CA2357614A1 - Infant sling carrier - Google Patents
Infant sling carrier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2357614A1 CA2357614A1 CA002357614A CA2357614A CA2357614A1 CA 2357614 A1 CA2357614 A1 CA 2357614A1 CA 002357614 A CA002357614 A CA 002357614A CA 2357614 A CA2357614 A CA 2357614A CA 2357614 A1 CA2357614 A1 CA 2357614A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- infant
- carrier
- attached
- flaps
- body portion
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
- A47D13/00—Other nursery furniture
- A47D13/02—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
- A47D13/00—Other nursery furniture
- A47D13/02—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots
- A47D13/025—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots for carrying children in seated position
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- Undergarments, Swaddling Clothes, Handkerchiefs Or Underwear Materials (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention is a sling-style infant carrier, particularly suitable for newborn or small infants, including a body portion that is made of a material or includes a construction that is more rigid than standard simple fabric material having a harness attached inside the body portion of the carrier for securely holding the infant in the body portion of the carrier and a structure, such as flaps combined with a zipper or snaps, for enclosing the infant inside the body portion of the carrier, thereby protecting the infant from the elements, such as snow, wind, and rain.
Description
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 INFANT SLING CARRIER
BACKGROUND OF TFiE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a sling carrier for use with infants, and more particularly, to a padded sling carrier for use with newborn infants having a semi-rigid back-supporting member and including a harness to keep the newborn infant properly positioned within the carrier.
Soft carriers are widely used as a means for carrying infants or small children.
Prior art soft carriers are generally shaped to receive an infant or a small child and include a number of straps or the like to attach the soft carrier to an adult. The soft carrier provides a convenient and easy way to carry an infant, and provides the carrying adult free use of his or her l0 arms. As might be guessed, soft carriers come in many different shapes and configurations.
Examples of various soft carriers can be seen in the prior art. Specifically, an exemplary prior art soft carrier is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,655 to Fair et al.
Recently, a specific kind of soft carrier, known as a usling" carrier, has become popular for carrying infants, and especially, newborns or smaller infants.
Sling carriers can generally be distinguished from other backpack-style soft carriers by several features. In particular sling carriers generally have a single strap which attaches to the infant carrying structure in two places: at the top of the carrier near the infant's head, and at the bottom of the carrier, near the infant's feet. Using this single strap, the carrier '.0 can be worn on the front of a wearer with the infant "slung" below the wearer. In this configuration, the strap is preferably worn around the wearer's neck, with the strap extending diagonally across the back of the wearer from one shoulder to underneath the wearer's other armpit. When the sling is worn in this way, the infant is primarily supported by the wearer's Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 shoulder and back, thus allowing the wearer to freely use her arms to add additional support to the infant or perform necessary tasks. Additionally, sling carriers are generally characterized in that they are designed so that the infant is positioned on his back in a reclining position. Thus, in a standard sling carrier, the infant is generally in a supine position facing the wearer at a.ll times.
An example of a prior art sling carrier such as this is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,757,925 to Knittel.
Despite their general usefulness for carrying infants, prior art sling carriers are not without disadvantages. Specifically, most prior art sling carriers, such as the carrier described in the above-identified Knittel patent, are made from material, such as simple fabric, which is very soft and pliable, having next to no rigidity. While using soft material such as fabric is generally desirable in order to add comfort for the infant being transported in the carrier, the lack of rigidity in the material can cause the ends of the carrier to collapse or "scrunch" together causing the infant to be forced into an uncomfortable and undesirable position within the carrier.
Furthermore, the lack of rigidity also tends to redistribute the weight of the carrier towards the shoulder and away from the back of the wearer, thereby_uncomfortably binding the wearer's shoulder.
Additionally, most prior art sling carriers are very simple in construction, consisting mainly of a single piece of fabric attached to a single strap. In sling carriers having this type of construction, such as the carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,757,925 to Knittel, the infant is generally "loose" within the carrier. In other words, other than the forces from the material of the sling itself, there are no additional straps or harnesses to secure the infant within the carrier. Accordingly, the infant can be easily jostled and disturbed when the wearer of the carrier moves around. This is particularly undesirahle when the infant is asleep and it is desired to move the carrier without waking the infant.
