Stroller with tray fold and fold latch mechanisms
View Patent ↗An infant stroller having a fold latch mechanism to lock the stroller in the unfolded or deployed configuration. The side of the stroller contains a latchkey piece having a pocket-like recess that engages a latchpin on the stroller's front leg. When the latchkey is in the locked position, the front legs are held in place, locking the stroller in the unfolded or deployed configuration. When the latchkey is disengaged from the latchpin on the front leg, the front leg can be rotated to allow the stroller to be folded for storage or transport. The stroller also has a latching mechanism for locking the tray unit in place during normal use. The tray unit becomes unlocked and can be tucked away during the folding process.
1. An infant stroller comprising:
at least one side member;
at least one front leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member, the front leg having a nub capable of engaging a latchkey for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member;
at least one rear leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
at least one handle bar joined to the side member;
a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member, the locking mechanism comprising a latchkey pivotally attached to the side member, the latchkey having a recess capable of engaging the nub on the front leg, and the latchkey capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
a biasing element for biasing the latchkey to a locked position; and
at least one frame member pivotally joining the front leg to the rear leg and capable of preventing the rear leg from pivoting away from the front leg when the front leg is locked by the locking mechanism; wherein
the front leg is locked in a fixed position with respect to the side member when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is engaged with the nub on the front leg;
the biasing element is positioned on the end of the latchkey;
the biasing element is a spring, and the spring is received on one end by a nub on the end of the latchkey and is received on the opposite end by a nub on the side member; and wherein
the front leg is unlocked, thereby capable of rotating with respect to the side member, when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg.
2. An infant stroller comprising:
at least one side member;
at least one front leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member, the front leg having a nub capable of engaging a latchkey for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member;
at least one rear leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
at least one handle bar joined to the side member;
a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member, the locking mechanism comprising a latchkey pivotally attached to the side member, the latchkey having a recess capable of engaging the nub on the front leg, and the latchkey capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
at least one cable joined to the latchkey and capable of manipulating the latchkey between engaged and disengaged positions; and
at least one frame member pivotally joining the front leg to the rear leg and capable of preventing the rear leg from pivoting away from the front leg when the front leg is locked by the locking mechanism; wherein
the front leg is locked in a fixed position with respect to the side member when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is engaged with the nub on the front leg; and wherein
the front leg is unlocked, thereby capable of rotating with respect to the side member, when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg.
3. The infant stroller of claim 2 , wherein
upon application of a force to the cable, the latchkey is rotated with respect to the side member such that the recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg.
4. The infant stroller of claim 2 , further comprising:
a latch release control joined to the cable and capable of being depressed by a user.
5. The infant stroller of claim 4 , further comprising:
a handle assembly joined to the top of the handle bar; wherein the latch release control is joined to the handle assembly; and wherein the cable is located in the interior of the handle bar.
6. An infant stroller comprising:
at least one side member;
at least one front leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
a tray unit including a tray and at least one tray arm, the tray arm joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member, the tray arm having a graduated recess on its side face having a deep end and a shallow end, the shallow end being flush with the side face of the tray arm; and
a tray locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the tray arm with respect to the side member, the tray locking mechanism comprising: a frame; a latchpin capable of engaging the recess in the tray arm; a carrier for holding the latchpin in place and capable of sliding within the frame; a first spring to provide restoring force to the latchpin when depressed; and a second spring to provide restoring force to the carrier; wherein
the latchpin is engaged with the deep end of the recess on the tray arm when the front leg is in an unfolded position with respect to the side member, thereby locking the tray arm and the tray in a fixed position with respect to the side member; and wherein
the latchpin is engaged with the shallow end of the recess on the tray arm when the front leg is in a folded position with respect to the side member, thereby allowing the tray arm and the tray to rotate with respect to the side member.
7. The infant stroller of claim 6 , wherein
the carrier of the tray locking mechanism unit is positioned such that the latchpin is engaged with the deep end of the recess on the tray arm when the front leg is in an unfolded position with respect to the side member, thereby locking the tray arm and the tray in a fixed position with respect to the side member; and wherein
upon rotation of the front leg to a folded position, the carrier of the tray locking mechanism unit is positioned such that the latchpin is engaged with the shallow end of the recess on the tray arm, thereby allowing the tray arm and the tray to rotate with respect to the side member.
8. The infant stroller of claim 7 , wherein:
the front leg has a nub capable of engaging a latchkey for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member; and further comprising:
at least one rear leg joined to the side member and capable of rotating with respect to the side member;
at least one handle bar joined to the side member;
a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the front leg with respect to the side member, the locking mechanism comprising a latchkey pivotally attached to the side member, the latchkey having a recess capable of engaging the nub on the front leg, and the latchkey capable of rotating with respect to the side member; and
at least one frame member pivotally joining the front leg to the rear leg and capable of preventing the rear leg from pivoting away from the front leg when the front leg is locked by the locking mechanism; wherein
the front leg is locked in a fixed position with respect to the side member when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is engaged with the nub on the front leg; and wherein
the front leg is unlocked, thereby capable of rotating with respect to the side member, when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg.
9. The infant stroller of claim 8 , further comprising:
a biasing element for biasing the latchkey to a locked position.
10. The infant stroller of claim 9 , wherein the biasing element is positioned on the end of the latchkey.
11. The infant stroller of claim 10 , wherein
the biasing element is a spring, and the spring is received on one end by a nub on the end of the latchkey and is received on the opposite end by a nub on the side member.
12. The infant stroller of claim 8 , wherein
the stroller can be folded, when the latchkey is positioned such that its recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg, by rotating the front leg and rear leg such that the side member becomes approximately parallel to the front leg and rear leg.
13. The infant stroller of claim 8 , wherein
the latchkey includes a wheel portion and an arm portion; and wherein the recess is located on the arm portion.
14. The infant stroller of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one cable joined to the latchkey and capable of manipulating the latchkey between engaged and disengaged positions.
15. The infant stroller of claim 14 , wherein
upon application of a force to the cable, the latchkey is rotated with respect to the side member such that the recess is disengaged from the nub on the front leg.
16. The infant stroller of claim 14 , further comprising:
a latch release control joined to the cable and capable of being depressed by a user.
17. The infant stroller of claim 16 , further comprising:
a handle assembly joined to the top of the handle bar; wherein the latch release control is joined to the handle assembly; and wherein the cable is located in the interior of the handle bar.