GB2286329A - A sling for carrying a baby - Google Patents

Abstract

The sling can be made from a single piece of cloth and has a baby carrying portion (10) which has padding (8) along its edges and is formed by substantial overlapping of the cloth after it is passed through two rings (2). The cloth narrows at each end so as to form a padded shoulder portion (5) at one end and a strap at the other end. In use, the strap cooperates with the rings (2) and the weight of the baby holds the strap tight in the rings. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a sling which enables babies to be easily carried by a person with the weight ofthe baby taken over the person's shoulder.

Baby slings are known in which a length of cloth of appropriate width has fastening at each end so that it can fit over the shoulder of a person and form a support for the baby at approximately waist height of the person.

The sling can have padding where it passes over the shoulder as well as down the sides ofthe sling to provide more comfort for the baby.

These slings can prove difficult to put on and are often awkward in use, owing to the "bunching" effect of the cloth at the shoulder and the tendency of the sling to move over the shoulder.

The point of weakness in such a sling is in the fastening means joining the ends of the cloth where, in continuous use, it is possible for the stitching, or other methods of fastening, to wear and break, thus endangering the safety of the baby.

I have now invented an improved baby sling which reduces these difficulties.

According to the invention there is provided a sling for carrying a baby, which sling comprises a piece of cloth of appropriate width, one end of which passes through two rings and then folds back on itself two overlap for a substantial part of its length, with the overlapping part of the cloth being joined together longitudinally to form a loop of cloth containing the rings; the cloth adjacent to the rings is folded so as to form into a narrower shoulder support portion incorporating padding which shoulder support portion expands into a baby carrying portion of greater width; the other end of the cloth is formed into a strap which can co-operate with the rings so that, when the sling is placed over a person's shoulder with the shoulder support portion in place, the strap can be passed through and over the rings to hold the sling together and the baby carrying portion is positioned at about waist height ofthe carrying person.

By 'appropriate width' is meant a width suitable for carrying babies, for example from 1 to 2 feet. Preferablv the edges of the slina are padded and form a continuous "tube" and inserting padding in the tube. This padding provides comfort for the baby and assists in holding the baby in the sling.

By 'substantial part of its length' is meant a distance sufficient to at least partly cover where the baby is positioned when the sling is in use. By joining the two edges of the cloth along its length and then joining the cloth across its width the rings are held securely and when the baby is being carried the weight of the baby assists in holding the sling together. The rings are preferably made of metal or a strong plastic material and the diameter of the rings is preferably ll/2-21/2 inches, this measurement having been found convenient in use.

Where the cloth passes through the rings and is gathered together to foim the narrower shoulder support portion, this narrower portion is joined across its width. The thickness of padding incorporated in this narrower portion is sufficient to provide comfort in use, e.g. 1.3 inches thick Preferably, the said narrower shoulder support portion is made so that the width of the cloth decreases from the baby carrying portion so as to provide a gradual transition from the narrower portion attached to the rings to the baby carrying portion ofthe sling.

The width of the strap portion of the sling is such that it can pass readily through the rings so that a 'pull' on the strap locks the strap in position in the rings in a conventional manner.

Normally, all joining means of the cloth is by sewing, although if preferred, additional or alternative joining means can be used.

In use, the sling is placed over a person's shoulder so that the sling hangs in a comfortable position, the strap is passed through the rings, locked in position and the baby placed in the sling.

Owing to the long length of the overlap of the cloth either side of the rings and the consequent length along which they are joined, the sling is very secure.

The advantage of this invention is that the sling can be easily made from one piece of cloth, using a simple assembly process, greatly reducing the points of stress and therefore any weakness.

The invention is described in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 show different embodiments ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings, a piece of cloth (1) of 3 metres long and 65 cm wide was folded over with 2 rings (2) of5 cm held at the fold (3); the length of fold (4) is 121 cm. The sides were sewn up 1 cm from the side. The portion of sling (5) was folded in to form a narrower portion, incorporating padding.

At the end (7) the cloth was gathered to form a strap of 30 cm length.

Padding (8) was incorporated along the length of the sling as shown. The length ofthe sling from the end ofthe strap (7) to line 6 is about 60 cm.

Referring to Fig. 2, the portion of overlap extends to line (9) to cover substantially the whole of the baby carrying portion and the change in width from the strap (7) to baby carrying portion (10)steeper than in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

In use, the sling is passed over a person's shoulder and the strap (7) passed through the rings (2) to hold the sling together with the padded portion (5) over the shoulder and the sling in the front of the person. A baby placed in the sling is flinty held in position with the padding (8) around the baby.

This simple construction with its secure stitching gives an easy-to-assemble safe baby sling.

Claims (7)

1. A sling for carrying a baby, which sling comprises a piece of cloth of appropriate width, one end of which passes through two rings and then folds back on itself to overlap for a substantial part of its length, with the overlapping part of the cloth being joined together longitudinally to form a loop of cloth containing the rings; the cloth adjacent to the rings is folded so as to form into a narrower shoulder support portion incorporating padding which shoulder support portion expands into a baby carrying portion of greater width; the other end of the cloth is formed into a strap which can cooperate with the rings so that, when the sling is placed over a person's shoulder with the shoulder support portion in place, the strap can be passed through and over the rings to hold the sling together and the baby carrying portion is positioned at about waist height ofthe carrying person.

2. A sling, as claimed in Claim 1., in which the edges of the sling are padded by folding each edge over to form a tube in which padding is incorporated.

3. A sling, as claimed in Claims 1. or 2., in which the said overlapping part ofthe cloth extends substantially to cover the said baby carrying portion ofthe sling.

4. A sling, as claimed in any one of Claims 1. to 3., in which the width of the cloth decreases from the baby carrying portion substantially uniformly to provide a continuous transition of width ofthe sling.

5. A sling, as claimed in any one of Claims 1. to 4., in which all the joins are sewn together.

6. A sling, as claimed in any one of Claims 1. to 5., made from a single piece of cloth.

7. A baby sling, as herein described, with reference to Figs. 1. or 2. of the accompanying drawings.