being provided with slots 41 so that it will be seen 
that on partial rotation of the pivot rod 14, that the crank 37 will push 
rod 38 down to force the rear brake rod 39 into contact with the tires of 
the rear wheels 22. 
Preferably the pivot point between the crank 37 and the rear push rod 38 is 
by a known pivot lock 142 which allows the crank 37 and push rod 38 to go 
slightly over-centre to lock in that position. In this way the brake when 
applied is positively applied and can only be released by the rotation of 
the pivot rod 14 in the opposite direction to cause the crank 37 to pull 
upwardly to break the over-centre connection. 
The rear brake rod 39 is preferably of metal, and so flexes slightly when 
the brakes are applied. Thus if one wheel is contacted by one end of the 
rod before the other, then the rod can flex to allow both ends to engage, 
and this flexing is sufficient to allow for any wear which can occur of 
the tires of the wheels, and also ensures that the brake is firmly 
applied. 
In a similar manner the brakes can be applied to the front wheels 17, by 
having a further crank 42 extending from the pivot rod 14, this crank 42 
connecting to a front push link 43 which engages centrally on a front 
brake rod 44 which also is guided in slots 41 formed in brackets 40 
mounted on the front link 20, so that on turning the pivot bar by its 
operating handle, all four wheels are simultaneously applied. 
It will be seen that this braking does not in any way affect the folding of 
the stroller, pram or the like to which it is applied, for the folding 
occurs about the pivot bar, and as the brake linkage is operated from this 
central pivot point, the linkage does not affect the folding of the 
carriage or framework at all. 
In effect when the brakes are released, and the carriage is folded, the 
folding will cause the brakes to be applied, by a portion of the seat 
frame contacting the handle to move it to the braking position. 
The ends of the brake rods can have applied thereto friction members, which 
can be pads or tubes of rubber adhered and fixed to the end of the brake 
rods, so that these frictionally engage the wheels and the tires. 
Thus in the braking system there is a positive lock of the brakes, due to 
the slight over-centre arrangement of one of the linkages operating the 
brakes and it is a positive application of the brakes without relying on 
springs to apply the brakes, the flexing of the brake rods merely allowing 
pressures to be applied to the wheels and to accommodate for the wearing 
of the tires or wearing surface of the wheels. 
Although the braking is shown as being applied to all wheels, it is to be 
realised that the braking may be applied to the rear wheels or to the 
front wheels only by utilising one crank and one brake rod only. 
A further alternative is shown in FIG. 8 where an alternative form of 
braking system is shown. In this embodiment instead of there being braking 
applied to a pair or all the wheels, the braking can be applied to one 
wheel only. 
As shown there is provided a brake lever 45 which is pivoted to a front 
frame link 20. The lever comprises a long arm and a short arm, with the 
short arm having a braking end 46 adapted to be moved into contact with a 
wheel 17. The longer arm of the lever has a turned over end 47 adapted to 
be moved manually either by hand or foot to engage and disengage the 
brake. 
During folding of the carriage, the end 47 is contacted by the seat frame 
10 to apply the brake. Thus on re-erection of the carriage the brake 
remains applied which is a safety feature, as the child is placed in the 
carriage or as the child crawls into the carriage itself. Hence after 
folding, the brake is already applied until removed. 
In FIG. 9 an alternative hinge arrangement is shown for the handle 
components. A bracket 48 is attached to the lower handle 6, the bracket 
having lugs or the like to which is pivoted the upper handle portion 4 by 
hinge pins 49. The handle link 5 is pivoted by hinge 50 to the upper 
handle portion 4 adjacent but spaced upwardly of the hinge pins 49. A 
locking hook 51 is adapted in the locked position to engage over the pin 
50, the hook being pivoted to the upper portion of the lower handle 6. 
While the invention has been described with particular reference to a 
child's stroller, it is to be noted that the invention is not limited 
thereto but may be incorporated in other folding carriages, such as prams, 
combination pram and stroller arrangements and the like. 
Although various forms of the invention have been described in some detail 
it is to be realised that the invention is not limited thereto but is 
included in the definition of the appended claims.