Sliding attachment for a stroller and transport assembly comprising a stroller and at least one sliding attachment thereof - Patents.com
The sliding accessory for stroller wheels addresses the inefficiencies of existing solutions by using tire elasticity for tool-free attachment and detachment, ensuring efficient and safe navigation on snowy terrain without compromising stroller stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023548820
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-02-16
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-02-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing stroller accessories for navigating snow-covered ground are cumbersome, time-consuming to attach, and inefficient, often requiring tools and mechanical parts, and can compromise stroller stability and safety.
A sliding accessory for stroller wheels that utilizes the elastic compressibility of the tire to enable quick and tool-free attachment and detachment, ensuring secure locking and unlocking through vertical movement, allowing efficient gliding on snow without altering the stroller's suspension system.
The solution allows for easy, convenient, and rapid conversion between stroller configurations for snowy and snow-free surfaces, maintaining stroller stability and safety, while being economical and easy to manufacture.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding attachment for a stroller. The present invention also relates to a transport assembly comprising a stroller and at least one such sliding attachment. [Background technology]
[0002] The present invention relates to the challenge of transporting a child in a stroller over snow-covered ground. Indeed, for several weeks during the winter, stroller users in certain regions, as well as winter sports enthusiasts, must contend with this challenge in that pushing a stroller over snow-covered ground can be extremely difficult and potentially dangerous, as the stroller's wheels, particularly the front wheels, become buried in the snow. Furthermore, stroller users face the additional challenge that snow-covered ground often alternates with hard, or in other words, snow-free, "rolling," ground, such as the protected ground under a covered structure or in an enclosed structure, such as a shopping mall.
[0003] More particularly, the present invention therefore relates to a stroller accessory adapted to glide on snow, or more generally on a surface having characteristics similar to a snow-covered surface. Two solutions are currently available on the market, although they are not entirely satisfactory.
[0004] First, it is a multi-purpose accessory, designed for use with various existing stroller models. This accessory has a long base plate, forming a ski-like running surface, and its upper surface is provided with a shoe designed to be removably attached to the stroller wheel. This shoe may include, for example, jaws, straps, hooks, or loops—or, more generally, a movable mechanical element that must be manipulated by the user, often with the aid of a tool, to securely attach to the stroller wheel. One example is shown in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-026260. In practice, handling these movable mechanical elements is time-consuming and tedious, requiring at least repeated manipulation for each front wheel of the stroller. Furthermore, this attachment is often very painful for the user, since it must usually be performed outdoors and in cold weather. Of course, if one were to remove the sliding attachments from each of the previously mounted wheels, the user would face the same complications as if one were to remove all of the mechanical fittings of the sliding attachments, which would then be cumbersome to store and transport so that the stroller could continue to move on hard ground.
[0005] A second, more radical solution is to use a stroller designed so that its front wheel or wheels are completely separate from the rest of the stroller and can be replaced by a number of glide devices, each with skis tipped with steering means. These glide devices are expensive and, when not in use, heavy and cumbersome to store and transport with the stroller, whose front wheels are still fixed. Furthermore, when glide devices are installed to replace the front wheels, handling is particularly time-consuming because the user is forced to hold the front of the stroller high off the ground during the replacement operation, even though the stroller usually has a child in it.
[0006] A different approach is proposed in British Patent Specification No. 2,195,106, which discloses a sliding attachment for a stroller. The sliding attachment is designed to be attached to both the front and rear wheels located on the same lateral side of the stroller. The sliding attachment has a trough-shaped body, which is hook-shaped at the front and fastened at the rear by fasteners whose jaws form a circular cross-sectional cavity between them. To secure the sliding attachment to the front and rear wheels, the front wheel is first received within the hook, and then the end of the rear wheel is pushed between the jaws of the fastener until it is received within the cavity. The jaws then capture the end of the rear wheel within the cavity, allowing lateral movement between them, both vertically and horizontally.
[0007] Utility Model Publication No. 6-81867 proposes a more rudimentary sliding attachment for shopping baskets, designed to clamp the sides of the wheels only along two horizontal contact lines. The retention of the wheels is incomplete, making the viability of this attachment for use on strollers questionable. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose a new sliding attachment for a stroller that is easy, effective and practical to use. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] To this end, the invention is directed to a sliding accessory for a stroller as defined in claim 1.
