How to make a stroller safer with add-on castors
A set of add-on front castors or casters, configured for attachment to a conventional three wheeled jogging stroller. The add-on front castors includes a casters system with a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system. A first castor mounts proximate the first casters system end and a second castor mounts proximate the second casters system end The add-on front castors also includes a fork clamp that mounts proximate the mid-casters system. The fork clamp is attachable to a front wheel fork of the jogging stroller. The front wheel fork is configured to accept a hubbed axle of the single forward wheel that is detachable to so that the front wheel fork can receive the fork clamp of the add-on front castors. The fork clamp of the front castors is attached to the front fork by first inserting the front fork between a top clamp plate a bottom clamp plate. A clamp screw threads between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate, and a clamp knob is mounted to an end of the clamp screw. By turning the clamp screw, the front fork is compressed between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate to securely mount the fork clamp to the front fork. The add-on castor allows a jogging stroller to function much as a conventional “baby stroller,” with swiveling castors for quick changes in the direction of forward or rearward travel.
1. An add-on front caster set for a jogging stroller, the front castors comprising:
a casters system having a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system;
a first castor mounted proximate the first casters system end;
a second castor mounted proximate the second casters system end;
a fork clamp mounted proximate the mid-casters system,
the fork clamp attachable to a front wheel fork of the jogging stroller;
the front wheel fork conventionally configured to accept a hubbed axle of a single forward wheel, and
the jogging stroller is a three wheeled stroller having a single forward wheel and a pair of rearward wheels, the single forward wheel detachable from the front wheel fork;
the front wheel fork having a first fork end and a second fork end; and
the fork clamp attaches to the front wheel fork proximate the first fork end and the second fork end.
2. An add-on front castors for a jogging stroller, the front castors comprising:
a casters system having a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system;
a first castor mounted proximate the first casters system end;
second castor mounted proximate the second casters system end;
a fork clamp mounted proximate the mid-casters system,
the fork clamp attachable to a front wheel fork of the jogging stroller;
a fork end receiver mounted proximate the mid-casters system for receiving the wheel front fork of the jogging stroller;
the front wheel fork of the jogging stroller including a first fork end and a second fork end;
the fork end receiver of the add-on front castors includes a first fork end receiver and a second fork end receiver; and
the first fork end receivable into the first fork end receiver, and the second fork end receivable into the second fork end receiver.
3. The add-on front castors of claim 2, wherein:
the fork end receiver has a top clamp plate, and the top clamp plate includes said first fork end receiver and said second fork end receiver.
4. A method for adding a front casters to a three wheeled jogging stroller, the three wheeled jogging stroller having a front wheel and a pair of rear wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
a) removing the front wheel from a front wheel fork of said jogging stroller; and
b) attaching a fork clamp of said front castors to the front wheel fork, the fork clamp mounted on a casters system, the casters system having a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system, a first castor mounted proximate the first casters system end, a second caster mounted proximate the second casters system end, and the fork clamp mounted proximate the mid-casters system.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of attaching the fork clamp to the front wheel fork additionally includes the steps of:
c) inserting the front wheel fork between a top clamp plate a bottom clamp plate;
d) tightening a clamp screw by turning a clamp knob, the clamp screw threaded between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate, and the clamp knob mounted to an end of the clamp screw; and
e) compressing the front wheel fork between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate to securely mount the fork clamp to the front wheel fork.
6. The method of claim 4, additionally including the step of:
c) inserting the front wheel fork of the jogging stroller into a fork end receiver.
7. The method of claim 4, additionally including the step of:
c) inserting the front wheel fork of said jogging stroller into a fork end receiver, the front wheel fork having a first fork end and a second fork end, the fork receiver positioned proximate the mid-casters system of said front castors, and the fork end receiver of said add-on front castors including a first fork end receiver and a second fork end receiver; and the first fork end receivable into the first fork end receiver, and the second fork end receivable into the second fork end receiver.
8. An improvement for a conventional jogging stroller, the conventional jogging stroller including a frame having a front fork, the front fork including a first fork end and a second fork end, a single detachable forward wheel attached to the front fork, and a pair of rearward wheels attached to the frame, wherein said improvement comprises:
an add-on front castors, the add-on front castors including a casters system having a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system;
a first castor mounted proximate the first casters system end;
a second castor mounted proximate the second casters system end;
a fork clamp mounted proximate the mid-casters system,
the fork clamp attachable to the front fork of the jogging stroller; and
a first fork end receiver mounted proximate the mid-casters system of said add-on front castor, and a second fork end receiver mounted proximate the mid-casters system of said add-on front castor, the first fork end receivable into the first fork end receiver, and the second fork end receivable into the second fork end receiver.
