NL2014948A

NL2014948A - Sling type child carrier.

Info

Publication number: NL2014948A
Application number: NL2014948A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Hoppener-Visser Margot
Original assignee: Minimonkey B V
Priority date: 2015-06-10
Filing date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2016-12-14
Also published as: NL2014948B1; US20160360898A1; DE202016003651U1

Abstract

A sling type child carrier (1) cornprises a sheet (3) and carrying portions (5, 7) extending from a top end (9) and a bottom end (11) of the sheet (3), the sheet having a left border (13) and a right border (15) opposite the left border. The carrier (1) cornprises at least one safety strap (17) for running between the legs of a child (C) seated in the carrier and forming a loop between the strap (17) and the leftor right border (13; 15) of the sheet (3) for holding a leg of the child. The safety strap (17) has a bottom end (17B) attached at or near the left border (13) or the right border (15), respectively, of the sheet (3) and a top end (17T) attached to the carrying portion (5) and/or the sheet (3) at or near the top end (9) of the sheet.

Description

NL 22500-FE/mv

Sling type child carrier

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to child carriers, in particular sling-type carriers comprising a sheet and a carrying strap extending from a top end and a second carrying end of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border.

BACKGROUND

Sling type carriers of the aforementioned type are known. KR 2003 15982 Y1 discloses such a sling type child carrier wherein the carrier is provided with safety belts (reference numeral 6 in the figures of these documents) along the left and right borders of the sheet (1). The safety belts form loops between the belt and the respective border of the sheet for holding the legs of a child seated in the carrier. KR 2003 45181 Y1 modifies KR 2003 15982 Y1 and provides separate safety belt loops (120, 210; 120, 220) and an additional pad ring (250) to protect the crotch of the child. However, when a child is sitting in the sling with its legs extending through the loops, the safety belts can cut into the legs of the child. This is uncomfortable to the child. An improved sling-type carrier is therefore still desired.

SUMMARY

An improved sling type child carrier is hereby provided. The carrier comprises a sheet and carrying portions extending from a top end and a bottom end of the of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border. The carrier comprises at least one safety strap for running between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and forming a loop between the strap and the left border or the right border of the sheet for holding a leg of a child seated in the carrier. The safety strap is attached at or near the left or right border, respectively, of the sheet and it is attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet.

Thus, in use, the strap extends from the left or right border to the top end of the sheet or at least near the latter, generally running up and down between the legs of the seated child. This distributes the retention force of the safety strap between and past the legs of the child, rather than over and on the legs as in the aforementioned KR documents. Therefore the legs of the child are not pinched by the safety strap improving comfort and leaving blood flow through the legs intact.

Moreover, the provided safety strap runs over the belly of the child and in case of a small child, may even run over the chest of the child, further increasing retention and security of the child.

The carrier may comprise one or more releasable connectors for detaching and/or opening at least part of the safety strap. Opening the strap results in opening the loop, this facilitates seating the child into the sling. Suitable connectors may comprise buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. D-ring), buttons etc. Buckles combine safety with ease of use and they may have a shape that enables retaining a wide strap flat. Ring-type connectors are easy to use, have a low volume and facilitate length-adjustment. Buttons are available in numerous shapes and they may be formed small while being robust.

In an embodiment, the left border and/or the right border of the sheet are provided with one or more of the releasable connectors attached to the respective border.

One or more of the releasable connectors may be attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the end of the sheet. Thus, an upper border of the strap may be detached. This facilitates seating the child into the sling and pulling the strap between the child's legs from which the strap may be connected in clear view. A connector between the child's legs is obviated.

The strap may be provided as a removable part from the carrier, but preferably the strap is formed as an integral part of the carrier, e.g. stitched to the sheet or formed unitary with a portion of the sheet or of a strap forming part of the carrying portion. In particular in case of a removable strap, one or more additional connectors may be provided for attaching and retaining the strap when not in use.

The safety strap may comprise a connector matching at least one of the one or more releasable connectors. This may facilitate attaching the strap. Two-part buckles e.g. various types of snap buckles, are known and have proven to be reliable.

Preferably all connectors are of the same type and size such that the strap may be connected with any one of the releasable connectors. However, different types, sizes and or colours of connectors may be used to identify different configurations and/or options for the safety strap and/or other parts of the sling.

