Patent Publication Number: US-2023148379-A1

Title: Carrier

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 202111305409.0, entitled “CARRIER”, filed on Nov. 5, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to a carrier, in particular to a child stroller. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A child stroller is a common infant product which usually includes a frame, wheels and a seat. The frame is used to support and connect parts of other elements. The wheels are located under the frame to provide a travel function of the child stroller, and the seat is installed on the frame so that a child can be sit thereon. The frame includes a handle, and the handle is located at an upper part of the frame for convenience of a guardian holding and pushing the child stroller. 
     At present, the child stroller is provided with a canopy to provide protection against sunlight, rain, or wind. The canopy is usually disposed above the seat, and set in a folded mode or an unfolded mold. Specifically, a canopy cloth has one end connected to the handle, and the other end connected to a canopy support that can rotate relative to the handle, so as to be folded or unfolded with rotation of the canopy support relative to the handle. 
     In some applications, the frame itself is designed to be a collapsible form. For example, it may be divided into an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion which can be rotated and collapsed relative to each other. In this way, when the frame is collapsed, the upper handle portion, the lower handle portion, and the canopy support are substantially close to one another, thus reducing the occupied space as much as possible. However, in a collapsed state, the canopy cloth is sandwiched between the canopy support and the handle that are made of relatively hard materials, which may cause the canopy cloth to be worn out after the child stroller is frequently folded. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the conventional child stroller includes an upper handle portion, a lower handle portion, a canopy support, and a canopy cloth. A lower end of the upper handle portion is connected to an upper end of the lower handle portion, the upper handle portion is connected to the lower handle portion through a second rotatable joint, such that the upper handle portion can be pivoted between an unfolded position relative to the lower handle portion and a collapsed position where the upper handle portion is located closer to the lower handle portion. In the unfolded position, the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion are arranged approximately along a straight line and extend in opposite directions from the second rotatable joint. 
     The canopy support is pivotally connected to the lower end of the upper handle portion, and more specifically, the canopy support is connected to the upper handle portion through a first rotatable joint, such that it can be pivoted between the unfolded position and the folded position. In the unfolded position, the canopy support and the upper handle portion form an angle therebetween, and in the folded position, the canopy support is close to the upper handle portion. 
     When the entire child stroller is collapsed, the canopy support is rotated to a folded position in which it is close to the upper handle portion, and the upper handle portion is rotated to a collapsed position in which it is close to the lower handle portion, as shown in  FIG.  3   . At this time, the canopy support is basically sandwiched between the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion. Since the canopy cloth is directly sleeved on the canopy support, the canopy cloth is subjected to a certain friction and shear force at the position where the canopy support contacts the lower handle portion. Since the canopy support and the lower handle portion are usually made of a hard material, such as a metal or hard plastic, it is likely and easily for the canopy cloth to be damaged in use. 
     Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new child stroller, in which the canopy cloth can be protected from being easily worn and damaged. 
     SUMMARY 
     A carrier according to the present disclosure is provided. The carrier includes a frame, and the frame includes: a lower handle portion and an upper handle portion, forming parts of the frame, wherein a lower end of the upper handle portion is connected to an upper end of the lower handle portion, such that the upper handle portion is pivotable between an unfolded position relative to the lower handle portion and a collapsed position where the upper handle portion is close to the lower handle portion; a canopy rod, pivotally connected to the upper handle portion, and being pivotable between an unfolded position and a folded position; and a protective cover, sleeved on the canopy rod, and when the canopy rod is in the folded position, the protective cover is located between the canopy rod and the lower handle portion. 
     In an embodiment, the canopy rod is connected to the upper handle portion through a first rotatable joint, and the upper handle portion is connected to the lower handle portion through a second rotatable joint. 
     In an embodiment, the canopy rod includes two longitudinal portions and one transverse portion, one end of each of the two longitudinal portions is pivotally connected to a corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion, and the transverse portion is set up between the two longitudinal portions and forms a free rotating end of the canopy rod, and when the protective cover is fixedly sleeved on the longitudinal portions, and is located at an overlapping position of the longitudinal portion and the lower handle portion when the upper handle portion is close to the lower handle portion. 
