CN111374482A - Infant carrier with tie strap - Google Patents

Infant carrier with tie strap Download PDF

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Publication number
CN111374482A
CN111374482A CN201911392731.4A CN201911392731A CN111374482A CN 111374482 A CN111374482 A CN 111374482A CN 201911392731 A CN201911392731 A CN 201911392731A CN 111374482 A CN111374482 A CN 111374482A
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
child
strap
caregiver
carrier
shoulder
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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.)
Pending
Application number
CN201911392731.4A
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
H·吉本斯
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Boppy Co LLC
Original Assignee
Boppy Co LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US16/235,428 external-priority patent/US10555620B2/en
Application filed by Boppy Co LLC filed Critical Boppy Co LLC
Publication of CN111374482A publication Critical patent/CN111374482A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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

Abstract

The invention relates to a child carrier with a strap. Infant carrier capable of carrying an infant. The child carrier includes a belt wrapped around a waist of the caregiver. The baby support portion is coupled to the harness and supports the baby. The first shoulder strap is coupled to the child support and has a length adjustment device. The first shoulder strap couples the child support portion to a caregiver's shoulder. The second shoulder strap is coupled to the child support portion. A second shoulder strap couples the child support portion to an opposite shoulder of the caregiver. First and second straps formed of fabric are slidably coupled to the respective first and second loops and secured to the child support portion to enable adjustment and securing of the child carrier to a caregiver.

Description

Infant carrier with tie strap
Reference to related applications
This application is a partial continuation of 15/430,230 filed on.20. 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to baby carriers (baby carriers).
Background
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Toddlers and young children are often held by their mother and other caregivers before they can comfortably walk on their own. Holding the child enables the caregiver to better supervise and soothe the child. Unfortunately, holding the baby may reduce the ability of the caregiver to perform other tasks, such as shopping and caring for other children, because the baby is held with one or more hands/arms. When holding a baby for a long time, the baby may also leave the caregiver tired. The baby carrier enables the caregiver to hold the baby with their torso and shoulders, which frees their hands to perform other tasks. However, existing child carriers may be difficult to assemble and adjust. For example, some carriers consist of a single piece of fabric that is wrapped around by the caregiver in a complex manner to secure the infant. Other infant carriers have an excess of straps and buckles that require separate adjustment for infant comfort and securement.
Disclosure of Invention
Examples discussed below include infant carriers capable of carrying an infant. The child carrier includes a waist belt or strap that wraps around the waist of the caregiver. The baby support portion is coupled to the harness and supports the baby. The child carrier includes a shoulder strap for coupling the child carrier to a caregiver's shoulder. The shoulder straps may be operatively connected to or integral with the child support. In some examples, the shoulder straps may be made of the same continuous material as the child support, while in other examples, the shoulder straps may be sewn or otherwise permanently attached to the child support. The shoulder straps each form a loop through which the caregiver's left and right arms are passed to place the shoulder straps against the caregiver's shoulders. The child carrier also includes left and right straps, each strap having one end attached or sewn to the child support. In other examples, the tether may be connected or sewn to the strap. In some examples, the harness is coupled to the shoulder straps such that both the harness and the shoulder straps are able to slide relative to each other. The strap has a length sufficient to tie the free ends together and secure the child carrier to the caregiver.
In an alternative example, a child carrier includes a first shoulder strap coupled to a child support and formed from a loop of fabric. The first shoulder strap couples the child support portion to a caregiver's shoulder. The second shoulder strap is coupled to the child support portion and is formed from a loop of fabric. A second shoulder strap couples the child support portion to an opposite shoulder of the caregiver. The first and second straps are coupled to the first and second shoulder straps, respectively, to facilitate securing the child relative to the caregiver in an easy and convenient manner.
In yet another example, one end of each shoulder strap may be coupled to the child support at an end opposite the harness. The other end of each shoulder strap may be coupled to the middle of the child support. The shoulder straps may be adjustable in length to accommodate different caregiver and/or infant sizes, and also function to adjust the position or fit of the child carrier relative to the caregiver. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the shoulder straps may be located near where the shoulder straps are coupled to the child support. In this manner, the shoulder straps may be made loose to adjust the fit and position of the child carrier relative to the caregiver. In another aspect, the adjustment mechanism may comprise an adjustable buckle on a nylon strap, or may comprise a series of snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or other such means.
In another example, a child carrier includes a belt wrapped around a waist of a caregiver. The baby support is coupled to the harness. The first shoulder strap abuts against a first shoulder of the caregiver. The first shoulder strap has a first end and a second end. The first and second ends are coupled to the child support. The second shoulder strap abuts a second shoulder of the caregiver. The second shoulder strap has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the second shoulder strap are coupled to the child support.
In another example, a method of placing a child in a child carrier is presented. The method includes coupling a harness of the child carrier about a waist of the caregiver. After the harness is coupled to the caregiver, the caregiver places the child in the child support. The caregiver secures the child in the child carrier by passing his left arm through the first shoulder strap and his right arm through the second shoulder strap. To adjust the child carrier, the caregiver can pull on the first and second straps that are coupled to the first and second shoulder straps, respectively. The caregiver may then secure the child carrier in the adjusted position by tying the first and second straps. In some examples, the method further comprises adjusting the tightness or size of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap to fit against the caregiver's shoulders.
In another example, a child carrier includes a belt wrapped around a waist of a caregiver. The harness is coupled to the child support. The strap is bent at the upper edge to form a larger seating area and allow the enhanced buttonhole to be coupled to the child support or to the first and second straps. The first shoulder strap abuts against a first shoulder of the caregiver. The first shoulder strap has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the first shoulder strap are coupled to the child support. The second end of the first shoulder strap is coupled to the child support portion and has a built-in adjustable strap for adjusting the fit or tightness of the first shoulder strap relative to the caregiver's shoulders. The second shoulder strap abuts a second shoulder of the caregiver. The second shoulder strap has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end of the second shoulder strap are coupled to the child support. The second end of the second shoulder strap is coupled to the child support portion and has an adjustable strap for adjusting the fit or tightness of the second shoulder strap relative to the caregiver's shoulders.
In some examples, first and second straps formed of fabric are coupled to the child support portion and/or the harness. In some examples, the first and second straps are coupled to both the baby support portion and the harness. The first and second straps are slidably coupled to the first and second shoulder straps, respectively. The first and second straps are long enough to wrap around the caregiver's body (especially the torso) and tie the ends of the first and second straps together to secure the child carrier relative to the caregiver.
In some examples, the first and second straps include buttons near the first end where the first and second straps are secured to the child support. The button may be inserted into a button hole or opening in the strap to provide a wider or narrower seat width for different configurations of the child carrier.
In some examples, the child support is attached at a lower end to a harness for securing around a caregiver's waist and has a headrest at an opposite upper end. In some examples, the headrest has side wings on both sides with buttons or closures for attachment to the first and second shoulder straps. In some configurations, the headrest secures the first strap and the second strap when secured to the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap. The headrest has an elongated configuration in which the headrest vertically extends from the supporting part of the infant to support the head of the infant. The headrest also has a folded configuration in which the headrest is folded downwardly relative to the upper edge of the baby support.
