Seat support unit and stroller

Abstract

A seat support unit (40) is used in a stroller (10) to support a seat (70). The seat support unit (40) has a seat support (42) to face an infant’s buttocks. The seat support (42) has a pair of side frame elements (50) spaced apart from each other in a width direction, and a coupling member (60) extending in the width direction and bridged between a pair of the side frame elements (50). (FIG. 5)

Description

Seat support unit and stroller

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat support unit for a stroller and to a stroller.

[0002] Strollers having a seat support unit and a cushion seat on the seat support unit are widely used. The seat support unit has a seat support that faces the infant's buttocks from below and a back support that faces the infant's back from behind. In the stroller shown in Patent Document 1 (JP2014-73701A), the seat support and back support have a frame. This frame has a pair of side sections and a connecting section that connects the ends of the pair of side sections. The frame of the seat support opens rearward, and the frame of the back support opens downward. Typically, to prevent the cushion seat from falling off the seat support unit, the seat support and back support have a base sheet stretched across the frame. This base sheet is permanently attached to the frame and maintained in a stretched state.

[0003] The cushion seat is removably held by the seat support unit and can be removed from the seat support unit for washing, while the base seat is permanently attached to the frame and maintained in a taut state. In other words, the base seat, which is a fabric product stretched over a wide area, cannot be removed from the stroller for washing.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to reduce the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from a stroller.

[0005] The seat support unit according to the present invention is a seat support unit used in a stroller to support a seat, and is provided with a seat support that faces the buttocks of an infant, and the seat support has a pair of side frame elements arranged spaced apart in the width direction, and a connecting member that is stretched across the pair of side frame elements and extends in the width direction.

[0006] The stroller according to the present invention comprises a main frame, a seat support unit supported by the main frame, and a seat supported by the seat support unit, wherein the seat support unit has a seat support that faces the buttocks of an infant and a back support that can swing relative to the seat support, and the seat has a seat bottom supported by the seat support and a seat back connected to the seat bottom, and the seat back includes a storage section that opens downwardly to receive the back support.

[0007] According to the present invention, the amount of fabric that cannot be removed from the stroller can be reduced.

[0008] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment, and is a perspective view showing an example of a stroller. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the stroller of FIG. 1 with some components removed. FIG. 7 is a side view of the stroller of FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a seat support unit that can be used in the stroller of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a top view showing the seat support unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the seat support unit of FIG. 4 with some components removed. FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing some components of the stroller of FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a seat that can be used in the stroller of FIG. 1. FIG. 14 is a partial rear view of the stroller of FIG. 1. FIG. 15 is a side view for explaining a modified example of the stroller.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to a specific example shown in the drawings.

[0010] Figures 1 to 11 are diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a seat support unit and stroller according to the present invention. Of these, Figures 1 to 4 show the overall structure of one specific example of a stroller or stroller body. Figures 4 to 8 show the entire seat support unit or a portion thereof. Figures 9 and 10 mainly show the seat 70. Note that components shown in some figures may be omitted in other figures.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the stroller 10 of this embodiment has a stroller body 15 and a seat 70 supported by the stroller body 15. The stroller body 15 has a seat support unit 40 that supports the seat 70, and a body frame 20 that supports the seat support unit 40. The seat 70 is where an infant riding in the stroller 10 sits or lies down. The seat 70 can be removed from the seat support unit 40 and washed. In the stroller 10 described below, the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from the stroller 10 for washing has been reduced as a way to improve hygiene.

[0012] Below, we will explain each component of the stroller 10 in order. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the stroller 10 and stroller body 15 shown in the figures are generally symmetrical overall with respect to a plane that is located in the center in the lateral direction and that runs along the front-to-back and up-to-down directions.

[0013] In this specification, the terms "front," "rear," "up," "down," "front-to-back direction," and "vertical direction" with respect to a stroller and its components mean, unless otherwise specified, the "front," "rear," "up," "down," "front-to-back direction," and "vertical direction" relative to an infant riding in the stroller and its components in an unfolded state. More specifically, the "front-to-back direction" is the direction connecting the bottom left and top right of the pages in Figures 1 and 2, and corresponds to the left-to-right direction of the page in Figure 3. Unless otherwise specified, "front" refers to the side toward which an infant riding in the stroller faces, with the bottom left of the pages in Figures 1 and 2 and the left side of the page in Figure 3 being the front side. Meanwhile, the "vertical direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the running surface of the stroller. Therefore, when the running surface is horizontal, the "vertical direction" refers to the vertical direction. Furthermore, the "lateral direction" refers to the width direction, which is the direction perpendicular to both the "front-to-back direction" and the "vertical direction." "Inside" or "inner" in the width direction (lateral direction) refers to the side closest to the center of the stroller in the width direction, and "outside" or "outward" in the width direction (lateral direction) refers to the side away from the center of the stroller in the width direction. Furthermore, the "rear side" used in connection with the seat support unit, etc., refers to the side opposite to the side facing the baby riding in the stroller. Therefore, the "rear side" usually refers to the rear side or the bottom side.

[0014] First, the stroller body 15 will be described. The stroller body 15 shown in the figure is configured to be foldable. As described above, the stroller body 15 includes the body frame 20 and the seat support unit 40, but first, each component that configures the stroller body 15 to be foldable will be described without clearly distinguishing between the body frame 20 and the seat support unit 40.

[0015] 2, the stroller body 15 has a pair of front legs 21 arranged on the left and right, and a pair of rear legs 23 arranged on the left and right. The stroller body 15 further has a first link L1, a second link L2, a third link L3, and a fourth link L4 arranged on the left and right, respectively. The front legs 21, the rear legs 23, and the first to fourth links L1 to L4 function as links that make the stroller body 15 foldable and unfoldable.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the front legs 21 rotatably support front wheels 22 at their lower end portions. The front wheels 22 form casters and are rotatable and swivelable. The rear legs 23 rotatably support rear wheels 24 at their lower end portions. The front legs 21 and the rear legs 23 may be made of metal pipes such as aluminum alloy pipes.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2 , the upper end portions of the front legs 21 are rotatably (swingably) connected to the front portion of the first link L1 located on the corresponding side (left or right). The upper end portions of the rear legs 23 are rotatably (swingably) connected to the front portion of the first link L1 located on the corresponding side (left or right). The first link L1 may be formed using, for example, a resin molded part. In the illustrated example, the first link L1 may function as an armrest.

