Patent Publication Number: US-2023132564-A1

Title: Carriage Rocking System

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to child carrier devices. More particularly, the disclosed device relates to a wheeled system for a stroller or infant carriage which will rock the carriage and the child occupant thereof during rolling of the carriage. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Strollers and baby carriages and the like have been employed by parents and persons providing child care for moving a child about for hundreds of years. Where a child is an infant and unable to walk, the baby carriage or infant stroller provides the user the ability to comfortably position the child on a bed or the like within the carriage, and then easily transport them by pushing the wheeled carriage. Such allows both the child a comfortable positioning where they may sleep or where they may view the world surrounding the carriage as the carriage is pushed about. 
     Most such baby carriages include a body portion having an interior cavity which is configured to allow the child or infant to lie on a bed or the like positioned therein. Such carriages support the body portion on a frame or carriage which has wheels thereon to provide for easy rolling of the carriage with the infant or child positioned therein. 
     Conventionally, such carriages are configured with a plurality of wheels engaged upon axles operatively connected to the frame. In some modes, the carriages employ four wheels where the rear wheels are fixed and roll in parallel upon the surface on which the carriage is being moved. In such a four wheeled carriage version, the two forward or front wheels are portioned on axles which are engaged to rotating mounts. This allows for steering the carriage, during use, by imparting a turning force to a carriage handle which turns the front wheels in the direction desired for rolling. 
     Also conventionally employed for such infant strollers and carriages are three-wheeled versions. In the three-wheeled version the two rear wheels, adjacent the handle of the carriage, operate in the same fashion as that of the four wheeled carriages in that they rotate in a fixed parallel configuration. A single front wheel is mounted on a steering axle which is engaged to a fork or other support or steering member rotationally connected to the frame. To turn the carriage, the user imparts force to the handle, engaged therewith, and the fork or steering member will rotate thereby rotating the single front wheel in the direction the user wishes to steer the carriage. 
     The forgoing examples of related art as to infant carriages and strollers, and limitations related therewith, are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The system herein provides for wheels which when operatively engaged to the appropriate axle of an infant carriage will impart a rocking motion to the carriage. The amount of such rocking motion so imparted to the carriage that the wheel or wheels are engaged to is easily adjustable by the user through the employment of a hub mount which is slidably engageable within a support member of a rim to which a wheel is engaged. 
     In all modes of the system herein, whether employing a single rocking wheel engaged upon single front steering axle or whether employing two rocking wheels engaged to two opposing wheels on opposite sides of the carriage, an adjustable rocking motion may be imparted to the carriage. This adjustable rocking is provided by a sliding movement of a hub assembly to various sequential positions within a recess and slot formed in a support member communicating across the interior of the rim supporting a tire thereon. The hub mount can be positioned in a first position centered within the wheel, wherein no rocking motion is communicated to the carriage. The hub mount can be translated to any of a plurality of sequential positions on the support member, which are progressively positioned further distances from this first position. The larger the distance the of the positioning of the hub mount from the first position and toward the circumference of the rim, the larger the rocking motion communicated to the carriage. 
     The progressive individual positions of the hub mount from the first position to a last position are enabled by engagement of biased pins, located on the hub mount, to individual openings formed into the support member located on opposite sides of the slot therein. A first pair of openings provides for positioning of the hub mount to the first position wherein an outer hub, which engages an axle operatively connected to the wheel, is substantially centered within the circular rim engaged to the tire on which the wheel rolls. Successive spaced pairs of openings are located on opposing sides of the slot into which the user may engage the biased pins to adjust the amount of rocking motion imparted to the carriage. Positioning of the hub mount to engage the biased pins in each successive pair of openings will impart a larger rocking to the carriage. This is because the outer hub engaged to the hub mount, which engages the wheel axle, is positioned to an increasing off-center positioning relative to the center point of the rim. 
     A visually discernable gauge of the amount of rocking a wheel having an axle engaged with an outer bearing centered in the outer hub engaged with the hub mount is provided by a first set of successive cover plate markings positioned on a cover which is engaged to a fixed position on the support member which align with a position marker located upon a tab of the moveable hub mount. As the hub mount is translated to successive positions within the slot, which are further from the first position, the position marker on the tab of the hub mount will align with a one of the first set of markings to show how much rocking motion will be imparted by the wheel to the carriage. 