Drawings
The various features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of an example child carrier supporting an infant;
FIG. 2 is a front view of an example child carrier;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of an example child carrier;
FIG. 4 is a front view of an example of a shoulder strap and harness prior to assembly;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example child support;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a caregiver attaching a harness of the child carrier about the waist;
FIG. 7 is a front view of a caregiver coupled a child carrier about the waist;
FIG. 8 is a side view of a caregiver placing a child in the child carrier;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a caregiver with a first shoulder strap of the child carrier positioned on a first shoulder;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a caregiver with a second shoulder strap of the child carrier positioned on a second shoulder;
FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a caregiver crossing and pulling a first strap coupled to a first shoulder strap and a second strap coupled to a second shoulder strap;
FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a caregiver pulling the first and second straps forward;
FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a caregiver tying a knot with a first strap and a second strap;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a caregiver with a child carrier;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a caregiver with a child in the child carrier facing away from the caregiver;
FIG. 16 is a side view of an example child carrier supporting an infant;
FIG. 17 is a front view of the child carrier of FIG. 16 configured in a narrow seating configuration for a child facing away from a caregiver in the child carrier;
FIG. 18 is a front view of the child carrier of FIG. 16 configured for a wide-seat configuration for an infant facing a caregiver in the child carrier;
fig. 19 is a rear view of the child carrier of fig. 16, showing a shaped belt (shaped belt);
FIG. 20 is a front view of the child carrier of FIG. 16 showing an alternative position of the foldable headrest;
FIG. 21 is a front view of the child carrier of FIG. 16 showing the headrest folded;
FIG. 22 is a detailed view of the shoulder strap of the child carrier of FIG. 16 positioned within the channel formed by the harness of the child carrier;
FIG. 23 is a front view of a caregiver wearing the child-supporting child carrier of FIG. 16; and
fig. 24 is a front view of a caregiver wearing the child supporting child carrier of fig. 16.
Fig. 25 is a front view of the child carrier of fig. 16 showing the harness in greater detail.
Fig. 26 is a detailed view of the harness of the child carrier of fig. 16 housing a storage pocket and a storage sub-pocket.
Fig. 27 is a front perspective view of a caregiver wearing the child carrier of fig. 16 supporting a child.
Fig. 28 is a front view of a caregiver wearing the child carrier of fig. 16 supporting a child.
Fig. 29 is a rear view of a caregiver wearing the child carrier of fig. 16.
Detailed Description
One or more specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below. These examples are merely illustrative of the present disclosure. In addition, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
The following discussion illustrates examples of child carriers that are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to assemble. The term baby should be understood to mean a child of the age to about three years and of the weight to about thirty-five pounds. The child carrier includes a harness for coupling the child carrier to a caregiver. The harness is in turn coupled to a child support that receives the infant. The child carrier includes two shoulder straps coupled to the caregiver to further support and secure the infant. In some examples, the child carrier may include a harness coupled to the loop that enables adjustment of the child carrier (e.g., lifting the infant, pulling the child closer to the caregiver). These straps also secure the shoulder straps against the caregiver's shoulders when tied around the caregiver.
The shoulder straps may be made from a single piece of fabric or multiple pieces of fabric and attached to the child carrier at each end to form a loop. The shoulder straps may include an adjustment device to adjust the length or tension of the shoulder straps. For example, the adjustment means may be used to tighten the shoulder strap around the shoulder of the caregiver. The shoulder straps may be connected to the child support and/or harness. The lower end of the shoulder strap may be connected to a lower portion of the harness or child support located adjacent the harness. One particularly useful position is halfway between the top and bottom of the child support. The opposite (or top) end of the shoulder strap may be connected to the child support at a location spaced above the lower end of the shoulder strap. One particularly useful location is near the top of the child support, thereby forming a loop.
A strap for wrapping around the caregiver to further secure the carrier relative to the caregiver can be coupled to the harness, the child support, the shoulder strap, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the tethers may be sewn or otherwise secured to the attachment points at any of the above locations, provided the tethers have free ends to allow them to be tied together.
The tethers may be a single piece of fabric or may comprise multiple layers of fabric sewn together into a composite. The tethers may have any number of shapes or widths that vary throughout the length of each tether. In some examples, the lace may have a uniform width throughout the entire length. In some examples, the strap may taper from the attachment point to the free end of the carrier.
The harness may be connected or coupled to the child carrier in various ways and in various locations. For example, the harness may be directly connected or sewn to the shoulder straps, harness straps, and/or child support. In some cases, the harness may simply be an extension of the shoulder straps and/or the child support. The harness may be slidably coupled to the shoulder straps to allow relative movement between the harness and the shoulder straps. In some examples, the tethers may form channels or tunnels through which the shoulder straps slide. In this way, the lace can slide around the shoulder strap. In some examples, the harness may have a strap attached to its edge to form one or more channels for the shoulder straps to pass through. In some other examples, opposite edges of the harness may be sewn or otherwise directly connected together to form a channel for receiving the shoulder straps. The length of the channel through which the lace passes may range from about one inch to about ten inches. In some examples, the length of the channel may be approximately four inches.
In some examples, the slidable coupling of the harness to the shoulder straps may be achieved by additional elements such as tubes formed by or attached to the harness, or by elastic members connected to both the shoulder straps and the harness. The elastic members may hold the straps and shoulder straps together or properly configured, but also allow the straps and shoulder straps to adjust or move relative to each other. Other examples of mechanisms or structures designed to achieve a slidable connection between the harness and shoulder straps may involve the use of a passageway and follower. For example, the lace may have a passageway formed in a portion of its length, while the shoulder strap has a button or other insert designed to fit in the passageway and move along one axis.
The child support may include a headrest at an upper end designed to be positioned behind the child's head when the child is in an inward facing position (facing the caregiver). In some examples, the headrest may be folded down over the carrier so as not to cover the child's face while the child's face remains in an outward facing position (turned away from the caregiver). The headrest may be folded down and may be secured to the child support using various fastening mechanisms, such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, or other securing devices. The headrest may be an extension of the child support or may be a separate component that is connected to the child support. For example, the headrest may be sewn to the child support, or in some instances, may even be removable from the child support. In some examples, the headrest may be releasably connected to the shoulder straps, harness, and/or child support. The headrest may be attached to the child support at its upper end (the end opposite the harness). Furthermore, the fixing means may be located on both lateral sides of the headrest: in some cases, the headrest may include a protrusion to facilitate coupling of the strap to the child support. For example, when the tabs are coupled to the child support, they form a channel or channel for retaining the harness. In some examples, the headrest including the securing devices or protrusions may be covered by a strap and may not be visible in the line of sight.
The child carrier may be configured to receive a child held facing a caregiver or facing away from the caregiver. To this end, the portion of the support coupled to the strap may be adjustable between a wide configuration and a narrow configuration. The child support may include side flaps or lateral edges (lateral edges) with buttons, snaps, or other releasable attachments on both sides of the child support where it attaches to the harness. The harness may include a buttonhole, a snap or a mating releasable attachment for connection to the side wings and for increasing the length of attachment between the harness and the child support. The side flaps are each connected to a wide configuration of the harness for providing greater seating area and coverage for a child in the child carrier. The side flaps may not be connected or attached to give a narrow configuration. The wide configuration is well suited for inwardly facing toddlers, while the narrow configuration is well suited for outwardly facing toddlers, according to some examples. The narrow configuration results in less outward flex (flex) or yield (bend) of the child's hips when in the carrier.
The harness of the child carrier may have a particular shape adapted to support the weight of a child. In some examples, the straps may have straight or flat edges that are parallel to each other. In other examples, the strap may have curved edges, causing the width to vary along the length of the strap. The upper edge of the strap may taper from the middle portion of the strap. In some examples, the strap may have a highest point or a widest portion on each side of the center of the strap, and may have a reduced width or height in the center of the strap. When attaching the child support to the harness, the higher edge is located in the middle of the harness, and the reduced height is located in the center of the harness, a seat scoop (seatscoop) can be achieved that provides a comfortable seat and additional space for a child seated in the carrier. In other words, the height of the strap may increase from the first end to a point adjacent to the center of the strap, after which the height of the strap may decrease until the center of the strap is reached. The lower edge of the strap may have a flat profile or may have a curved or tapered profile. In some examples, the lower edge may taper from the middle portion toward both ends of the strap. The central or middle portion of the strap may include a pocket, and the larger area created by the curved lower edge may increase the size of the pocket. In some examples, the bag may have a zipper-type closure, a hook-and-loop closure, or other closure means. In other examples, the pouch may be large enough to fold and stow inside the child support, shoulder straps, and harness of the child carrier.
