Patent Publication Number: US-2007114825-A1

Title: Child carrier

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to a child carrier, more particularly to a child carrier that is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame, and that includes a handle adapted to be held by a user.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first conventional child carrier  1  is adapted to be disposed on a backseat of an automobile to carry a child (not shown) therein, so as to ensure safety of the child in the automobile. The first conventional child carrier  1  is commonly referred to as a child car seat, and includes a child-carrying member  11 , a handle  12 , and a pair of position-controlling mechanisms  13 . The child-carrying member  11  is adapted to carry the child therein. The handle  12  includes a holding portion  121 , and two opposite end portions  122  that are pivoted to the child-carrying member  11 . The handle  12  is operable so as to rotate relative to the child-carrying member  11  between a holding position, where the holding portion  121  is disposed above the child-carrying member  11  so as to enable carrying of the child-carrying member  11  by a user, and a rest position, where the holding portion  121  is disposed adjacent to side walls of the child-carrying member  11  so as to provide easy access of the child into and out of the child-carrying member  11 . The position-controlling mechanisms  13  are pivoted to the child-carrying member  11  at positions corresponding to the end portions  122  of the handle  12 , and are rotatable relative to the end portions  122  of the handle  12  and the child-carrying member  11  between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the position-controlling mechanisms  13  are disposed at the locked position, the handle  12  is securely disposed at one of the holding and the rest positions, depending on the particular position of the holding portion  121  of the handle  12 . When the position-controlling mechanisms  13  are disposed at the unlocked position, the handle  12  is operable to move between the holding and the rest positions. The conventional first child carrier  1  is disadvantageous in that it is only suitable for carrying by the user and for disposed on the backseat of the automobile.  
      A second conventional child carrier (not shown) differs from the first conventional child carrier  1  in that the second conventional child carrier further includes a pair of second interlocking members (not shown) that are disposed respectively on two opposite sides of the child-carrying member  11 , and that are adapted to be coupled respectively to a pair of first interlocking members (not shown) of a stroller frame (not shown). However, since the operation of engaging the second interlocking members with the respective one of the first interlocking members is not related to other operations or components of the second conventional child carrier, the second conventional child carrier is not adequately convenient and user-friendly.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a child carrier including a handle that is operable to pivot relative to a child-carrying member, such that pivotal movement of the handle enables a second interlocking member to engage a first interlocking member of a stroller frame.  
      According to the present invention, there is provided a child carrier that is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame having a pair of first interlocking members. The child carrier comprises: a child-carrying member adapted to carry a child therein; a handle including two opposite end portions that are pivoted to the child-carrying member, and operable so as to rotate relative to the child-carrying member between a holding position and a rest position; a pair of second interlocking members connected to the child-carrying member at positions corresponding to the end portions of the handle, respectively, each of the second interlocking members being movable between a locking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to engage a respective one of the first interlocking members of the stroller frame when the child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and the handle is disposed at the rest position, thereby securing the child carrier to the stroller frame, and an unlocking position, where the second interlocking member is adapted to disengage the respective one of the first interlocking members when the child carrier is mounted on the stroller frame and the handle is disposed at the holding position, thereby permitting removal of the child carrier from the stroller frame; and a pair of position-controlling mechanisms pivoted to the child-carrying member at positions corresponding to the end portions of the handle, each of the position-controlling mechanisms including a driving member that is rotatable together with the handle from a first angular position, where the driving member is angularly spaced apart from a respective one of the second interlocking members, to a second angular position, where the driving member is in contact with the respective one of the second interlocking members and drives movement of the respective one of the second interlocking members from the unlocking position to the locking position, when the handle is rotated from the holding position to the rest position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first conventional child carrier;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a child carrier according to the present invention, illustrating a handle disposed at a holding position;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary partly-exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a driving member disposed at a first angular position, and the driving member and an engaging member disposed respectively at first and second retained positions;  
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary partly cut-away view of a second interlocking member and a fulcrum-mounting seat of the preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the second interlocking member in an unlocking position;  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating rotation of the driving member from the first angular position to a second angular position;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the handle disposed at a rest position;  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the driving member disposed at a second angular position, and the driving member and the engaging protrusion disposed respectively at the first and second retained positions;  
       FIG. 10  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the second interlocking member in a locking position;  
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the driving member disposed at the first angular position, and the driving member and an engaging member disposed respectively at first and second unretained positions; and  
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the driving member disposed at the second angular position, and the driving member and the engaging protrusion disposed respectively at the first and second unretained positions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      As shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 , the preferred embodiment of a child carrier  20  according to this invention is adapted to be coupled to a stroller frame  21  (partially shown in  FIG. 2 ). The stroller frame  21  includes a pair of opposite frame parts  211 , each of which is provided with a T-shaped first interlocking member  212 . The child carrier  20  includes a child-carrying member  3 , a handle  4 , a pair of second interlocking members  6 , and a pair of position-controlling mechanisms  5 .  
