Abstract:
An accessory for strollers and wheelchairs will carry a substantial volume of packages while the stroller or wheelchair is being utilized. The accessory includes an upright wall having a floor portion and terminating in an upper access opening. The upright wall is fabricated from cloth to provide a flexible container with the central portion being fabricated from netting to permit a viewing of the interior of the container. Velcro strips at the top and bottom portions permit a detachable connection of the container to the frame and handle grips of the stroller or wheelchair. A rigid floor support member is received within pockets formed on the exterior surface of the floor portion. The floor support member includes wheels to engage the ground and support the weight of any objects within the container. The container can be folded into a compact transport configuration for easy storage when not in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/412,724, filed Sep. 23, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a stroller for transporting small children and to a wheelchair for transporting physically disabled people and, more particularly, to a package transportation accessory that can be detachably connected to the rear of the stroller or the wheelchair. 
   A number of efforts have been made to expand and enhance the function of a stroller used to transport small children. The conventional stroller is formed with a frame carrying typically four support wheels to provide mobility over the surface of the ground. Supported on this frame is a seat apparatus of some sort in which the small child is positioned for transport over the ground. Many different configurations of storage or transportation devices have been devised for attachment to the stroller frame to provide the ability to transport things in addition to the child. One particular use for such a storage device would be a basket supported beneath and/or behind the child&#39;s seat to contain items for transport. 
   In some cases, the stroller is configured for conversion between a stroller function and a shopping cart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,854, granted on Jan. 9, 2001, to Susan H. Maher, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,904, issued on Aug. 13, 1996, to Jay A. Maher, are two examples of strollers that are convertible between the stroller and shopping cart functions. In the &#39;854 patent, the frame is configured to support a rigid seat device that can be removed to permit fabric and mesh enclosures to be detachably connected to the frame to form a makeshift shopping cart. Similarly, the &#39;904 patent depicts a stroller structure having a fabric and mesh receptacle that can be stored behind the child&#39;s seat in an inoperable position, or deployed over the seat to form a makeshift shopping cart. In neither of the configurations represented in the &#39;854 or &#39;904 patents can the stroller frame be used simultaneously in both the stroller function, i.e. for the transportation of small children, and the shopping cart function, i.e. to transport a significant number of packages. 
   Other devices have been devised to hang from the handle bar or push bar of the stroller apparatus to increase the ability of the stroller to transport items other than the child. Typically, such devices are small to permit the transport of personal items, such as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,764, issued on Mar. 28, 1989, to Dianne M. Carpenter; U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,168, issued on Apr. 25, 1989, to Kathyrn J. Makoski; U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,238, issued on May 16, 1989, to Paul R. Widinski, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,183, issued on Nov. 7, 1995, to Thomas E. McConnell, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,038, issued on Dec. 30, 1997, to Judith A. Miller, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,437, issued on Aug. 24, 1999, to Kimberly H. Okumura. While all of these carrying or organizing devices are detachably mounted to the handle apparatus of the stroller, none of these devices are suitable for carrying a significant number of packages, particularly packages of the size typically acquired during shopping. 
   Other devices have been created to contain a larger volume of packages or other items besides the child. Particular reference to such devices can be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,912, issued on Aug. 31, 1982, to Linda Habib; U.S. Design Pat. No. D266,236, granted on Sep. 21, 1982, to Shinroka Nakao, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,887, issued on Sep. 4, 1990, to Takehiko Takahashi, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,592, issued on Dec. 5, 2000, to Ben M. Hsia. In such devices, these basket substitutes are suspended from the frame of the stroller apparatus and are limited in terms of weight and volume due to the limited support received from the stroller frame. Clearly, these devices are capable of carrying more items that the personal organizers identified above, yet none of these devices are capable of transporting a significant volume of packages. 
   One particular need for the expanded or enhanced carrying function of strollers is associated with grocery shopping. Neither the personal organizers, nor the larger basket substitute, described above, are capable of transporting any significant amount of groceries at the same time as providing a seat for the child. While grocery shopping presents a good example of a situation where a significant amount of carrying ability is required for items to be transported in addition to the child, other similar situations often arise. 
