Land vehicles – Wheeled – Nesting vehicles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-04-03
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Nesting vehicles
C280S642000, C280S647000, C280S047380, C297S130000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a baby stroller apparatus and, more particularly, a stroller frame that accommodates one or more standard car seats of the type used by infants, babies and small children.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of baby strollers are currently available. Virtually all of these employ a seat that is permanently fixed to the stroller frame. Such strollers are particularly inconvenient for transferring a child to or from a baby's car seat in an automobile or other motor vehicle. The child must be first unharnessed and lifted out of the stroller, and then reseated and rebuckled in the car seat. This entire procedure is reversed when the child is transferred from the car seat to the stroller. In either event, this task is normally awkward, time consuming and aggravating. The child is likely to be woken, or otherwise disturbed. Fussing and/or crying may result, which can be especially aggravating to the adult. There is also a risk of dropping the child when he or she is lifted. If the child is being returned from a visit to the supermarket or other store, an inefficient number of trips back and forth between the house and the vehicle may be required to unload the child and the purchased items. While at the store, the child typically must be transferred to a standard shopping cart. Known strollers do not provide substantial storage capability for items that are purchased.
Most conventional strollers also feature rather small wheels, which are not easily maneuverable. As a result, such strollers are very difficult, if not impossible, to push over sand, grass or other rough terrain.
Moreover, existing strollers do not adequately address the needs of newborn, premature and/or handicapped infants. Such babies typically require extra support for their heads and necks. They also require an especially secure harness arrangement. Most standard baby strollers simply do not provide these benefits. They are therefore impractical for use by very small infants.
A particular need exists for an improved multiple child stroller. Conventional strollers for twins normally feature a large, unwieldy and rather complicated construction. Multiple strollers that seat the children side-by-side are inordinately wide. They are usually difficult to maneuver in close quarters such as store aisles, restrooms, narrow sidewalks and elsewhere. Furthermore, virtually all multiple strollers exhibit one or more of the other problems described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved baby stroller apparatus that accommodates one or more standard children's car seats.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that permits a child to be installed in the stroller in a quick and convenient manner.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that permits a child to be readily transferred between the stroller and a motor vehicle without unduly disturbing the child and without having to undergo the aggravation and hassle of unbuckling, lifting, reseating and rebuckling the child.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that significantly improves the versatility and efficiency of the standard child's car seat.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that conveniently stores and transports items purchased at a store and greatly facilitates unloading a vehicle following a shopping trip.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that features a durable and lightweight construction as well as an aesthetically attractive appearance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that utilizes large, easily maneuverable wheels and a lightweight frame so that the stroller may be pushed conveniently over grass, sand and virtually all types of rough terrain.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that permits a small child, his or her car seat, diaper bags and other accessories to be transported conveniently from the house to a motor vehicle and vice versa in a single trip.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that employs a sleek frame that permits a plurality of babies to be pushed conveniently through narrow or crowded areas such as store aisles, sidewalks, restrooms and elsewhere.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that is readily collapsible so that it may be conveniently transported in a motor vehicle or stowed at home.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller for twins and other multiple numbers of children that supports the babies vertically with respect to one another such that the stroller is conveniently maneuverable and the babies' observation positions can be readily adjusted when desired.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that provides improved support and harnessing, especially for newborn, premature, disabled and/or under developed children.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a baby stroller that is easy to maintain and clean.
This invention results from a realization that infants and small children may be transported much more efficiently and conveniently, and with considerably less disturbance and aggravation by employing a stroller that uses, as its seat, a standard child's car seat, which may be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the stroller frame. This apparatus allows the baby to be pushed in the stroller simply by seating the child in the seat and mounting the car seat to the stroller frame. Then, when strolling is completed, the child may be quickly and conveniently removed from the stroller by disengaging and lifting the car seat from the frame. The car seat may then be carried manually or re-installed in a motor vehicle. There is no need to unbuckle the child from the stroller, lift the child, reseat the child in the car seat and re-harness the child. As a result, time is saved and considerable aggravation is avoided.
This invention features a baby stroller apparatus for use in combination with a standard child's car seat. The car seat includes a transportable base having a transverse slot formed therein. The transportable base also includes a latching mechanism mounted therein and extending across the transverse slot for releasably engaging a complementary locking component in a fixed car seat base mounted in a motor vehicle. The stroller includes a frame having a pair of elongate, generally parallel side sections and at least one pair of elongate, generally parallel crossbar members that transversely interconnect the side sections. One of the crossbar members is received by the transverse slot and releasably interengaged with the releasable latching mechanism. The other crossbar member interengages the transportable base such that the car seat is mounted on the frame. Wheel means are mounted rotatably to and depend from the frame for engaging the ground, the floor or a like surface and allowing the stroller to be pushed by applying a pushing or pulling force to the frame.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame includes a handle attached to at least one of the side sections proximate an upper end thereof. The handle may be transversely interconnected between respective upper ends of the side sections. Each side section may include a pair of foldably connected upper and lower segments, which are alternatable between an open condition and a collapsed condition. Clip means may be attached to one of the upper and lower side segments for selectively engaging the other of the upper and lower segments when the upper and lower segments are opened to hold the segments in the open condition. The clip means are selectively disengaged from the other segment to permit the interconnected segments to fold relative to one another.
An additional pair of the crossbar members may be selectively interengaged by the transverse slot and base of a second standard
Schaaf Marshajene
Schaaf William Chester
Fischmann Bryan
Johnson Brian L.
Noonan William E.
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