NO20200325A1

NO20200325A1 - Child carrying device with a telescopic back-support

Info

Publication number: NO20200325A1
Application number: NO20200325A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Julius Andreas Winger
Original assignee: Minimeis As
Priority date: 2020-03-18
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2021-09-20
Also published as: WO2021185883A1

Description

Child carrying device with a telescopic back-support

The invention is directed to a back-support for a child carrying device. More specific, the invention is directed to a telescopic back-support for a child carrying device configured to extract upward upon usage such that it supports the back of the child, and to be retracted inward in an assembled position while not in use.

BACKGROUND

The carrying of children, especially toddlers, seated astride the adult’s shoulders has been a favorite mode of transport for the carried child throughout history.

For the child, it is a chance to see the world from an entirely different perspective than walking, as well as a chance to rest small legs which must work twice as hard to keep up with walking adults.

For the carrying adult, the weight of the child upon their shoulders, and need to use their hands to control and balance the child, can tend to cause muscle exertion and strain. Additionally, the compressive nature of the weight of the child bearing against the adult’s shoulder and neck muscles and bones, and the continual force of the child pulling on their head or neck to maintain themselves upright, can be a source of pain and discomfort significant enough to cause a discontinuance of the ride.

Conventionally, carrying a child on the shoulders has often required the holding of the child's ankles by the carrier's hands, wherein the child is stabilized and generally prevented from falling backwards. However, a slip of the hands by the adult carrier while the child is leaning backward can have serious results.

This normally requires the adult to provide additional rearward support for the child to prevent it falling, and devices have been proposed to provide such support for a child to be carried in this manner, so that the hands of the adult are left free.

One such device, for example, is shown in the WO 2014/092580 A1 which discloses a child carrier device for carrying a child on the shoulder of an adult. The device comprises a back-support connected to a shoulder harness system, and where the back-support comprises a back-support frame and a seat and back cover arranged to cover the back-support frame for providing a seating section and a back-support for the child. The back-support frame constitutes a bar with a curved top section and with two vertical parallel sides (i.e. standing arch or upside-down U-shape) extending on either side towards the lower part of the carrying device. Each of the two parallel vertical bars are divided into two sections connected by a spring loaded spigot joint (not shown). The two sections may be separated such that back-support may be folded together into the shoulder harness system in an assembled position. To separate the two sections, it is required that the pulling force are provided substantially at a center point between the two spring-loaded joints at either side of the back-support frame. A parallel and simultaneous pulling force is thus required to separate the sections. If the pulling force is not provided at a substantially center between parallel bars, the joint can be wedge and becomes difficult to separate.

Therefore, there is an object of the present invention to provide back-support for a child carrying device which is easy to assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a carrying device for carrying a child on shoulders of a person.

The term child is referred to a human being between the stages of birth and puberty or between the development period of infancy and puberty. The child may also refer to a minor.

The person carrying the device, may also be referred to as an adult, a person or a carrier. It is obvious that a person carrying the device may be any person capable of carrying a child on the shoulders.

The child carrying device comprises a shoulder harness system for fitting onto the shoulders of the person (carrier), the shoulder harness comprises two shoulder straps arranged on either side of a collar, and a back-support for supporting a back of the child, arranged on the shoulder harness system behind the collar.

A distance (d) between the collar and the back-support defines a seating section for the child. The seating section for the child may be increased by increasing the distance (d).

The back-support comprises a telescopic device comprising a load carrying unit configured to extract upward upon usage such that it supports the back of the child, and to be retracted inward in an assembled position while not in use.

The term “extracted position” is also be referred to as the “raised position” and the “retracted position” or “assembled position” may also be referred to as the “collapsible position”.

The telescopic device may comprise a load carrier unit and a casing to receive at least a section of the load carrier unit in the collapsible position.

In the raised position, the load carrier unit protrudes upwards from the shoulder harness system providing a back rest for the child while seated. In the collapsible position, the load carrier unit may be inserted (retracted) into the casing such that it does not protrude upwards form the child carrying device, for easy storage and transportation.

The load carrying unit may comprises one or more telescopic sections. The one or more section may be adapted to be telescopically inserted/retracted into each other and/or into the casing.

The load carrying unit may be at least any one of a longitudinal telescopic; plate, tube, bar, element, or a combination thereof, adapted for supporting a weight from the child acting towards the load carrier unit.

The back-support may comprise the load carrying unit and a seat and back cover arranged such that it covers at least a section of the load carrying unit, for providing a seating section and a back-support for the child.

