Patent Publication Number: US-2015069738-A1

Title: Exercise stroller

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a stroller, and, more particularly, to an exercise stroller having a pair of moveable arms allowing the user to perform a rigorous workout while pushing the stroller. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Pregnancy results in many physical changes to the body usually including substantial weight gain. During pregnancy, such weight gain is generally considered beneficial, and doctors recommend an expectant mother to add 25 to 35 pounds. However, many women keep some of the extra weight after giving birth, and getting back to pre-pregnancy weight often requires considerable effort. 
     It has been shown that diet and exercise together are the most effective way for a new mother to lose weight. Dieting can be done by careful selection of food and reduction of portion size. However, exercise is often difficult to incorporate into the lives of busy mothers with babies, and without sufficient exercise, dieting by itself may be insufficient. 
     In recent years, it has become common to see mothers jog while pushing strollers. A new type of stroller, sometimes called a ‘jogging stroller’, has been marketed to facilitate this type of exercise. Jogging strollers typically have three relatively large wheels, a suspension assembly that allows the stroller to smoothly traverse bumpy ground, and extra padding and safety features to protect the child passenger. Although such jogging strollers are useful for exercise, they do not allow much upper body conditioning since arms are not used except to push the stroller forward. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an exercise stroller. The handles of the stroller are pivotally attached to the stroller frame and can be moved in an alternating forward and backward direction. Each of the stroller handles includes a tension device, such as, for example, elastic members, a hydraulic cylinder, various types of springs, etc., to provide resistance to the movement of the handles. In an embodiment, each handle includes a pair of torsion springs, wherein one of the torsion springs is left wound and the other of the pair of torsion springs is right wound. In this configuration, each pair of torsion springs is enclosed in a plastic housing, one of the torsion springs disposed on a left side and the other torsion spring disposed on a right side, wherein a fastener extends through central portions of the spring and secures the pair of the torsion springs to the handle. 
     In various embodiments, the exercise stroller may further include numerous other features for comfort, safety, and convenience. For example, the seats may be well cushioned to absorb sudden bumps, the legs and/or frame may include shock absorbers, seat belts may be provided, and the stroller frame may be foldable. Additionally, a cover can be attached to the stroller frame capable of providing shading for a child sitting in the stroller. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exercise stroller, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the exercise stroller of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is close-up side view of a top portion of the exercise stroller showing forward/backward movements of the handles; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the exercise stroller in a folded position; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of a tension device for a handle of the exercise stroller, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate various views of the tension device of  FIG. 5  along with parts of the handle; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a handle of the exercise stroller incorporating the tension device fully assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exercise stroller  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the exercise stroller  10 . As shown, the exercise stroller  10  includes a stroller frame  20 , a seat  24  suspended from the stroller frame  10 , at least three wheels  15 , each attached to the stroller frame  20  by a respective leg  12 , and a pair of handles  5 , each handle  5  pivotally attached to the stroller frame  20 . 
     The stroller frame can be a tubular frame made from steel or aluminum, for example, capable of safely supporting a child weighing at least 50 pounds. The seat  24  can be made of a fabric material having folded-over edges to accommodate entry of tubular portions of the stroller frame  24 . For safety, the exercise stroller  10  can have a seat/shoulder belt  17 . The wheels  15  can be swivel of fixed, and the size chosen will depend on such considerations as maneuverability and ease of storage. Typical sizes of the wheels  15  are from about 8 inches to 20 inches in diameter. In various embodiments, the exercise stroller may further include numerous other features for comfort, safety, and convenience. For example, the seat  24  may include extra cushioning to absorb sudden bumps and the legs  12  and/or frame  20  may include shock absorbers. Additionally, a cover  22  may be attached to the stroller frame  20  capable of providing shading for a child sitting in the stroller  10 . 
     As will be described in greater detail, to provide the user (i.e., the person pushing the exercise stroller  10 ) with a rigorous resistance exercise, each of the handles  5  further includes a tension device  25 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the tension devices  25  includes a pair of torsion springs. However, it is to be understood that the tension device could instead include elastic members, a hydraulic cylinder, various types of other springs, etc., to provide resistance to the movement of the handles in both the backward and forward directions. 
       FIG. 3  shows a close-up side view of a top portion of the exercise stroller  10  showing the forward/backward alternating movements. As illustrated, the user can push one of the handles  5  in a forward direction while the other handle  5  is pulled in a backward direction. Thus, the exercise stroller  10  can provide an aerobic workout while being pushed. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the exercise stroller  10  in a folded position. As illustrated, the frame  20  includes a frame pivot  18  allowing the frame  20  to assume the folded position when opposing portions of the frame  20  are moved as shown. It is to be understood that the exercise stroller  10  may further include a latch or other mechanism to enable the folding as well as a lock to keep the device in the folded position. It is to be understood that the notion of a folded stroller is well known to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of a tension device  25  for each of the handles  5 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tension device  25  includes a left-wound torsion spring  23 L and a right-wound torsion spring  23 R, each having a deflection angle of about 90 degrees, as shown. Disposed between the pair of torsion springs  23 L,  23 R is a separator  27  with an annular portion  27 A having about the same outside diameter of coil portion  24 A of the torsion spring  23 L and coil portion  25 C of the torsion spring  23 R, and a circular opening  24 B having a diameter about the same or less than the inside diameter of the coil portions  24 A,  24 C. To hold the assembly in place, a sleeve  21  is fitted around end portions  31  of the torsion spring  23 L,  23 R and an elongated portion  27 C of the separator  27 . The sleeve  21  is then fitted into a lower handle portion  34 . An elongated cylindrical fastener  38  (e.g., an unthreaded bolt) having a diameter about the same or slightly less than the inside diameter of the coil portions  24 A,  24 C and the circular opening  24 B is disposed through a first lower handle portion opening  34 A (wherein the head of the fastener  38  is wider than the diameter of the first lower handle portion opening  34 A), the coil portions  24 A,  24 C and the circular opening  24 B. A pair of caps  28 L,  28 R are then attached to left and right sides, respectively, of the tension device  25 . An end cap  33  is fitted into the cap  28 L. It is to be understood that the embodiment of the tension device  25  described herein is meant for illustrative purposes, and is not meant to be limiting. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate various views of the tension device  25  along with parts of the handle  5 . As shown, the handle  5  includes an upper handle portion  32 , the lower handle portion  34 , and a handle fastener  35 . The upper handle portion  32  has an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the lower handle portion, and thus the lower handle portion handle portion  24  can be inserted into the upper handle portion  32 . The handle fastener  35  includes a button  35 A. When the handle  5  is assembled, the handle fastener  35  is placed inside the handle  5  such that the button  35 A extends through a second lower handle portion opening  34 B and one of a plurality of upper handle portion openings  32 B. The length of the handle depends on which one of the upper handle portion openings  32 B is selected, allowing the user to adjust the length of the handle  5  accordingly. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.