   An accessory that can be detached from the stroller frame should also be capable of storage with the stroller, whether temporarily or on a long term basis. While the fabric and mesh receptacles of the two Maher patents can be collapsed, the Takahashi and Hsia basket substitutes cannot. Furthermore, such an accessory needs to be able to accommodate a substantial volume of items without sacrificing the stability of the stroller to which it is mounted. Limiting either the weight of the volume of the items in the receptacle due to the insubstantial connection between the receptacle and the frame of the stroller, or due to the strength of the stroller frame itself, is a factor that needs to be overcome with respect to providing an accessory for carrying items behind the stroller frame. 
   With respect to the need to provide an apparatus to help transport packages or other things, a wheelchair is not unlike a child&#39;s stroller. Both are wheeled carriages having a second person hand grip without adequate capabilities to carry packages and other miscellaneous objects. Accordingly, the disadvantages of strollers as described above are equally applicable to wheelchairs. 
   It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a stroller accessory that will overcome the disadvantages of the prior art to provide an apparatus for transporting a substantial volume of packages or other items at the same time the stroller is being used to transport a child. It would also be desirable that the stroller accessory be capable of storage on the stroller frame to permit the stroller to be folded in a normal manner for transport in an inoperative position from place to place. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing an accessory apparatus that is attachable to strollers to permit the transportation of a substantial volume of packages or other items in conjunction with the movement of the stroller. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus that can be attached to a stroller or to a wheelchair to carry packages and other objects therein while utilizing the stroller or wheelchair. 
   It is an advantage of this invention that the weight of the packages and other objects within the confines of the accessory is carried by the accessory. 
   It is a feature of this invention that the container is fabricated from cloth to provide a flexible storage receptacle. 
   It is another feature of this invention that the accessory includes a rigid floor support that includes ground engaging wheels to support the weight of objects within the container. 
   It is another advantage of this invention that the accessory is selectively detachable from the carriage for which the accessory is to be utilized. 
   It is still another object of this invention that the container accessory for strollers and other similar carriages is configurable in an upright operating position or a folded transport orientation. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide a transparent panel in the central part of the container structure that permits at least a partial viewing of the contents of the container. 
   It is yet another feature of this invention that the central portion of the container walls is formed from netting material to provide the ability to view objects within the confines of the interior of the container. 
   It is still another feature of this invention that attachment strips are attached to the upright walls to permit selective attachment of the container to the frame and handle grips of the carriage. 
   It is yet another advantage of this invention that the attachment strips are formed from hook-and-loop fasteners strips. 
   It is a further feature of this invention that the rigid floor support member is detachably mounted in a pocket formed in the floor portion of the container. 
   It is a further advantage of this invention that the pocket is formed as two pocket members that are positioned on opposing sides on the bottom surface of the floor portion of the container. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable storage container that can be utilized either on children&#39;s strollers or on wheel chairs. 
   It is still a further feature of this invention that the floor portion of the container is provided with a mounting strip that can be used alternatively to restrain the folded container in the transport orientation or to encircle the floor support member for ensuring attachment of the floor portion of the container to the floor support member when the accessory is in the operating position. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide an accessory for strollers and wheelchairs that is capable of transporting a substantial volume of packages and other objects and that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing an accessory for strollers and wheelchairs to carry a substantial volume of packages and other objects while the stroller or wheelchair is being utilized. The accessory includes an upright wall extending upwardly from a floor portion and terminating in an access opening at the top portion. The upright wall is fabricated from cloth to provide a flexible container with the central portion being fabricated from netting to permit a viewing of the interior of the container. Velcro strips at the top and bottom portions permit a detachable connection of the container to the frame and handle grips of the stroller or wheelchair. A rigid floor support member is received within pockets formed on the exterior surface of the floor portion. The floor support member includes wheels to engage the ground and support the weight of any objects within the container. The container can be folded into a compact transport configuration for easy storage when not in use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear elevational view of the stroller accessory incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the flexible container forming the package receptacle being expanded to substantially full length as would occur when mounted on a stroller frame; 
       FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of the stroller accessory depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is rear elevational view of the stroller accessory folded into a compact transport configuration for storage on the stroller or elsewhere, the velcro fastening strips used to retain the rigid panel in the operative position encircling the folded flexible container to keep the accessory in the folded transport configuration; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the stroller accessory depicted in  FIGS. 1–3 , the rigid support panel being depicted in its engaged position and retained by velcro fastening tape; 
