Patent Publication Number: US-2022219747-A1

Title: Child stroller apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to China patent application no. 
     202110024013.2 filed on Jan. 8, 2021. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present application relates to child stroller apparatuses. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Caregivers typically use child stroller apparatuses to transport babies and children. A child stroller apparatus generally includes a metallic frame comprised of metallic and plastic parts assembled together, and a fabric connected with or covering the metallic frame. When it is not used, the child stroller apparatus can be folded for facilitating storage and transport. 
     Some existing child stroller apparatuses may have a mounting system adapted to receive the installation of different child supporting parts, such as child seats or child bassinets, which can provide more flexibility in use. However, the operation of the mounting system provided therein may arise safety concerns. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes a child stroller apparatus including a mounting system capable of accommodating different detachable components, such as child seats and bassinets. 
     According to one aspect, the child stroller apparatus includes a stroller frame, a connecting mount provided on the stroller frame and having a first coupling portion, and an adapter suitable to receive the installation of a detachable component. The adapter is installable on and detachable from the first coupling portion of the connecting mount, and includes a support body having a second and a third coupling portion, the second coupling portion being connectible with the first coupling portion, and the third coupling portion being connectible with the detachable component. The first coupling portion of the connecting mount is adapted to receive the installation of the adapter and a detachable component, and the arrangement of the adapter on the connecting mount allows the installation of a detachable component on the third coupling portion of the adapter at a mount position that differs from a mount position provided by the connecting mount. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child stroller apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the child stroller apparatus having adapters installed therein; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the child stroller apparatus including a detachable component mounted on the installed adapters; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating one adapter; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating some construction details of a locking mechanism provided in the adapter; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a latch used in the locking mechanism; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the latch of the locking mechanism in a locking state; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the latch of the locking mechanism in an unlocking state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child stroller apparatus  100 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the child stroller apparatus  100  can include a stroller frame  101 . The stroller frame  101  includes a front leg frame  102 , a rear leg frame  104  and a handle frame  106 . 
     According to an example of construction, the front leg frame  102 , the rear leg frame  104  and the handle frame  106  may be formed by tubular structures. The front leg frame  102  can have two side segments  102 A respectively disposed at a left side and a right side of the child stroller apparatus  100 , and a transversal portion  102 B connected with the two side segments  102 A. A lower portion of the front leg frame  102  can be provided with a plurality of wheel assemblies  108 . The rear leg frame  104  can have two side segments  104 A respectively disposed at the left side and right side of the child stroller apparatus  100 , and a transversal segment  104 B connected with the two side segments  104 A. A lower portion of the rear leg frame  104  can be provided with a plurality of wheel assemblies  110 . The handle frame  106  can have two side segments  106 A respectively disposed at the left side and right side of the child stroller apparatus  100 , and a transversal segment  106 B connected with the two side segments  106 A. 
     A similar structure assembly may be applied to connect the front leg frame  102 , the rear leg frame  104  and the handle frame  106  at each of the left side and right side of the child stroller apparatus  100 . According to an example of construction, the front leg frame  102  and the handle frame  106  can be pivotally connected with each other via a pivot joint structure  112  at each of the left side and right side so that the handle frame  106  can rotate about a pivot axis  114  relative to the front leg frame  102 . For example, the pivot joint structure  112  at each of the left side and right side can include a coupling part  116  fixedly connected with the side segment  102 A of the front leg frame  102  at an upper end thereof, and a coupling part  118  fixedly connected with the side segment  106 A of the handle frame  106  at a lower end thereof. The two coupling parts  116  and  118  can be pivotally connected with each other so that the front leg frame  102  is pivotally coupled to the handle frame  106 . Moreover, the rear leg frame  104  can be pivotally connected with the handle frame  106  so that the handle frame  106  can rotate about a pivot axis  120  relative to the rear leg frame  104 . For example, at each of the left and right side, the side segment  104 A of the rear leg frame  104  can have an upper end pivotally connected with the side segment  106 A of the handle frame  106  at a location above the pivot axis  114 . In addition, the child stroller apparatus  100  can further include a support frame  122  having two side segments  122 A and a transversal segment  122 B connected with the two side segments  122 A, wherein the side segment  122 A is respectively connected with the side segment  102 A of the front leg frame  102  and the side segment  104 A of the rear leg frame  104  at each of the left and right sides. The support frame  122  including the two side segments  122 A and the transversal segment  122 B may be provided as a single part. With the construction described herein, the front leg frame  102 , the rear leg frame  104 , the handle frame  106  and the support frame  122  can be movably linked to one another for facilitating folding and unfolding of the child stroller apparatus  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the child stroller apparatus  100  can further include a mounting system comprised of a plurality of connecting mounts  124  provided on the stroller frame  101  for installation of a detachable component as desired. According to an example of construction, two connecting mounts  124  can be respectively disposed adjacent to the two pivot joint structures  112 , e.g., each connecting mount  124  can be connected with an inner side of the corresponding pivot joint structure  112 . Examples of detachable components that may be installed on the connecting mounts  124  can include, without limitation, child seats, carry cots, and the like. 
