Land vehicles – Wheeled – Stable vehicles – handle-propelled
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-16
2001-06-26
Vanaman, Frank (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Stable vehicles, handle-propelled
C280S827000, C280S062000, C280S079200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a child's stroller and, more particularly, to a child's stroller which has a stable and readily maneuverable three-point stance and which may also have an aesthetically pleasing appearance to children in the form of a miniature convertible automobile body or the like mounted on an underlying frame.
One of the optional features of the present invention is an open top, miniature convertible automobile body which can be mounted over a frame so as to essentially conceal the frame from view. Broadly speaking, such strollers have been known in the prior art such as the open top racer car shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,290 issued to E. J. Gaffney et al. on Jul. 8, 1997. The racer car body contains fake front and rear wheels molded in the sides thereof which do not roll relative to the frame and body and which do not touch the stroller supporting surface. A pair of transversely spaced apart rear wheels are rollably mounted on vertically extending struts which are suspended under the racer car body from rear end portions of a frame. These rollable rear wheels are medially displaced from the fake rear wheels. A pair of transversely spaced apart front wheels in the form of swivel or pivotal casters are mounted under the racer car body and are suspended from a front end portion of the frame. These casters are medially displaced from the fake front wheels. The subject racer car stroller thus features a four point stance.
One of the problems encountered with a prior art stroller of the type shown in the Gaffney et al. patent is that the fake molded wheels on the sides of the racer car body lack realism and are aesthetically unpleasing as compared to a stroller car body having real rollable wheels.
Another feature of my invention is a frame having a stable highly maneuverable three point stance resulting from the use of a pair of spaced apart real wheels and a single swivel caster located under a front end portion of the frame on a longitudinal centerline of the stroller and frame. No such three point stance has been found by me on a stroller of the prior art. A clear advantage of such a single front swivel caster and three point stance is increased maneuverability over most prior art strollers which employ a four point stance. However, the three point stance results in instability, as where a person pushing such a stroller attempts to make a sharp right or left hand turn, particularly when moving forward at a relatively high speed, or when a load on the stroller is displaced from its longitudinal centerline, as where an occupant is seated or leans to one side thereof.
By means of my invention, the problem of instability using a stroller with a three point stance and other problems encountered using strollers of the prior art are substantially overcome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of my invention to provide a novel child's stroller.
It is a further object of my invention to provide a child's stroller having a three point stance.
It is also an object of my invention to provide a child's stroller having a three point stance which is stable and not highly likely to turn over as when rapidly pushed through a sharp right or left hand turn or where the weight of an occupant is displaced from a longitudinal centerline of the stroller.
It is another object of my invention to provide a child's stroller which is both stable and readily maneuverable by a person pushing the same.
It is yet another object of my invention to provide a child's stroller having an aesthetically pleasing appearance such as in the form of a miniature convertible automobile having real wheels rollably mounted under fenders.
Briefly, in accordance with my invention, there is provided a child's stroller including a frame having a pair of support surface engaging rear wheels rollably mounted on a rear end portion thereof and a support surface engaging swivel caster suspended from a front portion of the frame on a longitudinal centerline thereof. The stroller also includes a body forming a housing which is mounted on the frame. The body defines an opening on an upper surface thereof which is capable of surrounding an occupant. The stroller further includes a seat for the occupant which is mounted on the frame within the body which is surrounded by the body opening. A handle is included which is attached to and which extends rearwardly from the frame for permitting a person to push and guide the stroller.
These and other objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description and attached drawings upon which, by way of example, only a preferred embodiment of my invention is described and illustrated.
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Miller, Jr. Maurice L.
Vanaman Frank
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