[0010] One of the concepts behind the present invention is to enable a sliding accessory compatible with the present invention to be quickly and reversibly attached and detached from a stroller wheel, particularly without the use of tools or the need for additional, movable mechanical parts, while ensuring reliable and secure attachment of the sliding accessory to the wheel. To achieve this, the present invention utilizes the elastic compressibility of the tire, also known as the tread, on the wheel, which may be solid, particularly foamed, or equipped with a compressed inner tube. In all cases, the tire forms the outer covering of the wheel and is supported on the wheel rim, forming two annular beads on each lateral side of the wheel that protrude slightly beyond the rim. According to the present invention, the sliding accessory defines a housing that is open upward so that the wheel can be locked and unlocked following vertical movement, assuming that the base plate of the sliding accessory is placed on horizontal ground. The housing is closed, taking into account the longitudinal direction of the base in the front-to-rear direction, by a bottom wall towards the bottom and by two mutually opposing side walls, one on the left and one on the right, respectively. On its side facing the other wall, each wall incorporates a protruding relief, which, in particular due to its shape and size, is designed to interfere with the contact of the tire of the wheel, in particular the bead of the wheel, when the wheel is engaged / disengaged vertically with the housing. Thus, more precisely, when the user wants to fasten a sliding accessory to a wheel, in particular after the part of the stroller at the wheel is slightly raised and the sliding accessory is placed on the vertical ground, the wheel is engaged vertically downwards towards the bottom of the housing, so that the tire, in particular the bead of the tire, is successively brought into contact with the reliefs, then elastically compressed so as to press downwards against the reliefs, and then at least partially released once the reliefs have passed, and the wheel is then held downwards against the bottom of the housing by the reliefs.The sliding attachment is then placed in an in-use position and attached to the wheel, and the wheel, and therefore the stroller, so equipped with the sliding attachment is attached to the or each front wheel of the stroller. frame As long as the sliding attachment can be rotated relative to the housing, the stroller is ready to glide efficiently and safely on snow-covered ground, including when rotating. When the user then wishes to detach the sliding attachment from the wheel and place the latter in an inactive position, the user releases the wheel from the housing by pressing the attachment vertically upwards, in particular against the ground, with his / her foot placed on the base plate, while simultaneously slightly lifting the wheel area of the stroller, thereby causing the tire, in particular the tire beads, to pass upward through the relief and then be released after the relief has passed, so that they continue to be elastically compressed by the relief. The stroller wheel is then released from the sliding attachment and is ready to roll on hard, snow-free ground. In particular, the reliefs can take on various shapes and advantageously include optional features that improve or facilitate their effect, as will be described in more detail below. In either case, manipulating the sliding accessory and stroller to change the sliding accessory between its non-use and use configurations is particularly easy, convenient, and immediate, taking only a few seconds, requiring no tools, and requiring no movable mechanical parts within the sliding accessory. Furthermore, the sliding accessory according to the present invention does not in any way alter the efficiency of the stroller's suspension system, because the sliding accessory does not constrain wheelbase variations. Further benefits and advantageous optional features of the sliding accessory will become apparent in the remainder of this specification, particularly with regard to strength, manufacturing, and safety.
[0011] Further advantageous features of the sliding accessory according to the invention are specified in claims 2-11.
[0012] The invention also has as its object a transport assembly as defined in claim 12.
[0013] Further advantages of the transfer assembly according to the invention are specified in claims 13-15.
[0014] The invention will be better understood from reading the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a stroller and two sliding accessories attached to the transport assembly of FIG. 1, one of the sliding accessories being shown in an in-use position while the other sliding accessory is shown in an out-of-use position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view according to plane III of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sliding attachments of FIG. 2 shown in isolation. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane VI of FIG. [Figure 7] Figures 7 to 10 are views similar to Figures 5, 6, 3 and 4 respectively and show further embodiments of the sliding attachment according to the invention. [Figure 8] Figures 7 to 10 are views similar to Figures 5, 6, 3 and 4 respectively and show further embodiments of the sliding attachment according to the invention. [Figure 9] Figures 7 to 10 are views similar to Figures 5, 6, 3 and 4 respectively and show further embodiments of the sliding attachment according to the invention. [Figure 10] Figures 7 to 10 are views similar to Figures 5, 6, 3 and 4 respectively and show further embodiments of the sliding attachment according to the invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the gliding attachments of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10, positioned cranial-caudal to each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Figures 1-4 show a transport assembly including a stroller 100 and two sliding attachments 200 and 300, which, as will be explained in more detail below, allow a child in stroller 100 to be transported over snow-covered ground by sliding at least the front of stroller 100 on the snow. In Figure 1, sliding attachments 200 and 300 are attached to stroller 100, while in Figure 2, only sliding attachment 200 is attached to the stroller, while sliding attachment 300 has been detached from the stroller. In Figures 5 and 6, sliding attachment 200 is shown alone.
[0017] Before the sliding attachments 200 and 300 and how they can be connected to and disconnected from the stroller 100 are described in detail, the stroller 100 will be described in more detail, and it will be noted that this stroller 100 can typically fall within the range of known strollers.
[0018] The stroller 100 has a frame 110. This frame 110 defines a front-to-rear direction in the sense that two parts of the frame 110 located opposite each other along this direction correspond to a front part of the frame that faces forward when the stroller 100 is pushed forward, and a rear part of the frame that faces backward when the stroller 100 is pushed forward. In the example shown in the drawings, the frame 110 has a tubular structure that is mainly made of assembly tubes.
[0019] Whatever its shape, the frame 110 is designed to support a receiving member 120 which, in use, makes it possible to receive a child transported by the stroller 100, in which the child is seated in a seated position, a lying position or in an intermediate position between these. The receiving member 120 may therefore be selected from a seat, a carry-cot, a baby bassinet with a canopy, etc., and the form in which the receiving member 120 is made is not limited by the present invention. Furthermore, in a manner known and not described in detail, frame 110 is advantageously designed so that the receiving member 120 can be replaced, particularly depending on the age of the child being transported.
[0020] The stroller 100 also has wheels that, in use, rest and roll on the ground if the ground is sufficiently firm. frame To support the frame 1 and 2, the wheels include one or more front wheels 130 and rear wheels 140. In the example shown in the figures, two front wheels 130, i.e., a left front wheel and a right front wheel, are provided, which are located on the left and right sides of the frame 110, respectively, and two rear wheels, i.e., a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel, are provided, which are located on the left and right sides of the frame 110, respectively.
[0021] 3 and 4, each of the front wheels 130 defines a rotation axis R130 about which the front wheel rotates on itself, so as to roll on the ground, if the ground is sufficiently firm. In operation, the rotation axis R130 of each of the front wheels 130 extends substantially parallel to the ground. Each of the front wheels 130 frame It is mounted at the front of the 110 and is advantageously frame is connected to the front of the vehicle, and is thereby free to rotate about a pivot axis, which extends radially or orthogonally to the rotation axis R130 of the front wheel, so that the front wheel rotates about the pivot axis independently of the rotation about its own axis, and thus frame 110 relative to the direction of the wheels, and therefore relative to the ground frame Each of the front wheels 130 can therefore be described as a "swivel wheel" and is often referred to as a "driven wheel." frame The nature of the attachment of the front wheel 130 to the frame 110 is not a limitation of the present invention.
