Patent Description:
A stroller is a tool used by parents to carry babies or children when they go shopping. At present, there are various foldable strollers to facilitate storage or transportation. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> is a side view illustrating a stroller <NUM> of the prior art and <FIG> is a side view illustrating the stroller <NUM> shown in <FIG> being folded. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the stroller <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a rear leg <NUM>, a front leg <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a handrail <NUM> and a backrest <NUM>. The handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> can be folded or unfolded with respect to each other to drive the seat <NUM>, the handrail <NUM> and the backrest <NUM> to be folded or unfolded. As shown in <FIG>, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded with respect to each other, the seat <NUM> and the handrail <NUM> both rotate upward and the backrest <NUM> rotate downward. If the backrest <NUM> is too long, the backrest <NUM> will touch the ground after the stroller <NUM> is folded. The backrest <NUM> not only affects the folding of the stroller <NUM> but also is easy to get dirty, such that the length of the backrest <NUM> is limited. Furthermore, the seat <NUM> and the handrail <NUM>, which rotate upward, will increase the length of the folded stroller <NUM>. Thus, it is not beneficial for storing or transporting the stroller <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses an interlocking folding component for strollers, comprising: a handle lower tube, bending joints and folding joints installed on the upper end and lower end of the handle lower tube; the folding joint is configured with a first locking device to lock itself to prevent rotation; the bending joint is configured with a second locking device to lock itself to prevent rotation; the second locking device is interlocked with the first locking device and can unlock the first locking device; the upper end of the bending joint is configured with an unlocking device; the unlocking device can be driven to unlock the second locking device, so that the bending joint can rotate.

<CIT> discloses a collapsible wheeled pushchair in which the seat back is folded forwardly from its erected position to its fully collapsed position, the pushchair including releasable locking means which retain the seat back in an interim substantially horizontal intermediate baby changing position in which the outer surface of the seat back becomes the upwardly facing baby changing surface.

<CIT> discloses a foldable children's stroller, including an openable and foldable frame, a seat pocket connected to the frame, the seat pocket includes a seat portion and is rotatably connected with the seat portion. The backrest part and the seat part have two sets of connecting parts arranged at intervals in the front and rear directions, and the two sets of connecting parts are respectively connected to the frame through two sets of locking mechanisms, which can be rotated and detached. The folding stroller has an open state and a folded state.

The present invention aims at providing a transportation device capable of preventing a backrest from affecting the folding of the transportation device, thereby resolving the aforesaid problems.

This is achieved by a transportation device according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims pertain to corresponding further developments and improvements.

As will be seen more clearly from the detailed description following below, the claimed transportation device includes a handle, a rear leg, a front leg, a seat, a fixing member, a first seat linkage member and a second seat linkage member. The front leg is pivotally connected to the rear leg. The seat is pivotally connected to the front leg. The fixing member is disposed at a rear side of the seat and connected to an end of the handle. The first seat linkage member is pivotally connected to the seat and the fixing member. The second seat linkage member is pivotally connected to the seat and the rear leg. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are folded with respect to each other, the fixing member and the rear leg drive the rear side of the seat to rotate toward a direction opposite to ground by the first seat linkage member and the second seat linkage member respectively. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are unfolded with respect to each other, the fixing member and the rear leg drive the rear side of the seat to be positioned toward ground by the first seat linkage member and the second seat linkage member respectively.

Preferably, after the seat is folded, a front side of the seat is lower than the rear side of the seat.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a lower leg rest pivotally connected to the front side of the seat.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a handrail pivotally connected to the handle.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a first handrail linkage member and a second handrail linkage member. The first handrail linkage member is pivotally connected to the handrail and the second handrail linkage member. The second handrail linkage member is fixed on the rear leg. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the rear leg drives the handrail to be folded or unfolded by the first handrail linkage member and the second handrail linkage member.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a first handrail linkage member. The first handrail linkage member is pivotally connected to the handrail and the rear leg. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the rear leg drives the handrail to be folded or unfolded by the first handrail linkage member.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a backrest and a backrest rotating base. The backrest is pivotally connected to the backrest rotating base.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a first backrest linkage member and a second backrest linkage member. The first backrest linkage member is pivotally connected to the backrest rotating base and the handle. The second backrest linkage member is pivotally connected to the fixing member, the seat and the backrest rotating base. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the handle drives the backrest to be folded or unfolded by the first backrest linkage member and the second backrest linkage member.

Preferably, the transportation device further includes a fixing member, a first seat linkage member and a second seat linkage member. The fixing member is disposed at the rear side of the seat and connected to an end of the handle. The first seat linkage member is pivotally connected to the seat and the fixing member, such that the seat is pivotally connected to the handle. The second seat linkage member is pivotally connected to the seat and the rear leg, such that the seat is pivotally connected to the rear leg. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are folded with respect to each other, the fixing member and the rear leg drive the rear side of the seat to rotate toward a direction opposite to ground by the first seat linkage member and the second seat linkage member respectively. When the handle, the rear leg and the front leg are unfolded with respect to each other, the fixing member and the rear leg drive the rear side of the seat to be positioned toward ground by the first seat linkage member and the second seat linkage member respectively.

