U.S. patent application number 12/157291 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for child carriers.
Invention is credited to Andrew Anthony Trainer.
Application Number | 20090302075 12/157291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41399370 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090302075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trainer; Andrew Anthony |
December 10, 2009 |
Child carriers
Abstract
A child carrier comprises a harness and a pouch. The harness is
designed to be worn by a person wishing to carry a child and the
pouch is designed to receive a child that the person wishes to
carry. The harness includes a hip belt, a frame mounted on the hip
belt and a load-transmitting fastener formation carried on or
forming part of the frame. The arrangement is such that, in use,
the majority of the weight of the pouch and its contents are
transferred via the frame to the hip belt and thus to the pelvic
region of the person wearing the harness.
Inventors: |
Trainer; Andrew Anthony;
(Bedford, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Melvin I. Stoltz, Esq.
51 Cherry Street
Milford
CT
06460
US
|
Family ID: |
41399370 |
Appl. No.: |
12/157291 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/160 |
International
Class: |
A47D 13/02 20060101
A47D013/02 |
Claims
1. A child carrier comprising a harness and a pouch, the harness
being designed to be worn by a person wishing to carry a child and
the pouch being designed to receive a child that the person wishes
to carry, the harness including a hip belt, a frame mounted on the
hip belt and a load-transmitting fastener formation carried on or
forming part of the frame, and the pouch having a load-transmitting
fastener formation that is engageable with the load-transmitting
fastener formation on the harness whereby, in use, the two
load-transmitting fastener formations can be interengaged such that
the majority of the weight of the pouch and its contents are
transferred via the frame to the hip belt and thus to the hips of
the person wearing the harness.
2. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, in which the pouch has
front and back surfaces on each of which there is a
load-transmitting fastener formation engageable with the
load-transmitting fastener formation on the harness.
3. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, in which the
load-transmitting fastener formation on the harness comprises a
socket
4. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame has a
configuration corresponding substantially to that of a downwardly
facing C.
5. A child carrier as claimed in claim 1, in which there are
fixings on the pouch engageable with fixings on the harness to
prevent the pouch and its contents moving sideways (relative to the
harness) and away from the harness/wearer.
6. A child carrier comprising a first part and a second part, the
first part being in the form of a harness designed to be worn by a
person carrying a child and the second part being designed to
receive a child that the person wishes to carry, the harness
including shoulder straps, a hip belt, a frame mounted on the hip
belt and a load-transmitting fastener formation arranged to
transmit any load that it receives to the frame, and the second
part of the child carrier including a load-transmitting fastener
formation that is engageable with the load-transmitting fastener
formation on the harness whereby, in use, the two load-transmitting
fastener formations can be inter-engaged such that the majority of
the weight of the second part of the child carrier and its contents
are transferred via the frame to the hip belt and thus to the
pelvic region of the person wearing the harness.
7. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, in which the
load-transmitting fastener formation on the harness comprises a
socket having an upwardly facing open mouth.
8. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, in which the hip belt is
formed with a series of pockets and in which the frame of the
harness has downwardly extending end portions selectively
engageable in the pockets of the hip belt.
9. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, in which fixings are
mounted on the shoulder straps of the harness and in which
complementary fixings are provided on the second part of the child
carrier whereby the complementary fixings on the second part of the
child carrier can be engaged with the fixings on the shoulder
straps to prevent the pouch and its contents moving sideways
(relative to the harness) and away from the harness/wearer.
10. A child carrier as claimed in claim 6, in which the second part
comprises a pouch having front and back surfaces on each of which
there is a load-transmitting formation engageable with the
load-transmitting formation on the harness.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to child carriers used on the front
of a parent/carer.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Children from newly-born to 3-4 years of age may be
transported in carriers strapped to either the front or the back of
the torso. "Front carriers", as they are called, place the child on
the chest of the person carrying them and "back carriers" place the
child on the back of the person carrying them.
[0003] Generally, front carriers are used until the child is around
12 months old, after which (as the child's weight increases) a back
carrier typically becomes the more comfortable choice.
[0004] Choosing ways of transporting a young child is a major issue
for parents and while there are numerous transporters available in
the market, they can be classified generally as follows: [0005] 1.
"Car seats" fit into a vehicle and are generally restrained by the
vehicle's fitted seat belts. [0006] 2. "Strollers" (or "Pushchairs"
and "Buggys" as they are also known) are wheeled seats into which a
child can be strapped and then pushed by the parent/carer. [0007]
3. "Front carriers" in which the child (generally between 1-12
months old) is strapped to the chest of the parent/carer. [0008] 4.
