Patent Publication Number: US-2012038124-A1

Title: Jogging stroller

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/372,597, filed Aug. 11, 2010, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to strollers for infants and young children, and more particularly to a stroller for hands-free use, such as while jogging. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various strollers or carriages have been designed to carry a baby or small child, with the adult typically pushing the stroller from the rear. However, many such strollers are difficult to operate, such as requiring one or both hands to push or pull the stroller, and requiring customized or tailored seats (such as a specific carseat) for the baby. These strollers can be difficult to operate hands-free, while jogging, and/or with multiple different carseats. Accordingly there is still a need for a more compatible stroller that can be operated hands-free. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to strollers for infants and young children, and more particularly to a stroller for hands-free use, such as while jogging. 
     In one embodiment, a jogging stroller includes a stroller for a baby carriage or carseat, and a drawbar extending forward from the front of the stroller. A harness at the front of the drawbar attaches to the user&#39;s waist, enabling the user to pull the stroller forward hands-free. The drawbar is connected at one end to the waist harness by a joint that pivots about at least two axes. The drawbar is connected at the opposite end to the front of the stroller by a joint that pivots about one or two axes. These joints give the user the flexibility to move in various directions with the rigid drawbar drawing the stroller behind. The stroller includes a frame that is sized and shaped to receive various different carseats or other baby seats or carriers. The jogging stroller is thus compatible with various products, and is hands-free and easy to use. 
     In one embodiment, a jogging stroller includes a stroller having a frame dimensioned to receive a baby carrier or carseat, a drawbar mounted to the stroller by a first joint allowing at least one axis of rotation, and a harness mounted to a front end of the drawbar by a second joint allowing at least two axes of rotation. 
     In one embodiment, a jogging stroller includes a frame dimensioned to receive a baby carrier or carseat, first and second rear wheels supporting the frame, a front wheel coupled to the frame by a vertical bearing allowing rotation of the front wheel with respect to the frame about a vertical axis, a drawbar coupled to the frame by a hinge allowing rotation of the drawbar with respect to the frame about a horizontal axis, and a harness mounted to a front end of the drawbar by a swivel joint. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a jogging stroller in use, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a draw bar component of a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front perspective view of the jogging stroller of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of a waist harness for a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side perspective view of a jogging stroller according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows front and side views of a draw bar component of a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of ball and socket joint for use with the waist harness of a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a hinge assembly for use with a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a front and side view of a back brace for use with a jogging stroller according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to strollers for infants and young children, and more particularly to a stroller for hands-free use, such as while jogging. In one embodiment, a jogging stroller includes a stroller for a baby carriage or carseat, and a drawbar extending forward from the front wheel of the stroller. A harness at the front of the drawbar attaches to the user&#39;s waist, enabling the user to pull the stroller forward hands-free. The drawbar is connected at one end to the waist harness by a joint that pivots about at least two axes. The drawbar is connected at the opposite end to the front wheel of the stroller by a joint that pivots about at least one or at least two axes. These joints give the user the flexibility to move in various directions with the rigid drawbar drawing the stroller behind. The stroller includes a frame that is sized and shaped to receive various different carseats or other baby seats or carriers. The jogging stroller is thus compatible with various products, and is hands-free and easy to use. 
     An embodiment of a jogging stroller  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The jogging stroller  10  includes a harness  12  for the adult user, a baby stroller  14 , and a drawbar  16  connecting the harness to the baby stroller. The drawbar  16  extends up from the stroller  14  and bends at an elbow  18  toward the adult user. The drawbar  16  attaches to the harness  12  at a swivel joint  20 , which is attached to a belt or strap  22  that is secured around the user&#39;s waist. 
     An embodiment of the drawbar  16  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The elbow  18  of the drawbar  16  forms a corner that bends the bar at an angle a, forming two portions  16   a,    16   b  of the drawbar. The first portion  16   a  extends up from the stroller to the elbow  18 , and the second portion  16   b  extends from the elbow  18  to the user at a more horizontal level. The lengths of the portions  16   a,    16   b  and the size of the angle a can be chosen based on the size of the stroller and the expected height of the user. Depending on the height of the user, the second portion  16   b  may be horizontal or substantially horizontal. In one embodiment, the angle a is about 30 degrees. In one embodiment, the draw bar  16  is about 5 feet in length. In other embodiments the draw bar  16  can vary in length from between about 3.5 feet to about 6 feet. The length of the draw bar is chosen based on the user&#39;s stride, to provide sufficient clearance between the adult user and the stroller. 
