FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transporters, in particular transporters such as pushchairs for infants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pushchairs for infants are well known, and generally include front and rear wheels connected by a chassis to handles and supporting a seat for an infant. The front and rear wheels define a wheel base for the pushchair, rest on the ground while the pushchair is in use, and are used to move the pushchair. Such pushchairs tend to be of a size to easily accommodate a small child or infant, and are used to transport the infant conveniently from place to place. Such pushchairs have the further advantage that they easily fit into shop doorways, along supermarket aisles, narrow passageways, and streets and can often be folded or collapsed and stored in houses, car boots or like places without taking up too much space.

It is often necessary to transport two or sometimes even three small children, and pushchairs can be adapted to accommodate such numbers, but have the disadvantage that they are then rather large and are no longer as easy to manoeuvre or store. In addition, it is often necessary to transport children of different ages, one of whom will want to walk at least some of the time, so that it becomes necessary to manoeuvre a large pushchair while also supervising a small child. Many arrangements in the prior art, such as US 2010/0282800 and US6086087 provide for pushchairs with two seat, one of which can be folded away to allow easier maneuvering. However, all of these arrangements are tricky to unfold and may prove troiiblesome for a mother trying to open out the second seat whilst supervising a small child.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a pushchair with a second seat which can be folded out with a simple push mechanism. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present arrangement provides a transporter for infants which can carry one or more infants, which is compact, does not become unbalanced when occupied by more than one child, and which is easy to move between an arrangement for supporting or carrying one child and an arrangement for supporting or carrying more than one child.

The transporter, comprises a chassis, a first receiving means for receiving an infant, a separate second receiving means for receiving an infant, the second receiving means moveable between a first orientation unsuitable for receiving an infant to a second orientation suitable for receiving an infant, the first receiving means being capable of receiving an infant whilst the second receiving means is in either its first orientation or its second orientation or in an intermediate position,

a first set of wheels on a first axle, a second set of wheels on a second axle, each axle connected to the chassis,

wherein the second axle is connected to a proximal end of a radial arm, the radial arm being connected at a distal end to the chassis by a pivotal means, wherein the radial arm is operative to move the second receiving means between the first and second orientations;

wherein in operation each wheel has a lowest point and the lowest points of the first and second sets of wheels define a base plane;

wherein in any plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second axle, an angle of movement is defined as an angle subtended by an arc of movement of the second axle between the first orientation and the second orientation, wherein a bisector of the angle of movement is substantially perpendicular to the base plane.

Preferably the chassis further comprises a spine member and a bracket connecting the spine to the pivotal means, offsetting the pivotal means from the spine.

Preferably the radial arm comprises a main member with two ends, and further comprises first and second members at respective ends of the main member, wherein the main member is the main body and the first and second members respectively include the first and second pivotal means. Preferably radial arm is connected to the chassis by a bracket attachable to the second pivotal means. Preferably the second receiving means may be moved between the first orientation and the second orientation whilst the first receiving means remains capable of receiving an infant.

Preferably the transporter further comprises a connection bar comprising a first mem er and a second member, the first member being pivotally connected, at a first end, to the second axle and, at a second end, to a first end of the second member, and the second member being pivotally connected at a second end to the chassis.

Preferably the chassis further comprises a spine section, to which the radial bar is pivotally connected.

Preferably the chassis further comprises a spine section, to which the bracket is attached. Preferably when the second receiving means is in the first orientation, the radial bar is substantially parallel to the spine member.

Preferably the transporter further comprises a locking mechanism for securing the second receiving means in a chosen orientation.

Preferably the first receiving means is a seat. Preferably the second receiving means is a seat, Preferably the second receiving means is a board suitable for a child to stand upon. Preferably the transporter further comprises a rider board, pivotally connected to the second axle, and foldable between a first horizontal orientation and a second vertical orientation, such that a child may stand upon it in the first orientation,

Preferably the guard sections are provided to cover the wheels. Preferably the guards are in the form of conventional mudguards. Preferably the guards are pivotally attached to the second axle.

Preferably the transporter comprises a rider board as in claim 14, wherein the rider board is connected to the guards such that the guards and rider board move in unison between a folded out orientation and a folded away orientation. Preferably rider board is connected to the guai'ds by means of an axial member fixedly attached to the rider board and inserted into a radial aperture provided in the guards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred arrangement of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of rear section of the transporter in the first operative position.

Figure 2 is a view of the rear section of the transporter in the second operative position.

Figure 3 shows the addition of a frame for a second child seat and safety cover for the connection mechanism. Figure 4 is a side view of the connection mechanism in the second operative position. Figure 5 is a side view of the connection mechanism in the first operative position.

Figure 6(a) shows a superposition of the first and second operative positions Figure 6(b) shows a simplified version of the superposition of Figure 6(a) to illustrate the geometiy of the operative positions.

Figure 7 is a side view of the rear of the transporter in a partially folded, intermediate position.

