The present invention relates to a push-chair and car seat for a child.

According to the invention there is provided a child's push-chair, which is convertible into a child's car seat.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the push-chair comprises a wheeled support which carries a child's seat, the support being convertible from a first position in which the support and seat are arranged for use as a child's push-chair and a second position in which the support and seat are arranged as a child's car seat.

In such embodiment, the support has a pair of handles which extend upwardly and rearwardly in the push chair position and are foldable forwardly about their lower ends to extend downwardly and forwardly in the car seat position.

SUBSTITUTESHEET

Preferably, each wheel of the support has a respective guard extending around the periphery of an upper portion of the wheel in the push-chair position, the guard being moved to a position on the underside of the wheel in the car seat position.

The provision of movable wheel guards as mentioned above has independent utility in the case of child's push-chairs which collapse for storage, whether or not such push-chairs can be converted to car seats.

Thus there is also provided, as an independent invention, a child's push-chair comprising a wheeled support which carries a child's seat, the support being convertible from a first position in which the support and seat are arranged for use as a child's push-chair and a second position in which the support and seat are collapsed for storage, wherein each wheel of the support has a respective guard extending around the periphery of an upper portion of the wheel in the push-chair position, the guard being moved to a position on the underside of the wheel in the storage position.

In the present embodiment the car seat position can, of course, be regarded also as a storage position for the push-chair.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a push-chair for a child in the push-chair position according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the push-chair of Figure 1 when converted to the car seat position;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the push-chair of Figure 1 with the child's seat removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the push-chair of Figure 3 in a position intermediate the push-chair and car seat positions;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the push-cha'ir of Figure 3 with the first and second frames separated from each other.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the locking means for locking the first and second frames together;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a wheel brake means;

Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the seat and seat mounting means;

Figure 9 is an underneath perspective view of the seat and seat mounting means; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of an alternative from of front wheel for the push chair.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown therein a push-chair and car seat 10 for a child according to the invention. In Figure 1 there is shown the push-chair 10 and in Figure 2 the push-chair 10 of

Figure 1 has been converted to a car seat mode 10'. The push-chair 10 is collapsible from the position of Figure 1 to the car seat position 10' of Figure 2, and the car seat 10' may be erected from the position of Figure 2 to the push-chair position of Figure 1. Thus, the push-chair 10 comprises a wheeled support 11 which carries a child's seat 12, the support 11 being collapsible or foldable from a first position of Figure 1 to a second position shown in Figure 2.

As shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 5, the wheeled support 11 comprises a first frame 13 on which the child's seat 12 is mounted and a second frame 14 on which wheels 15, 16 are mounted, the first and second frames 13, 14 being coupled together for movement relative to each other to enable the support 11 to be moved between the first and second positions. The first and second frames 13, 14 are constructed from tubular steel members as will now be described.

The first frame 13 comprises two side members 17 and a top end member 22 and a bottom end member 18 which are welded together. Each side member 17 has an "S" shaped curved region 19, the lower curve 20 of which is bridged by a strengthening bar 21 the ends of which are welded to the respective side members 17. A locking arm 23 is fixed between the side members 17. A bracket 24 is pivotally mounted on the top end member 22, the bracket 24 for in use fixing to the rear of the seat 12. The ends 25 of the top end member 22 are each provided with a boss 26 which are engaged with brackets 27 on the second frame 1 . The bracket 24 is pivotally mounted on flanges 28 by screws 29, the flanges 28 being welded to member 22. A seat belt engaging flange 30 is welded at the lower end of each side member 17.

The second frame 14 comprises handle members 31 which are curved forwardly at their upper ends 32, the upper ends 32 each having a hand grip 33.

The handle members 31 are bridged by a cross-piece 34 and an extension arm 35 fixed to the lower end 36 of each handle member 31 is fixed to respective cylindrical collars 37. The extension arms 35 have fixed thereon the brackets 27 which engage with the bosses 26 on the top end member 22 of the first frame 13.

The second frame 14 further comprises generally vertical rear legs 38 which are connected at their lower end 39 by a lower cross-piece 40 in which is located an axle (not shown). A top cross-piece 41 also connects the rear legs 38. The top cross-piece 41 carries a pair of locking flanges 42 which are connected by a "U" shaped operating handle 43, the locking flanges 42 each having a recess 44 to engage with the locking arm 23 on the first frame 13. The locking flanges 42 are spring biassed into the locking position as will be described below by a coil spring 45.

