Abstract:
A collapsing device for a carrier can collapse the frames of a stroller with only one hand. The collapsing device mainly comprises a first cover, a second cover, a button partially interposed between the first and the second cover, a safety lock and two pins. It is with only one hand that a user presses the safety lock and simultaneously pushes the button into the interior defined by the first and the second covers to make the pins cooperate the steel cables further releasing a latch mechanism equipped at the frames so that the collapsing operations can be easily accomplished.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a collapsing device for a carrier, and more particularly to a collapsing device which can be operated by only one hand to collapse the frames of a carrier.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVNETION  
       [0002]     In conventional stroller, when the frames of the stroller are collapsed, it is necessary to hold the handlebar with one hand and operate a latch mechanism provided at the frame with the other hand so as to make the front wheel frame and the back wheel frame pivotally rotate each other to reach a collapsed state.  
         [0003]     However, when the user holds something or an infant in one hand and no other can help her/him, it is difficult for her/him to collapse the frames only with the other hand.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, the present invention relates to a collapsing device for a carrier that can substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related arts.  
         [0005]     One object of the present invention is the provision of a collapsing device for a carrier which can be operated with one hand.  
         [0006]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0007]     To achieve these and other advantages and according to the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a collapsing device for a carrier comprises a shell, a button and a pairs of pins. The shell further comprises a first cover and a second cover which are connected with each other by a fixing element. Each of the covers correspondingly has a pair of transverse grooves laterally arranged on respective inner surface. The button is partially accommodated and longitudinally slides in the shell. A pair of inclined slots perpendicularly penetrate a surface along which the button slides. The pins respectively penetrate the inclined slots of the button. Both ends of the pins are movably received in the corresponding grooves of the first cover and the second cover. The pins are respectively connected with a cable for controlling a remote collapsing joint. By longitudinally pressing the button into the shell, the pins are transversely moved and simultaneously cooperate the cables in order to control the collapsing joint.  
         [0008]     It is preferred that the collapsing device further comprises a safety lock pivotally connected onto an outer surface of the second cover. The safety lock comprises a push portion and a projection. An elastic element is installed between the push portion and an outer surface of the second cover so as to permit the push portion being repeatedly pressed relative to the second cover. The projection is engaged into a slit on an outer surface of the button by a restoration force of the elastic element.  
         [0009]     Alternatively, the shell further comprises a space therein defined by the first cover and the second cover for receiving a bar transversely passing through.  
         [0010]     The collapsing device according to the present invention not only can be equipped at the stroller, but also can be installed at collapsible push car for carrying something or the like.  
         [0011]     It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the collapsing device installed at the handlebar of a carrier such as a stroller according the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the collapsing device for a carrier according the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a partially plan view of the collapsing device for a carrier according the present invention illustrating the position of a button when the stroller is stretched.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partially plan view of the collapsing device for a carrier according the present invention illustrating the position of a button when the stroller is collapsed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The term of ‘carrier’ comprises stroller, perambulator, push car, vehicle and the like.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a collapsing device for a carrier according to the present invention comprises a first cover  1 , a second cover  2 , a button  3  and two pins  5   a,    5   b.    
         [0019]     The first cover  1  and the second cover  2  are symmetrical in the form. Each cover  1 ,  2  is correspondingly configured with two adjacent grooves  11   a,    11   b,    21   a,    21   b  laterally arranged on inner surface thereof. Each cover  1 ,  2  has a first recess  14 ,  24  for constructing a first opening  16 , a second recesses  15   a,    25   a  for constructing a second opening  17  situated at left side of the collapsing device, and a third recesses  15   b,    25   b  for constructing a third opening  18  situated at right side of the collapsing device. When two covers  1 ,  2  are connected together and then form a shell, these covers  1 ,  2  define a space therein for receiving a handlebar  62  passing through the second opening  17  and third opening  18  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first cover  1  is provided with a plurality of screw seats  12  on its inner side. The second cover  2  is equipped with a plurality of holes  22  respectively corresponding to the screw seats  12  of the first cover  1 . The first cover  1  and the second cover  2  are fixedly connected by using a plurality of fixing elements, such as screws  63 , respectively penetrating the holes  22  and fixing to the screw seats  12 .  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a button  3  has a U-shaped cross section and is movably received at the first opening  16  formed by the first recesses  14 ,  24  of the first cover  1  and the second cover  2 . The button  3  includes a first wall  32 , a second wall  33 , and a bridge portion  31  connecting the first wall  32  and the second wall  33 . The first wall  32  and the second wall  33  respectively have first inclined slots  34   a,    35   a  and second inclined slot  34   b,    35   b  respectively symmetric to the first inclined slots  34   a,    35   a.  The first inclined slots  34   a,    35   a  and the second inclined slot  34   b,    35   b  is closer at the end near the bridge portion  31  and farer at the other end thereof. In addition, the second wall  33  is formed with a slit  36  on its outer surface.  