     The two connecting mounts  124  can be similar in construction, and are adapted to engage with a detachable component that is to be installed on the stroller frame  101 . According to an example of construction, the two connecting mounts  124  can be respectively connected pivotally with the stroller frame  101  so that the connecting mounts  124  can rotate relative to the stroller frame  101 . For example, the two connecting mounts  124  may be respectively connected pivotally with the coupling parts  118  of the two side segments  106 A at an inner side of the handle frame  106 . 
     Each connecting mount  124  can have a coupling portion  126  adapted to receive the mount of a detachable component. According to an example of construction, the connecting mount  124  including the coupling portion  126  can be provided as a single rigid part. When the connecting mount  124  is in a use configuration, the coupling portion  126  can protrude upward for facilitating the installation of a detachable component, wherein the coupling portion  126  can have a symmetrical shape so as to be engageable with a detachable component placed in different orientations. For example, a detachable child seat may be engaged with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124  in a forward facing position or a rearward facing position. Moreover, the connecting mount  124  can have an opening  128  adapted to engage with a latch or fitting structure provided on a detachable component, which can lock the detachable component to the connecting mount  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the child stroller apparatus  100  further includes two adapters  130  that are respectively installable on and detachable from the coupling portions  126  of the two connecting mounts  124  and are adapted to engage with a detachable component. According to a desired use, a detachable component or the adapter  130  thus can be selectively installed one at a time on the connecting mount  124 . The two adapters  130  may be similar in construction. After the adapters  130  are installed on the connecting mounts  124 , a detachable component can be installed on the stroller frame  101  by engaging with the adapters  130 , which allows the detachable component to be installed on the stroller frame  101  at a mount position that differs from a mount position provided by the connecting mounts  124 . Examples of detachable components that may be installed on the adapters  130  can include, without limitation, child seats, carry cots, and the like.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example in which the two adapters  130  are respectively installed on the two connecting mounts  124  and are engaged with a detachable component  200 , wherein the detachable component  200  is exemplarily a bassinet. The detachable component  200  can have two connectors  202  respectively provided at two opposite sides thereof, which can respectively engage with the two adapters  130  when the detachable component  200  is installed on the stroller frame  101 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the adapters  130  may facilitate the installation of a detachable component  200  having a relatively larger size on the stroller frame  101 . Moreover, the detachable component  200  mounted on the adapters  130  can be positioned higher than when the detachable component  200  is directly mounted on the connecting mounts  124  without the adapters  130 , which can allow a caregiver to more easily access a child placed in the detachable component  200 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 ,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating one adapter  130 . Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the adapter  130  can include a support body  132  having an extending portion  134  and two coupling portions  136  and  138 . The extending portion  134  may be fixedly connected with the two coupling portions  136  and  138 . The two coupling portions  136  and  138  can respectively protrude from two opposite sides of the extending portion  134 , the coupling portion  136  being adapted to engage with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 , the coupling portion  138  being adapted to engage with the detachable component. When the adapter  130  is installed on the connecting mount  124 , the coupling portion  136  of the support body  132  can protrude downward from the extending portion  134  and engage with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 , the extending portion  134  can extend forward along a horizontal direction from the coupling portion  136  and the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 , and the coupling portion  138  of the support body  132  can protrude upward from the extending portion  134  for receiving the installation of a detachable component. Accordingly, the adapter  130  can provide a mount position for a detachable component that is higher than and displaced forward from the mount position provided by the connecting mount  124 . According to an example of construction, the coupling portion  136  of the support body  132  can have a receiving slot  136 A adapted to receive the insertion of the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . Moreover, the coupling portion  138  of the support body  132  can have a structure similar to that of the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124  and is adapted to receive the installation of a detachable component. For example, the coupling portion  138  of the support body  132  can have a structure adapted to be inserted into a receiving slot provided on the detachable component, and the detachable component can have a latch operable to engage with the coupling portion  138  for locking the detachable component to the adapter  130 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 ,  FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustrating a locking mechanism  140  provided in the adapter  130 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a latch  142  used in the locking mechanism  140 .  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the latch  142  of the locking mechanism  140  in a locking state, and  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the latch  142  of the locking mechanism  140  in an unlocking state. Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the adapter  130  can further include a locking mechanism  140  operable to lock the adapter  130  to the connecting mount  124 . According to an example of construction, the locking mechanism  140  can include a latch  142  and a spring  144 . The support body  132  can have an inner cavity  146  that is closed with a cover  148  at one side, and the latch  142  and the spring  144  can be assembled inside the inner cavity  146 . The latch  142  is movably connected with the support body  132  so that the latch  142  can move relative to the support body  132  to engage with or disengage from the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . According to an example of construction, the latch  142  is slidably connected with the support body  132  so that the latch  142  can slide transversally relative to the support body  132 . Accordingly, the latch  142  can slide to engage with and disengage from the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . For example, the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124  can have a recess  150  (better shown in  FIG. 1 ), and the latch  142  can have an engaging protrusion  152  adapted to engage with the recess  150 , wherein the recess  150  may be exemplarily provided on a surface of the coupling portion  126  adjacent to a side edge  126 E thereof. More specifically, when the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124  is inserted into the receiving slot  136 A of the adapter  130 , the engaging protrusion  152  can move toward the interior of the receiving slot  136 A and engage with the recess  150  of the coupling portion  126  for locking the adapter  130  to the connecting mount  124 . 
     The spring  144  can urge the latch  142  to move for engaging the engaging protrusion  152  with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . According to an example of construction, the spring  144  can have two ends respectively connected with the latch  142  and the support body  132 , wherein the spring  144  can be exemplarily a compression spring. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4-6 , the locking mechanism  140  can further include an operating part  154  connected with the latch  142  so that a caregiver can operate the operating part  154  to cause unlocking of the latch  142 . According to an example of construction, the operating part  154  can be fixedly connected with the latch  142 , e.g., the latch  142  and the operating part  154  may be formed integrally as a single part, whereby the latch  142  and the operating part  154  are movable in a concurrent manner. The operating part  154  can extend at a side of the engaging protrusion  152 , and protrude from the cover  148  to be exposed at an inner side  132 A of the support body  132  (the inner side  132 A of the support body  132  faces an interior of the stroller frame  101  where a child can be placed). Accordingly, the engaging protrusion  152  and a portion of the operating part  154  exposed at the inner side  132 A of the support body  132  are respectively located at two opposite sides of the receiving slot  136 A. The latch  142  can slide toward the inner side  132 A of the support body  132  for engaging with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 , and the operating part  154  can be operated to urge the latch  142  to slide in an opposite direction for disengaging from the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . According to an example of construction, the portion of the operating part  154  exposed at the inner side  132 A of the support body  132  can be shaped as a button. Because the operating part  154  is exposed at the inner side  132 A of the support body  132 , a child would not easily have access to the operating part  154 , which can prevent accidental unlocking of the locking mechanism  140 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-7 , when the adapter  130  is installed on the connecting mount  124 , the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124  inserts into the receiving slot  136 A of the adapter  130 , and the latch  142  biased by the spring  144  can engage with the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . More specifically, the latch  142  can extend transversally across the side edge  126 E of the coupling portion  126  to two opposite sides of the coupling portion  126  so that the engaging protrusion  152  of the latch  142  engages with the recess  150  on one surface of the coupling portion  126  and the latch  142  can extend to another opposite surface of the coupling portion  126 . Accordingly, the operating part  154  of the latch  142  can be exposed on the inner side  132 A of the support body  132 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4-6 and 8 , for removing the adapter  130  from the connecting mount  124 , a caregiver can push the operating part  154  on the inner side  132 A of the support body  132 , which urges the latch  142  to move and cause the engaging protrusion  152  to disengage from the coupling portion  126  of the connecting mount  124 . The adapter  130  can be thereby unlocked and removed from the connecting mount  124 . 
     The child stroller apparatus described herein is convenient to operate, and has a mounting system adapted to receive the installation of different detachable components such as child seats, bassinets, and the like. According to the needs, the mounting system may also be connected with an adapter that can modify the mounting position of the detachable component, thereby offering more flexibility in use. Moreover, the adapter can have a locking mechanism operable to lock the adapter to a connecting mount of the mounting system, wherein an operating part for unlocking the locking mechanism is provided at an inner side of the adapter so that a child would not easily have access to the operating part. As a result, accidental unlocking of the locking mechanism can be prevented, which can offer safer use. 
     Realization of the child stroller apparatus has been described in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.