[0018] As can be seen from Fig. 3, the second link L2 is rotatably (swingably) connected to the rear end portion of the first link L1 located on the corresponding side (left or right). In the illustrated example, the second link L2 is configured as part of the handle 30. The handle 30 has an overall U-shape. The handle 30 has a pair of shafts 31 and a connecting portion 32 that connects the pair of shafts 31. Each shaft 31 constitutes the second link L2. The connecting portion 32 connects the upper end portions of the pair of shafts 31. The handle 30 can be configured using a metal pipe such as an aluminum alloy.

[0019] 2 and 3, the third link L3 is rotatably connected to the rear leg 23 located on the corresponding side (left or right). The third link L3 may be formed using, for example, a metal pipe made of aluminum alloy or the like or a resin molded part. In the illustrated example, the third link L3 is rotatably connected at its lower end to the middle part of the rear leg 23.

[0020] 2 and 3, the fourth link L4 is rotatably connected to the front leg 21 located on the corresponding side (left or right). In the illustrated example, the front end portion of the fourth link L4 is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the front leg 21. As will be described in detail later, the fourth link L4 constitutes a part of the seat support unit.

[0021] In the illustrated example, the second link L2, the third link L3, and the fourth link L4, which are arranged on the same side (left or right) in the width direction, are rotatably connected to one another using the same shaft member 35 (see FIG. 3). This shaft member 35 passes through the second link L2, the third link L3, and the fourth link L4. With this configuration, the second link L2, the third link L3, and the fourth link L4 are rotatable relative to one another about an axis that coincides with the central axis of the shaft member 35.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the stroller body 15 has, as laterally extending components, a front connecting member 26 that connects the pair of front legs 21 and a rear connecting member 27 that connects the pair of rear legs 23. The front connecting member 26 functions as a footrest. The front connecting member 26 and the rear connecting member 27 may be made of, for example, a metal pipe made of an aluminum alloy or the like, or a resin molded part. In addition, a flexible guard member 28 is removably provided between the pair of first links L1.

[0023] The stroller body 15 having the above configuration can be folded by rotating each component relative to the other. Specifically, the handle 30 constituting the second link L2 is first pulled upward and rearward, and then pushed downward, thereby rotating the third link L3 clockwise in FIG. 3 relative to the rear legs 23. This operation causes the first link L1 and the fourth link L4 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 3 relative to the second link L2. This operation moves the handle 30 and the front legs 21 closer to each other while maintaining a substantially parallel relationship in a side view, and lowers the position of the handle 30. The stroller body 15 can be folded in this manner. In the folded state, the dimensions of the stroller 10 in the front-to-rear and up-to-down directions can be reduced. To unfold the stroller body 15 from the folded state, the above-described folding procedure can be reversed.

[0024] Of the components of the stroller body 15 described above, the side frame elements 50 are included in the seat support unit 40 , and the other components are included in the body frame 20 .

[0025] Next, the seat support unit 40 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the seat support unit 40 has a seat support 42 and a back support 44. The seat support 42 faces the buttocks of an infant riding in the stroller 10. The back support 44 faces the back of an infant riding in the stroller 10.

[0026] First, the seat support body 42 of the seat support unit 40 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. Note that in Figures 1 to 4, some or all of the seat support unit 40 shown in Figures 4 to 7 may be omitted.

[0027] Figures 4 and 5 are a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of the seat support unit 40, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 5. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the seat support body 42 includes, as its main components, a pair of side frame elements 50, a connecting member 60, and a sheet-like member 65. The perspective view of Figure 7 shows the seat support unit 40 from the same direction as Figure 4, with the sheet-like member 65 removed.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the side frame elements 50 constitute the fourth link L4 as described above. A pair of side frame elements 50 are arranged spaced apart in the width direction. Each side frame element 50 extends in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of each side frame element 50 is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the front leg 21. The rear end of each side frame element 50 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the second link L2 and the upper end of the third link L3.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4 , the side frame element 50 includes a side frame member 51 extending in the front-to-rear direction, a front-end member 52 fixed to the front end of the side frame member 51, and a rear-end member 53 fixed to the rear end of the side frame member 51. The side frame member 51 may be formed using a metal pipe such as an aluminum alloy. The front-end member 52 and the rear-end member 53 may be formed using a resin molded part, for example. As shown in FIG. 4 , the front-end member 52 has a bearing hole 52a through which a shaft (not shown) passes for pivotally connecting the side frame element 50 and the front leg 21. The front-end member 52 also has a through-hole 52b through which the connecting member 60 passes. The rear-end member 53 has a bearing hole (not shown) through which the shaft member 35 passes.

[0030] Next, the connecting member 60 is hung across the pair of side frame elements 50. The connecting member 60 is stretched between the pair of side frame elements 50 and supports the seat 70 and the baby from below. The connecting member 60 is preferably flexible, and may also be elastic. Such a connecting member 60 can gently support the baby and improve the riding comfort of the stroller 10.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5 , the connecting member 60 is a long, narrow member extending in the width direction. The width W of the connecting member 60 in the front-to-rear direction is very short compared to the length L of the side frame element 50 in the front-to-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the connecting member 60 is configured as a belt-like member. However, this is not limiting, and the connecting member 60 may be configured as a member with a very small width W, such as a string. The connecting member 60 may be a cloth belt or cloth string made by sewing together pieces of cloth, a belt-like member or string-like member made of natural leather or synthetic leather, a belt-like member or string-like member made of resin, or the like.

