WO2022226813A1

WO2022226813A1 - Infant carrier with selectively deployable support frame

Info

Publication number: WO2022226813A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/090391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Samantha BRODERICK; Chuen Bun NGAI; Man Yee TAM
Original assignee: Blue Box Toy Factory Limited
Priority date: 2021-04-28
Filing date: 2021-04-28
Publication date: 2022-11-03

Abstract

An infant carrier includes a waist belt, a pocket panel coupled to the waist belt and defining a pocket, a main body panel coupled to the waist belt, a pair of shoulder straps extensible over the wearer's shoulders, and a rigid support having a pair of pivotally connected bodies. The carrier is transitional between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, a pocket attachment portion is connected to a main body attachment portion and the rigid support is positioned in the pocket with a first body extending adjacent the waist belt and a second body extending adjacent a region of the main body panel to provide support to an infant seated in the carrier. In the second configuration, the pocket attachment portion is connected to a belt attachment portion and the second body is positioned away from the region of the main body panel.

Description

INFANT CARRIER WITH SELECTIVELY DEPLOYABLE SUPPORT FRAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to an infant carrier, and more specifically, to an infant carrier configured to be transitional between several different wearing configurations and including a rigid support frame that provides support to an infant seated in the carrier when the carrier is in at least one specific wearing configuration.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is common practice for parents and other caregivers to carry infants and toddlers, and there is a variety of well-known infant carrier products in the prior art which are configured to be worn by an adult for on-the-body carrying of the infant or toddler. Shoulder-supported infant carriers are particularly growing in popularity for supporting or transporting an infant or young infant. A common attribute of these carriers is that they typically offer “hands free” operation, and allow the adult wearer to carry the infant while performing other activities. Therefore, shoulder-supported infant carriers typically provide immediate benefits to the parent/caregiver, including the freedom to use both hands while monitoring and caring for the infant being carried. Care may be provided to other children simultaneously, strain and fatigue on the arms, back, and shoulders may be reduced, and household chores may be completed while monitoring the infant. Moreover, cumbersome and bulky strollers need not be deployed in places such as crowded city sidewalks and public transportation systems.

Although conventional shoulder-support infant carriers provide several advantages, the ease and comfort of using the infant carrier may become difficult as the infant grows. Oftentimes the same carrier is used from the time the infant is an infant until the time the infant is a toddler. Over that time, the infant may grow in size, and therefore, the weight of the infant may increase to the point such that the carrier does not comfortably support and distribute the infant’s weight on the adult wearer. Therefore, the adult-wearer may grow reluctant to use the carrier as the infant grows older.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an infant carrier capable of providing support to the infant seated in the carrier without compromising the comfort of the carrier when worn by the adult wearer. Various aspects of the present disclosure address this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally relates to a selectively configurable infant carrier that may include a rigid support frame that may be integrated into the carrier beneath a sitting region of the carrier to provide support to an infant seated within the carrier. The rigid support frame may more effectively distribute the weight of the infant to the adult wearer, as well as posture the infant seated in the carrier to provide a more comfortable experience for both the adult wearer, as well as the infant.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an infant carrier wearable by a user for carrying an infant. The infant carrier includes a waist belt extensible about a waist of a user, with the waist belt having a belt attachment portion. A lower pocket panel is coupled to the waist belt and defines a pocket. The lower pocket panel includes a pocket attachment portion. A main body panel is coupled to the waist belt and includes a main body attachment portion. A pair of shoulder straps are extensible over the shoulders of the wearer and each should strap is operatively coupled to the main body panel. The infant carrier additionally includes a rigid support frame having a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. The infant carrier is transitional between a first wearing configuration and a second wearing configuration. In the first wearing configuration, the pocket attachment portion is connected to the main body attachment portion and the rigid support frame is positioned in the pocket with the first body extending adjacent the waist belt and the second body extending adjacent a region of the main body panel to provide support to an infant seated in the carrier. In the second wearing configuration, the pocket attachment portion is connected to the belt attachment portion and the second body being positioned away from the region of the main body panel.

The infant carrier may be additionally transitional to a third wearing configuration wherein at least a portion of the main body panel is received in the pocket.

The infant carrier may also include an upper pocket panel attached to the main body panel and detachably connectable to the lower pocket panel. The infant carrier may additionally comprise at least one flap connected to the upper pocket panel. The second body may be received between the at least one flap and the upper pocket panel when the infant carrier is in the first wearing configuration and the rigid support frame is positioned in the pocket. The infant carrier may further include a zipper connected to upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel. The zipper may be configured to facilitate selective engagement between the upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel.

