| WO/2010/022571 | BABY CARRIAGE |
| WO/2004/058556 | FOLDABLE PUSHCHAIR FOR CHILDREN AND/OR DOLLS |
| JP2006335355 | COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE |
Gorza, Roberto (Via Carlo Rizzarda 15, Feltre, I-32032, IT)
Tomasi, Ivan (Via San Pietro 34, Sovizzo, I-36050, IT)
Gorza, Roberto (Via Carlo Rizzarda 15, Feltre, I-32032, IT)
| 1. | A folding frame particularly for strollers, baby carriages and the like, comprising a lower framework, provided with two front uprights and two rear uprights, which are connected, in a downward region, to respective wheels and are mutually articulated by means of connecting assemblies, and two upper uprights, which can move, with respect to said lower framework, for the passage of said frame from an extended position to a retracted position and vice versa, characterized in that on at least one of said upper uprights at least one coupling seat is provided, which extends at least along a portion of the longitudinal extension of said at least one of said upper uprights, said at least one coupling seat being engaged respectively by at least one connecting element, which is supported by said lower framework, with the possibility of relative sliding of said at least one of said upper uprights with respect to said at least one connecting element. |
| 2. | The frame according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one of said upper uprights can move with respect to said lower framework with a rotary motion component and with a translational motion component in the transition of said frame from said extended position to said retracted position and vice versa. |
| 3. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one of said upper uprights engages, with said at least one coupling seat, said at least one connecting element, with the possibility to rotate about at least one connecting element. |
| 4. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one connecting element is mounted so that it can rotate on said lower framework about a pivoting axis which forms an axis for the rotation of said at least one of said upper uprights in its movement for the transition of said frame from said extended position to said retracted position and vice versa. |
| 5. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one connecting element comprises a protrusion which protrudes from said lower framework, said at least one coupling seat comprising a groovelike portion which is open toward the outside and is adapted to accommodate said protrusion, retention means being provided which are adapted to prevent the disengagement of said protrusion from said groovelike portion. |
| 6. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusion has a wider head, which engages a corresponding wider portion of said at least one coupling seat, said head forming at least one abutment region, which can be engaged by a respective shoulder region which is formed by said wider portion of said at least one coupling seat. |
| 7. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head has, around its longitudinal direction, a lateral surface with a rounded contour, said at least one of said upper uprights being able to rotate about an axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction of said head. |
| 8. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head has, in a transverse crosssection with respect to said longitudinal direction, a substantially circular shape. |
| 9. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head has a substantially elliptical transverse cross section with respect to said longitudinal direction. |
| 10. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting assemblies comprise articulation bodies which join said front uprights and said rear uprights, at their upper ends, said protrusion being supported by the articulation body proximate to said at least one of said upper uprights. |
| 11. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said protrusion there is a passage for accommodating actuation means for devices for removably locking said frame in said extended position. |
| 12. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises friction reduction means, which are adapted to limit the sliding friction between said at least one connecting element and said at least one of said upper uprights. |
| 13. | The frame according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head comprises a substantially circular body, which is supported so that it can rotate freely about its own axis by said protrusion and is arranged, with its own axis, substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said at least one coupling seat, said head engaging by contact the side wall of said wider portion of said coupling seat. |
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a folding frame particularly for strollers, baby carriages and the like.
Folding frames for strollers or baby carriages are known which are constituted substantially by a lower framework, comprising two front uprights and two rear uprights, which support in a downward region
* respective wheels, and by two upper uprights, known in the jargon as "handle tubes", which end in an upward region with the handle or handgrip of the frame and can move, with respect to the lower framework, with a movement which has a translational component and a rotary component, in order to allow the closure or folding of the frame. Background Art In a known solution, the upper uprights are associated with the lower framework by coupling with respective through sliding seats, which are provided generally at articulation bodies which mutually connect the upper ends of the front uprights and of the rear uprights.
In order to allow the upper uprights to perform, with respect to the lower framework, a translational motion with the possibility to oscillate within the through seats, such seats provide, with respect to the transverse dimension of the upper uprights, a play which increases gradually along their axis, so as to assume substantially a frustum-shaped configuration in which the flaring is generally directed upwardly. Although this embodiment is used extensively, it suffers the drawback of considerable constructive complexity, caused mainly by difficulty in manufacturing the molds required to obtain the frustum-shaped through seats, thereby negatively affecting also the production costs.
Another drawback which can be ascribed to the solution of the background art consists in that the articulation bodies protrude laterally with
respect to the upper uprights, accordingly creating an unwanted bulk, particularly when the frame is in the folded position.