     The hub mount, as noted, is positionable to multiple positions within the slot formed in the support member. Sliding pins, operatively engaged to the hub mount, are biased to outward positions which will engage with a chosen pair of openings positioned on opposite sides of the slot. Disengagement of these pins from the openings is provided by paddles connected to the pins which, when depressed, will overcome the biased projection position of the pins and allow the hub mount to slide along opposing rails positioned on opposite sides of the slot. Once the desired positioning of the hub mount is achieved, which can be determined by viewing which of the successive markings is aligned with the position marker, the user can release the pressured contact with the paddles which will cause the pins to engage with the appropriate openings relating to the aligned marking with the position marker. 
     The hub mount has an interior cavity which is sized to engage and hold the exterior surface of an outer hub. This outer hub has a bearing centered therein through which an axle connected to the wheel is operatively positioned. Thus, as the outer hub is translated from the first position to various positions along the length of the slot, the wheel engaged to this axle is progressively positioned more or less off-center from the center point of the wheel rim. 
     The hub mount, with the outer hub positioned within the interior cavity thereof, is connected to an interior hub located on an opposite side of the support member from both the outer hub and the hub mount. Thus, the support member is in a sandwiched engagement in between the hub mount with the outer hub engaged therein, and the inner hub. This connection maintains the assembled device on the support member and allows the device to translate from the first position, which locates the outer bearing axial cavity in which the wheel axle engages to a centered position with the circumference of the rim, to the various non-centered positions which impart a rocking to the carriage. The inner hub can also have an inner bearing therein with an axial opening which aligns with the axial cavity of the outer bearing. The axle, supporting the rim of the wheel of the device herein, is maintained in an engagement with the axial cavity of the outer bearing using a nut or clip or other connector which is positioned on a distal end of the axle such as a distal end projecting past the inner hub. 
     The wheel device herein can be employed in an OEM type manner where two of the wheel devices are engaged to two axles of a conventional carriage or with a single steering axle of a steering member of a carriage. It is also envisioned and considered within the scope of the invention herein that one or a plurality of the wheel devices herein can be retrofit to an existing infant carriage. It is within the scope of this patent that the wheel device can be added to an existing axle of a carriage or be provided with a support or steering member that is configured to attach to the carriage. 
     With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed shock absorbing user rocking system for an infant carriage in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosed rocking system herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed rocking system for a rolling infant carriage. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The objects, features, and advantages of the present rocking system for an infant carriage invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon. 
     As used in the claims and to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements. Finally, the term “substantially” if not otherwise defined, means plus or minus ten percent. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a wheel device which will impart a rocking motion to an infant carriage to which one or a plurality of such wheel devices are engaged. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide such a wheel device wherein the user may adjust the amount or distance of the rocking motion from no rocking to progressively more rocking of the engaged carriage. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present rocking wheel invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, will become apparent from the description to follow, and are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features of the rocking system for an infant carriage disclosed herein. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered in all cases illustrative, rather than limiting. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    depicts the rocking system, for an infant carriage herein, wherein the carriage includes two wheels configured to rock the carriage as disclosed herein in the R1 or R2 direction depending on whether the two rotate in concert or independently. 
         FIG.  2    depicts the rocking system for an infant carriage herein where a single wheel is operatively engaged to a front or steering wheel of the infant carriage which would impart rotation in the R2 direction of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    depicts an exterior view of the rocking wheel device, employed herein, which can be included with a carriage as in  FIGS.  1 - 2    or which may be provided as an aftermarket device attachable to an axle of any conventional infant carriage. 
         FIG.  4    shows the rocking wheel device of  FIG.  3    wherein a rocking motion designating cover is removed to thereby show the exterior hub which is positionable on a support member of the rim of the wheel to different positions from a center position to off center positions. 
         FIG.  5    shows the support member of a rocking wheel herein having a slot wherein the position of a wheel bearing held by an exterior hub is adjustable within the slot by positioning of support pins into openings formed on opposing sides of the slot. 
         FIG.  6    depicts a view of the opposite side of the support member showing an interior hub which is engaged by fasteners communicating through the slot to the exterior hub. 
         FIG.  7    shows the support member herein engaged within a rim which is adapted for engagement to a tire, and showing the exterior removably positioned to a centered position relative to the circumference of the rim. 
         FIG.  8    depicts the support member of the rocking wheel herein, such as in  FIG.  5   , where the exterior hub is removed to show fasteners which engage between the rear hub and front hub, and showing an adjustable connector which is employable to removably position the exterior hub to varying positions along the slot. 
