Collapsible stroller

• US 8,500,152 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Thorley Industries LLC
• Inventors: Thorne, Henry F., Koes, Mary J., Daley, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/554,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 280/642, 280/643, 280/647, 280/648, 280/650, 280/658, 280/657
• US Class Current: 280/642
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/003 with actuation mechanisms which drive the folding or unfolding operation
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/12 Collapsible wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0033 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0433 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0461 with positive engagement
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/002 having a single central pillar
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/06 collapsible or foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/062 Coupling unit between front wheels, rear wheels and handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/068 by sliding a bushing along a rod, e.g. like folding means of an umbrella
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/08 in the direction of, or at right angles to, the wheel axis
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 7/083 the wheel axes being moved from each other during folding
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/005 Safety means for traffic, e.g. lights, reflectors, mirrors etc. signaling means for cycles B62J

Abstract

A stroller includes at least one front leg rotationally coupled to a hub; at least one front wheel rotationally coupled to the at least one front leg; at least one rear leg rotationally coupled to the hub; and at least one rear wheel rotationally coupled to the at least one rear leg. The at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg are mechanically coupled such that the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg rotate synchronously to a first position relative to the hub to configure the stroller in a collapsed position and to a second position relative to the hub to configure the stroller in an open position.

Claims

1. A stroller comprising:

at least one front leg rotationally coupled to a hub;

at least one front wheel rotationally coupled to the at least one front leg;

at least one rear leg rotationally coupled to the hub; and

at least one rear wheel rotationally coupled to the at least one rear leg,

wherein the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg are mechanically coupled such that the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg rotate synchronously to a first position relative to the hub to configure the stroller in a collapsed position and to a second position relative to the hub to configure the stroller in an open position, and

wherein the hub comprises a covering enclosing a housing to which the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg are mechanically coupled and a drive mechanism comprising at least one motor for causing the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg to rotate synchronously is contained within the housing.

2. The stroller of claim 1, wherein the housing is trapezoidally-shaped.

3. The stroller of claim 2, wherein the at least one rear leg is rotationally coupled to a first angled side wall of the housing and the at least one front leg is rotationally coupled to a second angled side wall of the housing.

4. The stroller of claim 1, further comprising:

a support structure having a first end coupled to the hub and a second end; and

a seating portion having a top portion coupled to the second end of the support structure and a bottom portion coupled to the first end of the support structure.

5. The stroller of claim 4, wherein the support structure has a generally arcuate shape.

6. The stroller of claim 4, wherein the support structure is configured as a telescoping tube.

7. The stroller of claim 6, wherein the support structure telescopes between a first configuration when the stroller is in the collapsed position and a second configuration when the stroller is in an open position.

8. The stroller of claim 7, wherein the first configuration of the support structure has a length that is shorter than the second configuration of the support structure.

9. The stroller of claim 4, wherein the seating portion has a generally elliptical shape.

10. The stroller of claim 9, wherein the generally elliptical shape of the seating portion is formed by:

a generally U-shaped lower seat frame assembly having a first end and a second end; and

a generally U-shaped upper seat frame assembly having a first and a second end,

wherein the first end of the upper seat frame assembly is slidingly mated with the first end of the lower seat frame assembly and the second end of the upper seat frame assembly is slidingly mated with the second end of the lower seat frame assembly.

11. The stroller of claim 10, wherein the lower seat frame assembly slides within the upper seat frame assembly when the stroller is in the collapsed position and the lower seat frame assembly extends from the upper seat frame assembly when the stroller is in the open position.

12. The stroller of claim 4, wherein the seating portion is removably coupled to the support structure.

13. The stroller of claim 4, further comprising a handle coupled to the second end of the support structure.

14. The stroller of claim 13, wherein the handle is telescoping such that the height of the handle can be adjusted.

15. The stroller of claim 13, wherein the handle comprises a display for providing feedback to a user.

16. The stroller of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises at least one luggage wheel rotationally coupled to a bottom surface thereof to allow for transportation of the stroller when the stroller is in the collapsed position.

17. The stroller of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises light sources for illuminating an area in front of the stroller.