A seat and back cover may be adapted to enclose the load carrier unit and shaped to provide additional support for the back of the child. The seat and back cover may be foldable and packed into a pocket provided on the shoulder harness system. The pocket may be arranged behind the collar in front of the load carrier unit. The pocket may be closeable by a zipper, buttons, press buttons and/or a Velcro zipper closure.

In use, the seat and back cover may be folded out from the pocket and pulled over load carrying unit in the raised position. Thus, providing a seating section for the child between the collar of the shoulder harness system and the load carrying unit, and an additional back-support for the child. The seat and back cover may be provided with reinforcements at its perimeter for additional side support for the child.

The seat and back cover may be elastic for easy pulling over the load carrying unit. The seat and back cover may be made of elastic material such as spandex, neoprene or any rubberized materials. Within the scope of the invention, any fabric material may be used for the seat and back cover.

The load carrying unit may comprises a curved top part providing a frame to attach a seat and back cover, where the curved top part defines a upper perimeter of the back-support.

The shoulder harness system may comprise a back part for fitting (facing) towards the back of the carrying person and a front part comprising the shoulder straps to be fitted onto the shoulders and the chest of the carrying person.

The collar is provided between the shoulder straps and comprises a curved back portion to fit around the neck of the carrying person. The collar may comprise padding for added comfort around the neck and shoulder of the carrying person.

As described above, the distance (d) between the collar and the load carrier unit defines the size of the seating section for the child. If the distance increases, the seating section size will be increased accordingly.

The shoulder straps may comprise support bars for supporting the legs of the child from below while providing support to the shoulders of the carrying person. The support bars may be arranged at the inside of the shoulder straps. Thus, each shoulder strap may comprise the support bar with one or more layers of padding and/or fabric enclosing the support bar.

The support bars may be rigid and connected to the back part of the shoulder harness system, or to a framework provided at the back of the shoulder harness system, or it may be pre-shaped in one piece extending from the front part to the back part of the shoulder harness system, or any combinations thereof.

The support bar may be rigid and wherein the thickness may be gradually decreasing from the top (on the shoulders of the carrying person) towards a free end of the support bar at the front part of the shoulder harness system, at which end the support bare may be flexible.

The support bars may provide a pre-shaped first curve for fitting to the shoulder of the carrier while proving a support for the legs of the child.

The support bar may be made from any material such as: plastic, polyester, carbon, epoxy, aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, glass fiber, etc. or a combination thereof.

The telescopic device may be connected to the shoulder harness system at a vertical center plane between the two shoulder straps and behind the collar adjacent to the back part of the shoulder harness system, or the load telescopic device may be connected at a position symmetric about the vertical center plane. The vertical center plane between the shoulder straps may also be referred to as a symmetry plane between the shoulder straps.

The telescopic device may comprise a locking mechanism for securing the load carrier unit in the extracted position or in the assembled position.

The locking mechanism may be at least any one of a: pin, spring, snap lock, click lock, sliding means, clamping means, friction means or magnetic devices.

The telescopic device may comprise a release button for releasing the locking mechanism such that the load carrier unit can be extracted or assembled.

The locking device may be a pin arranged on the load carrier unit and adapted to cooperate with a recess provided in the casing. The pin may be connected to a release button for retracting the pin from the recess and thus allows the load carrying unit to be moved.

The release button may be arranged along the telescopic device. The release button may be arranged on the curved top part of the load carrying unit.

The load carrying unit may comprise two frame bars arranged at either side of a vertical center plane between the shoulder straps. The two frame bars may be parallel and connected at the top by a curved top device having a release button. Upon pressing the release button, the user may pull up the telescopic bars to extract it to its maximal size or push it downward to retract it to its minimal size.

The description above, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a prior art carrying device comprising a back-support frame which can be folded together.

Fig. 2 shows a pair of support bars connected to a telescopic device.

Fig. 3 shows a child carrying device comprising a telescopic device connected to the shoulder harness system.

Fig. 4 shows a child carrying device comprising a telescopic device comprising two parallel telescopic bars connected to the shoulder harness system.

Fig. 5 shows a child carrying device fitted onto the shoulders of a carrying person, the device comprising a telescopic device connected to the back part of the shoulder harness system.