Finally, depending on where the infant is being carried and the environmental conditions, it is sometimes desired to be able to completely enclose the baby within the carrier.
This is true especially in the case of newborn infants who can be particularly susceptible to cold Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 weather. However, given that most prior art infant sling carriers are fairly simple in construction as mentioned-above, it is rare that they are equipped with features that enable the infant to be completely covered and sheltered within the carrier.
Accordingly, given the above-noted deficiencies of prior art sling carriers, it would be desirable to have a sling carrier wherein the body portion of the carrier is at least semi-rigid such that the structural integrity of the carrier is maintained thereby making the carrier more for a wearer and an infant being carried therein. It would be further desired to have a sling style carrier including a belt, straps or a harness in the interior of the body portion for securing an infant in the carrier. Finally, it would be desirable to have a sling style carrier wherein the body portion of the carrier includes a feature, such as flaps and a zipper or snaps, so that the infant carried therein can be covered and protected from the elements while being held in the carrier.
SLfMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sling style soft infant carrier that solves some of the above-identified deficiencies of prior art sling carriers. Specifically, the sling carrier of the present invention, particularly suitable for newborn or small infants, includes a body portion that is made of a material or includes a construction that is more rigid than standard simple fabric ?0 material. Preferably, this semi-rigid construction extends through the whole body portion of the carrier, but should at least be included in the back support structure of the body portion of the carrier. Additionally, the sling style soft carrier of the present invention includes a harness attached inside the body portion of the carrier for securely holding the infant in the body portion of the carrier. Finally, the present invention also includes a structure, such as flaps combined ?5 with a zipper or snaps, for enclosing the infant inside the body portion of the carrier, thereby protecting the infant from the elements, such as snow, wind, and rain.
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 With respect to the structure of the sling style carrier of the present invention, the sem-rigid construction can be obtained through the use of a multitude of acceptable materials, but is preferably obtained by making the back support structure from a closed cell foam or like material so that the back support has some rigidity, but is also padded for the infant's comfort.
In another embodiment, a rigid or semi-rigid board, such as a board made from plastic or aluminum, may be used to provide the required rigidity to the back support structure. If a hard board is used, it is preferable to cover the board in a foam or batting material in order to provide some padding for the infant prior to securing the board into the carrier.
The securing device incorporated in the sling style carrier of the present invention can be of any suitable structure and design, however is preferably a harness attached directly to the back support structure of the body portion of the carrier. Specifically, the harness preferably consists of a crotch portion which extends through and helps to slightly separate the legs of an infant positioned therein. The crotch portion is preferably stitched or attached to the back support structure. A belt assembly including a releasable and adjustable clasp preferably extends around the middle section of the seat portion and can be tightened to secure an infant therein. Of course, there are many other constructions known in the art that would be useful in securing an infant in the body portion of a sling style carver as described herein; all of which would be considered within the scope of the invention.
The infant covering and sheltering feature of the sling style carrier of the present invention is preferably constructed from a pair of flaps which are attached, preferably sewn to the carrier body side walls. The flaps may be constructed of any suitable material which would be satisfactory for keeping an infant warm and dry, such as a synthetic or cotton fabric. The flaps are provided with a closure device, such as a line of snaps or a zipper, so that the flaps may be secured around an infant. Of course the flaps are shaped and attached to the carrier so as to provide an opening for the head of an infant secured in the carrier.
Preferably, the opening is Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 surrounded with a padded material in order to protect the head of an infant that is secured in the carver.
Accordingly, as described above, and as is shown and discussed in detail herein, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sling style soft infant carrier specifically suitable for use with newborns, including a semi-rigid construction, a harness or the like for securing the infant in the carrier, and an infant sheltering feature, such as fabric flaps, for covering an infant in the carrier to protect the infant from the elements. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of the sling carrier of the present invention as used by a wearer with an infant carried therein;
Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 1;
Fig.3 is a side perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 1 showing the detail of the sheltering feature;
Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the carrier of Fig.1 showing the detail of the harness feature with an infant secured therein;
Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of the harness feature of Fig. 4 disconnected and the infant removed from the carrier;
Fig. 6 is a rear elevation view of a strap for use with the carrier of Fig. 1 as shown on the back of a wearer; and Fig. 7 is a top elevation view of a backboard assembly suitable for use in an embodiment of the carrier of Fig. 1.
