WO2017183987A1

WO2017183987A1 - Multipurpose child carrier

Info

Publication number: WO2017183987A1
Application number: PCT/NO2017/050082
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benita Konstanse JØRGENSEN
Original assignee: Safe Movement As
Priority date: 2016-04-18
Filing date: 2017-04-07
Publication date: 2017-10-26
Also published as: NO20160641A1; NO342051B1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a multipurpose child carrier with a carrier chair (1), and a support frame (2) with a user back support area (25) and a carrying harness (5) at a first side of said support frame (2) and a child restraint area (26) at a second side. The support frame is pivoted to the carrier chair (2). A locking mechanism selectively locks or allows the carrier chair and the support frame (2) to pivot between a first angle in a carrying mode of operation, and at least one further support angle for support in a chair in a means of transport.

Description

Multipurpose child carrier

The present invention relates to a multipurpose child carrier with several modes of operation. The child carrier includes a harness for carrying the child on the back of a person and that can be transformed to a child or baby seat for a means of transport. The multipurpose child carrier is developed particularly for traveling purposes and simplifies travel with babies, toddlers and even older children.

When traveling with children, it is useful to be able to both carry a child for hiking or sightseeing, and to be able to travel safely with the child on public transport or in a car.

Baby carriers are typically dedicated for use on the back of a person and are not easily converted for other purposes. Dedicated safety seats for cars are

cumbersome and not suitable for travel, in particularly not for air travel. Traditional dedicated safety seats for cars could offer better safety than the multipurpose child carrier of the invention. Dedicated safety seats are however normally not used in buses, taxies, airplanes or trains.

US 6575342 B1 A child carrier utilized to carry a child on the back of an adult is described. The child carrier includes a rigid frame having front and rear sections. The front section, adjacent to the user's back, comprises a pair of rigid columnar members joined at their top ends by a rigid yoke. In preferred embodiments, the yoke has slots formed therein to serve as a handle and to provide connecting points for the shoulder straps. A child restraint system is described wherein a floating loop is formed by the interconnection of the shoulder straps and the crouch strap. A rigid canopy is described comprising arcuate rigid members that connect to the front and rear sections of the rigid frame, and a flexible hood. A waist belt assembly is also described that permits a waist belt to be adjusted vertically to account for different builds of various users.

It is thus the purpose of the present invention to provide a solution to make travel with children safer and easier. The present invention provides a solution for a multipurpose safety seat or a child carrier for a child in situations where the alternative typically is no safety seat at all. In these situations, a traditional heavy and less portable child seat is not an option.

It is thus the purpose of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose safety carrier that is useable as both a child or baby carrier and a child or baby safety seat for a vehicle. Furthermore, it is a purpose of the present invention to make travel more comfortable for a child, and to provide a solution that can be used both for babies and toddlers.

Accordingly, the present invention concerns a multipurpose child carrier with a carrier chair, and an in said chair pivoted support frame with a user back support area and a carrying harness at a first side of said support frame. A child restraint area is located at a second side of said support frame. A locking mechanism selectively locks or allows the chair and the support frame to pivot an angle therein between to a first angle in a carrying mode of operation, and at least one further support angle for support in a chair in a means of transport. The locking

mechanism can lock the chair and the support frame at discrete angles.

Alternatively, the licking mechanism may be stepless, but it is important that the joint not slides once set. The locking mechanism may also include latching or interlocking elements.

The at least one further support angle may include a second angle in a seat backwards mode of operation and a third angle at a seat forwards mode of operation. The user back support area is adapted to form a backrest support area at a seat backwards mode of operation. The child restraint area is adapted to form a seat support area at a seat forwards mode of operation.

The angular distance between the first angle and the third angle can be at least 290°.

The support frame may include a stand at a lowermost portion hereof, at an angle substantially perpendicular with, or slightly inclined to the back support area. The carrier chair may include a rigid, synthetic shell.

The rigid synthetic shell may be formed in one piece.

The carrier chair may include a saddle portion forming a seating for the child.

The saddle portion may form a tunnel dimensioned to allow a stand of the frame to pivot past the seat when the operation modes are changed.

The multipurpose child carrier may further include a base frame rigidly secured to the carrier chair.