Another drawback which can be observed in the background art consists in that the movement of the upper uprights in the respective through seats occurs by sliding of the upper uprights against the walls of said through seats, with friction which can make it awkward to move the frame for opening or closing it. Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problem described above by providing a folding frame particularly for strollers, baby carriages and the like which has an extremely simplified structure with respect to currently known solutions.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a folding frame which can assume a configuration which is extremely compact from a dimensional standpoint once it has been folded.
Another object of the invention is to provide a folding frame which can be pleasant also from a merely aesthetic standpoint.
Another object of the invention is to provide a folding frame which is easy to use and offers the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding frame which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of achieving limited friction in the sliding of the upper uprights during the opening or closure of the frame. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding frame which can be obtained with low production costs.
This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a folding frame particularly for strollers, baby carriages and the like, according to the invention, comprising a lower framework, provided with two front uprights and two rear uprights,
which are connected, in a downward region, to respective wheels and are mutually articulated by means of connecting assemblies, and two upper uprights, which can move, with respect to said lower framework, for the passage of said frame from an extended position to a retracted position and vice versa, characterized in that on at least one of said upper uprights at least one coupling seat is provided which extends at least along a portion of the longitudinal extension of said at least one of said upper uprights, said at least one coupling seat being engaged respectively by at least one connecting element, which is supported by said lower framework, with the possibility of relative sliding of said at least one of said upper uprights with respect to said at least one connecting element. Brief description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the folding frame according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the frame according to the invention in the extended condition; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the frame according to the invention in an intermediate folding step;
Figure 3 is a slightly elevated perspective view, with parts shown in cross-section, of the connecting element and the corresponding coupling seat; Figure 4 is a slightly elevated perspective view of a different embodiment, with parts shown in cross-section in order to highlight the connecting element and the corresponding coupling seat;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of another possible embodiment of the connecting element; Figure 6 is a schematic and partially cutout perspective view of the
connecting element according to the embodiment of Figure 5, coupled to the corresponding coupling seat formed in the respective upper upright;
Figure 7 is a partial side elevation view, with parts shown in cross- section, of another possible embodiment of the frame; Figure 8 is a schematic top perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention.
In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific embodiments, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to the figures, the folding frame particularly for strollers, baby carriages and the like, according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a lower framework 2, which has two front uprights 3 and two rear uprights 4, which are connected in a downward region to respective wheels 5. The front uprights 3 and the rear uprights 4 are joined by interposing connecting assemblies, which are per se known and in particular are mutually articulated, at their upper ends, by means of articulation bodies 6, which are also per se known.
Two upper uprights 7 are associated with the lower framework 2 and end, in an upward region, with grip elements 8 and can move, with respect to the lower framework 2, in order to allow the frame 1 to pass from an extended position to a retracted position and vice versa.
For example, one or both of the upper uprights can be movable, with respect to the lower framework 2, with a movement which has a translational motion component and a rotary motion component, in order to
cause the transition of the frame 1 from its retracted position to its extended position and vice versa.
According to the invention, on at least one of the upper uprights 7, and more preferably on both of the upper uprights 7, there is at least one coupling seat 9, which has an elongated shape and extends along at least one portion of the longitudinal extension of the corresponding upper upright
7.
The coupling seat 9 conveniently affects an intermediate portion of the corresponding upper upright 7 and is engaged by at least one connecting element 10, which is supported by the lower framework 2.
In particular, the connecting element 10 engages the coupling seat 9 of the corresponding upper upright 7 so that it is possible to slide the corresponding upper upright 7, with respect to the connecting element 10, along the direction determined by the corresponding coupling seat 9, in the transition of the frame 1 from its retracted position to its extended position and vice versa.
Advantageously, the upper uprights 7 engage, by means of the respective coupling seat 9, the corresponding connecting element 10, with the additional possibility to turn about said connecting element 10 when the frame 1 is closed or opened.
For the sake of completeness, it should be added that each upper upright 7 is conveniently connected, proximate to its lower end, to the corresponding front upright 3 by means of an articulation rocker 110 or by means of other equivalent elements. With the structure described above, each upper upright 7, in the transition of the frame 1 from the retracted condition to the extended condition and vice versa, is capable of performing a translational motion, with respect to the lower framework 2, thanks to the coupling with the possibility to slide between the coupling seat 9 and the connecting element 10, and, at the same time is capable of rotating, again with respect to the
lower framework 2, thanks to the possibility to rotate about the connecting element 10 and to the connection to the corresponding articulation rocker 110.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown by way of example in Figure 7, the connecting element 10 engages slidingly the corresponding coupling seat 9, but the corresponding upper upright 7 cannot rotate about it, and is further pivoted about a fulcrum 10a to the lower framework 2, so that it can oscillate freely, with respect to said lower framework 2, about a pivoting axis which in practice forms a rotation axis for the respective upper upright 7 and is preferably oriented substantially at right angles to the plane which passes through the respective upper upright 7 and through the front upright 3 which is adjacent thereto. In this case, in the transition of the frame 1 from the retracted position to the extended position and vice versa, the upper uprights 7 can move, with respect to the lower framework, with a sliding motion relative to the connecting element 10 and with a rotary motion which is determined by their articulation with the respective articulation rockers 110 and by the possibility of the connecting element 10 to oscillate about its pivoting axis.