When the transportation device of the invention is folded, the invention utilizes the first seat linkage member and the second seat linkage member to drive the rear side of the seat to rotate toward a direction opposite to the ground, such that the front side of the seat is lower than the rear side of the seat. In general, the rear side of the seat is the boundary between the seat and the backrest. Therefore, after the transportation device of the invention is folded, the boundary between the seat and the backrest will move to the most top position, such that the backrest will not touch the ground after the transportation device is folded. Thus, the length of the backrest may increase according to practical requirements. Furthermore, after the transportation device of the invention is folded, the seat and the handrail both rotate downward, so as to reduce the height of the folded transportation device. Accordingly, it is beneficial for storing or transporting the transportation device.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a transportation device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> in a half folding state, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> being folded, and <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the transportation device <NUM> of the invention includes a handle <NUM>, a fixing member <NUM>, a rear leg <NUM>, a front leg <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a first seat linkage member <NUM>, a second seat linkage member <NUM>, a lower leg rest <NUM>, a handrail <NUM>, a first handrail linkage member <NUM> and a second handrail linkage member <NUM>. The transportation device <NUM> may be a stroller or other devices used for transportation. It should be noted that the structure of the transportation device <NUM> of the invention is substantially symmetrical and the technical features of the invention will be described by the structure of one side in the following.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the handle <NUM> may include an upper handle <NUM>, a first lower handle <NUM> and a second lower handle <NUM>. The first lower handle <NUM> and the second lower handle <NUM> are pivotally connected to the upper handle <NUM>, such that the upper handle <NUM>, the first lower handle <NUM> and the second lower handle <NUM> can rotate with respect to each other to be folded or unfolded. The transportation device <NUM> may further include a folding operation member <NUM> and a lock mechanism <NUM>. The folding operation member <NUM> may be disposed on the upper handle <NUM>. A user may operate the folding operation member <NUM> to fold the transportation device <NUM>. The lock mechanism <NUM> may be disposed at a pivotal joint between the upper handle <NUM> and the second lower handle <NUM>, wherein the lock mechanism <NUM> is used to lock or unlock the upper handle <NUM> and the second lower handle <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> is disposed at a rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> and connected to an end of the second lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. In this embodiment, the rear leg <NUM> may include a connecting member <NUM>. The front leg <NUM> and the first lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM> are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the connecting member <NUM> of the rear leg <NUM>, such that the front leg <NUM> and the first lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM> can rotate with respect to the rear leg <NUM> to be folded or unfolded. The seat <NUM> is pivotally connected to the front leg <NUM>. Opposite ends of the first seat linkage member <NUM> are pivotally connected to the seat <NUM> and the fixing member <NUM>. Opposite ends of the second seat linkage member <NUM> are pivotally connected to the seat <NUM> and the rear leg <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first seat linkage member <NUM> and the second seat linkage member <NUM> may be, but not limited to, iron sheets.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the seat <NUM> has a front side <NUM> and a rear side <NUM>. The lower leg rest <NUM> is pivotally connected to the front side <NUM> of the seat <NUM>, such that the lower leg rest <NUM> can rotate with respect to the seat <NUM> to adjust an angle between the lower leg rest <NUM> and the seat <NUM>. Furthermore, the transportation device <NUM> may further include a backrest <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). In general, the backrest <NUM> is disposed at the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM>. Thus, the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> is a boundary between the seat <NUM> and the backrest <NUM>. In this embodiment, the handrail <NUM> may be pivotally connected to the first lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM> by a pivot <NUM>, such that the handrail <NUM> can rotate with respect to the first lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM> to adjust an angle between the handrail <NUM> and the first lower handle <NUM>. The second handrail linkage member <NUM> is fixed on the connecting member <NUM> of the rear leg <NUM>. An end of the first handrail linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the handrail <NUM> by a pivot <NUM>, and another end of the first handrail linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the second handrail linkage member <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first handrail linkage member <NUM> and the second handrail linkage member <NUM> may be, but not limited to, iron sheets.