For storage, the strap may present a plurality of pockets. In some examples, a storage pocket located in the middle portion of the strap may be configured for storage of items for the convenience of a caregiver. The second pouch may be configured for storing the carrier in the sub-pouch. In some examples, a second pocket may be disposed at a bottom edge of the strap, and contain within the pocket a sub-pocket or fabric container having a shape and size to fit the carrier inside when removed or partially removed from the pocket.
Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of an example child carrier 10 worn by a caregiver 12 to support a child 14. As shown, the child carrier 10 positions a child 14 near a caregiver's chest 16. The close proximity between the child 14 and the caregiver's chest 16 may naturally soothe the child 14 and make the child 14 comfortable. This position also enables the caregiver 12 to view the child 14 and to make the child 14 comfortable (e.g., feeding, touching).
The child carrier 10 includes a plurality of components that support a child 14 and facilitate the donning of the child carrier 10. The child carrier 10 includes a strap 18, the strap 18 providing a first point of contact with the caregiver 12 and carrying some of the weight of the infant. The harness has attached thereto a child support 20 that supports the child 14. The child carrier 10 provides further load bearing support by including shoulder straps 22 formed from loops of fabric (fabric loops). The child carrier 10 includes two shoulder straps 22, one shoulder strap 22 for each shoulder 24. Shoulder straps 22 are coupled to child support 20, and when shoulder straps 22 are worn on shoulders 24, shoulder straps 22 support child 14 and hold child 14 close to caregiver's chest 16. In some examples, the child carrier 10 may include a strap 26 attached to the shoulder strap 22. The harness 26 enables the caregiver 12 to adjust the position of the child 14 and secure the shoulder straps 22 to the shoulders 24. For example, the harness 26 may enable the caregiver 12 to lift the child 14 and to bring the child 14 closer to their chest 16. To adjust the position of the infant, caregiver 12 pulls down on strap 26 in direction 28. As the strap 26 moves in the direction 28, the strap 26 pulls on the shoulder strap 22 and rotates the shoulder strap 22 about the shoulder 24. The shoulder straps 22 in turn lift the child 14 and pull the child support 20 closer to the chest 16. The new position can then be secured by tying the straps 26 together around the caregiver 12.
Fig. 2 is a front view of an example child carrier 10. As mentioned above, the child carrier 10 includes a strap 18 coupled to a child support portion 20. In some examples, strap 18 includes a strap portion 38 and a buckle system 40, with buckle system 40 coupling a first end 42 and an opposite second end 44 of strap portion 38 together. In some examples, the buckle system 40 may be a snap-fit buckle system (snap-fit buckle system) having a male connector 46 and a female connector 48. In other examples, the buckle system 40 may be a D-ring, snap, hook and loop fastener, or the like. In still other examples, the buckle system 40 may be a fabric that the caregiver 12 ties together to secure the strap 18.
In fig. 2, the buckle system 40 is adjustable to accommodate caregivers of different sizes. For example, the buckle system 40 may include an adjustable strap 50, the adjustable strap 50 being capable of lengthening or shortening the distance between the male connector 46 and the ends 42 of the strap portion. In another example, the female connector 48 may be coupled to the adjustable strap 50 such that the female connector 48 is capable of varying the distance between the strap portion 38 and the second end 44 of the strap portion 38. In yet another example, both the male connector 46 and the female connector 48 may be coupled to a respective adjustable strap 50 to enable the size of the strap 18 to be adjusted.
The strap 18 may include one or more pockets 52 for storing various items (e.g., keys, treats, purses, identification cards, etc.). The bag 52 may be opened and closed with a zipper 54. In other examples, the caregiver 12 may secure the contents of the bag 52 with buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. The pocket 52 extends throughout a portion of the strap portion 38, but in some examples, the pocket 52 may extend throughout a length 56 of the strap portion 38. The length 56 of the strap portion 38 may be between 15 inches and 30 inches, preferably between 18 inches and 27 inches. In some examples, the strap portion 38 may define a shape other than a rectangle. For example, the strap portion 38 may be generally rectangular, irregular, oval, or the like. In fig. 2, the belt portion 38 is generally rectangular with a straight first edge 60 and a curved second edge 62. As can be seen, the curved second edge 62 forms a maximum width 64 at the center of the strap portion 38. By maximizing the width of the strap 18 in the center of the strap portion 38, the child carrier 10 may improve comfort by distributing the force from the weight of the infant over a larger area to relieve the pressure of the strap 18 against the caregiver's abdomen.
As mentioned above, the child carrier 10 includes shoulder straps 22 that couple the child carrier 10 to the caregiver's shoulders 24. The shoulder straps 22 are not adjustable. That is, the size of the shoulder straps 22 does not change except in response to stretching or shrinking of the fabric. These fixed-size shoulder straps 22 reduce the complexity (i.e., less adjustment mechanism) of the child carrier 10. A simpler infant carrier 10 may facilitate donning and manufacturing of the infant carrier 10.
Shoulder straps 22 are formed by coupling a respective single first piece of fabric 66 and a single second piece of fabric 68 (e.g., plain weave, cotton, polyester, woven fabric) to child support 20. The first piece of fabric 66 defines a first end 70 and a second end 72. In some examples, first end 70 is coupled (e.g., sewn) to strap 18 and second end 72 is coupled (e.g., sewn) to child support portion 20. In another example, the first end 70 is coupled to the child support section 20. In yet another example, the first end 70 is coupled to both the child support portion 20 and the strap 18. Similarly, shoulder straps 22 on opposite sides of the child carrier 10 define a first end 74 and a second end 76. Likewise, first end 74 may be coupled to harness 18 and/or child support section 20 while second end 76 is coupled to child support section 20. In some examples, the width of the fabric forming shoulder straps 22 may decrease from first ends 70, 74 to second ends 72, 76. In other examples, the width of the first piece of fabric 66 and the second piece of fabric 68 may not change between the first ends 70, 74 and the second ends 72, 76. In some examples, the shoulder straps 22 may partially overlap at their first ends 70, 74. The overlap may be decorative and functional. That is, the location of the first ends 70, 74 may pull the shoulder straps 22 closer to the center of the child support 20, which in turn helps to retain the shoulder straps 22 on the shoulders 24.
As shown, the shoulder straps 22 are made from a single piece of fabric 66, 68, which may improve the structural integrity of the shoulder straps 22 and the child carrier 10. A strap 26 (e.g., an adjustment strap) is coupled to the shoulder strap 22. The strap 26 facilitates adjustment of the child carrier 10 (e.g., lifting or lowering of the child 14). For example, the caregiver 12 may pull the harness 26 downward to lift the child 14 and pull the child 14 closer to the chest 16. By forming the shoulder straps 22 from a single piece of fabric (e.g., fabric 66 or 68) and then coupling the straps 26 to the shoulder straps 22, the shoulder straps 22 can maintain their integrity and still support the child support portion 20 even if one or both of the straps 26 are separated from the shoulder straps 22 during adjustment of the child carrier 10. In other words, if the straps 26 are separated from the shoulder straps 22 during use, the shoulder straps 22 will still support the child support portion 20. However, in some examples, the shoulder straps 22 and/or the harness 26 may include pieces of fabric that are fixedly coupled together (see fig. 4).