"Back carriers" in which the child (generally between 1-3 years
old) is seated within a frame (that is similar in principle to a
rucksack frame), which is then strapped to the back of the
parent/carer. [0009] 5. "Prams" are wheeled cots into which the
child is placed and then pushed by the parent/carer.
[0010] While popular in the past, prams have reduced significantly
in popularity as society has become more vehicle-dependent because
they are bulky and most designs do not collapse to fit the small
storage spaces available in the car trunk (or "boot") or on public
transport (buses, trains, planes, taxis etc).
[0011] Within each of the other four separate classes of child
transporter which are popular (namely, car seats, strollers, front
and back carriers) there are many different options from which a
parent/carer can choose. However, modern lifestyles are such that a
single class of transporter is generally unable to satisfy all the
requirements for child transportation which arise under all
circumstances. As a consequence, parents/carers find it necessary
to purchase transporters from two or more different classes, and
sometimes three or even all four if they have to cope with more
then one child at a time, or children of different ages.
[0012] Many individual day-to-day activities for a parent/carer
involve transporting a child in several different ways. Shopping,
for example, may involve driving to a shopping centre with the
child in a car seat and then transferring them to either a front or
back carrier, or to a stroller. Such transfers are reversed during
the return journey. While in the shopping centre the parent/carer
might wish to transfer the child from a stroller to their lap while
they stop for a rest, or from a front or back carrier to their lap,
or from a front carrier to a changing table for a diaper (or
"nappy") change.
[0013] Many parents/carers will have a car seat and a stroller.
Many others will have these plus either a front carrier or back
carrier, or even both these. The ease with which it is possible to
transfer a child from one class of transporter to another
("inter-modal transfer") can become a real issue for a
parent/carer. For example, the ease with which a child (either
asleep or awake) can be transferred from a car seat to a stroller,
or from a car seat to a front carrier, can become a factor in
determining whether they even buy a front carrier at all.
[0014] Manufacturers of front carriers have not so far addressed
this issue of inter-modal transfer satisfactorily, and it is an
object of the present invention to make such transfer much
simpler.
[0015] Manufacturers of the five common classes of child
transporter have also tended to focus on the issues of transporting
a child between the home and another destination, ignoring the fact
that it is also necessary to carry the child within the home, often
while simultaneously undertaking other tasks (washing, cooking,
cleaning, attending to the needs of another child etc). Frequently,
carriage within the home can involve extended periods of time,
while the child is not asleep and while it cannot simply be left
safely to sleep in a cot. The Invention also addresses this
need.
[0016] A well-designed front carrier offers a parent/carer distinct
advantages by comparison with a stroller because the child is able
to maintain eye-contact with the wearer and this assists bonding.
The child is with the parent/carer all of the time and is never
left unattended, yet the parent/carer is able to keep both hands
free for other tasks. Most importantly, the child is also kept up
high and away from risk.
[0017] A front carrier is a better and more suitable form of
transporter to use than a stroller because: [0018] the child is
held up high, away from the danger of swinging bags on crowded
pedestrian sidewalks and streets, away from the danger of misplaced
feet on an escalator, and safe from the unwanted attention of dogs
and other children; [0019] using a front carrier keeps the wearer's
hands free for other tasks; [0020] it eliminates the need to
collapse and fold up a stroller when getting onto and off public
transport, and the need to simultaneously carry the child, the
stroller and the shopping on to such transport, while potentially
also holding the hand of another child; [0021] it eliminates the
need for storage space to be provided for a stroller either when
parked or when collapsed; [0022] the parent/carer is able to
monitor the child's behaviour easily and more closely at all
times.
[0023] Despite these advantages which a front carrier is able to
offer over the use of a stroller, it is unfortunate that the
various difficulties experienced by parents/carers with the use of
the current designs of front carriers (which are described below)
have resulted in a situation where parents/carers are deterred from
using front carriers. Parents/carers are consequently greatly
inconvenienced and children are placed at greater risk.
[0024] Current designs of front child carriers all follow the same
general format. A reinforced pocket is used to carry the child and
to this pocket are attached a number of straps. Typically, two
straps are passed over the shoulders while another is passed around
the waist. The ends of the straps are clipped together, the child
is inserted into the pocket and the straps are adjusted to try and
bring the child to a comfortable position on the chest, taking into
account of the size of the wearer. Any differences between existing
front carrier products are limited to the branding, quality,
texture and colour of materials and fastenings used.
[0025] The child can be placed in the pocket so that it faces the
wearer (should the child need to sleep or is unable to support its
own head), or it can be placed in the pocket facing away from the
wearer (should the child desire the environmental stimulation and
is sufficiently developed to be able to safely support its own
head). To rotate the child from one position to the other requires
the wearer to remove the child from the pocket, turn them around
and then re-insert them into the pocket; a process which is
difficult, time-consuming and which some front carrier
manufacturers recommend the wearer be seated for.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical current design of front
carrier.