An embodiment may comprise a safety strap portion attached to the left border of the sheet and a safety strap portion attached to the right border of the sheet, both safety strap portions comprising a connector matching the at least one of the one or more releasable connectors attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the end of the sheet. Such embodiment facilitates bi-directional use of the sling (carrying the sling over either shoulder of a user) with easy seating of the child in either way.

One or more of the connectors attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet are preferably attached substantially symmetrically between the left and right borders of the sheet and/or between the left and right borders of the carrying portion, respectively.

At least one portion of the at least one safety strap may be reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising one or more slidable buckles. This enables adaptation of the sling to the child's size and position. E.g. shortening the strap can flatten the sling and pull part of the sheet itself between the legs, supporting (the upper legs of) the child in the so-called "Imposition" .

The sling may comprise at least one adjustment strap extending along at least part of the left and/or right border of the sheet, e.g. in a seam of the sheet, the adjustment strap being reversibly length-adjustable for tightening and shaping at least part of the sheet. The adjustability may be provided through one or more buttons, clamps, buckles, etc. in and/or on the sling e.g. the adjustment strap and/or the sheet. This facilitates forming the sheet around the child, e.g. to support a sitting child's back and/or closing the sling comfortably around a child lying in the sling, e.g. against a cold wind. At least part of the adjustment band may be elastic, e.g. a bungee cord.

The carrying portions may be continuous and form an uninterrupted carrying strap, but preferably they are releasably connected with a connector, e.g. one or more buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. D-rings), buttons etc. enabling opening of the sling for easier donning. However, carrying portions may also be knotted together, as in a traditional style. Any buckle in the carrier may be provided with a safety element according to EP 2 140 785. The carrying portions are preferably reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising one or more slidable buckles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing a number of embodiments by way of example.

Fig. 1 shows a carrier in use for carrying a seated child by a user;

Fig. 2 shows a child sitting in the carrier;

Fig. 3 shows the carrier worn over the opposite shoulder of a user compared to Fig. 1 and with the carrier adjusted to another configuration;

Fig. 4 is a detail of an embodiment of the carrier;

Fig. 5 is a schematic indication of an embodiment of the carrier in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms "upward", "downward", "below", "above", and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral, where helpful individualised with alphabetic suffixes.

Figs. 1 and 3 show an adult A carrying a sitting child C in a sling type child carrier 1. At least from a comparison between Figs. 1 and 3 it will be evident that the sling 1 may be carried over either shoulder, according to the preference of the user and/or the child. The carrier 1 of Figs 1-4 comprises a sheet 3 and a top carrying portion 5 and a bottom carrying portion 7 extending from a top end 9 and a bottom end 11, respectively of the sheet 3. The sheet 3 has a left border 13 and a right border 15 defined by borders, which may be padded and which may comprise one or more guides, loops or tunnels for an adjustment strap. The sheet is flexible, e.g. cloth. The borders may be unitary with the sheet and/or at least partly attached to the sheet e.g. by stitching.

Best seen in Fig. 2 is that the carrier 1 comprises a safety strap 17 attached at a bottom end 17B to the left border 13 of the sheet 1 at about the middle of the border 13 with respect to the top end 9 and the bottom end 11 of the sheet 3 and attached at a top end 17T to the carrying portion 5 and near the top end 9 of the sheet 3. Thus, the strap can run between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and a loop is formed between the strap 17 and the left border 13 of the sheet 3 for holding a leg (here: the right leg) of the child C sitting in the carrier 1. The strap 17 comprises two portions 19, 21 fixed to the border of the sheet 3 and to the carrying portion 5 respectively and being connected with a releasable connector 23 in the form of a two-part snap buckle 23 for opening the loop. The strap portions 19, 21 are slidably attached to (the respective parts of) the snap buckle 23) so that the effective length of the strap 17 between its attachment positions to the sheet 3 and the carrier 5 is adjustable. In another embodiment, not shown, the connector 23 may be attached to the top portion 9 of the sheet or the border 13, or connectors on both these positions may be provided so that the safety strap may be opened there and/or be removed altogether.