     In an embodiment, a number of the protective cover is two, and the two protective covers are respectively sleeved on the two longitudinal portions. 
     In an embodiment, a mark point is disposed on at least one of the longitudinal portions for indicating a position where one end of the protective cover is to be placed. 
     In an embodiment, the protective cover is made of an elastic material, the protective cover is in a cylindrical shape in a natural state, and is deformable according to a section shape of the canopy rod when the protective cover is sleeved on the canopy rod. 
     In an embodiment, the carrier further comprises a canopy cloth covering the canopy rod and the protective cover from outside. 
     In an embodiment, the carrier further comprises an auxiliary rod pivotally connected between a corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion and the canopy rod through the first rotatable joint, wherein the auxiliary rod is pivotable between the unfolded position where the canopy rod and the upper handle portion form an angle and the folded position where the canopy rod is close to the upper handle portion; and a corresponding position in middle region of the canopy cloth is fixedly connected to the auxiliary rod, such that the canopy cloth is supported by the auxiliary rod while the canopy cloth is unfolded. 
     In an embodiment, the protective cover is in a cylindrical shape, and the canopy rod has a substantially flat cross-section, and a long side of the cross-section is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the first rotatable joint. 
     In an embodiment, the carrier is a child stroller. 
     A carrier according to the present disclosure is provided. The carrier includes a frame, and the frame includes; a lower handle portion and an upper handle portion, forming part of the frame, wherein a lower end of the upper handle portion is connected to an upper end of the lower handle portion, such that the upper handle portion is pivotable between a unfolded position relative to the lower handle portion and a collapsed position where being close to the lower handle portion; a canopy rod, pivotally connected to the lower end of the upper handle portion, and being pivotable between an unfolded position and a folded position a canopy cloth, covering the canopy rod from outside; and a flexible attachment, adhered to an inner side of the canopy cloth and arranged at a position corresponding to a position where the canopy cloth contacts the lower handle portion when the upper handle portion is pivoted to the collapsed position. 
     In an embodiment, the canopy cloth has a double-layer structure, the flexible attachment is filled in the double-layer structure, and the flexible attachment surrounds lower, left and right sides of the canopy rod. 
     In an embodiment, the canopy rod is connected to the upper handle portion through a first rotatable joint, and the upper handle portion is connected to the lower handle portion through a second rotatable joint. 
     In an embodiment, the canopy rod includes two longitudinal portions and one transverse portion, one end of each of the two longitudinal portions is pivotally connected to a corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion, and the transverse portion is set up between the two longitudinal portions and forms a free rotating end of the canopy rod. The flexible attachment is sleeved on the longitudinal portions, and is located at an overlapping position of the longitudinal portion and the lower handle portion when the upper handle portion is close to the lower handle portion. 
     In an embodiment, a number of the flexible attachment is two, and the two flexible attachment are respectively sleeved on the two longitudinal portions. 
     In an embodiment, the carrier further comprises an auxiliary rod pivotally connected between a corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion and the canopy rod through the first rotatable joint, wherein the auxiliary rod is pivotable between the unfolded position where the canopy rod and the upper handle portion form an angle therebetween and the folded position where to the canopy rod is close to the upper handle portion; and the auxiliary rod is fixedly connected to a corresponding position in middle region of the canopy cloth, such that the canopy cloth is supported by the auxiliary rod while being unfolded. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above summary and the following description will be better appreciated and understood with reference to the non-limiting examples shown in the attached drawings, in which, 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a conventional child stroller according to the prior art, in which an upper handle portion, a lower handle portion and a canopy support are shown, but a canopy cloth is omitted; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic perspective view of the conventional child stroller according to the prior art, in which the upper handle portion, the lower handle portion and the canopy cloth covering the canopy support are shown; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic perspective view of the conventional child stroller according to the prior art, in which the upper handle portion is close to its collapsed position, and the canopy support is close to its folded position; 
