Patent Abstract:
A child trailer includes a body which includes a plurality of wheel assemblies at the bottom and a joint assembly at the front side to adjust the angle relative to the body. Hence the child trailer can be maintained at a desired angle to support standing of a child or holding of goods. The joint assembly includes a coupler at the front side to fasten the child trailer to the chassis such as a wheel axle, frame or handle of a stroller, thereby can facilitate standing of the child or holding of goods.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a carrier coupled with a stroller to carry goods or support standing of a child. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Children&#39;s goods are numerous and often bulky in size. When taking children outdoors, parents have to prepare and carry a lot of goods such as foods, drinks, clothes, toys and sanitary articles. It often happens that one parent has to take care of children while another parent has to carry all the prepared goods in a backpack or bags. This creates heavy burdens to the shoulder and arms of the parents without much chance for rest. It heavily taxes the physical strength and comfort of the parents. 
         [0003]    It also frequently happens that when the parents take a bigger child to shopping malls, they would put the child on the shopping cart to reduce the carrying burden. But the shopping cart is not designed for this purpose, and toppling or colliding of the shopping cart could happen if not maneuvering properly, and could result in hurting the child. Moreover, the shopping cart is commonly made of steel racks which are easily contaminated with all kinds of microbes and bacteria. The child sitting on the cart could be infected by those bacteria when his/her hands touch the mouth and nose after having in contact with the steel racks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In view of the conventional stroller often is foldable to facilitate carrying and storing, and does not provide much room for holding goods, hence parents usually have to carry a backpack or bags to hold the goods when they take children outdoors. In the event that two children are presented or a small child needs constant care, the parents often are overwhelmed. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a child trailer that can be fastened to the chassis such as a wheel axle, frame or handle of a stroller or hand-moving cart to allow a child to stand thereon or hold goods to alleviate the burden of parents and make moving and taking care of the child easier. 
         [0005]    The child trailer according to the invention includes: a body which has a latch on a rear side with a through hole formed thereon threaded by a strap for storing and also to hook on a handle or other fastening portion of a stroller, and two wheel assemblies at the rear bottom of two sides thereof equipped with shock-absorbing function; 
         [0006]    a joint assembly which is located in front of the body and has a movable joint adjustable to a desired angle before being latched on a fixed condition, hence can be flexibly adjusted according to the height of the transverse chassis such as the wheel axle, frame or handle of the stroller or the body portion to be fastened; and 
         [0007]    a coupler which is fastened to the front side of the joint assembly and includes a seat which has a slide track at each of two sides at the front side thereof, a set of symmetrical first adjustment arm and second adjustment arm slidable on two slide tracks at two sides thereof, and a clamp means located at a lower outer side in front of the first and second adjustment arms. 
         [0008]    The coupler can be adjusted at a desired width. In the event that the width of the transverse chassis such as the wheel axle, frame or handle of the stroller or hand-moving cart for fastening is wider than that of the clamp means at two sides, the first and second adjustment arms can be extended outwards to increase the width of the two clamp means to enhance hitching steadiness. On the other hand, if the width for fastening of the transverse chassis is narrower than that of the interval between the two clamp means, the first and second adjustment arms can be disassembled and exchanged sides left and right to position the two clamp means close to the center and flexibly adjust the distance thereof. In addition, the first and second adjustment arms also can be flipped and installed upside down to dodge the transverse chassis if it is needed to position the two clamp means below the transverse chassis. The first and second adjustment arms also can be disassembled and flipped upside down and exchanged sides left and right to mate the transverse chassis of different strollers or hand-moving carts. 
         [0009]    The invention provides features as follow: the joint assembly is adjustable in angle and the two clamp means is adjustable in width and direction so that the clamp means can be latched with the chassis or other fastenable portion of various types of the strollers or hand-moving carts to fasten the child trailer at the rear side thereof to provide an additional platform for supporting standing of the child or holding goods, thereby can alleviate the burden of the parents when taking the children outdoors. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the invention, the child trailer is fastened to the chassis such as the wheel axle, frame or handle of the stroller or hand-moving cart by means of a strap. This embodiment includes a coupler fastened to the front end of the joint assembly and includes a set of fan-shaped and engaged gears hinged on the front end of a coupling duct of the seat. The fan-shaped gears are extendable or retractable synchronously towards or from two sides. Each fan-shaped gear has a telescopic tube assembly at the front end with an adjustable length. The telescopic tube assembly has a latch ring at the front end to latch a strap holder. The strap holder has a strap and an engagement means at the front side that are engageable with each other. 