[0022] In all cases, each front wheel 130 has a tire 131, also known as a "tread," which forms the outer peripheral trim of the front wheel, is centered about the axis of rotation R130, and is in direct contact with the ground when the front wheel 130 rolls on a hard surface. As can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, the tire 131 of each front wheel 130 is supported by a wheel rim 132. This rim 132 is centered about the axis of rotation R130 and, in the example shown, is connected to a front wheel hub 133, which is also centered about the axis of rotation R130. Also, in the example shown, each front wheel 130 has two hub caps 134, which cover the mid-region of the front wheel, between the rim 132 and the hub 133, on each side of the front wheel. Indeed, the particular characteristics of each front wheel 130, with respect to the rim 132 and its connection to the rest of the front wheel, are not limiting of the present invention.
[0023] In all cases, each tire 131 of the front wheels 130 is provided, on the one hand, with the ability to elastically deform under compression, and, on the other hand, with the ability to extend slightly beyond the rim 132 in each lateral direction of the front wheel, thus forming two beads 132. As can be clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4, each bead 135 of each tire 131 of the front wheels 130 is not flush with the corresponding rim 132, but projects from this rim towards the outside of the wheel. Of course, each bead 132 extends continuously around the entire outer edge of the corresponding front wheel 130 and therefore has a generally annular shape, centered on the axis of rotation R130 of the front wheel. In fact, the shape and elastic deformation of the bead 135 of each tire 131 result from the tire structure.
[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the tire 131 of each front wheel 130 advantageously has a solid structure that, unlike a pneumatic structure, is not affected by variable air pressure, so that the tire 131's outer shape does not significantly deform under normal conditions of the stroller 100. The solid structure of the tire 131 is preferably made of polyurethane foam, which is formed, for example, by cold expansion in a closed mold. Such polyurethane foam has the advantage of exhibiting a constant Shore hardness throughout the tire 131 as well as high abrasion resistance, which ensures that the tire 131 retains its dimensions over time and maintains its resilience at low temperatures. Of course, as an alternative, the material constituting the solid, particularly foamed, structure of the tire 131 is not limited to polyurethane foam; other materials can be envisaged, particularly if they exhibit properties similar to those of polyurethane foam.
[0025] With regard to the rear wheels 140, they each define an axis of rotation about which the corresponding wheel rotates to roll on a sufficiently firm surface, and which, in use, extends substantially parallel to the surface. Each of the rear wheels 140 is attached to the rear of the frame 110 and is advantageously fixedly coupled to the rear of the frame, i.e., in a manner that prevents it from pivoting compared to the front wheels 130. In the example embodiment shown in the figures, the axes of rotation of each of the rear wheels 140 are aligned, thereby forming a fixed rear wheel set, centered about the same axis of rotation. For reasons of structural strength in particular, this rear wheel set advantageously has an axle 141, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, extending coaxially between and from each of the rear wheels 140.
[0026] The stroller also has a pushing member 150, which is integrally supported by the rear of the frame 110 in the upper rear region. The pushing member 150 allows the user to apply a force to the frame 110, in particular to push the frame 110 forward, by rolling the frame on the wheels 130 and 140 on a sufficiently hard surface. The pushing member 150 can be realized, for example, in the form of a bar, a handle, etc. The design of the pushing member 150 is not a limitation of the present invention.
[0027] Let us now take a closer look at the two sliding attachments 200 and 300. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the sliding attachments are identical to each other, and therefore only sliding attachment 200 will be described in detail below, with the understanding that sliding attachment 300 will be described in the same terms.
[0028] The description of the sliding attachment 200 applies to an orthogonal reference frame defined by the geometric axes XX, YY, and ZZ, as shown in the figures. In practice, when the sliding attachment 200 is used to allow the stroller 100 to slide at least partially over a horizontal, snow-covered surface, the mutually perpendicular axes XX and YY are horizontal, while the axis ZZ, which is perpendicular to the axes XX and YY, is vertical.
[0029] 5 and 6, the sliding accessory 200 has a base plate 210 with an elongated shape along the XX axis. In other words, the base plate 210 extends longitudinally along the axis XX. The base plate 210 presents faces that face each other along the ZZ axis, i.e., a bottom face intended to face the ground, and a top face intended to face upwards, in other words, to be away from the ground.
[0030] Functionally, the base plate 210 is the same as the running part of a ski. In this regard, the base plate 210 is provided on its lower surface with a snow running surface 210A intended for application on snow-covered ground. Furthermore, it is believed that the base plate 210 may be provided with various features to make it easier to run on snow-covered ground, without, however, limiting the invention. For illustrative purposes, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the running surface 210A is advantageously grooved to facilitate the evacuation of a water film that forms under the base plate 210 during running on snow; here, the running surface 210A is thus provided with two grooves 211 extending substantially over the entire axial direction of the base plate 210 along the axis XX. Furthermore, the base plate 210 forms a spatula at its front longitudinal end 212, which is slightly wider along the YY axis compared to the remainder of the base plate 210 and rises progressively upward to its free end. Similarly, the base plate 210 has a rear longitudinal end 213, which rises progressively upward to its rear free end, the rise of which is less pronounced than that of a spatula.