         FIG.  9    shows the exterior hub in operative engagement over the connector. 
         FIG.  10    shows the exterior hub and an exterior bearing engaged therein which is adapted to hold the axle of a carriage. 
         FIG.  11    shows an opposite view from that of  FIG.  9   , and shows the connector operatively engaged within a cavity formed on one side of the exterior hub, wherein the connector supports the exterior hub to varying positions along the slot. 
         FIG.  12    is an exploded side view of the engageable components of the rocking wheel device herein. 
         FIG.  13    depicts the wheel device showing the rim which is configured to engage a tire, and showing a steering member which can be provided for new and retrofitting of carriages with a single front wheel for steering. 
     
    
    
     Other aspects of the disclosed rocking wheel system and configuration for an infant carriage disclosed herein will be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the rocking wheel device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only, and they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation. 
     Now referring to drawings in  FIGS.  1 - 13   , wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals there is seen in  FIG.  1   , the rocking wheel device  10  herein which is configured for engagement to an infant carriage either as an OEM product provided with a carriage  12 , or more preferably to enable wider employment of the device  10 , as an aftermarket provided device  10  engageable to an infant or child carrier  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , where the device  10  is employed on a four-wheel type carriage  12 , two wheel devices  10  will be engaged with the rear end of the carriage  12 . Such will provide a rocking motion to the carriage  12  when the device  10 , as described herein, is set to position the axle thereof off center from the circumference of the rim thereof. 
       FIG.  2    depicts device  10  as positioned on the front or steering end of a conventional carrier  12 . When provided or engaged to a carriage of this configuration, a forward to rear rocking motion is imparted to the carrier  12  as the user pushes it along a support surface. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , an outside exterior view of the rocking wheel device  10  is shown. As shown, the device  10  has a rim  14  which is operatively engageable with a tire  16 . The device may be provided with the rim  14  whereafter the user may install the desired tire  16 , or the device  10  may include a tire  16  operatively engaged to the exterior circumference of the rim  14 . 
     Also shown in  FIG.  3    is a cover plate  18  that is affixed to a support member  20  which communicates across the interior of the rim  14 . The cover plate  14  has a series of sequential positioned cover plate markings  22  located thereon. On at least one hub mount body portion  60  or  62  ( FIG.  8   ) is located a position marker  26 . During adjustment of the position of the outer hub  30  ( FIG.  5   ) in directions toward or away from the exterior circumference  28  ( FIG.  7   ), the moving position marker  26  will align with different individual respective cover plate markings  22  from the plurality thereof. This alignment of the position marker  26  which moves with a respective individual cover plate marking  22  thereby provides a visually discernable gauge to the user as to the amount of rocking motion the device  10  will impart to the carriage  12  to which it is operatively engaged. 
     Shown in  FIG.  4    is the device  10  as in figure three wherein the cover plate  18  has been removed from a fixed positioning engagement to the rim  14 , such as with the support member  20 . As shown, a hub assembly  29  depicted herein in  FIGS.  5  and  9   , for example, is slidably engaged upon the support member  20  such that it will support axle  17  of a support member or steering member  13  such as in  FIG.  13   , at various positions along the support member  20  from a centered position such as in  FIG.  7   , to sequential mounting positions which position the axle passage  36  closer to the exterior circumference  15  of the rim  14  thereby increasing an off-center position of the bearing axle passage  36  the closer the bearing axle passage  36  gets to the exterior circumference  15  of the rim  14 . Thus, the hub assembly  29  is slidably positionable between a position centering the bearing axle passage  36  within the rim, such as in  FIG.  13   , where there would be no rocking motion of the carriage, to sequential mounting positions along the support member  20  toward the exterior circumference  15 . In each such mounting position closer to the exterior circumference of the hub assembly  29 , rocking will sequentially increase over the previous mounting position. 
     As shown, an outer hub  30  provides an operative engagement to hold an outer bearing  32  therein. The distal end of an axle  17  ( FIG.  13   ) of the device  10  is positioned within the bearing axial passage  36 . The other end of the axle  17  engages to a wheel mount of the carriage  12 . 
     Also shown in  FIG.  4    is a slot  38  formed into the support member  20  which is operatively engaged to the interior circumference of the rim  14 . As described herein, the outer hub  30  is connected with fasteners to an inner hub  40 . This positions the support member  20  and slot  38  therein in a sandwiched engagement in between the outer hub  30  and the inner hub  40 . 
