Apparatus and method

Abstract

A vehicle frame assembly ( 4 ) including a hinge device ( 16 ), the hinge device ( 16 ) having first and second hub devices ( 22 ) and a third hub device ( 22 ) interposed between the first and second hub devices ( 22 ), the first and second hub devices ( 22 ) releasably engage with the third hub device ( 24 ) for locking the vehicle frame assembly ( 4 ) in an erected condition, wherein the first and second hub devices ( 22 ) have inwardly-projecting lugs ( 26 ) about their periphery and the third hub device ( 24 ) includes at its periphery recesses ( 28 ), the recesses ( 28 ) and the inwardly-projecting lugs ( 26 ) arranged to loosely interdigitate in the erected condition, and wherein the inwardly-projecting lugs ( 26 ) comprise inwardly-projecting ramped portions and the third hub device ( 24 ) comprises, bounding the recesses ( 28 ), corresponding outwardly-projecting ramped surface portions ( 40 ).

I claim: 
     
         1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . Apparatus comprising a vehicle frame assembly, a hinge arrangement of said assembly, and an elongate actuator connected to a part of said hinge arrangement for actuating folding of said frame assembly about an axis of said hinge arrangement. 
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein said hinge arrangement comprises a primary hinge device and a secondary hinge device, there being two primary hinge devices of a primary frame and two secondary hinge devices of a secondary frame connected to the primary frame, the primary and secondary hinge devices being located on respective opposite sides of the respective primary and secondary frames. 
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 51 , wherein said elongate actuator is an elongate strap, each end of said strap being connected to respective secondary hinge devices. 
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein said strap is also a carrying strap. 
     
     
         54 . Apparatus according to  claim 51 , wherein the secondary frame is a basket frame assembly which supports a basket of a pushchair. 
     
     
         55 . A method of folding an erected vehicle frame assembly having a hinge arrangement, comprising folding said frame assembly about a first axis, and pulling an elongate actuator connected to said hinge arrangement, thereby folding said frame assembly about a second axis. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein said hinge arrangement comprises a primary hinge device and a secondary hinge device, there being two primary hinge devices of a primary frame and two secondary hinge devices of a secondary frame connected to the primary frame, the primary and secondary hinge devices being located on respective opposite sides of the respective primary and secondary frames. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein said elongate actuator is an elongate strap, each end of said strap being connected to respective secondary hinge devices. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein subsequent to the primary hinge devices having been actuated to become folded, pulling said elongate actuator in a direction to cause folding about the secondary hinge devices. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein continued pulling of said elongate actuator completes the folding of the complete frame assembly. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 55 , and further comprising utilising said elongate actuator to carry the frame assembly in the folded condition. 
     
     
         61 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . Apparatus comprising a vehicle frame assembly convertible between an erected and a folded condition and including a hinge device whereby said frame assembly is converted between the erected and folded conditions and having first and second portions which comprise corresponding first and second channel sections, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion, wherein, in the erected condition, the first and second channel sections align to form a channel, the apparatus further comprising a releasable device, the releasable device including a lug which is closely received by said channel, thereby extending through both the first and second channel sections. 
     
     
         70 . Apparatus according to  claim 69 , wherein first and second portions of said hinge device are respective first and second housings, the channel sections being defined by respective wall portions of the first and second housings. 
     
     
         71 . Apparatus according to  claim 70 , wherein a substantial part of the wall portion of the first housing overlaps and extends over the surface of the second housing. 
     
     
         72 . Apparatus according to  claim 69 , wherein said lug is connected to a releasably mountable device. 
     
     
         73 . Apparatus according to  claim 72 , wherein said releasably mountable device is a child-carrying unit. 
     
     
         74 . A method comprising converting a vehicle frame assembly into an erected condition by turning the frame assembly about an axis of a hinge device, the hinge device having first and second portions which comprise corresponding first and second channel sections, the first portion being movable about said axis relative to the second portion, aligning the first and second channel sections to form a channel and inserting a lug of a releasable device into said channel to be closely received thereby and preventing movement of the first portion relative to the second portion. 
     
     
         75 . A method according to  claim 74 , wherein said lug is connected to a releasably mountable device for mounting on said frame assembly in said erected condition. 
     
     
         76 . A method according to  claim 75 , wherein said releasably mountable device is a child-carrying unit.