[0031] The sliding attachment 200 also includes a shoe 220 that is removably adapted to fit onto a stroller wheel. This shoe 220 can therefore be attached to only one stroller wheel without interfering with any other stroller wheels. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the shoe 220 is therefore adapted to be attached to either of the front wheels 130, as will be explained in more detail below. In FIG. 1, the shoe 220 therefore allows the sliding attachment 200 to be removably attached to the left front wheel 130, while the sliding attachment 300 is removably attached to the right front wheel 130.
[0032] The wheel chocks 220 are supported by the base plate 210 and are arranged on the upper surface of the base plate 210. In the embodiment considered here, the wheel chocks 220 stand up from the surface 210B, the base plate being provided on its upper surface, which is generally parallel to the running surface 210A. Furthermore, the wheel chocks 220 are advantageously arranged in the intermediate longitudinal section 214 of the base plate 210, between the front longitudinal section 212 and the rear longitudinal section 213.
[0033] The wheel chock 220 defines a housing 221 intended to receive the lower part of the wheel 130. The housing 221 is open upwards, in other words along the axis ZZ and in the direction opposite the lower surface of the bottom plate 210, so that the lower part of the wheel 130 can be inserted into the housing 221 and removed therefrom in a reversible manner. In this way, the sliding attachment 200 and the wheel 130 can be moved relative to each other along the axis ZZ, allowing the sliding attachment 200 to be reversibly an in-use configuration, where the sliding attachment is attached to the wheel 130, the lower part of which is fully engaged downwardly into the housing 221; and an in-use configuration, in which the sliding attachment 200 is free from the wheel 130, the lower part of the wheel is free from the housing 221, and the wheel is free from the housing and is further away from the base plate 210 along the ZZ axis and upwards compared to the in-use configuration; Move between.
[0034] An in-use configuration is shown in Figures 1 to 4 for the gliding attachment 200. An out-of-use configuration is shown in Figure 2 for the gliding attachment 300.
[0035] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the housing 221 advantageously presents a plane of symmetry P, which is parallel to the axes XX and ZZ and lies substantially in the center of the base plate 210 along the axis YY. This plane of symmetry P corresponds to the cross section VI shown in FIG.
[0036] Along the axis ZZ, the housing 221 is terminated at the bottom, in other words in the direction of the base plate 210, by a bottom wall 222 of the chock 220, which is arranged transversely to the axis ZZ. In other words, the bottom wall 222 extends transversely to the axis ZZ. The bottom wall 222 is When the sliding attachment 200 is in the in-use position, the bottom of the tire 131 of the wheel 130 is pressed against the bottom wall 222 along the axis ZZ, and When the sliding attachment 200 is in the non-use position, the tire 131 of the wheel 130 is spaced from the bottom wall 222; It is given as follows.
[0037] In the embodiment considered in the figures, the bottom wall 222 is formed by a portion of a cylinder, which is centered on a geometric axis Y 222 parallel to the axis YY, and whose concave surface is curved upwards, in other words in the opposite direction to the underside of the bottom plate 210. The concave surface of this portion of the cylinder presents a radius slightly larger than the diameter of the wheel 130 and is provided, on the other hand, with at least one bulge 222.1, which locally reduces the distance between this concave surface and the geometric axis Y 222. When the sliding accessory 200 is in its in-use position, a radial distance remains between the concave surface of said portion of the cylinder and the tire 131 of the wheel 130, except at the level of the or each bulge 222.1, where the tire is pressed along the axis ZZ, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 4. Bottom wall 222 is therefore designed to fit snugly around the bottom of wheel 130, making wheel chock 220 particularly intuitive for a user to mate with wheel 130 and facilitating removal of any snow that may clog housing 221 before the wheel chock is secured to wheel 130.
[0038] Also, in the embodiment considered in the figures, as can be clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4, the geometric plane defined by the running surface 210A of the base plate 210 is tangent to the concave surface of the cylindrical portion forming the bottom wall 222. In use, the bottom wall 222 therefore rests locally against the snow-covered ground onto which the running surface 210A is applied. This therefore increases the compactness and robustness of the wheel chock 2220.
[0039] Along the axis YY, the housing 221 is closed by two side walls 223 of the wheel chock 220, namely a left-hand side wall and a right-hand side wall. The two side walls 223 are arranged parallel to the axes XX and ZZ, face each other along the axis YY, and are connected to each other along the axis YY by a bottom wall 222. When the sliding attachment 200 is in the in-use position, the lower part of the wheel 130 is located between the side walls 223 along the axis YY, as can be clearly seen in Figures 1 to 3.
[0040] In the embodiment considered in the figures, each of the side walls 223 extends along the axis ZZ up to the base plate 210. Each side wall 223 therefore projects from the face 210B of the base plate 210.
[0041] Each of the two side walls 223 is provided with a relief 224 which extends in a protruding manner from the remainder of the corresponding side wall towards the other of the side walls along the axis YY. The two reliefs 224 of the sliding accessory 200 can cooperate together by coming into contact with the tire 131 of the wheel 130 when the sliding accessory 200 is in its in-use position and when it passes between this in-use position and its out-of-use position. This cooperation by contact between the reliefs 224 and the tire 131 results from a dimensional interference between the reliefs 224 and the tire 131, in particular the bead 135 of the tire.