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As best shown in Fig. 1, the present invention is a sling style soft carrier 10 that includes a body portion 12 for receiving and supporting an infant 14 and an adjustable torso strap 16 shaped and sized to fit about the torso of a wearer 18. As shown best in Fig. 6, the length of the torso strap I6 can be adjusted by the strap adjustment buckle 20 so that the carrier body portion I2 hangs in a desired position, such as the positions shown in Figs. 1 & 2.
As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the carrier 10 of the present invention preferably includes a back section 22, two side sections 24, and covering flaps 26. In a preferred embodiment, an infant securing harness 28 is provided to secure the infant 14 in the body portion 12 of the carrier 10. Preferably, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, the harness 28 consists of a crotch supporting portion 30 and a belt assembly 32. Preferably, the crotch supporting portion 30 is shaped as is known in the art to slightly separate the legs of the infant 14 secured in the carrier 10, thereby providing greater support for the hips and thighs of the infant 14. The belt assembly 32 includes two side cushions 34 and a belt 36. Preferably, the belt 36 includes a left strap 33, a right strap 35, and a double mating section 37 that is sewn directly to the front of the crotch supporting portion 30. The use of a belt 36 construction as shown and described herein is useful in that it prevents the belt 36 from being buckled when the crotch supporting portion 30 is not in use. Additionally, the attachment of the belt 36 to the crotch supporting portion 30 when the left strap 33 and the right strap 35 are buckled keeps the crotch supporting section 30 in place even when the weight of the infant in the sling pushes downward on the crotch supporting portion 30.
The crotch supporting portion 30, the belt 36 and the side cushions 34 are preferably attached to the back section 22 and define an infant receiving area 38 such that an infant 14 may be placed therein and secured to the back section 22 of the carrier body 12, as best Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 shown in Fig. 4. The harness 28 may be secured to the back portion of the carrier 10 in any suitable manner but is preferably stitched thereto. The harness 28 is used to secure the infant 14 within the carrier 10 so that the infant 14 remains within the infant receiving area 38 and cannot move around "loose" within the carrier 10.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the infant covering and sheltering feature of the sling style carrier 10 of the present invention is preferably constructed from a pair of flaps 26 which are attached, preferably sewn, to the side sections 24. The side sections 24 are then attached to the back section 22. Please note that while in the preferred embodiment shown herein, the flaps l0 26 and side sections 24 are constructed from separate pieces of material and sewn together, in another embodiment of the invention, these sections could be made of a single piece of material if desired. Sections 24 and flaps 26 may be constructed of any suitable material which would be satisfactory for keeping an infant warm and dry, such as a synthetic or cotton fabric. The flaps 26 are shaped and attached to the carrier 10, and more particularly to the side sections 24, so as to l5 provide an opening 46 for the head of an infant 14 secured in the carrier 10. Preferably, the opening 46 includes a padded edge 48 that is filled with a padded material, such as foam or bunting, in order to help protect the head and provide comfort to the infant 14 that is secured in the infant receiving area 38 of the carrier 10. The flaps 26 are also preferably provided with a closure device 44, such as a line of snaps, hook and loop material, a zipper, etc., so that the flaps ?0 26 may be secured around the head of the infant 14. While the closure device 44 for the strap herein is shown as snaps, it is to be understood that various other means for closing the flaps 26 may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention, including but not limited to buckles, buttons, zippers, clasps, clamps, hooks, clips, locks, attachment surfaces such a VELCRO~ attachment surfaces, laces, and the like. Additionally, these same closure devices ZS could also be used in connection with the adjustment buckle 20 and harness 28 as well.
As mentioned previously, the back section 22 of the body portion 12 of the career _7_ _.. ,:..._a,s..
