Foldable baby stroller and axle assembly therefor

A foldable baby, stroller comprising:

• a forward wheel;
• left and right rearward wheels;
• left and right stub axles, each having an inward end portion and an outward end portion, with a corresponding one of the left or right rearward wheels rotatably mounted on the outward end portion;
• downwardly sloping left and right upper frame members supporting a baby seat therebetween, the upper frame members each having a lower end and an upper end;
• a handle member connected to and extending between the left and right upper frame members toward the upper ends of the upper frame members;
• left and right horizontal base frame members, each having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward wheel being removably attached to the base frame members toward the forward end thereof, the lower ends of the upper frame members being releasably connected to the base frame members at a position toward the forward wheel;
• left and right generally upright frame members, each having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of the upright frame members being pivotally connected to the upper frame members at a position between the handle and the lower end of the upper frame members;
• a tubular rear axle having left and right ends with an interior opening therein;
• left and right first couplers, each first coupler having an inward end portion positioned within the end opening of a corresponding one of the left or right ends of the rear axle and held therein stationary relative to the rear axle, and an outward end portion, each first coupler further having a frame member connector portion to which a corresponding one of the left or right upright frame members is connected;
• left and right second couplers, each second coupler having an inward end portion positioned adjacent to the outward end portion of a corresponding one of the left or right first couplers, and being rotatable relative thereto, each second coupler further having a frame member connector portion to which a corresponding one of the left or right base frame members is connected;
• and
• left and right connector members, each connector member holding a corresponding one of the left or right second couplers in position adjacent to the corresponding one of the left or right first couplers while permitting rotation of the second couplers relative to the first couplers, each connector member having an aperture therein to removably receive a corresponding one of the left or right stub axles therein.

An axle assembly for a foldable baby stroller having first and second frame members and a rear wheel mounted on a wheel-supporting axle, comprising:

• a tubular rear axle having a first end portion;
• a first coupler having first and second end portions and a first support connector, with the first end portion being received within the first end portion of the tubular axle and held against rotation relative to the tubular axle, and the first support connector being fixedly attached to the first frame member;
• a second coupler having first and second end portions and a second support connector, with the first end portion being positioned adjacent to the second end portion of the first coupler for rotation of the first and second couplers relative to each other about a common axis, and the second support connector being fixedly attached to the second frame member;
• and
• a connector member rotatably holding the second coupler in position adjacent to the first coupler, and receiving the wheel-supporting axle.

A foldable baby stroller, comprising:

• a forward wheel;
• left and right rearward wheels;
• downwardly sloping left and right upper frame members supporting a baby seat therebetween, the upper frame members each having a lower end and an upper end;
• a handle member connected to and extending between the left and right upper frame members toward the upper ends of the upper frame members;
• left and right horizontal base frame members, each having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward wheel being removably attached to the base frame members toward the forward end thereof, the lower ends of the upper frame members being releasably connected to the base frame members at a position toward the forward wheel;
• left and right generally upright frame members, each having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of the upright frame members being pivotally connected to the upper frame members at a position between the handle and the lower end of the upper frame members;
• a tubular rear axle having left and right ends with an interior opening therein;
• left and right first couplers, each first coupler having an inward end portion positioned within the end opening of a corresponding one of the left or right ends of the rear axle and held therein stationary relative to the rear axle, and an outward end portion, each first coupler further having a frame member connector portion to which a corresponding one of the left or right upright frame members is connected;
• left and right second couplers, each second coupler having an inward end portion positioned adjacent to the outward end portion of a corresponding one of the left or right first couplers, and being rotatable relative thereto, each second coupler further having a frame member connector portion to which a corresponding one of the left or right base frame members is connected;
• and
• left and right connector members, each connector member holding a corresponding one of the left or right second couplers in position adjacent to the corresponding one of the left or right first couplers while permitting rotation of the second couplers relative to the first couplers, each connector member rotatably supporting a corresponding one of the left or right rear wheels.