Fig. 6 shows a child carrying device arranged as a convertible backpack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a prior art carrying device 10 for carrying a child on the shoulder of an adult. The device comprises a back-support connected to a shoulder harness system, and where the back-support comprises a back-support frame and a seat and back cover arranged to be pulled over the back-support frame for providing a seating section and a back-support for the child. The back-support frame 2 constitutes a bar with a curved top section and with two vertical parallel sides (i.e. standing arch or upside-down U-shape) extending towards the lower part of the carrying device. Each of the two parallel vertical bars are divided into two sections connected by a spring loaded spigot joint (not shown). The two sections may be separated such that back-support may be folded together into the shoulder harness system in an assembled position.

Figure 2 shows a pair of support bars 9 connected to a telescopic device 20. The telescopic device 20 may comprise a load carrier unit 5 for supporting the back of the child while seated in the carrying device, and a casing 11 to receive at least a section of the load carrier unit 5 in the assembled position. Thus, the load carrying unit 5 is configured to extract upward, from the casing 11, upon usage such that it supports the back of the child, and to be retracted inward, into the casing 11, in an assembled position while not in use.

The support bars 9 may be a rigid and pre-shaped arch adapted to fit onto the shoulders of the carrying person, and for supporting the legs of the child while seated in the carrying device.

The shoulder harness system 3 may or may not comprise the support bars 9. The shoulder straps 7 of the harness system 3 may or may not comprise the support bars 9.

Figure 2 shows a pair of support bars 9 connected to the casing 11 of the telescopic device 20. The casing 11 may be arranged at a center plane and in parallel with the support bars 9. The support bars 9 may be provided with a connection arm for connection to the casing 11, or the casing 11 may be provided with a connection arm for connection to the support bars 9.

The load carrier unit 5 may be a; plate, flap, bar, tube, element, device, etc., or a combination thereof. The load carrying unit 5 is adapted for supporting a weight from the child while seated in the child carrying device with its back resting towards the load carrying device 5. The load carrier unit 5 may comprise one or more telescopic sections.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the load carrying unit 5 comprises two frame bars 23 arranged at either side of a vertical center plane between the shoulder straps 7. The two frame bars 23 may be arranged at a location behind the shoulder straps or support bars 5 at the back of the shoulder harness system 3. The two frame bars 23 are moveable into a casing 11 of the telescopic device 20 such that they may extract upward upon usage so that it supports the back of the child and may retract inward in an assembled position while not in use.

The two frame bars 23 may be connected at their top ends by a straight or curved section 6. In use, a seat and back cover 15 (not shown) is adapted to be pulled over the curved top section 6 such that it provides a seat and back-support for the child.

Figure 3 shows a child carrying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 1 comprises a shoulder harness system 3 comprising a pair of shoulder straps 7, and a telescopic device 20 arranged at a vertical center plane between the two shoulder straps 7 at a back part of the shoulder harness system 3. The telescopic device 20 comprises a load carrier unit 5 in the extended (raised) position. The load carrier unit 5 is moveable on the shoulder harness system 3 between the raised position and a collapsible position where the load carrier unit 5 is inserted into the casing 11 (not shown).

The shoulder harness system 3 comprises two shoulder straps 7 arranged on either side of a collar 4, as shown in figure 3. The load carrier unit 5 for supporting a back of the child is connected to the shoulder harness system 3 behind the collar 4 such that it provides an area, between the collar 4 and the load carrier unit 5, defining the seating section 16 for the child.

The distance (d) between the collar and the back-support defines the seating section for the child.

The seating section 16 may further be provided by a seat and back cover 15 (not shown) which may be connected to the shoulder harness system 3 and may be be pulled over the top part of the load carrying unit 5 for providing additional back and side support for the child.

The seat and back cover 15 may be folded into a pocket 14 provided adjacent to the collar or at a back behind the collar 4. The seat and back cover 15 may also be folded into a pocket provided in the collar 4. Thus, the seat and back cover 15 may be a device attached to or at the back of the collar 4 and adapted to be pulled over the top of the load carrier unit 5.

The seat and back cover 15 may be made of a fabric material such as polyester, cotton, neoprene, pvc, rubber, or a combination thereof. The material may be elastic or non-elastic material.

The seat and back cover 15 may comprise reinforcements arranged at its perimeter for additional support and clearly defining and framing the backrest area. Such reinforcements may be metal wire, plastic band, woven band, rubber material, padding, etc.

The telescopic device 20 may further comprise a locking mechanism 12 for locking and securing the load carrying unit 5 in the raised position or in the folded position.

