PRAM

Abstract: The invention relates to a perambulator (1), comprising: a folding frame provided with wheels (9); and a carrying element (5) connectable to the frame for carrying the child to be transported, wherein the frame comprises a substantially horizontally extending undercarriage (2) and a pushing element (3), wherein the pushing element (3) extends as a rigid unit above and as far as the undercarriage (2) and is hindegly connected to the undercarriage and wherein the carrying element is connectable to the pushing element. As a result of these steps, because the cross-shaped part of the frame of the prior art perambulators is omitted, a perambulator is obtained with a much smaller number of components. A perambulator is furthermore obtained of which the appearance is largely determined by the structure of the frame, which is generally seen in a positive light. According to a preferred embodiment the pushing element (3) of the perambulator is provided with two rods (17), each connected hingedly to the undercarriage (2), and with a substantially U-shaped push rod (20) connected thereto for sliding in longitudinal direction, wherein the push rod is lockable with the rods (17) in at least one position.

Description: PRAM The invention relates to a pram, comprising a folding frame provided with wheels and a carrying element connectable to the frame for carrying the child to be transported, wherein the frame comprises a substantially horizontally extending undercarriage and a pushing element. Such child carriages are generally known. They are provided with a frame which, in addition to the under¬ carriage, has a part with a cross-shaped structure to which the pushing element is connected, and on which cross-shaped structure the carrying element for the child can be placed. To enable storage of the perambulator in the smallest possible space or to enable it to be taken along in for instance the boot of a car, such a perambula- tor is collapsible. This generally takes place by removing the carrying element and by folding up the part of the frame with the cross-shaped structure by means of tilting the pushing element. The frame can hereby be folded to a height which is usually slightly smaller than the height of the wheels. Furthermore, the wheels are in many cases also detachable from the frame. Such a perambulator of the prior art comprises a large number of parts, whereby production is expensive and the frame is relatively heavy. The object of the present invention is to provide a perambulator which is lighter and whereof the number of parts is smaller. The invention moreover has for its object to provide a perambulator which, because of its simple structure, has a more attractive appearance than the perambulators of the prior art. This object is achieved by a perambulator wherein the pushing element extends as a rigid unit above and as far as the undercarriage and is hingedly connected to the undercarriage and wherein the carrying element is connectable to the pushing element. As a result of these steps, because the cross-shaped part of the frame of the prior art perambulators is omitted, a perambulator is obtained with a much smaller number of components. A perambulator is furthermore ob¬ tained of which the appearance is largely determined by the structure of the frame, which is generally seen in a positive light. Because the pushing element is connected hingedly to the undercarriage the perambulator according to the inven¬ tion is also foldable. It is further noted that while perambulators are known in the form of so-called "buggies", which likewise have two rods extending from the front of the carriage obliquely rearward to the handles, a very large number of other rods is moreover still present in these perambula¬ tors of the prior art, so that these perambulators have many components and, if they are to be constructed sufficiently robustly, they are comparatively heavy or must be manufactured from costly materials. According to a preferred embodiment the pushing element of the perambulator is provided with two rods, each connected hingedly to the undercarriage, and with a substantially U-shaped push rod connected thereto for sliding in longitudinal direction, wherein the push rod is lockable with the rods in at least one position. The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a perambulator according to the present invention; figure 2 shows a perspective view of the perambulator of figure 1 in folded situation,- figure 3 is a sectional view of one of the two hinge constructions forming part of the perambulator according to the invention; and figure 4 is an exploded view of a detail construction of the perambulator according to the present invention. Shown in figure 1 is a perambulator 1 formed by an undercarriage 2 and a pushing element 3 hingedly connected to the undercarriage 2. Further fixed to pushing element 3 is a sub-frame 4 which is adapted to fix a carrycot 5 or a child seat 6. The undercarriage 2 is formed by a U-shaped curved tube 7 onto which are fixed shaft stumps 8, on each of which wheels 9 can be rotatably mounted. A wire mesh bas¬ ket 10 is arranged inside the U-shaped curved tube 7. Fixed on the frame close to both rear wheels is a braking mechanism 11 formed by brackets 12 which are fixed to the U-shaped tube 7 and to which a lever 13 is pivotally connected which is provided on both ends with brake sleeves 14 which can be placed with the foot against the tread of the relevant wheels 9. The braking mechanism further comprises at least one spring 15 for urging the lever 13 to its active or inactive position. The pushing element 3 is connected to the under¬ carriage 2 by means of two hinge constructions 16. The latter will be further elucidated with reference to figure 3. The pushing element 3 is formed by two tubes 17 which are each connected to one of the hinge constructions 16. On their other end a U-shaped curved pushing tube 18 is placed into each of the tubes 17. The U-shaped pushing tube 18 is thus slidable in longitudinal direction inside both tubes 17, wherein tube 18 is fixable in each of the tubes 17 by means of fixation constructions 19 which will be elucidated with reference to figure 4. A sheath 20 manufactured from plastic is further arranged on the pushing side of the U-shaped curved pushing tube 18. Finally, the perambulator 2 comprises fixation con¬ structions 21, 22 respectively for fastening the sub-frame 4 to the tubes 17 and for fixing the sub-frame. These constructions will be elucidated with reference to figure 4. Both hinge constructions 16 are connected by a connecting element 23 which also functions as foot rest. Figure 2 shows how the perambulator is folded up, wherein the pushing element is tilted almost parallel to undercarriage 2, and wherein the U-shaped pushing tube 18 is pushed into both tubes 17. In this situation the peram¬ bulator 1 takes up the smallest volume. The hinge construction 16 is shown in more detail in figure 3. Hinge construction 16 comprises a component 24 which is manufactured from plastic and provided with a sleeve 25 into which is inserted an end of the U-shaped tube 7 which is fixed therein by means of a pin 26. The component 24 comprises on its other side two cheeks 27 which are connected on their upper part by a cover part 28, and wherein on the end of both cheeks 27 is arranged a hinge pin 29 in which another part 30 of the hinge con¬ struction is pivotally mounted. The second part 30 runs out at its free end into a round rod 31 around which the relevant rod 17 is arranged, wherein rod 17 is fixed onto rod 31 by means of a fixation pin 32. Using the above construction the rod 17 can thus move downward as indicated by arrow 33. The second part 30 extends further in line with rod 17 and is provided on its upper part with a stop surface 34 for limiting the stroke of the part 30 up to the cover plate 28. On its outside the part 30 is provided with a strengthening side plate 35. For decorative purposes a sphere 36 is further arranged on the stop on plate 28. In order to lock the hinge construction in its ex¬ treme position the part 30 is provided with a locking tongue 37 which in its locked position falls into a space 38 inside a hook 39 arranged between both cheeks 27. Hook 39 is arranged pivotally between both cheeks 27 by means of a shaft 40. A spring 41 presses hook 39 to the position in which the tongue 37, and therewith the second part 30 and thus the whole pushing element, is locked in its uppermost position. With the construction discussed up to this point it is thus possible, by moving the pushing along the slots 52. In order to lock carriage 53 is the relevant position on rod 17, use is made of a pin 56 which is guided through a guide sleeve 57 likewise forming part of the carriage 53. In the locked position the pin 57 extends through an aperture 58 arranged in tube 17. The pin 57 is urged through the hole 58 by means of a spring 59. In order to release pin 56 use is made of the chamfering 46 of the solid portion 45. When pushing rod 18 is moved downward the slanting side 46 presses against a chamfered side 60 of pin 57 so that the latter is pressed out of the hole 58 and the carriage 53 can move along rod 17 and the pushing element can be folded downward in the direction of arrow 33. Thus is obtained the double safety usual in perambu¬ lators; both the hook 39 and the pin 56 must be released. Shown in figure 4 is the fixation construction 19 for fixing the pushing rod 18 in the rod 17. In order to enable fixation use is made of holes 61 arranged in pushing rod 18. At the position of the fixation mechanism 19 an aperture 62 is arranged in rod 17, while each time a hole 61 is arranged coinciding with aperture 62 a pin 63 can be inserted through both openings. Fixation can thus take place. By moving the pin 63 in the direction perpendicular to the rods 17,18 fixation can be engaged or disengaged. For driving of the pin 63 the head of pin 63 is pro¬ vided with a guide plate 64. In order to drive guide plate 64 use is made of a sleeve 65 arranged slidably on tube 17. To facilitate sliding of sleeve 65 a plastic sheath 66 is arranged round tube 17 at the position of the slide path, while the inside of sleeve 65 is provided with two pairs of guides 67 which extend obliquely so that the longitudinal movement of sleeve 65 results in a movement of both guides 67 perpendicularly thereof, and therewith also of the guide plate 64 enclosed between guides 67 and of the pin 63. By thus sliding sleeve 19 longitudinally