         [0011]    When the coupler of the invention is in use, fasten the child trailer to the chassis such as the wheel axle, frame or handle of the stroller or hand-moving cart through the strap; through the latch ring at the front end of the telescopic tube assembly, the angle of the strap holder and the stroller or hand-moving cart can be adjusted, and the extended width at two sides and length can be adjusted respectively through the fan-shaped gears and telescopic tube assembly to mate various types of the strollers or hand-moving carts. 
         [0012]    In short, by fastening the coupler to the rear side of any type of the stroller or hand-moving cart, the present invention provides many advantages, notably: 
         [0013]    1. The joint assembly is adjustable in angle to allow the child trailer to be latched on the chassis of varying strollers or hand-moving carts according to different purposes such as carrying a child or holding goods. 
         [0014]    2. The coupler is adjustable to a wider range in width to be latched on the chassis of the strollers and hand-moving carts in varying sizes. 
         [0015]    The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the child trailer of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the invention for clamping a wheel assembly through an elastic element. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a wheel assembly of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention in use condition- 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the invention in use condition- 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the invention in use condition- 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the invention in use condition- 4 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention with a strap as a coupler. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with a strap as a coupler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Please refer to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the present invention aims to provide a child trailer  1  which comprises a body  2 , a joint assembly  3  and a coupler  4 . 
         [0027]    The body  2  has a holder  21  on a rear side. The holder  21  has an upper side and a lower side formed respectively with a trench  211  and  212 , and a rear side engaged with a latch  22 . The latch  22  has a front side with latch hooks  221  and  222  located respectively on an upper side and lower side corresponding to the trenches  211  and  212 , and a through hole  223  on a lower side at the rear end. The rear bottom of the body  2  has a wheel hub  23  at each of two sides thereof. The wheel hub  23  has an axle hole  231  in the center and a horizontal insertion hole  232  close to the bottom. The insertion hole  232  has a fastening hole  233  corresponding to the axle hole  231 . The fastening hole  233  is hollow and communicates with the axle hole  231  and the insertion hole  232 . The insertion hole  232  holds an elastic element  24  which has two sides indented inwards in the middle to form a set of latch flanges  241  spaced from each other at a distance smaller than the diameter of the axle hole  231 . When the elastic element  24  is held in the fastening hole  233 , the latch flanges  241  are slid and latched in the fastening hole  233  communicating with the axle hole  231  so that the latch flanges  241  are exposed out of the fastening hole  233 . The wheel hub  23  holds axially a wheel assembly  25 . The wheel assembly  25  has a wheel axle  251  at the upper side and an annular groove  252  in the middle portion corresponding to the latch flanges  241  formed at a smaller diameter. When the wheel axle  251  stretches into the axle hole  231  of the wheel hub  23 , the annular groove  252  slides into the latch flanges  241  so that the wheel hub  23  can clamp the wheel assembly  25 . There is a wheel holder  253  located below the wheel axle  251  that is a clip with an opening hinged and openable up and down. The wheel holder  253  has an elastic bracing element  254  close to the opening. The bracing element  254  has two ends butting two corresponding end surfaces of the wheel holder  253  close to the clip opening. There is a wheel  255  axially mounted at a lower side of the wheel holder  253 . 
         [0028]    The joint assembly  3  is located in front of the body  2 , and includes a pair of holding ducts  31  coaxially located at the front end of the body  2  close to two outer sides. Each holding duct  31  has a plurality of splines  311  on the inner rim. There is a coupling duct  32  interposed coaxially between the holding ducts  31 . The coupling duct  32  has inner threads (not shown in the drawings) formed on the inner wall in the center and a plurality of slots  321  formed on the inner wall close to two outer sides corresponding to the splines  311 . The holding ducts  31  and coupling duct  32  are run through by a telescopic sleeve  33  inside. The telescopic sleeve  33  holds a pin  331  corresponding to the axis of the coupling duct  32 . The pin  331  has a smooth portion  3311  close to each distal end at two outer sides. The smooth portion  3311  has two latch means  3312  respectively on an inner and outer end. The pin  331  is coupled with two screws  332  on the smooth portions  3311  close to two distal ends. The screw  332  is slidable on the smooth portion  3311  between the latch means  3312  along the pin  331  to allow the telescopic sleeve  33  to extend or retract. The screw  332  has threads  3321  in the center mating the inner threads of the coupling duct  32 , and is slidably coupled with a tooth duct  333  close to an outer end thereof. The tooth duct  333  has a tooth portion  3331  on the outer wall to latch the splines  311  of the holding ducts  31  and slots  321  of the coupling duct  32 . The tooth duct  333  also has a spring washer  334  close to the center to serve as buffer during screwing. 