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 may preferably be made from a semi-rigid material or contains a semi-to-completely rigid back board 52. The rigidity of the back section 22 of the carrier 10 can range from semi-rigid to almost completely rigid, depending on the desired back support. As shown best in Fig. 7, in one preferred embodiment of the invention, the desired rigidity is provided by a pre-shaped 5 polyethylene board 52. Additional features, such as storage pockets 54, or extra padding in the carrier body 12 and/or strap 16, different closure devices, etc., may be added to the carrier 10 of the present invention to add convenience and comfort to the infant 14 and the wearer 18. Of course the addition of these features, as well as variations in their exact use and placement would be considered within the scope of the present invention.
The carrier 10 of the present invention may be used in the following manner.
The closure snaps 44 on the flaps 26 are unsnapped to provide access to the infant receiving area 38.
An infant.l4 is then placed within the harness assembly 28. The crotch support portion 30 is brought up through the legs of the infant 14. The side cushions 34 are then wrapped around the torso of the infant 14. The belt 36 is positioned around the torso of the infant 14 and adjusted to secure the infant 14 in the harness 28. The flaps 26 are then secured around the body of the infant 14 and may be closed together using the closures 44. Next, the strap 16 is placed around the head and shoulders of the wearer 18. The strap 16 may be adjusted by the strap adjustment buckle 20 before or after the carrier 10 is placed on the wearer 18. If it is desired to nurse the infant 14 while in the carrier 10, the strap 16 may be adjusted to facilitate the positioning of the infant's head close to the breast 58 of the wearer 18. The wearer 18 can provide additional support to the infant 14 by positioning her hands 60 underneath the back section 22 of the carrier 10 as shown in Fig. 1.
~ 5 Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
_g_
BACKGROUND OF TFiE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a sling carrier for use with infants, and more particularly, to a padded sling carrier for use with newborn infants having a semi-rigid back-supporting member and including a harness to keep the newborn infant properly positioned within the carrier.
Soft carriers are widely used as a means for carrying infants or small children.
Prior art soft carriers are generally shaped to receive an infant or a small child and include a number of straps or the like to attach the soft carrier to an adult. The soft carrier provides a convenient and easy way to carry an infant, and provides the carrying adult free use of his or her l0 arms. As might be guessed, soft carriers come in many different shapes and configurations.
Examples of various soft carriers can be seen in the prior art. Specifically, an exemplary prior art soft carrier is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,655 to Fair et al.
Recently, a specific kind of soft carrier, known as a usling" carrier, has become popular for carrying infants, and especially, newborns or smaller infants.
Sling carriers can generally be distinguished from other backpack-style soft carriers by several features. In particular sling carriers generally have a single strap which attaches to the infant carrying structure in two places: at the top of the carrier near the infant's head, and at the bottom of the carrier, near the infant's feet. Using this single strap, the carrier '.0 can be worn on the front of a wearer with the infant "slung" below the wearer. In this configuration, the strap is preferably worn around the wearer's neck, with the strap extending diagonally across the back of the wearer from one shoulder to underneath the wearer's other armpit. When the sling is worn in this way, the infant is primarily supported by the wearer's Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 shoulder and back, thus allowing the wearer to freely use her arms to add additional support to the infant or perform necessary tasks. Additionally, sling carriers are generally characterized in that they are designed so that the infant is positioned on his back in a reclining position. Thus, in a standard sling carrier, the infant is generally in a supine position facing the wearer at a.ll times.
An example of a prior art sling carrier such as this is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,757,925 to Knittel.
Despite their general usefulness for carrying infants, prior art sling carriers are not without disadvantages. Specifically, most prior art sling carriers, such as the carrier described in the above-identified Knittel patent, are made from material, such as simple fabric, which is very soft and pliable, having next to no rigidity. While using soft material such as fabric is generally desirable in order to add comfort for the infant being transported in the carrier, the lack of rigidity in the material can cause the ends of the carrier to collapse or "scrunch" together causing the infant to be forced into an uncomfortable and undesirable position within the carrier.
Furthermore, the lack of rigidity also tends to redistribute the weight of the carrier towards the shoulder and away from the back of the wearer, thereby_uncomfortably binding the wearer's shoulder.