      The child-carrying member  3  includes a pair of opposite side wall units  31 , and an interconnecting wall  32  interconnecting the side wall units  31  and cooperating with the side wall units  31  to define a child-disposing space  33  that is adapted to carry a child (not shown) therein. Each of the side wall units  31  has a U-shaped wall part  311  with opposing inner and outer wall portions  312 ,  313  defining a gap  314  therebetween. The outer wall portion  313  of each of the side wall units  31  is formed with an annular groove  315 , a through-hole  316  that is in spatial communication with the annular groove  315 , and a hollow shaft  317 .  
      The outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of each of the side wall units  31  has outer and inner surrounding wall components  361 ,  362 . The outer surrounding wall component  361  surrounds the annular groove  315  of the outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of the respective one of the side wall units  31 , and is formed with first and second protrusion-receiving recesses  366 ,  367  that are disposed outwardly of and that are in spatial communication with the annular groove  315 . The inner surrounding wall component  362  surrounds the hollow shaft  317 , is surrounded by the outer surrounding wall component  361 , and is formed with first and second projection-receiving recesses  368 ,  369  that are disposed inwardly of and that are in spatial communication with the annular groove  315 . The inner surrounding wall component  362  cooperates with the outer surrounding wall component  361  to define the annular groove  315  therebetween.  
      The handle  4  includes two opposite end portions  42  that are pivoted to the outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of a respective one of the side wall units  31  of the child-carrying member  3  and that are each formed with an opening  426 , and a holding portion  43  that interconnects the end portions  42 . The handle  4  is operable so as to rotate relative to the child-carrying member  3  between a holding position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a rest position (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). In this embodiment, each of the end portions  42  includes a cover wall  421  for covering the annular groove  315  in the outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of the respective one of the side wall units  31 , a pivot protrusion  425  extending from the cover wall  421  toward the annular groove  315 , and a surrounding wall  424  that extends transversely from a periphery of the cover wall  421  and that is formed with a notch to configure the end portion  42  with the opening  426 . The cover wall  421  is formed with a spring-disposing groove  423 .  