The length 80 of the strap 26 may be between 80 inches and 115 inches, as measured from the location where the strap 26 is connected to the belt 18 to the end of the strap 26, with the length of the strap 26 from the shoulder of the caregiver 12 to the end of the strap being between 30 inches and 60 inches. The shoulder straps 22 may be between 20 inches and 40 inches in length, preferably 24 inches or around 24 inches, to accommodate caregivers 12 of different sizes. Further, the length 80 of the straps 26 enables the caregiver 12 to grasp the straps 26, adjust the fit of the child carrier 10, and secure the child carrier 10 by tying the straps 26 to one another around the caregiver 12.
In some cases, the caregiver 12 may want to hold the child 14 away from the caregiver's chest 16. However, if the child 14 is facing away from the caregiver 12, some or all of the child's face may be covered by the child support 20. Thus, in some examples, the child support 20 may include a foldable portion 82. The foldable portion 82 can be folded away from the infant's face and toward the harness 18 (see fig. 15). To maintain the foldable portion 82 in the folded position, the child support 20 may include a button snap system 84 that maintains the foldable portion 82 in the folded position (e.g., attached to another portion of the child support 20). In other examples, the button snap system 84 may be a button system, a hook and loop system, or the like.
Fig. 3 is a rear view of an example child carrier 10. As described above, the first piece of fabric 66 and the second piece of fabric 68 are coupled to the child support portion 20 to form the shoulder straps 22. The shoulder straps 22 support the child support 20 and distribute the weight of the child 14. The shoulder straps 22 may also facilitate retention of the child 14 in the child carrier 10. As shown, first ends 70 and 74 of each fabric 66 and 68 are coupled to the middle of the child support portion 20. This positions the shoulder straps 22 around the middle of the child 14 when the child 14 is placed in the child carrier 10, thereby retaining the child 14 within the child carrier (see fig. 1).
The child support portion 20 defines a length 100 between a first end 102 and a second end 104. The length of the child support portion 20 may be between 8 inches and 30 inches, preferably between 12 inches and 25 inches. In some examples, the first end 102 may be curved in order to increase the length 100 of the child support portion 20 to support the head and neck of the child 14, while the curved portions 106 and 108 of the end 102 may improve the ability of the child 14 to see outside of the child carrier 10 when viewed from the side. Second end 104 is coupled to strap 18 and may likewise include bends 110 and 112. The flexures 110 and 112 accommodate the legs and hips of the child 14. This may improve infant comfort and prevent/alleviate hip dysplasia when holding an infant positioned in the infant carrier 10. More specifically, the bends 110 and 112 may reduce the hip and leg of the child 14 from spreading out in the child carrier 10.
The opposing first and second sides 114, 116 of the child support portion 20 may also be curved. The curved first and second sides 114, 116 may reduce the amount of fabric that contacts the child 14, thereby increasing the breathability of the child carrier 10. The curved first and second sides 114, 116 may also improve child comfort by enabling a child to more easily flip and move their arms. In some examples, the first end 102 may define a width 118 that is less than a width 120 of the second end 104. For example, the width 118 of the first end 102 may be 4 inches to 25 inches or about 7 inches to about 18 inches, and the width 120 may be about 5 inches to about 20 inches or about 10 inches to about 15 inches.
Fig. 4 is a front view of an example of the shoulder strap 22 before assembly. As mentioned above, the shoulder straps 22 may be made of multiple pieces or a single piece of fabric. For example, shoulder strap 22 may include a liner 122 made of a one-piece lining (lining), a first outer facing piece 124, and a second outer facing piece 126. During assembly, end 128 of lace 26 is coupled (e.g., sewn) to end 130 of first outward facing member 124 and end 132 of second outward facing member 126. The first and second outward facing members 124, 126 are then coupled (e.g., sewn) to the liner 122 to form the shoulder strap 22 with the lace 26 attached. This arrangement may improve the structural integrity of the infant carrier 10. For example, if the connection between the shoulder straps 22 and the straps 26 is weakened, the straps 26 may separate from the shoulder straps 22 in a manner that leaves the shoulder straps 22 intact. More specifically, the strap 26 may be separated from the first outward facing member 124 and/or the second outward facing member 126 while the lining 122 of the shoulder straps 22 remains intact to support the child support portion 20.
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example child support portion 20 of the child carrier 10. As shown, the child support 20 may include layers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). For example, the child support 20 may include three layers: a first layer 140, a second layer 142, and a third layer 144. The first and third layers 140, 144 may be fabric layers (e.g., scrim), while the second layer 142 may be a padding layer (e.g., open cell foam, batting, fiber padding, foam, memory foam) that may insulate and/or enhance the comfort of the infant 14. First layer 140 and third layer 144 may be included for aesthetic purposes and to protect second layer 142 from abrasion (e.g., laundering and other normal wear). In some examples, the shoulder straps 22 may also include layers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) to enhance comfort of the caregiver 12 when wearing the infant carrier 10. For example, the shoulder straps 22 may include multiple layers at the location where the shoulder straps 22 abut the caregiver's shoulders 24.
Fig. 6-15 illustrate a method of donning and adjusting the child carrier 10. Fig. 6 is a side view of caregiver 12 attaching harness 18 of child carrier 10 about caregiver's waist 160. As described above, the belt 18 may include a buckle system 40, the buckle system 40 having a male connector 46 and a female connector 48 coupled together to secure the belt 18 about the waist 160 of the caregiver 12. After connecting the male connector 46 to the female connector 48, the caregiver 12 can adjust the comfort of the harness 18 by tightening or loosening the adjustable strap 50.
Fig. 7 is a front view of caregiver 12 with child carrier 10 coupled about waist portion 160. After adjusting harness 18, caregiver 12 turns child carrier 10 so that child support portion 20, shoulder straps 22, and harness 26 are positioned in front of caregiver 12.
The caregiver 12 then grasps and lifts the child support 20 and places the child 14 in the child support 20 as shown in fig. 8. While supporting the child 14, the caregiver 12 places a shoulder strap 22 and a harness 26 on one shoulder, as shown in fig. 9. The caregiver 12 can then change hands to support the child 14. After the hand change, the caregiver places another shoulder strap 22 and another strap 26 on the opposite shoulder 24 as shown in fig. 10. In this position, the child 14 is secured and supported by the child carrier 10.
Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of caregiver 12 crossing and pulling lace 26. As described above, the child carrier 10 may be adjusted to enhance the comfort of the child 14 and caregiver 12. To adjust the child carrier 10, the caregiver 12 crosses the strap 26 and pulls the strap 26 downward in the direction 28. The downward force causes the shoulder straps 22 to pivot about the shoulders 24, which lifts the child support 20 and draws the child support 20 closer to the caregiver's chest 16. In some examples, the shoulder straps 22 and the tethers 26 are made of separate fabrics. The tether 26 is coupled to the shoulder strap 22 by stitching or the like. This arrangement may improve the structural integrity of the infant carrier 10. For example, if the connection between the shoulder straps 22 and the straps 26 is weakened, the straps 26 may separate from the shoulder straps 22. Thus, the shoulder straps 22 remain intact and continue to support the child support 20 and, thus, the child 14.
After the position of the child 14 has been adjusted, the harness 26 is pulled forward of the caregiver 12 and over the child support 20 as shown in fig. 12. The harness 26 is then tied 170, as shown in fig. 13-14, to secure the child 14 in the desired position. The knot 170 may be tied to the side, above, or below the child support section 20 depending on the preference of the caregiver 12.
As described above, the child carrier 10 enables the caregiver 12 to hold the child 14 with the child 14 facing toward or away from the caregiver 12. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a caregiver 12 holding a child 14 positioned in the child carrier 10, with the child 14 facing away from the caregiver 12. In some examples, the child carrier 10 may include a button-catch system 84, the button-catch system 84 enabling the foldable portion 82 to fold down and away from the infant's face.