Additionally, most prior art sling carriers are very simple in construction, consisting mainly of a single piece of fabric attached to a single strap. In sling carriers having this type of construction, such as the carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,757,925 to Knittel, the infant is generally "loose" within the carrier. In other words, other than the forces from the material of the sling itself, there are no additional straps or harnesses to secure the infant within the carrier. Accordingly, the infant can be easily jostled and disturbed when the wearer of the carrier moves around. This is particularly undesirahle when the infant is asleep and it is desired to move the carrier without waking the infant.
Finally, depending on where the infant is being carried and the environmental conditions, it is sometimes desired to be able to completely enclose the baby within the carrier.
This is true especially in the case of newborn infants who can be particularly susceptible to cold Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 weather. However, given that most prior art infant sling carriers are fairly simple in construction as mentioned-above, it is rare that they are equipped with features that enable the infant to be completely covered and sheltered within the carrier.
Accordingly, given the above-noted deficiencies of prior art sling carriers, it would be desirable to have a sling carrier wherein the body portion of the carrier is at least semi-rigid such that the structural integrity of the carrier is maintained thereby making the carrier more for a wearer and an infant being carried therein. It would be further desired to have a sling style carrier including a belt, straps or a harness in the interior of the body portion for securing an infant in the carrier. Finally, it would be desirable to have a sling style carrier wherein the body portion of the carrier includes a feature, such as flaps and a zipper or snaps, so that the infant carried therein can be covered and protected from the elements while being held in the carrier.
SLfMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sling style soft infant carrier that solves some of the above-identified deficiencies of prior art sling carriers. Specifically, the sling carrier of the present invention, particularly suitable for newborn or small infants, includes a body portion that is made of a material or includes a construction that is more rigid than standard simple fabric ?0 material. Preferably, this semi-rigid construction extends through the whole body portion of the carrier, but should at least be included in the back support structure of the body portion of the carrier. Additionally, the sling style soft carrier of the present invention includes a harness attached inside the body portion of the carrier for securely holding the infant in the body portion of the carrier. Finally, the present invention also includes a structure, such as flaps combined ?5 with a zipper or snaps, for enclosing the infant inside the body portion of the carrier, thereby protecting the infant from the elements, such as snow, wind, and rain.
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 With respect to the structure of the sling style carrier of the present invention, the sem-rigid construction can be obtained through the use of a multitude of acceptable materials, but is preferably obtained by making the back support structure from a closed cell foam or like material so that the back support has some rigidity, but is also padded for the infant's comfort.
In another embodiment, a rigid or semi-rigid board, such as a board made from plastic or aluminum, may be used to provide the required rigidity to the back support structure. If a hard board is used, it is preferable to cover the board in a foam or batting material in order to provide some padding for the infant prior to securing the board into the carrier.
The securing device incorporated in the sling style carrier of the present invention can be of any suitable structure and design, however is preferably a harness attached directly to the back support structure of the body portion of the carrier. Specifically, the harness preferably consists of a crotch portion which extends through and helps to slightly separate the legs of an infant positioned therein. The crotch portion is preferably stitched or attached to the back support structure. A belt assembly including a releasable and adjustable clasp preferably extends around the middle section of the seat portion and can be tightened to secure an infant therein. Of course, there are many other constructions known in the art that would be useful in securing an infant in the body portion of a sling style carver as described herein; all of which would be considered within the scope of the invention.
The infant covering and sheltering feature of the sling style carrier of the present invention is preferably constructed from a pair of flaps which are attached, preferably sewn to the carrier body side walls. The flaps may be constructed of any suitable material which would be satisfactory for keeping an infant warm and dry, such as a synthetic or cotton fabric. The flaps are provided with a closure device, such as a line of snaps or a zipper, so that the flaps may be secured around an infant. Of course the flaps are shaped and attached to the carrier so as to provide an opening for the head of an infant secured in the carrier.
Preferably, the opening is Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 surrounded with a padded material in order to protect the head of an infant that is secured in the carver.
