Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a foldable pushchair and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with a foldable pushchair with a castor wheel assembly that is prevented from rotating when the pushchair is in a folded configuration.

Background

It is desirable for pushchairs to be foldable so that they may be readily stowed. Sometimes folded pushchairs may be stowed flat, for example in the boot or trunk of a vehicle. On other occasions it may be desirable to stow a folded pushchair in an upright position. However, the wheels of the pushchair tend to be at one end of the pushchair when folded and the pushchair can be unstable when resting on such wheels in the upright position, particularly in the case of such wheels being castor wheels.

Statements of Invention

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a foldable pushchair comprising: at least one castor wheel assembly comprising a castor wheel support and a castor wheel rotatably coupled to the castor wheel support, the castor wheel support being pivotally coupled to a frame assembly of the pushchair, wherein the castor wheel support comprises a first engaging surface; wherein the pushchair further comprises a second engaging surface, and wherein the first and second engaging surfaces are configured, e.g. orientated, to engage each other when the pushchair is in a folded configuration such that engagement of the first and second engaging surfaces substantially prevents movement of the castor wheel support relative to the frame assembly.

This arrangement advantageously stabilises the castor wheel assembly when the pushchair is in the folded configuration and allows the pushchair to stand upright independently. The first and second engaging surfaces may be correspondingly shaped so as to matingly cooperate with each other when the pushchair is in the folded configuration.

The pushchair may further comprise a lock configured to lock the pushchair in the folded configuration. The lock may hold the first and second engaging surfaces together so as to prevent movement of the castor wheel support relative to the frame assembly. The frame assembly may fold. The lock may act on the frame assembly so as to lock the frame assembly into the folded configuration.

The castor wheel support may rotate through approximately 90 degrees from a first position of the castor wheel support to a second position in the folded configuration of the pushchair. In the first position the pushchair may be movable in a forward direction when in an unfolded configuration.

The castor wheel support may comprise a castor wheel hub and at least one support arm extending from the castor wheel hub. The castor wheel may be rotatably coupled to the support arm. The castor wheel hub may be pivotally coupled to the frame assembly of the pushchair. The first engaging surface may be provided on the castor wheel hub.

At least a portion of an outer surface of the castor wheel support may be curved and the first engaging surface may be provided on the curved outer surface of the castor wheel support. The curved outer surface of the castor wheel support may be curved about a pivot axis about which the castor wheel support may be pivotally coupled to the frame assembly. The curved outer surface of the castor wheel support may be provided on the castor wheel hub. The first engaging surface may be proud of, e.g. protrude from, the curved outer surface of the castor wheel support.

The second engaging surface may be provided on the frame assembly of the pushchair.

The second engaging surface may be provided on a support hub for another wheel of the pushchair. The support hub may receive an axle of the another wheel. The support hub for the another wheel may be fixed relative to a frame of the frame assembly, e.g. the another wheel may not be a castor wheel. The another wheel may be a fixed wheel wherein an axis of rotation of the another wheel may be fixed relative to the frame assembly.

At least a portion of an outer surface of the support hub may be curved. The second engaging surface may be provided on the curved outer surface of the support hub. The curved outer surface of the support hub may be curved about an axis about which the another wheel rotates relative to the frame assembly. The second engaging surface may be proud of, e.g. protrudes from, the curved outer surface of the support hub.

The another wheel may be a rear wheel of the pushchair. The pushchair may comprise a pair of the another wheels.

The castor wheel may be a front wheel of the pushchair. The pushchair may comprise a pair of the castor wheel assemblies.

The frame assembly and castor wheel may provide contact points upon which the pushchair may stand when in the folded configuration. The pushchair may further comprise a handle. The handle may fold relative to the rest of the frame assembly. The handle may fold at a pivot point, which may provide a contact point for the pushchair to stand upon when in the folded configuration. The castor wheel may extend below the another wheel when the pushchair is upright and resting on the handle pivot point and castor wheel. The another wheel may not provide a contact point.

To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pushchair in a folded configuration according to an example of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a castor wheel assembly according to an example of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a rear wheel and support hub according to an example of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the pushchair in the folded configuration with the rear wheel and castor wheel removed according to an example of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 is a side view of the castor wheel assembly and rear wheel support hub with the rear wheel removed according to an example of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the pushchair in the folded configuration with the rear wheel removed according to an example of the present disclosure; and

Figure 7 is a side view of the pushchair in the folded configuration according to an example of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figure 1 , the present disclosure relates to a foldable pushchair 10. It will be appreciated that the pushchair 10 may also be referred to as a buggy, stroller or any other wheeled infant carrying device. The pushchair 10 comprises a frame assembly 20 to which there is coupled a pair of front castor wheel assemblies 30, e.g. with one for each side of the pushchair. In other arrangements (not depicted) there may be a single front castor wheel assembly, which may be positioned centrally in a lateral direction of the pushchair.

A pair of rear wheels 40 may also be coupled of the frame assembly 20, e.g. with one for each side of the pushchair. The rear wheels 40 may be fixed wheels for which an axis of rotation of the rear wheel 40 is fixed relative to the frame assembly 20. In other words, the rear wheels 40 may not be a castor wheel. However, it is also envisaged that in other arrangements, the rear wheels may be castor wheels.

The frame assembly 20 may fold, for example about a pair of first pivot points 22 (e.g. with one on each side of the pushchair), such that pushchair 10 may fold into a folded configuration as depicted in Figure 1. The pushchair 10, in particular the frame assembly 20, may comprise a handle 50. The handle 50 may fold relative to the rest of the frame assembly 20 and the handle 50 may fold about a pair of second pivot points 24 (e.g. with one on each side of the pushchair).