[0032] Multiple connecting members 60 may be suspended across a pair of side frame elements 50 at a distance from each other in the front-to-rear direction. As clearly shown in FIG. 5 , in the illustrated seat support unit 40, three connecting members 60 are suspended across a pair of side frame elements 50 at a distance from each other in the front-to-rear direction. However, this is not limited to the illustrated example, and two connecting members 60 or four or more connecting members 60 may be suspended between a pair of side frame elements 50. When multiple connecting members 60 are used, the physical properties and configurations of each connecting member 60 may be changed depending on the arrangement of the connecting members 60. For example, the strength of the connecting member 60 located at the rearmost position in the front-to-rear direction may be greater than the strength of the other connecting members 60. The width W of the connecting member 60 located at the rearmost position in the front-to-rear direction may be greater than the width of the other connecting members 60. Furthermore, the elongation rate of the connecting member 60 located at the frontmost position in the front-to-rear direction may be greater than the elongation rate of the other connecting members 60.

[0033] The ratio of the length of the connecting member 60 in the longitudinal direction to the length L of the side frame element 50 in the longitudinal direction may be 50% or less, or even 30% or less. When multiple connecting members 60 are provided, the "length of the connecting member 60 in the longitudinal direction" refers to the sum of the widths W of the connecting members 60 in the longitudinal direction. A small ratio is preferable not only in terms of manufacturing costs due to reduced material usage, but also from a hygienic perspective. Because the connecting member 60 must be maintained in a taut state, it is expected that it will not be removable from the side frame element 50. Washing or cleaning an irremovable connecting member 60 is both time-consuming and difficult. Therefore, it is preferable to minimize the length of the connecting member 60 in the longitudinal direction.

[0034] From this perspective, it is preferable that a plurality of connecting members 60 are spaced apart from one another in the front-to-rear direction and span the pair of side frame elements 50. According to this specific example, the plurality of connecting members 60 arranged dispersedly in the front-to-rear direction can efficiently and stably support the baby on the seat 70. In other words, the number of connecting members 60 can be reduced while still allowing stable support of the baby. This can further improve the hygiene of the stroller.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the stroller 10 has a seat belt 11 for securing an infant to a seat 70. The seat belt 11 includes a crotch belt 11A that passes over the infant's legs, a waist belt 11B that passes over the infant's waist and is detachable from the crotch belt 11A, and a shoulder belt 11C that passes over the infant's shoulders and is detachable from the crotch belt 11A. As clearly shown in Figures 4 and 7, in the illustrated seat support body 42, the crotch belt 11A is attached to a single connecting member 60. Specifically, a cylindrical portion is formed at the base end of the crotch belt 11A by, for example, sewing, and the connecting member 60 passes through the cylindrical portion of the crotch belt 11A.

[0036] From the viewpoint of ensuring that the seat belt 11 functions effectively, the crotch belt 11A preferably extends from a position slightly forward of the center of the seat in the front-to-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the second connecting member 60B, which is located in the middle in the front-to-rear direction, is provided at a position slightly forward of the center of the seat in the front-to-rear direction. As a result, in the illustrated example, the crotch belt 11A is attached to connecting members other than the first connecting member 60A, which is located at the forefront in the front-to-rear direction, and the third connecting member 60C, which is located at the rearmost in the front-to-rear direction. In this example, the crotch belt 11A can be stably held by the connecting member 60, and the seat belt 11 can function effectively.

[0037] 5, the seat support 42 has a first connecting member 60A located at the forefront, forward in the front-to-rear direction of the second connecting member 60B to which the crotch belt 11A is attached. This forefront first connecting member 60A can stably support the legs of an infant on the seat 70. The particularly flexible first connecting member 60A can gently support the legs, improving the riding comfort of the stroller 10.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the seat support 42 also has a third connecting member 60C located rearward in the front-rear direction from the second connecting member 60B to which the crotch belt 11A is attached. The seat of a typical stroller primarily supports the weight of the infant at a position rearward of the position where the crotch belt extends. Therefore, the third connecting member 60C provides stable support for the infant. The particularly high strength of the third connecting member 60C increases the stability of infant support and improves the riding comfort of the stroller 10.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6 , the connecting members 60 are attached at both ends to the corresponding side frame elements 50. Each connecting member 60 extends upward, outward in the width direction, and downward in that order from its end to the inner widthwise surface of the corresponding side frame element 50. In other words, one end of the connecting member 60 is attached to the inner widthwise surface of the side frame element 50 (side frame member 51), then contacts the lower vertical surface of the side frame element 50 (side frame member 51), the outer widthwise surface of the side frame element 50 (side frame member 51), and the upper and lower upper surfaces of the side frame element 50 (side frame member 51), and then extends inward in the width direction. This specific example allows the connecting members 60 to be more firmly attached to the side frame elements 50. Furthermore, the long length of the connecting members 60 allows for gentle support of the infant and efficiently absorbs impacts from, for example, the surface on which the stroller 10 runs. Furthermore, since the connecting members 60 are attached from the inside of the side frame elements 50 in the width direction, the attachment points are not conspicuous, and the aesthetic appearance of the stroller 10 can be improved.

[0040] In the example shown in Fig. 6, the connecting member 60 is non-detachably fixed to the side frame element 50 using fasteners 63 such as rivets. As shown in Fig. 5, the second connecting member 60B and the third connecting member 60C wrap around the periphery of the side frame material 51 of the side frame element 50 and are attached to the side frame material 51. In other words, the second connecting member 60B and the third connecting member 60C extend at their end portions along the upper side, outer side in the width direction and lower side of the side frame material 51 of the side frame element 50 on the corresponding side, and are attached to the inner surface of the side frame material 51 in the width direction.

[0041] 5 and 7 , the first connecting member 60A is attached to the front end member 52. However, the side frame member 51 is present within the front end member 52 at the position where the first connecting member 60A is attached. In addition, a through hole 52b is provided in the front end member 52 at a position below the side frame member 51. The first connecting member 60A passes through the through hole 52b and extends from the outer side in the width direction of the side frame element 50 to the inner side in the width direction. By utilizing the through hole 52b, the first connecting member 60A can be stably attached to the front end member 52, which has a complex shape.

