The present invention refers to an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like.

In the field of baby strollers different types of foldable frames are known, among which, in particular, so-called "umbrella-like" frames, which are foldable upon themselves both in the longitudinal direction and in the transversal direction, and so-called "book-like" frames, which can fold upon themselves only along the longitudinal direction.

Foldable "umbrella-like" frames are, for example, known from EP1232927 to Inglesina Baby s.p.a., from IT1391594 and IT268768U to PEG PEREGO s.p.a. and DE8900279 to PEG PEREGO PINES s.p.a.

As it is known, in both types of frames it is possible to arrange the seat unit for housing a baby both in the so called "parent facing" position, in which the seat unit is arranged so that the baby contained in it faces the person manoeuvring the stroller, and in the so-called "road facing" position, in which the seat unit is arranged so that the baby contained in it faces the opposite direction.

In "umbrella-like" foldable frames, the seat unit itself, which is made in particular of a seat with reclinable backrest, is of the type which can be folded upon itself like an "umbrella", i.e. both in the transversal and longitudinal directions.

In known foldable strollers of the "umbrella-like" type, however, there is the drawback of the bulk in height of the seat unit/seat which, when the stroller is in the closed position, projects out from the bottom thereof coming into contact with the ground. This occurs, in particular, if the seat unit/seat is arranged in the "parent facing" position.

The purpose of the present invention is that of making an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and a baby stroller comprising such a frame that make it possible to avoid such drawbacks of the prior art.

In such a general purpose, one particular purpose of the present invention is that of providing an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and a baby stroller comprising such a frame that can be easily closed with a small bulk.

Another purpose of the present invention is that of making an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and a baby stroller comprising such a frame that is particularly simple and functional and has low costs.

These and yet other purposes are achieved by making an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like as outlined in claim 1.

Further features are provided in the dependent claims .

These and yet other purposes are moreover achieved with a baby stroller as defined in claim 10.

The features and the advantages of an umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and of a baby stroller comprising such a frame according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a rear axonometric view of the umbrella-like foldable frame according to the present invention in the open position;

figure 2 is a schematic lateral elevation view of the left side of one portion of the umbrella-like foldable frame according to the present invention in the open position and seen from outside;

figure 3 is a schematic lateral elevation view of the left side of a portion of the umbrella-like foldable frame according to the present invention in the open position and seen from inside;

figure 4 is a view like the one of figure 2 with the frame in the closed position;

figure 5 is a view like the one of figure 3 with the frame in the closed position;

figure 6 is a longitudinal section view of a detail of figure 3;

figure 7 is a longitudinal section view of a detail of figure 5;

figure 8 is a rear axonometric view of a baby stroller comprising the umbrella-like foldable frame according to the present invention with the seat in the "road facing" position and without padding, covering and finishing;

figure 9 is a lateral elevation view of the left side of the stroller of figure 8 in the closed position;

figure 10 is a rear axonometric view of a baby stroller comprising the umbrella-like foldable frame according to the present invention with the seat in the "parent facing" position and without padding, covering and finishing;

figure 11 is a lateral elevation view of the left side of the stroller of figure 10 in the closed position .

With reference to the figures, reference numeral 10 wholly indicates a foldable frame of the "umbrellalike" type for baby strollers.

By foldable frame of the "umbrella-like" type we mean to indicate, as known, a frame that can be folded upon itself both in the longitudinal direction and in the transversal direction.

It is worth underlining that in the present description adjectives such as "first" and "second", just like adjectives such as "front" and "rear", "right" and "left" or "inner" and "outer" and adverbs such as "top" and "bottom" are referred to the conditions of use of a stroller by a user and are used purely for the sake of clarity of the description and must not be taken in a limiting manner.

The frame 10 comprises:

- a pair of rear legs 11, respectively a right rear leg and a left rear leg at the bottom end of each of which a rear wheel 12 is mounted,

- a pair of front legs 13, respectively a right front leg and a left front leg at the bottom end of each of which a front wheel 14 is mounted,

- a pair of handle rods 15, respectively a right handle rod and a left handle rod which are respectively associated with the right front leg 13 and with the left front leg 13 in a movable manner with a movement having at least one sliding component along the right and left front legs 13 themselves, and - an articulated structure 16 which interconnects at least the right rear leg 11 and the left rear leg 11 to each other.