     The drawbar  16  includes a ball  24  at a first end of the drawbar and a hinge  26  at a second opposite end. The ball  24  forms part of the swivel joint  20  that connects the drawbar  16  to the harness  12 . The hinge  26  includes a hinge plate  28  that is mounted to the stroller to attach the drawbar  16  to the stroller, as described more fully below. 
     An embodiment of a jogging stroller  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . The jogging stroller  100  includes a drawbar  16  and a baby stroller  14  with a front wheel  32 . In this embodiment, the drawbar  16  is mounted to the stroller  14  by two different joints, enabling the drawbar to pivot about two different axes with respect to the stroller  14 . The two-axis pivoting attachment between the drawbar and stroller enables the adult user to move with flexibility, without being constrained by the rigid drawbar  16 , and while still passing movement via the drawbar to the stroller to draw the stroller behind the user. 
     The first joint connecting the drawbar  16  to the stroller  14  is a hinge joint  26 . The hinge joint  26  includes a hinge plate  28  that is fixed to the front wheel  32  of the stroller. The front wheel  32  includes a wheel axis  34  and a yoke  36  mounted on the axis  34 . In the embodiment shown, the hinge plate  28  is fixed to the yoke  36  such as by welding, gluing, or using fasteners to attach the plate  28  to the yoke  36  at the overlap area  40 . This weld (or other means of attachment, such as bolts, screws, clamps, glue, or adhesive) rigidly connects the drawbar  16  to the stroller  14  so that movement from the adult user is passed to the stroller, to draw the stroller behind the user. The hinge  26  enables the drawbar  16  to pivot with respect to the yoke  36  and the stroller  14  about a horizontal axis  42 . Thus, for example, if the user moves up and down while running or jogging, the drawbar  16  can pivot up and down about this horizontal axis  42  without bouncing the stroller  14  up and down as well. The hinge joint  26  provides a smoother ride for the stroller  14  while giving the adult user the flexibility to move up and down. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3-4 , the second joint connecting the drawbar  16  to the stroller  14  is a vertical bearing  44 . The vertical bearing  44  includes a pin  46  inside a sleeve  48 . The pin  46  is connected to the yoke  36  and extends vertically up from the yoke  36 . The sleeve  48  is attached to the front end of the stroller frame  50 . The sleeve  48  fits over the pin  46  and allows the pin  46  to rotate inside the sleeve about a vertical axis  52 . This vertical bearing  44  thus enables the adult user to move to the right and left, from side to side, while smoothly steering the stroller  14  behind the user. When the user moves to the right or left, the drawbar  16  will move with the user, moving the hinge plate  28  and yoke and thereby steering the front wheel  32 . When the front wheel turns to the right or left, the pin  46  rotates within the sleeve  48 . This freedom of rotation about the vertical axis  52  enables the user to smoothly turn to the right or left with the stroller following behind. The jogging stroller  100  is shown with the front wheel  32  turned in  FIG. 4 , to demonstrate the drawbar steering the stroller. The drawbar allows the stroller to be operated by front draw propulsion. The connection of the drawbar to the stroller at the front wheel provides complete steering control and enables the user to propel the stroller from the front while keeping the user&#39;s hands free. 
     In another embodiment, the joint connecting the drawbar  16  to the stroller  14  is a universal joint that allows rotation about two axes. 
       FIGS. 3-4  also show an embodiment of the baby stroller  14 . The baby stroller  14  includes a frame  50  including an outer frame  54 , inner frame  56 , and base  58 . The base  58  includes one or more bars or slats  60  that extend across the bottom of the stroller. The carseat or baby carrier is placed on and supported by these bars  60 . The carseat fits within the inner frame  56 , which holds the carseat in place and prevents it from moving forward, back, or side to side. The inner frame  56  can receive various different carseats or car carriers from different manufacturers (such as, for example, carseat  80  in  FIG. 6 ) and is thus compatible with many different products. A strap  62  is also provided to further secure the carseat in place. In this embodiment the strap  62  is connected at both ends to the base  58 , and is intended to be wrapped over the carseat and adjusted to size. The strap  62  and/or the base  58  may also include hook and loop fasteners or other mechanical fasteners to secure the carseat in place. 
     The stroller frame  50  also includes an outer frame  54  for additional protection and rigidity. A handle  64  is also provided at the back end of the stroller in case the user wants to push the stroller from behind. The stroller also includes two rear wheels  66 . 