     As described herein, the positioning of both the outer hub  30  and the inner hub  40 , and bearings therein, to differing positions within the slot  38  is provided by a hub mount  42  which supports the outer hub  30 , which is in turn engaged to the inner hub  40 . Thus, movement of the hub mount  42 , to positions along the elongated slot  38 , concurrently moves both the outer hub  30  and inner hub  40  as well as the outer bearing  32  and an inner bearing  44  connected to the inner hub  40 . While the device  10  will function without the inner bearing  44 , for stability and long term endurance, the inclusion of the inner bearing  44  is preferred. 
     As shown in the drawings, and more particularly in  FIG.  12   , the axle  17 , of the device, communicates along an axle passage formed by the outer bearing axial passage  36  and an aligned inner bearing passage  46 . A bearing connector, such as a bearing nut  48 , on the distal end of the axle  17  ( FIG.  13   ) holds the distal end and first portion of the axle  17  in place. A carriage connector, such as a carriage nut  50 , holds the first end of the axle to the carriage  12 . 
     In  FIGS.  5 - 11    are shown components of the device herein and their movable positioning upon the support member  20 . As shown, the support member  20  of the rocking wheel device  10  herein has the slot  38  therein, through which the outer hub  30  is engaged to the inner hub  40 , with the hub mount  42  positioned therebetween. The support member  20  also has a recess  21  positioned between a first rib  52  and a parallel second rib  54  which extend from the support member  20 . 
     A plurality of pairs of aligned openings are provided by first openings  23  sequentially formed into the first rib  52  and spaced apart across from and aligned with second openings  25  sequentially formed into the second rib  54 . The plurality of pairs of openings are positioned with a first pair of aligned openings located closest to a center point of the rim, to a last pair of aligned openings positioned furthest from the center point of the rim. Each of the pairs of aligned openings are sequentially spaced from adjacent such pairs of aligned openings. 
     In operation, the position of the outer wheel bearing  32 , having the bearing axial passage  36  which supports the axle  17  ( FIG.  13   ), can be seen as being held in place by the outer hub  30 . A hub mount  42 , is positioned to provided a supporting engagement with the outer hub  30  by a positioning thereof within a hub cavity  33  formed in the outer hub  30 . By supporting engagement is meant, for example, that the hub mount  42  positioned within the hub cavity  33  contacts against surfaces of the hub  30  defining the hub cavity  33 , to thereby support the surrounding outer hub  30 , to hold it in positions within the recess  21 . 
     Because the outer hub  30  is connected to the inner hub  40 , the supporting engagement of the hub mount  42  also holds the inner hub  40  in positions upon the support member  20 . For example, an upper surface  64  and lower surface  66  of the hub mount  42 , positioned within the hub cavity  33  contacts against hub sidewalls  35  defining the hub cavity  33 . 
     In a view of the hub mount  42 , as shown in  FIG.  8   , the outer hub  30  has been removed to more clearly show the operation of the hub mount  42 . As shown, the first rib  52  and second rib  54  run substantially parallel and project from opposing sides of the support member  20 . The recess  21  is shown formed between the first rib  52  and second rib  54 . 
     The hub mount  42  is positioned in an engagement with the outer hub  30  within the recess  21  formed in the outer hub. By engagement is meant that the outer hub  30  is supported by the hub mount  42  and is not engaged to the support member  20  other than contacting or sliding against it during translation on the support member  20 . 
     The hub mount  42  is in a sliding engagement with the support member  20 . By sliding engagement is meant, for example, that a first side surface  56  of the hub mount  42  is positioned to slide along an inner surface of the first rib  52  which faces the recess  21 , and a second side surface  58  of the hub mount  42  is positioned to slide along an inner surface of the second rib  54  which faces the inner surface of the first rib. 
     The hub mount  42  has a first body portion  60  and a second body portion  62 . A biasing member, such as springs  55 , imparts a biasing force to bias the first body portion  60  toward the inside surface of the first rib  52  and the second body portion  62  against the inside surface of the second rib  54 . The hub mount has a releasable locking mechanism allowing the user to slide the hub mount  42  within the recess  21  from a first position wherein it holds the outer hub  30  in a first position wherein the bearing axial passage  36  is centered within the circumference  15  of the rim  14 , to positions which are off center as the hub mount  42  is located to any of multiple positions along the length of the slot  38  in the support member  20 . 