Accordingly, as described above, and as is shown and discussed in detail herein, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sling style soft infant carrier specifically suitable for use with newborns, including a semi-rigid construction, a harness or the like for securing the infant in the carrier, and an infant sheltering feature, such as fabric flaps, for covering an infant in the carrier to protect the infant from the elements. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of the sling carrier of the present invention as used by a wearer with an infant carried therein;
Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 1;
Fig.3 is a side perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 1 showing the detail of the sheltering feature;
Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the carrier of Fig.1 showing the detail of the harness feature with an infant secured therein;
Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of the harness feature of Fig. 4 disconnected and the infant removed from the carrier;
Fig. 6 is a rear elevation view of a strap for use with the carrier of Fig. 1 as shown on the back of a wearer; and Fig. 7 is a top elevation view of a backboard assembly suitable for use in an embodiment of the carrier of Fig. 1.
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As best shown in Fig. 1, the present invention is a sling style soft carrier 10 that includes a body portion 12 for receiving and supporting an infant 14 and an adjustable torso strap 16 shaped and sized to fit about the torso of a wearer 18. As shown best in Fig. 6, the length of the torso strap I6 can be adjusted by the strap adjustment buckle 20 so that the carrier body portion I2 hangs in a desired position, such as the positions shown in Figs. 1 & 2.
As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the carrier 10 of the present invention preferably includes a back section 22, two side sections 24, and covering flaps 26. In a preferred embodiment, an infant securing harness 28 is provided to secure the infant 14 in the body portion 12 of the carrier 10. Preferably, as shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, the harness 28 consists of a crotch supporting portion 30 and a belt assembly 32. Preferably, the crotch supporting portion 30 is shaped as is known in the art to slightly separate the legs of the infant 14 secured in the carrier 10, thereby providing greater support for the hips and thighs of the infant 14. The belt assembly 32 includes two side cushions 34 and a belt 36. Preferably, the belt 36 includes a left strap 33, a right strap 35, and a double mating section 37 that is sewn directly to the front of the crotch supporting portion 30. The use of a belt 36 construction as shown and described herein is useful in that it prevents the belt 36 from being buckled when the crotch supporting portion 30 is not in use. Additionally, the attachment of the belt 36 to the crotch supporting portion 30 when the left strap 33 and the right strap 35 are buckled keeps the crotch supporting section 30 in place even when the weight of the infant in the sling pushes downward on the crotch supporting portion 30.
The crotch supporting portion 30, the belt 36 and the side cushions 34 are preferably attached to the back section 22 and define an infant receiving area 38 such that an infant 14 may be placed therein and secured to the back section 22 of the carrier body 12, as best Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 shown in Fig. 4. The harness 28 may be secured to the back portion of the carrier 10 in any suitable manner but is preferably stitched thereto. The harness 28 is used to secure the infant 14 within the carrier 10 so that the infant 14 remains within the infant receiving area 38 and cannot move around "loose" within the carrier 10.
As best shown in Fig. 3, the infant covering and sheltering feature of the sling style carrier 10 of the present invention is preferably constructed from a pair of flaps 26 which are attached, preferably sewn, to the side sections 24. The side sections 24 are then attached to the back section 22. Please note that while in the preferred embodiment shown herein, the flaps l0 26 and side sections 24 are constructed from separate pieces of material and sewn together, in another embodiment of the invention, these sections could be made of a single piece of material if desired. Sections 24 and flaps 26 may be constructed of any suitable material which would be satisfactory for keeping an infant warm and dry, such as a synthetic or cotton fabric. The flaps 26 are shaped and attached to the carrier 10, and more particularly to the side sections 24, so as to l5 provide an opening 46 for the head of an infant 14 secured in the carrier 10. Preferably, the opening 46 includes a padded edge 48 that is filled with a padded material, such as foam or bunting, in order to help protect the head and provide comfort to the infant 14 that is secured in the infant receiving area 38 of the carrier 10. The flaps 26 are also preferably provided with a closure device 44, such as a line of snaps, hook and loop material, a zipper, etc., so that the flaps ?0 26 may be secured around the head of the infant 14. While the closure device 44 for the strap herein is shown as snaps, it is to be understood that various other means for closing the flaps 26 may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention, including but not limited to buckles, buttons, zippers, clasps, clamps, hooks, clips, locks, attachment surfaces such a VELCRO~ attachment surfaces, laces, and the like. Additionally, these same closure devices ZS could also be used in connection with the adjustment buckle 20 and harness 28 as well.
