GB2224635A

GB2224635A - Baby carrying harness

Info

Publication number: GB2224635A
Application number: GB8923653A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Motoichi Shima
Original assignee: IKUJINO TOMOSHA YK
Current assignee: IKUJINO TOMOSHA YK
Priority date: 1988-10-20
Filing date: 1989-10-20
Publication date: 1990-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-20
Also published as: GB2224635B; SG53693G; GB8923653D0; HK74093A

Abstract

A baby carrier shown in the opened-out state in fig. 4 and in-use state in fig. 3, comprises a first strap (a) which passes round at least a part of the wearer's waist. A pair of shoulder straps (c1, c2) are attached to the first strap and cross at (d) to form a crotch supporting region. A further pair of straps (e1, e2) are connected between the first strap (a) and the shoulder straps at a position on the latter between the crotch portion and their free ends, to form in use, straps in the baby's waist or hip region. The baby's legs pass through the openings between straps (a), (c2) and (e2) and (a), (c1) and (e1). The shoulder straps continue into adjusting straps (i1, i2) which can pass through rings (b1, b2) on strap (a) then around the wearer's waist where they are connected by a buckle (j, k). <IMAGE>

Description

BABY CARRIER This invention relates to baby carriers of the type designed principally for carrying a baby in a sitting position adjacent the back or front of a user's torso.

One type of known baby carrier includes an upright box frame supporting a fabric seat upon which a baby sits.

Shoulder straps with their opposite ends connected, respectively, to the top and the bottom of the frame are used to hold the frame in position on the user, much like a rigid-frame rucksack.

In another type of known baby carrier there is no rigid frame but instead the baby is held in a fabric bag which provides a flexible seat at its closed, bottom end. Laterally spaced holes are provided at the bottom end of the bag to receive the baby's legs.

Shoulder straps are connected at respective laterally spaced locations towards the top and bottom of the bag and the baby may generally be carried at the front of the user's torso.

Baby carriers such as those described snuffer from certain disadvantages. For instance, known baby carriers provide insufficient support for the baby to be fully safe and secure, and the position in which the baby must be carried while supported in the device may be inconvenient and restrictive for the baby and for the user. Moreover, known baby carriers such as those described above are somewhat complex, having in various cases a back cloth, a bag, holes for the baby's legs, and a rigid frame. This complexity makes the baby carrier difficult to use and to handle, and of course increases its production cost.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome or at least to mitigate these and other disadvantages of known baby carriers.

With this object in view and in accordance with this invention we propose a baby carrier which includes a transverse first support strap, a pair of second support straps, and a pair of shoulder straps, wherein each second support strap is linked at one end to the first support strap and is linked at the other end to a strap portion associated with the shoulder straps.

This invention provides a simple structure which is easy for the user to handle, which can be folded readily when not in use, and which can be quickly shaped into a baby carrying mode.

In a preferred embodiment, the strap portion is a part of the pair of shoulder straps, and each second support strap is conveniently linked to a respective one of the pair of shoulder straps. It is also preferred that the two shoulder straps are arranged in diagonally crossing relationship to form a crossover portion, at which the shoulder straps are suitably joined to one another.

Conveniently, each shoulder strap is attached at one end to the first support strap and the other end has a variable-length portion, whereby the length of the shoulder strap can be adjusted to suit the user and to cater for differently-sized babies. The variable-length portion may comprise looped adjustment straps which are adjustable by means of a slidable buckle. Each variable-length portion suitably carries a buckle portion whereby the baby carrier may be secured to the user.

A further preferred feature is an upper-body support member, such as a shoulder support, which is attached to the shoulder straps and which is advantageously removable.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a baby carrier constructed in accordance with this invention, in a baby carrying mode; Figure 2 is a rear elevational view corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevational view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the baby carrier in a flat, non-operational mode; Figure 5 is a front elevational view showing another form of baby carrier constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the baby carrier in a flat, non-operational mode; Figure 6 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 5 but showing the baby carrier in a baby carrying mode.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a baby carrier constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a first support strap (a) and a pair of second support straps (el,e2). One end of each support strap (el,e2) is linked to the first support strap (a) by rings (bl,b2) and the other end is sewed to a respective one of a pair of shoulder straps (cl,c2), thereby forming an inverted L shape.

One end of each shoulder strap (cl,c2) is sewed to the central portion of the first support strap (a). The other end of each shoulder strap (cl,c2) has a respective variable-length strap portion comprising a looped adjustment strap (il,i2) and a slidable buckle (11,12) attached to an end thereof. One looped adjustment strap (il) carries a male buckle portion (k) and the other looped adjustment strap (i2) carries a female buckle portion (j).

The shoulder straps (cl,c2) are in mutually crossing diagonal relationship and are sewed together at a crossover portion (d) adjacent the first support strap (a). The crossover portion (d), the first support strap (a) and the second support straps (el,e2) define two openings which in use receive a baby's legs.

