Stroller and reversible mechanism thereof

A stroller includes a stroller frame, a reversible member pivoted to the stroller frame, and a reversible mechanism. The reversible mechanism locks the reversible member at different positions and includes a sliding sleeve, a release actuator movably disposed on the reversible member and linked with the sliding sleeve, and anchoring portions disposed on at least two different positions. The sliding sleeve movably jackets the reversible member and is selectively engaged with any anchoring portion. The sliding sleeve moves together with the release actuator or is directly operated for releasing the anchoring portion, so as to make the reversible member rotatable to another position. Since the release actuator is linked with the sliding sleeve, the release actuator can be disposed at a position easy to operate, so that the handle reversing operation can be performed conveniently and quickly. Furthermore, the reversible mechanism has a simple structural design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stroller and a reversible mechanism thereof, and more specifically, to a stroller having a reversible mechanism for performing the handle reversing operation of the stroller conveniently and quickly and a reversible mechanism thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Rapid developed economics and technology provide people with various consumer products, such as an infant carrier (e.g. a stroller or an infant bassinet). The stroller not only allows an adult to operate it with one hand to reduce his burden when taking an infant out, but also makes the infant sit thereon comfortably. Thus, the stroller has become more and more popular in infant caring. With improvement of user demand for the stroller, the stroller design has been made progress for satisfying the user needs.

Recently, a reversible stroller has become popular in infant caring due to the following advantages: 1. the reversible stroller can be transferred from a forward facing position to a rearward facing position for protecting the infant sitting thereon from strong light or strong wind; 2. the infant can see the caregiver's face to reduce his insecurity when the caregiver pushes the reversible stroller; 3. the reversible function can expand the infant's view.

The reversible stroller is mainly divided into two types: one is the handle reversible type; the other is the seat reversible type. A stroller having a reversible handle is more popular with people since it is more convenient to operate than a stroller having a reversible seat. In general, a conventional stroller having a reversible handle allows that a user can operate a sliding sleeve disposed at a bottom end of the handle to release the handle and then rotate an upper end of the handle to perform a handle reversing operation. However, the aforesaid handle reversing process takes a long time to release and then reverse the handle, so as to make the user unable to complete the handle reversing operation quickly.

Thus, it is necessary to design a stroller and a reversible mechanism thereof to make the reversing operation of the stroller quick and convenient for solving the aforesaid problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a reversible mechanism for performing the handle reversing operation of a stroller conveniently and quickly.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a stroller having a reversible mechanism for performing the handle reversing operation of the stroller conveniently and quickly.

For achieving the aforesaid purposes, a reversible mechanism of the present invention is disposed on a stroller. The stroller includes a stroller frame and a reversible member pivoted to the stroller frame. The reversible mechanism locks the reversible member at different positions relative to the stroller frame and includes anchoring portions, a sliding sleeve, and a release handle. The anchoring portions are disposed on at least two different positions of the stroller frame. The sliding sleeve movably jackets the reversible member. The sliding sleeve is selectively engaged with any one of the anchoring portions for locking the reversible member at the different positions relative to the stroller frame. The release actuator is movably disposed on the reversible member and linked with the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve is switched between a locking position and a releasing position with movement of the release actuator or is directly operated for locking or releasing the anchoring portion.

Preferably, the reversible mechanism further includes a linking member disposed in the reversible member, a first end of the linking member is connected to the release actuator, and a second end of the linking member is connected to the sliding sleeve.

Preferably, the reversible mechanism further includes a driving member movably disposed in the reversible member and linked with the sliding sleeve, the second end of the linking member is connected to the driving member. When the release actuator is operated, the release actuator moves the driving member via the linking member for driving the sliding sleeve to lock or release the anchoring portion.

Preferably, the release actuator is protrusively disposed on the reversible member and is slidable along a lengthwise direction of the reversible member, the driving member is slidably disposed in the reversible member, and the sliding sleeve is slidably disposed on the reversible member along the lengthwise direction of the reversible member.

Preferably, the reversible mechanism further includes a fixing pin, and the fixing pin is fixedly connected to the first end of the linking member and the release actuator.

Preferably, a first guide slot is formed along the lengthwise direction of the reversible member, and the fixing pin is slidably disposed through the first guide slot.