[0042] 3 and 4, when the sliding accessory 200 is in its position for use, the reliefs 224 press the tire 131, or more precisely the lower part of the tire 131, against the bottom wall 222 of the housing 221 along the axis ZZ, with the aim of fixing the sliding accessory to the wheel 130. In fact, the reliefs 224 therefore press against each of the beads 135 of the tire 131, or more precisely the lower part of each of these beads 135, due to the aforementioned dimensional interference between the reliefs 224 and the beads 135. In fact, the width of the tire 131 at the level of the beads is intended to be, on the one hand, smaller or equal to the spacing between the outer side walls 223 of the reliefs 224 along the axis YY, and, on the other hand, larger than the spacing between the reliefs 224 along the axis YY, when the tire is at rest, in other words not subjected to crushing stresses.
[0043] When the sliding accessory passes between the in-use and out-of-use configurations, the tire 131, or more precisely the lower part of the tire 131, is elastically pressed by the reliefs 224. This pressure of the tire 131 by the reliefs 224 occurs essentially at the level of the beads 135 of the tire 131, due to the aforementioned dimensional interference between the reliefs 224 and the beads 135. At the same time, the rim 132 does not substantially constrain the reliefs 224, in the sense that the spacing between the reliefs 224 along the axis YY is equal to or greater than the width of the rim 132.
[0044] In an in-use configuration, which facilitates the movement of the sliding accessory 200 between its in-use and out-of-use configurations, the relief 224 of each side wall 223 is inclined towards the outer wall so as to progressively press against the tire 131, and in particular against its bead 135, when the sliding accessory 200 passes from one of its in-use and out-of-use configurations to the other. As can be clearly seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6, each relief 224 thus has, on the one hand, an upper surface 224A extending from the corresponding side wall 223 inclined downwards, and, on the other hand, a lower surface B extending from the corresponding side wall 223 inclined upwards. In a cross section transverse to the axis YY in Figure 2, each relief 224 therefore presents a "V"-shaped profile, with the tip of the "V" truncated if necessary.
[0045] In another advantageous optional arrangement implemented in the example embodiment considered here, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 6, each relief 224 projects above the corresponding side wall 223 along the axis YY and presents an arched shape, that is to say, curved downwards towards the bottom wall 222 of the housing 221. This arched shape improves the contact cooperation between the relief 224 and the tire 131 of the wheel 130. In particular, as can be clearly seen from Fig. 6, each relief 224, in particular at its lower surface 224B, presents a lower profile, shaped like an arc of a circle, which has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the tire 131, in particular the bead 135 of the tire 131. In this way, when the sliding accessory 200 is in its in-use position, the lower profile of each relief 224 adapts to the curvature of the tire 131 of the wheel 130, in particular the curvature of the bead 135. The relief 224 further presents an upper profile, particularly at its upper surface 224A, which is also arched, but whose curvature is less than that of the upper profile. This upper profile of the relief 224 facilitates engagement of the lower portion of the wheel 130 within the housing 221 by guiding the wheel 130 to be progressively centered relative to the lower profile of the relief 224 as the sliding accessory 200 passes from the out-of-use configuration to the in-use configuration.
[0046] Along the axis XX, each of the reliefs 224 does not extend continuously in the example embodiment considered in the figures, but instead consists of several separate elements 224.1, 224.2 and 224.3, which are separated from one another along the axis XX, as can be seen in Figures 5 and 6. This segmented embodiment of the reliefs 224 offers a practical advantage to the manufacturer of the wheel chock 220: it allows the reliefs 224 of the wheel 130 and the tire 131 to interact over a large area along the axis XX, without this cooperation being continuous towards the outer edge of the tire 131. Thus, the tire 131 is not significantly pressed by the reliefs 224 in the free spaces between the elements 224.1, 224.2 and 224.3, thus avoiding local overpressures.
[0047] Along the axis XX, the housing 221 is advantageously closed by a front wall 225 and a rear wall 226, which face each other along the axis XX. As can be seen in FIG. 5, these front and rear walls 225, 226 respectively connect the side walls 223 to each other and thus reinforce the structural strength of the chock 220 and the housing 221. When the sliding attachment 200 is in its in-use position, the front wall 225 forms a stop along the axis XX and forward for the lower part of the wheel 130, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 4. Similarly, the rear wall 226 forms a stop along the axis XX and toward the rear for the lower part of the wheel 130. The front and rear walls 225, 226 therefore reinforce the connection of the wheel 130 to the chock 220 when the sliding attachment 200 is in its in-use position. The stops formed respectively by the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 cooperate by their dimensional interference, by coming into contact with the lower part of the wheel 130 and more precisely with the tire 131 of this lower part. In this respect, as can be clearly seen in Figure 4, the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 are separated along the axis XX by a distance that is shorter than the outside diameter of the tire 131 at the opening of the housing 221.
[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 each extend along the axis ZZ to the base plate 210. The front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 therefore each protrude from the surface 210B of the base plate 210. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 are raised at an angle relative to the axis ZZ. The angle of inclination of the rear wall 226 relative to the axis ZZ is even more pronounced than the angle of inclination of the front wall 225, in particular at least 30 degrees, so that the rear wall 226 presents an upwardly curved surface, in other words a surface 226A facing away from the underside of the base plate 210, which surface 226A presents an extension substantially along the axis XX and provided with one or more projections 227 distributed along the axis XX. The importance of this and of these projections 227 will become clear below.
[0049] In either case, the housing 221 allows the gliding attachment 200 to be coupled to and detached from the wheel 130 simply, effectively, conveniently, and quickly.