[0042] Next, the sheet-like member 65 will be described. The sheet-like member 65 is a resin member formed in a sheet or plate shape. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the sheet-like member 65 is supported by the connecting member 60. As shown in FIG. 8 , a sheet 70 is placed on the sheet-like member 65 and is supported from below by the sheet-like member 65. The resin sheet-like member 65 preferably has a certain degree of flexibility. Flexibility can be imparted to the sheet-like member 65 by adjusting the resin material, thickness, etc. The thickness of the sheet-like member 65 can be, for example, 0.5 mm to 2 mm, and can further be 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm. Examples of resin materials used for the sheet-like member 65 include polypropylene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate.

[0043] In this way, with the seat support 42 provided with the resin sheet-like member 65 supported by the connecting member 60, the connecting member 60 supports the infant on the seat 70 over a wide area via the sheet-like member 65. Therefore, the infant is stably supported with more uniform force by the sheet-like member 65 and the connecting member 60, which have a certain degree of flexibility. Furthermore, because the connecting member 60 supports the infant via the sheet-like member 65, the number of connecting members 60 and their width W in the fore-and-aft direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the amount of connecting members 60. Furthermore, the resin sheet-like member 65 has superior stain resistance compared to cloth and the like, and can be thoroughly washed and cleaned while still attached to the stroller 10. For example, the resin sheet-like member 65 can be easily cleaned with a dry or wet wipe. In other words, the installation of the sheet-like member 65 stably supports the infant, improving ride comfort, while further improving the hygiene of the stroller.

[0044] 5, the length of the sheet-like member 65 in the front-rear direction is approximately the same as the length of the side frame elements 50 in the front-rear direction. Similarly, the length of the sheet-like member 65 in the width direction is approximately the same as the distance in the width direction between the outer side surfaces of the pair of side frame elements 50. In other words, the illustrated sheet-like member 65 extends over approximately the entire area of ​​the seat support body 42 in a top view.

[0045] Preferably, the pair of side frame elements 50 are positioned so as to at least partially overlap the sheet-like member 65 in the top view shown in Fig. 5. With this configuration, the sheet-like member 65 is supported from below by the pair of side frame elements 50. This prevents the outer widthwise portions of the sheet-like member 65 from sagging. This allows for more stable support of the infant via the sheet-like member 65. Furthermore, because the support provided by the sheet-like member 65 is stable, the number of connecting members 60 and the width W in the front-to-rear direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the area of ​​the connecting members 60.

[0046] In the illustrated example, the sheet-like member 65 is provided with holes 65a through which the connecting members 60 pass. The connecting members 60 pass through the holes 65a in the sheet-like member 65, thereby holding the sheet-like member 65 by the connecting members 60. This holding method allows the sheet-like member 65 to move somewhat relative to the connecting members 60. This play makes it possible to absorb shocks from the road surface, improving the riding comfort of the stroller 10.

[0047] In particular, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the sheet-like member 65 has four holes 65a through which one connecting member 60 passes. In the illustrated example, three connecting members 60 are arranged spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, four holes are provided for each connecting member 60, for a total of 12 holes 65a in the sheet-like member 65. Each connecting member 60 supports the sheet-like member 65 from below at both ends and the center in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, the sheet-like member 65 is supported from below by the connecting members 60, preventing sagging at the outer widthwise portions and downward depression at the center widthwise portion. This allows the connecting members 60 to more stably support the infant via the sheet-like member 65. Furthermore, because the support provided by the sheet-like member 65 is stable, the number of connecting members 60 and the width W in the front-to-rear direction can be reduced, thereby reducing the area of ​​the connecting members 60.

[0048] As described above, the crotch belt 11A is attached to the second connecting member 60B. The crotch belt 11A is located at the center in the width direction. The sheet-like member 65 has a belt hole 65b at a position facing the crotch belt 11A. The crotch belt 11A passes through the belt hole 65b and extends from the bottom to the top of the sheet-like member 65.

[0049] 6, the end faces of the sheet-like member 65 may be covered with a covering material 67. The covering material 67 may be provided so as to cover one or more of the side end faces, the front end face, and the rear end face of the sheet-like member 65, or may be provided so as to cover the end faces around the entire periphery of the sheet-like member 65. As an example, the covering material 67 may be made of cloth. By providing the covering material 67, it is possible to improve the aesthetic appearance and also to improve ease of handling.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7, the seat support 42 further includes a front frame member 55 and an intermediate frame member 57 that extend in the width direction. The front frame member 55 and the intermediate frame member 57 may be made of, for example, a metal pipe such as an aluminum alloy or a resin molded part. The front frame member 55 and the intermediate frame member 57 are positioned between the pair of side frame elements 50 and maintain a certain distance between the pair of side frame elements 50 in the width direction. This allows the connecting member 60 to be maintained in a taut state, providing more stable support for the baby.

[0051] As shown in Figure 7, the front frame member 55 and the intermediate frame member 57 are located lower in the up-down direction than the side frame elements 50, the connecting member 60, and the seat 70. As shown in Figure 5, the front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front ends of the side frame elements 50 in the front-to-rear direction. The front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front ends of the side frame members 51 in the front-to-rear direction. The front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front end of the first connecting member 60A in the front-to-rear direction. The front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front end of the sheet-like member 65 in the front-to-rear direction. A front frame member 55 located in this position is less likely to come into contact with the legs of a baby riding in the stroller 10.

[0052] Next, the back support 44 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the back support 44 is rotatable relative to the seat support 42. The back support 44 swings relative to the seat support 42, enabling reclining. As shown in FIG. 4, the back support 44 includes a pair of back frame portions 45 spaced apart in the width direction, and a back connecting frame portion 46 connecting the pair of back frame portions 45. In the illustrated example, the back connecting frame portion 46 is connected to the end of the back frame portion 45 on the side away from the seat support 42. The back support 44 is configured as a three-sided frame.