Preferably, the reversible mechanism further includes an elastic member disposed in the reversible member, the elastic member is disposed between the reversible member and the driving member, and the elastic member biases the driving member to keep driving the sliding sleeve to be engaged with the anchoring portion.

Preferably, the elastic member is in a compressed state and is disposed between the reversible member and the driving member.

Preferably, the linking member is disposed through the elastic member.

Preferably, the driving member is fixedly connected to the sliding sleeve.

Preferably, the driving member is fixedly connected to the sliding sleeve via a pin passing therethrough.

Preferably, a second guide slot is formed on the reversible member for guiding and limiting movement of the pin, and the pin is slidably disposed through the second guide slot.

Preferably, one of the sliding sleeve and the anchoring portion has a protrusion, the other of the sliding sleeve and the anchoring portion has a recessed structure, the protrusion slides into the recessed structure to lock the sliding sleeve on the anchoring portion, and the protrusion is disengaged from the recessed structure to release the sliding sleeve from the anchoring portion.

Preferably, the recessed structure is an arc-shaped groove, and the protrusion has a convex curved surface mating with the arc-shaped groove.

Preferably, the linking member is rigid link or a flexible steel wire.

For achieving the aforesaid purposes, a stroller of the present invention includes a stroller frame, a reversible member, and the aforesaid reversible mechanism. The reversible mechanism locks the reversible member at different positions relative to the stroller frame.

Preferably, the stroller further includes a pivot shaft disposed on the reversible member or the stroller frame, and the reversible member is pivotally connected to the stroller frame via the pivot shaft.

Preferably, the reversible member is a handle.

Preferably, an avoiding hole is formed on the reversible member and has an opening.

Preferably, a containing cavity is formed on the reversible member, and the driving member and the linking member are slidably disposed in the containing cavity.

Compared with the prior art, the stroller of the present invention includes the stroller frame, the reversible member pivoted to the stroller frame, and the reversible mechanism. The reversible member can be locked at different positions on the stroller frame via the reversible mechanism, so as to achieve the purpose that the handle reversing operation of the stroller can be performed quickly and conveniently. Via the aforesaid design that the sliding sleeve can be engaged with or disengaged from the anchoring portion, the release actuator is linked with the sliding sleeve, the release actuator and the sliding sleeve are movably disposed on the reversible member, and the anchoring portions are disposed on at least two different positions of the stroller frame, the sliding sleeve can be engaged with any one of the anchoring portions for locking the reversible member at the different positions on the stroller frame. In such a manner, after the user operates the release actuator, movement of the release actuator can drive the sliding sleeve to be disengaged from the anchoring portion, so as to make the reversible member rotatable relative to the stroller frame. Subsequently, the reversible member can be locked at a reversing position on the stroller frame after rotating the reversible member to the reversing position. In summary, since the release actuator is linked with the sliding sleeve, the release actuator can be disposed at a position easy to operate, so as to achieve the purpose that the handle reversing operation of the stroller can be performed conveniently and quickly. Furthermore, as known from the aforesaid description, the reversible mechanism of the present invention has a simple structural design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description for preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided with attached drawings as follows.

A stroller of the present invention includes a stroller frame, a reversible member, and a reversible mechanism. The reversible member can be locked at different positions relative to the stroller frame. The reversible mechanism includes anchoring portions, a release actuator, and a sliding sleeve. The anchoring portions are disposed on at least two different positions of the stroller frame. The sliding sleeve movably jackets the reversible member. The sliding sleeve is selectively engaged with any one of the anchoring portions for locking the reversible member at the different positions relative to the stroller frame. The release actuator is movably disposed on the reversible member and linked with the sliding sleeve. The sliding sleeve is switched between a locking position and a releasing position with movement of the release actuator or is directly operated for locking or releasing the anchoring portion.

