Folding stroller actuating system

An actuator assembly for a foldable stroller frame, comprising:

• a stroller frame comprising:
• left and right front legs and left and right rear legs, each leg having a wheel mounted thereto;
• an operator handle having left and right support rails extending therefrom, the left and right support rails pivotally connected to the left and right rear legs;
• a support member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a linear horizontal member having a central portion, a left end connected to the left support rail, and a right end connected to the right support rail, and an extension portion extending rearwardly from the central portion, the support member positioned apart from the operator handle;
• an operator tray that is removably connected to the support member, the operator tray conceals the support member and covers substantially the entire upper surface of the support member, the operator tray defining at least one recess;
• at least one locking member movably connected to at least one of the rear left and right support rails, the at least one locking member biased toward a locking position to secure the connection between the left and right support rails and the left and right rear legs;
• an actuator control rotatably connected to the extension portion of the support member to actuate folding of the stroller frame, the actuator control is positioned on the support member independent of the operator tray and at least a portion of the actuator control is received within the recess of the operator tray;
• and
• at least one linkage coupling the actuator control to the at least one locking member;
• wherein the actuator control is rotatable to actuate folding of the stroller frame when the operator tray is connected to the support member and when the operator tray is removed from the support member.

A method of folding a stroller comprising:

• providing a stroller frame with left and right front legs, left and right rear legs, left and right handlebar supports pivotally connected to the left and right rear legs, an operator handlebar connected to the left and right handlebar support, and a support bar extending between the left and right handlebar supports and positioned apart from the operator handlebar;
• the support bar having a linear horizontal member having a central portion, a left end connected to the left handlebar support, and a right end connected to the right handlebar support, and an extension portion extending rearwardly from the central portion;
• providing an actuator connected to the extension portion of the support bar and movable between a first and a second position;
• providing an operator tray independent of the actuator and removably connected to the support bar such that the actuator remains movable when the operator tray is connected to the support bar and when the operator tray is removed from the support bar, the operator tray covering and concealing substantially an entire upper surface of the support bar, the operator tray defining a slot that receives at least a portion of the actuator;
• providing at least one locking member securing the connection between the left and right handlebar supports and the left and right rear legs;
• providing at least one linkage between the actuator and the at least one locking member;
• and
• rotating the actuator from the first position to the second position to disengage the locking member from the connection between the left and right handlebar supports and the left and right rear legs;
• and
• pivoting the left and right handlebar supports relative to the left and right rear legs to fold the stroller.