[0050] Indeed, considering, for example, that stroller 100 is first used to roll on hard ground with front and rear wheels 130, 140, and then that stroller 100 reaches snow-covered ground, on which it is difficult to move forward because the wheels sink into the snow, the user of stroller 100 can instantly return the sliding attachments 200 and 300 to stroller 100 by attaching them to the front wheels 130, respectively. To do this, the user lifts the front of frame 110 and raises the front wheels 130 a few centimeters off the ground. This operation of lifting the front of stroller 100 is easily performed by holding the rear of stroller 100 on the ground at the level of its rear wheels 140, and this can be easily done while the child is still in the stroller's receiving member 120, if necessary. The user then places sliding attachment 200 under the left front wheel 130, aligning the left front wheel 130 perpendicularly with housing 221. The user then stops the lifting of the front of the frame 110 by resting the left front wheel 130 against the top of the housing 221, specifically against the top surface 224A of each of the reliefs 224. The user then applies strong pressure frame210 in the direction of the ground, in other words along the axis ZZ, and downwards, as well as the lower part of the tire 131 of the left front wheel 130, which is elastically pressed downwards by the relief 224, in particular in the region of its bead 135, along the axis YY, until it passes downwards through the relief 224. Once the relief 224 has been passed by the tire 131, this tire 131, and in particular its bead 135, is at least partly released from the pressure by the elastic effect, while being pressed against the bottom wall 222 along the axis ZZ by the relief 224. At the same time, the tire 131 abuts against the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226 along the axis XX. The lower part of the tire 131 is therefore pressed firmly against the lower part of the housing 221, which ensures that the sliding accessory 200 is attached to the wheel 130. The user performs the same operation with the sliding attachment 300 to attach it to the right front wheel 130. This situation is further illustrated in Figure 2, where the sliding attachment 200 is already attached to the stroller 100, while the user lifts the front of the frame 110 and positions the sliding attachment 300 in line with the right front wheel 130, so that the right front wheel 130 secures to the sliding attachment 300.
[0051] Once the two sliding attachments 200 and 300 are attached to the stroller 100 as shown in Figure 1, the user can move the stroller forward over snowy ground by sliding the sliding attachments 200 and 300 over the snow at the front of the stroller. It should be noted that the stroller 100 remains steerable when turning because the front wheels 130 are swivelable relative to the frame 110.
[0052] Now, consider that if a user wishes to remove sliding attachments 200 and 300 from stroller 100, for example because the user has reached an area of snow-free ground, the user positions themselves on the side of stroller 100 and places the front of their feet on surface 210B of base plate 210 on either side of wheel chocks 220 of sliding attachment 200, thereby holding the base plate firmly against the ground. The slope and protrusions of rear wall 226 advantageously function to reinforce this retention by allowing one of the user's feet to rest partially on surface 226A of rear wall 226 and be held firmly against rear wall 226 by rubbing / clicking protrusion 227. The user then pulls the front of the frame 110 vertically towards him, in other words along the axis ZZ, and upwards, which correspondingly pulls the left front wheel 130 out of the housing 221 and upwards beyond the relief 224 due to the elastic compression of the tire 131, in particular its bead 135. The sliding attachment 200 is thus moved into the non-use position. The user then proceeds in the same way with the sliding attachment 300 to remove it from the right front wheel 130.
[0053] It should be noted that what has been described herein about attaching / detaching the sliding accessories 200 and 300 to / from the front wheels 130 of the stroller is in principle also directly applicable to the rear wheels 140, provided that the rear wheels 140 each have a tire similar to the tire 131 of the front wheels 130. In particular, if four sliding accessories are available, it is theoretically possible to equip each of the four wheels of the stroller with one of the sliding accessories. However, in practice, the simultaneous use of sliding accessories, for example the sliding accessories 200 and 300, on all wheels of the stroller may be discouraged, inappropriate or even prohibited for safety reasons, and may indeed pose a serious potential danger, especially on sloping, snow-covered ground, if the user drives the stroller carelessly or clumsily. In this regard, according to an advantageous optional arrangement of the sliding accessories 200 and 300, each of the sliding accessories 200 and 300 is provided with a corresponding warning to the user, which warning faces upward, i.e., in the opposite direction from the underside of the base plate, so that it can be seen by the user during use. Thus, in the example shown in the figures, the sliding accessory 200 is provided with a visible warning area 215 on the surface 210B of its base plate 210. This visible warning area 215 includes, for example, one or more pictograms and / or wording intended to make it clear to the user that the sliding accessory should only be provided on the front wheel 130. The form of the visible warning area 215 is not limited and may consist, for example, of a sticker, an inlaid pattern, etc.
[0054] In addition to the functional capabilities described above for the sliding accessories 200 and 300, they are advantageously designed to be easy and economical to manufacture. For this purpose, the bottom wall 222, the two side walls 223, and the front and rear walls 225 and 226 are integrated with the base plate 210, as shown in the drawings. In particular, the bottom wall 222, the side walls 223, and the front and rear walls 225 and 226 are preferably molded in one piece with the base plate 210. In other words, the chock 220 and the base plate 210 are preferably integrated, in particular by molding. To facilitate demolding, the base plate 210 is advantageously provided with complete openings 216, which connect the lower and upper sides of the base plate 210 to each other, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, and which are arranged in line with the relief 224 along the axis ZZ.
[0055] 7-11 show sliding accessories 1200 and 1300 as alternative embodiments to the previously described sliding accessories 200 and 300. Sliding accessories 1200 and 1300 are functionally similar to sliding accessories 200 and 300, i.e., like sliding accessories 200 and 300, they allow the front of stroller 100 to slide over snow-covered ground. However, sliding accessories 1200 and 1300 have unique features compared to sliding accessories 200 and 300, which are described below.
[0056] In the example shown in the figures, it will be understood that the two sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 are identical to each other, whereby only sliding attachment 1200 will be described in detail below, and sliding attachment 1300 will be described in the same terms.