The pocket attachment portion may include a flap connected to the lower pocket panel and selectively engageable with the main body attachment portion. The infant carrier may include complementary fasteners on the flap and the main body attachment portion. The complementary fasteners may include hook and loop fasteners.

The infant carrier may comprise a pair of side flaps connected to respective, opposite side portions of the main body panel, with each side flap being transitional between a folded configuration wherein a distal portion of the side flap is attached to the main body panel, and an extended configuration wherein the distal portion of the side flap is attached to the waist belt.

The infant carrier may also include a head support movably coupled to the main body panel.

The present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of an infant carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the infant carrier being in a first, lower support, configuration;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the infant carrier of Figure 1, with carrier including shoulder straps and a waist belt which are depicted in a disconnected state;

Figure 3 is a partial, rear perspective view of the infant carrier of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of a pocket assembly included in the infant carrier and a rigid support frame as removed from within the pocket assembly;

Figure 5 is a side view of the rigid support frame in a deployed configuration when operatively positioned within the interior of the pocket assembly which is depicted in phantom;

Figure 6 is a side view of the rigid support frame in a folded configuration;

Figure 7 is an enlarged upper perspective view of a pivotal connection used to operatively couple the first and second bodies of the rigid support frame to each other;

Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of the rigid support frame in the pocket assembly, with the pocket assembly being in an open configuration;

Figure 9 is an upper perspective view of the infant carrier in the first, lower support, configuration taken from an opposite side relative to that depicted in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is an upper perspective view of the infant carrier in a second configuration; and

Figure 11 is an upper perspective view of the infant carrier in a third, folded, configuration.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a convertible infant carrier and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structure and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structure and/or functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and are not for purposes of limiting the same, there is depicted an infant carrier 10 configured to be worn by an adult user to assist in carrying an infant. The infant carrier 10 is selectively transitional between several different configurations, each providing varying levels of support to the infant seated in the carrier 10. In a more supportive configuration, a rigid support frame 12 may be deployed and positioned in a pocket residing underneath the infant to enhance the support of the infant and more comfortably distribute the load of the infant on the wearer. In a less supportive configuration, the rigid support frame 12 may be folded and stored in the pocket such that the rigid support frame 12 does not provide meaningful support to the infant seated in the carrier 10. The infant carrier 10 may also be transitioned to a stowed configuration, wherein a main body panel of the carrier 10 is tucked into the pocket to allow the carrier 10 to assume a smaller, compact shape making it easier to store and transport when not carrying an infant.

The infant carrier 10 generally includes a waist belt 14, a main body panel 16, a pair of shoulder straps 18, and a pocket assembly 20. The waist belt 14 is configured to be extensible about the waist of an adult wearer. The waist belt 14 may include a padded section 22 connected to the main body panel 16 and the pocket assembly 20, and including a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges connecting the top and bottom edges. The padded section 22 may include an outer surface and an inner surface. Complementary strips of hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO ^TM) 24, 26 may be attached to the outer and inner surfaces of the padded section 22 to facilitate engagement of the end portions of the padded section 22 to each other when the waist belt 14 is extended around the wearer. The lengths of the hook and loop fastener strips 24, 26 may accommodate wearers of different sizes by allowing for various degrees of overlaps between the

strips

24, 26 when they are engaged with each other. In addition to the hook and

loop fasteners

24, 26, the waist belt 14 may additionally include complementary male and

female buckle connectors

28, 30. In particular, the male and

female buckle connectors

28, 30 may be attached to respective strips or segments of nylon webbing sewn or otherwise attached to the padded section 22. At least one of the

buckle connectors

28, 30 may be adjustably connected to the nylon webbing to allow for size adjustment to accommodate the size of the wearer.

The incorporation of both the hook and

loop fasteners

24, 26 and the

buckle fasteners

28, 30 on the waist belt 14 provides redundancy to enhance the overall safety of the carrier 10, by protecting against inadvertent disconnection of the waist belt 14 from the wearer. Furthermore, the redundant design also allows the waist belt 14 to be quickly sized and attached to the wearer via the hook and

loop fasteners

24, 26, while the

buckles

28, 30 may be subsequently sized and attached to each other to strengthen the securement of the waist belt 14 around the wearer’s waist.

