Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D13/00—Other nursery furniture
  • A47D13/02—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots
  • A47D13/025—Baby-carriers; Carry-cots for carrying children in seated position
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47D—FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN
  • A47D15/00—Accessories for children's furniture, e.g. safety belts
  • A47D15/005—Restraining devices, e.g. safety belts, contoured cushions or side bumpers

Definitions

• the disclosure relates to child carriers. More particularly, the disclosure relates to systems for tethering a child in a carrier. Still more particularly, the disclosure relates to a device for tethering a child in a carrier in a manner that does not deleteriously affect the comfort of the child or the wearer, the functionality of the carrier, or the position of the child being carried.
• the harness includes a running line for encircling a child's torso.
• a loop is disposed at one end of the running line.
• the opposite end of the running line may be fed through this loop to create a child tethering area for encircling a child's torso.
• the end of the running line opposite the loop is joined to the child carrier.
• the child tethering area can therefore tether the child (e.g., to the child carrier and thus the wearer) without encumbering the child's shoulders, arms, or legs or affecting the child's position within the child carrier.
• adjustment of the running line allows the harness to fit a wide range of child sizes.
• the weight of the child acts to tighten the child tethering area around the child's torso.
• the weight of the child acting on the running line serves to move the running line through the loop, reducing the diameter of the child tethering area encircling the child.
• the child tethering area thus cinches around the child, tethering the child by limiting the point of maximum displacement of the child away from the wearer of the child carrier.
• a child may be tethered by a harness placed only around the child's torso, leaving the child's arms, shoulders, or legs free of restraint and reducing or eliminating any interference with the positioning of the child within the carrier
• the end of the running line opposite the loop may include a harness attachment point for coupling to a corresponding carrier attachment point on the child carrier.
• the carrier attachment point may be a feature of the child carrier specifically designed as such an attachment point or may utilize an existing feature of the child carrier.
• the carrier attachment point may be a waistbelt of the child carrier.
• a harness system includes an anchor portion that may be
• a harness system may include a waist belt anchor portion.
• the waist belt anchor portion may be coupled to the waist belt of the child carrier.
• the waist belt anchor portion may be configured to encircle a waist belt of a child carrier and contain corresponding fasteners that when fastened together allow the waist belt anchor portion to form a loop around the waist belt of the child carrier.
• the waist belt anchor portion may include multiple sets of corresponding fasteners, allowing the loop formed by the waist belt anchor portion to be made larger or smaller as the need arises.
• Embodiments of the waist belt anchor portion may also provide the carrier attachment point for coupling to the harness attachment point of the harness.
• the harness attachment point of the harness may be provided.
• each of the waist belt anchor portion and harness attachment point may include corresponding fasteners such that they may be coupled and decoupled from one another.
• This arrangement allows the harness to be placed on child and the child situated in the carrier at any point before or after the harness is coupled to the waist belt anchor portion. Accordingly, the ingress and egress of the child into both the carrier and the harness may be facilitated.
• the harness may have a sleeve covering at least a portion of the running line to, for example, provide added comfort for the child, protect the running line, or to facilitate the movement of the running line through the loop of the harness.
• the sleeve may be made out of ripstop nylon and/or may include a padded material.
• the sleeve may be attached to a portion of the running line and may include a cinching portion near the harness attachment point where the cinching portion is not attached to the running line. This cinching portion may thus facilitate the passing of the running line through the loop without interfering with the tightening of the harness as a child moves away from the wearer.
• embodiments of such a harness system may have a small profile and thus may not be intrusive to either the child or the wearer of the carrier. Additionally, these harness systems may be less restrictive such that a child's movement may not be restricted while the child is within the carrier. Yet a further advantage of a harness system as disclosed herein is that the harness may be simpler and easier to use than other devices currently available. In particular, embodiments of such a harness system may allow a child to be placed in the harness either before or after the child is placed in the child carrier.
• the child may be placed in the harness either before or after the harness is coupled to the carrier itself.
• Such versatility allows a wide variety of options for situating the child in the harness system and the child carrier.
• use of embodiments of the harness system does not impede the operation or use of the child carrier itself.
• the use of such harness systems does not impact the positioning of the child within the carrier.
• the harness acts based on the weight of the child and only tightens when the child moves away from the carrier, increasing comfort for the child while in the carrier.
• harness systems as disclosed do not require numerous adjustments for a proper fit and may also easily accommodate a wide range of child sizes.
• Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a harness system.
• Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of elements of a harness system.
• FIG. 3 shows an infant with one embodiment of a harness.
• Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of elements of a harness system.
• FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a waist belt anchor of a harness system.
• FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a waist belt anchor of a harness system coupled to a
• Fig. 7 shows one embodiment of a harness system utilized with a child in a child carrier.
• the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion.
• a process, product, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, product, article, or apparatus.
• "or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
• fastener may refer to any type of securing mechanism, such as, for example: buttons, snaps, d-rings, clips, hooks, patches of hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro or the like), or any other securing mechanism, whether now known or hereafter described in the art.
• securing mechanism such as, for example: buttons, snaps, d-rings, clips, hooks, patches of hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro or the like), or any other securing mechanism, whether now known or hereafter described in the art.
• any examples or illustrations given herein are not to be regarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or express definitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being described with respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompass other embodiments, as well as implementations and adaptations thereof which may or may not be given therewith or elsewhere in the specification, and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to: “for example,” “for instance,” “e.g.,” “in one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and the like.
• Embodiments disclosed herein provide a child carrier harness that is adjustable to fit a wide range of child sizes yet is easy to use and comfortable for both the child and the wearer.
• the harness includes a running line for encircling a child's torso. One end of the running line may have a loop for passing the other end of the running line through, creating an area for encircling the child. The end of the running line opposite the loop may be attached to a child carrier, thereby restraining the child.
• Examples of child carriers that may utilize a harness system such as the one disclosed herein may be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 10/937, 193, filed September 9, 2004, entitled "BABY CARRIER" by Frost, now U.S. Patent No.
• FIG. 1 a child carrier harness system 100 in accordance with one
• Harness 120 may be designed to fit around a child's torso.
• Waist belt anchor portion 160 may be used to connect harness 120 to a child carrier. Harness 120 may also be used without waist belt anchor portion 160, such as by attaching directly to a child carrier.
• harness 120 comprises a harness loop 122, which defines an area 130 for encircling a child's waist or torso.
• Harness loop 122 may comprise running line 126 at least partially covered by sleeve 127.
• Running line 126 may comprise a first end which may be secured to a child carrier and a second end having a reciprocating loop 124.
• Running line 126 feeds through reciprocating loop 124, creating area 130 for encircling a child's torso.
• Harness 120 may then be tethered to any suitable point using any means.
• Harness 120 may be attached to a carrier (or wearer) directly or through the use of intermediate parts, such as waist belt anchor portion 160.
• Waist belt anchor portion 160 may be adapted or otherwise suitably configured for
• waist belt anchor portion 160 may provide a means for tethering harness 120 to a child carrier.
• running line 126 moves out of reciprocating loop 124 toward waist belt anchor portion 160.
• cinching portion128 is compressed to facilitate travel of reciprocating loop 124 along a length of running line 126 while reducing the diameter of the area 130 for encircling the child's waist/torso. This tethers the child and limits the point of maximum displacement of the carried child away from the wearer of the child carrier.
• running line 126 moves into reciprocating loop 124; cinching portion is extended to facilitate travel of reciprocating loop 124 along a length of running line 126 while increasing the diameter of the area 130 for encircling the child's waist/torso, thereby providing more room in area 130 when the child is closer to the wearer.
• harness 120 may hold the full weight of the child.
• the weight of the child acts to tighten area 130 around the child's torso.
• Harness loop 122 may catch at the child's hips, legs, or pelvis, especially if the child is wearing a diaper, and may hold the child in the harness.
• Area 130 need not reduce to the size of the child's torso to hold the child and may form a "teardrop" shape.
• Waist belt anchor portion 160 comprises anchor tongues 162 for wrapping around, for
• anchor tongue press-fit snaps 164 may be engaged with lower anchor press-fit snaps 166, or in the case of the wearer of the child carrier having a longer torso or a larger/smaller width waistband, with upper anchor press-fit snaps 168. While the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 shows press-fit snaps 164, 166, 168 and 170, any fastening means, whether now known or hereafter described in the art, may be alternatively, conjunctively or sequentially employed.
• Upper anchor press-fit snaps 170 are generally not intended for securing waist belt anchor portion 160 to the waistband of a child carrier. In the embodiments disclosed herein, the function of upper anchor press-fit snaps 170 will be more fully described below with reference to Fig. 2.