Fig. 16 is a side view of an example child carrier 210 worn by a caregiver 12 to support a child 14. As described above, the child carrier 210 enables the caregiver 12 to hold the child 14 with the child 14 facing toward or away from the caregiver 12. The child carrier 210 also allows the caregiver 12 to hold the child 14 in front of or to the side of the caregiver 12 (such as the hips). The example shown in fig. 16 shows a child carrier 210 worn to hold the child 14 in front of the caregiver 12.
The child carrier 210 includes a number of components designed to support a child 14 and facilitate wearing of the child carrier 210. As with the other examples discussed above, the child carrier 210 includes a strap 218, the strap 218 designed to provide a first point of contact with the caregiver and to carry some of the weight of the child 14. The strap 218 distributes weight over the hips of the caregiver 112. Strap 218 is attached to child support 220. The child support portion 220 provides load bearing support to carry or bear the weight of the child 14. The child support 220 may be formed from a single layer of fabric or may include multiple layers. For example, the child support 220 may include three layers. The first and third layers may be fabric layers (e.g., plain weave, spandex, nylon, cotton), while the second layer may be a padding layer (e.g., open cell foam, batting, fiber padding, foam, memory foam) that may insulate and/or enhance the comfort of the infant 14. The first and third layers may be included for aesthetic purposes and to protect the second layer from abrasion (e.g., laundering and other normal wear). The thickness of the child support portion may vary from the thickness of a single piece of fabric to approximately one inch thick. The thickness of the child support may vary across the length and/or width of the support based on the location of the desired additional padding or material. When the child 14 is in the inward facing configuration, the child support 220 contacts the child's back. When the child 14 is in the outward facing configuration, the child support 220 contacts the front of the child.
The top-to-bottom length of the child support portion may be in the range of about 12 inches to about 16 inches, and in some cases about 14 inches. The width of the child support (along the central portion) may be in the range of about 8 inches to 12 inches. In some examples, the width of the child support (along the central portion) may be about 10 inches. The child support portion may be shaped to taper outwardly (taper) from the point of attachment to the harness towards a wider middle portion, or may taper inwardly from the middle portion towards the upper end. The baby support may be sewn to, integral with, or otherwise connected to the strap. The shoulder straps 150 and straps 226 may also be sewn or otherwise attached to the child support portion 220. The tether 226 may be sewn or otherwise attached at the same location as the strap 218. In some examples, the shoulder strap 150 may be attached at or near the upper end of the child support portion 220, and the other end of the shoulder strap 150 may be connected at an edge to the middle portion of the child support portion 220.
Additional load bearing support is provided by the two shoulder straps 150. The shoulder straps 150 are coupled to the child support 220, and the shoulder straps 150 are worn on the shoulders of the caregiver 12, one shoulder strap 150 on each shoulder. When the shoulder straps 150 are worn on the shoulders of the caregiver 12, the child 14 is supported and held close to the caregiver 12. The shoulder strap 150 may also include multiple layers. For example, the shoulder strap 150 may include three layers: a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first and third layers may be fabric layers (e.g., plain weave, spandex, cotton), while the second layer may be a filler layer (e.g., open cell foam, batting, fiber filler, foam, memory foam). The first and third layers may be included for aesthetic purposes and to protect the second layer from abrasion (e.g., laundering and other normal wear). The shoulder straps 150 may have additional layers to enhance the comfort of the caregiver 12 when wearing the child carrier 210. For example, the shoulder strap 150 may include multiple layers at the location where the shoulder strap 150 abuts the shoulder of the caregiver.
As described herein, the shoulder straps 150 may be attached to the child support 220. The width of the shoulder strap 150 may vary throughout the length of the shoulder strap 150. For example, the width of the shoulder strap 150 may vary from about 1 inch to about 6 inches. In some examples, the shoulder strap 150 may have a constant width of approximately 3-1/2 inches. The length of the shoulder strap 150 from one attachment point to another attachment point may be 24 inches or about 24 inches. In some examples, the length of the shoulder strap 150 may be in the range of 24 inches to 36 inches.
In some examples, the shoulder strap 150 includes a length adjustment device 180. The length adjustment device 180 may include a strap 182 and an adjustment buckle 184. The strap 182 may be wrapped around or through the adjustment buckle 184 and may provide length adjustment for the shoulder strap 150 or provide tension or tightening for the shoulder strap 150. The length adjustment device 180 also allows the caregiver 12 to adjust the position of the child 14 and child carrier 10. When the shoulder straps 150 are tightened using the length adjustment device 180, the child carrier 10 and child 14 are positioned higher relative to the caregiver 12. Although one example of a length adjustment device 180 is shown herein, any device or combination of devices that allow length adjustment in a fixable manner is well suited for this purpose. For example, for length adjustment of the shoulder strap 150, a series of buttons and button holes, a series of snap closures (snap closures) arranged in rows, hook and loop fasteners, D-rings, or other such devices may be implemented.
As shown in fig. 16, the harness 226 may function similarly to other examples herein and may allow the child 14 to be pulled closer to the caregiver's 12 body. The strap 226 is attached at one end to the harness 218 or, alternatively, at the second end 204 to the child support portion 220 (not shown in FIG. 16). In some examples, the strap 226 may be coupled to both the strap 218 and the child support portion 220. The strap 226 may be sewn or otherwise connected to both the strap 218 and the child support portion 220. The strap 226 is long enough to wrap around the body of the caregiver 12 and be tied together at the end opposite the end attached to the harness 218 and/or the child support section 220.
The child support portion 220 of FIG. 16 includes a headrest 194 at the first end 202. The headrest 194 may be similar to the foldable portion 182 of the child support 220 in some examples. On each lateral side of the headrest 194 there is a projection 188 with a fixing device 186. The tab may have any shape designed to cover or retain the strap 226. The fastening device 186 may be any releasable fastening device, such as a button and hole, snap-fit button, or other such device. In fig. 16, the tab 188 and the securing device 186 retain the lace 226. One effect of this configuration is to change the load distribution of the child carrier 10. In other examples, the lace 226 may not be retained by the tab 188 and the securing device 186, and may result in a different load distribution for the caregiver 12.
Fig. 17 shows a front view of an example child carrier 10. As described above, the child carrier 10 includes straps 218. The belt 218 includes a buckle system 240 for coupling opposite ends of the belt 218 together about the waist of the caregiver. The buckle system 240 may be similar to the buckle system 40 described with reference to fig. 2. The buckle system 240 may include a length adjustment device or may be configured to adjust different lengths based on the size of the caregiver 12. The length adjustment device may be part of the buckle system 240 and may allow the buckle system 240 to move along the length of the strap 250 of the band to adjust the length of the buckle system 240. The strap 218 includes a pocket 252 closed by a zipper 254. The pocket 252 may extend throughout a portion of the strap 218, or in some examples, the pocket may extend throughout the entire width or length of the strap 218. The bag 252 may be used to store any items that may be needed by a caregiver, such as wet wipes, diapers, wipes, bibs, snack foods, food items, or any other item. In some examples, the pocket 252 may be large enough for the child carrier 210 to fold up and fit completely inside the pocket 252. In some cases, the child support 220, shoulder straps 150, and harness 226 may be housed within a pocket 252 when the child carrier 10 is not in use.
A second pocket (not shown) may be configured for the child carrier 210 to be stored therein. In particular, a second pocket may be located at the bottom edge of the strap 218, with the zipper covered or partially covered by fabric, not visible or hidden. The second pouch may be a plain pouch (bag) having a zipper opening, or may contain a storage sub-pouch (storage pouch) as described below with reference to fig. 26. In some examples, the second pouch may contain a fabric sub-pouch or fabric pouch that can be pulled or folded out of the second pouch and define or establish a sub-pouch having the following dimensions: the sub-bag enables the child carrier to be stored therein for storage and containment of the straps and harness.