The pocket assembly 20, coupled to the waist belt 14, generally includes at least a lower pocket panel 31 and an upper pocket panel 33. The lower and

upper pocket panels

31, 33, together with a portion of the waist belt 14 or a rear pocket panel secured to a prescribed region of the outer surface thereof, collectively define a generally wedge-shaped pocket 35. The lower pocket panel 31 includes a base edge attached to the waist belt 14 and a free edge which protrudes or extends from the waist belt 14. The upper pocket panel 33 likewise includes a base edge attached to the waist belt 14 and a free edge which protrudes or extends from the waist belt 14. The free edge of the lower pocket panel 31 may be releasably securable to the free edge of the upper pocket panel 33 via a zipper 37 or other fasteners known in the art.

The pocket assembly 20 may additionally include a pocket flap 39 connected to an inner surface of the lower pocket panel 31. The pocket flap 39 is selectively extensible away from the lower pocket panel 31 to define a free end portion. Along these lines, the pocket flap 39 may be selectively positioned inside of the pocket 35 or outside of the pocket 35, depending on the desired configuration of the carrier 10, as will be explained in more detail below. The pocket flap 39 may include an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The inner surface may include a strip of hook and loop fastener material disposed thereon. Furthermore, the pocket flap 39 may also include a pair of snap fasteners 41 coupled thereto. The use of the hook and loop fastener material and the pair of snap fasteners 41 facilitate connection of the pocket flap 39 to the main body panel 16 when the carrier 10 is in different configurations, as will also be described in more detail below.

The pocket assembly 20 may further include a snap fastener 43 connected to the lower pocket panel 31 adjacent to the free edge thereof. The snap fastener 43 is configured to be detachably engageable with a corresponding snap fastener 47 extending below the lower pocket panel 31 to collapse the pocket assembly 20 when the carrier 10 is used in a prescribed infant carrying configuration, as will be described in more detail below.

The main body panel 16 is coupled to the padded section 22 of the waist belt 14 and includes an inner surface 32, an opposing outer surface 34, and a pair of side edges 36. The main body panel 16 may be sized to extend under at least a portion of an infant seated within the carrier 10 and extend at least partially over the infant’s torso to maintain position of the infant adjacent the adult wearer. A pair of side flaps 38 may be connected to the main body panel 16 on opposite sides of the main body panel 16 and may each be foldable relative to the main body panel 16, as will be explained in more detail below. In one embodiment, a lower end portion of the main body panel 16 extending between the pair of side flaps 38 may be sewn to the padded section of the waist belt 14, although other attachment modalities known in the art may also be used to secure the main body panel 16 to the waist belt 14.

The main body panel 16 may include several connectors, fasteners, attachment mechanisms, etc., to facilitate connection between the main body panel 16 and one or more components of the carrier 10, as may be needed to facilitate transition of the carrier 10 between its various operable configurations. In particular, the carrier 10 may include a first pair of snap fasteners 40 positioned within a lower region of the outer surface 34 of the main body panel 16 and configured for connection with the corresponding pair of fasteners 41 located on the pocket flap 39 included in the pocket assembly 20. Connection between the first pair of snap fasteners 40 and the snap fasteners 41 on the pocket flap 39 connects the pocket flap 39 to the main body panel 16 in a manner which creates and helps maintain the effective definition of a seat in the main body panel 16. In particular, when the

fasteners

40, 41 are connected to each other, the lower portion of the main body panel 16 may be effectively maintained in a state of extension over the pocket assembly 20 (and in particular the upper pocket panel 33) so as to extend under the infant when seated in the carrier 10.

The carrier 10 may additionally include a second pair of snap fasteners 42 positioned in an intermediate region of the main body panel 16, on the outer surface 34 thereof, and configured for connection with a corresponding pair of fasteners 44 on a head flap 46. When the fasteners 44 on the head flap 46 are connected to the second pair of fasteners 44, the head flap 46 is lowered to allow for more freedom of movement of the infant’s head, as may be desirable for older children. The fasteners 44 on the head flap 46 may be disconnected from the second pair of fasteners 42 and raised to provide greater support behind the infant’s head, as may be desirable for younger children. The head flap 46 may include a pair of loops 49 that connect with a corresponding pair of buttons 51 coupled to respective shoulder straps 18 to maintain the head flap 46 in the raised or deployed position.