[0057] The sliding attachment 1200 has a base plate 1210 that is functionally or even structurally similar to the base plate 210. In particular, the base plate 1210 is provided with a snow sliding surface 1210A on its underside and a surface 1210B on its upper side.
[0058] The sliding attachment 1200 also includes a chock 1220 that is functionally similar to the chock 220. In particular, the chock 1220 defines a housing 1221 that is functionally similar to the housing 221 and is bounded by a bottom wall 1222, a side wall 1223, a front wall 1225, and a rear wall 1226, which are functionally similar to the walls 222, 223, 225, and 226, respectively. Like the chock 220, the chock 1220 is advantageously integrally molded with the bottom 1210.
[0059] Unlike the bottom wall 222, the bottom wall 1222 is substantially flat and is formed by the bottom plate 1210, or more precisely by a dedicated portion of the bottom plate, and is positioned vertically along the axis ZZ of the chock 1220. This arrangement is beneficial to the compactness, robustness and manufacturing, especially molding, of the sliding attachment 1200.
[0060] The side wall 1223 is essentially the same as the side wall 223 , in particular by being provided with a relief 1224 that is similar to the relief 224 .
[0061] In contrast to the front wall 225 and the rear wall 226, the front wall 1225 and the rear wall 1226 are not inclined with respect to the axis ZZ, but rise parallel to this axis ZZ from the base plate 1210. The rear wall 1226 is therefore free of protrusions such as the protrusion 227.
[0062] Independent of the structural specifications for the walls 1222, 1223, 1225 and 1226 of the wheel chock 1220, the wheel chock 1220 exhibits an optional configuration that allows for preventing the sliding attachment 1200 from being attached to the rear wheel 140 of the stroller 100. This configuration is further compatible with the manufacture of the sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 by molding.
[0063] For this purpose, the wheel chock 1220 has a foolproof device 1227 which, by interference with the axle 141 along the axis ZZ, prevents the sliding attachment 1200 from changing from the inactive to the active configuration when a user attempts to attach the sliding attachment 1200 to one of the rear wheels 140. In the embodiment shown in the figures, this foolproof device has webs 1227.1 and 1227.2 which are arranged substantially parallel to the axes XX and ZZ and are located on either side of the side wall 1223. In practice, the webs 1227.1 and 1227.2 extend from the face 1210B of the base plate 1210. Each of those webs 1227.1 and 1227.2 presents an end 1227.1A, 1227.2A which, by its dimensions, is intended to press against the axle 141 significantly along the axis ZZ when the user tries to attach the sliding attachment 1200 to one or the other of the rear wheels 140. Whatever the design of the foolproof 1227, this foolproof 1227 prevents any possibility of the sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 being attached to the rear wheels 140, so that there is no risk of all the wheels of the stroller 100 being fixed to the sliding attachments.
[0064] In an advantageous optional arrangement that takes advantage of the presence of the webs 1227.1 and 1227.2, the sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 can be arranged head-to-tail and held together by interlocking. To achieve this, each side wall 1223 and the web 1227.1, 1227.2 closest to this side wall form a free space 1228.1, 1228.2 between them along the axis YY, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each of these free spaces 1228.1, 1228.2, particularly by its dimensions, allows one of the webs of the sliding attachment 1300 to be attached head-to-tail to the sliding attachment 1200, also in its non-use position, in the non-use position. The sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 are then arranged as shown in FIG. 11. In particular, each of the free spaces 1228.1 and 1228.2 has a width, in other words a dimension along the axis YY, i.e. a space between the corresponding side wall 1223 and the corresponding web 1227.1, 1227.2 along this axis YY, which is substantially equal to the thickness of the webs 1227.1 and 1227.2 along the axis YY. In Fig. 11, when the sliding accessories 1200 and 1300 are in a head-to-tail position, one of the webs 1227.1 and 1227.2 is pressed into one of the free spaces of the sliding accessory 1300, which helps to stabilize the head-to-tail arrangement. In all cases, when the sliding accessories 1200 and 1300 are connected head-to-tail, they together form a compact assembly, the outer shell of which is generally parallelepiped in shape and of compact design, making it particularly easy to handle. For example, sliding attachments 1200 and 1300 may be mounted head-to-tail in this manner and easily manipulated together to be moved into and out of the rear basket of stroller 100 .
[0065] Finally, various configurations and variations of the stroller 100 and sliding attachments 200, 300, 1200, and 1300 described above are possible. For example: Instead of having two front wheels, the stroller can have only one front wheel; similarly, three or more front wheels and three or more rear wheels can be provided on the stroller 100. Rather than having a solid structure, the tire 131 may be pneumatic, incorporating a compressed air chamber. Rather than being made integral with the base plate 210 or 1210, the chocks 220 or 1220 are separate components supported by and securely fastened to the associated base plate; and / or For sliding accessories 200 and 300 that do not have a foolproof system, e.g. a foolproof device 227, the above-mentioned risks can be mitigated by incorporating a braking device into each sliding accessory, for the rear wheel 140, which braking device can be activated voluntarily by the user of the stroller 100, in particular by foot control, and which acts by preventing the sliding accessory from sliding on snow-covered ground.