Near the upper edge of the strap 218, the strap 218 includes a portion of the securing device 190. The securing device 190 may include buttons and button holes, snap-fit closures, or other releasable closures. In some examples, there may be one or more securing devices 190 on each side of the child support 220. For example, there may be 2, 3, 4, or 5 securing devices 190 on each side of the child support 220. A plurality of securing devices 190 may be spaced along the length of the strap 218 to provide alternatives and options for securing the strap 226 or child support portion 220 to the strap 218. The fixtures 192 may be configured in any pattern or shape to provide optional adjustability for the purpose. For example, the fixtures 192 may be configured as a grid, or may be along a straight line or a curved line. Another portion of the securing device 192 is disposed at the lace 226. In some examples, the securing device 192 may be located on the child support 220. This portion of the securing means may also be arranged at the child support 220. The securing devices 190, 192 allow the strap 226 and/or the child support 220 to be configured in a wide configuration and a narrow configuration. Fig. 17 illustrates an example child carrier 210 with a strap 226 and/or child support portion 220 in a narrow configuration. In the narrow configuration, the width 234 of the strap 226 and/or the child support portion 220 at the connection with the strap 218 is less than or narrower than the width 236 of the wide configuration as shown in fig. 18. The width 234 of the narrow features may be seven inches and the width 236 of the wide features may be eleven inches. In some examples, the width 234 of the narrow configuration may be in the range of 5 inches to 9 inches. In some examples, the width 236 of the wide configuration may be in the range of 9 inches to 13 inches. The narrow configuration may be well suited for the child carrier 210 to hold the child 14 in a forward-facing or outward-facing configuration, while the wide configuration may be well suited for the child carrier 210 to hold the child 14 in a rearward-facing or inward-facing configuration. The narrow configuration may provide additional space for movement of the child's hips and may prevent the child's legs or hips from flexing outward. In a wide configuration, the additional width may provide additional support or coverage for the child 14, improving comfort and weight distribution.
The headrest 194 as shown in figure 17 comprises two projections 188 each having a securing means 186. The headrest 194 is shown in an upwardly extending or deployed configuration. Other configurations of the headrest 194 are described herein. The tab 188 and the securing device 186 slidably capture the lace 226. The lace 226 is free to move through the channel created by the tab 188 and the securing device 186. Thus, the strap 226 may be tightened by the caregiver relative to the child support portion 220, shoulder strap 150, and harness 218. By moving relative to the other components of the child carrier 210, the strap 226 may tighten or carry additional weight of the child 14. Additionally, tightening or pulling the straps 226 before tying the straps 226 to one another causes the child 14 to be pulled closer to the caregiver's 12 chest. The tethers 226 as shown in fig. 17 to 21 are not shown to scale, but rather a scaled depiction is shown in fig. 25.
Fig. 18 is a front view of the child carrier 210 showing the child support portion 220 and/or the strap 226 in a wide configuration at the point of attachment to the strap 218. The securing devices 190, 192 are releasably attached such that the strap 226 and/or the child support 220 form a wider base or seat for the child 14. In the wider configuration, the width 236 of the strap 226 and/or the child support 220 is greater than the width 234 in the narrow configuration described above. As mentioned above, the width 236 is well suited for inwardly or rearwardly facing infants 14. The headrest 194 may include the protrusions 188 shown in FIG. 17 but hidden in FIG. 18 and the securing devices 186 as described with reference to FIG. 17. In some cases, the lace 226 need not be captured within the channel formed by the tab 188 and the securing device 186. In some examples, the headrest 194 may not include the projections 188, but may still be secured to the child support 220 and/or the shoulder straps 150. In some examples, such as shown in fig. 18, the headrest 194 including the projection 188 may be located behind the tethers 226.
Fig. 19 is a rear view of the child carrier 210 showing the child support portion 220, shoulder straps 150, harness 226 and harness 218. The strap 218 is shown having a lower edge 162 and an upper edge 158 that each have edges that define the shape of the strap 218. The lower edge 162 is shown as having a convex or curved shape that tapers toward the end of the strap 218. The middle portion of the strap 218 is wider than each end of the strap, thus allowing for a larger pocket as described above, and also providing additional structure for support of the child 14. The upper edge 158 may be shaped differently than the lower edge 162. In some examples, the upper edge 158 may have a straight or flat shape. In fig. 19, the upper edge 158 is shown as curving from a thicker or taller middle portion toward the end of the strap 218. The shaped upper edge 158 of the strap 218 provides additional structure and reinforcement for a strong buttonhole or attachment point for the securing device 192. For example, the curvature of the upper edge 158 as shown provides additional material and allows for stitching, or provides additional material to reinforce the buttonhole as a fastening device 192. In addition, the curved contour of the upper edge 158 provides additional seating area or surface for the child 14. Bending the upper edge 158 outward or upward in the middle of the strap 218 creates a spoon-shaped seat for the child 14. The spoon-like shape of the seat provides additional stability to the child 14 placed within the child carrier 210 and also provides additional comfort and support to the child 14.
FIG. 20 is a front view of the child carrier 210 showing an alternative folded example of the headrest 194. In one example, the headrest 194A extends in a direction or plane of the child support 220 in the deployed configuration. The deployed configuration is intended for a child 14 to face inward in the child carrier 210. As described above, the headrest includes the protrusion 188 and the securing device 186, the securing device 186 for releasably securing the protrusion 188 to the child support 220 above or below the tether 226. The folded headrest 194B illustrates the headrest 194 in a folded configuration, folded down, for an outward facing child, to hold the headrest 194 out of the face of the child 14. The folded headrest 194B may be secured using the securing device 186 in a similar manner as the unfolded headrest 194A. As shown in fig. 20, the left tab 188A is secured to the child support 220 and/or the shoulder strap 150, while the right tab 188B is not secured by the securing means 186, shown as a button, configured for securing in a button aperture 196 located in the right tab 188B. The right tab 188B is located forward of the strap 226, but in some examples or configurations may be located rearward of the strap 226 or between the strap 226 and the child support 220. The folded headrest 194B may be secured to the child support 220 as described above, or secured to the child support 220 using a securing means (not shown) such as buttons and loops, snaps, elastic bands, or other releasable securing means.
Fig. 21 illustrates a front view of a child carrier 210 with a folded headrest 194. The headrest 194 is folded according to some of the examples described above. Additionally, the headrest is shown with tabs 188 that are unsecured from the securing devices 186 and the child support 220 and/or shoulder straps 150. The headrest 194 and the projections 188 are positioned between the straps 226 and the child support 220, as described herein. The tether 226 defines a channel 262 through which the shoulder strap 150 can slide. Channel 262 is formed by stitching together the lateral edges of strap 226 at a location at or near the upper edge of the child support portion, at first end 202, extending a distance along the length of strap 226. The length of the channel 262 may be less than one inch, or may be several inches up to and exceeding 6 inches. The shoulder strap 150 passes through the channel 262, but is not secured or coupled to the strap 226, thereby allowing the shoulder strap 150 and the strap 226 to be adjusted and tightened independently of one another. For example, the shoulder straps 150 may be loosened to position the child carrier 210 completely independent of the harness 226 on the body of the caregiver 12.