The carrier 10 may further include a strip 45 of hook and loop fastening material extending over a portion of the inner surface 32 of the main body panel 16. The strip 45 may be configured to engage with a corresponding strip located on an inner surface of the pocket flap 39 when the main body panel 16 is folded into the pocket 35, such as when the carrier 10 assumes a stowed configuration, as will be explained in more detail below.

As noted above, the carrier 10 may include side flaps 38 coupled to the main body panel 16. In one embodiment the side flaps 38 may be an integral extension of the main body panel 16 or alternatively, the side flaps 38 may be separate panels that are sewn or connected to the main body panel 16. Each side flap 38 may extend from the intersection of the main body panel 16 and the waist belt 14 along a respective side edge of the main body panel 16. Each side flap 38 may be selectively transitional between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. In the folded configuration distal portions of the side flaps 38 are connected to each other, with the side flaps 38 extending over the main body panel 16 in overlapping relation to the outer surface 34 thereof. The side flaps 38 may include complementary snap fasteners to facilitate engagement between the distal portions. In the extended configuration, the distal portion of each side flap 38 is attached to the waist belt 14. In the exemplary embodiment, the distal portion of each side flap 38 includes a slit or opening that can receive a complimentary button or other fastener 50 connected to the waist belt 14. The transition of the side flaps 38 between the folded configuration and the extended configuration allows for a selective adjustment of the width of the seat within which the infant sits, to accommodate children of various sizes.

The carrier 10 additionally includes a pair of shoulder straps 18 connected to the main body panel 16. Each shoulder strap 18 may include a padded portion 52 and a woven nylon portion (e.g., a non-padded portion) 54. The padded portion 52 may extend from an upper portion or region of the main body panel 16 and may terminate at a distal end portion thereof. A buckle or strap connector 56 may be connected to the padded portion 52 at the distal end portion thereof. In the exemplary embodiment, one shoulder strap 18 includes a woven portion 54 that is sewn or otherwise permanently connected to the main body panel 16 at a location between the waist belt 14 and the attachment of the corresponding padded portion 52 to the main body panel 16. The woven portion 54 includes a free end that is advanceable through the strap connector 56 on the padded portion 52. The other shoulder strap 18 includes a woven portion 54 including a detachable segment 58 and a permanent segment 60. The permanent segment 60 is sewn or otherwise permanently connected to the main body panel 16 at a location between the waist belt 14 and the attachment of the corresponding padded portion 52 to the main body panel 16. The permanent segment 60 may include a buckle 62 connected to the end portion thereof. The detachable segment 58 may include a strip of woven nylon material having a buckle 64 connected to one end portion, and a free end opposite the buckle 64 and configured for advancement through the strap connector 56 on the padded portion 52. The inclusion of the detachable strap 58 may allow for quick and easy detachment and removal of that shoulder strap 18 from the user.

The shoulder straps 18 may also be connected to a back strap 66 including a pair of

strap segments

68, 70. Each

strap segment

68, 70 is connected to, and selectively adjustably movable along, a rail 72 that at least partially extends along a corresponding padded portion 52. The

strap segments

68, 70 may be connected to each other via complementary buckles or fasteners such that the back strap 66 extends across the wearer’s back when the

strap segments

68, 70 are connected during use of the carrier 10 to provide additional securement on the wearer.

Referring now to Figures 4-8, as noted above, the infant carrier 10 additionally includes a rigid support frame 12, which may include a first body 72 and a second body 74 pivotally connected to the first body 72. The first body 72 includes an inner surface 76, an outer surface 78, and a sidewall 80 extending between the inner and

outer surfaces

76, 78. The first body 72 may be configured such that the inner surface 76 is slightly concave. As will be explained in more detail below, the rigid support frame 12 may be deployed in the pocket 35 with the inner surface 76 extending over the wearer’s waist, and thus, the slight concave configuration may provide added comfort to the user.

The first body 72 may additionally include a cutout 82 extending between a pair of mounting fingers 84. The cutout 82 may be sized to accommodate a portion of the second body 74 to allow for pivotal mounting of the second body 74 to the first body 72. Each mounting finger 84 may include a medial surface 86 that faces the cutout 82. Protruding from the medial surface 86 on one or both of the mounting fingers 84 is a locking tab 88, the purpose of which will be described in more detail below. Each mounting finger 84 may also include an opening 90 or bore extending therethrough to facilitate pivotal attachment of the second body 74 to the first body 72.