The borders 13, 15 of the sheet 3 are provided with a channel 25 holding an elastic adjustment strap 27 in turn provided with an adjustment clamp 29 accessible outside the sheet 3. An adjustment clamp 29 or other suitable device may be arranged at or near the top end 9 and/or the bottom end 11 of the sheet. Potential loose portions of the adjustment strap may be tucked away, e.g. in an optional pocket and/or the channel 25. The carrying portions 5, 7, of the shown carrier 1 are releasably connected with a set of matching and optionally slidable buckles 31, 33, but other connectors may be provided as well, most notably a pair of rings in one of the carrying portions (to form a so-called "ring sling").

Fig. 3 shows the carrying portions 5, 7 being provided with an optional pocket for storing objects such as keys, a bottle of milk, a mobile phone, etc.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the carrier 1, looking into (the carrying side of) the carrier 1, showing the sheet 3 with its top end 9, its left border 13 and its right borders 15, and showing the carrying portion 5 attached to the top end 9, the carrying end in this embodiment being provided with a relatively broad and padded portion 37 and a relatively narrow and unpadded belt portion 39.

The sheet 3 may be shaped with a relatively broad middle and relatively narrow top and/or bottom ends 9, 11 (the terms "top" and "bottom" being used primarily for reference purposes and according to the carrying configuration of Figs. 1 and 3, since the sheet may be symmetric). However, the sheet may be made with a substantially rectangular sheet of material folded and held (e.g. stitched) together at the top and/or bottom ends 9, 11 to provide the hammock shape that is a main trait of sling type carriers. The carrying portions may be integral with the sheet, in particular in the "ring sling" and knotted type carriers, or they may be of different materials and/or differently shaped material portions, as shown here.

The carrier 1 is generally left-right symmetric; each of the left and right borders 13, 15 has been provided with a respective lower safety strap portion 19L, 19R. A single upper safety strap portion 21 having an optional connector 23U is attached together with an optional releasable connector 41 at the edge of the carrying portion 5 and the end of the sheet 3, the latter (41) being attached substantially without additional strap as an option. Each of the safety strap portions 19L, 19R is provided with an optional connector 23L, 23R, respectively matched to the connector 23U of the upper safety strap portion 21. Thus, a closed safety strap loop may be on the left side of the sheet or on the right side of the sheet by connecting the appropriate safety strap portions (19L + 21 or 19R + 21, respectively). The connectors 23L, 23R may be adjustable as shown, as my be one or both of connectors 23U, 41 (not shown).

The upper safety strap portion 21 may be removed altogether or replaced by a longer strap portion if so desired and possibly depending on the size of the child to be carried. The strap portions 19L and/or 19R may be connected directly to the connector 41, when of suitably matched connector types, e.g. to provide a shortened safety strap 17. Such arrangement may be desired for very small children and/or for shaping the sheet.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of Fig. 4, wherein the lower safety strap portions 19L, 19R are attached (here by stitching) on an exterior side of the respective borders 13, 15. Thus hinder from the strap portions to the child may be prevented. Fig. 5 further shows forming the sheet into a relatively deep seat by pulling up one border 13 between the legs of the child C by adjusting the safety strap 17 (19L + 21), as indicated in Fig. 5. Besides the safety strap 17 now also a part of the border 13 and/or more of the sheet 3 may support the belly of the child. Further adjustment of the shape of the sling 1 may be done using the other lower safety strap portion 19R. E.g. a supporting back rest may be formed by connecting the lower safety strap portion 19R to the connector 41 (see dotted lines in Fig. 5) and adjusting the length of the lower safety strap portion 19R. Such shaping may also be done with the embodiment of Fig. 4. An additional adjustment strap 27 and/or another provision to such effect may be thus be obviated.

The disclosure is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. For instance the safety strap may comprise one or more padded portions, possibly provided as one or more padded sleeves surrounding a portion of the strap and/or connectors therein. Part of the sheet and/or the borders may be padded.

Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise .

The foregoing may be summarised in the following numbered clauses: 1. A sling type child carrier (1), comprising a sheet (3) and carrying portions (5, 7) extending from a top end (9) and a bottom end (11) of the sheet (3), the sheet having a left border (13) and a right border (15) opposite the left border, wherein the carrier (1) comprises at least one safety strap (17) for running between the legs of a child (C) seated in the carrier and forming a loop between the strap (17) and the left or right border (13; 15) of the sheet (3) for holding a leg of the child, characterised in that the safety strap (17) has a bottom end (17B) attached at or near the left border (13) or the right border (15), respectively, of the sheet (3) and a top end (17T) attached to the carrying portion (5) and/or the sheet (3) at or near the top end (9) of the sheet. 2. Carrier (1) according to clause 1, comprising one or more releasable connectors (23, 23L, 23R, 23U, 41) for detaching and/or opening at least part of the safety strap (17). 3. Carrier (1) according to clause 2, wherein the left border (13) and/or the right border (15) of the sheet (3) are provided with one or more of the releasable connectors attached to the respective border. 4. Carrier (1) according to clause 2 or 3, wherein one or more of the releasable connectors (23U, 41) are attached to a carrying portion (5) and/or the sheet (3) at or near the top end (9) of the sheet. 5. Carrier (1) according to any one of the clauses 2-4, wherein the safety strap (17) comprises at least one connector (23L, 23R) matching at least one of the one or more releasable connectors (23U, 41). 6. Carrier (1) according to clause 3 or according to both clause 3 and any one of clauses 4-5, comprising a safety strap portion (19L) attached to the left border (13) and a safety strap portion (19R) attached to the right border (15), both safety strap portions (19L, 19R) comprising a connector (23L, 23R) matching the at least one of the one or more releasable connectors (23U, 41) attached to the carrying portion (5) and/or the sheet (3) at or near the end (9) of the sheet (3) . 7. Carrier (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein at least one portion (19, 19L, 19R, 21) of the at least one safety strap (17, 19L, 19R, 21) is reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising a slidable buckle. 8. Carrier (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, comprising at least one adjustment strap (27) extending along at least part of the left and/or right border (13, 15) of the sheet (3), e.g. in a seam (25) of the sheet, the adjustment strap being reversibly length-adjustable for tightening and/or shaping at least part of the sheet. 9. Carrier (1) according to clause 8, wherein at least part of the adjustment strap (27) is elastic. 10. Carrier (1) according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the carrying portions (5, 7) are releasably connected with a connector (31, 33), e.g. one or more buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. D-rings), buttons etc.

Claims

A sling type child carrier (1) comprising a sheet (3) and support members (5, 7) extending from an upper end (9) and a lower end (11) of the sheet (3), the sheet (3) 3) has a left edge (13) and a right edge (15) opposite the left edge, the carrier (1) comprising at least one safety strap (17) to walk between the legs of a child (C) seated in the carrier and to form a loop between the strap (17) and the left or right edge (13, 15) of the sheet (3) to hold a leg of the child, characterized in that the safety strap (17) has a lower end ( 17B) is attached to or near the left edge (13) or the right edge (15) of the sheet (13) and top end (17T) respectively which is attached to the support member (5) and / or the sheet (3) to or near the top end of the sheet.

Carrier (1) according to claim 1, comprising one or more detachable connectors (23, 23L, 23R, 23U, 41) for detaching and / or opening at least a part of the safety belt (17).

The carrier (1) according to claim 2, wherein the left edge (13) and / or the right edge (15) of the sheet (3) are provided with one or more of the detachable connectors attached to the respective edge.

A carrier (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein one or more of the detachable connectors (23U, 41) are connected to a support part (5) and / or the sheet (3) at or near the upper end of the sheet ( 3).

The carrier of any one of claims 2-4, wherein the safety strap (17) comprises at least one connector (23L, 23R) matching at least one of the one or more detachable connectors (23U, 41).

Carrier (1) according to claim 3 or according to both claim 3 and one of claims 4-5, comprising a safety strap (19L) attached to the left edge (13) and a safety strap (19L) attached to the right edge (15), wherein both safety strap members (19L, 19R) include a connector (23L, 23R) corresponding to the at least one of the one or more detachable connectors (23U, 41) attached to the support member (5) and / or the sheet on or near the end (9) of the sheet (3).

7. Carrier (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part (19, 19L, 19R, 21) of the at least one strap (17, 19L, 19R, 21) is repeatedly length-adjustable, for example a slidable buckle. encompassing.

A carrier (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one adjusting strap (27) extending along at least a part of the left edge (13) and / or the right edge (15) of the sheet (3), for example in a hem (25) of the sheet, wherein the adjusting strap is repeatedly length-adjustable for tightening and / or forming at least a part of the sheet.

Support (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the adjusting strap (27) is elastic.

A carrier (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support members (5, 7) are releasably connected to a connector (31, 33), for example one or more buckles, connectors of the double ring type (e.g. D rings), buttons etc.