[0027] The pocket 1 into which the child is inserted generally has
three sets of straps attached to it. The shoulder straps 2 pass one
over each shoulder, becoming strap 4 which emerges under the arm
and under the breast. Typically, there is adjustment provided to
strap 4 in order to shorten or lengthen the strap, to position the
pocket at the correct height (it is generally recommended that,
with the child positioned correctly, the wearer should be able to
kiss the top of the child's head). Straps 2 are generally fixed to
the top of the pocket, and straps 4 clipped/fastened to the side of
the pocket.
[0028] Strap 3 passes around the waist and is generally
clipped/fastened to the side of the pocket below straps 4. It can
be adjusted to suit the wearer's waist size and is intended to sit
around the waist.
[0029] Once the carrier has been attached to the wearer, the child
is inserted into the pocket. This entails fastening and adjusting
additional straps around the child, to suit the child's size.
[0030] With the carrier in its correct position, the weight of the
child is taken mostly on straps 2. The function of strap 3 is
generally to prevent movement of the child/pocket both sideways and
away from the wearer during use.
[0031] One manufacturer has developed a two-part system, where the
harness and the pouch are separate items. A wearer can don the same
form of harness shown in FIG. 1 and then fix the child in its pouch
to the harness in such a way that the child faces towards the
wearer. This harness continues to transfer the majority of the
child's weight through straps 2 to the shoulders, and rotation of
the child (to face outwards) also continues to be an issue.
[0032] The limitations of this generic form of front carrier design
are as follows: [0033] 1. The child's weight is transferred mainly
or completely to the shoulders, leading to the transfer of load to
the small muscle groups in the shoulders and subsequently also to
the lower back--both are uncomfortable and unacceptable over
continuous periods. [0034] 2. The side straps (those which
circumnavigate the torso) cause discomfort to male and female
wearers alike. [0035] 3. The individual straps and buckles are
easily confused and twisted--a problem difficult to solve alone.
[0036] 4. Adjusting the straps to change the position of the child
(relative to the wearer), and to suit the size of the wearer is
difficult. [0037] 5. Putting on and adjusting the carrier is a
process that takes several minutes and is not one that can be
readily undertaken outside (for example, in the rain) or when
removing the child from a car seat, especially bearing in mind that
the child has to be subsequently inserted into the pocket after the
carrier is in position; a process that some manufacturers recommend
is done whilst the wearer is seated (but which is impracticable in
the driver's seat). [0038] 6. It is not a simple process to turn
the child round within the pocket; the child must be extracted,
rotated and re-inserted into the pocket (again, taking into account
the need for the parent/carer to be seated). [0039] 7. With the
child correctly positioned within the carrier, its feet hang
between the thighs when the wearer sits down, leading to an
inconvenient and undignified `knees-apart` posture (unsuitable for
confined spaces and some clothing types). [0040] 8. If the wearer
leans forward when seated, perhaps to pick up something dropped
onto the floor, the child is at risk of being squashed and/or
suffocated. [0041] 9. It is widely felt that this typical design
(and its lack of suitable adjustment) results in the child's
relative position (to the wearer's face) being too low, and as such
hinders bonding and communication between adult and child.
[0042] Due to the difficulty of donning this generic design of
carrier and inserting the child into the pocket, inter-modal
transfer from a car seat to a front carrier is more complicated
than many wearers are prepared to tolerate. Consequently, the
majority of inter-modal transfers are from a car seat to a
stroller, which is quicker and easier. However, this then leaves
the parent/carer with both hands occupied (needed to push and steer
the stroller), and potentially unable to simultaneously hold the
hand of another toddler and also steer a separate shopping cart (or
"trolley"). The child is then placed at risk in crowded shopping
aisles or walkways, and the parent/carer is unable to use
escalators without putting the child at further risk.
[0043] The child carrier of the present invention addresses all the
shortcomings of current front carrier designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0044] According to the present invention there is provided a front
child carrier which has two separate parts: [0045] the first part
is a harness which the wearer can put on and adjust at any time
prior to needing to transport the child; [0046] the second part is
a pouch which the child wears in much the same way as it would an
external garment. This second part incorporates a large hook plus
other fastenings on both the front and rear of the pouch, which
enable the child to be attached securely to the harness, facing
either towards or away from the wearer.
[0047] The harness preferably incorporates a simple frame having a
cooperating formation designed to receive either the hook on the
front of the pouch or the hook on the rear of the pouch. The frame
transfers the weight of the child from the hook to a padded hip
belt, and this transfers most of the child's weight directly to the
pelvic region, leaving only a minor part of the child's weight to
be taken by the shoulders.