The second body 74 includes a support surface 92, an opposing outer surface 94, and a sidewall 96 extending between the support surface 92 and the outer surface 94. The support surface 92 may be generally planar, while the opposing outer surface 94 may have a slight concave configuration to provide comfort to the user when the support frame 12 is folded and the outer surface 94 may be positioned so as to extend over the wearer’s waist.

The second body 74 additionally includes a mounting portion 98 that facilitates connection with the first body 72. The mounting portion 92 includes a pair of lateral surfaces 102, and an outer surface 104 which may form a generally continuous extension of the inner surface 76 of the first body 72 when the support frame 12 is deployed. One or both of the lateral surfaces 102 may include a notch 106 or recess formed therein, which is sized to receive a respective locking tab 88 on the first body 72 when the support frame 12 is deployed. A pivot pin 108 may extend from both of the lateral surfaces 102 of the second body 74 and through a respective opening 90 or bore in the adjacent mounting finger to allow for pivotal coupling of the second body 74 relative to the first body 72.

The first and

second bodies

72, 74 of the rigid support frame 12 may be formed from plastic, rubber, metal, wood, or other materials known in the art capable of having a force applied thereto and generally retaining its shape. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the first and

second bodies

72, 74 may include one or more openings formed therein to reduce weight and material costs.

The support frame 12 may be selectively transitioned between is deployed configuration and a folded configuration. In the deployed configuration, the second body 74 is positioned relative to the first body 72 such that the locking tab 88 is received in the notch 106. When the support frame 12 is in the deployed configuration, the support surface 92 of the second body 74 may form an angle α relative to a reference plane 110 which is perpendicular to a separate plane within which the perimeter of the inner surface 76 of the first body 72 resides. The angle α may vary between 0-30 degrees, and in some embodiments be approximately 20 degrees (taking into account a tolerance of +/-five degrees) .

To transition the support frame 12 from the deployed configuration toward the folded configuration, a force is applied to the first and

second bodies

72, 74 to remove the locking tab 88 from the notch 106 to allow the second body 74 to pivot relative to the first body 72 about the pivot pin (s) 108. The second body 74 moves relative to the first body 72 until the support surface 92 of the second body 74 is adjacent or abutting the inner surface 76 of the first body 72. When the support frame 12 is in the folded configuration, the support frame 12 defines a compact form factor relative to its deployed configuration.

The pocket assembly 20 of the infant carrier 10 may additionally include at least one flap 112 connected to an interior surface of the upper pocket panel 33. The pocket assembly 20 may also include a lower internal pocket panel 116 which connected to a portion of the waist belt 14, a rear pocket panel secured to a prescribed region of the outer surface of the waist belt 14, the lower pocket panel 31, or some combination of these features. In the exemplary embodiment, a pair of flaps 112 are connected to the interior surface of the upper pocket panel 33, with each flap 112 being sewn or otherwise connected to the upper pocket panel 33 along a portion of the outer periphery thereof. Each flap 112 includes a free edge portion 114 extending over an approximate middle region of the upper pocket panel 33. The free edge portions 114 of the flaps 112 may overlap with each other and may include complementary fasteners (e.g., hook and loop fasteners) to facilitate selective engagement between the flaps 112. In particular, the flaps 112 may be disconnected to facilitate advancement of the second body 74 of the support frame 12 between the flaps 112 and the upper pocket panel 33. Once the second body 74 is received between the flaps 112 and the upper pocket panel 33, the free edge portions 114 may be connected to each other to effectively position the second body 74 with a first internal pocket collectively defined by the upper pocket panel 33 and the joined flaps 112. To effectuate the removal of the second body 74 from within this first internal pocket defined on the interior surface of the upper pocket panel 33, the free edge portions 114 may be disconnected from each other as allows the second body 74 to be drawn out from between the flaps 112 and the upper pocket panel 33.

