Abstract:
A collapsible mobile chair assembly comprises a frame having a pair of wheel axles which include rack gearing and are slidably mounted in said frame for axial moveable between an extended operating position and a retracted storage position. The rack gearing of the axles overlap and drivingly engaging a pinion gear provided on the frame, constraining the axles slidingly to move together in opposite directions. Two support plate assemblies are provided on opposing sides of the chair, a rear fork assembly extending from each support plate assembly. A front fork strut and a handle strut are each pivotally attached to each support plate for movement between an extended operational position and a retracted storage position. The front fork and handle struts include gearing formed thereon which mesh so as to constrain struts on respective sides to rotate together between their extended and their retracted positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to British Application No. 0422967.0, titled “Folding Wheeled Chair” filed Oct. 15, 2004.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to wheeled chair frames such as pushchair frames of the type which fold up for compact storage.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is well known to make pushchairs, wheel chairs and the like foldable both for compact storage for example in the home as well as to enable them easily to be stowed, for example, in the boot of a car for easy transport. This is typically achieved by providing a frame assembly having wheels and a handle on which is removably mountable a chair assembly. In this way, the chair can be stored separately from the frame. Furthermore, by provision of suitable hinge joints, the frames of known pushchairs etc can be made to collapse into a more compact shape, for example by folding the handle portion against the main body of the frame. However, such known folding pushchairs and the like have the drawback that they are complicate to fold up and reassemble due to the requirement to operate a number of release catches and fold a number of different parts separately to each other, making the operation of folding and unfolding time consuming and cumbersome.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible mobile chair assembly comprising a frame having at least one pair of wheel axles substantially axially aligned with each other and extending from opposing sides of the frame, each axle being slidably mounted in said frame so as to be axially moveable between an operating position in which it extends from frame and a storage position in which it is substantially retracted into said frame, and each axle of said pair axially overlapping the other axial of said pair and having a gearing formed on their overlapping portions, a gear being provided on said frame which simultaneously engages the gearing formed on both axles of said pair so as to constrain said axles slidingly to move in equal and opposite directions.  
         [0005]     A mobile chair assembly according to the invention has the advantage that the wheels mounted on said axles can easily be retracted so as to shorten the width of the chair for compact storage.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the gearing formed on each of said axles is a rack gear, said gearing being provided on surfaces of the two axles which face each other, and the gearing on the frame is a pinion gear. Other forms of gearing such as a worm gear are also possible however. In one embodiment, frame includes an axle tube from which the axles extend, the gearing being housed within the tube.  
         [0007]     In a particularly preferred embodiment, cables are attached to at least one of the axles, which operate automatically to extend and retract the axles when the frame is moved from a collapsed to an erect position. More particularly, a first cable is attached to an inner end of one of the axles and a second cable is attached to an intermediate point of the said one of the axles, said first cable being tensions and the second cable slackened as the frame is moved towards a collapsed position so as to retract the axles for compact storage, and vice versa when the frame is moved towards an erect position so as to extend the axles for operation. Since the axles are constrained to move together by the gearing, cables are required to be connected to only one of the axles, although they can be provided on both if deemed necessary. The cables are preferably attached at their other ends remote from the axle, to portions of the frame which move during collapse and assembly, such that the anchor points of said other ends move closer to and away from the axles in order to effect said tensioning and slackening of the cables.  
         [0008]     Preferably, the chair assembly has a pair of rear wheels, one attached to each of said pair of axles, and a single front wheel mounted on a front fork assembly such that the wheels are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration. However, the chair may instead have four wheels arranged on two pairs of axles, each pair of axles being retractable and extendable as defined above and described hereinafter.  
         [0009]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible mobile chair assembly comprising a pair of support plate assemblies one provided on each side of the chair, a rear fork assembly extending from each support plate assembly, a front fork strut pivotally attached to each support plate for movement between an extended operational position and a retracted storage position, and a handle strut pivotally attached to each support plate for movement between an extended operational position and a retracted storage position, each of said front fork struts and said handle struts having a gearing formed thereon, the gearing of the front fork strut attached to each of said support plates engaging with the gearing of the handle strut attached to said support plate such that the handle strut and front fork strut associated with each support plate are constrained to rotate together between their extended and their retracted positions, and locking means operable to retain said front fork and handle struts in their extended positions.  
         [0010]     The collapsible chair assembly according to the second aspect of the invention has the advantage that it provides a simple mechanism by which the frame can be collapsed by just a single user.  
         [0011]     Preferably, each of the front fork and handle struts have a sleeve formed on their end which is pivotally attached to the support plate assembly, said gearing being formed on an outer curved periphery of each said sleeve.  
