Braking device for a stroller

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a braking device, more particularly to a braking device for use in a baby stroller.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] The braking device of a stroller is well known for the persons in the art, and this device is necessary equipment for a wheeled infant stroller. Generally, a stroller is equipped with more than three wheels including at least a pair of rear wheels. For safer and more reliable braking results, the braking device is needed to restrict the rotating of, the two rear wheels, which are rotating individually. It will be a better design to synchronously brake these two rear wheels simultaneously.

[0006] To meet the demands of the foregoing description, there are some disclosed braking devices for a stroller. Such as patent of Germany, DE29818659U1, which discloses a braking device having the ability to brake and release two rear wheels simultaneously. This braking device introduces a pedal or a protruding member which is capable of reciprocating motion along a straight line to interact with a braking tube that moves along the axis of a wheel axle and is capable of holding the petal-like fins of the wheel axle. The function of the braking of the wheels is performed by stepping on the protruding member while the function of releasing the wheels is performed by raising up the protruding member using the toes.

[0007] Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,399, discloses a different kind of braking device. In this case, it introduces a pedal which can wiggle up and down and connects two braking rods. In the bottom of the pedal, there is a pair of inclined planes keeping a fixed included angle therewith. While operating braking activities, the pedal is stepped on, and the inclined planes are, then, pushed into a spoke. To release the braking status, we still use our toe to raise the pedal.

[0008] The foregoing examples illustrate the general operating principle to brake the stroller with toes by stepping on a pedal and to release it also with toes by lifting the pedal. Although the operating method in either step is simple, the operator needs to use the tip of his or her shoe. This can cause damages to the shoe.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides mainly a braking device for the stroller with an easy operating method to solve the forgoing problems. The present invention discloses a braking device which does a double braking in one step, that is, braking two rear wheels simultaneously.

[0010] In order to meet the object, the present invention includes the following equipment:

[0011] a pair of braking wheels, which have a plurality of radially extending support ribs and forms a plurality of openings between the ribs, fixed on both left and right wheels of the stroller and rotating synchronously with them;

[0012] a pedal, which wiggles left and right to operate the braking and releasing motion of the stroller;

[0013] a rotary cam member, which includes a rolling dish pivotally connected to the stroller and provided for being mounted by the pedal and a cam ditch on the rolling dish for converting a rotary motion thereof to a linear back and forth motion;

[0014] a pair of braking rods, which include a left braking rod and a right braking rod; the left braking rod and the right braking rod are connected to the rolling dish at one end thereof, carried by the rolling dish to move along a linear direction parallel to the wheel axis back and forth, and do a braking and releasing operation by stretching into and drawing out from the openings between ribs of the braking wheels at the other free ends.

[0015] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the rolling dish connects one end of the left braking rod and the right braking rod through a pair of linking bars provided for carrying these two braking rods to move along the direction parallel to the wheel axis back and forth.

[0016] While in the second embodiment of the present invention, a pair of cam ditches are symmetrically located on the rolling dishes and provided for connection to one end of the left braking rod and the right braking rod. The left braking rod and the right braking rod are carried by the rolling dish to move along a linear direction parallel to the wheel axis back and forth and do a braking and releasing operation by stretching into and drawing out from the openings between ribs of the braking wheels at the other free ends.

[0017] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0018] The present invention illustrated by the following drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a isometric view of a baby stroller embodying the present invention, depicting the connection of the braking device with a stroller.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the first embodiment of the present invention, depicting the constructing components of the braking device.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cutting view of the braking device of the first embodiment of the present invention, depicting the operating status of being braked.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a cutting view of the braking device of the first embodiment of the present invention, depicting the operating status of being released.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the second embodiment of the present invention, depicting the construction components of the braking device.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cutting view of the braking device of the second embodiment of the present invention, depicting the operating status of being released.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cutting view of the braking device of the second embodiment of the present invention, depicting the operating status of being braked.

[0026] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a baby stroller embodying the present invention, depicting another embodiment of the holding mechanism.