A shoulder support holder (h) and a shoulder support strap (f) extend between the shoulder straps (cl,c2) and, in use, receive and retain a shoulder support (g), which is inserted therebetween.

The baby carrier of this invention can carry a baby in either of two positions, one with the baby facing towards the user, and the other with the baby facing away from the user. Only the arrangement with the baby facing towards the user will be described, it being understood that the converse arrangement simply involves a reversal of the baby's position.

When the baby carrier is in use, the baby is seated on the crossover portion (d) with his or her back facing towards the shoulder support (g). The baby's legs extend through the openings defined by the first support strap (a), the second support straps (el,e2) and the crossover portion (d). The baby is then lifted in the baby carrier and the shoulder straps (cl,c2) are passed over the user's shoulders. Then, the adjustment strap (il) carrying the male connector (k) is passed through the ring (b2) and the other adjustment strap (i2) carrying the female connector (j) is passed through the ring (bl). Finally, the male (k) and female (j) connectors are pushed into engagement to secure the baby carrier in position.

As will be clear, the baby's back is supported safely by the support (g) and the baby's waist is embraced by the second support straps (el,e2). Thus, the baby is held securely and comfortably in position adjacent the user's torso.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, another embodiment of the invention facilitates connection of the adjustment straps (il,i2) to the first support strap (a). To this end, female buckle portions (jl,j2) are carried by the ends of the first support strap (a) and the adjustment straps (il,i2) have male buckle portions (kl,k2). The adjustment straps (il,i2) can be connected to the first support strap (a) simply by connecting the female buckle portion (j2) to the male buckle portion (kl), and the female buckle portion (jl) to the male buckle portion (k2). Thus, there is no need to pass the buckle portions or the adjustment straps through rings (bl,b2).

As will be clear to those skilled in the art, the baby carrier of this invention is simple in structure and is easy to handle. It is adaptable to carry any size of baby by adjusting the length of the adjustment straps. Moreover, the baby carrier of this invention is considerably cheaper to manufacture than other baby carriers that are available on the market at present.

It will also be clear that this invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described herein but encompasses all variations and modifications falling within its scope. For instance, attachment means other than sewing may be employed to fix straps together, such as adhesives, rivets, or heat welding.

Claims

1. A baby carrier including a first strap for extending in use around at least a portion of the user's waist, a pair of shoulder straps connected to the first strap, a crotch strap situated between the shoulder straps and the first strap, and a pair of second straps each of which is linked at one end to the first support strap and at the other end to a strap portion situated between the crotch strap and the shoulder straps, to define a cradle for the baby's waist or hips.

2. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the strap portion is integral with the shoulder straps.

3. A baby carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the crotch strap is integral with the shoulder straps.

4. A baby carrier according to claim 3, wherein the crotch strap comprises a crossover portion in which the shoulder straps are in mutually crossing relation.

5. A baby carrier according to any preceding claim, further including an upper-body support member.

6. A baby carrier according to claim 5, wherein the upper-body support member extends between the shoulder straps and is attached or attachable thereto.

7. A baby carrier according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the upper-body support member is removable.

8. A baby carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the shoulder straps each include an adjustable-length portion.

9. A baby carrier according to claim 8, wherein the adjustable-length portion includes a sliding buckle.

10. A baby carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the first strap has two rings, a free-end portion of one shoulder strap being passable through one of the rings and being securable to a free-end portion of the other shoulder strap passed through the other of the rings to secure the baby carrier in place on a user.

11. A baby carrier according to claim 10, wherein the free-end portions of the shoulder straps each have co-operable buckle means.

12. A baby carrier according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first strap has two first buckle means and wherein each shoulder strap has second buckle means, the respective first and second buckle means being connected to secure the baby carrier in place on a user.

13. A baby carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

A A baby carrier comprising a horizontally arranged first support strap, a pair of second straps each end of which is connected to the first support strap respectively by means of rings while the other end is sewn onto a first and second shouldering straps respectively thereby to form an inverted letter L, the pair of first and second shouldering straps extending diagonally to form a cross section wherein- the two shouldering straps are sewn together, one end of the pair of shouldering strap being sewn onto the first support strap while the other end being provided with a looped tightening strap whose length is adjustable by means of slidable buckles through a pair of latching device through which the looped tightening straps extend.

A A baby carrier as claimed in claim |L wherein a shoulder cloth insertably held between a shoulder cloth holder and a shoulder cloth strap both of which span the first and second shouldering straps.

16. A baby carrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein the ends of the pair of second support straps are sewn to the first support strap respectively, the first support strap being provided respectively with a connector buckle at the end thereof, while the pair of shouldering straps being provided respec tively with a connector buckle, both buckles being connect able whenever the baby carrier is arranged in a baby support ing mode.