Each rear leg 38 has a "U" shaped bracket 46 fixed thereon, to which is attached one end 47 of a side leg 48. The other end 49 of each side leg 48 is pivotally connected to a front bracket 50. A pair of curved front legs 51 are also fixed into the front brackets 50, the front legs being connected to a front cross-piece 52 which houses an axle for the front wheels 16. A foot rest 53 is mounted on a rod 54 which is connected to the front legs 51. The upper end of each front leg 51 carries a bracket 55 which is pivotally

mounted thereon, the brackets 55 each having a cylindrical hole 56 to receive the ends of the bottom end member 18 of the first frame 13. Thus, the first frame 13 is coupled to the second frame 14 by the bottom end member 18 being connected to the brackets 55 and by the top end member 22 being connected by the bosses 26 to the brackets 27. In addition, each rear leg 38 carries a slidable collar 57 which is secured to the side members 17 of the first frame by bolts 58, which engage through the side members 17 at 59 adjacent to the members 21. Also, a respective rod 60 is connected between each side member 17 and the foot rest 53 as shown.

Each collar 37 is rotatably fixed to another collar 61 which is fixed to the rear legs 38 and cross member 41. In the erect position of the apparatus, the locking flanges 42 are engaged with the locking arm 23 on the first frame 13, so that there can be no relative movement between the first frame 13 and the second frame 14. In order to fold or collapse the apparatus from the push chair position (Figure 1 ) to the car seat position (Figure 2), the operating handle 43 is pulled rearwards to release the locking arm 23 from the flanges 42. The handles 31 are then pushed forwards so that they rotate forwardly with the bosses 37 relative to the cross-piece 41. As the handles rotate forwardly, the brackets 27 push the first frame 13 forwardly and downwardly as they are fixed to the top end member 22. Also, the rear legs 38 are caused to move forwardly since they are attached by the collars 57 to the side members 17 of the first frame 13. After a certain degree of forward movement of the rear legs 38, the first frame 13 moves downwardly relative to the second frame 1 , as the collars 57 begin to slide downwardly on the rear legs 38. It will be

noted from Figure 4 that during this downward movement of the first frame 13, the rear legs 38 continue to simultaneously pivot forwardly as the side arms 48 pivot in the brackets 46. Also, as the first frame is pushed downwardly and forwardly, the brackets 55 pivot relative to the front legs 51 and the brackets 50 and front legs 51 pivot relative to the side legs 48. The result of this movement is that the front legs 51 are pivoted forwardly through approximately 180° relative to the side legs 48 as the handle members 31 reach their fully folded position as shown in Figure 2, and the front wheels are therefore also pivoted through approximately 180°. Also, as the foot rest 53 is connected by rods 60 to the side members 17, then during the folding of the apparatus as the first frame moves forwardly, the foot rest 53 is effectively moved rearwardly and upwardly under the bottom end member 18.

As shown, each of the front wheels 16 is provided with a wheel guard 70 which extends around the periphery of an upper portion of the wheel, and substantially encloses the upper portion of the wheel, leaving only a ground engaging portion 71 of the wheel exposed. The wheel guards 70 are fixed to the front legs 51 by brackets 72, so that when the front legs 51 pivot through approximately 180° as. mentioned above the guards are brought to a position on the underside of the wheels. The rear wheels 15 are also provided with wheel guards 70', rotatable about the axis of the wheel. Each of the rear wheel guards 70' are held in position by a rod 73 one end 74 of which is fixed in a hole 75 in the inner surface 76 of the wheel guard with the other end 77 of the rod connected to a respective side member 17 of the first frame 13. During the forward movement of the first frame 13 relative to the second frame 14, the forward movement of the side members 17 causes the rods

to rotate the rear wheel guards 70' through approximately 180°. Thus, in the folded or collapsed position (Figure 2) the rear wheels guards 70' are positioned on the underside of the wheels 15 with the ex- posed portion 71' of the wheels 15 uppermost. It will be noted from Figure 4 that the rear wheel guards 70' reach their underneath position before the collapse of the apparatus is complete.

Also, as shown in Figure 2, the collars 57 have reached the lower end of the rear leg 38 in the folded or car seat position of the apparatus.