         [0012]     Preferably, the two front fork struts are formed by the ends of a substantially U shaped front fork, to the centre of which is mounted a front wheel. Similarly, the two handle struts are preferably formed by the ends of a substantially U shaped handle frame. Said handle frame and front fork preferably extend from the support plate assemblies substantially co-planar with each other and in opposite directions, the handle frame and front fork rotating in opposite directions as the frame is collapsed to move towards each other until they extend substantially parallel to each other and to the rear fork assemblies.  
         [0013]     The locking means advantageously takes the form of at least one pin carried on one of the front fork and handle struts which lockingly engages with the support plate assembly on at least one side of the frame. More particularly, at least one retractable pin, in particular which extends laterally through one of the struts and is slidable longitudinally therealong, is provided which engages in a slot formed in one of the support plates. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, each of the handle struts has a laterally extending, longitudinally moveable pin which is engageable in a slot formed in its associated support plate in order to lock the frame in its erect position. Biasing means such as a spring may be associated with each pin which operate to urge each pin into a first longitudinal position within the slot which is remote from a slot opening through which the pin can be removed from the slot, the pins being retractable against the biasing action of their associated spring to a position in which each pin aligns with an opening in its associated slot, thereby enabling the pin to be removed from the slot and hence freeing the handle and front fork to be rotated to their collapsed positions. The opening in each slot is advantageously formed by a second slot which extends substantially perpendicularly from said slot and tapers outwardly as it extends from the slot so as to present a wide mouth for capturing the associated pin as the handle is moved back towards its erect position. One side of the second slot is particularly advantageously formed as a camming surface which engages the pin and urges it to retract against the biasing action of its associated spring as the handle approaches its erect position, thereby guiding the pin into the locking slot. A release sleeve may advantageously be attached to each said pin which may be operated by a user to move the pin against the biasing force of the spring when releasing the handle for storage.  
         [0014]     Preferably, each support plate assembly comprises a pair of support plates which are positioned in spaced apart relationship so as to sandwich the associated front fork strut, handle strut and rear fork assembly therebetween. The locking pin carried on each of said handle struts then operates to engage both plates of each support plate assembly, in particular opposing ends of the pin engage in a slot formed in each plate of the assembly.  
         [0015]     In a particularly preferred embodiment, a collapsible mobile chair assembly is provided which includes the features of both the first and second aspects of the invention, with, in particular, cables being connected between the handle/front fork struts and the rear axles such that the movement of the handle and front fork between their collapsed and erect positions automatically effects movement of the axles between their retracted and extended positions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a pushchair frame embodying the invention in its erect position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the pushchair of  FIG. 1  in its collapsed position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the pushchair of  FIG. 1  in its erect position;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a detail side view of a gearing mechanism coupling movement of a handle with movement of a front fork of the pushchair of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is detail top view of the gearing mechanism of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a locking plate which interacts with the gearing mechanism of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the gearing mechanism and locking plate of FIGS.  4  to  6 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a rack and pinion system formed on overlapping ends of rear wheel axles of the pushchair of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, partially sectional view of the rear wheels of the pushchair of  FIG. 1  in their extended position;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, partially sectional view of the rear wheels of  FIG. 9  in their retracted position; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the rear wheel so of  FIG. 9  with finishing panels fitted thereon. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a three wheeled folding pushchair frame according to the invention having a single, central front wheel  1  and a pair of rear wheels  2 ,  3  positioned for rotation about a common axis  4 . The front wheel  1  is mounted on a front fork  5  which, as shown in  FIG. 3 , is substantially U-shaped with the front wheel  1  being connected to the bottom of the U and the two sides  5   a,    5   b  extending therefrom in a rearwards direction upwards at an inclined angle along either side of the pushchair, each side  5   a,    5   b  connecting to one of a pair of central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  which are located on each side of the pushchair. A central cross bar  9  extends between the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  for strengthening the assembly. The rear wheels  2 ,  3  are each rotatably mounted on an axle  6 ,  7  which extend substantially co-axially with each other and extend from either side of a rear axle tube  8 . The rear axle tube  8  is, in turn, connected at either side to the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  by a pair of rear forks  12 ,  13  which extend from opposing end of the axle tube  8  forwards at an inclined angle and are fastened to a respective one of the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  so as to be rigidly connected thereto.  