[0053] Specifically, the back connecting frame portion 46 includes a back frame member 47 formed in an angular U-shape and connecting end members 48 fixed to both ends of the back frame member 47. As clearly shown in FIG. 4 , the connecting end member 48 is provided with a bearing hole 48a through which the shaft member 35 passes. The shaft member 35 passes through the bearing hole 48a of the connecting end member 48 and a bearing hole (not shown) in the rear end member 53 of the side frame element 50, thereby connecting the back support 44 to the seat support 42 in a swingable manner. The back frame member 47 may be formed using a metal pipe such as an aluminum alloy. The connecting end member 48 may be formed using a resin molded product, for example.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8, the seat support unit 40 further includes a connecting means 68 that connects the sheet-like member 65 and the intermediate frame member 57. By providing the connecting means 68, the position of the sheet-like member 65 on the seat support member 42 can be stabilized. The connecting means 68 may be a sheet-like member, a belt-like member, or a string-like member. In the illustrated example, the connecting means 68 is configured as a cloth-like member, and both edges are sewn to the rear edge of the sheet-like member 65. The intermediate frame member 57 passes through the connecting means 68, both edges of which are sewn to the sheet-like member 65.

[0055] Next, the seat 70 will be described with reference mainly to Figures 8 to 10. Here, Figure 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the seat 70 together with the seat support unit 40, Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the seat 70, and Figure 10 is a view showing the seat 70 attached to the stroller 10 from the rear. Note that in Figures 1 to 7, some or all of the seat 70 shown in Figures 8 to 10 may be omitted.

[0056] As clearly shown in Figure 9, the seat 70 has a seat bottom portion 71 and a seat back portion 72. The seat bottom portion 71 is supported by the seat support portion 42 of the seat support unit 40. The seat bottom portion 71 is provided with a belt hole 71a (see Figure 1) for passing the crotch belt 11A through. The seat back portion 72 is connected to the seat bottom portion 71 from the rear. The seat back portion 72 is supported by the back support portion 44 of the seat support unit 40. The seat 70 is where an infant sits or lies down.

[0057] 9, the seat 70 has first attachment means 75a provided at the front edge portion of the seat cushion 71 and second attachment means 75b provided at both side edge portions of the seat cushion 71. The seat cushion 71 is removably attached to the seat support 42 by the first attachment means 75a and the second attachment means 75b.

[0058] A pair of first attachment means 75a are provided spaced apart in the width direction. As shown in Fig. 8, the first attachment means 75a connects the front edge portion of the seat bottom portion 71 to the front frame member 55. The portion of the seat bottom portion 71 that extends forward beyond the seat support body 42 is folded back at the front end of the seat support body 42. In other words, when the seat bottom portion 71 is attached to the seat support body 42, it covers the seat support body 42 from the front.

[0059] The first attachment means 75a may be configured as, for example, one or two belt-like or string-like members. The front end portion of the seat bottom portion 71 can be attached to the seat support body 42 by tying together two portions of one belt-like or string-like member fixed to the seat bottom portion 71 that are located before and after the folded portion at the front frame member 55, or by fastening them with fasteners, buttons, or other fasteners. Alternatively, the front end portion of the seat bottom portion 71 can be attached to the seat support body 42 by tying together two belt-like or string-like members fixed to the seat bottom portion 71, with the front frame member 55 positioned therebetween, or by fastening them with fasteners, buttons, or other fasteners.

[0060] 9, the second attachment means 75b connects the side edge portion of the seat cushion 71 to the side frame element 50. The specific configuration of the second attachment means 75b may be the same as that of the first attachment means 75a.

[0061] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the seat back 72 has a seat back main body 72A and a cover fabric material 72B that covers the seat back main body 72A from the rear side. The seat back main body 72A comes into contact with the back and head of an infant. The cover fabric material 72B forms a storage area RP between the seat back main body 72A and the cover fabric material 72B to store the back support 44. The cover fabric material 72B is sewn to the seat back main body 72A at both side edge portions and the upper edge portion. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the storage area RP opens toward the seat support 42. In other words, the storage area RP opens downward.

[0062] The seat cushion 71 and the seat back main body 72A of the seat back 72 are the parts that come into contact with the infant. Therefore, it is preferable that the seat cushion 71 and the seat back main body 72A have cushioning properties. For example, the seat cushion 71 and the seat back main body 72A may include an outer fabric, a lining sewn to the outer fabric at the periphery, and cotton, sponge, resin, etc., placed between the outer fabric and the lining. On the other hand, the cover cloth material 72B is not required to have cushioning properties. The cover cloth material 72B may be made of cloth or mesh fabric. The cover cloth material 72B shown in FIG. 10 has a mesh fabric in the lower region close to the opening and a fine-mesh fabric in the upper region away from the opening. According to the cover cloth material 72B shown in Figure 10, the back support 44 can be easily inserted into the storage portion RP of the seat back 72 through the lower opening, and by inserting the back support 44 deep into the storage portion RP, the seat back 72 can be stably held by the back support 44.

[0063] As shown in Figure 9, the seat 70 further has a pair of seat side portions 73. The seat side portions 73 are connected to the seat bottom portion 71 and the seat back portion 72 from both sides. The seat side portions 73 may be configured to have cushioning properties, similar to the seat bottom portion 71 and the seat back portion 72. Alternatively, the seat side portions 73 may be configured of fabric or the like and not have cushioning properties. Note that the seat side portions 73 are not shown in Figures 8 and 10.

[0064] 1, the seat side portions 73 are removably attached to the main body frame 20 of the stroller main body 15. According to this example, the seat 70 can be stably held by the main body frame 20 and the seat support unit 40.

