Child's combination carseat and stroller

Abstract: type having a molded plastic shell (12) with lower door panels (21, 22) in the shell and a wheel assembly includes front and rear legs (14, 15) pivotally connected to a common support member (25) within the shell and extensible between a downwardly divergent stroller position beneath the shell and upper retracted position within the shell under the control of a manual release member (26) which is slidable along the support member for the wheel assembly. A handle unit (13) is telescopically mounted with respect to the support member and is retractable into the shell when converted into a carseat. The door panels on the bottom of the shell follow movement of the wheel assembly so as to open in extending the wheel assembly beneath the shell for use as a stroller and will return to a closed position when the wheel assembly is retracted into the shell.

Description: This invention relates to child carriers; and more particularly relates to a novel and improved carrier of the type which can be converted into a carseat or stroller. Strollers have been devised which are convertible into carseats. Not only does this minimize the cost of having two separate types of conveyances but avoids the necessity of lifting and carrying a carseat and child over extended distances. Among other problems associated with the combination carseats and strollers now on the market are the number of parts, the complexity of construction and operation as well as being somewhat cumbersome and heavy. Child carriers of the convertible type have been devised which have the ability to utilize the handle portions of the stroller as a support when converted into a carseat so as to space the wheels above the seat upon which the carseat can rest and avoid soiling or staining of the vehicle seat. For example, European Patent EP-A-278,385 discloses a convertible carseat/stroller, as in the preamble of claim 1, in which the wheels can be advanced between an extended position and a retracted position within a cavity on the underside of the seat portion by a series of pivot links between a back portion of the seat and the wheels. It is now proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide for a novel and improved wheel assembly and wheel release mechanism for controlling movement of the wheels between an extended and retracted position that reduces the number of parts required for a convertible carseat and stroller and at the same time is conformable for installation in a molded plastic shell customarily of the type used solely as a carseat. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved combination stroller and carseat which can be incorporated into a molded plastic shell, requires a minimum number of parts and is simplified in construction and use. A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel and improved combination stroller and carseat which is lightweight, compact and is constructed and arranged to enable a molded plastic shell to fully receive and enclose the front and rear wheels as well as to telescopingly receive the handle portion when converted from a stroller into a carseat. According to the invention there is provided a convertible carseat/stroller wherein a unitary shell includes a seat portion, back and armrest portions with a downwardly directed cavity within said shell, a front and rear wheel assembly including wheel support means in said cavity extending substantially parallel to said back portion, a Pair of front and rear legs extending downwardly from said support means and, pairs of front and rear wheels journaled to lower ends of said pairs of front and rear legs, respectively, and wheel release means being manually releasable to advance said pairs of front and rear legs and associated wheels between a lowered, downwardly divergent stroller position extending beneath said shell and an upper retracted position within said cavity characterized by said wheel support means including an elongated fixed support member within said cavity, said wheel release means being releasable for slidable movement along said fixed support member, said pair of front and rear legs extending downwardly from said wheel release means and at least one of said pair of front and rear legs being pivotally connected to said release means. Other objects and features of the invention will become more readily understood from the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of apparatus illustrated in the stroller mode; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 strapped onto a conventional vehicle seat; Figure 3 is another side view partially in section illustrated in full lines in the stroller position and in dotted form in the carseat mode; Figure 4 is a rear view of the preferred form of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the bottom and rear of the apparatus; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken about lines 7-7 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the preferred form in the carseat mode; Figure 8 is a detailed view of one of the rear wheels of the apparatus; and Figure 9 is a side view partially in section of a modified form of appratus. Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 a preferred carseat and stroller apparatus 10 which is comprised of a unitary molded shell 12, upper handle assembly 13 and front and rear wheel assemblies 14 and 15, respectively. The shell has a seat portion 16, back portion 17, side armrest portions 18 and 19 and a lower unitary extension 20. The lower unitary extension 10 is generally bowl-shaped and provided with a front door panel or hatch 21 and a pair of rear door panels 22 which are in the open position as shown in Figure 1 when the front and rear wheel assemblies 14 and 15 are extended downwardly. In the carseat mode as shown in Figure 2, the front and rear leg assemblies are retracted into the interior cavity within the shell so as to be fully housed when the door panels 21 and 22 are returned to a closed position. In this way, any direct contact between the wheels and vehicle seat is avoided and, as shown in Figure 2, the lower extension 20 may then rest directly on the vehicle seat. A conventional seat belt S may be extended through slots 24 in the armrest portions 18 and 19 to retain the apparatus in a position facing the upright portion of the vehicle seat V; or the shell may be configured such that it can be fastened in a reverse direction to that shown in Figure 2. An important feature of the present invention resides in the wheel support means 25 and wheel release means 26 wherein the wheel support means 25 comprises an elongated fixed support unit made up of a pair of tubular support or track members 28 disposed in closely spaced, parallel relation to one another for downward extension along the cavity side of the back portion 17. Each of the tubular supports 28 extends downwardly through collar-like retainers 29 which are either molded as a unitary part of an outer peripheral, thickened flange 30 at the upper edge of the back portion 17 or rigidly affixed thereto. The lower ends of the tubular supports 28 are anchored in collar-like retainers 32 which are molded as a unitary part of the lower back portion of the shell. The wheel release means 26 is in the form of a yoke 33 which traverses the greater width of the shell and has a pair of openings 34 for insertion of the tubular supports 28 such that the yoke member 33 is free to move between the upper and lower retainers 29 and 32. Opposite lateral ends 35 of the yoke are aligned with upper ends of the front and rear wheel assemblies 14 and 15 which are pivotally connected to the ends 35 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The yoke 33 also includes an intermediate recessed area 38 to receive a manually releasable clamping member 39 which is of generally channel-shaped configuration. Opposite sides 40 of the member 39 are urged forwardly away from the intermediate portion 38 by coiled spring members 42, Figure 6, to bear against the back portion 17. A pair of ribs 44 extend along the back portion of the shell and terminate in opposite ends, for example, as indicated at upper ends 45 in Figure 4, which are disposed in the path of movement of the clamping legs 40. Thus, the ribs 44 will prevent accidental sliding movement of the yoke between the raised and lowered positions. It is therefore necessary to manually squeeze the clamping member 39 and its legs 40 outwardly a sufficient distance to clear the ribs 44 in order to slide the wheel release assembly 26 between the raised and lowered positions. The front wheel assembly 14 includes a pair of legs in the form of tubular struts 48 pivotally connected at 49 to opposite ends of the yoke member 33. A fender-like cross brace 50 is fixed to the lower end of each strut 48 and carries a spring-loaded shaft 51 which extends upwardly from a bifurcated arm 52 for each front wheel 54. As such, the wheels 54 are self-centering for ease of retraction into the lower extension. The front wheel struts 48 are interconnected by the cross brace 50 which extends between the lower ends of the struts 48 and across the front end of the apparatus. The wheel assembly 14 is guided between the raised and lowered positions by pivot links 58, each link 58 having a fixed end 49 pivotally connected to the inside of an armrest portion and a movable end 53 pivotally connected to a lower portion of each respective strut 48 above the fender portion 50. When the wheel release assembly 26 is raised by the manual release member 39 as described, the pivot link 58 will undergo swinging movement in an arc from the downwardly extending vertical position, shown in full in Figure 3, to an upwardly inclined position, shown dotted in Figure 3, and the lower wheel 54 moving upwardly into the cavity formed within each armrest portion 18. The rear wheel assembly 15 is comprised of a pair of legs in the form of tubular struts 60, each being pivotally connected as at 61 to one end of the yoke 33 rearwardly of the pivotal connection 49 of the front struts 48. A rear wheel 62 is journaled to the lower end of each strut 60, and a cross brace 64 interconnects the rear wheel struts for increased lateral stability. In order to guide the movement of the rear wheel assembly, a pivot link 66 includes a fixed pivotal end 67 pivotally connected to the underside of the shell adjacent to the lower end of the back portion 17 and a movable end 68 is pivotally attached to an intermediate point on each strut 60. Accordingly, as the release assembly 26 is advanced upwardly to raise the wheel assemblies 14 and 15, the struts 60 will be guided from the extended position as shown in full to an upper retracted position as shown dotted in Figure 3, by the swinging movement of the pivot link 66 about the fixed pivotal end. In this way, the wheel 62 will move into a position within the lower extension portion 20 of the shell so that the rear door panels 22 can be raised along with the front door panel 21 into a