         [0029]     The frame further includes a substantially U-shaped handle  15 , each end  16 ,  17  of which is attached to a respective one of the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  such that in the erect position, each arm  15   a,    15   b  of the handle extends from its respective central plate assembly  10 ,  11  rearwards at an inclined angle and in substantially the same plane as the front fork  5 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to FIGS.  4  to  7 , one of the central plate assembly  10 ,  11  and the mating ends of the front fork  5 , the associated rear fork  12 ,  13  and the handle  15  are shown in more detail. The central plate assembly  10  is actually formed by a pair  10   a,    10   b  of generally T-shaped plates with the end of the rear fork  12  extending between the two plates  10   a,    10   b  along and being firmly attached to the shaft of the ‘T’, for example by riveting or the like. Securely mounted on the end of each of the side arm  5   a  of the front fork  5  and arm  15   a  of the handle  15  is a sleeve  20 ,  21 . As clearly shown in  FIG. 7 , each sleeve  20 ,  21 , has a gearing  22 ,  23  formed in its outer surface and the two sleeves  20 ,  21  are sandwiched between each rotatably fastened to the central plates  10   a,    10   b  for rotation about a respective axis  20   a,    21   a,  which axes  20   a,    21   a  are spaced apart from each other by a distance such that the gearing  22 ,  23  on the two sleeves  20 ,  21  are in meshing engagement and hence the two sleeves  20 ,  21  with them the front fork  5  and the handle  15  on which they are carried, are constrained to rotate together relative to the central plate assembly  10  in opposite directions. The sleeves  20 ,  21  are preferably fastened onto the front fork  5  and handle  15  respectively by rivets which pass through the sleeve and the portion of the front fork or handle housed therein. Similarly, the sleeves  20 ,  21  are each preferably connected to the central plate  10  by means of a rivet which extends through from outside one of the central plates  10   a,  through respective sleeve  20 ,  21  and through the other central plate  10   b.  A bearing may optionally be provided within the through opening in the sleeves  20 ,  21  to facilitate rotations, and it will be understood that the aforementioned rivets maybe replaced with nuts and bolts, screws or the like.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the end of the front fork and handle is offset from the axis of rotation  20   a,    21   a  of its associated sleeve  20 ,  21  with the central plate assembly  10 , in particular above the axis of rotation such that when the sleeves rotate to collapsed the front fork and handle downwards towards each other, a minimum spacing is maintained between the ends.  
         [0032]     An axially extending slot  32  is formed in each side  15   a,    15   b  of the handle proximate to the ends  16 ,  17 , and a complementary shaped slot  33  is formed in the handle sleeve  21  associated with each end  16 ,  17 , the slots  32 ,  33  being positions such that they align with each other when the sleeve  21  is fastened to its associate end  16 ,  17  of the handle  15 . A pin  26  is provided in each end  16 ,  17  of the handle which engages in the slots  32 ,  33  with its ends projecting beyond the outer periphery of the sleeve  21  and which is slidably moveable along the slots  32 ,  33 . An actuating rod  27  is rigidly connected a one end to the middle of the pin  26  and rigidly connected at the other end to a second pin  28  which extends transversely across the handle  15  at a point which is spaced longitudinally from the sleeve  21 , said second pin  28  slidably engaging in opposing longitudinally extending slots  28   a  formed in the handle  15  so as to be slidably moveable with the first pin  26  and being secured to a release sleeve  30   a,    30   b  which is slidably mounted on the outside of each side  15   a,    15   b  of the handle. As a result, the first pin  26  is constrained to move longitudinally along the handle  15  with its associated release sleeve  30   a,    30   b.  A compression spring  29  is positioned inside the handle as more clearly shown in  FIG. 7  with one end bearing against the second pin  28  and the other engaging a shoulder formed on the inner cylindrical wall of the arm, such that the spring  29  biases the second pin  28  into engagement with the end of the slot  28   a  which is remote from the handle sleeve  21  and hence also the first pin  26  into engagement with the ends of the slots  32 ,  33  which are remote from the handle sleeve  21 .  
         [0033]     A capture slot  25  is also provided in each of the central plates  10   a,    10   b,    11   a,    11   b.  Each capture slot  25  is composed of a first arcuate section  25   a  which extends upwards from the bottom flank of the plate  10   a  towards the top cross flank, and a second straight section  25   b  which extends substantially perpendicularly to the first section  25   a  and, when the handle is in its erect position, extends parallel to and is substantially aligned with the slots  32 ,  33  formed in the sleeve  21  and the end  16  of the handle. The second section  25   b  of the capture slot has a width which is a clearance fit with the outer periphery of the first pin carried on each end  16 ,  17  such that the first pin may slide easily axially along said second section  25   b,  whilst the first section, which extends from the end of the second section  25   b  which is proximate to the end  16  of the handle, is defined on one side which is remote from the end  16  of the handle by a straight edge which is inclined away from the first end  16  of the handle, and on the other side by a, arcuate edge. In this way, the width of the first section  25   a  widens towards the mouth of the capture slot.  
         [0034]     The configuration of the handle, central plates and front fork on only one side of the assembly has been described. However, it will be understood that other side has an identical configuration.  