         [0021]     The curve-sheeted safety lock  4  is pivotally connected to outer surface of the second cover  2  to lock the button  3  in a state of the stroller being stretched. The safety lock  4  comprises a projection  41  extending to front of the first opening  16  and a push portion  42  at the other end of the safety lock  4 . When the stroller is stretched, the projection  41  is engaged into the slit  36  of the button  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . An elastic element  64  is installed between the push portion  42  and outer surface of the second cover  2  to permit the push portion  42  being able to be repeatedly pressed relative to the second cover  2 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pins  5   a,    5   b  are respectively connected to the latch mechanism of a remote collapsing joint (not shown) by two steel cables  61 . One pin  5   a  penetrates the first inclined slots  34   a  of the first wall  32  and the first inclined slots  35   a  of the second wall  33  and both ends of the pin  5   a  are respectively and movably fitted in the first groove  11   a  of the first cover  1  and the first groove  21   a  of the second cover  2 . The other pin  5   b  passes the second inclined slots  34   b  of the first wall  32  and the second inclined slots  35   b  of the second wall  33  and both ends of the pin  5   b  are respectively and movably fitted in the second groove  11   b  of the first cover  1  and the second groove  21   b  of the second cover  2 .  
         [0023]     By means of the combination of the above elements, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when the stroller is stretched, the pins  5   a,    5   b  are respectively situated at the farer ends of the first inclined slots  34   a,    35   a,  the second inclined slots  34   b,    35   b  and the grooves  11   a,    21   a,    11   b,    21   b,  the button  3  extremely protrudes out of the first opening  16 , and the projection  41  is engaged into the slit  36  of the second wall  33  of the button  3 .  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when it is desired to collapse the stroller, at first, the push portion  42  of the safety lock  4  is pressed to the extent that the projection  41  of the safety lock  4  escapes from the slit  36 . Next, the button  3  is pressed into the first opening  16  of the first cover  1  and the second cover  2  and make the pins  5   a,    5   b  respectively move along the first inclined slots  34   a,    35   a  and the second inclined slots  34   b,    35   b  to the closer ends thereof. Under guidance of the inclined slot  34   a,    35   a,    34   b,    35   b  and exertion of the button  3 , the pins  5   a,    5   b  closely slide along the first grooves  11   a,    21   a  and the second grooves  11   b,    21   b  and simultaneously cooperate the latch mechanism of the collapsing joint by means of the cables  61  to collapse the frames of the stroller. In other word, the longitudinal motion of the button  3  is shifted to the transverse motion of the pins  5   a,    5   b  in the grooves  11   a,    21   a,    11   b,    21   b.    
         [0025]     On the contrary, when the stroller is adjusted back to the state of being stretched, the pins  5   a,    5   b  slide apart and the button  3  protrudes out of the first opening  16  again to permit the projection  41  of the safety lock  4  snapping into the slit  36  due to exertion of the restoration force resulting from the elastic element  64  installed between the push portion  42  of the safety lock  4  and outer surface of the second cover  2 .  
         [0026]     This invention has been disclosed in terms of specific embodiments. It will be apparent that many modifications can be made to the disclosed structures without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the intent of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true sprit and scope of this invention.