As mentioned previously, the back section 22 of the body portion 12 of the career _7_ _.. ,:..._a,s..
Attorney Docket No. 451189-00857 may preferably be made from a semi-rigid material or contains a semi-to-completely rigid back board 52. The rigidity of the back section 22 of the carrier 10 can range from semi-rigid to almost completely rigid, depending on the desired back support. As shown best in Fig. 7, in one preferred embodiment of the invention, the desired rigidity is provided by a pre-shaped 5 polyethylene board 52. Additional features, such as storage pockets 54, or extra padding in the carrier body 12 and/or strap 16, different closure devices, etc., may be added to the carrier 10 of the present invention to add convenience and comfort to the infant 14 and the wearer 18. Of course the addition of these features, as well as variations in their exact use and placement would be considered within the scope of the present invention.
The carrier 10 of the present invention may be used in the following manner.
The closure snaps 44 on the flaps 26 are unsnapped to provide access to the infant receiving area 38.
An infant.l4 is then placed within the harness assembly 28. The crotch support portion 30 is brought up through the legs of the infant 14. The side cushions 34 are then wrapped around the torso of the infant 14. The belt 36 is positioned around the torso of the infant 14 and adjusted to secure the infant 14 in the harness 28. The flaps 26 are then secured around the body of the infant 14 and may be closed together using the closures 44. Next, the strap 16 is placed around the head and shoulders of the wearer 18. The strap 16 may be adjusted by the strap adjustment buckle 20 before or after the carrier 10 is placed on the wearer 18. If it is desired to nurse the infant 14 while in the carrier 10, the strap 16 may be adjusted to facilitate the positioning of the infant's head close to the breast 58 of the wearer 18. The wearer 18 can provide additional support to the infant 14 by positioning her hands 60 underneath the back section 22 of the carrier 10 as shown in Fig. 1.
~ 5 Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
_g_
Claims (21)
1. An infant carrier comprising:
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section having an infant securing harness attached thereto and at least one side closure flap for releasbly closing around and covering a torso of said infant; and a single strap attached to said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section having an infant securing harness attached thereto and at least one side closure flap for releasbly closing around and covering a torso of said infant; and a single strap attached to said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
2. The infant carrier of claim 1 including a pair of side flaps.
3. The infant carrier of claim 2 wherein one of said side flaps include at least one female snap and the other of said side flap includes at least one male snap wherein said female snap and said male snap may be releasably attached to close said flaps around the torso of said infant.
4. The infant carrier of claim 1 wherein said infant securing harness includes a crotch supporting portion and a belt assembly.
5. The infant carrier of claim 4 wherein belt assembly includes two side cushions and an adjustable belt.
6. The infant carrier of claim 2 wherein each of said side flaps is comprised of a side section attached to said back section and a covering flap attached to said side section.
7. The infant carrier of claim 6 wherein said covering flaps are shaped to cover the torso of an infant and include an opening for the head of an infant.
8. The infant carrier of claim 8 wherein said covering flaps include padding around said head opening.
9. The infant carrier of claim 1 wherein said back section includes a rigid member for defining a shape of said back section.
10. The infant carrier of claim 9 wherein said rigid member is a polyethylene board.
11. An infant carrier comprising:
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section having an infant securing harness attached thereto, said infant securing harness defining an infant receiving area, and a pair of side flaps attached to said back section shaped to releasbly close around and cover the torso of said infant;
releasable closures attached to said closure flaps; and a single strap attached to said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section having an infant securing harness attached thereto, said infant securing harness defining an infant receiving area, and a pair of side flaps attached to said back section shaped to releasbly close around and cover the torso of said infant;
releasable closures attached to said closure flaps; and a single strap attached to said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
12. The infant carrier of claim 11 wherein said releasable closures are snaps.
13. The infant carrier of claim 11 wherein said infant securing harness includes a crotch supporting portion and a belt assembly.