         [0035]     When the frame is in its erect position as shown in  FIG. 1  with the handle  15  and front forks  5  extending away from the central plates substantially parallel to each other, the first pin  26  extending laterally from each side  15   a,    15   b  of the handle  15  engages in the second section  25   b  of the capture slot  25  formed in the capture plate  10   a,    10   b,    11   a,    11   b  on either side of each end  16 ,  17  of the handle, and the biasing spring  28  associated with each said first pin  26  acts to urge each said first pin  26  axially along said second section  25   b  and away from the intersection with the first section  25   a  of the capture slot  25 . As a result, the handle is prevented from pivoting relative to the capture plates and is hence locked in its erect position. Since the handle and front fork are constrained to move together due to the meshing engagement of their gear teeth, locking of the handle in its erect position similar locks the from fork in its erect position.  
         [0036]     In order to collapse the handle and front fork, the operator slides the release sleeve  30   a,    30   b  on each side  15   a,    15   b  of the handle  15  towards the capture plate assembly  10 ,  11  against the biasing force of the springs  29 . Through the connecting rods  27 , this causes the first pin  26  on each side to move along the second section  25   b  of the capture slot  25  to the intersection with the first section  25   a  of the capture slot  25 , at which point the pins  26  are released to drop out of their associated second sections  25   b  and to travel along the first sections  25   a,  and hence the sides  15   a,    15   b  of the handle are released to rotation relative to the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  towards the collapsed position shown in  FIG. 2 . This rotation of the handles also causes the front fork  5  to rotate relative to the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11  in the opposite direction to the handle due to the meshing of the gear teeth  22 ,  23  and hence the front fork and handle rotate towards each other and into their collapsed position shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0037]     In order to return the assembly to its erect position, the handle  15  is rotated clockwise in  FIG. 2  away from the front fork  5  and back towards its erect position, the front fork being caused by the meshing gears similarly to rotate, in an anti-clockwise direction in  FIG. 2 . As the handle approaches the central plate assemblies  10 ,  11 , each end the first pin  26  aligns with the mouth of the first section  25   a  of the capture slot  25  of its associated plate  10   a,    10   b,    11   a,    11   b  and engages against the inclined edge thereof. Continued movement of the handle  15  towards its fully erect position develops a camming action between each end of each first pin  26  and the inclined edge of the first section  25   a,  causing the pins to slide axially along the slots  32 ,  33  in the handle  15  and sleeve  21 , against the biasing force of the springs  29  and hence guiding the pins  26  towards the intersection of the first and second sections of the capture slots  25 . The handle  15  reaches its fully erect position as the ends of the pins  26  reach the second section  25   b  of the capture slot  25 , whereupon the biasing force of the springs causes the pins  26  to move axially along the second section  25   b  away from the first section thereby locking the handle and hence the front fork back in its erect position.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rear wheel axles  6 ,  7  are formed separately of each other and each has a rack gear  40 ,  41  formed thereon, the two axles axially overlapping each other with their rack gears facing each other as shown in  FIG. 9 . Furthermore, each axial  6 ,  7  is slidably mounted in the rear axle tube  8  so as to be axially extendable from a retracted position as shown in  FIG. 10  to an extended position shown in  FIG. 9 . A pin  42  is mounted in the axle tube  8  between and in engagement with both the rack gears  40 ,  41  so that the two axles  6 ,  7  are constrained to move axially together in equal and opposition directions.  
         [0039]     A pair of push/pull cables  44 ,  45  are secure to one of the axles  7 , the right hand axle as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the first cable  44  being attached to a point  7   a  proximate to the inner end of the axle  7  which is remote from the wheel  3  carried thereon and extending from there into the left rear fork  13  as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and the second cable  45  being attached to attached to axle  7  at a point  7   b  which is spaced axially apart from said inner end, in particular which is substantially midway between said inner end  7   a  and the attached wheel  3 , said second cable extending from the second point  7   b  into the right rear fork  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Each of the cables  44 ,  45  extend through their respective rear fork  12 ,  13  and attach to a point on the handle or the front fork such that when the assembly is moved towards the collapsed position, the first cable  44  is pull whilst the second cable  45  is slackened, and when the assembly is moved from its collapsed position back towards its erect position, the first cable is slackened whilst the second cable  45  is pulled. When the first cable  44  is pulled, the second axle  7  is drawn into the axle tube  8  and the wheel  3  attached thereto is retracted towards the frame. The action of the pinion  42  also causes equal and opposite movement of the first axle  6 , causing it also to retract into the tube  8  for compact storage. When the second cable  45  is pulled, the second axle  45  is cause to slide to the right in  FIG. 9  and the wheel attached thereto is extended from the tube  8  to its operating position. At the same time, the pinion  42  causes the first axle  44  similarly to extend to its operating position.  
         [0040]     A Flexible axle boot is preferably provided between each wheel and the axles tube  8  so as to conceal and protect the rack mouldings on the axles.