CARRIER AID FOR FITTING TO A PRAM OR PUSHCHAIR

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier aid (1) for fitting to a pram or pushchair (2). The carrier aid (1) comprises an upright (3), a swivel castor (4) that is positioned at the bottom of the upright (3) and a load bearer (5) that is fixed to the top of the upright (3). The upright is attached to a pram or pushchair (2). Various accessories, such as a child's seat (9) of the type for fitting on a bycicle, can be placed on the load bearer for easy transport of a child or, for example, a bicycle bag, carrier straps or a shopping basket. Figure 1.

Description: Carrier aid for fitting to a pram or pushchair The present invention relates to a carrier aid for fitting to a pram or pushchair. Such carrier aids are known from the prior art. A carrier aid that is widely used in practice consists of a relatively small plank that offers a toddler just enough room to stand on with his/her feet. This plank is provided at the front with two relatively small, fixed wheels mounted directly below the plank and is provided at the back with coupling means in order to fit the plank to the lower rear transverse bar of a pram or pushchair. The body of a toddler standing on the plank extends through the U-shaped pushbar or between the two push handles of the pram or pushchair. This known carrier aid has a number of disadvantages. A first disadvantage is that the toddler has to stand on the plank in order to be carried. In practical terms, the toddler must therefore be more than 2 to 1V years old. Furthermore, it is very easy for the toddler to step off while travelling, for example when crossing a road. A second disadvantage is that, because there is no lower rear transverse bar, this carrier aid cannot be used with so-called buggies, that is to say with pushchairs of the type that can be folded up horizontally, transverse to the direction of travel, and where the left-hand and right-hand wheels move towards one another when folding up. A third disadvantage is that the weight of the toddler standing on the plank is borne entirely by said lower rear transverse bar, or possibly another pram or pushchair frame section, which bar has usually not been designed for this. Furthermore, reference can be made to European Patent Application EP A 0 918 011, in which a carrier aid device for a pram is shown. This device comprises a plank which is provided with swivel castors at the bottom and which can be detachably fixed to a pram. Children can only be transported standing on the plank. European Patent Application EP A 0 911 251 describes a trailer that can be connected to a pram. The trailer comprises a plank, on which a wheel is fitted on each of two opposing sides. The coupling device for connecting to a pram is adjustable in height, so that the plank is independent ofthe coupling height to the pram. WO 99/16653 shows a pram provided with a trailer that comprises a triangularly shaped plank. The plank is provided with a swivel castor at the bottom and on the side of the plank that adjoins the pram is provided with two fixing points for fixing the plank to the pram. Finally, US Patent US 5 653 460 shows a pushchair provided with an auxiliary device to be fitted behind it. This auxiliary device comprises two bars fixed to the two handles, wheels being mounted on the bottom of said bars. The bars to which the handles are fixed are curved at the top ofthe backrest of the pushchair, so that the section of these bars between the backrest and the handles forms an essentially horizontal framework. A seat support is accommodated in a suspended manner in this framework. The aim ofthe present invention is to provide an improved carrier aid that goes some way towards overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages. Said aim is achieved according to the invention by providing a carrier aid for fitting to a pram or pushchair, comprising: an upright having a swivel castor at the bottom and a load bearer at the top; a tubular section having a tube passage through which the upright is inserted in such a way that the tubular section can slide along the latter; coupling means which at one end are fixed to the tubular section and at the other end can be fixed to the pram or pushchair. The upright, which will be essentially vertical, bears the weight of the carried child directly and (virtually) completely over the swivel castor, so that the additional load is not imposed on the pram or pushchair. In this context swivelling of the swivel castor is important since otherwise the steerability of the pram or pushchair with carrier aid is moderate to poor. Because the carrier aid is coupled to the pram or pushchair via the upright and a tubular section that is slideable over the latter, pram or pushchair and carrier aid are easily able to overcome differences in height, such as kerbs, doorsteps, etc. Because the child is seated completely above the ground it is no longer able to get off suddenly. Because the child is sitting (instead of standing) the child can be relatively very young (from about 6 months old) and the trips for which it is carried can, moreover, be much longer; the child may possibly even fall asleep. The load bearer as such can assume a wide variety of shapes. It can be a quick-release coupling element on which a seat, such as a chair, can be detachably fitted. However, it can also be a fitting on which a seat, such as a chair with, for example, arm- and backrests, is permanently fitted, or for ease of assembly is semi-permanently fitted, in which case the load bearer itself comprises a seat. In order to provide seating for a carried child at all times, that is to say even when there is not