closed position. The shell 12 is in the form of a chair having the seat portion 16, backrest portion 17, side armrest portions 18 and 19 and a lower unitary extension 20 which encloses the lower end of the shell. The interior cavity within the shell includes a shallow portion 70 beneath the seat and relatively deep wells 71 and 72 beneath the armrest portions 18 and 19, respectively. The wells 71 and 72 continue upwardly along the rear area of the shell, and the back portion 17 is left open for convenient access to the wheel release means 26 and specifically the clamping member 39. The lower unitary extension 20 includes a flat base panel section 74, an upwardly inclined front panel section 75 for the door panel 21 and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear panel 76 in which the rear door panels 22 are mounted. The front panel 21 includes a hinge section 77, and a flange 78 extends rearwardly into the path of movement of the front crossbrace 50, Figure 3. The front wheels 54 when extended downwardly and outwardly through the front door panel will bear directly against the panel 21 to force it into the extended position, Figure 3, so as to act as a leg rest or support in that position; however, when the front wheels are raised, crossbrace 50 will move into engagement with the flange 78 to cause the door panel 21 to follow upward movement of the wheels into the closed position. The rear door panel 22 is hinged at 80 for downward and forward movement in response to extension of the rear wheels 62. Similarly, when the wheels 62 are raised, they will move into engagement with a flange 82 so as to cause the door panel 22 to follow the upward movement of the rear wheels and move into a closed position covering the wheel, as shown dotted in Figure 3. The shell may be composed of various materials, such as, a rigid inner plastic layer 84, an intermediate foam layer 85 and an outer fabric or padded layer 86. In addition to the slots 24 for the vehicle seat belt S, a shoulder harness 88 is incorporated into the shell with the shoulder straps 88' shown in Figure 1 extending forwardly through slots in the back portion 17 of the shell. The handle section 13 includes an upper handle grip 90 having a curved configuration corresponding to the curvature of the upper peripheral edge 30 of the back portion 17. Stems 91 extend downwardly from the handle bar 90 through the tubular support portions 28, and spring-loaded buttons 92 control telescoping movement of the stems 91 through the supports 28. Openings, not shown, may be provided along the length of the supports 28 for adjustable engagement with the spring-loaded buttons 92 to regulate the height of the handle section 13 above the shell or chair when in the stroller position. In the carseat mode, the buttons 92 are released to slide the stems 91 downwardly until the handlebar 90 engages with the upper edge 30 of the shell. Figure 8 illustrates in more detail a rear wheel assembly 15 which is comprised of a pair of wheels 62 journaled on a common shaft 95, the shaft extending through the lower end of each strut 60. A spoke 96 is carried on the shaft to co-operate with the braking member 97 which is pivotally mounted as at 98 and a cog 99 on the member 97 is caused to interengage the spokes 96 to brake the stroller against movement. Assuming that the unit is in the stroller mode, the braking unit can be engaged by pressing down with the foot in order to brake the stroller against movement. Conversely, the braking unit may be disengaged by lifting up on the lower end of the member 97. To convert into a carseat, the handle 13 is released by depressing the buttons 92 and sliding the stems 91 down until the handlebar 90 engages the upper end of the shell, Figure 7. The clamping member 39 is then manually engaged to release the yoke member 33 and permit it to advance from the lowered position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 5. The front and rear wheel assemblies 14 and 15 will advance upwardly through the bottom panel into the retracted position, Figure 3, and the door panels 21 and 22 will follow the upward movement of the wheels 54 and 62 and move into closed positions forming a smooth continuation of the bottom panel 74. The child may be left in the stroller as it is converted into the carseat mode and then placed on the seat of the vehicle, Figure 2. The child is then strapped in the carseat in a conventional manner using the safety harness 88 and by passing the seat belt S through the slots 24 in the armrests 18 of the shell. The shell configuration is intended for use as a carseat in which the child is buckled to face the rear of the vehicle or the shell may be so constructed to face in a forward direction. A modified form of child carrier 10' is illustrated in Figure 9 and like parts are enumerated as in Figures 1 to 8. Once again, the carrier comprises a unitary shell 12', upper handle section 13', a seat portion 16', back portion 17' and armrest portions 18'. Front and rear door panels 21' and 22' are provided in lower unitary extension 20'. Modified front and rear wheel assemblies 100 and 102 can advance between the lowered stroller position, Figure 9, and a raised retracted position within the shell. Also, wheel support means 25' have support tubes 28' for telescoping engagement with the downwardly extending stems 91' of the handle section; however, wheel release unit 26' is a modified yoke member 104 similar to the yoke member 33 which traverses the substantial width of the back