US-12623709-B2 - Reconfigurable buggy

US12623709B2US 12623709 B2US12623709 B2US 12623709B2US-12623709-B2

Abstract

Reconfigurable buggies are described, designed to releasably connect two individual buggies to form one in-line tandem buggy. Methods of coupling and uncoupling are also described along with a connection detail kit that a consumer may look to purchase separately to a buggy or buggies. In one aspect, the buggies are releasably coupled via a connection detail so that the first buggy is linked ahead of the second buggy via the connection detail to form an in-line tandem buggy. An advantage of the above may include versatility to the consumer allowing them to purchase individual buggies and separately a connection detail. This means the consumer may use the two buggies individually or combined together and operable by one person.

Inventors

Campbell Douglas Gower
Philip John Bracen

Assignees

PHIL AND TEDS DESIGN LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220609
Priority Date: 20210615

Claims (15)

1 . An in-line tandem buggy configured for carriage of two or more child seats, the in-line tandem buggy comprising: a first buggy configured for use alone to convey at least one child seat; a second buggy configured for use alone to convey at least one child seat; and a connection detail, the connection detail comprising: a linking member which comprises a plate, wherein the linking member further comprises, at one end of the plate of the linking member, connection member rods and the linking member further comprises, at an opposing end of the plate of the linking member, second buggy connection members; and a base section; wherein, when the first buggy and the second buggy are releasably coupled together via the connection detail: the second buggy connection members on one end of the linking member couple with the base section, the connection member rods on an opposing end of the plate of the linking member couple with the second buggy; the base section has a first end that engages the first buggy and a second end that couples to the plate of the linking member; and the first buggy being linked ahead of the second buggy via the connection detail, the coupled first buggy and the second buggy, combining to form the in-line tandem buggy.
2 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first buggy or the second buggy comprises one or two child conveying seats.
3 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first buggy and the second buggy are configured for use on their own in an un-linked manner when not coupled.
4 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the in-line tandem buggy is braked by use of brakes on the first buggy.
5 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base section comprises a fixing section to couple the base section to the rear strut and further comprises therein, at the second end of the base section a further plate.
6 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fixing section and the further plate therein have apertures there-between into which the second buggy connection members insert and are retained therein.
7 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 6 wherein the further plate and the second buggy connection members engage together to retain the second buggy connection members within the apertures.
8 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 7 wherein when the second buggy connection members are inserted into the recesses of the base section and, engagement occurs by the further plate interfering with the second buggy connection members and locking the second buggy connection members within the recesses.
9 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 7 wherein the further plate in the base section is movable in a horizontal plane relative to the base section and the fixing section.
10 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 9 wherein the further plate is movable from a second buggy connection member engaged position to a second buggy connection member non-engaged position.
11 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 9 wherein movement of the further plate relative to the base section and the second buggy linking members is urged via an actuator.
12 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises a bias means that biases the further plate to interfere with the second buggy connection members when the second buggy connection members are in the apertures of the base section.
13 . The in-line tandem buggy as claimed in claim 1 wherein a rear strut and wheels of the second buggy are removed and replaced with leg extensions sockets and additional wheels fitted to the second buggy leg struts when the first buggy and the second buggy are coupled, the leg extension sockets and additional wheels configured to increase the height of a rear of the second buggy when in the in-line tandem buggy configuration to level the second buggy relative to the first buggy.
14 . A method of coupling a first buggy and a second buggy to form an in-line tandem buggy by: providing the first buggy, the second buggy and the connection detail as claimed in claim 1 ; and coupling the first buggy and the second buggy together via the connection detail so as to form the in-line tandem buggy.
15 . A method of un-coupling an in-line tandem buggy to a first buggy configuration and a second buggy configuration by: providing the first buggy, the second buggy and the connection detail as claimed in claim 1 ; and un-coupling the connection detail so as to separate the in-line tandem buggy into the first buggy, the second buggy and the connection detail.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is the U.S. National Stage application of International Application No PCT/NZ2022/050072, filed Jun. 6, 2022, which International Application was published on Dec. 22, 2022, as International Publication No. WO2022/265522. The International Application claims priority to New Zealand Patent Application No. 777205, filed Jun. 15, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD Broadly described herein is reconfigurable buggy. More specifically, a system and method are described to releasably link two buggies together in a series configuration. BACKGROUND ART Existing strollers are often manufactured to convey one child. Single buggies to convey two children may be side by side, this configuration being a wide configuration. So-called ‘inline’ configurations also exist where the child seats are on a single buggy, one seat behind the other seat. One option to link an accessory to a buggy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,683,025. The accessory is described in this patent as being a chassis with wheels. The chassis cannot be used to convey a child on its own and requires connection to a buggy via a specific connection mechanism to be used. The connection mechanism is described as having extending male members mating with female openings in the frame legs sides. When the accessory is connected to the buggy, a pivot axis is defined by the connection point that allows the accessory to rotate about the connection in a vertical plane. An alternative linking mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,657,303. In this case, the linking mechanism is used to link a scooter to the rear of a buggy via a linking mechanism using interlinking male pins and female openings that cooperate about a vertical plane to releasably connect the scooter and buggy. A variation to the above is described in US 2020/0223469. In this patent publication, the accessory is a seat on a chassis and with two rear wheels. The accessory cannot be used alone and in fact folds up when not in use for ease of carriage. The accessory is connected to a buggy via the connection mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,683,025. Critical to the design is a transfer of braking so that, when the brakes are applied by a user to the accessory, the accessory communicates this to the buggy and the buggy brakes are then actuated. The accessory itself has no braking capability. A problem in the art relates to how two separate buggies may be used separately or releasably linked together in a series configuration. Existing double buggies cannot be detached into two single buggies. The solutions of U.S. Pat. No. 10,683,025 and US 2020/0223469 are not two separate buggies' linked together and have a lower value to the purchaser since the accessory can only be used when in the use configuration. The accessory cannot be used alone meaning an extra item and expense to the purchaser. A common scenario for a growing family is that a consumer may purchase a first buggy for their first child and then, when a second child arrives, the parents are faced with decision on whether to purchase double buggies, two separate buggies or an accessory. Sometimes this might mean purchase of a further first buggy as well. It may be useful to be able link two separate buggies together but also use either buggy separately on their own or at least provide the public with a choice. Further aspects and advantages of the reconfigurable buggy will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only. SUMMARY Described herein are reconfigurable buggies, more specifically the ability to releasably connect two individual buggies to form one in-line tandem buggy. Methods of coupling and uncoupling are also described along with a connection detail kit that a consumer may look to purchase separately to a buggy or buggies. In a first aspect, there is provided an in-line tandem buggy configured for carriage of two or more child seats, the in-line tandem buggy comprising: a first buggy configured for use alone to convey at least one child seat;a second buggy configured for use alone to convey at least one child seat; anda connection detail;wherein the first and second buggies are releasably coupled together via the connection detail so that the first buggy is linked ahead of the second buggy via the connection detail and the resulting coupled first and second buggies, combine to form the in-line tandem buggy. In a second aspect, there is provided a method of coupling a first buggy and a second buggy to form an in-line tandem buggy by: providing a first buggy, a second buggy and a connection detail, the connection detail configured to releasably couple together a first buggy ahead of a second buggy via the connection detail to form an in-line tandem buggy; andcoupling the first buggy and the second buggy together via the connection detail so as to form the in-line tandem buggy. In a th