Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5460395?dq=inassignee:Temic
Timestamp: 2014-08-27 23:08:43
Document Index: 161774826

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138', 'art 138']

Patent US5460395 - Towable child carriage - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA child carriage is adapted to be towed by a bicycle and includes a frame extending from a front end to a back end of the carriage, and a pair of wheels rotatable on the frame. A support structure is attached to the frame and supports the child facing the front end of the carriage. A shroud including...http://www.google.com/patents/US5460395?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5460395 - Towable child carriageAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5460395 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/942,962Publication dateOct 24, 1995Filing dateSep 10, 1992Priority dateJun 12, 1991Fee statusLapsedPublication number07942962, 942962, US 5460395 A, US 5460395A, US-A-5460395, US5460395 A, US5460395AInventorsFranys ChenOriginal AssigneeMotiv Sports, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (11), Referenced by (30), Classifications (18), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetTowable child carriageUS 5460395 AAbstract A child carriage is adapted to be towed by a bicycle and includes a frame extending from a front end to a back end of the carriage, and a pair of wheels rotatable on the frame. A support structure is attached to the frame and supports the child facing the front end of the carriage. A shroud including side panels and a front panel surrounds the child and includes windows facilitating viewing and ventilation for the child. A tow bar assembly is removably attached to either the front end or back end of the carriage and includes a coupling for attachment to the bicycle.
I claim: 1. A child carriage adapted to be towed by a bicycle, the carriage comprising:a base frame; a pair of base bars included in the base frame and extending between a front end and a back end of the carriage; a brace included in the base frame and extending between the base bars at the back end of the carriage; a pair of wheels disposed on a common axis and supported by the brace; a support tube assembly coupled to the base frame and extending upwardly from the base frame; means attached to the support tube assembly for supporting the child in the carriage with the child facing the front of the carriage; a tow bar assembly adapted to be coupled to the base frame and to extend from the base frame for attachment to the bicycle; the tow bar assembly including a tow bar, and a cross bar assembly attached to the tow bar and having a pair of ends each coupled to one of the base bars of the base frame; the cross bar assembly including a cross bar and a pair of side bars extending transverse to the cross bar, the side bars being aligned to register telescopically with the base bars of the base frame; and means for coupling the tow bar assembly to the base frame at the front end of the carriage. 2. A child carriage adapted to be towed by a bicycle, comprising:a base frame; a pair of base bars included in the base frame and extending between a front and a back end of the carriage; a brace included in the base frame and extending between the base bars at the back end of the carriage; a pair of wheels disposed on a common axis and supported by the brace; a support tube assembly coupled to the base frame and extending upwardly from the base frame, the support tube assembly including a pair of support bars extending upwardly from the base frame and a cross member extending between the support bars; means attached to the support tube assembly for supporting the child in the carriage with the child facing the front end of the carriage; a tow bar assembly adapted to be coupled to the base frame and to extend from the base frame for attachment to the bicycle; means for attaching the tow bar assembly to the cross member of the support tube assembly; and means for coupling the tow bar assembly to the base frame at the back end of the carriage. 3. A carriage adapted to be towed by a bicycle, the carriage comprising:a base frame having a pair of base bars extending between a front end and a back end of the carriage; a pair of wheels disposed on common axis and supported by the base frame; a support assembly coupled to the base frame and extending upwardly from the based frame; means attached to the support assembly for supporting the child in the carriage with the child facing the front of the carriage; a tow bar assembly adapted to be coupled to the base frame and to extend from the base frame for attachment to the bicycle; the tow bar assembly including a tow bar, and a cross bar assembly attached to the tow bar and having a pair of ends each being aligned to register telescopically with the base bars of the base frame; and a coupling joint adapted to couple the tow bar assembly to the base frame at the front end of the carriage. Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 07/713,859 filed on Jun. 12, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,963 and entitled Convertible Stroller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a base frame assembly is provided with two wheels aligned on a common axis, a handle, and a seat support. This base frame assembly is also provided with a special coupling mechanism which is adapted to receive either a front wheel assembly or a tow bar assembly. When the front wheel assembly is attached, the carriage forms a three-wheeled jogging stroller which can be easily collapsed without total disassembly, in order to facilitate transporting the stroller.