The base frame may include a first contact portion at an angle to a second contact portion of said base frame.

The multipurpose child carrier may further include a seat belt attachment clip for attachment of the child carrier to the seat of a means of transport. The attachment may also include IsoFix compatible fixings.

A rear portion of the carrier chair may also include a seat belt attachment clip to facilitate attachment of a seat belt of a means of transport.

Short description of the enclosed figures:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front of an embodiment a multipurpose child carrier in a first mode of operation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of an embodiment the multipurpose child carrier in the first mode of operation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier of fig. 1 and 2 in a backwards mode of operation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the carrier of fig. 1 , 2 and 3 in a forward mode of operation,

Fig. 5a-5c are side views of the multipurpose child carrier in three distinct modes of operation. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment a combined child or baby carrier with a carrier harness and a child or baby seat for installation in a chair, typically of a vehicle or airplane of the invention. Fig. 1 shows the multipurpose carrier of the invention in a carry mode, with a carrier chair 1 in an upright position in relation to an adjustable support frame 2 with a back contact or support area 25, a shoulder harness 5 and a waist strap 6. The shoulder harness 5 and a waist strap 6 can be detachable from the support frame 2. A seat joint 7 allows the carrier chair 1 to pivot in relation to the support frame 2 and a locking mechanism locks the seat joint 7 in specific positions. A child 8 is secured to the carrier chair 1 with a seat belt 10. The seat includes head support pads 9 to cushion the head of the child for comfort and safety in case the carrier chair is exposed to an impact or a sudden motion. The support frame 2 includes a user back support area 25 that will be in contact with a user carrying the carrier or a backrest of a chair of a means of transport when the carrier is in a backwards position in the chair.

The carrier chair (1 ) includes a rigid, synthetic shell formed as one piece of material. The shell is curved around the seating portion of the child and thereby provide good rigidity of the carrier chair. The carrier chair is typically made of a plain plastic material, but carbon fibre or fibreglass reinforced epoxy are examples of alternatives.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier of fig. 1 from the rear. The seat 1 is attached to a base frame 1 1 in the joint 7 for supporting the seat at different angles. The joint may also include external flexible portions forming a high friction, foot portion. A stand 12 forms a portion of the frame 2 and is also pivotally connected to the base frame 1 1 and the seat 1 . A crossbar 13 add strength and rigidity to the carrier and forms the pivot point for the support frame 2 with the stand 12 and. An access opening 16 at each side of the carrier chair allow more room for the arms of the child and gives easy access for the adult taking care of the child. The stand 12 is positioned substantially perpendicular to- and forms an integrated portion of the support frame 2. The stand angle ensure that a centre of gravity is over a middle section of the stand 12 to make the carrier stable on the stand 12. Rubber protectors 15 form foot elements preventing the chair from sliding and protects a surface the stand is located on. Isofix elements can be secured to the base frame 1 1 , the joint 7 or the crossbar 13.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier of fig. 1 and 2 in a backwards mode of operation, located backwards in a chair with a seat portion 22 and a backrest 21 . The backwards position is typically used for babies and young children. The backwards position enables a caring person to have eye contact with the child while sitting in a seat next to the carrier. The backwards position is also

considered safest for babies without a completely developed neck in the event of an impact. In the second mode of operation, the support frame 2 connected to the seat in the joint 7 is moved to a position away from the seat and towards the back 22 of the vehicle chair where the carrier is located. The support frame 2 and the base frame 1 1 can be biased between the backrest 21 and the seat 1 1 of the vehicle chair. The child 8 is secured to the carrier chair with seat belt 10. A saddle portion 17 of the seat forms a comfortable and stable seating for the child. The saddle portion 17 also forms a tunnel allowing the stand 12 of the frame 2 to pivot past the seat when the operation modes are changed. The saddle portion 17 also serves to make the shell of the carrier chair more rigid.

A headrest portion 18 of the seat also protects the head of the child in the event of an accident as protrusions at both sides serves to locate the head of the child and to prevent foreign objects from hitting the head.

The support frame 2 also includes a child restraint area 26 at a second side of the support frame 2. The child restraint area 26 contributes to define a room for the child, in particular in a carrier mode of operation as seen in fig. 1 .