[0065] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , each seat side portion 73 has a third attachment means 75c and a fourth attachment means 75d on its side edge away from the seat back 72. The third attachment means 75c may be configured similarly to the first attachment means 75a and the second attachment means 75b described above and attached to the main body frame 20. The fourth attachment means 75d may have a different configuration from the third attachment means 75c and be attached to the main body frame 20. The fourth attachment means 75d may be configured as a fastener such as a button that can be fastened to a fastener attached to the main body frame 20. By providing the seat side portions 73 with different types of attachment means 75c and 75d, the seat 70 can be more stably attached to the main body frame 20. In the illustrated example, the seat side portions 73 are detachable from the second link L2 of the main body frame 20.

[0066] 10, 3, etc., the stroller 10 (stroller body 15) further has a reclining member 37. The reclining member 37 is connected to the main body frame 20 and supports the back support 44 of the seat support unit 40 from the back side. The reclining member 37 is connected to the main body frame 20 and is positioned on the back side of the back support 44, thereby supporting the back support 44 from the back side.

[0067] As shown in Figure 10, the reclining member 37 is attached to a pair of portions of the main frame 20 located on both sides of the seat support unit 40 (back support 44). The length of the reclining member 37 between the pair of portions is variable. As shown in Figure 3, by changing the length of the reclining member 37, the inclination angle of the back support 44 relative to the seat support 42 can be changed. In other words, the back support 44 can be reclined.

[0068] In the illustrated example, the reclining member 37 is attached at both ends to the second link L2. Specifically, the reclining member 37 includes a first reclining member 37A and a second reclining member 37B, each elongated and string-like or belt-like member, and an adjustment device 37C. One end of the first reclining member 37A is fixed to one of the second links L2. The first reclining member 37A extends from one of the second links L2. One end of the second reclining member 37B is fixed to the other of the second links L2. The second reclining member 37B extends from the other of the second links L2. The adjustment device 37C may be fixed to any position of the first reclining member 37A and the second reclining member 37B, like a clip. Alternatively, the adjustment device 37C may be fixed to the other end of the first reclining member 37A and may be further fixed to any position on the second reclining member 37B.

[0069] The reclining angle of the back support 44 is determined by the total length of the length from one end of the first reclining member 37A to the adjustment tool 37C and the length from one end of the second reclining member 37B to the adjustment tool 37C. When this total length is long, the back support 44 is in a reclined (lying) state, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 3. Here, in the state shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 3, the length of the reclining member 37 between the pair of second links L2 is set to its maximum length. In other words, the position of the two-dot chain line in Figure 3 is the most reclined position of the back support 44.

[0070] It should be noted that the back support 44 can be pushed up from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the maximum length of the reclining member 37 between the pair of second links L2 is set to a length that prevents the reclining member 37 from exceeding the back support 44 when it is raised by being pushed by hand, for example. This prevents the reclining member 37 from unintentionally extending forward of the back support 44. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the back support 44 from tipping backward without being supported from the rear side by the reclining member 37. In other words, this configuration allows the back support 44, which has an extremely simple configuration, to be stably supported by the reclining member 37 while still being able to recline.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 10 , the back support 44 has a guide means 76 for guiding the first reclining member 37A and the second reclining member 37B. The guide means 76 forms a passageway for the reclining member 37 between the guide means 76 and the cover fabric material 72B. The illustrated guide means 76 has one end sewn to the cover fabric material 72B and the other end detachably attached to the cover fabric material 72B. When attaching or detaching the seat back 72 from the back support 44, the other end of the guide means 76 is detached from the cover fabric material 72B to attach or detach the reclining member 37 to or from the seat back 72.

[0072] Next, the operation of the stroller 10 configured as above when in use will be described.

[0073] With an infant seated or lying on the seat 70 of the stroller 10, the user grips the handle 30 and drives the stroller 10. The seat bottom 71 of the seat 70 is supported by the seat support member 42 of the seat support unit 40, and the seat back 72 of the seat 70 is stably supported by the back support member 44 of the seat support unit 40. Furthermore, by using the first to fourth attachment means 75a to 75d, the seat 70 can be stably held by the seat support unit 40 and the main frame 20. This prevents the infant on the seat 70 from feeling excessive rocking or vibration, providing an excellent riding comfort for the infant.

[0074] Conventional strollers use a three-sided frame, made of bent metal pipe, as a seat support for supporting the seat bottom of the stroller. In such strollers, the three-sided frame seat support supports the seat from below with a rigid frame member extending in the width direction. Therefore, even if the seat has sufficient cushioning, the infant can sense that the frame member extending in the width direction is hitting their legs. This frame member hitting the infant's thighs and other legs reduces the comfort of the stroller.

[0075] On the other hand, in the seat support unit 40 of the stroller 10 according to this embodiment, the connecting member 60 that supports the seat 70 from below is supported by a pair of side frame elements 50. The connecting member 60 is made of, for example, fabric, plastic, or the like, and is more flexible and more easily deformed than the side frame elements 50. Because this connecting member 60 is provided, it is not necessary to install the front frame member 55 in the same position as in conventional strollers, i.e., at the same height as the side frame elements 50. This prevents the highly rigid frame member from hitting the legs of the baby, improving riding comfort.

[0076] In the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the first connecting member 60A is attached to a portion of the front-end member 52 that overlaps with the side frame member 51 in the front-rear direction. In other words, in the illustrated example, the side frame member 51 is also located in the front-rear direction where the portion of the front-end member 52 to which the first connecting member 60A is attached is located. In other words, the first connecting member 60A is attached to a portion of the front-end member 52 that covers the side frame member 51 in the front-rear direction. According to this specific example, the first connecting member 60A is positioned forward, and can be used to gently and stably support the legs of an infant from below. Furthermore, when fixing the first connecting member 60A to the side frame element 50 using a fastener such as a rivet, the front end member 52 can be aligned and fixed to the front end portion of the side frame member 51.

[0077] In the illustrated example, the seat support 42 also includes a front frame member 55 connecting the pair of side frame elements 50. However, this front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front end of the forward-most first connecting member 60A in the longitudinal direction. According to this specific example, the provision of a highly rigid front frame member 55 allows the widthwise spacing between the pair of side frame elements 50 to be maintained. This allows the connecting member 60 to be maintained in a taut state, allowing the infant to be more stably supported via the seat 70. Furthermore, because the front frame member 55 is located rearward of the front end of the forward-most first connecting member 60A, the front frame member 55 is prevented from hitting the legs of the infant, improving the riding comfort of the stroller 10.