In one aspect of the invention a child carriage is adapted to be towed by a bicycle. The carriage includes a frame extending between a front end and a back end and a pair of wheels attached to the frame. A supporting structure is attached to the frame and includes a seat for supporting a child facing the front end of the carriage. A tow bar assembly extends upwardly and forwardly of the frame for attachment to the bicycle. This assembly can be coupled to the frame at either the front end or the back end of the carriage. In a further aspect of the invention, the base frame includes a brace which supports the wheels. A support tube assembly is coupled to the base frame for supporting the child in the carriage. A tow bar assembly couples the base frame to the bicycle and includes a tow bar which is attached to the base frame at the front of the carriage. In still a further aspect of the invention, the tow bar is coupled to the brace of the base frame at the back end of the carriage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a three-wheeled jogging stroller associated with the present invention and illustrating a base frame assembly and an attached front wheel assembly;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sleeve and flange structure associated with the coupling of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a radial cross-section view of the coupling taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the towable child cart similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A child carriage or jogging stroller is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. This stroller 10 includes a base frame assembly 12 having two large wheels 14 and 16 disposed in separate vertical planes and aligned on a common axis 18. The stroller 10 also includes a front wheel assembly 30 which is removably and pivotally attached to the base frame assembly 12 by a coupling 23. The front wheel assembly 30 include a front wheel 25 which rotates on an axis 32 and is disposed in a medial plane 33 which extends vertically and equidistant between the wheels 14, 16.
The stroller 10, including the base assembly 12 and the wheel assembly 30, is generally symmetrical about the median plane 33. In the following discussion where various structural elements of the stroller 10 are described on one side, it will be understood that the same part is duplicated in a mirror image, on the opposite side of the median plane 33. In addition to this medial plane 33, the stroller 10 is also characterized by a base plane 34 (best shown in FIG. 2) with includes both the common axis 18 and the front wheel axis 32.
It is of particular advantage that the seat support bar 90 is releasably attached at one of its ends, such as the end including the flange 46, in order to permit the handle 61 to pivot forwardly and downwardly into the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 3.
Of course it is a primary purpose of the bars 90, 92 to provide means for supporting a canvas seat 110 for the child (not shown). Large planar flanges 112, 114 can be attached to the respective bars 90, 92 to extend generally beyond the respective wheels 16, 14. These flanges 112, 114 receive portions of the child's seat 112 and function as fenders to separate arms and legs from the rotating wheels 14, 16. While the flanges 112, 114 support the central regions of the seat 110, the upper regions of the seat 110 can be looped around the cross bar 69 associated with the handle 61. The lower regions of the seat 110 can be attached to the bottom portions of the bars 90, 92 for example with lock and loop straps 116. A seat belt 118 may also be provided for protection.
The tow cart 138 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes the same base frame assembly 12 but the tow bar assembly 136 is attached to the couplings 23 in place of the front wheel assembly 21. The tow bar assembly 136 includes a U-shaped tube 152 having a cross member 154 which extends between two side members 156 and 158. These side members 156, 158 are aligned to register respectively with the couplings 123, 124. A foot platform 161 can be welded to the tube 152.
A further embodiment of the tow cart is illustrated in FIG. 12 where the child also faces in the forward direction. In this embodiment, elements which are similar to those previously discussed are designated with the same reference numeral followed by the letter "a". Thus, in FIG. 12 the tow cart 138a includes the base bars 41a and 43a and the cross member 47a with the flanges 50a and 52a. In this embodiment, the cross member 47a has a tubular configuration and is welded directly to the rear end of the base bars 41a and 43a. The end flanges 50a and 52a extend upwardly from the cross member 47a and are configured to receive the wheels 14a and 16a with quick release couplings shown generally at 250 and 252. In this embodiment, these elements form a base frame for the carriage or cart 138a.
The frame also includes the elongate tubes 63a and 65a as well as the support bars 90a and 92a which form a support bar assembly. This assembly supports the canvas seat 110a and a shroud 254 which includes the canopy 81a.
With respect to the shroud 254, a pair of side panels 256 and 258 extend downwardly from each side of the canopy 81a and forwardly of the canvas seat 110a to provide a protective enclosure for the child. The shroud 254 may also include a front panel 260 which extends downwardly from the front of the canopy 81a and engages the forward edge of the side panels 256 and 258 for example with respective hook and loop fasteners 261 and 262.
The front panel 260 has a bottom edge 263 which can also be provided with a hook or loop fastener 265 which enables the front panel 260 to be folded with the bottom edge 263 attached to the fasteners 261 or 262 of the respective side panel 256 or 258. With the edge 263 attached to one of the side panels 256, 258, easy access is provide to the child in the cart 138a without releasing both of the hook and loop fasteners 261 and 262.
