Oh, patents! Bugaboo® swivel wheels (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Bugaboo® strollers are equipped with patented swivel wheels. Consider, for example, the US utility patent US7497449, titled Child buggy with wheel with suspension, wheel with suspension and swivel wheel with suspension, granted to Stéphane Logger, on March 3rd, 2009.

The patent abstract is included below, together with the patent Figure 1, indexed in the abstract. 

The invention relates to a swivel wheel (10) with suspension (14), comprising a wheel frame (11), a wheel element (12) able to turn about a horizontal wheel axle (13), a suspension (14) and an arm (15). At one end the arm (15) is attached to the wheel frame (11) such that it can pivot about a horizontal arm axis (17) and at the other end it supports the wheel axle (13) Some distance away from the arm axis (17). The Suspension (14) engages on the arm (15) at an arm engagement point (18) and on the wheel frame (11) at a frame engagement point (19). The arm engagement point (18) and the frame engagement point (19) define a straight Suspension axis (20) running through these points. The wheel furthermore has an adjustment mechanism (30) that is equipped for setting the distance (D) from the suspension axis (20) to the arm axis (17) by moving the arm engagement point (18) and/or the frame engagement point (19) along an adjustment track (31). [Abstract US7497449]

Interestingly, the scope of the invention is such that the patent recites a swivel wheel where the swivel wheel frame (11) could be part of the stroller frame or part of the wheel. Thus, when the swivel wheels are not built in as part of the stroller frame, the swivel wheels might be replaced when worn. As a result, several different swivel wheel models are available as accessories for the corresponding Bugaboo® stroller models.

Below, images of accessory Bugaboo® rear swivel wheels for the Butterfly®, Dragonfly® and Bee® 6 stroller models.

Bugaboo® Butterfly® swivel wheels

Bugaboo® Dragonfly® swivel wheels

Bugaboo® Bee® 6 swivel wheels

 

Reference
Bugaboo® (website)
https://www.bugaboo.com/us-en

Oh, patents! Bugaboo® modularity (1)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

If you are looking for a buggy for your baby with the excellence of patented engineering, the Bugaboo® is for you! Variously equipped with such features as single-hand operation, advanced suspension and brake systems, and/or swivel wheels for unrivaled maneuverability, Bugaboo® strollers boast hundreds of patents, both design and utility. In other words, utility patents were granted for specific stroller functionalities, as well as design patents for particular ornamental aspects of the strollers. Bugaboo®, a Dutch company, has been pioneering advanced parenting products since 1990.

Consider, for example, the US utility patent application, US2022/0194457A1, titled Foldable stroller, foldable bassinet, foldable seat, stroller, and stroller and luggage system. The application was filed on December 17th, 2021. The inventors on record are Marco Willem Hendricus Nieuwenhuizen, Mattijs Hogeland, and Daan Jans Vos.

The patent recites some of the prized mechanical modularity of the Bugaboo® strollers. For example, infant bassinet (i.e., pram) and toddler seat configurations are interchangeable on a single stroller frame. Different configurations that were designed to accommodate a growing child. Strollers are foldable with the seat or bassinet attached for easy storage and travel. And, the possibility of placing a child alternatively facing a parent or caretaker, or forward-facing, with their back to the parent or caretaker.

The three patent figure drawings below, Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively depict the three configurations a given Bugaboo® stroller model: toddler seat facing-forward, toddler seat facing-parent or caretaker, and infant bassinet.   

The three patent drawings, Figures 18H, 17J, and 3E, respectively correspond to the folded forms of the toddler and infant stroller configurations shown in Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C.

The Youtube video below demonstrates some of the valued Bugaboo® modularity, particularly switching from folded to unfolded bassinet pram, and from folded to unfolded toddler stroller.

Reference
Bugaboo® (website)
www.bugaboo.com