14. The infant carrier of claim 13 wherein belt assembly includes two side cushions and an adjustable belt.
15. The infant carrier of claim 11 wherein each of said side flaps is comprised of a side section attached to said back section and a covering flap attached to said side section.
16. An infant sling carrier comprising:
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section shaped to comfortably receive an infant thereon, said back section including an infant securing harness attached thereto, said infant securing harness defining an infant receiving area including a crotch portion for supporting the crotch of said infant, said crotch portion including a double mating section attached to a front thereof, said double mating section shaped to mate with left and right straps to form an adjustable belt to secure said infant in said harness;
a pair of side flaps attached to said back section and including a pair of closure flaps attached thereto, said closure flaps shaped to releasbly close around and cover the torso, but not the head, of said infant;
releasable closures attached to said closure flaps; and a single adjustable strap attached to a top portion and a bottom portion of said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
a body portion for receiving an infant, said body portion including a semi-rigid back section shaped to comfortably receive an infant thereon, said back section including an infant securing harness attached thereto, said infant securing harness defining an infant receiving area including a crotch portion for supporting the crotch of said infant, said crotch portion including a double mating section attached to a front thereof, said double mating section shaped to mate with left and right straps to form an adjustable belt to secure said infant in said harness;
a pair of side flaps attached to said back section and including a pair of closure flaps attached thereto, said closure flaps shaped to releasbly close around and cover the torso, but not the head, of said infant;
releasable closures attached to said closure flaps; and a single adjustable strap attached to a top portion and a bottom portion of said carrier for supporting said body portion on a wearer.
17. The infant carrier of claim 16 wherein said back section includes a rigid member for defining a shape of said back section.
18. The infant carrier of claim 17 wherein said rigid member is a polyethylene board.
19. The infant carrier of claim 16 further including padding on said closure flaps for protecting a head of said infant.
20. The infant carrier of claim 4 wherein said belt assembly includes a left strap and a right strap for mating with a double mating belt section attached to the front of said crotch portion.
21. The infant carrier of claim 13 wherein said belt assembly includes a left strap and a right strap for mating with a double mating belt section attached to the front of said crotch portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US66620500A | 2000-09-21 | 2000-09-21 | |
| US09/666,205 | 2000-09-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2357614A1 true CA2357614A1 (en) | 2002-03-21 |
Family
ID=24673248
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002357614A Abandoned CA2357614A1 (en) | 2000-09-21 | 2001-09-20 | Infant sling carrier |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2357614A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2439910A (en) * | 2006-07-08 | 2008-01-16 | Susannah Jenny Dean | A baby sling |
| US20110042429A1 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2011-02-24 | ERGObaby | Infant Carrier |
| CN104323642A (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2015-02-04 | 弥渡县甜咪咪婴幼儿用品制造有限公司 | Novel infant sleeping bag |
| CN104323626A (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2015-02-04 | 弥渡县甜咪咪婴幼儿用品制造有限公司 | Novel infant back quilt |
| US9700152B2 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2017-07-11 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Hip seat device and system |
-
2001
- 2001-09-20 CA CA002357614A patent/CA2357614A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2439910A (en) * | 2006-07-08 | 2008-01-16 | Susannah Jenny Dean | A baby sling |
| US20110042429A1 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2011-02-24 | ERGObaby | Infant Carrier |
| US9220352B2 (en) * | 2009-08-19 | 2015-12-29 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Infant carrier |
| US9839302B2 (en) | 2009-08-19 | 2017-12-12 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Infant carrier |
| CN104323642A (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2015-02-04 | 弥渡县甜咪咪婴幼儿用品制造有限公司 | Novel infant sleeping bag |
| CN104323626A (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2015-02-04 | 弥渡县甜咪咪婴幼儿用品制造有限公司 | Novel infant back quilt |
| US9700152B2 (en) | 2015-03-31 | 2017-07-11 | The Ergo Baby Carrier, Inc. | Hip seat device and system |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |