Patent Publication Number: US-2017369089-A1

Title: Baby strollers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 15/374,757, filed on Dec. 9, 2016, which claims priority from Taiwan Patent Application No. 104220299, filed on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a baby stroller, and particularly relates to a baby stroller having components coupled to be actuated interactively, such that the frames of the baby stroller may be folded concurrently. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Having colorful lifestyles, modern people still need to go out with their babies if they can&#39;t find a babysitter. Therefore, a baby stroller is always necessary for parents to carry a baby outside and to ease parents&#39; loading. 
     However, aside from the moments with babies inside, a baby stroller has to be carried from time to time. At these moments, the function to fold a baby stroller is required for easier transportation. To fold a baby stroller, joints are used conventionally and, in some application, components have to be disassembled. Therefore, a structure of a baby stroller that may be easily folded without disassembling any component may provide further convenience. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the issues of the aforementioned conventional techniques, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a baby stroller, of which the slide block and the couplings between components may reduce the occupying space of the baby stroller for easier transportation. 
     Based on the purpose, the present invention provides a baby stroller, which has an expanded mode and a folded mode, includes a lower arm, a slide block, a pull rod set, a rear wheel link rod, a rear wheel frame, an upper arm set, a link rod set, a connection rod set, the first handle rod set, the second handle rod set, and a front wheel frame. One end of the lower arm is disposed with a connection part, and the slide block is disposed on the lower arm, wherein the slide block slides along the lower arm forward and backward. One end of the pull rod set is pivotally connected to the slide block, and one end of the rear wheel frame is connected with the connection part and the other end of the rear wheel frame is connected with at least one rear wheel, wherein the other end of the pull rod set is connected to a position between two ends of the real wheel frame. One end of the upper arm set is pivotally connected to the connection part and one end of the link rod set is pivotally connected to the terminal of the upper arm set. The other end of the link rod set is pivotally connected to the slide block. One end of the connection rod set is fixedly connected to the other end of the upper arm set. One end of the first handle rod set is pivotally connected to the other end of the connection rod set and the other end of the first handle rod set is pivotally connected to the joint set. One end of the second handle rod set is pivotally connected to the joint set, and the front wheel frame is disposed on the other end of the lower arm. The other end of the second handle rod set is pivotally connected to the front wheel frame. The front wheel frame is disposed with at least one front wheel. The slide block is adjacent to the connection part in expanded mode and is adjacent to the front wheel frame in the folded mode. The first handle rod set and the second handle rod set are superposed one another in the folded mode. The angle between the upper arm set and the lower arm is greater in the expanded mode than in the folded mode. The angle between the rear wheel frame and the lower arm is greater in the expanded mode than in folded mode. The upper arm set, the first handle rod set, and the second handle rod set are actuated concurrently while switching between the expanded mode and the folded mode. 
     Preferably, the upper arm set may be rotated toward the front wheel frame by an external force and actuate the link rod set to push the slide block to slide in the direction toward the front wheel frame during switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, and the upper arm set may be rotated toward the rear wheel frame by another external force and actuate the link rod set to pull the slide block to slide in the direction toward the connection part during switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode. 
     Preferably, the upper arm set may rotate about the joint with the connection part toward the front wheel frame during switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, and the upper arm set may rotate about the joint with the connection part toward the rear wheel frame during switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode. 
     Preferably, the first handle rod set may rotate about the joint set toward the second handle rod set and the joint set may move towards the connection part during switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, and the first handle rod set may rotate about the joint set away from the second handle rod set and the joint set may move away from the connection part during switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode. 
     Preferably, the slide block may slide in the direction toward the front wheel frame to pull the pull rod set and the pull rod set may actuate the rear wheel frame to rotate about the pivotal joint between the rear wheel frame and the connection part toward the lower arm and the rear wheel connected to the rear wheel frame may also be actuated to move in the direction toward the lower arm during switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, and the slide block may slide in the direction toward the connection part to push the pull rod set and the pull rod set may actuate the rear wheel frame to rotate about the pivotal joint between the rear wheel frame and the connection part away from the lower arm and the rear wheel connected to the rear wheel frame may also be actuated to move in the direction away from the lower arm during switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode. 
     Preferably, the baby stroller may further include two fixation rods, one of which is disposed between the end of the connection rod set and one end of another connection rod set, and the other of which is disposed between the other end of the connection rod set and the other end of the other connection rod set. 
     Preferably, the end of the upper arm set that connects the connection rod set is disposed with a handle. 
     Based on the purpose, the present invention also provides a baby stroller, which has an expanded mode and a folded mode, includes a lower arm, a slide block, a pull rod set, a rear wheel link rod, a rear wheel frame, an upper arm set, a link rod set, a connection rod set, the first handle rod set, the second handle rod set, and a front wheel frame. One end of the lower arm is disposed with a connection part, and the slide block is disposed on the lower arm, wherein the slide block slides along the lower arm forward and backward. One end of the pull rod set is pivotally connected to the slide block, and one end of the rear wheel frame is connected with the connection part and the other end of the rear wheel frame is connected with at least one rear wheel, wherein the other end of the pull rod set is connected to a position between two ends of the real wheel frame. One end of the upper arm set is pivotally connected to the connection part and one end of the link rod set is pivotally connected to the terminal of the upper arm set. The other end of the link rod set is pivotally connected to the slide block. One end of the connection rod set is pivotally connected to the other end of the upper arm set. One end of the first handle rod set is pivotally connected to the other end of the connection rod set and the other end of the first handle rod set is pivotally connected to the joint set. One end of the second handle rod set is pivotally connected to the joint set, and the front wheel frame is disposed on the other end of the lower arm. The other end of the second handle rod set is pivotally connected to the front wheel frame. The front wheel frame is disposed with at least one front wheel. The slide block is adjacent to the connection part in expanded mode and is adjacent to the front wheel frame in the folded mode. The first handle rod set and the second handle rod set are superposed one another in the folded mode. The angle between the upper arm set and the lower arm is greater in the expanded mode than in the folded mode. The angle between the rear wheel frame and the lower arm is greater in the expanded mode than in folded mode. The upper arm set, the first handle rod set, and the second handle rod set are actuated concurrently while switching between the expanded mode and the folded mode. 
     Based on the description above, through the slide block and the couplings between each component to concurrently actuate the upper arm set, the first handle rod set, and the second handle rod set, the baby stroller may be easily folded to decrease it occupying space for easier stowing and transporting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a baby stroller of the present invention in an expanded mode. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a baby stroller of the present invention in a folded mode. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are schematic diagrams showing a procedure of a baby stroller of the present invention transforming from an expanded mode to a folded mode. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a baby stroller of the present invention in an expanded mode, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a baby stroller of the present invention in a folded mode. As shown in the figures, the baby stroller  10  of the present invention has two operation modes, the expanded mode and the folded mode, and includes a lower arm  101 , a slide block  102 , a pull rod set  111 , a rear wheel frame  113 , an upper arm set  122 , a link rod set  121 , a connection rod set  123 , the first handle rod set  131 , the second handle rod set  132 , and a front wheel frame  141 . 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, one end of the lower arm  101  is disposed with a connection part  103 , and the other end of the lower arm  101  is disposed with a front wheel frame  141 . The slide block  102  is disposed on the lower arm  101  and may slide along the lower arm  101  forward and backward. One ends of the pull rod set  111  are pivotally connected to both sides of the slide block  102 . The rear wheel frame  113  includes two rear wheel link rods  112 . One end of the rear wheel frame  113  is connected to the connection part  103 . More precisely, one ends of the rear wheel link rods  112  are pivotally connected to either side of the connection part  103 . The other end of the pull rod set  111  is connected to the position between two ends of the real wheel frame  113 , which means the other ends of two rear wheel link rods  112  are pivotally connected to the other ends of the pull rod set  111  respectively. In the expanded mode, the location of the joint between the rear wheel link rod  112  and the pull rod set  111  is below the joint between the rear wheel link rod  112  and the connection part  103 . In the folded mode, the joint between the rear wheel link rod  112  and the pull rod set  111  moves closer to the lower arm  101 . Therefore, the rear wheel frame  113  gets closer to the lower arm  101  in the folded mode. Furthermore, the other end of the rear wheel frame  113  is connected to at least one rear wheel  114 . 
     One end of the upper arm set  122  is connected to the connection part  103 . One ends of the link rod set  121  are pivotally connected to the upper arm set  122  respectively, and the location of the pivotal connection is adjacent to the pivotal joint between the upper arm set  122  and the connection part  103 . The other end of the link rod set  121  is connected to the slide block  102 . In other words, the upper arm set  122  is coupled with the slide block  102  through the link rod set  121 , and therefore, the upper arm set  122  and the slide block  102  are actuated by one another. 
     One end of the connection rod set  123  is firmly connected to the other end of the upper arm set  122 . One end of the first handle rod set  131  is pivotally connected to the other end of the connection rod set  123 , and the other end of the first handle rod set  131  is pivotally connected to the joint set  133 . One end of the second handle rod set  132  is also pivotally connected to the joint set  133 . In other words, the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  are coupled through the joint set  133 . The other end of the second handle rod set  132  is pivotally connected to the front wheel frame  141 . The front wheel frame  141  is disposed with at least one front wheel  142 . 
     The operation of each component in expanded mode and folded mode will be described hereinafter. The location of the slide block  102  is adjacent to the connection part  103  in the expanded mode and adjacent to the front wheel frame  141  in the folded mode. The first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  are linearly aligned in the expanded mode and are superposed with one another in the folded mode. In other words, the joint between first handle rod set  131  and the connection rod set  123  to the joint between second handle rod set  132  and the front wheel frame  141  is in linear configuration in the expanded mode, and, while switching to the folded mode, the first handle rod set  131  is rotated about the joint set  133  and superposed on the second handle rod set  132 . The angle between the upper arm set  122  and the lower arm  101  is greater in the expanded mode than in the folded mode. In other words, to switch to the folded mode, the upper arm set  122  rotates about the joint with the connection part  103  and moves forward to get closer to the lower arm  101 , which therefore decreases the angle therebetween. The angle between the rear wheel frame  113  and the lower arm  101  is greater in the expanded mode than in the folded mode. While switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, the rear wheel frame  113  moves upwards to get closer to the lower arm  101 , which decreases the angle between the rear wheel frame  113  and the lower arm  101 . 
     As aforementioned, the baby stroller  10  of the present invention has its configuration fixed in the expanded mode to meet the usage requirement, and each component of the baby stroller moves to its folded position in the folded mode for easier stowing and transporting. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , they are schematic diagrams showing a procedure of a baby stroller of the present invention transforming from an expanded mode to a folded mode. As shown in the figures, to switch from the expanded mode to the folded mode, an external force is exerted on the upper arm set  122  to rotate it in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141 . The movement of the upper arm set  122  actuates the link rod set  121  to push the slide block  102  to slide toward the front wheel frame  141 . In other words, a user may force the upper arm set  122  to rotate it in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141  and, consequently, the upper arm set  122  actuates the pivotally connected link rod set  121  to move. The movement of the link rod set  121  pushes the slide block  102  to slide toward the front wheel frame  141 . 
     To switch from the folded mode to the expanded mode, the upper arm set  122  may be rotated toward the rear wheel frame  113  by another external force. The movement of the upper arm set  122  actuates the link rod set  121  to pull the slide block  102  to slide toward the connection part  103 . In other words, a user may pull the upper arm set  122  upward to rotate it toward the rear wheel frame  113  and, consequently, the upper arm set  122  actuates the pivotally connected link rod set  121  to move. The movement of the link rod set  121  pulls the slide block  102  to slide toward the connection part  103 . 
     Moreover, while switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, the upper arm set  122  of the baby stroller  10  of the present invention is moved by an external force in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141  through its rotation about the joint with the connection part  103 . On the other hand, while switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode, the upper arm set  122  of the baby stroller  10  is also rotated about the joint with the connection part  103  but to the direction toward the rear wheel frame  113 . 
     Moreover, while switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, the first handle rod set  131  is rotated about the joint set  133  toward the second handle rod set  132 , and the joint set  133  moves toward the connection part  103 . In other words, the upper arm set  122  is rotated toward the front wheel frame  141  by an external force and, consequently, the rotation of the upper arm set  122  actuates the connected connection rod set  123  to move. The movement of the connection rod set  123  pushes the pivotally connected first handle rod set  131  to rotate about the joint set  133  toward the second handle rod set  132 . More specifically, the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  get closer to one another through the rotation about the joint set  133  and, concurrently, move closer to the lower arm  101 . Also, during the movement of the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132 , the joint set  133  correspondingly moves downward and gets closer to the connection part  103 . 
     While switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode, the first handle rod set  131  may rotate about the joint set  133  in the direction away from the second handle rod set  132 , and the joint set  133  moves away from the connection part  103 . In other words, while the upper arm set  122  is rotated in the direction toward the rear wheel frame  133  by another external force, the upper arm set  122  actuates the connected connection rod set  123  to move. Consequently, the movement of the connection rod set  123  pulls the pivotally connected first handle rod set  131 , such that the first handle rod set  131  rotates about the joint set  133  in the direction away from the second handle rod set  132 . More specifically, the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  rotate away from one another about the joint set  133  and, concurrently, move upward away from the lower arm  101 . Also, during the movement of the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132 , the joint set  133  correspondingly moves upward away from the connection part  103 . 
     Preferably, the joint set  133  may include a locking structure (not shown in the figures) to lock the rotation of the joint set  133  and, as a result, the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  may be fixed in the linearly aligned position. This may prevent the structure from loosening during the usage of the baby stroller  10 . To fold the baby stroller of the present invention, a user may unlock the locking structure and rotate the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  about the joint set  133  until the two are superposed with one another. 
     Furthermore, while switching from the expanded mode to the folded mode, the slide block  102  may slide in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141  to pull the pull rod set  111 . The movement of the pull rod set  111  consequently actuates the rear wheel frame  113  to rotate about the joint with the connection part  103  in the direction toward the lower arm  101 . More specifically, while the slide block  102  slides in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141 , the pivotally connected pull rod set  111  with the slide block  102  is also pulled by the slide block  102 . As a result, the rear wheel link rod  112  pivotally connected to the pull rod set  111  is actuated to rotate forward and upward about the joint with the connection part  103 , such that the angle between the pull rod set  111  and the rear wheel link rod  112  increases and, therefore, the rear wheel  113  connected to the rear wheel frame  113  is also actuated to move in the direction toward the lower arm  101 . 
     While switching from the folded mode to the expanded mode, the slide block  102  may slide in the direction toward the connection part  103  to push the pull rod set  111 . The movement of the pull rod set  111  consequently actuates the rear wheel frame  113  to rotate about the joint with the connection part  103  in the direction away from the lower arm  101 . In this case, while the slide block  102  slides in the direction toward the connection part  103 , the pull rod set  111  pivotally connected to the slide block  102  is also pushed, which actuates the rear wheel link rod  112  pivotally connected to the pull rod set  111  to rotate downward about the joint with the connection part  103 , such that the angle between the pull rod set  111  and the rear wheel link rod  112  decreases and the rear wheel  114  connected to the rear wheel frame  113  is therefore carried to move in the direction away from the lower arm  101 . 
     The mechanism of the mode switching is briefed hereinafter. While switching the baby stroller  10  of the present invention from the expanded mode to the folded mode, a user may push the upper arm set  122  to cause the linear aligned the first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  to bend around the joint set  133 . The first handle rod set  131  and the second handle rod set  132  then are superposed with one another and move closer to the lower arm  101 . Meanwhile, the slide block  102  is pushed to slide in the direction toward the front wheel frame  141 . 
     The movement of the slide block  102  actuates the rear wheel frame  113  to move forward and upward and get closer to the lower arm  101 . In this way, the baby stroller  10  of the present invention is collapsed to its folded mode, as shown in  FIG. 5 , for saving its occupying space. 
     With the aforementioned mechanism and the coupling structure of the slide block  102  and each component, the baby stroller  10  of the present invention may switch between the expanded mode and the folded mode. To fold it up, it only needs a simple push on the upper arm set  122  without disassembling any component. Also, the application of the slide block  102  reduces the need of bending any component, such that, based on his needs, a user may easily expand or fold the baby stroller  10  with the simplified procedure. 
     The baby stroller  10  of the present invention may further include two fixation rods  125 , one of which is disposed between two ends of the connection rod sets  123  and the other end of which is disposed between the other two ends of connection rod sets  123 . With these fixation rods  125 , the structure of the baby stroller  10  may be reinforced for better safety, and the actuation of the upper arm set  122  for switching between folded and expanded mode is also easier. 
     Furthermore, the ends of the upper arm set  122  that are connected to the connection rod set  123  may also dispose with handles  124 . The handle  124  facilitates the control of the baby stroller  10 . In expanded mode, the handle  124  provides the user a position to push the baby stroller  10 . The handle  124  also provides the user a position to effectively exert forces on the baby stroller  10  to switch it to the folded mode. 
     It should be noted that the additional soft structures for a baby to sit in may also be included in the baby stroller  10  of the present invention. Also, sun shading components and object carrying structures may also be included in the baby stroller  10  to fulfill the needs. 
     In the second embodiment of the present invention, the connection rod set  123  is pivotally connected to the upper arm set  122 . Opposite to the first embodiment that the connection rod set  123  is fixedly connected to the upper arm set  122 , the connection rod set  123  may be pivotally connected to the upper arm set  122  based on the actuation design, such that the ability to rotate at the joint provides flexibility during switching the baby stroller  10  between the expanded mode and the folded mode. 
     As aforementioned, through the coupling between each component, the baby stroller of the present invention may be folded without disassembling any component. The only force exerting on the upper arm set may actuate the first handle rod set, the second handle rod set, and the lower arm to move concurrently, which provides easy folding procedure to reduce the occupying space of the baby stroller for easier transportation. 
     The description above is only for the purpose of illustration but not restriction. Without departing from the spirit of the present application, any equivalent modification or alteration should be considered as falling within the protection scope of the appended claims.