Collapsible stroller with trigger handle
View Patent ↗A collapsible stroller is disclosed, including a front axle frame member, a rear axle frame member, a handlebar frame member, a handlebar, and a hub. The hub includes a rotating attachment point for the front axle frame member, a rotating attachment point for the handlebar frame member, a fixed attachment point for the rear axle frame member. A cable connects the hub, and a rotatable handle on the handlebar frame member. When the rotatable handle is rotated, the cable causes the hub to collapse in two stages.
1. A stroller comprising:
a frame including a forward frame member, a rearward frame member, and a handle frame member; and
a hub connected to the frame, the frame being transitional relative to the hub between an extended configuration and a collapsed configuration, the handle frame member moving towards the rearward frame member as the frame transitions from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration, the hub including:
a first plate at least partially located within the housing and coupled to the rearward frame member, the first plate having a first slot formed therein and a camming edge; and
a pin assembly coupled to the handle frame member and moveable relative to the first plate, at least a portion of the pin assembly being received within the first slot when the frame is in the extended configuration, the pin assembly being removed from the first slot when the frame is in the collapsed configuration, the pin assembly interfacing with the camming edge to generate friction therebetween as the frame transitions from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration.
2. The stroller recited in claim 1 , wherein the frame is transitionable to an intermediate configuration between the extended configuration and the collapsed configuration, the friction between the pin assembly and the camming edge maintaining the frame in the intermediate configuration.
3. The stroller recited in claim 1 , wherein the pin assembly includes a pin camming body and a lock pin coupled to the pin camming body, the pin camming body interfacing with the camming edge when the frame transitions from the extended configuration toward the collapsed configuration and the lock pin being received within the first slot when the frame is in the extended configuration, and removed from the first lot when the frame is in the collapsed configuration.
4. The stroller recited in claim 1 , further comprising a handle operatively coupled to the pin assembly and rotatably coupled to the handle frame member, the handle being rotatable between a first position and a second position, rotation of the handle from the first position to the second position causing the pin assembly to be removed from the first slot.
5. The stroller recited in claim 4 , further comprising a cable extending between the handle and the pin assembly to operatively couple the handle with the pin assembly.
6. The stroller recited in claim 5 , wherein the handle includes:
a pin connected to the cable;
a first handle body having a linear groove; and
a second handle body having helical groove and rotatable relative to the first handle body;
the pin residing in the linear groove and having an end portion in communication with the helical groove, the interaction of the pin with the helical groove and linear groove causing translation of the pin within the linear groove in response to rotation of the second handle body relative to the first handle body.
7. The stroller recited in claim 6 , wherein the second handle body is rotatable relative to the first handle body between a first position and a second position, the stroller further comprising a handle lock member engageable with the second handle body when the second handle body is in the first position to restrict rotation of the second handle body, the handle lock member being selectively disengageable from the second handle body to allow for rotation of the second handle body from the first position toward the second position.
8. The stroller recited in claim 1 , wherein the handle frame member and the forward frame member pivot relative to the hub about different pivot axes spaced apart from each other.
9. The stroller recited in claim 1 , wherein the handle frame member is pivotable toward the rearward frame member in a first rotational direction, and the forward frame member is pivotably toward the rearward frame member in a second rotational direction.
10. A stroller comprising:
a frame including a forward frame member, a rearward frame member, and a handle frame member; and
a hub connected to the frame, the frame being transitional relative to the hub between a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the handle frame member moving towards the rearward frame member as the frame transitions from the first configuration toward the third configuration, the second configuration being an intermediate configuration between the first configuration and the third configuration, the hub being configured to selectively maintain the frame in the second configuration, the hub including:
a housing;
a first plate at least partially located within the housing and coupled to the rearward frame member, the first plate having a first slot formed therein; and
a pin assembly coupled to the handle frame member and moveable relative to the first plate, at least a portion of the pin assembly being received within the first slot when the frame is in the first configuration, the pin assembly being removed from the first slot when the frame is in the second configuration and the third configuration.
11. The stroller recited in claim 10 , wherein the first plate includes a camming edge and the pin assembly interfaces with the camming edge when the frame is in the second configuration, friction between the pin assembly and the camming edge maintaining the frame in the second configuration.
12. The stroller recited in claim 11 , wherein the pin assembly includes a pin camming body and a lock pin coupled to the pin camming body, the pin camming body interfacing with the camming edge when the frame is in the second configuration and the lock pin being received within the first slot when the frame is in the first configuration, and removed from the first lot when the frame is in the second configuration and the third configuration.
13. The stroller recited in claim 12 , further comprising a second plate coupled to the rearward frame member and having a second slot formed therein, the lock pin being retained within the second slot.
14. The stroller recited in claim 10 , further comprising a handle operatively coupled to the pin assembly and rotatably coupled to the handle frame member, the handle being rotatable between a first position and a second position, rotation of the handle from the first position to the second position causing the pin assembly to be removed from the first slot.
15. The stroller recited in claim 14 , further comprising a cable extending between the handle and the pin assembly to operatively couple the handle with the pin assembly.
16. The stroller recited in claim 15 , wherein the handle includes:
a pin connected to the cable;
a first handle body having a linear groove; and
a second handle body having helical groove and rotatable relative to the first handle body;
the pin residing in the linear groove and having an end portion in communication with the helical groove, the interaction of the pin with the helical groove and linear groove causing translation of the pin within the linear groove in response to rotation of the second handle body relative to the first handle body.
17. The stroller recited in claim 16 , wherein the second handle body is rotatable relative to the first handle body between a first position and a second position, the stroller further comprising a handle lock member engageable with the second handle body when the second handle body is in the first position to restrict rotation of the second handle body, the handle lock member being selectively disengageable from the second handle body to allow for rotation of the second handle body from the first position toward the second position.
18. The stroller recited in claim 10 , wherein the handle frame member and the forward frame member pivot relative to the hub about different pivot axes spaced apart from each other.
19. The stroller recited in claim 10 , wherein the handle frame member is pivotable toward the rearward frame member in a first rotational direction, and the forward frame member is pivotably toward the rearward frame member in a second rotational direction.