(19) Federal Republic of Germany (51) Int. Cl.6:

August 10, 1996

Specification

Foldable, three wheeled multi-purpose stroller.

The three wheeled strollers were "invented" as "jogging strollers" in the 1980's in California.

The problems arising with this kind of stroller that has come onto the market to date include foldability, seat design, wheel mounting, canopy and conversion into a baby carriage.

Either the strollers can be collapsed only after a tedious unscrewing of the wheels; or the folding mechanism is so complicated that no hand is free for the child.

The seat design of the commercially available strollers of this type is "similar to a hammock", cannot be adjusted for a lying position and ignores ergonomic considerations.

The canopy of some models is attached permanently to the frame. Then when jogging the canopy bellows like a sail and acts as a brake. In other models the canopy can be removed, but there is no way to store the canopy in the stroller.

None of the already existing models allows a three wheeled stroller to be used additionally as a baby carriage. Rather they can be used no earlier than for children older than 8 months.

Solution:

The object of the present novel design of a three wheeled stroller is to achieve a stroller that can be easily collapsed.

August 10, 1996

The seat design takes into consideration ergonomic criteria and guarantees a healthy seat comfort for the child.

The canopy can be removed, as desired, and stored in the backpack of the seat.

The edge of the canopy exhibits the one half of a zipper, to which can be attached a rain and wind guard or a mosquito net, both of which exhibit the other half of the zipper.

Description of one Embodiment

The folding mechanism of the invention is explained in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The following is shown:

The three functional groups of the stroller frame are connected together to form a central pivot joint (Figure 1, 1).

The three functional groups terminate in disks at the pivot joint.

A central rotational axis runs through these disks.

After unfolding or collapsing the stroller, the disks are locked into position by shape and/or force locking elements, so that the stroller can be locked in both the folded up state and in the unfolded state (see, for example, Figure 5).

Figure 2: The sliding bow (5) is folded forwards in the direction of the front wheel.

Figure 3: The rear wheels swing in the direction of the front wheel and remain in a position on the right and the left next to the front wheel.

Figure 4: The folded up position of the stroller is locked into position by locking the central pivot joint (Figure 1, 1).

List of Reference Numerals

Figure 1

1 central pivot joint (star knob screw)

2 canopy

3 backpack of the seat

Figure 2

4 rotary knobs for locking the canopy

5 slider

6 seat

7 front wheel

Figure 3

8 rear wheels

Figure 4

Figure 5 (movements and stops in the central joint)

9 slider folded

10 centrally welded

11 slider

12 rear section

13 rear section folded

Figure 6 (central locking device)

14 tube for locking the second joint

also bearing of the swing arm rear wheel suspension

15 internal thread

16 recesses in disk as guide link for the pivot limits of the slider and the swing arm rear wheel suspension

17 tube to the front wheel

18 3 disks 100 x 4 mm

19 star knob 62 mm M 10

20 tube to the rear wheel

21 stop rear wheel

22 stop slider

23 tube to the slider

Figure 7

24 rubber spring element (one on each side)

Figure 8

25 stop for swing arm suspension made of elastomer

Figure 9

26 triangular torque rod as in a passenger car rear axle

27 guide tube

28 locking device

Figure 10

29 view from below

30 welded-in reinforcing tubes

Figure 11

31 commercially available coupling

32 Following removal of the front wheel, the drawbar takes its place.

Additional securing by means of a bridge (Figure 12, 33), which is connected with a star knob to the drawbar tube.

Figure 12

33 bridge

Figure 13

34 metal bow

Figure 14 (seat in sectional view)

35 Velcro strips

36 transverse tubes for central locking device and canopy

Figure 15

37 rotating ring quick lock mechanism

38 locking points

January 8, 1997

Ulrike Gessler

St. Georgstr. 5, House 9

20099 Hamburg

Application number: 296 13 874.6

Patent Claims

1. Three wheeled foldable stroller

characterized in that

the three parts or the functional groups, of which the frame of the stroller consists, - that is,

- the front section, which has the front wheel (Figure 2, 7)

- the sliding bow (Figure 2, 5)

- the one-part or two-part rear section, to which the rear wheels are attached (Figure 3, 8) -

exhibit a pivot joint (Figure 1, 1 ) with a folding mechanism.

2. Three wheeled foldable stroller, as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that

the rear section has an elastic stop, which generates a spring suspension of the rear wheels (see Figure 7, 24).

In this case the rear section can also be configured as two parts, so that each rear wheel is individually spring-suspended from a triangular torque rod (see Figures 9 and 10).

January 8, 1997

3. Three wheeled foldable stroller, as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that

the seat fabric is fastened with textile guides, which are closed with a Velcro strip, to the frame of the stroller (see Figure 14).

By opening a zipper, extending on both sides of the backrest, a cloth triangle becomes free on both sides, so that the seat can be moved into a sleeping position.

4. Three wheeled foldable stroller, as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that

when the stroller is folded up, the canopy can be swung down on the seat, can be removed and put into a flat bag, which is attached on the rear of the seat (Figure 1).

Affixed to the edge of the canopy is one half of a dividable zipper, to which can be fastened a rain and wind guard or a mosquito net, both of which exhibit the other half of the zipper.

5. Three wheeled foldable stroller, as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that

following removal of the seat, a baby reclining shell or baby carrying bag can be fastened on the frame (Figure 15).