In some examples, the lace 226 can have a band (band) attached to an edge of the lace 226 that forms one or more channels 262 through which the shoulder strap 150 passes. In some other examples, opposite edges of the tethers 226 may be stitched or otherwise connected together to form channels 262 for the shoulder straps 150. The length of the channel 262 defined by the tie 226 may be only a few inches, ranging from the width of a cord or tie, a fraction of an inch up to 6 inches to 8 inches. The slidable coupling of the strap 226 to the shoulder strap 150 may be achieved by additional elements such as tubing formed by the strap 226 or attached to the strap 226, or by elastic members connected to both the shoulder strap 150 and the strap 226. The elastic members may hold the strap 226 and the shoulder strap 150 together or properly configured, but also allow the strap 226 and the shoulder strap 150 to adjust or move relative to each other. Other examples of mechanisms or structures designed to achieve a slidable connection between the tether 226 and the shoulder strap 150 may involve the use of a channel and follower. For example, the lace 226 may have a reinforced passage formed in a portion of its length, while the shoulder strap 150 has a button or other insert designed to fit in the passage and move in at least one direction.
The strap 226 may be tightened independently of the shoulder straps 150 to adjust the closeness of the child 14 to the caregiver 12, as the strap 226 becomes tightened, the child 14 will be pulled closer to the caregiver 12, and as the strap 226 becomes loosened, the child 14 will have additional space or area between the caregiver 12 and the child carrier 210. The strap 226 may provide a reference for the caregiver 12 to direct how to wear the child carrier 210 and the orientation of the child carrier 210 before the caregiver 12 attempts to don the child carrier 210.
The straps 226, which are in slidable relation to the shoulder straps 150, not only direct the caregiver 12 in the correct orientation to wear the child carrier 210, but may also provide additional benefits when worn. For example, the shoulder strap 150 may be placed over the shoulder of the caregiver 12, and when the caregiver 12 desires to secure the child carrier 210 to the child 14 positioned in the child carrier 210, the strap 226 slidably coupled to the shoulder strap 150 can be pulled taut and can be crossed over the back of the caregiver 12 before tying the free end of the strap 226 (as shown in FIG. 11). With the harness 226 crossed in this manner, the child carrier 210 (and particularly the shoulder strap 150) is secured over the shoulders of the caregiver 12 and the shoulder strap 150 is pulled toward the center of the caregiver's back. The slidable relationship between the straps 226 and the shoulder straps 150 not only ensures that the shoulder straps 150 remain on the caregiver's shoulders, but also keeps the child carrier 210 in close proximity to the caregiver's 12 body as described above. With the strap 226 slidably coupled, a variety of fit and tightness can be achieved, and the caregiver can easily don the child carrier 210 and pull the strap 226 into place after wearing the shoulder straps 150.
Fig. 22 is a detailed view of the shoulder straps 150, the tethers 226, and the channels 262 according to some examples of the present disclosure. This detailed view shows one possible configuration as follows: allowing the shoulder straps 150 and the tethers 226 to be slidably coupled together. The strap 226 is attached at one end to the harness 218 and/or the child support portion 220 (not shown in fig. 21). The strap 226 is positioned on top of the child support portion 220 in a similar direction as the shoulder straps 150. The lace 226 has edges 264 along the length of the lace 226 from end to end. At a location near the top of the child support section 220, the strap edges 264 are sewn together to form the channel 262. The channel 262 extends along a portion of the length of the lace 226. The shoulder strap 150 is positioned within a channel 262 formed by stitching together the edges 264 of the harness 226. Thus, the shoulder straps 150 are able to slide or move relative to the harness 226. However, the shoulder straps 150 and the tethers 226 remain coupled together at the channels 262. The shoulder straps 150 and the tethers 226 may be connected or coupled in other ways that allow relative movement of the two components. For example, the strap 226 may include a plurality of retention straps for receiving the shoulder strap 150, the strap 226 may be coupled to the shoulder strap 150 by elastic straps, or the strap 226 and/or the shoulder strap 150 may include a slidable retaining means for retaining the two together while still allowing relative movement of the two. Examples of slidable retaining means include one or more tubes sewn to one of the shoulder straps 150 and the tie strap 226 for the other to pass through.
Fig. 23 shows the caregiver 12 wearing the child carrier 210 with the child 14 positioned in an outward facing orientation. The child carrier 210 is shown in a narrow configuration designed for an outwardly facing child 14 to prevent the hips of the child 14 from yielding or being forced outwardly or splaying apart. The caregiver 12 is shown wearing the child carrier 210 with the shoulder straps 150 and harness 226 on their shoulders. The shoulder strap 150 is shown with a length adjustment device 180 for lengthening or shortening the shoulder strap 150. The strap 226 passes over the shoulders of the caregiver 12 and crosses behind the back of the caregiver 12 from side to side of the caregiver's body (not shown). The belt 218 is fastened around the waist of the caregiver 12. The child support portion 220 is in a narrow configuration with the securing device 192 not attached to the strap 218. The child support portion 220 is sewn to the strap 218, but the extra width of attachment provided by the securing device 192 is not used in this configuration. As a result, the child's legs are not forced to extend to the side or as far as they can be, as is the case with the attachment of the securing device 192.
The child carrier 210 also includes a foldable headrest 194. The headrest 194 is shown folded down to avoid the face of the child. The headrest 194 includes a fixture shown as a button located in a button hole. Other methods of releasably securing the headrest, such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, and elastic loops, are contemplated. The headrest 194 extends laterally and captures the straps 226 in the space between the child support 220, the headrest 194 and the securing device 196. In this example, the tethers 226 remain compact and stowed in a single position rather than fanning or spreading out. This makes less loose material that may cause the caregiver 12 additional difficulty in properly putting on the child carrier 210.
Fig. 24 shows a caregiver 12 with a child 14 in a child carrier 210 according to an example of the present disclosure. The child 14 is positioned facing inward and is almost completely covered by the child carrier 210. The tether 226 is routed from the point of attachment to the harness 218 around the shoulders of the caregiver 12, diagonally across the caregiver's back before wrapping around the front of the child carrier 210 to be tied together. The tether 226 is not held or restrained by any securing means on the headrest 194 (not shown) and in fig. 23, the tether 226 is pulled to extend across its entire width to provide coverage for the child 14. The child carrier 210 with the harness 226 extending across the entire width as shown may provide privacy to the child 14 or may also protect the child 14 from sunlight, wind, cold, noise, or other interference.
Fig. 25 illustrates a front view of the child carrier 210 highlighting the length of the strap 226 relative to the remainder of the child carrier 210. In particular, the harness 226 is shown as being long enough to be wrapped completely around the caregiver's body and tied together to secure the child carrier 210. The length of the tether 226 from the point of attachment to the strap may be in the range of about 70 inches to about 115 inches. The length of the strap may extend to about 60 inches from the position where the shoulder strap 150 is covered or stowed by the strap 226 at the top of the shoulder strap 150. Other ranges or sizes are contemplated and contemplated that will enable the strap 226 to wrap completely around the caregiver.
Fig. 26 shows a more detailed view of the strap 218. As previously described, the strap 218 includes a pocket 252 for holding various supplies. The strap 218 may also include a storage bag 270. The storage bag 270 may be disposed at the bottom edge of the strap 218 as shown. In some other examples, the storage bag may be disposed adjacent to the bag 252, or may be disposed elsewhere on the child carrier 210. The storage bag 270 may be closed or secured with a zipper 272 disposed along a bottom edge of the strap 218. Zipper 272 may be a concealed zipper that is partially or completely covered by fabric along the edges of strap 218. In some examples, the zipper 272 may be replaced with other closure mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snap buttons, or other releasable attachments. In some examples, storage bag 270 includes a sub-bag 274 that is folded or pulled out of storage bag 270 but still attached within storage bag 270. The sub-bag 274 may be large enough to stow the child carrier 210 inside for transport and storage to house the straps and harness. To store the child carrier 210, the entire body of the child carrier 210 may be folded and/or tucked inside the sub-pocket 274.
