Land vehicles – Wheeled – Extensible
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-08-07
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Extensible
C280S250100, C280S030000, C280S643000, C297S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270111
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a stroller, and in particular, to a stroller with a tilt-in-space capability to select the recline angle of the seat assembly of the stroller.
A standard wheelchair is perhaps the most common wheeled support structure for handicapped individuals. Although wheelchairs are commonly designed to be readily adaptable to accommodate individuals of different sizes and shape, they often lack the contoured support needed to properly anatomically align and support the occupant. Further, standard wheelchairs frequently have complicated adjustment mechanisms in order to accommodate individuals of different size and weight, and fail to provide any means for varying the spatial orientation of the occupant without disturbing a therapeutically desired seating posture. Lastly, standard wheelchairs by their design and construction are usually restricted as to the type of terrain which can be traversed. For example, they typically have relatively small swivel wheels or coasters secured to their lower front end for mobility, which, because of their size often act as a limitation on the mobility of the wheelchair.
Another type of wheeled support structure, although not specifically designed for handicapped individuals, is a baby stroller. A wide variety of baby strollers are presently available, but none appear to satisfactorily combine the above desirable characteristics of a wheeled seat support or stroller for a handicapped individual. Baby strollers are designed to function primarily as wheeled structures for babies and small children. Therefore, such strollers are usually engineered to be of a light construction and often include intricate adjustment or collapse mechanisms which would be unduly cumbersome if enlarged to the size necessary for a wheeled support structure or stroller for an adolescent or adult. Lastly, baby strollers generally lack any contoured support such as that needed to properly anatomically align and support a handicapped individual.
Thus, there presently exists a genuine need for a wheeled support structure or stroller capable of properly anatomically aligning and supporting a seated occupant and capable of being adjusted to vary the spatial orientation of the occupant, and yet is easily transportable and storable when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a stroller having tilt-in-space capability. The stroller comprises a frame assembly including a tilt-in-space block having at least one cavity, and a seat assembly including at least one latch pin. The at least one latch pin of the seat assembly is capable of being disposed within the at least one cavity of the tilt-in-space block to allow selection of an angular position of the seat assembly with respect to the frame assembly.
In another embodiment of the invention, the stroller comprises a frame assembly including tilt-in-space block and a handle bar block pivotally connected to the tilt-in-space block, and a seat assembly including at least one pivot post capable of being received in the tilt-in-space block. The at least a portion of the handle bar block covers the at least one pivot post when pivoting the handle bar block around the tilt-in-space block, thereby preventing the seat assembly from being removed from the frame assembly when placing the stroller in a folded, down position.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a stroller having tilt-in-space capability comprises a frame assembly including a tilt-in-space block having a plurality of cavities, and a seat assembly including a tilt-in-space latch pin capable of being received in one of the plurality of cavities of the tilt-in-space block of the frame assembly. A first angular position of the seat assembly with respect to the frame assembly can be selected by positioning the tilt-in-space latch pin within one of the plurality of cavities of the tilt-in-space block, and a second angular position of the seat assembly with respect to the frame assembly can be selected by positioning the tilt-in-space latch pin within a different one of the plurality of cavities of the tilt-in-space block.
In still yet another embodiment of the invention, a stroller comprises a frame assembly including a handle bar block pivotally connected to a tilt-in-space block, and a seat assembly including at least one pivot post pivotally connected to the tilt-in-space block. The combined thickness of the handle bar block and the tilt-in-space block is about one inch.
In another embodiment of the invention, a stroller comprises a frame assembly including tilt-in-space block having a guide slot, and a seat assembly including at least one guide post capable of being received within the guide slot. The least one guide post can prevent the seat assembly from being removed from the frame assembly when the at least one guide post is received within the guide slot.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a stroller having anatomically correct pivot points comprises a frame assembly including tilt-in-space block and a handle bar block pivotally connected to the tilt-in-space block, and a seat assembly including at least one pivot post capable of being received in the tilt-in-space block. The pivot post of the seat assembly is located at approximately a center of mass of an occupant when seated in the stroller.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
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Hanson Wayne H.
Phelps William B.
Wolf Wade M.
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
Mai Lanna
Phan Hau
Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
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