portion 17' and has openings, not shown, to receive the tubular support members 28' of the wheel support means. Opposite ends of the yoke 104 curve downwardly and forwardly into tubular strut members 106 for the front wheel assembly, and the upper ends of the struts 106 are supported by rollers 108 fastened to opposite sides of the back portion of the shell. The lower ends of the struts 106 have a fenderlike extension 110, and ground-engaging wheels 112 are journaled for rotation from the extension 110. The rear wheel assembly includes rearwardly inclined tubular struts 114 pivoted at 115 to the underside of the yoke member 104. Pivot link 116 is provided for each of the rear struts 114 and includes an upper pivotal end 117 pivotal to the underside of the back portion 17' and a lower end 118 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the rear strut 114. Conventional ground-engaging wheels 120 are journaled to lower ends of the struts 114. The yoke member 104 has a wheel release corresponding to the wheel release member 39 of the preferred form. When engaged to permit upward movement of the yoke 104 along the support tubes 28', the rear wheel assembly will slide up with the yoke member as it is caused to swing inwardly and upwardly about the fixed pivot 117 into a position substantially parallel to the support tubes 28', and the wheels 120 move into the relatively deep well portions of the cavity on either side of the seat and back portions. In turn, the front leg assembly will advance upwardly along with the yoke member 104 while maintaining the same angular relationship to the support members 28' until the front wheels 112 also have moved completely within the side well portions of the cavity. The door panels 21' and 22' may follow the upward movement of the wheels into the closed position as described in the preferred form. Also, the operation of the wheel assemblies of the modified form is the same as the preferred form. The major distinction is the fact that the pivotal mounting of the front legs in the preferred form offers greater latitude in the movement of the front leg assembly and added structural support as provided by the pivot link 58. It is therefore to be understood that various modifications may be made in the invention as described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: A convertible carseat/stroller (10) wherein a unitary shell (12) includes a seat portion (16), back (17) and armrest portions (18,19) with a downwardly directed cavity within said shell, a front and rear wheel assembly (14,15) including wheel support means (25) in said cavity extending substantially parallel to said back portion, a pair of front and rear legs (48,60) extending downwardly from said support means, pairs of front and rear wheels (54,62) journaled to lower ends of said pairs of front and rear legs (48,60), respectively, and wheel release means (26) being manually releasable to advance said pairs of front and rear legs and associated wheels between a lowered, downwardly divergent stroller position extending beneath said shell and an upper retracted position within said cavity characterized by said wheel support means (25) including an elongated fixed support member (28) within said cavity, said wheel release means (26) being releasable for slidable movement along said fixed support member (28), said pair of front and rear legs (48,60) extending downwardly from said wheel release means and at least one of said pair of front and rear legs being pivotally connected to said release means (26). A carseat/stroller according to claim 1, including guide means (66) between said rear legs (48,60) and said wheel support means (25) causing said rear legs to be folded into a position in substantial alignment with said wheel support means (25) when in the retracted position. A carseat/stroller according to claim 1, said guide means defined by pivot links (66) between said rear legs and said wheel support member. A carseat/stroller according to claim 1, said wheel release means including a yoke (33) slidably disposed on said wheel support means (25), and a spring-loaded clamping member (39) on said yoke normally urged in a direction bearing against said back portion to prevent slidable movement of said yoke with respect to said wheel support means, and rib member (44) on said back portion in the path of movement of said spring-loaded clamping member. A carseat/stroller according to claim 1, said wheel support means defined by a pair of elongated track members (28) extending in spaced parallel relation to one another along said back portion of said shell, and a handle member extending rearwardly and upwardly from said shell including downwardly extending legs telescopingly mounted with respect to said track members (28). A carseat/stroller according to claim 1, said unitary shell including a bottom panel (20) defining a unitary extension of said shell in spaced relation beneath said seat portion, and front and rear door panels (21,22) in said bottom panel. A carseat/stroller according to claim 6, including means (77,80) pivotally mounting said door panels with respect to said bottom panels for movement between an open position when said wheel assembly is extended for use as a stroller and a closed position when said wheel assembly is retracted within said cavity for use as a carseat.

Inventors: CONE RICHARD E, CONE, RICHARD E.
Applicants: RAINBOW ROLLER VENTURE
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B62B7
IPC codes: B62B7, B60N2, A47D15