The pushchair 10 may further comprise a lock 60 configured to lock the pushchair 10 in the folded configuration. The lock 60 may act upon the frame assembly 20, e.g. different portions of the frame assembly either side of the first pivot points 22, in order to hold the frame assembly 20 in the folded configuration.

With reference to Figure 2, the castor wheel assemblies 30 comprises a castor wheel support 32 and a castor wheel 34 rotatably coupled to the castor wheel support. The castor wheel support 32 is in turn pivotally coupled to the frame assembly 20. In particular, the castor wheel support 32 may comprise a castor wheel hub 32a and at least one support arm 32b extending from the castor wheel hub. The castor wheel hub 32a may be pivotally coupled to the frame assembly 20 and the castor wheel 34 may be rotatably coupled to the support arm 32b. In the example shown there are a pair of support arms 32b which extend either side of and support the castor wheel 34, but it is also envisaged that a single support arm may be provided.

The castor wheel support 32 may rotate freely during use of the pushchair 10. The castor wheel support 32 may also rotate between folded and unfolded configurations of the pushchair. For example, the castor wheel support 32 may rotate through approximately 90 degrees between a first position and a second position. In the first position of the castor wheel support 32, the pushchair 10 may be movable in a substantially forward direction when in an unfolded configuration. The second position of the castor wheel support 32 may correspond to the position of the castor wheel support when the pushchair 10 is in the folded configuration (as shown in Figure 1).

The castor wheel supports 32 each comprise a first abutment or engaging surface 70, which selectively engages with a respective second abutment or engaging surface 80 of the pushchair as will be described in more detail below. Although the first engaging surface 70 may be present on each castor wheel assembly 30, it is also envisaged that only one of the castor wheel assemblies may comprise such an engaging surface. In the particular example shown, the first engaging surface 70 may be provided on the castor wheel hub 32a.

The first engaging surface 70 may be provided on a projection 36 that protrudes from an outer surface of the castor wheel support 32. The projection 36 may be provided on a side of the castor wheel support 32 that faces the second engaging surface 80 when the pushchair 10 is in the folded configuration.

By way of example, at least a portion of an outer surface 38 of the castor wheel support 32 may be curved and the projection 36 and first engaging surface 70 may be proud of such a curved outer surface 38. As depicted, the curved outer surface 38 of the castor wheel support 32 may be provided on the castor wheel hub 32a. The curved outer surface 38 of the castor wheel support 32 may be, at least approximately, curved with a radius of curvature extending from a pivot axis about which the castor wheel support 32 rotates relative to the frame assembly 20.

As mentioned above, the pushchair 10 comprises a second engaging surface 80 corresponding to the first engaging surface 70. In particular, a pair of second engaging surfaces 80 may be provided, each corresponding to one of first engaging surfaces 70. For example, one second engaging surface 80 may be provided on each side of the pushchair 10 to correspond with the first engaging surface 70 on each castor wheel support 32. However, it is also envisaged that only one second engaging surface 80 may be provided, e.g. in the event that there is a single castor wheel assembly 30 or first engaging surface 70.

The second engaging surface 80 may be provided on the frame assembly 20. In particular, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the second engaging surface 80 may be provided on a support hub 42 for one of the rear wheels 40 of the pushchair. The support hub 42 for the rear wheel may form part of the frame assembly and may be fixed relative to a frame of the frame assembly 20. The support hub 42 may receive an axle of the rear wheel 40. A pair of support hubs 42 may be provided with one for each rear wheel 40 and the support hubs 42 may each comprise a second engaging surface 80. Although the second engaging surface 80 may be present on each support hub 42, it is also envisaged that only one of the support hubs may comprise such an engaging surface.

The second engaging surface 80 may be provided on a projection 44 that protrudes from an outer surface of the support hub 42. The projection 44 may be provided on a side of the support hub 42 that faces the castor wheel support 32 when the pushchair 10 is in the folded configuration.

By way of example, at least a portion of an outer surface 46 of the support hub 42 may be curved and the projection 44 and second engaging surface 80 may be proud of such a curved outer surface 46. The curved outer surface 46 of the support hub 42 may be, at least approximately, curved with a radius of curvature extending from an axis about which the rear wheel 40 rotates relative to the frame assembly 20.

Figures 5 and 6 show the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 in contact with one another when the pushchair 10 is in the folded configuration. The first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 may be correspondingly shaped and orientated so as to matingly cooperate and engage with each other when the pushchair is in the folded configuration. The lock 60 may hold the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 together in the folded configuration. The engagement of the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 in the folded configuration substantially limits or prevents movement of the castor wheel support 32 relative to the frame assembly 20.

To assist in holding the castor wheel support 32 in place, the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 may extend adjacent to or across a notional line between a pivot axis of the castor wheel support 32 and a closest point of the frame assembly 20 (when in the folded configuration). In the event that the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 extend across this notional line, engagement of the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 may prevent movement of the castor wheel support 32 in either direction. By contrast, if the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 are provided on one side of this notional line, the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80 may prevent movement of the castor wheel support 32 in one direction and other surfaces of the castor wheel assembly 30 and frame assembly 20 may prevent movement of the castor wheel support in the other direction. Accordingly, in either case, movement of the castor wheel support 32 in either direction may be restricted.

With reference to Figure 7, the pushchair 10 may independently stand in an upright position when in the folded configuration. The frame assembly 20 and the castor wheels 34 may provide contact points upon which the pushchair 10 may rest. In particular, each of the second pivot points 24 may provide a contact point in addition to each of the castor wheels 34. As depicted, the castor wheels 34 may extend below the rear wheels 40 such that when the pushchair is upright the rear wheels 40 may not provide a contact point. A stable upright arrangement is provided thanks to the castor wheel supports being held in place by the engagement of the first and second engaging surfaces 70, 80.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.