Folding walking or jogging strollers and cargo carriers including pivoti...
Folding walking or jogging strollers and cargo carriers including pivoting wheel axles
US Patènt # 6863297
| Invèntors: | Shapiro; Richard N. (1668 Dey Cove, Virginia Beach, VA 23454) |
| Appl. No.: | 346112 |
| Filed: | January 17, 2003 |
ABSTRACT
A fold flat walking or jogging stroller is disclosed, which includes at least three wheels which all include pivoting wheel support units. The wheel support units include, in various embodiments, simple manually manipulable methods to latch each wheel in the operative or stowed flat positions, which effectively allows the device to fold to a flat profile without any wheel being detached. Associated innovations include a pivoting or floating transverse axle replicating unit, which pivots and latches to replicate a typical fixed wheel axle, but conveniently pivots to a fold flat stowed position. The innovations may also be applied to miscellaneous other types of wheeled carrier devices besides strollers, such as gurneys, golf bag carriers, and hunting game carriers as several examples.
FIELD OF THE INVÈNTION
The present invèntion relates to folding, compact walking or jogging stroller devices, generally utilized for transporting children, whether including pneumatic or non-pneumatic tires, as well as cargo carriers of miscellaneous types designed to move cargo and loads. While the preferred embodimènts focus on strollers, the invèntions are equally applied to wheeled cargo carriers, including, but not limited to cargo carriers, golf bag carts, gurneys, hunting/game carriers, as several examples.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVÈNTION
In continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/143,831, filed on May 14, 2002, as well as prior continuation-in-part U.S. application Ser. No. 09/604,769 filed on Jun. 28, 2000, disclosures were made relating to compact, folding walking or jogging strollers. Innovations in the prior-referenced applications related to the adaptation of pivoting wheel axles and methods for folding the pivoting wheel axles into a plane defined by the side elevational profile of the frame of the device. Other significant innovations related to the manner in which the forward wheel is manipulated and stowed, methods to allow for rotation or fixation of the forward wheel, methods for latching and releasing all pivoting wheel axles in operative and stowed positions, various methods relating to the flexible seat fabric, and innovative transverse axle replicating units, and rear wheel support units. This continuation-in-part application expands on the variations of carrier devices to which the innovations may be applied.
