Lightweight collapsible stroller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505423-B2
Application number	US-201514660342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Nov 9, 2011
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A stroller is provided herein. The stroller includes a frame configured to transition between an open position and a closed position and having a right side and a left side. The stroller also includes a linkage having one or more substantially rigid members connected between the right side and the left side. Each of the substantially rigid members has a right end and a left end. The right end and the left end respectively are slidably connected to a portion of the right side and the left side of the frame. The stroller can include at least one stand structure connected to the frame and configured to maintain the stroller in a substantially upright orientation when the stroller is in the closed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stroller comprising:
a frame configured to transition between an open position and a closed position and comprising a right side and a left side; and
a linkage comprising one or more substantially rigid members connected between the right side and the left side,
wherein each of the substantially rigid members comprises a right end and a left end, and wherein the right end and the left end, respectively, are slidably connected to a portion of the right side and the left side.

2. The stroller of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is a scissor linkage comprising at least a first member and a second member rotatably connected together at a pivot joint.

3. The stroller of claim 2 , wherein as the frame transitions from the open position to the closed position, the members rotate at the pivot joint such that the ends of the first member move away from the ends of the second member.

4. The stroller of claim 1 , further comprising a second linkage connected between the right frame and the left frame, wherein at least a portion of the second linkage is fixedly connected to the right side and another portion of the second linkage is fixedly connected to the left side.

5. The stroller of claim 1 , wherein the right side of the frame and the left side of the frame each comprise a front support rotatably connected to a rear support at a frame joint, and wherein the linkage is slidably connected to the rear support of the right side and to the rear support of the left side of the frame.

6. The stroller of claim 1 , wherein the right end and the left end of the linkage comprise sliders, and wherein the sliders are slidabely inserted in longitudinal slots extending along at least a portion of the right side and the left side of the frame.

7. The stroller of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to transition the frame between the open position and the closed position.

8. The stroller of claim 7 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a cable drive.

9. The stroller of claim 7 , further comprising an activation button for actuating the drive mechanism to transition the stroller from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position.

10. The stroller of claim 9 , wherein the activation button is a dead man switch.

11. The stroller of claim 1 , wherein the right side and/or the left side of the frame comprise at least one telescoping tube, the telescoping tube comprising:
an outer tube; and
an inner tube slidably inserted in the outer tube,
wherein the inner tube is retracted within the outer tube as the frame transitions from the open position to the closed position and is extended from the outer tube as the frame transitions from the closed position to the open position.

12. The stroller of claim 1 , further comprising at least one stand structure connected to the frame and configured to maintain the stroller in a substantially upright orientation when the stroller is in the closed position.

13. The stroller of claim 12 , wherein the stand structure automatically extends from the frame as the frame transitions to the closed position.

14. The stroller of claim 12 , wherein the stand structure is slidably connected to the frame, such that a distal end of the stand structure slides past a bottom of the frame as the frame transitions to the closed position.

15. The stroller of claim 12 , wherein the stand structure comprises one or more bending joints configured to bend in an outward direction as the stroller transitions to the closed position.

16. The stroller of claim 15 , wherein the stand structure comprises a contact surface extending from a distal most bending joint to a distal end of the stand structure, the contact surface being configured to contact a substantially flat surface to assist in maintaining the stroller in the upright orientation.

17. A stroller comprising:
a frame configured to transition between an open position and a closed position; and
at least one stand structure connected to a portion of the frame and configured to automatically extend from the frame as the stroller transitions from the open position to the closed position.

18. The stroller of claim 17 , wherein the stand structure comprises one or more bending joints configured to bend in an outward direction as the stroller transitions to the closed position.

19. The stroller of claim 17 , wherein the stand structure comprises a contact surface extending from a distal most bending joint to a distal end of the stand structure, the contact surface being configured to contact a substantially flat surface to assist in maintaining the stroller in the upright orientation.

20. The stroller of claim 17 , wherein the at least one stand structure is slidably connected to the frame, such that a distal end of the stand structure slides past a bottom of the frame as the frame transitions to the closed position.

Assignees

• Thorley Ind Llc

Inventors

• Thorne Henry F
• Conley Lou
• Hannigan Benjamin
• Lee Donald

Classifications

• B62B2205/003

  with actuation mechanisms which drive the folding or unfolding operation · CPC title

• B62B7/086

  becoming smaller in all three dimensions · CPC title

• B62B7/068

  by sliding a bushing along a rod, e.g. like folding means of an umbrella · CPC title

• B62B9/10

  Perambulator bodies; Equipment therefor (collapsible or foldable B62B7/06; convertible B62B7/12) · CPC title

• B62B2205/02

  foldable widthwise · CPC title