In Figure 7, there is shown a brake apparatus 90 which is employed with one of the rear wheels. The brake apparatus 90 comprises a brake rod 91 slidably mounted between two flanges 92 which are fixed to the member 40. The rod 91 carries a flange 78 and a coil spring 80 is located between the flange 78 and one of the flanges 92. An operating lever 79 is pivotally mounted on the member 40 and when it is pivoted towards the rod 91, the rod 91 is pushed to the right hand side in Figure 7 so that the end of the rod passes through a slot 81 in the surface 76 of the wheel guard 70' and engages between two adjacent spokes (not shown) of the wheel 15. A part-circular cut out 82 is formed in the wheel guard 70' so that the wheel guard can be rotated relative to the wheel to enable folding of the push-chair when the brake is applied. A suitable locking means can be provided to lock the brake in an "on" position and also a suitable release mechanism can be provided. It will be noted that each wheel guard 70, 70' has a rubber rod 83 fixed to its top surface.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9 there is shown the seat 12 which accommodates a child in the push-chair

or car seat. The seat 12 is of a conventional construction and incorporates a suitable seat belt or seat harness (not shown) for restraining a child in the seat. The seat 12 is fixed to the first frame 13 by bolts (not shown) which engage through apertures (not shown) in the backrest 93 of the seat and are fixed to the bracket 24 by passing through the apertures 94. the base 95 of the seat 12 has a mounting means 96 which is fixed to the seat and is also fixed to the members 17 of the first frame 13. As shown, the mounting means 96 comprises a horizontal rod 97 fixed to the base of the seat by bolts 98. A tubular rod 99 is fixed to the middle of the rod 97. A rod 100 is telescoped into the rod 99, the rod 100 having a series of apertures 101. A transverse support member 102 is fixed to the end of the rod 100, the ends 103 of the rod 102 having bushings 104 fixed thereon which are curved in shape to conform with the shape of the side members 17 of the first frame 13. The bushings 104 have screw holes 105. To fix the seat 12 to the first frame 13, the side members 17 are provided with apertures 106. The support member 102 is positioned between the members 17 so that the bushings 104 engage the inner surface of the respective side members 17 and so that the screw holes 105 are in register with the holes 106. The support member 102 is then secured to the side members 17 by screws 107 which engage the holes 105 through the holes 106 in the side members 17.

An adjusting handle 108 is provided fixed to the underside of the seat, the handle 108 having a locking arm 110 which has an inturned end (not shown) which engages through an aperture 109 in the rod 99 and engages in a selected one of the apertures 101 in the telescopic rod 100. The locking arm 110 is spring

biassed by a spring 111 into a locked position to prevent movement of the rod 99 and seat relative to the rod 100. In order to adjust the seat position relative to the first frame 13, it is only necessary to pivot the adjusting handle 108 upwards to release the locking arm 110 from the rods 99 and 100 and then move the seat to another selected position in which the locking arm 110 engages with another selected one of the apertures 101.

It will be appreciated that when in the car seat position the apparatus may be used as either a forward facing or a rearward facing car seat. In order to facilitate this, the backrest of the seat 12 is provided with seat belt securing points 112. These will normally be used when the seat is rearward facing and the known second portion of the car seat belt (not shown) can suitably engage around the base of the seat 12 or around the frames 13, 14. When used as a forward facing seat (normally in the rear seat of a car), the car seat belt can engage in one of the seat belt points 30 and also around the frames 13, 14 in any suitable manner.

A push-chair 10 is thus provided which is lightweight and which is readily converted to a car seat for a child. By virtue of a very simple but safe release mechanism the push-chair is readily adapted for use as a car seat. Furthermore, the arrangement which provides for the wheel guards to be on the underside of the wheels in the car seat position ensures that mud or other residue which may collect on the wheels does not contaminate a seat when the push-chair is converted to the car seat position and placed in a car seat. It will be appreciated that when used as a car seat, it may be used in the forwardly facing or rearwardly facing ■ directions.

It is to be understood that the pairs of wheels 15 and 16 may be designed for rotation about substantial¬ ly vertical axes, for example in the manner of castors.

Figure 10 shows how this may be done for the front wheels 16.

In Figure 10 the wheel guard is formed of upper and lower parts 170 and 171 respectively, the upper part 170 being fixed to the front end of the front leg 51, and the lower part 171 being mounted below the upper part 170 for rotation relative to the upper part about*a generally vertical axis 172.

Inside the wheel guard the wheel 16 is supported between a pair of brackets 173 for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis 174. The wheel 16 is accommodated wholly within the lower part 171 of the wheel guard to permit the latter to pivot freely about the axis 172, and since the axis 174 is offset from the axis 172, the wheel 16 acts as a castor.