         FIG.  4    is a partially enlarged schematic view of the upper handle portion, the lower handle portion, and the canopy support shown in  FIG.  3    and viewed from another angle; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a schematic perspective view of a child stroller according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates an upper handle portion, a lower handle portion, a canopy rod, and a protective cover, and  FIG.  5 B  is a schematic perspective view in which the canopy cloth shown in  FIG.  5 A  is omitted; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic perspective view of the child stroller according to the present disclosure, in which the upper handle portion is close to its collapsed position, and the canopy rod is close to its folded position; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic perspective view of the upper handle portion, the lower handle portion, the canopy rod, and the protective cover of the child stroller according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic perspective view of the protective cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic view showing an end of the protective cover; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic side view of the protective cover; 
         FIG.  11 A  is a schematic perspective view of the child stroller according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  11 B  is a partially sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG.  11 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention should not be limited to the illustrated details. Specifically, within the scope of the equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention, various modifications can be made to these details. 
     Direction descriptions such as “front,” “back,” “up” and “down” related herein are only for convenience of understanding. The invention is not limited to these directions, but can be adjusted according to the actual situation. 
     Reference is made to  FIG.  5 A  to  FIG.  7   . A child stroller  100  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5 A , a frame of the child stroller  100  includes a lower handle portion  120 , an upper handle portion  110 , a canopy rod  130 , and a canopy cloth  150 . 
     The lower handle portion  120  and the upper handle portion  110  are jointly formed as parts of the frame. A lower end of the upper handle portion  110  is connected to an upper end of the lower handle portion  120 , such that the upper handle portion  110  can be pivoted between an unfolded position relative to the lower handle portion  120  and a collapsed position where the upper handle portion is close to the lower handle portion  120 . 
     The canopy rod  130  is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lower handle portion  120 , and can be pivoted between an unfolded position and a folded position. In the unfolded position, the canopy rod and the upper handle portion  110  form an angle therebetween, and in the folded position, the canopy rod is close to the upper handle portion  110 . 
     The canopy cloth  150  is connected between the upper handle portion  110  and the canopy rod  130 , and can be unfolded and folded as the upper handle portion  110  is pivoted relative to the canopy rod  130 . 
     A protective cover  160  is sleeved on the canopy rod  130 . When the canopy rod  130  is in its folded position, the protective cover  160  contacts the lower handle portion  120 . 
     In this embodiment, the canopy rod  130  is connected to the upper handle portion  110  through a first rotatable joint  140 , and the upper handle portion  110  is connected to the lower handle portion  120  through a second rotatable joint  170 . The first rotatable joint  140  and the second rotatable joint  170  each have a rotation axis along a transverse direction (i.e., a left-right direction of the child stroller  100 ). The first rotatable joint  140  is close to an outer side of the child stroller  100 , and the second rotatable joint  170  is close to an inner side of the child stroller  100 . In other embodiments, the first rotatable joint  140  and the second rotatable joint  170  can be the same component. That is, the lower handle portion  120 , the upper handle portion  110 , and the canopy rod  130  can rotate around the same rotation axis. 
     In some embodiments, the child stroller  100  may further include an auxiliary rod  133 . The auxiliary rod  133  is pivotally connected between a corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion  110  and the canopy rod  130  through the first rotatable joint  140 , and can be pivoted between the unfolded position where the canopy rod  130  and the upper handle portion  110  form the angle therebetween and the folded position where the canopy rod is close to the upper handle portion  110 . A corresponding position in middle region of the canopy cloth  150  is fixedly connected to the auxiliary rod  133 , such that the canopy cloth  150  is supported by the auxiliary rod  133  when the canopy cloth  150  is unfolded. One or more auxiliary rods  133  may be provided to support the canopy cloth  150  according to actual requirements. 
     In this embodiment, the canopy rod  130  includes two longitudinal portions  131  and one transverse portion  132 . One end of each of the two longitudinal portions  131  is pivotally connected to one corresponding lower end of the upper handle portion  110 . The transverse portion  132  is set up between the two longitudinal portions  131  and forms a free rotating end of the canopy rod  130 . In other embodiments, numbers of the longitudinal portion  131  and the transverse portion  132  can be set according to the form of the canopy cloth  150 . 