[0078] Similarly, in the illustrated example, the front frame member 55 is positioned below the side frame elements 50 and rearward of the front ends of the side frame elements 50. The front frame member 55 is positioned below the seat-like member 65 and rearward of the front ends of the seat-like member 65. According to this specific example, the front frame member 55 can be positioned below and rearward of the connecting members 60 attached to the side frame elements 50 and the seat-like members 65 supported by the connecting members 60. This prevents the front frame member 55 from hitting the legs of an infant, improving the riding comfort of the stroller.

[0079] It is also anticipated that the seat 70 may become soiled as the stroller 10 is used. In this case, the seat 70 can be removed from the stroller body 15 and washed and cleaned. Specifically, first, the first to fourth attachment means 75a to 75d are released, thereby releasing the seat 70 from the seat support unit 40 and the body frame 20. Next, the back support 44 of the seat support unit 40 is pulled out from the storage portion RP of the seat back 72. In this manner, the seat 70 can be removed from the stroller body 15 very easily.

[0080] As explained above in the background art, in conventional strollers, the base sheet, which is a fabric product stretched over a wide area, could not be removed from the stroller body for washing. This base sheet was stretched over a wide area between the three-sided frame that forms the seat support and the three-sided frame that forms the back support.

[0081] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the seat 70 is supported from below by an elongated connecting member 60 that spans a pair of side frame elements 50 and extends in the width direction. The connecting member 60 can stably support an infant on the seat 70 even if it is not provided across the entire area between the pair of side frame elements 50. In conventional strollers, the base seat extends across almost the entire area of ​​the three-sided frame in the fore-and-aft direction. In contrast, in this embodiment, the ratio of the length of the connecting member 60 in the fore-and-aft direction to the length L of the side frame elements 50 in the fore-and-aft direction (see FIG. 5 ) can be set to 50% or less, or even 30% or less. This reduces the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from the stroller 10 for washing. This improves the hygiene of the stroller 10. Furthermore, the connecting member 60 can be made of a material other than fabric, such as resin or leather, which has better stain resistance than fabric products, thereby significantly improving the hygiene of the stroller 10.

[0082] In the illustrated example, multiple connecting members 60 are spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction and are stretched across a pair of side frame elements 50. According to this specific example, the multiple connecting members 60 spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction can efficiently and stably support the baby on the seat 70. In other words, the number of connecting members 60 can be reduced while still providing stable support for the baby. This can further improve the hygiene of the stroller 10.

[0083] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the seat support 42 further includes a crotch belt 11A attached to one of the connecting members 60 other than the first connecting member 60A, which is located at the forefront of the multiple connecting members 60. In this specific example, the forefront first connecting member 60A is positioned ahead of the crotch belt 11A. This forefront first connecting member 60A can stably support the legs of an infant on the seat 70. The particularly flexible first connecting member 60A can gently support the legs. It also reliably prevents the front frame member 55 from hitting the legs. These features significantly improve the riding comfort of the stroller 10. Furthermore, the crotch belt 11A can be stably held by the connecting member 60.

[0084] Additionally, according to this embodiment, the seat back 72 includes a storage portion RP that receives the back support 44, and the storage portion RP opens downward. Therefore, by ensuring that the size of the storage portion RP is not too large relative to the size of the back support 44, the seat back 72 can be stably supported by the back support 44. Therefore, even if the back support 44 has a structure that does not include a conventional base seat, i.e., a simple frame structure such as a three-sided frame, the seat back 72 is stably maintained on the back support 44. Furthermore, even if an infant riding in the stroller 10 leans against the seat back 72, the seat back 72 can be effectively prevented from significantly bending at its center. In other words, even if the back support 44 has a simple frame structure such as a three-sided frame, the infant riding on the seat 70 can be stably supported. This significantly reduces the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from the stroller 10 for washing, significantly improving the hygiene of the stroller.

[0085] In the illustrated stroller 10, the seat 70 is placed on a sheet-like member 65 held by the connecting member 60. This sheet-like member 65 is made of resin and has superior stain resistance compared to fabric products, so it can be thoroughly washed and cleaned by wiping it while it is still attached to the stroller body 15.

[0086] The washed and cleaned seat 70 is then attached back to the main frame 20. First, the back support 44 is inserted into the downward opening of the storage compartment RP, starting from its upper edge, and placed inside the storage compartment RP. Next, the seat bottom section 71 is attached to the seat bottom support 42, and the seat side sections 73 are attached to the main frame 20 using the first to fourth attachment means 75a to 75d. In this way, the seat 70 can be attached to the stroller body 15 very easily.

[0087] In the embodiment described above, the seat support unit 40 used in the stroller 10 and supporting the seat 70 has a seat support 42 that faces the buttocks of an infant. The seat support 42 has a pair of side frame elements 50 that are spaced apart in the width direction, and a connecting member 60 that spans the pair of side frame elements 50 and extends in the width direction.

[0088] According to this embodiment, the seat 70 is supported from below by the connecting members 60 that are hung across the pair of side frame elements 50 and extend in the width direction. The connecting members 60 can stably support the baby on the seat 70 even if they are not provided across the entire area between the pair of side frame elements 50. This reduces the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from the stroller 10 and washed, thereby improving the hygiene of the stroller 10.

[0089] Furthermore, in conventional strollers, the three-sided frame that constitutes the seat support is made of metal pipes. In conventional strollers, the metal pipes would come into contact with the thighs and other legs of an infant, making the stroller uncomfortable to ride in. In contrast, in this embodiment, the connecting member 60 that supports the seat 70 from below is supported by a pair of side frame elements 50, and this connecting member 60 can support the infant's legs. Therefore, the front frame member 55 can be positioned lower than the connecting member 60, preventing the front frame member 55 from coming into contact with the infant's legs. As a result, the stroller's riding comfort can be improved.

