A new pushchair design , have your say

[danbeck]

I am a final year mechanical engineering student who has been given the task of designing a new, user friendly, electrically powered pushchair. If you have any ideas, particular requirements that are not being currently met by your pushchair or any other points of interest please contact me.

[email protected]

Regards Daniel

Could you get one to electronically vibrate even when you slow down to look at clothes (so that the children don't wake up?)
And could you do one that electronically sings bob the builder so I can have a rest?
And how about a teasmade attachment while we're at it??

i use a maxi cosi citi taxi (car seat and chassis combo) - I LOVE IT - but apparantly they've stopped making it ... best points are: folding handles - you can push them back on the bus and everyone around you goes ooooH! You can push them right back in cafes and baby is right up with you at the table - can be used similarily at home - Also because it has 2 handles (rather than one single cross bar type)you can hook your supermarket basket neatly over them - worst fault -integral storage shelf bit is pants but you can hook carriers ono the handle shafts quite easily.

The perfect pushchair:

• reclines fully so can take newborns
• is easy to push and steer - I love my 3-wheeler for this reason
• suspension or air-filled wheels
• robust enough to deal with the bumps, cobblestones, mud and potholes of London streets folds up easily and compactly so it can fit in the boot of small cars
• is light to carry (carry handle much appreciated)
• has a big easy to access basket
• hooks for shopping bags (and doesn't tip over when fully loaded)
• decent sunshade/canopy
• able to take a buggy board or similar

Personally I don't think an electrically operated pushchair would sell that well - unless it had a seat for me as well! But a foldable swivel-wheel 3-wheeler that was as light as an umbrella pushchair - well, that might work.

I second all florenceuk's suggestions, except:

I care much more about sturdiness than light weight (although it would be nic to have a really sturdy pushchair that manages to fold down to something that would fit in a normal car! )

Also the fold up mechanism should not use the kickbar (on my pushchair, to fold it up you flick your foot under the kickbar - the br that goes between the back wheels. Since you also use this bar to lift the front wheels to get up steps, this is dangerous)

Would like to see a buggy with go-anywhere caterpillar tracks for stairs and Spanish pavements!

I know what you mean about fitting a pushchair in the boot with a big dog, we have two dogs and you can guarantee if you go anywhere with the dogs and a pushchair they all have to squeeze in and end up getting dirty.

The ideas that are mainly being followed up at the moment are the reduce the folded size, use lightweight materials for the chassis, have removalable covers that can be machine washed, the possibility of having an electrically operated folding mechanism to ease of erecting/ collapsing. The idea of adjustable handles is a key area with controls for brakes and any other functions on the handles so there is less bending.

I had a look at caterpillar tracks but unfortunately they require too much power to run and you'd need a small power staion on your back to run them. i was thinking about a sing along style function where the pushchair could have a few LED's and play basic tunes inside the seating unit to keep the child distracted long enough for you to have the cup of tea from the teasmade attachment, lol.

No seriously though i have been looking at lots of pushchairs and some kind of entertainment for the child is an issue, something a bit more interesting than a picture of a teddy on the side. i've also noticed that some of the more lightweight pushchairs are quite flimsy, theres a japanese one made just from different plastics which folds up to almost nothing but just about falls apart when you put a child (test weight) inside it. (No children were hurt during this test, not through lack of trying)

I can't see why you'd need an electronically assisted folding mechanism! What I think would be interesting would be to borrow from folding bicycles - why can't we just collapse a pushchair like a Brampton bicycle - to get something really compact but not to compromise on comfort. Also hi-tec bicycle frames are light but strong. I like my Mountain Buggy Urban, but it is way too bulky.

forgot to mention: I find single handle pushchairs (where there is a big bar that goes accross) much more comfy/convenient than ones with two handles.

V upset about not being able to test the caterpillar pushchair!

florenceuk - I dunno. The pushchairs I've used either have a dangerously simple fold-up mechanism (and I have had the thing collpase on me with dd inside) or a really awkward one. An electric one may help!

adjustable handle height i had trouble finding one that i didn't have to bend over -

good brakes

seat big enough n lond enough for a long baby to lie in -

umbrella fold one handed

large shopping bag

fully waterproof -

I was just going to suggest adjustable handles!!

Oooh here I go again!

When the buggy is completely folded, nothing sticks out! Not wheels, not handles, not anchor pegs for raincapes. So you can slide it into the footwell of the car, or that convenient gap between the shopping in the boot, etc etc.

When I fold my monster Graco, I don't need to take everything off (eg fleece liner) or out (eg book and spare nappy in basket), although I do need to take the raincape off, but when I fold my Maclaren absolutely everything has to be removed, except the raincape. At the risk of complicating things, how about a buggy with two, equally simple but completely clear, folding modes: one more bulky but doesn't need everything removed, one extremely compact at the cost of removing everything.

how about a built in rain cover. I'm sure there is one around where it just unzips from a storage bitin the hood. would be soo much easier than having to unfold one everytime it looks like rain

I have a Jane 3 wheeler and the most wonderful thing about it is the handbrake - it also has a footbrake for when you want to park but the handbrake lets you slow on slopes, when you're waiting to cross a road etc. Oh, and it's dead cool and I may be a mummy but having teenagers tell me its fab makes me feel just great

we had all better get a discount when we all buy this wonderful new buggy
because we all will#1!!

AS well as all the other stuff mentioned here can I just add that I'd prefer pushchairs to be plain, neutral colours rather than jazzy colours or patterned. DH refused to get anything other than black material, with silver coloured aluminium chassis. Looks were important to him!

Maybe a small pocket on the back for car keys, purses etc
Somewhere to put the water beaker, half eaten rice cake etc (so easily removeable & can throw in the washing machine)
I love the idea of two folding modes, one with all the attachments fitted especially the cosy toes and one more compact.
Definately adjustable handles - preferably that adjust a decent amount. I am 5 ft and still have the handles on my pushchair at the longest height.
How about a small tray for the toddler / older baby to put the apple on between bites etc.
and everything else mentioned!!!!

How about an umbrella type attachment to cover the pushere of the buggy - I found it impossible to push buggy and hold umbrella at the same time!

yes - one that doesnt tip up when you have loads of shoppin g on it

Oh and a nice paddy seat so you can use it for newborns

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Oh you techoid DL.....

A built-in or clip-on buggy-board and built-in handle adjustment so that you can still push easily without over-stretching past the toddler on the board. And the buggy should be able to fold without having to remove the buggy-board.

A clip board and pen so you can write a shopping list as you go or jot down someone's phone number!

You know us women and our multi-tasking.

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Uh-oh...living dangerously, Dadslib!