         [0029]    The coupler  4  is fastened to the front end of the joint assembly  3 , and includes a seat  41  and a pair of symmetrical first adjustment arm  42  and second adjustment arm  42   a . The seat  41  is fastened to the front end of the coupling duct  32 , and has two slide tracks  411  at two sides of the front side extended outwards from the center, two safety latches  412  close to two outer edges, and a slide rail  413  in the center of the front end. The first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  are coupled on the slide rail  413  from two outer sides, and have respectively a penetrating passage  421  and  421   a  mating the slide rail  413 . The penetrating passages  421  and  421   a  respectively have an opening at each of two sides with a mating latch portion  422  and  422   a  located thereon, and an ornamental plate  423  and  423   a  latched on the latch portions  422  and  422   a  at two outer sides. The penetrating passages  421  and  421   a  are coupled on the slide rail  413  from the two outer sides. The first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  have respectively a slide flute  424  and  424   a  on the rear edge corresponding to and latching on the slide rail  411  so that they can slide on the slide track  411  and slide rail  413 . The first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  also have respectively a plurality of notches  425  and  425   a  at the upper and lower sides of the slide flutes  424  and  424   a  corresponding to the safety latches  412 , hence can be latched and anchored by the safety latches  412  close to the outer edges of the seat  41 . The first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  further have respectively a clamp means  426  and  426   a  located below an outer side thereof. The clamp means  426  and  426   a  include respectively a pair of engaged first clamps  4261  and  4261   a  and second clamps  4262  and  4262   a . The first clamps  4261  and  4261   a  are located respectively on an outer side of the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  and have respectively an arched surface on the front side indented inwards and have respectively an upper side coupled with an elastic fastener  4263  and  4263   a  and have respectively a lower side equipped with a turnable shaft  4264  and  4264   a  engaged with the second clamps  4262  and  4262   a . The second clamps  4262  and  4262   a  have respectively a rear side formed an arched surface indented inwards, and have respectively a latch portion  4265  and  4265   a  formed thereon to latch the fasteners  4263  and  4263   a  of the first clamps  4261  and  4261   a.    
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the invention is in use, depress the safety latches  412  to extend the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  outwards toward the two outer sides to adjust the clamp means  426  and  426   a  at a desired width to mate the transverse chassis of the stroller; then release the safety latches  412  to latch on the corresponding notches  425  and  425   a  of the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  to maintain the width of the clamp means  426  and  426   a ; next, unfasten the screws  332  at two sides of the joint assembly  3 , and withdraw the two tooth ducts  333  through the two outer sides with the tooth portion  3331  separated from the slots  321  of the coupling duct  32 ; adjust the holding ducts  31  and the coupling duct  32  to a desired angle, push the two tooth ducts  333  inwards from the two outer sides to latch the tooth portion  3331  on the splines  311  of the holding ducts  31  and slots  321  of the coupling duct  32 , then fasten the screws  332 ; finally, depress the fasteners  4263  and  4263   a  to release the second clamps  4262  and  4262   a , so that the transverse chassis of the stroller is located on the indented arched surfaces at the front sides of the first clamps  4261  and  4261   a  and the indented arched surfaces at the rear sides of the second clamps  4262  and  4262   a  to hitch the clamp means  426  and  426   a  on the transverse chassis with the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  positioned above the transverse chassis; then depress and latch the second clamps  4262  and  4262   a  on the fasteners  4263  and  4263   a.    