The lower internal pocket panel 116 may at least partially define a second internal pocket. When the support frame 12 is deployed and operatively positioned within the pocket 35 to provide an infant support function, the second internal pocket is intended to accommodate at least a portion of the first body 72 of the support frame 12 (the second body 74 being concurrently accommodated by the first internal pocket) . As will be recognized, the simultaneous receipt of the first and

second bodies

72, 74 into respective ones of the first and second internal pockets when the support frame 12 is its deployed configuration within the pocket 35 results in the support frame 12 being effectively maintained in a position which maximizes the efficacy of the pocket assembly 20 to support the weight of an infant sitting thereon. When the support frame 12 is collapsed and simply stored within the pocket 35, the second internal pocket is intended to accommodate at least a portion of the second body 74 of the support frame 12. However, the first body 72 may alternatively be received in the first internal pocket when the support frame 12 is in the folded or collapsed configuration. When the support frame 12 is in the folded configuration, i.e., the second body 74 has already been removed from between the flaps 112 and the upper pocket panel 33, and has been folded toward the first body 72, the second body 74 may be advanced into the second internal pocket, with the first body 72 being retained within an elastic strap 118 coupled to the outer surface of the lower internal pocket panel 116.

With the basic structure of the carrier 10 having been described, the various operable configurations of the carrier 10 are discussed below. As will be recognized, use of the carrier 10 in each of its it available configurations will entail the placement (and adjustment) of the shoulder straps 18 over the wearer’s shoulders, in addition to the placement (and adjustment) of the waist belt 14 about the wearer’s waist. The structural features of the shoulder straps 18 and waist belt 14, including their various fastening and adjustment modalities, and are described above and are not repeated here. Instead, the following discussion is focused more of the relative orientations of the main body panel 16 and pocket assembly 20 when the carrier 10 is transitioned between its various available use modes.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 9, the infant carrier 10 may be configured for use in a first, lower support, wearing configuration, wherein the rigid support frame 12 is positioned so as to provide support beneath an infant seated in the carrier 10. In this configuration, the pocket 35 is expanded, and maintained in an expanded state, by attaching the pocket flap 39 to the main body panel 16 via the interconnection of the

snap fasteners

40, 41. The resultant operative coupling of the pocket flap 39 to the main body panel 16 causes the majority of the length of the upper edge portion of the lower pocket panel 31 to extend away (i.e., to be effectively separated from) from the waist belt 14. Furthermore, the rigid support frame 12 is positioned in the pocket 35 after being manipulated into its deployed position. In greater detail, the first and

second bodies

72, 74 are effectively positioned within respective ones of the first and second internal pockets as described above, the positioning within the first internal pocket involving the manipulation of the flaps 112 as also described above. Once the support frame 12 is so positioned within the first and second internal pockets, the first body 72 assumes a generally vertical orientation to extend along and adjacent to the waist belt 14. At the same time, the second body 74 assumes a slightly upwardly angled orientation relative to the waist belt 14 and, more particularly, the upper edge defined thereby.

As most easily seen in Figure 9, when the carrier 10 is configured for use in the first, lower support, wearing configuration, the engagement of the pocket flap 39 to the main body panel 16 via the interconnection of the

snap fasteners

40, 41 also effectively draws a lower portion of the main body panel 16 into overlapping relation to pocket assembly 20, and in particular to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the upper pocket panel 33 thereof. With these relative orientations of the main body panel 16 and pocket assembly 20, an infant may be positioned on and effectively supported by the pocket assembly 20 (having the support frame 12 deployed within the pocket 35 thereof) , while the infant’s back may be covered and supported by the main body panel 16. At the same time, the back of the infant’s head may also potentially be covered and supported by the deployed head flap 46. The side flaps 38 may also be unfolded and connected to the waist belt 14 to provide a wider seat area to support the infant. If a narrower seat is desired, the side flaps 38 may be connected to each other via the snap fasteners 48. The above-described overlap between the main body panel 16 and the pocket assembly 20 allows the main body panel 16 to provide some measure of cushioning between the infant’s bottom and the rigid second body 74 of the support frame 12. This cushioning effect may be bolstered by the upper pocket panel 33 alone or in potential combination with a further layer of padding optionally integrated therein.

With the rigid support frame 12 deployed and located in the pocket 35 of the pocket assembly 20, the form of the carrier 10 may be substantially retained while the infant is seated in the carrier 10. In other words, those regions of the carrier 10 collectively supporting the infant’s bottom do not necessarily conform to the infant placed in the carrier 10 to the same degree as conventional carriers. In this regard, the rigidity of the support frame 12 provides structural support to the carrier 10 that is not typically found in soft sided carriers and helps the carrier 10 avoid collapsing or contorting into an awkward, undesirable configuration. With much of the infant’s weight being directed into the pocket assembly 20 which is wedge-shaped with the support frame 12 being deployed within the pocket 35 thereof, the support frame 12, due it shape and resultant mechanical function arising from its manner of integration into pocket assembly 20, helps to distribute the infant’s weight into the waist belt 14, and hence the wearer’s waist. Wearer comfort is helped despite this weight transfer by the above-described slight concave configuration of the inner surface 76 of the first body 72. With much of the infant’s weight being transferred to the wearer’s waist via the pocket assembly 20 including the deployed support frame 12, less force is applied to the wearer’s shoulders via the shoulder straps 18 operatively coupled to the main body panel 16 which does not, in and of itself, have to support a large portion of the infant’s weight. The internal placement of the support frame 12 allows the carrier 10 to maintain the desirable appearance, and soft outer feel that is oftentimes desirable of infant carriers.