The shroud 254, which substantially encloses the child within the cart 138a, is preferably provided with windows 270 and 272 in the respective side panels 256 and 258. A larger window 274 may comprise a portion or all of the front panel 260. While the shroud 254 is preferably formed from a canvas material, such as that forming the seat 110a the windows 270-274 are preferably formed from a flexible transparent plastic material. Alternatively, the windows 270-274 can be formed from a mesh or screen material to encourage a flow of air around the child.
In this embodiment of FIG. 12, the tow bar assembly 136a also includes the U-shaped tube 152a having a cross bar 154a and side pair of bars 156a and 158a extending transverse to the cross bar 154a. With the base bars 41a and 43a disposed generally along parallel axes these side members 156a and 158a can be aligned to register telescopically and axially with the base bars 41a and 43a.
As in the previous embodiment, the tow bar 163a will typically be attached centrally of the cross member 154a. In order to provide the shortest length for the tow bar 163, its configuration may include a section shown generally at 281 which has a circular configuration. When the cart 138a is attached to the bicycle 170a, this section 281 is generally concentric with the rear wheel of the bicycle 170a. Realizing that the rear wheel of most bicycles has a radius between 9 and 14 inches, a suitable spacing for the tow bar 163a would provide the section 281 with a radius between 10 and 20 inches.
With reference to the embodiments of FIG. 5, it will be apparent that both the tow bars 163 (FIG. 4) and 172 must extend upwardly a distance sufficient to clear the rear wheel of the bicycle 170. They must also extend sufficiently from the cart 138 in order to engage some rigid member of the bicycle 170 such as a seat bar 185 illustrated in FIG. 5. A universal connector 185, best illustrated in FIG. 7, should be provided for attaching the tow bar 163 or 172 to the bicycle 170. Such a connector must provide for rotation in at least two directions in order that the bicycle can turn and bank without tipping the cart 138. In FIG. 7, the universal connector 185 pivots on both a horizontal axis 187 and a vertical axis 189.
Fundamental to all of these preferred embodiments is the coupling 23 which is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8-11. The coupling 23 includes an elongate channel member 200 which is generally U-shaped in cross section. The channel member 200 is curved with an inside diameter sufficiently large to receive the base bar 41 of the base frame assembly 12. The opening of the U-shaped channel member 200 faces downwardly in the illustrated embodiment. In this same direction an outer flange 201 and an inner flange 203 extend beyond the sides of the channel member 200. These flanges 201, 203 can be formed integral with the channel member 200 or can be formed separately and welded to the member 200.
As best illustrated in FIG. 10, the outer flange 201 and the inner flange 203 can be horizontally drilled along a common axis 204 to form an outer hole 205 and an inner flange 207. Similarly the channel member 200 can be horizontally drilled on a common axis 208 to form an outer hole 209 and an inner hole 211. In a preferred embodiment, both of the inner holes 207 and 211 are threaded. These hole 205-211 are adapted to receive a pair of pins 213 and 215 best shown in FIG. 11. These pins 213, 215 are provided with threads which are complimentary to those of the respective holes 207 and 211. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 209 and 211 are disposed generally on the base plane 34 (FIG. 2). The holes 205 and 207 are disposed along the common axis 204 which is parallel to but removed from the base plane 34. In a preferred embodiment, the axes 204 and 208 are generally parallel.
In order to accommodate the collapse of the stroller 10, the pin 215 is initially removed. This permits the side bar 141 to pivot downwardly through the opening in the channel member 200. The front wheel 30 pivots downwardly and backwardly rotating on the pin 213 and around the axis 204. With the pin 213 offset from the base plane 34, the side bar 141 can be rotated into a generally parallel, underlying relationship with .the base bar 41 as illustrated in FIG. 3. With this simple maneuver, the size of the stroller 10 is greatly reduced making it quite simple to transport the stroller 10 in the trunk of a conventional automobile.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various aspects of these embodiments can be changed all within the scope of the invention. For example, in a particular embodiment, it may be desirable to collapse the stroller 10 by rotating the front wheel assembly 21 upwardly and backwardly relative to the base plane 34. In such a case, the coupling 23 would be rotated 180� along with the stub 220 associated with the side bar 141. Thus, the opening of the channel member 200, as well as the flanges 201, 203 and the stub 220 would all extend upwardly. This arrangement would still require removal of the pin 215 in the base plane 34 and rotation about the pin 213 which is removed from the base plane 34.
It is due to these wide variations in the concept of the invention that the scope of the invention should not be determined from the details of the described embodiments, but rather should be ascertained with reference to the following claims.
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