     By releasable lock mechanism is meant any locking mechanism which would be employed by one skilled in the art, which the user can release and reset, which will hold the hub mount  42  in a fixed position on the support member support member  20 . For example and in no way limiting, such a locking mechanism can include the first body portion  60  having one or more first pins  61  positioned thereon, in locations which are removably engageable within the first openings  24 , and, the second body portion  62  having one or more secondary pins  63  positioned thereon, in locations which are removably engageable with the second openings  25 . 
     The pins  61  and  63  are biased into the openings  23  and  25 , respectively, by the biasing member, such as the spring  55  shown, and will maintain engagement until released. Release and repositioning is accomplished by the user by contacting and compressing the first body portion  60  toward the second body portion  62  with sufficient force to overcome the biasing member such as the spring  55 . 
     Using this adjustability of the position of the hub mount  42  in sequential moveable engagements of the pins  61  and  63 , with the openings  23  and  25  on the ribs  52  and  54  of the support member  20 , the position of the outer bearing  32  and the aligned inner bearing  44  where included in the preferred mode can be adjusted. This adjustability allows movement of the hub mount  42  from the first position to the, noted, sequential positions off center. Such, as noted, will cause the wheel device  10  to rotate around the axle  17 , from different positions relative to the exterior circumference  15  of the rim  14  to which the support member  20  is engaged. 
     Such adjustability is preferred as it allows the user to set the engaged rim  15  and tire  16  thereon to roll on a support surface to the first position and impart no rocking to the carriages  12 . Should rocking of the carriage be desired, the user can release the locking mechanism holding the hub support  42  and reposition it to sequential positions along the length of the slot  30 , further from the first position, and in the direction of the rim circumference  15 . Each sequential position closer to the circumference  15  of the rim  14  will impart more rocking motion to a carriage  12  to which the wheel  14  and tire thereon are engaged. 
     The described device  10  components are shown in  FIG.  12    in an exploded side view of the device herein. As shown, the outer hub  30  holds the outer bearing  32  in an engagement therein, and the outer hub  30  engages to the inner hub  40 . The hub mount  42  is positioned within the hub cavity  33  with the device  10  assembled, and thereby supports both the outer hub  30  and the inner hub  40  engaged to the outer hub  30  in a sliding connection to the support member  20 . 
     The axle  17  extends through the inner bearing  44  and the inner hub  40  and through the slot  38  of the support member  20  and continues through the hub mount  42  and the outer hub  30 . A connector, such as a bearing nut  48 , holds the distal end of the axle  17  on an outside edge of the outer bearing  32 , during operation of the wheel device  10 . 
     A hub  51  positioned in a central area of the axle  17  is of a larger diameter than the inner bearing passage  46  ( FIG.  6   ) and thereby is in a connection or contact against the inner bearing  44  with the bearing nut  48  engaged to the distal end of the axle  17 . Connection to a wheel mount on a carriage  12  is provided by a connector and mating fastener at the proximal end of the axle  17 , such as a carriage nut  50  which engages threads on the proximal end of the axle  17 , or a compression clip or other connector engageable to the proximal end. 
     As noted, the wheel device  10  is configured for attachment to existing wheel mounts on existing carriages  12  such as wheel mounts  11  on existing carriage supports such as in  FIGS.  1 - 2    such as wheel mounts  11  on the rear end or steering members on the front or steering end of a carriage  12  which rotate in their engagement to support members of the carriage  12 . The wheel device  10  can be provided with an axial passage through the inner bearing  44  to the outer bearing  30  which is configured for operative engagement to an existing axle  17 , or it can be provided with an axle  17  engaged to the wheel device  10  which has a proximal end configured to engage a wheel mount  11  at the front or rear end of a carriage  12 . 
     Optionally, the wheel device  10  can include a steering or rotating or steering member  13  as in  FIG.  13    and  FIG.  2   , which engages with the axle  17  at a wheel mount  11  and has a steering mount  19  at an opposite end that will engage to the front member of a carriage having the wheel mount  11  thereon, as in  FIG.  2    as a front wheel mount on a rotating member. In another mode, the wheel device  10  can include an engaged rotating or steering member  13  that is connectable to a front support of a carriage  12 . 
     While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the disclosed rocking infant carriage wheel device and system herein have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.