Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to a stroller.

Background to the Invention

[002] When travelling with small children, it is usual to take a stroller. When it is necessary to feed the child, unless a separate high chair has also been taken, it is common to simply feed the child while he or she is seated in the stroller. As the seats in strollers are positioned relatively low, this will generally require the adult to lean forward, which can be uncomfortable. It also does not allow the child to sit up at the height of a table.

[003] Many restaurants provide high chairs which can be used for small children, as an alternative to feeding in a stroller. However, such high chairs are often relatively inexpensive chairs that may not be particularly comfortable or easy to use. Also, hygiene is a potential issue as these high chairs are often not cleaned after every use.

[004] The present invention relates to a stroller having features aimed at making the stroller more suitable for feeding a child seated in the stroller. The stroller comprises a simple construction which is easy to convert between the stroller and chair configurations.

Summary of the Invention

[005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a stroller comprising: a main frame having a plurality of wheel units mounted adjacent a lower end thereof; a seat frame comprising a seat base and seat back; and a support frame connected to the main frame; and a plurality of arms being each pivotally mounted to the support frame and the seat frame such that the seat frame may be moved between a lowered position and one or more raised positions; wherein upper ends of the arms connected to the seat frame are located forwardly of lower ends of the arms connected to the support frame when the seat frame is in the lowered position such that the seat frame rotates upwardly and rearwardly when moving to the raised position.

[006] Preferably the arms are connected between the support frame and the seat base and a locking mechanism is provided to lock the arms in a plurality of angular positions relative to the support frame to vary the height of the seat base above the support frame.

[007] Preferably the support frame includes a first member mounted adjacent a first side of the stroller and a second member mounted adjacent a second side of the stroller and wherein the seat base includes a first side member mounted to the first member by a plurality of the arms and a second side member mounted to the second member by a plurality of the arms.

[008] Preferably the first member is connected to the first side member of the seat base by a pair of arms and the second member is connected to the second side member of the seat base by a second pair of arms.

[009] Preferably the first and second side members are connected by transverse intermediate members.

[010] Preferably the first and second members are each provided with housings to which lower ends of one of the arms is connected, the housings including the locking mechanism to lock the arms in a plurality of angular positions relative to the first and second members.

[011] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second members are each formed by two end portions extending outwardly from either side of the housing such that the end portions of the first and second members may pivot relative to each other in order to allow the first and second members to be folded when the stroller is collapsed

[012] Preferably a release mechanism is provided on the seat base such that operation of the release mechanism releases the locking mechanism such that the arms are free to rotate relative to the support frame and thereby vary the height of the seat base above the support frame.

[013] Preferably the release mechanism comprises a latch provided on a lower surface of the seat base connected to the housings via a cable.

[014] In a preferred embodiment, the latch comprises a latch body and a latch member slidably mounted to the latch body, wherein pulling the latch member forwardly relative to the seat base releases the locking mechanism.

[015] Preferably the main frame comprises a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, the front and rear frame portions being foldable relative to each other between an extended position and a collapsed position.

[016] Preferably the first and second members of the support frame are mounted between the front and rear frame portions.

[017] Preferably the front frame portion comprises first and second front legs each having a wheel unit on a lower end thereof, the rear frame portion comprises first and second rear legs each having a wheel unit on a lower end thereof, the first member extends between a first of the rear legs and a first of the front legs and the second member extends between a second of the rear legs and a second of the front legs.

[018] Preferably upper ends of the front legs are provided with handles which can be gripped to manoeuvre the stroller.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[019] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: [020] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a stroller in accordance with the present invention;

[021] Figure 2 is a first side view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[022] Figure 3 is a second side view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[023] Figure 4 is a rear view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[024] Figure 5 is a front view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[025] Figure 6 is a bottom view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[026] Figure 7 is a top view of the stroller of Figure 1 ;

[027] Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of the stroller of Figure 1 showing the seat frame in a first raised position;

[028] Figure 9 is a first side view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[029] Figure 10 is a second side view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[030] Figure 11 is a rear view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[031] Figure 12 is a front view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[032] Figure 13 is a bottom view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[033] Figure 14 is a top view of the stroller of Figure 8;

[034] Figure 15 is an upper perspective view of the stroller of Figure 1 showing the seat frame in a second raised position;

[035] Figure 16 is a first side view of the stroller of Figure 15;

[036] Figure 17 is a second side view of the stroller of Figure 15;

[037] Figure 18 is a rear view of the stroller of Figure 15;

[038] Figure 19 is a front view of the stroller of Figure 15;

[039] Figure 20 is a bottom view of the stroller of Figure 15; and

[040] Figure 21 is a top view of the stroller of Figure 15.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[041] Referring to Figures, there is shown a stroller 10 comprising generally a main frame 12 supported on wheel units 14. A seat frame 16 is secured to the main frame 12 and comprises a seat base 20 and a seat back 22. In use, a child may sit on the seat base 20 of the seat frame 16 and rest their back against the seat back 22 while the stroller 10 may be moved about on the wheel units 14. The seat base 20 and the seat back 22 are provided in use with a material seat cover on which the child will sit. The seat cover however is not shown in any of the figures in order to more clearly show the working of the stroller 10.