Figure 8 is a view of the rear of the transporter in the second operative position, with the frame for the child seat and the child seat shown.

Figure 9 is a view of the rear of the transporter in the second operative position with the safety cover for the connection mechanism shown.

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 - 8. There is disclosed a transporter, such as a pushchair, with two sets of wheels, front and rear. The front part of the transporter (not shown) is a conventional pushchair arrangement, with a first receiving means for an infant typically comprising a forward facing seat. The rear wheels are movable between two operative positions, the first position, wherein the rear wheels are folded in towards the spine of the transporter and provide for convenient transport of a single infant, and a second, extended operative position, providing a second receiving means for a second infant, typically either a second seat or a rider board for standing, or both. A coupling mechanism is provided between the spine of the transporter and the rear wheels.

Figure 1 is a view of the rear wheels in the first operative position. There is disclosed the substantially upstanding spine of the transporter, comprising two spine members (101, 102), the connection mechanism (103), rider board (104), shown folded up, rear wheels (105, 106) and wheel axel (107). Wheel guards (108, 09) are provided. Figure 2 shows the rear wheels in the second operative position, in which the connection mechanism is unfolded to a position to allow the transport of a second infant, Figure 3 shows the addition of a frame for a second child seat (301) and safety cover (302) for the locking mechanism (not shown) holding the transporter in the second operative position.

The details of the connection mechanism and its operation are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a side view of the rear section of the transporter, extended out into the second operative position, showing the connection mechanism in more detail, A spine member is shown (101), with a spine bracket (401). A radial arm (402), comprising three sections, a main member (403), a first shorter member (404) and a second shorter member (405), connects the spine bracket to the wheel axel (107), The two shorter members are at opposite ends of the main member and are at opposite sides of the main member. The first shorter member (404) is pivotally attached to the wheel axel (107) and the second shorter member is pivotally attached to the spine bracket (401), A second part of the connection mechanism comprises a connection bar with two members, a first member (406) which is pivotally connected at a first end to the wheel axel and at a second end (407) is pivotally connected to the second member (408). The second member is pivotally connected at its other end (409) to a spine member of the transporter (101). The rider board (104) is shown in a folded down position, whereby it can be used to transport a standing child.

Figure 5 is a view of the rear of the transporter in its first operative position, folded for the convenient transportation of a single infant in the front portion (not shown). The radial arm (402) has been swung on its first pivot (501) to a position substantially adjacent to spine member 101). The connection bar is folded about its central pivot (502), so that the two members (406, 408) are next to each other and substantially adjacent to the radial arm (402). The rider board (104) is shown in its folded up position,

Figure 6(a) shows a superposition of the first operative position as illustrated in Figure 5 upon the second operative position of Figure 4. The first orientation is shown as a dashed line, showing the position in the first operative position 601 of radial arm 401, first operative position 602 of axle 107 and first operative position 603 of wheel 106. Figure 6(b) shows a simplified version of this superposition, showing only the spine 101, bracket 401, pivotal connection 501, the radial arm 402 in its first 601 and second 604 operative positions, the axle 107 in its first 602 and second 605 operative positions and the wheel 106 in its first 602 and second 607 operative positions. In addition to these features there is shown base plane 608, axle plane 609, first radial line 610, second radial line 611, arc of movement 612, angle of movement 613 and bisector 614. Base plane 608 contains the lowest points of the wheels on the first axis and the lowest points of the wheels on the second axle, in both operative positions of the second axle. Axle plane 609 contains the axes of rotation of the second axle in each of the first and second orientations and is substantially parallel to base plane 608. First radial line 610 lies between the pivot connection 501 and the location of the second axle when the second receiving means in its first orientation and second radial fine 61 1 lies between pivot connection 501 and the location of the second axle when the second receiving means in its second orientation. Arc of movement 612 is the arc traced out by a point on the radial arm and angle of movement 613 is the angle subtended by the arc of movement at pivot connection 501. The bisector 614 bisects the angle of movement 613. The arrangement is such that the bisector 614 is substantially perpendicular to base plane 608. Thus an isosceles triangle is defined by first axial line 610, second axial line 611 and axle plane 609. Bracket 401 provides an offset between spine 101 and pivotal means 501. This allows the geometric arrangement described to be combined with a spine 101 at an angle other than zero with the axial line 610.

This base plane is coincident with the ground if the latter is smooth and flat. An important feature of the invention is that it provides a mechanism which allows an infant to be remain in the first receiving means whilst the second axle is being moved from its first to its second operative position or vice versa. To provide this feature and to provide stability, the second axle is maintained at substantially the same height from the ground in its first and second operative positions. This is achieved whilst providing a simple mechanism which can, once a locking mechanism on connection bar 406 is released, by simple foot pressure against the second axle or rider board 104, when the latter is present.

Figure 7 is a side view of the rear of the transporter in a partially folded, intermediate position.

