GB2547423A

GB2547423A - Improvements in child carriers

Info

Publication number: GB2547423A
Application number: GB1602681.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Williamson Emily
Original assignee: Izmi Ltd
Current assignee: Izmi Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-16
Filing date: 2016-02-16
Publication date: 2017-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-16
Also published as: GB2547423B; GB201602681D0

Abstract

A child or baby carrier comprising a main body 2 for retaining a child, the main body having a central portion 2c and side portions 2a, 2b which together at the lower end of the main body define a seat; and a waist belt 9 extending from the main body at the lower end; where each side portion comprises at least one area of hook and loop fastener (e.g. Velcro RTM) and the waist belt comprises at least one area thereof also to which the side portions can be attached in a plurality of positions in order to vary the width of the seat. Preferably the waist belt comprises an elongate strip of hook and loop fastener extending the width of the main body. The side panels can be adjusted to fully support the hips of an infant regardless of their size, and be adjusted as they grow.

Description

Improvements In Child Carriers

The present invention relates to improvements in child carriers.

For a baby carrier to provide optimum support for healthy hip the seat of the carrier needs to support the baby’s legs in an ‘M’ position where the seat of the carrier provides support for their bottom and their thighs from the back of one knee to the back of the other.

Because a baby grows rapidly during the first six months of life many carriers that are able to provide optimum hip and thigh support for bigger babies require additional infant inserts to also provide optimum positioning from birth.

Soft structured carriers without inserts suitable from birth may not be wide enough to support optimum hip positioning by around three to six months. A carrier that is too small for the child being carried will quickly feel less comfortable and supportive for the carrying adult.

There is therefore often a trade-off between ease of use for newborn children versus the longevity of the carrier for comfortable, supportive use.

The present invention seeks to address these issues.

According to the present invention there is provided a child carrier comprising: a main body for retaining a child, the main body having a central portion and first and second side portions that together at a lower end of the main body define a seating area for a child; a waist belt extending from the main body at the lower end thereof; wherein each side portion comprises at least one area of hook and loop fastener; the waist belt comprises at least one area of hook and loop fastener to which the side portions may be attached in a plurality of different positions so as to vary the width of the seating area.

In some embodiments the side portions each comprise at least one tab having at least one area of hook and/or loop fastener.

In some embodiments hook and loop fastener is provided on both sides of a tab.

In some embodiments the side portions each comprise a tab extending from a lower edge of the main body adjacent the waist belt.

In some embodiments the side portions each comprise a tab adjacent respective side edges of the main body.

In some embodiments the waist belt comprises an elongate strip of hook and loop fastener to which the side portions may attach.

In some embodiments an elongate strip of hook and loop fastener on the waist belt substantially extends at least the width of a lower edge of the main body.

In some embodiments the waist belt comprises a covering for the strip of hook and loop fastener.

In some embodiments the waist belt comprises a flap to cover the strip of hook and loop fastener.

In some embodiments a cover for the strip of hook and loop fastener on the waist belt comprises at least one strip of hook and loop fastener.

In some embodiments the waist belt comprises at least one pocket in which hook and/or loop fastener is housed.

In some embodiments both sides of the pocket comprises strips of hook and loop fastener.

By providing a hook and loop fastener on a cover the cover is held in place when in use. Similarly by providing hook and loop fastener on both sides of a pocket the pocket is held shut when in use.

Preferably the central portion is substantially permanently attached to the waist belt.

In some embodiments the side portions are substantially triangular.

In some embodiments there is provided an insert for the carrier, the insert having a support portion and at least one tab comprising at least one area of hook and loop fastener.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a view of the main part of a carrier made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a frontal view of the carrier of Figure 1 in a first configuration;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the carrier of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a frontal view of the carrier of Figure 1 in a first configuration;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the carrier of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a frontal view of the carrier of Figure 1 in a first configuration;

Figure 7 is a rear view of the carrier of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of the carrier of Figure 1 with an insert;

Figure 9 is a view of a person wearing the carrier of Figures 2 and 3; and Figure 10 is a view of a person wearing the carrier of Figures 6 and 7.

Referring to the figures, a carrier 1 comprises a main body 2 formed of a fabric central portion 2c and fabric side portions 2a, 2b.

Main body 2 is substantially rectangular, having an upper edge 3, lower edge 4 first side 5 and second side 6.

The width of central portion 2c of main body 2 narrows by tapering towards lower edge 4. Side portions 2a, 2b are substantially triangular in shape and widen towards lower edge 4.

Main portion 2c and side portions 2a, 2b are formed separately and stitched together such that the ‘opposite’ sides of side portions 2a, 2b are attached to central portion 2c, with the ‘adjacent’ sides of side portions 2a, 2b forming part of lower edge 4 of main body 2 and the ‘hypotenuse’ sides of side portions 2a, 2b forming part of sides 5, 6 of main body 2.

Extending from corners of the lower edge 4 of main body 2 and thus extending from the corners of side portions 2a, 2b are respective attachment tabs 11a, 11b.

Attachment tabs 11a, 11b comprise on each face areas of mixed hook and loop fastener.

Extending from corners of the upper edge 3 of main body 2 are shoulder straps 7a, 7b which at their free ends comprise first parts of respective side release buckles (not shown).