[0090] In the embodiment described above, the stroller 10 has a main body frame 20, a seat support unit 40 supported by the main body frame 20, and a seat 70 supported by the seat support unit 40. The seat support unit 40 has a seat support 42 that faces the buttocks of an infant, and a back support 44 that can swing relative to the seat support 42. The seat 70 has a seat bottom 71 supported by the seat support 42, and a seat back 72 connected to the seat bottom 71. The seat back 72 includes a storage portion RP that opens downward and receives the back support 44.

[0091] According to this embodiment, even if the back support 44 has a structure that does not have a conventional base seat, i.e., a frame structure such as a three-sided jamb, the seat back 72 can be stably held on the back support 44. Therefore, the baby on the seat 70 can be stably supported. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the amount of fabric products that cannot be removed from the stroller 10 and washed, thereby improving the hygiene of the stroller 10.

[0092] Although one embodiment has been described with reference to specific examples, the above-described specific examples are not intended to limit the embodiment. The above-described embodiment can be implemented with various other specific examples, and various omissions, substitutions, changes, additions, etc. can be made within the scope of the gist of the embodiment.

[0093] An example of the modification will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description and the drawings used in the following description, parts that can be configured similarly to the above-described specific example will be designated by the same reference numerals as those used for the corresponding parts in the above-described specific example, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0094] In the above-described specific example, the seat support unit 40 has the resin sheet-like members 65 supported by the connecting members 60. However, by appropriately adjusting the number, position, and width W of the connecting members 60, the seat 70 can be stably supported. Therefore, the sheet-like members 65 may be omitted from the seat support unit 40.

[0095] In the above-described specific example, the second link L2 is formed by a part of the handle 30. However, as shown in Fig. 11, the main frame 20 may further include a handle 30 rotatably connected to the second link L2. When the handle 30 is positioned in the rear pushing position, the operator (guardian) grips the handle 30 from behind the baby to steer the stroller 10. In this case, the baby can face forward in the direction of travel and enjoy the scenery while the stroller 10 is moving.

[0096] 10: Stroller, 11: Seat belt, 11A: Crotch belt, 15: Stroller body, 20: Body frame, 30: Handle, 37: Reclining member, 40: Seat support unit, 42: Seat support, 44: Back support, 50: Side frame element, 51: Side frame member, 52: Front end member, 55: Front frame member, 60: Connecting member, 60A: First connecting member, 60B: Second connecting member, 60C: Third connecting member, 65: Sheet-like member 65, 65a: Hole, 70: Seat, 71: Seat bottom portion, 72: Seat back portion, 73: Seat side portion, RP: Storage portion, L1: First link, L2: Second link, L3: Third link

Claims

1. A seat support unit for use in a stroller and supporting a seat, comprising a seat support that faces the buttocks of an infant, the seat support having a pair of side frame elements that are spaced apart in the width direction, and a connecting member that is suspended across the pair of side frame elements and extends in the width direction.

2. A seat support unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of connecting members are suspended across the pair of side frame elements at intervals in the front-rear direction.

3. The seat support unit according to claim 2, wherein the seat support further comprises a crotch belt attached to a connecting member other than the connecting member located at the forefront among the plurality of connecting members.

4. A seat support unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein three or more connecting members are hung across the pair of side frame elements at a distance from each other in the fore-and-aft direction, and the seat support further has a crotch belt attached to a connecting member other than the connecting member located at the foremost position and the connecting member located at the rearmost position.

5. A seat support unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seat support member further comprises a resin sheet-like member supported by the connecting member.

6. A seat support unit as described in claim 5, wherein the sheet-like member has four holes through which one connecting member passes, and the connecting member supports the sheet-like member from below at both ends and the center in the longitudinal direction.

7. A seat support unit according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the pair of side frame elements are positioned so as to at least partially overlap the sheet-like member in a top view, and support the sheet-like member from below.

8. A seat support unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting member extends at its end portion along the upper side, outer side in the width direction and lower side of the side frame element in that order and is attached to the surface of the side frame element facing inward in the width direction.

9. A seat support unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each side frame element has a side frame member extending in the fore-and-aft direction and a front end member fixed to the front end portion of said side frame member, and said connecting member is attached to a portion of said front end member located in an area that overlaps with said side frame member in the fore-and-aft direction.

10. A seat support unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the seat support further has a front frame member connecting the pair of side frame elements, a plurality of connecting members are spaced apart from each other in the fore-and-aft direction and span the pair of side frame elements, and the front frame member is located rearward of the front end of the foremost connecting member in the fore-and-aft direction.

11. A seat support unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the seat support further comprises a front frame member connecting the pair of side frame elements, the front frame member being positioned lower than the side frame elements and rearward of the front ends of the side frame elements.

12. A stroller comprising: a seat support unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11; a main body frame supporting said seat support unit; and a seat supported by said seat support unit.

13. A stroller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the seat support unit has a back support that is rotatable relative to the seat support, the seat has a seat bottom supported by the seat support and a seat back connected to the seat bottom, and the seat back includes a receiving portion that opens downwardly and receives the back support.

14. A stroller comprising: a main body frame; a seat support unit supported by the main body frame; and a seat supported by the seat support unit, wherein the seat support unit has a seat support that faces the buttocks of an infant and a back support that can swing relative to the seat support, and the seat has a seat bottom supported by the seat support and a seat back connected to the seat bottom, and the seat back includes a storage section that opens downwardly and receives the back support.

15. A stroller as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the seat further comprises a pair of seat sides connected to both sides of the seat back, each seat side being removably attached to the main frame.

16. A stroller as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a reclining member attached to a pair of portions of the main frame located on either side of the seat support unit and supporting the back support from the rear side, wherein the back support can be reclined by changing the length of the reclining member between the pair of portions, and the maximum length of the reclining member between the pair of portions is such that the reclining member cannot extend beyond the back support and extend in front of the back support.