Claims
1. A sliding attachment (200, 300, 1200, 1300) for a stroller (100), a base plate (210, 1210) having an elongated shape along a first axis (X-X) and having first and second faces opposite each other along a second axis (Z-Z) perpendicular to the first axis, the base plate being provided on the first face with a snow running surface (210A, 1210A), the snow running surface being intended to be applied to a snow-covered ground; and Wheel chocks (220, 1220) supported by the base plate (210, 1210), positioned on the second side of the base plate, and capable of being removably coupled to wheels (130) of the stroller (100); comprising wherein the wheel chock (220, 1220) defines a housing (221, 1221) for receiving the lower part of the wheel (130), the housing being open along the second axis (Z-Z) in a direction opposite to the first surface of the bottom plate (210, 1210), and the housing being demarcated by a bottom wall (222, 1222) arranged to intersect with the second axis (Z-Z), and by two side walls (223, 1223) arranged to face each other along a third axis (Y-Y) that is arranged substantially parallel to the first axis (X-X) and to the second axis (Z-Z) and perpendicular to the first and second axes, wherein each of said two side walls (223, 1223) is provided with a relief (224, 1224) projecting from the remainder of the corresponding side wall towards the other side wall along said third axis (Y-Y); and wherein said relief (224, 1224) is in contact with the tire (131) of said wheel (130) and thereby allows the relative movement between said sliding accessory and said wheel along said second axis (Z-Z) to: - in use configuration, in which the relief (224, 1224) presses the tire (131) along the second axis (Z-Z) against the bottom wall (222, 1222), thereby forcing the lower part of the tire into the lower part of the housing (221, 1221) and connecting the sliding accessory to the wheel; and a configuration when not in use, in which the sliding accessory is detached from the wheel and the tire is elastically pressed by the relief along the third axis (Y-Y) while the sliding accessory is moving between the configuration when in use and the configuration when not in use; are arranged in a reversible transitional, cooperative, and solidaristic way between Gliding accessories.
2. 2. The sliding accessory of claim 1, wherein the reliefs (224, 1224) of each side wall (223, 1223) are beveled to progressively press the tire (131) of the wheel (130) toward the other side wall when the sliding accessory (200, 300, 1200, 1300) moves from one of the in-use and out-of-use configurations to the other configuration.
3. 3. A sliding accessory according to claim 2, wherein each relief (224, 1224) presents, in a cross section relative to said third axis (Y-Y), a "V" shaped profile or a truncated "V" shaped profile at the tip of said "V".
4. 4. A sliding accessory according to claim 1, wherein each relief (224, 1224) projects on the corresponding side wall (223, 1223) along the third axis (Y-Y) and presents an arched shape that is hemispherical towards the bottom wall (222, 1222).
5. 5. A sliding accessory according to claim 4, wherein when the sliding accessory is in its position for use, each relief has a profile that matches the curvature of the tire with its surface bent towards the bottom wall.
6. 6. A sliding accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each relief (224, 1224) is made up of a plurality of elements (224.1, 224.2, 224.3) spaced apart from one another along said first axis (X-X).
7. A sliding accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The housing (221, 1221) is also arranged opposite each other along the first axis (X-X) and is demarcated by a front wall (225, 1225) and a rear wall (226, 1226) connecting each of the two side walls (223, 1223), and said front wall (225, 1225) and rear wall (226, 1226) are capable of forming respective stops by cooperating with said lower part of said wheel (130) by contact with said tyre (131) of said lower part of said wheel along said first axis (X-X) when said sliding accessory (200, 300, 1200, 1300) is in its in-use position; Gliding accessories.
8. The sliding accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base plate (210, 1210) and the wheel chock (220, 1220) are integrally formed with one another.
9. 9. The sliding accessory according to claim 8, wherein the base plate (210, 1210) is provided with a complete opening (216) which connects the first and second faces of the base plate to each other, for the purpose of demolding the sliding accessory (200, 300, 1200, 1300), and which is arranged perpendicularly on the relief (224, 1224) along the second axis (Z-Z).
10. 10. A sliding accessory according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bottom wall (222) is formed by a portion of a cylinder, the cylinder being centered on a geometric axis (Y222) parallel to the third axis (Y-Y) and whose concave surface faces away from the first face of the base plate (210).
11. The sliding accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (1222) is substantially flat and is formed by the base plate (1210).
12. 1. A transfer assembly comprising: a stroller (100) having at least one front wheel (130) and two rear wheels (140), each front wheel having a tire (131) that is elastically deformable under pressure; and a sliding accessory (200, 300, 1200, 1300) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for each front wheel, said sliding accessory being attached to the corresponding front wheel in the in-use configuration; A transfer assembly comprising:
13. 13. The transport assembly of claim 12, the tire (131) of each front wheel (130) is supported by a rim (132) of said front wheel and projects from this rim on each of the lateral sides of said front wheel, thus forming two beads (135); the width of the tire (131) of each front wheel (130), at the level of the bead (135), while the tire is at rest, is on the one hand less than the spacing between the side walls (223, 1223) outside the reliefs (224, 1224) along the third axis (Y-Y), and on the other hand greater than the spacing between the reliefs along the third axis; and said spacing, along said third axis (Y-Y), between said reliefs (224, 1224) is equal to or greater than said width of said rim (132) of each front wheel (130); Transport assembly.
14. 14. A transport assembly according to claim 12 or 13, comprising: Each front wheel (130) is attached to the front part of the frame (110) of the stroller (100) and is connected to this front part of the frame so as to be freely rotatable about a pivot axis extending radially or orthogonally to the rotation axis (R130) of the front wheel; and When the or each front wheel (130) and associated sliding attachment (200, 300, 1200, 1300) in the in-use configuration are coupled together, the stroller (100) remains steerable by pivoting the front wheel(s) relative to the frame (110); Transport assembly.
15. A transport assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising: The sliding attachment is a sliding attachment according to claim 7, and the front wall (225, 1225) and the rear wall (226, 1226) are spaced apart from each other along the first axis (X-X) at an opening of the housing (221, 1221) at a distance smaller than the outer diameter of the tire (131); Transport assembly.
Citation Information
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