• Anchor tongues 162 may further comprise patches of hook-and-loop material 180 intended for engagement with corresponding patches of loop-and-hook material 182 and 184 along the length of anchor flap 190, depending on, for example, the wearer's torso length. That is to say that the wearer may select lower anchor loop-and-hook patches 182 or upper anchor loop-and-hook patches 184 when the wearer attaches waist belt anchor portion 160 to the waistband or waist belt of the child carrier.
• anchor flap 190 may comprise a point of attachment 175 (e.g., a stitched patch or other fastening means) for securing an anchor flap webbing or line (for example, on the opposite side of anchor flap 190 of Fig. 1 ; not shown) to anchor flap 190. Further description of anchor flap webbing/line will be detailed in the discussion of Figs. 2 and 4 below.
• a point of attachment 175 e.g., a stitched patch or other fastening means
• Running line 126 may provide minimal longitudinal elasticity yet be transversely flexible so as to comfortably encircle a child's torso.
• Running line 126 may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. In one embodiment, running line 126 may be made of polyester webbing.
• running line 126 may be attached to harness attachment 200.
• Harness attachment 200 may be a portion of a side release buckle. Harness attachment may be any other suitable means of removably attaching running line 126, including, but not limited to: a buckle, a clasp, a carabiner, or a snap hook.
• running line 126 may be non-removably attached to a carrier.
• Running line 126 may be adjustable so as to change area 130. Adjustment may be useful for allowing harness loop 122 to fit a wide range of child sizes. Adjustment may also be useful for ease of placing the harness on or removing the harness from the child.
• Adjustment of the length of running line 126 may be facilitated by a feature of harness
• running line 126 may feed through harness attachment 200 such that pulling on the free end of running line 126 reduces the length of the running line between harness attachment 200 and reciprocating loop 126.
• harness loop 122 further comprises sleeve 127.
• Sleeve 127 may cover at least a portion of running line 126 and may comprise a padded material to provide additional comfort for the child or the wearer.
• sleeve 127 comprises a 3-D mesh. Padding may also be placed between sleeve 127 and running line 126. In one embodiment, padding between sleeve 127 and running line 126 comprises a 3-D mesh.
• Sleeve 127 may be attached to running line 126, such as by sewing sleeve 127 to running line 126. A portion of sleeve 127 may not be attached to running line 126. For example, a portion of sleeve 127 distal from reciprocating loop 124 may not be attached to running line 126 and may be referred to as cinching portion 128.
• Cinching portion 128 may comprise a portion of sleeve 127 that may be longitudinally
• Reciprocating loop 124 may be sized to allow running line 126 to slide easily through and may be formed from running line 126 and/or sleeve 127. Reciprocating loop 124 may also be formed as a separate portion that is attached to running line 126. In one embodiment, reciprocating loop 124 may be sewn on to running line 126. Any suitable material may be used to form reciprocating loop 124; however, it is preferred to use a material having a low coefficient of friction with the material used for running line 126 so as to facilitate cinching of the harness loop around the child's torso.
• harness 120 may attach to anchor flap attachment 210.
• Anchor flap attachment 210 may comprise a portion of a side release buckle.
• Anchor flap attachment 210 may be attached to any point suitable for holding a child.
• anchor flap attachment 210 may be attached to a carrier directly or may be attached to a carrier using an intermediate portion such as waist belt anchor portion 160.
• anchor flap 190 may comprise features that include an anchor flap
• harness attachment cover 220 with attachment cover press-fit snaps 225 (or other fastening means) for corresponding engagement with upper anchor press-fit snaps 170 (or other fastening means) to cover harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210.
• harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210 may be engaged with one another to secure harness 120 to waist belt anchor portion 160. It will be appreciated that harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210 may comprise any fastening means, whether now known or hereafter described in the art.
• Anchor flap attachment cover 220 may provide protection from any tendency of harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210 to be unintentionally disengaged from one another or from pinching or abrading the wearer or child.
• Anchor flap attachment 210 may be fastened to anchor flap 190 by webbing or any other fastening mechanism now known or hereafter described in the art.
• Fig. 3 depicts an infant 300 disposed within harness loop 122 prior to engagement of
• harness attachment 200 with anchor flap attachment 210 may be placed around the torso of infant 300. Running line 126 may then be passed through reciprocating loop 124, thus encircling infant 300 as shown in Fig. 3. Infant 300 may then be placed in a child carrier and harness attachment 200 may be connected to an attachment point, such as anchor flap attachment 210.