Since the structure of the frame 10 is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing through the median longitudinal axis of the frame 10 itself, i.e. the axis coinciding with the advancing direction Z of the stroller, in the rest of the description reference will be made to one of the two semi-portions of the frame 10, in particular, to the left semi-portion or side as shown in the attached figures, with the right semi-portion or side being symmetrical.

Each of the two, right and left, sides or semi- portions of the frame 10, therefore, comprises a rear leg 11, a front leg 13 and a handle rod 15.

The rear leg 11 and the front leg 13 are compasses- like articulated to each other by means of an articulation group 17, with which the respective handle rod 15 is associated in a movable manner.

By compasses-like articulation we mean to indicate the possibility of the rear leg 11 and of the front leg 13 of rotating about a respective rotation axis A and B, like in the embodiment represented in the attached figures, or, in one alternative embodiment that is not shown, about a common rotation axis, in which such rotation axes are parallel to the resting ground of the frame 10 and orthogonal to the advancing direction Z of the stroller.

The compasses-like articulation of the rear leg 11 and of the front leg 13 of each of the two right and left sides or semi-portions of the frame 10 allows them to pass from a position in which they are spread open to a position in which they are close to each other respectively for opening and closing the frame 10 in the longitudinal direction.

The handle rod 15 is associated with the respective articulation group 17 in a movable manner with a movement having both a rotation component on the vertical plane that is parallel to the respective right and left side or semi-portion, and a translation component along the respective front leg 13.

At the upper end of the handle rod 15 there is a hand grip 18, which is advantageously at an adjustable height, at which there is a lever 19 for controlling the lock/release means 20 of the movement of the handle rod 15 with respect to the front leg 13.

The articulated structure 16 that connects the right and left rear legs 11 to each other is, for example, of the type with a double articulated quadrilateral or cross and is mobile between an extended position and a collapsed position respectively for opening and closing the frame 10 in the transversal direction .

A handle 21 is associated with the articulated structure 16, wherein said handle when pulled, after releasing the locking/release means 20, closes the frame 10 also in the transversal direction.

According to the present invention, the frame 10 further comprises an attaching base of a seat unit, of the seat type 100, also of the type which can be folded up like an umbrella and represented without padding and accessories .

The attaching base comprises a front semi-base 22 which is associated with the pair of handle rods 15 or with the pair of front legs 13 and a rear semi-base 23 which is associated with the pair of rear legs 11, in which the front semi-base 22 and the rear semi-base 23 are associated in a movable manner with respect to each other between a position in which they get close to each other, when the frame 10 is in the open position, and a position in which they get away from each other, when the frame 10 is in the closed position, and in which each of the front semi-base 22 and the rear semi- base 23 comprises respective means for the removable attachment 24, 25 of the seat 100.

With reference to the embodiment represented in the attached figures, the frame 10 comprises a pair of front semi-bases 22, respectively a right front semi- base 22 and a left front semi-base 22 that are associated with the right handle rod 15 and with the left handle rod 15, respectively, and a pair of rear semi-bases 23, a right rear semi-base 23 and a left rear semi-base 23, respectively, which are associated with the right rear leg 11 and to the left rear leg 11, respectively .

Again, in the rest of the description, for the sake of simplicity, reference will be made to one of the two sides or semi-portions of the frame 10, specifically the left side or semi-portion, since the right side or semi-portion is symmetrical.

The front semi-base 22 is associated in a movable manner with the respective handle rod 15 by means of a respective cylindrical articulation, specifically a first cylindrical articulation 26 that defines a rotation axis C that is parallel to the resting ground of the frame 10 and is orthogonal to the advancing direction Z .

The first cylindrical articulation 26 is made of a first hole 27 that is obtained at the front end of the front semi-base 22 and in which a pin for articulating with the respective handle rod 15, which is not represented in the attached figures, is inserted.

The rear semi-base 23 is articulated with the respective rear leg 11 by means of a respective first transmission connecting rod 28.

The first transmission connecting rod 28 has one end that is articulated with the rear semi-base 23 at a respective hole 29 which, in cooperation with an articulation pin that is not represented in the attached figures, defines a cylindrical articulation, specifically a second cylindrical articulation 30 defining a second rotation axis D that is parallel to the first rotation axis C.

The end of the first transmission connecting rod 28 opposite to the one articulated with the rear semi-base 23 is articulated with the respective rear leg 11 by means of a cylindrical articulation, specifically a third cylindrical articulation 31 defining a third rotation axis E that is parallel to the first rotation axis C.