It should be mentioned that the present invention is not limited to the following description for the preferred embodiments of the present invention. That is, all the designs in which the reversible mechanism includes the reversible member, the sliding sleeve and the anchoring portion and the stroller has the reversible mechanism disposed thereon may fall within the scope of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Please refer toFIGS.1-4. A stroller100of the present invention includes a stroller frame20, a reversible member pivoted to the stroller frame20, and a reversible mechanism30. The reversible member can be locked at different positions relative to the stroller frame20. In this embodiment, the reversible member is a handle10. Specifically, in this embodiment, the stroller100of the present invention further includes a pivot shaft40. The pivot shaft40is disposed on the handle10to pivotally connect the handle10to the stroller frame20, but not limited thereto. That is, in another embodiment, the pivot shaft40could be disposed on the stroller frame20, or the pivot shaft40could be disposed through the handle10and the stroller frame20, which can also achieve the purpose that the handle10is pivotable relative to the stroller frame20.

Please refer toFIGS.1-4andFIGS.8-9. The handle10includes a joint structure101, a U-shaped tube102connected to a first end of the joint structure101, and a straight tube103connected to a second end of the joint structure101. Specifically, the straight tube103is pivoted to the stroller frame20. To be more specific, a lower end of the straight tube103is pivoted to the stroller frame20. The joint structure101includes an upper joint101aand a lower joint101b. The upper joint101ais pivoted to the lower joint101b. A fine-adjusting button101cis disposed at a position where the upper joint101ais pivoted to the lower joint101b. The fine-adjusting button101cis operable to make the upper joint101aslightly rotatable relative to the lower joint101b. To be more specific, in this embodiment, the U-shaped tube102is inserted into the upper joint101a, and the straight tube103is inserted into the lower joint101b. In such a manner, slight adjustment for the U-shaped tube102and the straight tube103can be performed via the fine-adjusting button101c. That is, after a user presses the fine-adjusting button101c, the U-shaped tube102can be operated to slightly rotate relative to the straight tube103for improving operational comfort of the stroller100. To be more specific, in this embodiment, the upper joint101ahas an external gear1011, and the lower joint101bhas an internal gear1012. The internal gear1012is engaged with the external gear1011to make the upper joint101apivoted to the lower joint101b. In another embodiment, the internal gear1012could be disposed on the upper joint101a, and could be engaged with the external gear1011disposed on the lower joint101bfor pivotally connecting the upper joint101ato the lower joint101b. For example, a containing cavity103ais formed on the handle10. To be more specific, the containing cavity103ais formed on the straight tube103for containing some components in the reversible mechanism30, so as to achieve the space saving effect and make the stroller100have a compact appearance.

Please refer toFIGS.3-6andFIGS.8-9. The reversible mechanism30includes a release actuator1, a driving member2, a linking member3, a sliding sleeve4, anchoring portions5, and an elastic member6. The release actuator1is movably disposed on the handle10. Specifically, the release actuator1is disposed at an upper end of the straight tube103, so that operating the release actuator1and rotating the handle10can be performed synchronously for completing the reversing operation of the stroller100conveniently and quickly. The driving member2is movably disposed in the handle10, and the linking member3is disposed in the handle10. Specifically, the driving member2is movably disposed in the containing cavity103a, and the linking member3is disposed in the containing cavity103a. A first end of the linking member3is connected to the release actuator1, and a second end of the linking member3is connected to the driving member2. The sliding sleeve4movably jackets the handle10and is linked with the driving member2. Specifically, the sliding sleeve4movably jackets the lower end of the straight tube103. The anchoring portions5are disposed at two different positions on the stroller frame20respectively. The sliding sleeve4can be selectively engaged with any one of the anchoring portions5for locking the handle10at different positions on the stroller frame20, but not limited thereto. That is, the present invention could adopt the design that the anchoring portions5are disposed at three or four different positions on the stroller frame20respectively in another embodiment, so as to achieve the purpose that the handle10can be switched to plural reversible positions relative to the stroller frame20for providing a multi-stage reversible function. The elastic member6is located in the containing cavity103aand disposed between a wall103bof the containing cavity103aand the driving member2. The elastic member6biases the driving member2to keep driving the sliding sleeve4to be engaged with the anchoring portion5.