a (detachable) seat, it is advantageous according to the invention if the load bearer comprises a frame that spans a horizontal upward-facing surface. In order to save on storage space and nevertheless to be able to make use of very good seats it is highly advantageous according to the invention if the load bearer is constructed like a rear baggage carrier for a bicycle, such that a child's seat of the type for fitting on the rear of a bicycle can be fitted thereon. The load bearer can also be used for transporting loads, such as shopping and the like. If the load bearer is constructed like a rear baggage carrier for a bicycle, cycle bags, carrier straps, shopping baskets and the like that are normally available commercially can be attached in a simple manner. People who have difficulty walking can also rest by sitting or leaning on the load bearer. In one embodiment of the present invention the latter can be provided with an automated or manually operated drive device. Such a drive device is, in particular, advantageous if children and/or loads are transported in a hilly area. The force that is needed to push the pram or pushchair with the carrier aid can be kept to a minimum. An embodiment provided with a brake is, of course, also a possibility. So that the child remains sufficiently high above the ground and is not able to touch the ground with his/her feet when travelling, it is preferable if the upright has a length of at least 50 cm, measured from the swivel castor to the bottom ofthe load bearer. According to an advantageous embodiment, the coupling means comprise at least two, preferably three, fitting arms, a carrier aid end of each arm being connected to the aid and a pram or pushchair end of each arm being provided with coupling elements for attaching to the pram or pushchair, in particular a bar of the pram or pushchair frame. The two, preferably three, fitting arms make reliable attachment ofthe carrier aid to the pram or pushchair possible, it being possible, in particular, to achieve a fixed position ofthe tubular section with respect to the pram or pushchair in a reliable and simple manner. So that the carrier aid can easily be made ready for use with various models of pram or pushchair, it is advantageous according to the invention if: one or more, such as all, fitting arms are telescopic and are capable of being fixed at specific lengths; and/or at least two of the fitting arms are hinged at the pram or pushchair end, in particular about a vertical hinge axis; and/or a third fitting arm can hinge at the pram or pushchair end about a horizontal hinge axis. So that the person pushing does not have to reach with his/her arms around the child being carried, it is preferable if the carrier aid has one or two push handles that are provided on that side ofthe aid that faces away from the pram or pushchair. In order to counteract twisting of the seat with respect to the pram or pushchair, it is preferable according to the invention if the upright and the tube passage fit tightly into one another and have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. According to a further aspect the invention relates to an assembly of a carrier aid according to the invention and a child's seat of the type for fitting on the rear of a bicycle. With such an assembly it is particularly advantageous according to the invention if the handle for pushing is a U-shaped bar which is fitted on the frame bars or the frame of the pram or pushchair. What is achieved by fixing a U-shaped bar to the frame of the pram or pushchair is that a front wheel of the pram or pushchair will rise if the push handle is pushed towards the ground, so that manoeuvring of the pram or pushchair, in particular in bends, is appreciably simplified. It is also possible to fix the handle for pushing to the child's seat ofthe type for fitting on a bicycle. According to the invention pram or pushchair is understood to be either a three- wheeled or four-wheeled pram or pushchair, as well as a few prams or pushchairs that can be folded up vertically and pushchairs that can be folded up vertically and horizontally (so- called buggies). The present invention will be explained with reference to a detailed illustrative embodiment, that is non-limiting, with the aid of the figures shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a pram provided with a carrier aid; Fig. 2 shows a side view ofthe carrier aid; and Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a pushchair provided with a carrier aid. Figure 1 shows a side view of a pram 2 provided with a carrier aid 1. The carrier aid 1 comprises an upright 3 that is positioned essentially vertically. The upright 3 is provided at its bottom with a swivel castor 4 attached thereto. The upright 3 is provided at the top with a load bearer 5. The upright 3 is inserted in the tube passage of a tube section 6 that runs parallel to the upright 3. The tube section 6 is rigidly joined with the aid of coupling means 7 in the form of two essentially horizontal tubes to a fitting arm 12 with the aid of a carrier aid end coupling 13, 14, 15. A child's seat 9 of the type for fitting on a bicycle is fixed to the load bearer 5, which child's seat is positioned in such a way that the child placed in the child's seat 9 looks towards the pram 2. A push handle 23 for pushing the combination made up ofthe entire pram 2 and carrier aid 1 is positioned on that side ofthe child's seat 9, ofthe type for fitting on a bicycle, that faces away from the pram. This push handle 23 is in the form of a U-shaped bar 23 which is mounted on the rear of said child's seat 9, ofthe type for fitting on a bicycle, in particular on the armrest 24 of said