The front semi-base 22 and the rear semi-base 23 are associated in a movable manner with respect to each other with a rectilinear translation movement between a position in which they get close to each other and the position in which they get away from each other; for such a purpose, the frame 10 comprises means for guiding such a relative rectilinear translation movement between the front semi-bases 22 and the rear semi-bases 23.

In the embodiment represented in the attached figures, the guiding means comprise a pair of connecting rods 32, respectively a right connecting rod 32 which articulates the right rear leg 11 and the right handle rod 15 to each other and a left connecting rod 32 which articulates the left rear leg 11 and the left handle rod 15 to each other, in which at least one of the front semi-base 22, respectively right and left, and the rear semi-base 23, respectively right and left, is mounted in a sliding manner along the respective right and left connecting rod 32.

In the embodiment represented in the attached figures, each of the two right and left rear semi-bases 23 is mounted in a sliding manner on the respective right and left connecting rod 32, whereas each of the two right and left front semi-bases 22 is fixed to the respective right and left connecting rod 32.

Each of the two right and left connecting rods 32 has the front end that is articulated with the respective right and left handle rod 15 advantageously at the first cylindrical articulation 26 and the rear end that is articulated with the respective right and left rear leg 11 by means of a respective cylindrical articulation, specifically a fourth cylindrical articulation 33 that defines a fourth articulation axis F that is parallel to the first articulation axis C and that is made of a fourth hole 34 that is obtained at the rear end of the respective connecting rod 32 and with which an articulation pin, not represented in the attached figures, is coupled.

The pair of front legs 13 and the pair of handle rods 15 are articulated with one another by at least one second transmission connecting rod 35. In greater detail, the frame 10 comprises a pair of second transmission connecting rods 35, respectively a second right transmission connecting rod 35, which articulates the right front leg 13 and the right handle rod 15 with each other by means of the respective right front semi- base 22, and a second left transmission connecting rod 35, which articulates the left front leg 13 and the left handle rod 15 with each other by means of the respective left front semi-base 22.

Each second right and left transmission connecting rod 35 has one end that is articulated by means of a cylindrical articulation, specifically a fifth cylindrical articulation 36, with the respective right and left front leg 13 and the opposite end that is articulated, by means of a sixth cylindrical articulation 37, with the respective right and left front semi-base 22 at the right and left connecting rod 32 to which the latter is fixed.

The attachment means 24, 25 can be of various types, for example, they can be made of seats in which pins that are fixed to the seat 100 are inserted or can be of the fit-coupling type, snap-coupling type, or other types.

With reference to the attached figures, the operation of the frame 10 or of a stroller that incorporates it will be described with particular reference to the subject matter of the present invention .

The "umbrella-like" opening and closing of the frame 10 occur with methods that are known for example as described in patents n. IT1391594 or n. IT268768 according to the location of driving levers 19.

From the open position of the frame 10, in order to close it, it is necessary to act upon driving levers 19 for releasing the lock/release means 20 so as to free the movement of the right and left handle rods 15.

By making the lower end of the handle rods 15 rotate upwards and by pulling upwards the handle 21 the handle rods 15 slide along the front legs 13 downwards, whereas the front legs 13 and the rear legs 11 come closer to one another with a simultaneous collapsing of the articulated structure 16 in the transversal direction .

During the closing step the right and left rear semi-bases 23 slide along the respective right and left connecting rod 32, or better the connecting rods 32 slide with respect to them, moving away from the right and left front semi-bases 22 respectively.

In both the cases in which either the seat 100 is attached to the rear semi-bases 23 (corresponding to the so called "parent facing" position) , or the seat 100 is attached to the front semi-bases 22 (corresponding to the so called "road facing" position) , thanks to the separation and to the moving away of the two front semi-bases 22 from the two rear semi-bases 23, the bulk in height of the seat 100 in the collapsed position remains contained within the limits of the bulk in height of the frame 10 in the closed position.

The umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and the baby stroller comprising such a frame subject matter of the present invention have the advantage of being able to close easily with the seat unit (seat) mounted both in the "parent facing" position and in the "road facing" position keeping the bulk in height of the latter within the bulk in height limits of the entire frame or stroller.

The umbrella-like foldable frame for baby strollers or the like and the baby stroller comprising such a frame thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the invention; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to the technical requirements.