       FIG. 5  is an upper, front perspective view of the support panel removed from the flexible container; 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the stroller accessory shown in  FIGS. 1–2  looking into the open mouth of the flexible container toward the lower portion supported by the rigid support panel; 
       FIG. 7  is a left, rear perspective view of the stroller accessory mounted to the conventional stroller; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged upper left perspective view of the handle bar of the stroller depicting the mounting of the stroller accessory thereto; 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom portion of the stroller accessory mounted to the frame of the stroller and supported on the surface of the ground rearwardly of the back wheels of the stroller; and 
       FIG. 10  is a left, rear perspective view of the stroller accessory mounted to the conventional wheelchair. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–7 , a stroller accessory incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. Any left, right, front and rear references are made as a matter of convenience and are determined by mounting the accessory to the rear portion of the stroller frame with the forward face of the accessory being adjacent to the stroller frame. The accessory  10  is formed as a flexible container  11  with an open top portion  12  oriented at the top of the expanded container  11 , a closed bottom portion  13  and sidewall portions  15  interconnecting the top and bottom portions  12 ,  13 . The container  11  is formed of fabric to provide a flexible container  11  having a somewhat adaptable shape, yet retain objects within the container  11  inside the side wall portions  15 . The side portions  15  of the container  11  are formed of mesh or netting and fabric to provide a generally transparent center portion  16  of the side portions  15  so that the objects within the confines of the container  11  are generally visible from outside the container  11 . The top portion  12  forming the top opening and the bottom portion  13  are formed of substantial fabric material, such as denim, so as to provide structural support for the fastening devices, as will be described in greater detail below. A support rod  29  is preferably sewn into the top portion  12  at the opening between two of the fastening devices to provide rigidity to this part of the top portion  12  to keep the container  11  adjacent to the stroller  30  or wheelchair  40 , as will also be described in greater detail below. 
   The flexible container  11  is provided with hook and loop (Velcro) fastener strips  17 ,  18  at the top and bottom portions  12 ,  13 . Four top fastener strips  17  are affixed to the fabric top portion  12 , with two fastener strips  17  at the front and two additional fastener strips  17  at the rear, to provide adequate support for the container  11  from the handle bar  35  and frame members  38  of the stroller  30 , as will be described in greater detail below. Two additional hook and loop fastener strips  18  are affixed to the fabric bottom portion  13  below the central mesh portion  16  of the side walls  15 . The fastener strips  18  are intended to attach the sidewall  15  and bottom portion  13  to the frame members  34  of the stroller  30  to prevent the container  11  from separating from the stroller frame  31 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 1–5 , the accessory  10  further includes a rigid floor support panel  20  preferably formed of wood, fiberboard, metal or plastic to provide support for the bottom portion  13  of the container  11 . The rigid floor support panel  20  is formed with ground engaging wheels  25  mounted to the bottom surface  23  of the panel  20  to provide mobile support for the bottom portion  13 . The rigid support panel  20  is sized to be received within pockets  14  formed on the left and right sides of the bottom portion  13  to detachably connect the support panel  20  to the bottom portion  13  of the container  11 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the ground engaging wheels  25  are oriented on the panel  20  to be positioned adjacent to, but outside of, the respective pocket  14 . The bottom portion  13  of the container  11  is also equipped with a retainer strap  19  that is operable to wrap around the support panel  20 , as is depicted in  FIG. 4  to further attach the bottom portion  13  to the support panel  20 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , one skilled in the art will recognize that the flexible container  11  can be folded into a compact package against the rigid support panel  20 . The retainer strap  19  that held the rigid support panel  20  against the bottom portion  13  of the container  11 , when fully deployed into the expanded operative configuration depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  10 , can be disengaged from the support panel  20  and wrapped in the opposite direction around the folded flexible container  11  to hold the container  11  in this compact folded configuration during storage. The rigid support panel  20 , as best seen in  FIG. 5  can be retained within the pockets  14  to keep the entire accessory  10  in the folded compact transport configuration. Alternatively, the rigid support panel  20  can be removed from the pockets  14  and stored separately from the folded container  11 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7–9 , the mounting of the accessory  10  on the stroller  30  can best be seen. The stroller  30  includes a conventional frame  31 , which can be formed in many different configurations, depending on the specific manufacturer thereof. Each stroller frame  31 , irrespective of the manufacturer has a few common features. Every stroller frame  31  will include at least one forward ground engaging wheel  32  and a pair of rearward ground engaging wheels  33 , although the actual configuration of the particular wheels may vary. Supporting the respective wheels  32 ,  33  will be elongated frame members  34 . Furthermore, each manufactured stroller  30  will have a handle apparatus  35  which can be in the form of transversely spaced handles (not shown) or a push bar that extends transversely between frame member. The child&#39;s seat  39  is appropriately positioned between the frame members  34  forwardly of the location for mounting the accessory  10  from the handle apparatus  35 . 