      The position-controlling mechanisms  5  are pivoted to the child-carrying member  3  at positions corresponding to the end portions  42  of the handle  4 . Each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  includes a driving member  51  that is rotatable together with the handle  4  from a first angular position (as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 11 ) to a second angular position (as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 12 ) when the handle  4  is rotated from the holding position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to the rest position (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). Each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  further includes a control plate  52  pivoted to the child-carrying member  3 , connected to a respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4 , and formed with a driving protrusion that protrudes therefrom and that defines the driving member  51 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the driving member  51  is disposed at the first angular position, the same is angularly spaced apart from a respective one of the second interlocking members  6 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the driving member  51  is disposed at the second angular position, the same is in contact with the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  and drives movement of the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  from an unlocking position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) to a locking position (as shown in  FIG. 10 ). As shown in  FIGS. 7, 11 , and  12 , the driving member  51  is received in the annular groove  315  in a respective one of the side wall units  31  of the child-carrying member  3  during movement between the first and second annular positions.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the control plate  52  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  includes a generally-rectangular operating portion  522  disposed between the respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4  and the outer surrounding wall component  361  of the outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of a respective one of the side wall units  31  of the child-carrying member  3 , and having the driving protrusion formed thereon. The control plate  52  further includes a pressing portion  523  extending from the operating portion  522  through the opening  426 . The operating portion  522  of the control plate  52  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is further formed with an engaging projection  521  spaced apart from the driving member  51 , a pivot post defining a pivot hole  524  and disposed distal from the pressing portion  523 , an elongated aperture  525 , and a spring-sleeving stud  526  corresponding to the spring-disposing groove  423 . The pivot hole  524  receives the pivot protrusion  425  of the respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4  therein so as to permit pivotal movement of the control plate  52  relative to the respective one of the end portions  42  and the child-carrying member  3 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the distance (M) between the center of the elongated aperture  525  and the engaging projection  521  is shorter than the distance (N) between the center of the elongated aperture  52  and the driving protrusion  51 , but the present invention is not limited to this particular aspect.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4, 9 ,  11 , and  12 , when the driving member  51  is disposed at a selected one of the first and second angular positions, the driving member  51  is movable between a first unretained position (as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 ), where the driving member  51  is received in the annular groove  315  in the vicinity of a respective one of the first and second protrusion-receiving recesses  366 ,  367 , and a first retained position (as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 9 ), where the driving member  51  is received in the respective one of the first and second protrusion-receiving recesses  366 ,  367 , thereby securing the handle  4  at a respective one of the holding and rest positions (as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 8 ).  
      As shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , when the driving member  51  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at the first unretained position, the engaging projection  521  of the respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at a second unretained position, where the engaging projection  521  is received in the annular groove  315 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , when the driving member  51  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at the first retained position and at a selected one of the first and second angular positions, the engaging projection  521  of the respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at a second retained position, where the engaging projection  521  is received in a respective one of the first and second projection-receiving recesses  368 ,  369 , thereby securing the handle  4  at a respective one of the holding and rest positions.  
      Each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  further includes an urging member  53  that is disposed in the spring-disposing groove  423  in the cover wall  421  of the respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4 . In this embodiment, the urging member  53  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is a compression spring, and is sleeved on the spring-sleeving stud  526  of the operating portion  522  of the control plate  52  of the respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms  5 . In addition, the urging member  53  abuts against the control plate  52  and the surrounding wall  424  of the respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4  in such a manner that pressing of the pressing portion  523  of the control plate  52  against urging action of the urging member  53  results in movement of the driving member  51  from the first retained position to the first unretained position and movement of the engaging projection  521  from the second retained position to the second unretained position.  