Referring now to Figure 10, the carrier 10 may be transitioned to a second wearing configuration, wherein the weight of the infant in the carrier 10 may be supported entirely by the fabric portion of the carrier 10, and independent of the support frame 12. In more detail, the support frame 12 may be either removed entirely from the pocket 35 or transitioned to its folded configuration, with the second body 74 being advanced into the second internal pocket defined by the lower internal pocket panel 116 and the first body being held by the strap 118 as described above. As previously explained, if the collapsed support frame 12 is stored in the pocket 35 in this manner, the above-described slight concave configuration of the outer surface 94 of the second body 74 now resting against the wearer may enhance wearer comfort. Removing or folding/storing the support frame 12 may allow the pocket 35 to be collapsed such that the snap fastener 43 connected to the lower pocket panel 31 may connected to the snap fastener 47 on the waist belt 14 to maintain the pocket 35 in its collapsed state. When the pocket 35 is in the collapsed state, the upper edge portion of the lower pocket panel 31 is moved toward, and perhaps against, the waist belt 14, and in the exemplary embodiment, toward a lower edge of the waist belt 14 as seen in Figure 10. The side flaps 38 may be unfolded and connected to the waist belt 14 to provide a wider seat area to support the infant. If a narrower seat is desired, the side flaps 38 may be connected to each other via the snap fasteners 48.

The second wearing configuration may provide a more conventional feel for a wearer and an infant, should that be desired. Along these lines, in this configuration, much of the infant’s weight is directed into a lower portion of the main body panel 16 and, due to its attachment to the waist belt 14, is further transferred into the waist belt 14 and hence the wearer’s waist. Thus, even in this configuration, reduced force is applied to the wearer’s shoulders via the shoulder straps 18 operatively coupled to the main body panel 16.

Referring now to Figure 11, the infant carrier 10 may additionally be selectively transitioned to a third wearing configuration, wherein much of the carrier 10 is folded into the pocket 35, as may be desirable when transporting the carrier 10. In the third wearing configuration, the shoulder straps 18 are removed from the wearer’s shoulders, while the waist belt 14 remains connected to the wearer. The pocket 35 is opened via the zipper 37, with the collapsed support frame 12 being stored within the pocket 35 in the above-described manner, or completely removed from the pocket 35. The shoulder straps 18, the main body panel 16, and the side flaps 38 are stuffed into the pocket 35 over the upper pocket panel 33. When this occurs, since the lower edge of the main body panel 16 is permanently attached to the upper edge of the waist belt 14, a portion of the main body panel 16 extends over and thus overlaps at least a portion of the exterior surface of the upper pocket panel 33 of the pocket assembly 20. In greater detail, a portion of the inner surface 32 of the main panel 16 defines an exposed, upwardly facing surface, with fastener strip 45 thereon being aligned with flap 39, such that the flap 39 may be folded onto the fastener strip 45 to prevent the stuffed portions of the main body panel 16, side flaps 38 and shoulder straps 18 from being inadvertently removed from the pocket 35 since the advancement of these parts of the carrier 10 into the pocket 35 prevents the zipper 37 from being closed. When the carrier 10 is in the third wearing configuration, the carrier 10 assumes a very compact configuration, such that an adult wearer may wear the carrier 10 around the wearer’s waist until the carrier 10 is needed for carrying an infant. Furthermore, when the carrier 10 is in the third wearing configuration, the adult wearer is free to pick up the infant and place the infant on the now stuffed pocket assembly 20 to obtain at least some support therefrom.

Although the figures show the carrier 10 in use in various front-carry positions (i.e., over the wearer’s chest or frontside) , it is contemplated that the various configurations described above may also be used in back-carry positions.

The particulars shown herein are by way of example only for purposes of illustrative discussion, and are not presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show any more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the different features of the various embodiments, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how these may be implemented in practice.