   The container  11  in the expanded configuration, as seen in  FIG. 7 , can be mounted to the stroller  30  by wrapping the four top fastener strips  17  to the handle apparatus  35  and the upper part  38  of the frame members  34  to provide vertical support for the container  11  from the upper portions of the stroller frame  31 . To keep the bottom portion  13  of the container  11  from separating rearwardly from the stroller  30 , the bottom fastener strips  18  can be wrapped around the elongated frame members  34  above the rear wheels  33 . In each instance, the fastener strips  17 ,  18  are closed upon themselves to fasten to the respective frame member  34 ,  38  or handle apparatus  35 . 
   When mounted in this manner, the rigid support panel  20  is resting on the ground (or floor) immediately rearwardly of the rear wheels  33  of the stroller  30 . With the rigid support panel  20  resting on the floor, a significant amount of items can be placed into the container  11  and towed through the fastener strips  17 ,  18  behind the stroller  30 . The wheels  25  mounted on the rigid support panel  20  are castered so that there is no directional component to the movement of the accessory  10 , even when loaded with a substantial amount of packages. The open top portion  12  of the container  11  can be supported from the handle apparatus  35  and the associated frame members  34 ,  38  in such a manner as to provide a gapped front edge of the container  11  to facilitate the loading of packages therein. A stiffening rod  29  can be sewed into the front edge of the opening between two opposing upper attachment straps  17  to keep the front edge adjacent to the stroller  30  (or wheel chair  40  as is best seen in  FIG. 10 ). The transparent central mesh portion  16  of the container  11  permits a convenient inspection into the container  11  for use within stores. 
   The folded flexible container  11 , particularly with the rigid support panel  20  removed from the bottom portion  13 , can be folded upwardly without the top fastener strips  17  being removed from the stroller  30 , thus suspending the flexible container  11  from and storing the container  11  against the handle apparatus  35  or an alternative conventional push bar (not shown). The retainer strap  19  can be utilized to wrap around the folded flexible container  11  to retract the flexible container  11  into the retracted configuration adjacent the push bar  36 . Accordingly, the accessory  10  can be compactly stored when not needed, yet be conveniently available and deployed easily and effectively with minimal effort. 
   One skilled in the art will recognize that storage of the folded accessory  10  can be found within the frame  31  of the stroller  30 , particularly beneath the child&#39;s seat  39  and/or beneath the handle apparatus  35 , so that the entire stroller  30  can be collapsed into its customary inoperative transport configuration. In this configuration, the rigid support panel  20  is removed from the pockets  14  of the bottom portion  13  and stored separately from the flexible container  11 , such as in the stroller basket  39   a . Accordingly, the large receptacle formed by the expanded container  11  can be compactly stored and carried with the stroller frame  31  without disrupting the ability of the stroller  30  to fold into its inoperative configuration as the stroller was designed to accomplish. 
   A stroller accessory  10  constructed and mounted as described above is capable of supporting and storing for transport a substantial amount of packages and other items. The weight of the stored items is supported directly on the floor behind the stroller  30  through the support panel  20  bearing directly on the floor instead of hanging from the frame  34 ,  38  of the stroller  30 . The movement of the accessory  10  is controlled by the movement of the stroller  30  through the fastener strips  17 ,  18  interconnecting the frame  34 ,  38  of the stroller  30  and the flexible container  11 . When the storage capability is not needed, the accessory  10  can be folded and stored within the confines of the stroller  30  in a manner that will not interfere with the folding of the stroller  30  itself into an inoperative transport configuration. Accordingly, the stroller accessory  10  is inexpensive to manufacture, carefree in maintenance, and simple and effective to use. 
   As is depicted in  FIG. 10 , the accessory  10  can be equally utilized on wheel chairs  40  to provide a capability of carrying a substantial volume of packages or other objects while the wheel chair  40  is being utilized. Mounting of the accessory  10  is substantially identical to that described above with respect to strollers  30  with the upper Velcro straps  17  being used to mount the container  11  to the handle grips  42  of the wheel chair  40  and the lower Velcro fastener strips being used to connect the container  11  to the frame of the wheel chair  40 . 
   It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.