[0027] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a baby stroller embodying the present invention, depicting another embodiment of the rotary cam member.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a cutting view of the braking device of FIG. 9, depicting the operating status of being release

[0029] FIG. 11 is a cutting view of the braking device of FIG. 9, depicting the operating status of being braked.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention provide a braking device for a stroller.

[0031] Firstly, referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the braking device of the embodiment of the present invention is preferred to be equipped on a pair of rear wheels, including a left wheel 10aand a right wheel 10b, to synchronously brake or release the left wheel 10aand the right wheel 10b. In general, the left wheel 10aand the right wheel 10broll freely with respect to the wheel axle 11 where they are being fixed. The embodiment of the braking device of the present invention comprises:

[0032] a pair of braking wheels, including a left braking wheel 20aand a right braking wheel 20b, referring to FIG. 3, which have a plurality of radially extending support ribs 21aand forms a plurality of openings between ribs, fixed on both left braking wheel 20aand a right braking wheel 20bof the stroller and rotate synchronously with them;

[0033] a pedal 30, which wiggles left and right by carrying a rotary cam member to operate the braking and releasing motion of the stroller; and

[0034] a pair of braking rods, which include a left braking rod 50aand a right braking rod 50b; the

[0035] left braking rod 50aand a right braking rod 50bare connected to the rotary cam member to move along a linear direction parallel to the wheel axis 11 back and forth and do a braking and releasing operation by stretching into and drawing out from the openings between ribs of the braking wheels at the other free ends.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 2, in the first embodiment of the braking device of the present invention, the wheel axle 11 is firmly fixed to a main frame 60 of the stroller, wherein the rotary cam member includes a rolling dish 40 pivotally connected to the stroller and provided for being mounted by the pedal 30 and a pair of linking bars 41aand 41b. The rolling dish 40 is a sector-shaped element, having a hole 42 provided for mounting on an axle 71 and wiggling by pivoting on the axle 71. One end of the linking bars 41aand 41bis pivotally connected to ends 400aand 400bfar from the center of the rolling dish 40 in an axial direction separately. The other end of the linking bars 41aand 41bis pivotally connected to the ends of the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50b. Referring to FIG. 3, in braking status, the rolling dish 40 is at an approximately horizontal position, so are the ends 400aand 400b, which are also parallel to the wheel axle 11 and reach the farthest location away from the axle 71. At this moment, the linking bars 41 a and 41bpush free ends 52aand 52bof the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50binto the openings between ribs 21aof left braking wheel 20aand right braking wheel 20b. This completes the braking processes of left wheel 10aand right wheel 10bsimultaneously. On the other hand, when the rolling dish 40 rotates at an angle, as shown in FIG. 4, the ends 400aand 400bare parallel to the wheel axle 11, or parallel to the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50b, and reach the nearest location from the axle 71. At this moment, the linking bars 41aand 41bpull free ends 52aand 52bof the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50bfrom the openings between ribs 21aof left braking wheel 20aand right braking wheel 20b. This completes the releasing processes of left wheel 10aand right wheel 10bsimultaneously. For the sake of convenience of operation, compressible springs 90 are mounted at both ends of the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50bin order to store the energy while the spring 90 is compressed during the braking process and the energy is restored to the spring 90 during the releasing process so as to push the left braking rod 50aand the right braking rod 50bto the normal, released, position.

[0037] The rolling dish 40 of the rotary cam member utilizes stationary housing 70 provided to pivotally mount on the wheel axle 11. A pedal 30 is connected to the rolling dish 40. When either the left side or the right side of the pedal is stepped on, the rolling dish 40 is carried to swing left and right, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0038] Stationary housing 70 is a hollow element, comprising an axle 71 and a gripping portion provided for clamping the wheel axle 11. The gripping portion comprises a left gripping arm 72aand right gripping arm 72bextending along the wheel axle 11 and symmetric with respect to the axle 71 in a radial direction. The axle 71 goes through the hole 42 of the rolling dish 40 and is fixed to wheel axle 11. This rolling dish 40 swings on the axle 71 left and right The left gripping arm 72aand the right gripping arm 72bfurther comprise three plates 73a, 73band 73cwhich are connected mutually, continues and forms an open circular ring, like the letter ‘U’, in its cutting plane. The plates 73aand 73care then tightly fixed to the wheel axle 11 by a screw bolt 74.