As shown in <FIG>, the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> can be folded or unfolded with respect to each other to drive the seat <NUM> and the handrail <NUM> to be folded or unfolded. For further illustration, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded with respect to each other, the fixing member <NUM> and the rear leg <NUM> will drive the seat <NUM> to be folded or unfolded by the first seat linkage member <NUM> and the second seat linkage member <NUM> respectively. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded with respect to each other, the fixing member <NUM> and the rear leg <NUM> will drive the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> to rotate toward a direction opposite to the ground (i.e. the direction of an arrow A1) by the first seat linkage member <NUM> and the second seat linkage member <NUM> respectively. Accordingly, after the seat <NUM> is folded, the seat <NUM> rotates downward in the direction of the arrow A1, such that the front side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> is lower than the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM>. As mentioned in the above, the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> is the boundary between the seat <NUM> and the backrest <NUM>. Therefore, in other words, after the seat <NUM> is folded, the boundary between the seat <NUM> and the backrest <NUM> moves to the most top position, such that the backrest <NUM> will not touch the ground after the transportation device <NUM> is folded. Thus, the length of the backrest <NUM> may increase according to practical requirements. Furthermore, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are unfolded with respect to each other, the fixing member <NUM> and the rear leg <NUM> will drive the rear side <NUM> of the seat <NUM> to be positioned toward the ground (i.e. the direction of an arrow A2) by the first seat linkage member <NUM> and the second seat linkage member <NUM> respectively.

As shown in <FIG>, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the rear leg <NUM> will also drive the handrail <NUM> to be folded or unfolded by the first handrail linkage member <NUM> and the second handrail linkage member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, after the transportation device <NUM> is folded, the seat <NUM> rotates downward in the direction of the arrow A1 and the handrail <NUM> rotates downward in the direction of the arrow A2, so as to reduce the height of the folded transportation device <NUM>. Accordingly, it is beneficial for storing or transporting the transportation device <NUM>.

It should be noted that, in another embodiment, the transportation device <NUM> may only include the first handrail linkage member <NUM> without the second handrail linkage member <NUM>. In other words, the second handrail linkage member <NUM> may be omitted. When the transportation device <NUM> only includes the first handrail linkage member <NUM>, opposite ends of the first handrail linkage member <NUM> may be pivotally connected to the handrail <NUM> and the rear leg <NUM>. Thus, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the rear leg <NUM> will drive the handrail <NUM> to be folded or unfolded by the first handrail linkage member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the invention, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> without the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM>, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> from another viewing angle, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> from another viewing angle, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> in a half folding state, <FIG> is a side view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG> being folded, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the transportation device <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the transportation device <NUM> may further include a backrest rotating base <NUM>, a first backrest linkage member <NUM> and a second backrest linkage member <NUM>. The backrest <NUM> is pivotally connected to the backrest rotating base <NUM>, such that the backrest <NUM> can rotate with respect to the backrest rotating base <NUM> to adjust an angle between the backrest <NUM> and the backrest rotating base <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, opposite ends of the first backrest linkage member <NUM> are pivotally connected to the backrest rotating base <NUM> and the second lower handle <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. The second backrest linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the fixing member <NUM>, the seat <NUM> and the backrest rotating base <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a lower end of the second backrest linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the fixing member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a front side of an upper end of the second backrest linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the seat <NUM>, and a middle portion of the second backrest linkage member <NUM> is pivotally connected to the backrest rotating base <NUM>. Accordingly, when the handle <NUM>, the rear leg <NUM> and the front leg <NUM> are folded or unfolded with respect to each other, the handle <NUM> will drive the backrest <NUM> to be folded or unfolded by the first backrest linkage member <NUM> and the second backrest linkage member <NUM>. It should be noted that <FIG> illustrates a folding process when the backrest <NUM> is in an upright state. When the backrest <NUM> is in a lying state, the backrest <NUM> will push against the rear leg <NUM> during the folding process, such that the backrest <NUM> will be pushed to the upright position. In this embodiment, the first backrest linkage member <NUM> and the second backrest linkage member <NUM> may be, but not limited to, iron sheets.

Claim 1:
A transportation device (<NUM>), comprising:
a handle (<NUM>);
a rear leg (<NUM>);
a front leg (<NUM>) pivotally connected to the rear leg (<NUM>);
a seat (<NUM>) pivotally connected to the front leg (<NUM>);
a fixing member (<NUM>) disposed at a rear side (<NUM>) of the seat (<NUM>) and connected to an end of the handle (<NUM>);
a first seat linkage member (<NUM>) pivotally connected to the seat (<NUM>) and the fixing member (<NUM>); and
a second seat linkage member (<NUM>) pivotally connected to the seat (<NUM>) and the rear leg (<NUM>);
characterized by being adapted to:
when the handle (<NUM>), the rear leg (<NUM>) and the front leg (<NUM>) are folded with respect to each other, the fixing member (<NUM>) and the rear leg (<NUM>) drive the rear side (<NUM>) of the seat (<NUM>) to rotate toward a direction opposite to ground by the first seat linkage member (<NUM>) and the second seat linkage member (<NUM>) respectively;
when the handle (<NUM>), the rear leg (<NUM>) and the front leg (<NUM>) are unfolded with respect to each other, the fixing member (<NUM>) and the rear leg (<NUM>) drive the rear side (<NUM>) of the seat (<NUM>) to be positioned toward ground by the first seat linkage member (<NUM>) and the second seat linkage member (<NUM>) respectively.