child's seat 9. The load bearer 5 is mounted on the top of the upright 3. This load bearer 5 is constructed like a rear baggage carrier for a bicycle, so that standard child seats 9 of the type for fitting on a bicycle can be mounted on the load bearer 5. Other standard accessories that are intended for use on a baggage carrier, such as, for example, bicycle bags or carrier straps, can also advantageously be fitted. Figure 2 shows a side view ofthe carrier aid 1 according to the present invention. An upright 3 is accommodated, such that it can slide in the directions of the double-headed arrow L, in a tube passage that is in the tube section 6. A swivel castor 4 is fixed to the bottom ofthe upright 3, whilst a load bearer 5, that largely corresponds to a baggage carrier for a standard bicycle, is provided at the top of the upright 3. The load bearer spans a horizontal, upward-facing surface 8, that serves as seat if a separate child's seat 9, of the type for fitting on a bicycle, is not mounted on the load bearer 5. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a pushchair 2 provided with a carrier aid 1. The carrier aid 1 is connected with the aid of three fitting arms 10, 11 and 12 to the pushchair 2 at the location of pushchair end couplings 16, 17, 18 ofthe fitting arms. All fitting arms 10, 11, 12 are telescopic and are capable of being fixed at specific lengths in order to make possible adaptation to as many different types of prams or pushchairs 2 as possible. The fitting arms are telescopic in the longitudinal direction (always indicated by a double- headed arrow in Figure 3) ofthe fitting arms 10, 11, 12. The fitting arms are attached to the frame ofthe pushchair 2 at the location ofthe frame bars 19, 20 and 21. The fitting arms 10 and 11 are constructed such that they hinge about a vertical hinge axis 22, which has the same axis 22 as the third fitting arm 12. As a result, partly because of the telescopic fitting arms, the carrier aid can be fixed to many types of prams or pushchairs. An alternative, preferred pushbar 50 is also shown by broken lines in Figure 3. This pushbar 50 is U-shaped and mounted by the free ends on the original pushbar of the pushchair. The child's seat 9 shown in Figure 1 will, after assembly, lie as it were within the pushbar 50. One advantage ofthe pushbar 50 is, inter alia, that the child's seat 9 can be fitted such that the child looks forwards or backwards, as desired, that even without a child's seat there is a pushbar that is readily accessible and that when pushing the pushchair the carrier aid itself is free from additional loading.

Claims: Claims 1. Carrier aid (1) for fitting to a pram or pushchair (2), comprising: an upright (3) having a swivel castor (4) at the bottom and a load bearer (5) at the top; a tubular section (6) having a tube passage through which the upright (3) is inserted in such a way that the tubular section (6) can slide along the latter; coupling means (7) which at one end are fixed to the tubular section (6) and at the other end can be fixed to the pram or pushchair (2). 2. Aid (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the load bearer (5) comprises a frame that spans a horizontal upward-facing surface (8). 3. Aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bearer (5) comprises a seat (8). 4. Aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load bearer is constructed like a rear baggage carrier (5) for a bicycle, such that a child's seat (9) of the type for fitting on the rear of a bicycle can be fitted thereon. 5. Aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright (3) has a length (L) of at least 50 cm, measured from the swivel castor (4) to the underside of the load bearer (5). 6. Aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means comprise at least two, preferably three, fitting arms (10, 11, 12), a carrier aid end (13, 14, 15) of each arm being connected to the aid (1) and a pram or pushchair end (16, 17, 18) of each arm being provided with coupling elements for attaching to the pram or pushchair (2), in particular a bar (19, 20, 21) ofthe pram or pushchair frame. 7. Aid (1) according to Claim 6, wherein one or more, such as all, fitting arms (10, 11, 12) are telescopic and are capable of being fixed at specific lengths. 8. Aid (1) according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein at least two ofthe fitting arms (10, 11) are hinged at the pram or pushchair end (16, 17), in particular about a vertical hinge axis (22). 9. Aid (1) according to one of Claims 6 - 8, wherein a third fitting arm can hinge at the pram or pushchair end about a horizontal hinge axis. 10. Aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or two push handles (23) provided in the vicinity of that side of the aid (1) that faces away from the pram or pushchair (2). 11. Aid (1) according to one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the upright (3) and the tube passage fit tightly into one another and have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 12. Assembly (1) of a carrier aid according to one of the preceding claims and a child's seat (9) ofthe type for fitting on the rear of a bicycle. 13. Assembly according to Claim 12, in combination with at least Claim 10, wherein the push handle (23) is a U-shaped bar which can be fitted on a frame section of the pram or pushchair (2).

Inventors: DUIJSTER MARCEL RAMON, DUIJSTER RONALD ERWIN, DUIJSTER, MARCEL, RAMON, DUIJSTER, RONALD, ERWIN
Applicants: DUIJSTER HOLDING B V, DUIJSTER MARCEL RAMON, DUIJSTER RONALD ERWIN, DUIJSTER HOLDING B.V., DUIJSTER, MARCEL, RAMON, DUIJSTER, RONALD, ERWIN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B62B9
IPC codes: B62B9