The locking mechanism 8 may be a socket, a clip, snap lock, a friction means, sliding means, clamping means, etc. or a combination thereof, adapted for holding and retaining the load carrier unit 5 in the raised position. The locking mechanism 8 may comprise a release button 6 to release the locking mechanism 8 so that the load carrying device may be folded.

Figure 5 shows a child carrying device 1 fitted onto the shoulders of a carrying person. The load carrying unit 5 is telescopically moveable on the shoulder harness system 3 between a raised position and a collapsible position. In the collapsed position, the telescopic unit 5 is inserted into the casing 11 provided at the back part of the shoulder harness system 3.

The casing 11 is adapted for receiving at least a section of the load carrier unit 5 in the collapsible position. Thus, the load carrier unit 5 is configured to be extracted upward upon usage such that it supports the back of the child, and to be retracted inward in the assembled or collapsible position.

The load carrying unit 5 may comprise a straight or preferably a curved top part 6 for creating a frame for attaching a seat and back cover 15. When the load carrying unit 5 is extended into the raised position, the seat and back cover 15 may be pulled over the curved top part 6 to provide a seating section and an enlarged back-rest for the child. As described earlier, the seat and back cover 15 may comprise reinforcements provided at its perimeter.

The curved top part 6 may comprise a release button 13 for releasing the locking mechanism 8 such that the telescopic unit 5 may be retracted or extended. The locking mechanism 8 may comprise pins attached to the load carrying unit 5, penetrating holes provided on the casing 11 or in the telescopic sections. Figure 5 shows the holes provided on the casing and on the telescopic section. Thus, upon pressing the release button 13, the user can either pull the telescopic unit 5 upward to extract it to it maximal length or push it downward to retract it to the collapsible position.

The curved top part 6 may be configured to mate with or fit within corresponding surfaces on the top of the shoulder harness system 3, behind the collar 4, such that the load carrying unit 5 in the collapsible position flush with the top and back exterior surfaces of the shoulder harness system 3.

Figure 7 shows the child carrying device in combination with a backpack. The telescopic device 20 is connected to the back of the shoulder harness system 3. The telescopic device 20 comprises a load carrying unit 5 that can telescopically move into a casing 11 (not shown) located in the backpack. The seat and back cover 15 may be arranged as a lid for the backpack while the child carrying device 1 is in the collapsible position (not in use) and may be pulled over the load carrying unit 5 while in the raised (in use) position.

The details of the child carrying device described above in this application are also transferable to the backpack such that in use, the backpack may be converted into a child carrier by raising the load carrier device 5 and attaching the seat and back cover 15.

Claims

1. A child carrying device (1) for carrying a child on shoulders of a person, the device (1) comprises:

- a shoulder harness system (3) for fitting onto the shoulders of the person, the shoulder harness (3) comprises two shoulder straps (7) arranged on either side of a collar (4),

- a back-support (2) for supporting a back of the child, connected to the shoulder harness system (3) behind the collar (4) such that it provides a seating section (16) for the child between the collar (4) and the backsupport (2),

wherein the back-support (2) comprises a telescopic device (20) comprising a load carrying unit (5) configured to extract upward upon usage such that it supports the back of the child, and to be retracted inward in an assembled position while not in use.

2. The child carrying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic device (5) further comprises a casing (11) to receive at least a section of the load carrier unit (5) in the assembled position.

3. The child carrying device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the load carrying unit (5) is at least any one of a longitudinal; plate, tube, bar, element, or a combination thereof.

4. The child carrying device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the load carrying unit (5) comprises one or more telescopic sections.

5. The child carrying device (1) according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the load carrying unit (5) comprises a curved top part (6) providing a frame to attach a seat and back cover (15).

6. The child carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the telescopic device comprises a locking mechanism (21) for securing the load carrier unit (5) in the extracted position or in the assembled position.

7. The child carrying device according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism (21) is at least any one of a: pin, spring, snap lock, click lock, sliding means, clamping means, friction means or magnetic devices.

8. The child carrying device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein telescopic device (20) comprises a release button (13) for releasing the locking mechanism (21) such that the load carrier unit (5) can be extracted or assembled.

9. The child carrying device according to claim 8, wherein the release button (13) is arranged on the curved top part (13).

10. The child carrying device (1) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the load carrying unit (5) is arranged at a vertical center plane between the shoulder straps (7) at an upper back of the shoulder harness system (3).

11. The child carrying device (1) according to any one of claims 2-10, wherein the load carrying unit (5) comprises two frame bars (23) arranged at either side of a vertical center plane between the shoulder straps (7).