• harness loop 122 may be formed by placing harness attachment 200 through reciprocating loop 124 prior to being placed over infant 300. Harness attachment 200 may be attached to anchor flap attachment 210 or other attachment point prior to placing infant 300 into harness loop 122.
• running line 126 may be adjusted to fit infant 300.
• Running line 126 need not be adjusted to the same size as the child's torso and may only need to be adjusted to prevent an overly loose fit. Readjustment of running line 126 may be performed as needed while the child is in the carrier.
• Fig. 4 depicts an infant 300 disposed within harness loop 122 after engagement of harness attachment 200 with anchor flap attachment 210 so as to tether infant 300 to the wearer 400 of child carrier 420.
• Fig. 4 also shows anchor flap webbing 430 attached to anchor flap attachment 210 for securing anchor flap attachment 210 to anchor flap 190.
• a child may be tethered to a wearer as follows.
• Anchor flap attachment 210 may engage harness attachment 200.
• Running line 126 encircles infant 300 and may be attached to anchor flap attachment 210.
• Anchor flap attachment 210 may be in turn attached to harness attachment 200.
• Harness attachment 200 is attached to anchor flap webbing 430, which is attached to anchor flap 190.
• Anchor flap 190 is attached to child carrier 420 which is attached to wearer 400.
• infant 300 may be tethered to wearer 400.
• wedge 440 may be attached to anchor flap 190.
• wedge 440 may have a triangular profile.
• Wedge 440 may comprise any suitable material, such as a foam material.
• FIG. 5 shows a child carrier harness device and system prior to engagement of waist belt anchor portion 160 to the waistband 520 of a child carrier 530 in accordance with one embodiment.
• Child carrier 530 may comprise child carrier waist belt 500, child carrier waistband 520, child carrier waistband fastener 525, back strap 535, and shoulder straps 540.
• Anchor tongues 162 may be fed behind child carrier waistband 520 for subsequent wrap-around secured engagement (as depicted, for example, in Fig. 6) of waist belt anchor portion 160 to child carrier waistband 520.
• anchor tongues 162 may be fed behind child carrier waist belt 500 for subsequent wrap-around secured engagement of waist belt anchor portion 160 to child carrier waist belt 500.
• anchor tongues 162 are fed behind waistband 520.
• Anchor tongues 162 are then wrapped around the front of waistband 520.
• Anchor press-fit snaps 164 are attached to either lower anchor press-fit snaps 166 or upper anchor press-fit snaps 168.
• Anchor tongue hook-and-loop material 180 may be engaged with lower anchor loop-and-hook material 182 or upper anchor loop-and-hook material 184.
• Anchor flap 190 may then be wrapped behind child carrier waist belt 500. Waist belt anchor portion 160 is thus installed on child carrier 530, as shown in Fig. 6.
• anchor flap 190 may wrap around child carrier waist belt 500, extending around both sides of child carrier waist belt 500.
• FIG. 7 shows a child carrier harness system with an infant 300 tethered to the wearer 400 of a child carrier 530 in accordance with one embodiment.
• Infant 300 is placed within child carrier 530, between child carrier 530 and wearer 400.
• Anchor flap 190 may extend above child carrier waist belt 500.
• Harness120 encircles infant 300 and is connected via harness attachment 200 to anchor flap attachment 210.
• Attachment cover press-fit snaps 225 may be engaged to upper anchor press-fit snaps 170 to enclose harness attachment 200 and anchor flap attachment 210.
• Running line 126 may be adjusted at any point to fit infant 300.
• Fig. 7 shows a carrier on the front of a wearer's body and an infant facing the wearer
• the child carrier harness system can be used in other configurations, including, but not limited to, front carry, side carry, and rear carry with the child facing either toward or away from the wearer.
• Child carrier 530 is only one example of a child carrier that may be used with the child carrier harness system. Many other child carriers may utilize the child carrier harness system disclosed herein.

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57072977

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (5)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (34)

• 2016
  • 2016-04-08 EP EP16777348.0A patent/EP3280295A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-04-08 KR KR1020177032332A patent/KR20170136583A/ko active Search and Examination
  • 2016-04-08 US US15/094,515 patent/US20160296034A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2016-04-08 JP JP2017552901A patent/JP2018510728A/ja active Pending
  • 2016-04-08 WO PCT/US2016/026626 patent/WO2016164713A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2016-04-08 CN CN201680029778.2A patent/CN107708496A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events