      In this embodiment, the handle  4  further includes two pins  41 , each of which extends through the hollow shaft  317  of the outer wall portion  313  of the U-shaped wall part  311  of a respective one of the side wall units  31  of the child-carrying member  3 , through the elongated aperture  525  in the operating portion  522  of the control plate  52  of a respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms  5 , and into the cover wall  421  of a respective one of the end portions  42  to support pivotal movement of the handle  4  relative to the child-carrying member  3 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second interlocking members  6  are connected to the child-carrying member  3  at positions corresponding to the end portions  42  of the handle  4 , respectively. Each of the second interlocking members  6  is movable between the locking position (as shown in  FIG. 10 ), where the second interlocking member  6  is adapted to engage a respective one of the first interlocking members  212  of the stroller frame  21  when the child carrier  20  is mounted on the stroller frame  21  and when the handle  4  is disposed at the rest position (as shown in  FIG. 8 ), thereby securing the child carrier  20  to the stroller frame  21 , and the unlocking position (as shown in  FIG. 6 ), where the second interlocking member  6  is adapted to disengage the respective one of the first interlocking members  212  when the child carrier  20  is mounted on the stroller frame  21  and when the handle  4  is disposed at the holding position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), thereby permitting removal of the child carrier  20  from the stroller frame  21 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 , and  6 , each of the side wall units  31  of the child-carrying member  3  further includes a pivot spring  363 , and a fulcrum-mounting seat  318  mounted securely in the gap  314  at a position corresponding to the respective one of the end portions  42  of the handle  4  and formed with a T-shaped extension opening  319 . Each of the second interlocking members  6  includes a fulcrum plate  61  that is connected to the pivot spring  363  of a respective one of the side wall units  31 , and altogether pivoted to the fulcrum-mounting seat  318  of the respective one of the side wall units  31 . The fulcrum plate  61  of each of the second interlocking members  6  has a driven end  611  and an engaging end  612  opposite to the driven end  611 . The driven end  611  is formed with a driven protrusion  613 . The engaging end  612  is disposed outwardly of the gap  314  in the respective one of the side wall units  31 . The pivot spring  363  provides an urging force such that the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  is disposed at the unlocking position. When the driving member  51  drives the driven protrusion  613  against urging action of the pivot spring  363 , the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  is moved to the locking position.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 , and  6 , the holding portion  43  of the handle  4  is disposed above the child-carrying member  3  when the handle  4  is disposed at the holding position, where the driving member  51  of the respective one of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at the first angular position. Under this situation, the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  is disposed at the unlocking position, where the pivot spring  363  provides an urging force such that the driven protrusion  613  of the fulcrum plate  61  of the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  extends through the through-hole  316  and into the annular groove  315  in the respective one of the side wall units  31 , and that the engaging end  612  of the fulcrum plate  61  of the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  is disposed outside the extension opening  319  in the fulcrum-mounting seat  318  of the respective one of the side wall units  31 . If the child carrier  20  is mounted on the stroller frame  21  at this time, removal of the child carrier  20  from the stroller frame  21  is permitted. The handle  4  is secured at the holding position as the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  are respectively received in the first protrusion-receiving recess  366  and the first projection-receiving recess  368  by virtue of urging action of the urging member  53 . In other words, the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  are respectively disposed at the first and second retained positions.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , in order to move the handle  4  from the holding position to the rest position, the pressing portion  523  of the control plate  52  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is pressed against urging action of the corresponding urging member  53  in direction (A) to move the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  out of the respective one of the first protrusion-receiving recess  366  and the first projection-receiving recess  368 , and into the annular groove  315  in the respective one of the side wall units  31  in directions (B), (B′). In other words, the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  are moved from the respective one of the first and second retained positions to the respective one of the first and second unretained positions, thereby permitting movement of the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  in the annular groove  315  in the respective one of the side wall units  31 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 8, 10 , and  12 , when the driving member  51  of each of the position-controlling mechanisms  5  is disposed at the second angular position, the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  is disposed at the locking position. The driving member  51  is in contact with the driven protrusion  613  of the fulcrum plate  61  of the respective one of the second interlocking members  6 , and drives the driven protrusion  613  out of the annular groove  315  in the respective one of the side wall units  31  in direction (C), resulting in pivotal movement of the fulcrum plate  61  relative to the corresponding fulcrum-mounting seat  318 . The engaging end  612  of the fulcrum plate  61  of the respective one of the second interlocking members  6  extends into the extension opening  319  in the fulcrum-mounting seat  318  of the respective one of the side wall units  31 , and engages the respective one of the first interlocking members  212  of the stroller frame  21 . At this time, the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  are disposed in the annular groove  315  in the respective one of the side wall units  31  in the vicinity of the respective one of the second protrusion-receiving recess  367  and the second projection-receiving recess  369 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 12 , as the pressing portion  523  of the respective one of the control plates  52  is released in direction (E), the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  move in directions (D), (D′), respectively, and are respectively received in the second protrusion-receiving recess  367  and the second projection-receiving recess  369 . In other words, the driving member  51  and the engaging projection  521  are moved from the respective one of the first and second unretained positions to the respective one of the first and second retained positions, thereby securing the handle  4  at the rest position, and securing the child carrier  20  on the stroller frame  21 .  
      While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.