Fig. 27 shows a front perspective view of a caregiver 12 wearing a child carrier 210 with a child 14 supported inside. The child carrier 210 includes shoulder straps 150 that are positioned on the shoulders of the caregiver 12, with straps 226 being attached to the child carrier 210 at straps 218 and/or child support 220 as described above. The ties 226 fall on the shoulders of the caregiver 12 and cross over each other on the back of the caregiver 12 before tying together the knot 276 (not shown). The shoulder straps 150 are adjustable using the length adjustment device 180 as described herein. The baby support 220 is coupled to the strap 218 at a bottom end and to the headrest 194 at an upper end.
Fig. 28 illustrates a front view of a caregiver 12 wearing a child carrier 210 supporting a child 14. As described above, the shoulder straps 150 and the harness 226 rest against the shoulders of the caregiver 12. The headrest 194 includes protrusions 188A and 188B and a fastener 186. The strap 218 may have curved upper and lower edges and may include a pocket as described herein.
Fig. 29 illustrates a rear view of the caregiver 12 wearing the child carrier 210 showing the intersection of the strap 226 in detail. The shoulder straps 150 rest against the shoulders of the caregiver 12 with the harness 226 located above the top of the shoulder straps 150. The tethers 226 cross each other and diagonally across the caregiver's body before wrapping and tying together around the torso of the caregiver 12 at 276. The knot is shown on the right side of the caregiver's 12 body, but the knot may be tied on any side of the caregiver's body. The belt 218 includes a buckle system 240 as described above for securing the belt relative to the caregiver's waist.
While the disclosure may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following appended claims.

Claims (24)

1. A child carrier, comprising:
a waist belt configured to wrap around a waist of a caregiver;
a child support coupled to the waist belt, the child support configured to support at least a portion of the child in proximity to the caregiver;
left and right shoulder straps configured to abut against left and right shoulders of the caregiver, respectively, the left and right shoulder straps being operatively connected to or integral with the child support and forming loops through which left and right arms of the caregiver pass, respectively, for allowing the left and right shoulder straps to abut against left and right shoulders of the caregiver; and
a left strap and a right strap, one end of the left strap and one end of the right strap being operably coupled to the child support, the waist strap, and/or the left and right shoulder straps, respectively, at or near the left and right portions of the child support, respectively, the left and right straps each having a free end for allowing the left and right straps to be tied together to secure the child carrier to the caregiver.
2. The child carrier of claim 1, wherein a length of the left shoulder strap and a length of the right shoulder strap are both adjustable.
3. The child carrier of claim 1, wherein the left and right straps are slidably coupled to the left and right shoulder straps, respectively.
4. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the child support includes two side wings, one coupled to each side where the lap belt is located, the child support being configured to:
a wide configuration wherein the two side flaps are releasably secured to the waist belt; and
a narrow configuration wherein the two side flaps are unsecured from the waist belt.
5. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the child support includes a headrest configurable in:
an outward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is folded downwardly to reduce the length of the child support; and
an inward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is elongated to increase the length of the child support.
6. A child carrier, comprising:
a waist belt configured to wrap around a waist of a caregiver;
a child support coupled to the waist belt;
a first adjustable shoulder strap and a second adjustable shoulder strap, each configured to rest against a caregiver's shoulder, a first end of the first adjustable shoulder strap and a first end of the second adjustable shoulder strap each coupled to an upper end of the child support opposite the waist strap, and a second end of the first adjustable shoulder strap and a second end of the second adjustable shoulder strap each connected to a middle portion of the child support;
a first strap and a second strap, each coupled at one end to the child support and/or the waist belt, and
the first and second straps are configured to be tied together to secure the child carrier to the caregiver.
7. The child carrier of claim 6, wherein the first strap and the second strap each have a portion slidably coupled to an adjacent one of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap.
8. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the child support includes two side wings, one coupled to each side where the lap belt is located, the child support being configured to:
a wide configuration wherein the two side flaps are releasably secured to the waist belt; and
a narrow configuration wherein the two side flaps are unsecured from the waist belt.
9. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper end of the child support includes a configurable headrest.
10. A child carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the configurable headrest is configurable in a configuration:
an outward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is folded downwardly to reduce the length of the child support; and
an inward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is elongated to increase the length of the child support.
11. A child carrier as claimed in claim 9, wherein the configurable headrest includes two tabs extending laterally and configured to extend beyond each of the first and second straps and releasably secure to the child support.
12. The child carrier of claim 11, wherein the tab forms a channel when fastened to the child support, the channel configured to capture the first strap and the second strap.
13. The child carrier of claim 6, wherein the waist strap comprises a pocket.
14. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the waist strap defines a first strap edge coupled to the child support and a second strap edge opposite the first strap edge, the first strap edge being curved.
15. The child carrier of claim 6, further comprising a pair of length adjustment devices each configured to reduce or extend a length of one of the first and second adjustable shoulder straps.
16. The child carrier of claim 6, wherein the first and second adjustable shoulder straps and the first and second straps comprise plain knit fabric.
17. The child carrier of claim 6, wherein the child support includes a first fabric layer, a second layer including open-cell foam, and a third fabric layer, the second layer being located between the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer.
18. A child carrier, comprising:
a belt configured to wrap around a waist of a caregiver;
a child support coupled to the harness;
a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each configured to rest against a caregiver's shoulder, and each secured to the child support;
a first strap and a second strap, each coupled at one end to the child support and/or the harness, each of the first strap and the second strap defining a channel and being configured to be tied together to secure the child carrier to a caregiver; and
a configurable headrest coupled to the child support at an end opposite the strap, the headrest configurable in a configuration:
an outward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is folded downwardly to reduce the length of the child support; and
an inward facing configuration wherein the configurable headrest is elongated to increase the length of the child support.
19. The child carrier of claim 18, wherein an adjacent one of the first and second shoulder straps is slidably received within the channel defined by each of the first and second straps.
20. A child carrier as claimed in claim 18, wherein the configurable headrest includes first and second tabs extending laterally opposite each other and configured to extend beyond the first or second straps and be releasably secured to the child support.
21. The child carrier of claim 20, wherein the first tab and the second tab each form a channel when fastened to the child support, the channel configured to capture the first strap or the second strap.
22. The child carrier of claim 18, wherein the child support includes a width adjustment configured to adjust a width of the child support, the first strap and the second strap each being attached to the harness to accommodate different child sizes or different child positions.
23. The child carrier of claim 18, wherein the child support includes two side wings, and further comprising a fastener for releasably securing the side wings of the child support to the harness to accommodate different child sizes and/or child positions.
24. The child carrier of claim 18, wherein the first strap and the second strap are configured to be wrapped around a caregiver and tied together to secure the child carrier.
CN201911392731.4A 2018-12-28 2019-12-30 Infant carrier with tie strap Pending CN111374482A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/235428 2018-12-28
US16/235,428 US10555620B2 (en) 2017-02-10 2018-12-28 Baby carrier with ties

Publications (1)

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CN111374482A true CN111374482A (en) 2020-07-07

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CN201911392731.4A Pending CN111374482A (en) 2018-12-28 2019-12-30 Infant carrier with tie strap

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EP (1) EP3673770B1 (en)
CN (1) CN111374482A (en)
ES (1) ES2898390T3 (en)
HU (1) HUE056955T2 (en)
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PT (1) PT3673770T (en)

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PL3673770T3 (en) 2022-01-31
ES2898390T3 (en) 2022-03-07
PT3673770T (en) 2021-11-18
EP3673770B1 (en) 2021-09-01
HUE056955T2 (en) 2022-04-28
EP3673770A1 (en) 2020-07-01

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