The sliding sleeve4can be driven by operating the release actuator1to move the driving member2via the linking member3, or can be directly operated for locking or releasing the anchoring portion5. In such a manner, the stroller100of the present invention allows that the user can selectively operate the release actuator1or the sliding sleeve4to disengage the sliding sleeve4from the anchoring portion5for making the handle10rotatable relative to the stroller frame20, so as to improve operational flexibility of the stroller100. To be noted, the aforesaid way of operating the release actuator1allows that the user can operate the handle10(e.g. the user can hold the straight tube103) quickly after releasing the anchoring portion5, so as to reduce time for performing the aforesaid release and reversible operations and to complete the handle reversing operation conveniently and quickly. The release actuator1, the driving member2and the sliding sleeve4are slidably disposed on the handle10. Specifically, the driving member2and the linking member3are slidably disposed in the containing cavity103a. As such, the release actuator1can slide relative to the handle10for driving the linking member3to slide relative to the handle10, and sliding of the linking member3can drive the driving member2for locking or releasing the sliding sleeve4and the anchoring portion5. Specifically, the linking member3is a flexible steel wire in this embodiment, but not limited thereto, meaning that the linking member3could be a rigid link in another embodiment. In summary, the reversible mechanism30can utilize the linking member3to achieve long distance linkage between the release actuator1and the driving member2for locking or releasing the sliding sleeve4and the anchoring portion5, such that the release actuator1can be disposed at a position easy to operate (e.g. an upper end or a top end of the handle10) for performing the handle reversing operation of the stroller100conveniently and quickly.

Please refer toFIGS.3-6andFIGS.8-9. The reversible mechanism30further includes a fixing pin7. The fixing pin7is fixedly connected to the first end of the linking member3and the release actuator1(but not limited thereto, meaning that the present invention could adopt the design that the fixing pin7is detachably connected to the release actuator1in another embodiment). The straight tube103has a first guide slot1031formed along a lengthwise direction of the straight tube103for guiding and limiting movement of the fixing pin7. The fixing pin7is slidably disposed through the first guide slot1031. An avoiding hole11is formed on the release actuator1and has an opening111. As such, when the release actuator1slides, the avoiding hole11and the opening111can prevent the release actuator1from colliding with fixing components (not shown in the figures of the present invention) located between the lower joint101band the straight tube103, so as to make the release actuator1slide smoothly and also make the structural design of the handle10reasonable. Furthermore, the avoiding hole11is a long hole for guiding and limiting movement of the release actuator1. When the user operates the release actuator1, the release actuator1can drive the fixing pin7to slide along the first guide slot1031. Accordingly, the linking member3can be driven by the fixing pin7to slide in the containing cavity103a, so as to drive the driving member2connected to the second end of the linking member3to slide relative to the handle10for disengaging the sliding sleeve4from the anchoring portion5.

Please refer toFIGS.5-6. The release actuator1includes an operating portion12and a sliding board13. An end of the sliding board13is formed integrally with the operating portion12. The operating portion12protrudes from the sliding board13, so that the user can pull the operating portion12conveniently. Specifically, the avoiding hole11is formed on the sliding board13. To be more specific, the release actuator1is slidably disposed between the straight tube103and the lower joint101b. During the installation process, the straight tube103is inserted into the lower joint101bafter the release actuator1is positioned on the straight tube103together with the fixing pin7.

Please refer toFIGS.7-9, the elastic member6is disposed between the straight tube103and the driving member2and is in a compressed state. Specifically, an end of the elastic member6abuts against a wall103bof the containing cavity103a, and the other end of the elastic member6abuts against the driving member2(but not limited thereto, meaning that the present invention could adopt the design that the other end of the elastic member6is fixedly connected to the driving member2in another embodiment). Specifically, in this embodiment, the elastic member6is a coil spring, and the linking member3passes through the coil spring to be connected to the driving member2(but not limited thereto, meaning that the present invention could adopt the design that the linking member3is a rigid link and the rigid link passes through the coil spring to be connected to the driving member2in another embodiment). As such, when the release actuator1is released, elastic force of the elastic member6can drive the driving member2to slide relative to the handle10, so as to return the release actuator1to its original position via the linking member3. At the same time, sliding of the driving member2can further make the sliding sleeve4engaged with the anchoring portion5. Thus, the reversible mechanism30can utilize the elastic member6to achieve the automatic returning purpose, but not limited thereto. That is, in another embodiment, the present invention could adopt the design that one of two magnetic structures magnetically repulsive to each other is fixed to the wall103bof the containing cavity103aand the other is fixed to the driving member2for achieving the automatic returning purpose via magnetic repulsive force between the two magnetic structures.

Please refer toFIGS.1-4. The driving member2is fixedly connected to the sliding sleeve4, and the driving member2slides to disengage the sliding sleeve4from the anchoring portion5. A pin (not shown in the figures of the present invention) passes through the driving member2and the sliding sleeve4to fix the driving member2to the sliding sleeve4. Specifically, a second guide slot1032is formed on the handle10for guiding and limiting movement of the pin. The pin is slidably disposed through the second guide slot1032for preventing the driving member2and the sliding sleeve4from sliding out of a predetermined range relative to the handle10. It could be understood that the sliding sleeve4could be movably disposed on the driving member2and sliding of the driving member2drives the sliding sleeve4to be disengaged from the anchoring portion5in another embodiment. For example, a slanted slot is formed on the driving member2, and the sliding sleeve4has a pillar slidably disposed through the slanted slot. As such, when the driving member2slides, the slanted slot pushes the pillar to slide for achieving the purpose that the sliding sleeve4can move together with the driving member2for disengaging the sliding sleeve4from the anchoring portion5.

Please refer toFIGS.7-9. The anchoring portion5has a protrusion9a, and the sliding sleeve4has a recessed structure9b. The protrusion9aslides into the recessed structure9bfor locking the sliding sleeve4and the anchoring portion5, and is disengaged from the recessed structure9bfor releasing the sliding sleeve4and the anchoring portion5. In another embodiment, the sliding sleeve4could have the protrusion9a, and the anchoring portion5could have the recessed structure9b. The recessed structure9bcould be an arc-shaped groove and the protrusion9bcould have a protruding curved surface mating with the arc-shaped groove, but not limited thereto. As such, via engagement between the protruding curved surface and the arc-shaped groove, the present invention can reduce friction between the protrusion9aand the recessed structure9bto prevent abrasion of the sliding sleeve4and the anchoring portion5, so as to increase the service life of the reversible mechanism30of the present invention.

The reversible design for the reversible mechanism100of the present invention is described as follows with the aforesaid drawings. When the user wants to perform the reversing operation of the handle10, the user just needs to operate the release actuator1to slide relative to the handle10. During the aforesaid process, the driving member2is driven by the linking member3to slide relative to the handle10, so as to disengage the sliding sleeve4from the anchoring portion5. After the sliding sleeve4is disengaged from the anchoring portion5, the handle10can be rotatable relative to the stroller frame20. Subsequently, the user can rotate the handle10to a reversing position and then release the release actuator1. At this time, the elastic member6can drive the driving member2, the release actuator1, and the sliding sleeve4to return to their original positions, so as to make the sliding sleeve4engaged with the anchoring portion5at the reversing position.

Compared with the prior art, the stroller100of the present invention includes the stroller frame20, the reversible member pivoted to the stroller frame20, and the reversible mechanism30. The reversible member can be locked at different positions on the stroller frame20via the reversible mechanism30, so as to achieve the purpose that the handle reversing operation of the stroller100can be performed quickly and conveniently. Via the aforesaid design that the sliding sleeve4can be engaged with or disengaged from the anchoring portion5, the release actuator1is linked with the sliding sleeve4, the release actuator1and the sliding sleeve4are movably disposed on the reversible member, and the anchoring portions5are disposed on at least two different positions of the stroller frame20, the sliding sleeve4can be engaged with any one of the anchoring portions5for locking the reversible member at the different positions on the stroller frame20. In such a manner, after the user operates the release actuator1, movement of the release actuator1can drive the sliding sleeve4to be disengaged from the anchoring portion5, so as to make the reversible member rotatable relative to the stroller frame20. Subsequently, the reversible member can be locked at a reversing position on the stroller frame20after rotating the reversible member to the reversing position. In summary, since the release actuator1is linked with the sliding sleeve4, the release actuator1can be disposed at a position easy to operate, so as to achieve the purpose that the handle reversing operation of the stroller100can be performed conveniently and quickly. Furthermore, as known from the aforesaid description, the reversible mechanism30of the present invention has a simple structural design.