Extending from around the middle of each side 5, 6 of central portion 2c of main body 2 are webbing straps 8a, 8b that at their free ends comprise second parts of respective side release buckles (not shown) configured to connect to the first buckle parts at the free ends of shoulder straps 7a, 7b so as to attach carrier 1 to a user.

The side release buckles on shoulder straps 7a, 7b allow for the effective length of shoulder straps 7a, 7b to be adjusted.

Attached to lower end of main body 2 is waist belt 9, which at its free ends comprises first and second parts of a side release buckle (not shown) configured to connect together ends of waist belt 9 such that it encircles the torso of a user.

The side release buckle on waist belt 9 also allows for the effective length of waist belt 9 to be adjusted.

Waist belt 9 may be thus tightened around the waist of a user 13 such that a lower part of main body 2 adjacent waist belt 9 forms a seating area for a child retained in carrier 1.

Waist belt 9 is substantially permanently attached to central portion 2a of main body 2 along lower edge 4 by means of stitching.

Waist belt 2 comprises an internal pocket 10 best illustrated in Figure 1 where it is shown open.

Pocket 10 is formed by first and second side walls 10a, 10b, on the internal faces of which are located respective first and second strips 12a, 12b of mixed hook and loop fastener.

Strips 12a, 12b extend across the full length of lower edge 4 of main body 2.

By locating tabs 11a, 11b inside pocket 10 tabs 11a, 11b are held securely in place by the hook and loop fastening on tabs 11a, 11b attaching to the hook and loop fastening on each internal face of side walls 10a, 10b of pocket 10

Turning to carrier 1 in use and referring to Figure 2 to 10, a user 13 of carrier 1 is able to configure the width of a seating area provided to a child by altering the position of side portions 2a, 2b.

It should be noted that in Figures 2 to 8 the position of tabs 11a, 11b is indicated in the drawings, but tabs 11a, 11b would of course not be visible as they are housed in pocket 10.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, to provide the narrowest seating area a user 13 may fold side portions 2a, 2b towards each other such that the width of the seating area is defined only by the width of central portion 2c at lower edge 4 of main body 2. Such a configuration is shown in use with a small child 14 in Figure 9.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, to provide an intermediately sized seating area a user 13 may fold side portions 2a, 2b slightly away from each other such that the width of the seating area is defined by the width of central portion 2c of main body 2 and a portion of each of side portions 2a, 2b at lower edge 4 of main body 2 terminating where tabs 11a, 11b are located by user 13.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 to provide the widest seating area a user 13 may fold side portions 2a, 2b fully away from each other such that the width of the seating area is defined by the width of central portion 2c of main body 2 plus the full width of side portions 2a, 2b at lower edge 4 of main body 2. Such a configuration is shown in use with a large child 15 in Figure 10.

Importantly as hook and loop strips 10a, 10b extend the full length of lower edge 4 of main body 2 a user is able to adjust the width of the seating area to any width between, at a minimum, the width of central portion 2c and at a maximum the width of central portion 2c plus the full width of side portions 2a, 2b at lower edge 4 of main body 2.

Thus, a carrier made in accordance with the present invention may accommodate for the gradual and continuous change in size of a child as they grow.

As webbing straps 8a, 8b are attached to central portion 2c of main body 2 use and adjustment of shoulder straps 7a, 7b does not interfere with adjustment of side portions 2a, 2b.

Referring to Figure 8 it can be seen that an insert 16 may be provided for a carrier of the present invention. Insert 16 comprises a support cushion 17 and a tab 18 comprising on both sides areas of mixed hook and loop fasteners.

In the present embodiment mixed hook and loop fastener is employed (i.e. hook and loop fastener that comprises hooks and loops intermixed on the same surface), but in other embodiments traditional hook and loop fastener that has distinct areas of hooks and distinct areas of loops could of course be employed.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A child carrier comprising: a main body for retaining a child, the main body having a central portion and first and second side portions that together at a lower end of the main body define a seating area for a child; a waist belt extending from the main body at the lower end thereof; wherein each side portion comprises at least one area of hook and loop fastener; the waist belt comprises at least one area of hook and loop fastener to which the side portions may be attached in a plurality of different positions so as to vary the width of the seating area.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the side portions each comprise at least one tab having at least one area of hook and/or loop fastener.

3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein hook and loop fastener is provided on both sides of a tab.

4. The carrier of claim 2 or 3 wherein the side portions each comprise a tab extending from a lower edge of the main body adjacent the waist belt.

5. The carrier of any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the side portions each comprise a tab adjacent respective side edges of the main body.

6. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein the waist belt comprises an elongate strip of hook and loop fastener to which the side portions may attach.

7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein an elongate strip of hook and loop fastener on the waist belt substantially extends at least the width of a lower edge of the main body.

8. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein the waist belt comprises a covering for the strip of hook and loop fastener.

9. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein the waist belt comprises a flap to cover the strip of hook and loop fastener.

10. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein a cover for the strip of hook and loop fastener on the waist belt comprises at least one strip of hook and loop fastener.

11. The carrier of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the waist belt comprises at least one pocket in which hook and/or loop fastener is housed.

12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein both sides of the pocket comprises strips of hook and loop fastener.

13. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein the central portion is substantially permanently attached to the waist belt.

14. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein the side portions are substantially triangular.

15. The carrier of any preceding claim wherein there is provided an insert for the carrier, the insert having a support portion and at least one tab comprising at least one area of hook and loop fastener.

16. A carrier substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.