     The protective cover  160  is fixedly sleeved on the corresponding one of the longitudinal portions  131  of the canopy rod  130 . When the upper handle portion  110  is close to the lower handle portion  120 , the protective cover 16 is arranged at an overlapping position between the corresponding one of the longitudinal portions  131  and the lower handle portion  120 . 
     In the situation where the canopy rod  130  includes two longitudinal portions  131 , two protective covers  160  may be provided to be sleeved on the two longitudinal portions  131 , respectively. 
     A mark point  134  may be disposed on one or both of the longitudinal portions  131  of the canopy rod  130  for indicating the position where one end of the protective cover  160  is to be placed. Specifically, the mark point  134  may be a colored point located at an outer side of at least one of the longitudinal portions  131 , so as to be observed by the user. When the protective cover  160  is arranged at its preset position, the mark point  134  should be located at one end of the protective cover  160 , for example, at one end of the protective cover  160  facing the upper handle portion  110  and the lower handle portion  120 . In this way, the user can clearly know whether the protective cover  160  has been arranged in the preset position. 
     The protective cover  160  is made of an elastic material, which is in a cylindrical shape in the natural state (as shown in  FIGS.  8  and  9   ). When the protective cover  160  is sleeved on the canopy rod  130  a shape of the protective cover  160  can be changed according to a sectional shape of the canopy rod  130 . 
     In the present disclosure, the protective cover  160  is in a cylindrical shape, and the canopy rod  130  has a substantially flat cross-section, and a long side of the cross-section is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the first rotatable joint  140 . When the protective cover  160  is sleeved on the canopy rod  130 , the protective cover  160  is deformed into a rectangular shape to be consistent with the shape of the canopy rod  130 . In other embodiments, the protective cover  160  can also be designed to be consistent with the cross-sectional shape of the canopy rod  130 , such as having a rectangular section. Referring to  FIG.  7   , the protective cover  160  in the rectangular shape is shown. 
     Reference is made to  FIGS.  11 A- 11 B . A child stroller of a second embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described. In this embodiment, instead of disposing a protective cover on the canopy rod  130 , a flexible attachment  151  is disposed in the canopy cloth  150 . More specifically, the flexible attachment  151  is adhered to the inner side of the canopy cloth  150 , and the position of the flexible attachment  151  is arranged to correspond to a position at which the canopy rod  130  is in contact with the lower handle portion  120  when the upper handle portion  110  is pivoted to the collapsed position (i.e., the upper handle portion  110  is close to the lower handle portion  120 , and the canopy rod  130  is also close to the lower handle portion  120 , similar to the state shown in  FIG.  4   ). That is, the protective cover  160  is replaced by the flexible attachment  151  to buffer a collision between the canopy rod  130  and the lower handle portion  120 . According to another embodiment, two flexible attachments  151  are provided, and the two flexible attachments  151  are respectively sleeved on two longitudinal portions  131  of the canopy rod  130 . 
     In an embodiment, the canopy cloth  150  has a double-layer structure, and the flexible attachment  151  is filled in the double-layer structure (see  FIG.  11 B ). the flexible attachment  151   can surround the lower, left and right sides of the canopy rod  130 , so as to form a stable buffer structure. The flexible attachment  151  may be made of a flexible material such as a foam cotton. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a carrier is described by taking a child stroller as an example. It should be understood that the carrier of the present disclosure is not limited to a child stroller, and can also be any carrier with a sunshade. 
     Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to typical embodiments, the terms used are illustrative and exemplary, not restrictive. Since the present disclosure can be specifically implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit and essence of the present disclosure, it should be understood, the above embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted as broadly as possible within the scope defined in the claims, so all changes falling within the scope of claims or their equivalents should be covered by claims. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 List of Reference Signs 
               
             
            
               
                   100  Child stroller 
               
               
                   110  Upper Handle portion 
               
               
                   120  Lower Handle portion 
               
               
                   130  Canopy Rod 
               
               
                   131  Longitudinal Portion 
               
               
                   132  Transverse Portion 
               
               
                   133  Auxiliary Rod 
               
               
                   134  Mark Point 
               
               
                   140  First Rotatable Joint 
               
               
                   150  Canopy cloth 
               
               
                   151  Flexible Attachment 
               
               
                   160  Protective Cover 
               
               
                   170  Second Rotatable Joint