[042] In the embodiment shown, the main frame 12 comprises a front frame portion 24 and a rear frame portion 26. The front frame portion 24 comprises a pair of front legs 25 and the rear frame portion 26 comprises a pair of rear legs 27. One or more cross members 30 is provided between the pair of front legs 25 and one or more cross members 30 are provided between the pair of rear legs 27 to provide support between the pairs of front and rear legs 25 and 27.

[043] Each of the front and rear legs 25 and 27 includes one of the wheel units 14 on a lower end thereof. Upper ends of the rear legs 27 are pivotally connected adjacent upper ends of the front legs 25 such that the front and rear frame portions 24 and 26 may pivot between an expanded position as shown in the Figures and a folded position in which the front and rear frame portions 24 and 26 are adjacent each other and parallel. Upper ends of the front legs 25 are provided with handles 32 which can be gripped to manoeuvre the stroller 10 in use.

[044] A cross brace 28 is provided between the front and rear frame portions 24 and 26 to support the main frame 12 in the expanded position. The cross brace 28 is collapsible to allow the front and rear frame portions 24 and 26 to move to the folded position.

[045] The main frame 12 of the stroller 10 is provided with a support frame 34. The support frame 34 extends between the front and rear frame portions 24 and 26. The seat frame 16 is supported above the support frame 34. In the embodiment shown, the support frame 34 comprises elongate first and second members 36 and 37. The first member 36 extends between a first of the rear legs 27 and a first of the front legs 25. The second member 37 extends between a second of the rear legs 27 and a second of the front legs 25.

[046] The seat base 20 of the seat frame 16 comprises a generally planar frame supported above the support frame 34. The seatback 22 comprises a generally planar frame extending upwardly from a rear of the seat base 20. The seat base 20 comprises first and second side members 38 and 39 and one or more intermediate members 40. The first and second side members 38 and 39 comprise elongate members located generally above and parallel to the first and second members 36 and 37 of the support frame 34 respectively. The intermediate members 40 extend generally transversely between the first and second side members 38 and 39.

[047] The seat base 20 is mounted to the support frame 34 such that the seat base 20 may be moved between a lowered position (as shown in Figures 1 to 7) and one or more raised positions (as shown in Figures 8 to 21). The seat base 20 is connected to the support frame by a plurality of arms 42, where the arms 42 are pivotally connected to the support frame 34 and the seat base 20.

[048] In the embodiment shown, there is provided a first pair of arms being pivotally connected at lower ends thereof to the first member 36 of the support frame 34 and pivotally connected at upper end thereof to the first side member

38 of the seat base 20. There is provided also a second pair of arms 42 pivotally connected at lower ends thereof to the second member 37 of the support frame 34 and pivotally connected at upper ends thereof to the second side member

39 of the seat base 20. The arms 42 may therefore pivot between a position in which the arms 42 are generally horizontal and the first and second side members 38 and 39 of the seat base 20 are adjacent the first and second members 36 and 37 of the support frame 34, and one or more positions in which the arms 42 extend upwardly at an angle to the first and second members 36 and 37 such that the first and second side members 38 and 39 of the seat base 20 are raised upwardly relative to the support frame 34.

[049] The lower ends of the arms 42 connected to the seat base 20 are located forwardly of the upper ends of the arms 24 connected to the support frame 34 when the seat base 20 is in the lowermost position. Therefore, the upper ends of the arms 42 pivot upwardly and rearwardly relative to the support frame 34 as the seat base 20 moves from the lower position to an upper position. This rotation provides for raising of the seat base 20 and also movement of the seat base 20 rearwardly to provide additional stability for a child seated at a higher position where the child may tend to lean forward. [050] The support frame 34 is provided with a locking mechanism such that the arms 42 may be locked in one or more positions relative to the support frame 34. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism is provided within housings 44 provided in the first and second members 36 and 37. Lower ends of one of the arms 42 on each side of the support frame 34 is connected into the housing 44 such that the angular position of the arms 42 relative to the housing 44 may be locked in one or more positions.

[051] In the embodiment shown, the first and second members 36 and 37 are formed by two end portions extending outwardly from either side of the housing 44. The end portions of the first and second members 36 and 37 may thereby pivot relative to each other in order to allow the first and second members 36 and 37 to be folded when the stroller 10 is collapsed.

[052] The stroller 10 is provided with a release mechanism such that operation of the release mechanism allows pivotal movement of the arms 42 relative to the support frame 34. Operation of the release mechanism thereby allows the seat base 20 to be moved between the lowered and raised positions. In the embodiment shown, the release mechanism comprises a latch 46 provided on a lower surface of the seat base 20. The latch 46 comprises a latch body 48 mounted to a lower side of the intermediate members 40 and a latch member 49 provided on the latch body 48 such that the latch member 49 may slide relative to the latch body 48. The latch member 49 is connected via one or more cables to the latch mechanism within the housing 44.

[053] In use, the stroller 10 would be used as a stroller with the seat frame 16 in the lowered position as can be seen in Figures 1 to 7. If it is required to seat the child at a table, the seat frame 16 may be raised by reaching under the seat base 20 and gripping and pulling the latch member 49. The latch mechanism is thereby released and the seat base 20 may be lifted upwardly relative to the stroller 10. Upward movement of the seat base 20 also rotates the seat base 20 slightly rearwardly relative to the frame 12 of the stoller 10. Releasing the latch member 49 allows the arms 42 to lock in one or more raised positions to adjust the vertical height of the seat base 20. [054] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.