Figure 8 is a view of the rear of the transporter in the second operative position, with the frame (301) for the child seat and the child seat (801) shown.

Figure 9 is a view of the rear of the transporter in the second operative position with the safety cover (302) for a locking mechanism provided to hold the transporter in either the first or second operative positions. Guards are provided to cover the wheels such that a child positioned on the rider board or on the rear seat may not have access to the wheels, such access being prevented by the guard.

The fi-ont wheels of the transporter (not shown) are of a conventional design, with each front wheel coupled via a swivellable wheel assembly and an inclined support leg to the spine. The swivellable wheel assemblies permit the wheels to be steered. Each support leg is slidably and pivotally coupled to the spine via a slider assembly being fixed in position on the spine when the pushchair is in use, and sliding up and down the spine, when the pushchair is being moved between an unfolded, usable position and a folded, storage position.

The arrangement of the coupling mechanism in any embodiment is such that the wheelbase of the pushchair with the second wheel in the first operative position is different from the wheelbase of the pushchair with the second wheel in the second operative position. Preferably the wheelbase of the pushchair with the second wheel in the first operative position is in the same plane as the wheelbase of the pushchair with the second wheel in the second operative position. In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement of the coupling mechanism is such that with the second means to receive an infant in a closed orientation, and the coupling mechanism closed, the wheelbase is smaller than the wheelbase when the second means to receive an infant is in an open configuration and the coupling mechanism open. Therefore the transporter is more compact with only one infant or small child in the pushchair and has a smaller wheel base than when more than one infant is accommodated. The pushchair is less compact with two infants or small children in the pushchair, and the lai'ger wheelbase provided for carrying two infants renders the pushchair stable.

In particular, in use, with the rear wheels in a first operative position and the coupling mechanism closed, the pushchair is adapted to support or cany a child or infant in a seat. The handles of the pushchair are positioned at a suitable height for a carer to push the pushchair and the weight of the pushchair plus any occupant is distributed in a balanced and stable manner over the wheelbase.

Conventional means are provided to unlock the pushchair from the closed position so that it may be unfolded to an open position to provide transportation for two or more infants. A locking mechanism may also be provided to hold the transporter in either the first or the second operative position.

Advantageously, the wheelbase in the second operative position is larger, such that when the transporter has two seats available for occupation the transporter with a larger wheelbase is more stable. With the wheel base in the first operative position the transporter has only one seat available for occupation, and the wheelbase is smaller, making the transporter easier to manoeuvre.

This lai'ger wheel base in the second operative position may also be advantageously used for the transport of luggage or bags etc., draped over the handles of the transporter or provided to the transporter in another suitable manner, whilst the second child seat and the rider board are not in use. The lai'ger wheel base of the second operative position prevents the transporter being unbalanced by the presence of such bags.

Guards, in the shape of a conventional mudguard, are provided for each of the rear wheels. These are to protect a second infant standing on or otherwise supported by the rider board from injury from contact with either wheel. Each guard is pivotally attached to the wheel axel. There is provided a radial slot in the guard and an axial member which passes through the radial slot. The axial member is fixedly attached to the rider board in a position offset from the front of the rider board. The rider board is, at its forward end, pivotally attached to the radial arm. When the rider board is folded out for use by a child, the axial member is slid to the position in the slot closest to the pivotal attachment with the wheel axis. When the rider board is lifted, the axial member slides along the radial slot, pushing the guard forwards, thus allowing the folding away of the rider board and guards in the same action. The folding away of the guards allows easier manoeuvring of the transporter, by allowing it, whilst in its first operative position, to be tilted backwards and moved on its rear wheels. This allows the transporter to be more easily taken up and down a step such as a kerb or stairs. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. In particular, the coupling mechanism is suitable for use with any type of pushchair or transporter, and is not limited to the folding or collapsible pushchair.

Means may be provided on the coupling mechanism for a user to move the coupling mechanism between positions, such as a footplate or handle on the coupling mechanism.

In all cases, the two members of the connection bar and the radial leg of the coupling mechanism may be stored, when the coupling mechanism is in the closed configuration, in a position that is substantially parallel with spine, or may be stored in a position that is not parallel with, or even adjacent, spine. In addition, the spine may comprise a single spine as shown in figures 4 - 8 or two spine members as shown in Figures 1 - 3.

While the transporter has been discussed in relation to the first receiving means towards a front end of the transporter and the second receiving means, behind the first receiving means, are nearer the transporter handles, it is contemplated that the second receiving means may be in front of the first receiving means and further from the handles, or otherwise disposed. The wheels of the pushchair according to the present invention may comprise a single front wheel, or multiple front wheels, and/or a single rear wheel or multiple rear wheels, and the configuration of the front and rear wheels may be conventional and vary from the arrangement shown. In addition, the pushchair is disclosed in relation to infants or small children, but it is contemplated that the pushchair may accommodate an older, disabled child.