Claims

An infant carrier wearable by a user for carrying a infant, the infant carrier comprising:

a waist belt extensible about a waist of a user and having a belt attachment portion;

a pocket assembly coupled to the waist belt and including a lower pocket panel defining a pocket, a first attachment portion, and a second attachment portion;

a main body panel coupled to the waist belt and having a main body attachment portion;

a pair of shoulder straps extensible over the shoulders of the wearer and each operatively coupled to the main body panel; and

a rigid support frame having a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body;

the infant carrier being transitional between a first wearing configuration and a second wearing configuration,

in the first wearing configuration, the first attachment portion being connected to the main body attachment portion and the rigid support frame being positioned in the pocket with the first body extending adjacent the waist belt and the second body extending adjacent a region of the main body panel to provide support to an infant seated in the carrier,

in the second wearing configuration, the second attachment portion being connected to the belt attachment portion and the second body being positioned away from the region of the main body panel.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, wherein the infant carrier is additionally transitional to a third wearing configuration wherein at least a portion of the main body panel is received in the pocket.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper pocket panel attached to the waist belt and detachably connectable to the lower pocket panel.
The infant carrier recited in claim 3, further comprising at least one flap connected to the upper pocket panel, the second body being received between the at least one flap and the upper pocket panel when the infant carrier is in the first wearing configuration and the rigid support frame is positioned in the pocket.
The infant carrier recited in claim 3, further comprising a zipper connected to upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel, the zipper being configured to facilitate selective engagement between the upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion includes a flap connected to the lower pocket panel and selectively engageable with the main body attachment portion.
The infant carrier recited in claim 6, further comprising complementary fasteners on the flap and the main body attachment portion.
The infant carrier recited in claim 7, wherein the complementary fasteners include hook and loop fasteners.
The infant carrier recited in claim 7, wherein the complementary fasteners include snap fasteners.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second bodies includes a locking tab and the other of the first and second bodies includes a notch sized to receive the locking tab when the rigid support frame is in a deployed configuration.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of side flaps connected to respective, opposite side portions of the main body panel, each side flap being transitional between a folded configuration wherein a distal portion of the side flap is attached to the main body panel, and an extended configuration wherein the distal portion of the side flap is attached to the waist belt.
The infant carrier recited in claim 1, further comprising a head support movably coupled to the main body panel.
An infant carrier configured for use with a rigid support frame and wearable by a user for carrying an infant, the infant carrier comprising:

a waist belt extensible about a waist of a user and having a belt attachment portion;

a lower pocket panel having coupled to the waist belt and defining a pocket, the lower pocket panel including an upper edge portion;

a main body panel coupled to the waist belt and having a main body attachment portion;

a pair of shoulder straps extensible over the shoulders of the wearer and each operatively coupled to the main body panel; and

the infant carrier being transitional between a first wearing configuration and a second wearing configuration,

in the first wearing configuration, the pocket being arranged with an intermediate region of the upper edge portion extending away from the waist belt to configure the pocket to receive the rigid support frame;

in the second wearing configuration, the pocket being collapsed by moving the intermediate region of the upper edge portion closer to the waist belt as the infant carrier transitions from the first wearing configuration toward the second wearing configuration.
The infant carrier recited in claim 13, wherein the infant carrier is additionally transitional to a third wearing configuration wherein at least a portion of the main body panel is received in the pocket.
The infant carrier recited in claim 13, further comprising an upper pocket panel attached to the waist belt and detachably connectable to the lower pocket panel.
The infant carrier recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one flap connected to the upper pocket panel, the second body being received between the at least one flap and the upper pocket panel when the infant carrier is in the first wearing configuration and the rigid support frame is positioned in the pocket.
The infant carrier recited in claim 15, further comprising a zipper connected to upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel, the zipper being configured to facilitate selective engagement between the upper pocket panel and the lower pocket panel.
The infant carrier recited in claim 13, further comprising a flap connected to the lower pocket panel and selectively engageable with the main body attachment portion.
The infant carrier recited in claim 18, further comprising complementary fasteners on the flap and the main body attachment portion.
The infant carrier recited in claim 13, further comprising a pair of side flaps connected to respective, opposite side portions of the main body panel, each side flap being transitional between a folded configuration wherein a distal portion of the side flap is attached to the main body panel, and an extended configuration wherein the distal portion of the side flap is attached to the waist belt.