Bi-directional safety lock structure for strollers folding single-handedly

[0001] The invention relates to a bi-directional safety lock structure for strollers folding single-handedly to enable users to selectively release the single-handed folding structure leftwards or rightwards.

[0002] Strollers generally may be extended to a usage state and collapsed to a folding state. When folding the stroller from the usage state to the folding state, the baby sitting in the stroller has to be taken out before the folding structure may be operated. In the event that the baby is still not capable of standing alone or walking, the user often has to hold the baby with one hand and operate the folding structure with the other hand, which is inconvenient. To remedy this problem, strollers that are foldable single-handedly have been developed. References can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,284 and R.O.C. publication No. 262689. In those structures, the frame collapses to the folding state after the operating structure is released. In order to prevent improper operations that result in accidental collapsing of the frame and cause injury to the baby sitting in the stroller, the conventional single-handed operation structures usually have a safety lock. The safety lock has to be released before the single-handed operation structure is actuated to release the frame. However, the commonly used safety locks can be released by operating in only one direction, and they are mostly designed to be operated by the thumb. When users have to hold the baby or goods with one hand and release the safety lock with the other hand, it is awkward and inconvenient. Sometimes users have to switch hands for holding the baby or goods, and use the other hand to release the unidirectional safety lock. This is a cumbersome operation.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a bi-directional safety lock structure to resolve the problems occurring with the conventional safety locks of single-handed folding mechanisms that can be operated only in one direction. The invention mainly has a sliding element that is slidable reciprocally in a transverse flute. The sliding element may be released by moving rightwards or leftwards to release the constraint on a depressing element and thereby actuate a release mechanism. As the sliding element may be moved rightwards or leftwards, it is more convenient for use. Thus accidental collapsing of the stroller may be avoided.

[0004] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description and drawings are only to serve for reference and illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional stroller.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the invention adopted on a stroller.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of the invention showing the joint set in a first embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view of the invention showing the joint set in a second embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a canvas bracket set partly cut away.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the rear support rack in an operating condition.

[0012] Refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 for a first embodiment of the invention. The bi-directional safety lock structure 5 for strollers folding single-handedly is mainly installed on a stroller frame 2, which can be folded single-handedly. The frame 2 includes a handle tube 21, front leg tubes 22, rear leg tubes 23, a seat tube 24, a pair of joint sets 3, a release mechanism 4 for releasing the joint sets 3 and a bi-directional safety lock structure 5 that pivotally engages with one another. The joint sets 3 mainly control folding and latching of various tubes. Through the release mechanism 4 (in this embodiment the release mechanism is a linkage bar driving linkage members located on two sides) the joint sets 3 located on two sides of the frame 2 may be driven and released to collapse the frame in a folding state (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0013] The bi-directional safety lock 5 mainly includes an element anchor dock 51, a depressing element 52 and a sliding element 53. In this embodiment the element anchor dock 51 is a serving tray which has at least a longitudinal flute 511 and a transverse flute 512.

[0014] The depressing element 52 is slidably located in the longitudinal flute 511 of the element anchor dock 51. The depressing element 52 is connected to the release mechanism 4 and has an operating section 54 for an operator to depress and actuate the release mechanism 4 and release the joint sets 3 to achieve the folding function. In addition, the depressing element 52 has an outer protruding section 55 extending upwards. The outer protruding section 55 in this embodiment is a ridge.

[0015] The sliding element 53 is located above the depressing element 52 and is housed in the middle portion of the transverse flute 512 of the element anchor dock 51. The sliding element 53 has a bucking section 56 extending downwards corresponding to the outer protruding section 55 (formed in a strut in this embodiment). In normal conditions, the bucking section 56 of the sliding element 53 is in contact with the outer protruding section 55 of the depressing element 52 through an elastic element (not shown in the drawing) to prevent the depressing element 52 from moving and thereby prevent the frame 2 from accidentally collapsing. When releasing, the sliding element 53 may be moved leftwards or rightwards. The outer protruding section 55 of the depressing element 52 is free from the harness of the bucking section 56 of the sliding element 53, thus the depressing element 52 may be moved in the longitudinal flute 511 of the element anchor dock 51 (as shown in FIG. 4), and the release mechanism 4 may be driven to fold the frame.

[0016] Refer to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 for a second embodiment of the invention. The bi-directional safety lock of the invention mainly includes an element anchor dock 6, a depressing element 7 and a sliding element 8. The element anchor dock 6 is a shell mounted onto the handle tube 21 and has a first sliding flute 61 and a second sliding flute 62.

[0017] The depressing element 7 is slidably housed in the first sliding flute 61 of the element anchor dock 6. The depressing element 7 is connected to a release mechanism 9 (consisting of two L-shaped driving plates pivotally engaging with one another and movable interactively in this embodiment) and has an operating section 71 to enable users to actuate the release mechanism 9 and release the joint sets 3 of the frame to achieve the folding function. In addition, the depressing element 7 has two recesses 72 interposed by an outer protrusive section 73, which extends upwards to form a ridge.

[0018] The sliding element 8 is located above the depressing element 7 and is housed in the middle portion of the second sliding flute 62 of the element anchor dock 6. The sliding element 8 has a bucking section 81 extending downwards corresponding to the outer protruding section 73 of the depressing element 7. In normal conditions, the bucking section 81 of the sliding element 8 is in contact with the outer protruding section 73 of the depressing element 7 through an elastic element to prevent the depressing element 7 from moving and thereby prevent the frame 2 from accidentally collapsing. When releasing, the sliding element 8 may be moved leftwards or rightwards. The outer protruding section 73 of the depressing element 7 is free from the harness of the bucking section 81 of the sliding element, thus the depressing element 7 may be moved in the first sliding flute 61 of the element anchor dock 6 and the release mechanism 9 may be driven to fold the frame 2.

[0019] By means of the construction set forth above, the bi-directional safety lock structure for strollers folding single-handedly according to the invention provides a sliding element movable leftwards or rightwards to enable users to release the safety mechanism and fold the stroller frame conveniently.

[0020] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.