     An embodiment of the attachment of the drawbar  16  to the adult user is shown in  FIG. 5 . A waist harness  12  is provided to attach to the user&#39;s waist, leaving the user&#39;s hands free. The waist harness  12  includes a belt or strap  22  that wraps around the user&#39;s waist and can be adjusted to the correct size, like a seatbelt or belt. The harness  12  also includes a back brace  68  that rests against the user&#39;s back and connects to the drawbar  16  at the swivel joint  20 . The user can operate the stroller hands-free, pulling the stroller from in front of the stroller. 
     The back brace  68  includes a main plate or bracket  70  that includes slots  72   a,    72   b  for attachment to the strap  22 , and that includes a socket  74  for receiving the ball  24  of the drawbar  16 . The slots  72   a,    72   b  receive ends of the strap  22 . The socket  74  receives the ball  24  and enables the ball to pivot about a horizontal axis (pivoting up and down, in a vertical direction) and about a vertical axis (pivoting right and left, in a horizontal direction). The ball and socket or swivel joint  20  thus enables the user to move flexibly while carrying the rigid drawbar  16  behind the user. 
     The harness  12  also includes a soft pad  76  mounted on the inside surface of the bracket  70  for user comfort. The soft pad  76  may be, for example, a foam or rubber pad, or similar material. 
     The strap  22  passes through the slots  72   a,    72   b  in the bracket  70 . The strap  22  can simply be looped around these slots at either end to the bracket  70 , as shown, or it can be passed through a first slot, over the pad  76 , and through the second slot, to further secure the pad  76  to the bracket  70 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a jogging stroller  200  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the drawbar  16  is mounted to the stroller  14  at a joint  26  that allows for rotation about only one axis, rather than two, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . In  FIG. 6 , the drawbar  16  is attached to the stroller  14  at hinge  26 . The hinge plate  28  is fixed to the stroller  14 , and the hinge  26  enables the drawbar to move up and down, pivoting about a horizontal axis  42 . The hinge  26  is attached to the stroller  14  behind the front wheel  32 . The front wheel can pivot independently of the orientation of the drawbar  16 , in order to steer the stroller  14 . Thus, as the user moves forward and pulls the drawbar  16 , the front wheel  32  will pivot as necessary to follow. 
     In one embodiment, the drawbar  16  can fold back toward the stroller  14  for compact storage. The drawbar itself may be made of one piece or several pieces that fit together. 
     In one embodiment, the stroller is provided without an outer frame  58 . That is, the outer frame  58  is optional, as shown for example in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  shows a jogging stroller  300  according to an embodiment of the invention. The jogging stroller  300  includes a stroller frame  50  including a base  58  and an inner frame  56 . The base  58  includes cross-beams or struts  60  on which the childseat or carseat is placed. A seatbelt or strap (not shown) is passed across the carseat and attaches to the inner frame  56 . In this embodiment, the outer frame  58  is not included. Also, in this embodiment, the handle  64  can be pivoted about pivot points  65  between an extended position and a stowed position. This allows the handle  64  to be extended (rotated clockwise in  FIG. 7 ) for use, or stowed (rotated counter-clockwise in  FIG. 7 ) for compact storage of the jogging stroller. Optionally, the handle  64  also includes a locking clip  67  for locking the handle into the stowed position. When the handle  64  is rotated into the stowed position, the locking clip is attached to the upper crossbar  69  to lock the handle to the crossbar. In one embodiment, the locking clip may also be used to lock the handle into the extended position. 
     During use, a child carseat is placed on the struts  60  of the base  58 , and strapped to the inner frame  56 . Instead of a child carseat, other items can be strapped into the stroller frame  50 , such as baskets, groceries, or other items that the user desires to move with the stroller. 
     In one embodiment, the drawbar  16  and the stroller frame  50  are made of aluminum or steel tubing with a diameter of approximately ¼ inch. 
     Additional detailed drawings of the drawbar, ball and socket joint, hinge joint, and back brace are shown in  FIGS. 8-11 .  FIG. 8  shows the draw bar, attached to the back brace and hinge assembly.  FIG. 9  shows the ball casting and bracket casting for the swivel joint  20 .  FIG. 10  shows the hinge assembly  26 , with hinge plate  28 .  FIG. 11  shows the back brace  68 , with foam padding  76 . 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in respect to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, and changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, the stroller frame can take various shapes and sizes, and the drawbar can be adjusted according to the size of the stroller and the user. The number and position of the wheels on the stroller can also vary.