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Perambulator, comprising: - a folding frame provided with wheels; and - a carrying element connectable to the frame for carrying the child to be transported, wherein the frame comprises a substantially horizontally extending under¬ carriage and a pushing element, characterized in that the pushing element extends as a rigid unit above and as far as the undercarriage and is hingedly connected to the undercarriage and that the carrying element is connectable to the pushing element. 2. Perambulator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pushing element comprises two rods, each connected hingedly to the undercarriage, and a substan¬ tially U-shaped push rod connected thereto for sliding in longitudinal direction, and that the push rod is lockable with the rods in at least one position. 3. Perambulator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the push rod is telescopically slidable in both rods. 4. Perambulator as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the pushing element can be locked in at least one angular position relative to the undercarriage by means of a locking mechanism. 5. Perambulator as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the locking mechanism can be released by means of a release mechanism connected to the U-shaped push rod. 6. Perambulator as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized by a support element for supporting the pushing element in a locked position. 7. Perambulator as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the support element on the side of the pushing element is connected to the pushing element by means of a carriage slidable along the pushing element and that the carriage can be locked in at least one position with the pushing element by means of a second locking mechanism. 8. Perambulator as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the second locking mechanism can be released by means of a release mechanism connected to the U-shaped push rod. 9. Perambulator as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the support element is adapted to perform a spring function. 10. Perambulator as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a sub-frame is hingedly connected to the pushing element, that the sub-frame is adapted to receive the child carrier and that the sub- frame can be locked in at least one position with the pushing element. 11. Perambulator as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the sub-frame can be connected to the pushing element by means of two separate locking me¬ chanisms. 12. Perambulator as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the first locking element is only releasable by pressing a button and that the second locking element can be placed in the released position or in the locked position by means of a lever.

Inventors: BOST BART WILLEM JOSEF, DRIESSEN FRANCISCUS JOHANNES C, BOST, BART, WILLEM, JOSEF, DRIESSEN, FRANCISCUS, JOHANNES, CORNELIS
Applicants: BOST BART WILLEM JOSEF, DRIESSEN BEHEER BV, DRIESSEN FRANCISCUS JOHANNES C, BOST, BART, WILLEM, JOSEF, DRIESSEN BEHEER B.V., DRIESSEN, FRANCISCUS, JOHANNES, CORNELIS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B62B7
IPC codes: B62B7, B62B9