A support frame cushion 20 is located in child restraint area 26 of the support frame 2 and serves both to provide comfort and safety for the child at a first side towards the carrier chair and to provide a support face towards the back of a person in the carry mode.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the carrier of fig. 1 , 2 and 3 in a forward mode of operation, located forwards in a chair with a seat portion and a backrest 21. The support frame 2 with the support frame cushion 20 rests towards the vehicle seat along with the base frame 1 1 . The base frame 1 1 includes a first and a second contact portion 23, 24 at an angle to each other. In the forward mode of operation, the second contact portion 24 is in contact with the vehicle chair seat. In the rearward mode of operation shown in fig. 3, the first contact portion 23 is in contact with the vehicle chair seat. The base frame 1 1 also serves as an attachment for a vehicle seat belt or Isofix elements (not shown). In the forward mode of operation, the stand 12 extends to a position in front of the seat portion of the vehicle chair.

Figs. 5a-5c show of the carrier of fig. 1 , 2, 3 and 4 in the three modes of operation. In fig. 5a is the carrier in carry mode, with the carrier chair 1 in the upright position in relation to the adjustable support frame 2, and with the stand 12 at an angle allowing the carrier chair 1 to stand upright at a level surface if the carrier is put down. The fixed angle between the support frame 2 and the stand 12 is clearly seen. The shoulder harness 5 and the waist strap 6 are exposed to allow a user to carry the carrier on the back like a rucksack. The carrier mode can be considered as a rucksack mode.

In fig. 5b is the carrier in backwards "baby" mode, with the carrier chair 1 facing backwards in the seat of some means of transport. The second contact portion 24 of the base frame provides the contact area between the seat and the carrier, and the support frame forms the contact area between the backrest and the carrier. The first contact portion 23 is angled away from the seat. The support frame is pivoted 55° from the position of the support frame in the first mode of operation.

In fig. 5c is the carrier in forward "toddler" mode, with the carrier chair 1 facing forwards in the seat of some means of transport. The first contact portion of the base frame provides the contact area between the seat and the carrier along with the support frame 2. The stand 12 points down in front of the seat. The support frame is pivoted 290° from the position of the support frame in the first mode of operation. The different angles between the carrier chair and the frame also allow the carrier chair to be used at different angles on any suitable surface.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A multipurpose child carrier with a carrier chair (1 ), and an in said carrier chair pivoted support frame (2) with a user back support area (25) and a carrying harness (5) at a first side of said support frame (2) and a child restraint area (26) at a second side of said support frame;

a locking mechanism selectively locking or allowing the carrier chair (1 ) and the support frame (2) to pivot an angle therein between a first angle in a carrying mode of operation, and at least one further support angle for support in a chair in a means of transport.

2. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 1 , wherein the at least one further support angle includes a second angle in a seat backwards mode of operation and a third angle at a seat forwards mode of operation;

whereby the user back support area (25) forms a backrest (21 ) support area at a seat backwards mode of operation; and

whereby the child restraint area (26) forms a seat (22) support area at a seat forwards mode of operation.

3. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 1 , wherein the angular distance between the first angle and the third angle is at least 290°.

4. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 1 , wherein the support frame (2) includes a stand (12) at a lowermost portion hereof, at an angle substantially perpendicular or slightly inclined to the back support area (25).

5. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 1 , wherein the carrier chair (1 ) includes a rigid, synthetic shell.

6. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 5, wherein the rigid synthetic shell is formed as one piece of material.

7. The multipurpose child carrier of any of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier chair (1 ) includes a saddle portion (17) forming a seating for the child.

8. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 7, wherein a saddle portion (17) forms a tunnel dimensioned to allow a stand (12) of the frame (2) to pivot past the seat when the operation modes are changed.

9. The multipurpose child carrier of any of the preceding claims, further including a base frame (1 1 ) rigidly secured to the carrier chair (1 ).

10. The multipurpose child carrier of claim 9, wherein the base frame (1 1 ) includes a first contact portion 23 at an angle to a second contact portion 24 of said base frame (1 1 ).

1 1 . The multipurpose child carrier of claim 9, of any of the preceding claims, further including a seat belt attachment clip for attachment of the child carrier to the seat of a means of transport.