Conveniently, the connecting element 10 is constituted by a protrusion 11, which protrudes from the lower framework 2 and more preferably from the articulation body 6, which is located proximate to the corresponding upper upright 7.
The protrusion 11 is advantageously accommodated in a groove-like portion 9a, which is open outwardly and is formed by the coupling seat 9. Conveniently, retention means are provided which are adapted to prevent the disengagement of the protrusion 11 from the groove-like portion 9a, and in particular the protrusion 11 has a wider head 12, which engages a corresponding wider portion 9b, which is formed by the coupling seat 9 and provides at least one abutment region 13 a, which faces a respective shoulder region 13b which is formed by the wider portion 9b of the coupling seat 9,
laterally with respect to the groove-like portion 9a.
Advantageously, the wider head 12 of the protrusion 11 is oriented, with its longitudinal direction 12a, substantially parallel to the axis about which the corresponding upper upright 7 can rotate with respect to said wider head 12.
Conveniently, the lateral surface of the wider head 12 has, with respect to its longitudinal direction 12a, a contour with a rounded profile, so as to facilitate the oscillation of the corresponding upper upright 7 about it.
For example, the wider head 12 can have, in a transverse cross- section with respect to its longitudinal direction 12a, a substantially circular shape or, more preferably, can be substantially elliptical.
In practice, the wider head 12 is oriented, with its longitudinal direction, substantially at right angles to the plane which passes through the corresponding upper upright 7 and the front upright 3 which corresponds thereto. In general, such plane is substantially vertical.
In a possible different embodiment, advantageously, at the free end of the protrusion 11, there are friction reduction means, such as for example rolling bearings or other similar elements, which are designed to limit the sliding friction between the connecting element 10 and the respective upper upright 7.
More particularly, as shown in Figure 4, it is possible for example for the head 12 to be constituted by a substantially circular body, which is supported so that it can rotate freely, about its own axis, by the protrusion 11 and is arranged so that its own axis lies substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the coupling seat 9. In this manner, the head 12, by resting against the wall which delimits the wider portion 9b of the coupling seat 9, allows to achieve sliding with reduced friction between the corresponding upper upright 7 and the connecting element 10.
It is further possible to provide, laterally with respect to the protrusion, an abutment region 14, which is also formed on the articulation
body 6 and on which the corresponding upper upright 7 can rest with one of its surfaces, having for example a flat configuration which is directed toward the corresponding front upright, when the frame 1 is in the extended condition. As an alternative, the abutment region 14 is formed by a protrusion
15, which is adapted to enter the coupling seat 9 in the final step of the opening of the frame 1, in order to allow recovery of any coupling play between the connecting element 10 and the coupling seat 9.
Advantageously, the protrusion 11 can be crossed by a passage 16, which is constituted for example by a slot or a hole, for accommodating any actuation means (not shown), such as bars, cables or others, which act on removable locking means designed to keep the frame 1 locked in its extended position. It should be noted that the protrusion 11 can be divided in practice by the passage 16 into two separate portions, as shown in Figure 3.
In another embodiment, shown by way of example in Figure 8, for one or both upper uprights 7 there is an open guiding compartment 17, which is provided on the corresponding articulation body 6 and is delimited laterally by two protrusions 18, which support, on their mutually facing faces, respective connecting elements 10, which in turn engage respective coupling seats 9, which are formed, at mutually opposite sides, on the corresponding upper upright 7.
It should be added to the above that the frame 1 may furthermore be completed by a seat, if used as a stroller, or by a bassinet, if used as a baby carriage, said seat or bassinet being optionally associated detachably with the frame 1 , in a per se known manner.
In practice it has been found that the frame according to the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, since thanks to the presence of the coupling seats and of the connecting elements the execution of the frame is extremely simplified.
Moreover, the invention allows to provide a frame for strollers, baby carriages or the like which conforms to current aesthetic requirements.
All the characteristics of the invention described above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
The individual characteristics presented with reference to general teachings or to particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics in these embodiments.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2005A000048 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
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