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , in the event that the transverse chassis of the stroller is coupled with a bracing structure, goods holding rack and the like, and the child trailer of the invention cannot be hitched by the clamp means  426  and  426   a  of the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a , or the width of the transverse chassis for hitching is shorter than the interval between the clamp means  426  and  426   a , the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  can be disassembled, and the ornamental plates  423  and  423   a  also are disassembled from the latch portions  422  and  422   a , exchange the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  left and right so that the clamp means  426   a  and  426  are positioned symmetrically on inner sides to couple on the slide rail  413  in a reverse manner; then latch the ornamental plates  423  and  423   a  on the penetrating passages  421   a  and  421  through latch portions  422   a  and  422 , thereby can dodge the structure or fasten on the narrower transverse chassis. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 7 , in the event that the transverse chassis of the stroller has to be latched above the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a , the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  also can be disassembled, exchanged left and right and flipped upside down to couple on the slide rail  413  from two sides thereof so that the clamp means  426   a  and  426  are positioned symmetrically on the outer sides; then the clamp means  426   a  and  426  can be adjusted to a desired width to be hitched on the transverse chassis of the stroller above the second and first adjustment arms  42   a  and  42 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 8 , in the event that the transverse chassis of the stroller is hitched above the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a , and the transverse chassis also is coupled with a bracing structure, goods holding rack and the like, or the transverse chassis is formed in a narrower width, disassemble the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a , and also the ornamental plates  423  and  423   a  at two sides, flip the first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  upside down to couple them on the slide rail  413  to position the clamp means  426   a  and  426  symmetrically on an inner side; then latch the ornamental plates  423   a  and  423  on the outer sides of the two penetrating passages  421   a  and  421 , thus the transverse chassis of the stroller can be positioned above the second and first adjustment arms  42   a  and  42  with the clamp means  426   a  and  426  located on the inner side. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the wheel holder  253  hinged under the body  2  is a clip with an openable opening. The bracing element  254  has two ends butting the end surfaces close to the opening of the wheel holder  253  to provide shock absorbing effect for the wheel holder  253 , hence steadiness and safety improve during moving. Also referring to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , the symmetrical first and second adjustment arms  42  and  42   a  can be exchanged left and right and flipped upside down to easily couple with various types of strollers or hand-moving carts. 
         [0033]    Refer to  FIGS. 9 and 10  for an embodiment of the invention. There is another extensible and retractable coupler  5  fastened to the front end of the joint assembly  3 . The coupler  5  has a strap holder  54  at a front end to fasten the child trailer of the invention to the chassis of a stroller. In this embodiment, the coupler  5  includes an extension means which is a pair of engaged fan-shaped gears  51  hinged on the front end of the coupling duct  32  of the joint assembly  3 . Each fan-shaped gear  51  has a telescopic tube assembly  52  at the front end. The telescopic tube assembly  52  includes an outer tube holder  521  which has a rear end fastened to the fan-shaped gear  51  and a front side coupled with an outer tube  522 . The tubular wall of the outer tube  522  has a plurality of anchor holes  5221 . The outer tube  522  further is coupled with an inner tube  523  at the front side. The inner tube  523  has a rear end coupled with an elastic latch member  5231  which elastically latches on the anchor holes  5221  so that the length of the telescopic tube assembly  52  is adjustable. The telescopic tube assembly  52  has a front end fastened to a latch ring  53  which has a front end hinged a hook  531  at an upper side. The hook  531  has a distal end bent downwards to form a latch portion  5311 . The latch ring  53  further has an elastic latch element  532  at the front end at a lower side corresponding to and latching the latch portion  5311  of the hook  531 . The latch ring  53  latches on a strap holder  54  at the front side. The strap holder  54  has a rear side coupled with a turnable ring  541  run through and latched by the hook  531  of the latch ring  53 . The strap holder  54  further has a strap  542  extended forwards from an inner side of the front end that has constant traces on one surface. The strap holder  54  also has an engaging means  543  on an outer side of the front end with a hole  5431  formed thereon. The engaging means  543  has a safety latch  544  at the rear side butting thereon to prevent loosening thereof. 
         [0034]    When this embodiment is in use, first, extend the hinged fan-shaped gears  51  towards two sides in an isogonal manner, and adjust the length of the telescopic tube assembly  52  so that the coupler  5  is formed in a desired width and length to mate the chassis of a stroller or hand-moving cart; latch the hook  531  of the latch ring  53  on the ring  541  of the strap holder  54 ; adjust the angle between the latch ring  53  and strap holder  54 ; thread the strap  542  through the chassis of the stroller and turn back to thread through the hole  5431  of the engaging means  543  of the same of the strap  542  to be engaged; then latch the safety latch  544  on the engaging means  543  to prevent loosening, thus the child trailer  1   a  can be fastened securely on the chassis of the stroller or hand-moving cart. Through the engaged strap  542  and engaging means  543  of the strap holder  54 , the child trailer  1   a  can be fastened on the rear side of the stroller.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1