[0039] The pedal 30 and the rolling dish 40 have the same rotating center. In the first embodiment, the pedal 30 is fixed on a bottom 75 of the stationary housing 70 through the hole 300 thereon, and utilizes a connecting element 31, for example, a screw bolt, to connect to the outer rim of the rolling dish 40. Whichever the left portion 32aor right portion 32bof the pedal 30 is pushed or stepped on, it will carry the rolling dish to swing synchronously.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the rotary cam member comprises a rolling dish 80, which is different from that disclosed in the first embodiment, and two cam ditches 81aand 81blocated on the rolling dish 80 thereof. The pedal 30 is also connected to the rolling dish 80 in a similar way as pre-described. Swinging the pedal 30 will also carry the rolling dish 80 to rotate, and the cam ditches 81aand 81bwill convert the rotation motion to a linear back and forth motion. In the center of the rolling dish 80, there is a hole 82. The cam ditches 81aand 81bare located in a symmetric place with respect to the hole 82 in a radial direction and extend gradually outward. The ends 51aand 51bof each one of the braking rods 50aand 50bperpendicularly insert into the cam ditches 81aand 81b. As a result, when the rolling dish 80 swings left and right, it carries the braking rods 50aand 50bsimultaneously in a linear back and forth motion and pushes the other ends 52aand 52bof each one of the braking rods 50aand 50binto the openings between ribs 21aof the braking wheels 20aand 20b, as shown in FIG. 7. Or it draws the other ends 52aand 52bof one of each of the braking rods 50aand 50bout from the openings between ribs 21aof the braking wheels 20aand 20b, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0041] Similarly, the cam ditches 81aand 81bshown in the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be changed to cam surfaces 83aand 83bshown in the embodiment of FIG. 9.

[0042] These two cam surfaces 83aand 83bare also symmetric and extend gradually outward. In case of a normal un-braked situation, the cam surfaces 83aand 83bare pushed by spring and kept in touch with the ends 51aand 51bof the left and right braking rods 50aand 50b, as shown in FIG. 10. On the other hand, in case of a braked situation, the ends 51aand 51bof the left and right braking rods 50aand 50bare pushed by the cam surfaces 83aand 83b, and the other free ends 52aand 52bof the left and right braking rods 50aand 50bare, then, pushed into the openings between ribs 21aof the braking wheels 20aand 20bin order to brake synchronously, as shown in FIG. 11. In the meanwhile, the ends 51aand 51bof the left and right braking rods 50aand 50bwill sink into concaving portions 84aand 84bof the cam surfaces 83aand 83bin order to keep the left and right braking rods 50aand 50bin their locations from sliding off until the left portion 32aof the pedal 30 is stepped on. After being stepped on, the left portion 32aof the pedal 30 returns to its normal locations, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0043] To hold the braked status, the present invention further discloses a holding mechanism as shown in FIG. 3, 4 or FIG. 6, 7. A holding point 76 is located on the surface of the outer circumference of stationary housing 70. And a stop point 33 is located on the inner facing surface of the pedal 30. When the pedal 30 is stepped on to the braked position, as shown in FIG. 3 and 7, it will be kept in that position by matching the holding point 76 and the stop point 33 together in order to prevent the braked status from being released. However, the matching force between the holding point 76 and the stop point 33 is limited. This can be easily released by users who step on the pedal 30.

[0044] In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the holding point 76 and the stop point 33 are both bulges. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the holding point 76 is a denting cave and the stop point 33 is a bulge.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 8, the bulges 34aand 34blocated on the right portion 32bof the pedal 30 can also be the holding mechanism, and form a gripper provided for gripping the right braking rod 50band wheel axle 11 in order to keep the pedal 30 in the braking position and prevent it from being released.

[0046] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent in the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion related to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0047] With respect to the above description then, it should be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. All equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0048] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily be made by those skilled in the art, it is not described to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to fall within the scope of the invention.

[0049] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.