9. An improvement for a conventional jogging stroller, the conventional jogging stroller including a frame having a front fork, a single detachable forward wheel attached to the front fork, and a pair of rearward wheels attached to the frame, wherein said improvement comprises:
an add-on front castors, the add-on front castors including a casters system having a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system;
a first castor mounted proximate the first casters system end;
a second castor mounted proximate the second casters system end;
a fork clamp mounted proximate the mid-casters system,
the fork clamp attachable to the front fork of the jogging stroller;
a fork end receiver mounted proximate the mid-casters system for receiving the front fork of the jogging stroller; and
the fork end receiver includes a top clamp plate
The invention provides a front wheel attachment for a three wheeled stroller, and more specifically a method and apparatus for an add-on set of wheel castors or casters, for a jogging stroller.
Based upon a simple tricycle, the jogging stroller has become a “must have” for the convenient transportation of small children. The conventional jogging stroller is based upon a triangular or alternatively a “T” shaped frame. The frame has a front fork near the forward point of the frame. A single forward wheel attaches to the front fork, and a pair of rearward wheels attach to the rear of the frame.
The three wheels of the jogging stroller form a stable tripod. Therefore, three wheeled strollers have a significant advantage over their four wheeled, baby stroller and baby carriage predecessors in that a three wheeled configuration is better suited to steer, negotiate bumps and more comfortably carry a passenger. The term “jogging stroller” typically pertains to a subtle variation of a three wheeled push-stroller; suggesting that the person pushing the stroller can safely jog or run while pushing the stroller over varying terrain. The jogging type of three wheeled stroller may include oversized wheels and a hand brake, to better facilitate running and stopping with the stroller.
Many users of jogging strollers seek a stroller that can do more than a single function or be used for more than a single utility or purpose. A multifunctional stroller can provide the economy and convenience of a single stroller while performing various tasks or duties that typically would require additional strollers, each designed for a single, specific purpose.
Jogging type strollers are made for use on relatively straight and wide sidewalks, paths and streets. With their large diameter wheels, maneuvering the jogging stroller in close or confined areas can be difficult. The user must tip the stroller to lift the front wheel of the jogging stroller up and rearward. The user can then pivot the stroller about the rear pair of wheels, while keeping the front tire off the ground. In typically congested areas, such as stores, malls and office buildings, this tipping and pivoting is very awkward and cumbersome, and so results in a significant problem. Therefore, a jogging stroller is needed that solves the problem of limited “close-quarters” maneuvering.
SUMMARY
The invention provides a method and apparatus for an add-on front castors uniquely configured for attachment to a jogging stroller of conventional design. The conventional jogging stroller is typified as having a frame with a front wheel fork, which can be simply referred to as a front fork. A single forward wheel attaches to the front fork, and a pair of rearward wheels attach to the rear of the frame.
The add-on front castors of the present invention includes a casters system as a primary component. The casters system has a first casters system end, a second casters system end and a mid-casters system. The mid-casters system is the portion of the casters system between the first casters system end and the second casters system end. A first castor mounts proximate the first casters system end and a second castor mounts proximate the second casters system end.
The add-on front castors also includes a fork clamp that mounts proximate the mid-casters system. The fork clamp is attachable to a front wheel fork of the jogging stroller. The front wheel fork is conventionally configured to accept a hubbed axle of the single forward wheel. The single forward wheel is detachable, allowing the front wheel fork to receive the fork clamp of the add-on front castors.
In a preferred alternative of the present invention, a fork end receiver is mounted proximate the mid-casters system. The fork end receiver can receive the front fork of the jogging stroller. The front fork of the conventional jogging stroller includes a first fork end and a second fork end. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fork end receiver of the add-on front castors includes a first fork end receiver and a second fork end receiver. The first fork end is received into the first fork end receiver, and the second fork end is received into the second fork end receiver.
The first castor and the second castor are wheeled assemblies that each include a minimum of a single wheel. Preferably, the first castor includes a first swivel and the second castor includes a second swivel. The swivels allow the castors to respond instantly to directional changes in the motion of the jogging stroller.
The method of the present invention adds the front castors to a three wheeled jogging stroller. First, the front wheel is removed from the front fork of the jogging stroller. The fork clamp of the front castors is then attached to the front fork. Additionally, the method of the present invention can include attaching the fork clamp to the front fork by first inserting the front fork between a top clamp plate and a bottom clamp plate. Then a clamp screw is tightened by turning a clamp knob on the fork clamp. The clamp screw threads between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate, and the clamp knob is mounted to an end of the clamp screw. By turning the clamp screw, the front fork is compressed between the top clamp plate and the bottom clamp plate to securely mount the fork clamp to the front fork.
To better seat the front fork into the add-on front castors, the method of the present invention can include inserting the front fork of the jogging stroller into a fork end receiver. The front fork includes a first fork end and a second fork end, and the fork end receiver is positioned proximate the mid-casters system of the front castors. The fork end receiver includes a first fork end receiver and a second fork end receiver. The first fork end is received into the first fork end receiver, and the second fork end is received into the second fork end receiver.
According to one aspect of the invention, the add-on castors gives the user the ability to quickly and easily modify the jogging stroller for tight cornering in cramped areas without tilting the stroller back to pivot about the rear wheels for turning. Specifically, the stroller configuration of the present invention includes an add-on castors that allows a jogging stroller to function much as a conventional “baby stroller,” with swiveling castors for quick changes in the direction of forward or rearward travel.