[0048] The child carrier of the present invention overcomes all of
the limitations of current front carriers in the following ways
[0049] 1. The child's weight is transferred largely to the
hips/pelvis. This reduces considerably any load taken by the
shoulders (and subsequently, the lower back). The Invention is more
comfortable to wear and can be worn for longer periods of time,
making it suitable for longer outings and extended use within the
home. [0050] 2. The harness requires just the hip belt ends to be
clipped together, reducing to a minimum the overall number of
straps that must be clipped together. [0051] 3. The hip belt and
shoulder straps can be adjusted easily and comfortably. [0052] 4.
The harness can be donned before beginning a journey and can be
worn while driving. Alternatively, it can be donned quickly on
arrival, whilst standing. The child can be fitted into the pouch
before a journey begins and can travel in a car seat while wearing
it. On arrival at a destination, the child can be removed from the
car seat and clipped directly to the harness, making inter-modal
transfer very simple and quick. [0053] 5. The pouch/child is very
easily and quickly fastened to/unfastened from the harness/wearer.
This makes turning the child around to face either away
from/towards the wearer completely hassle-free. [0054] 6. If the
wearer wishes to sit down, the child can be simply and quickly
unhooked from the harness and be seated normally on the
parent/carer's lap. In the act of sitting down, while wearing the
harness, the distance between waist and shoulders shortens. This
causes the top of the load-bearing frame to pivot outwards (away
from the wearer) which automatically avoids the top of the frame
pressing upwards into the underside of the bosom/into the rib cage.
[0055] 7. If the wearer wishes to bend down to the floor or squeeze
through a narrow opening, the child/pouch can be very quickly and
easily detached from the harness, and then simply re-attached after
the manoeuvre has been completed. [0056] 8. It is envisaged that a
manufacturer of the Invention will develop a range of complementary
accessories, which will include a fabric cover designed to fasten
to a standard dining chair, which incorporates the same fixing
arrangement as the harness itself, and to which the child in its
pouch may be quickly attached after it has been detached from the
harness. In this way such an accessory can transform any dining
chair into a temporary and secure high-chair.
[0057] By transferring the majority of the load to the hips and
thereby improving comfort by comparison with current generic front
carrier designs, and by incorporating a simple hook arrangement on
the harness which makes it possible for the child to be simply and
quickly attached, detached and rotated, the Invention provides
significant advantages.
[0058] Firstly, a child can be carried for longer periods more
comfortably than with existing alternatives. This makes it possible
for a front carrier to be used as a real alternative to a stroller,
leaving the parent/carer's hands completely free for other tasks
(for example, carrying shopping, holding the hand of another child,
pushing a shopping cart) and with the child safely on the
parent/carer's chest and up out of harm's way. A wearer can use
public transport or a car without with the associated difficulties
of folding, carrying, stowing and unfolding a stroller
simultaneously.
[0059] Secondly, the improved comfort (through improved weight
transfer) makes it viable for a parent/carer to carry the child for
longer periods than they were previously able to (enabling, for
example, the parent/carer to carry the child on longer outings or
while the parent/carer is undertaking normal daily tasks around the
home).
[0060] Thirdly, it makes inter-modal transfer much simpler. For
example, a child can be transferred quickly from car seat to front
carrier, from harness to high-chair, from harness to lap, or
rotated to face away from/towards the parent/carer far easier than
previously possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] FIG. 1 shows the known form of child carrier referred to
above,
[0062] FIG. 2 shows the pouch and the harness of the child carrier
of the present invention, and
[0063] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the harness of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0064] The pouch 20 which contains the child is separate from the
harness 21 which is worn by the parent/carer. Wide shoulder straps
22 are linked to a wide and padded hip belt 8 by a back support 23
that is shown in FIG. 3. The shoulder straps 22 can be adjusted at
24. The harness 21 and the pouch 20 incorporate a large flat hook
5b and a corresponding socket 5a which clip together. The socket 5a
is part of the harness 21 and the hook 5b is affixed to the pouch
20.
[0065] The pouch 20 comprises front and back panels that define a
compartment within which a child can be placed and there are
openings through which the legs and the arms of the child can
extend. The pouch 20 has a hook 5b on both the front and the back
(to enable the child to face respectively towards or away from the
wearer of the harness 21). When one of the hooks 5b is inserted
into the socket 5a, it serves to transfer the weight of the pouch
20 and its contents, i.e. the child, to the harness 21.
[0066] The harness 21 and the pouch 20 also incorporate other
fixings 6a and 6b. The lugs 6b on the pouch 20 fit into the
quick-release latches 6a on the harness 21. The function of the
fixings 6a and 6b is to prevent the upper portion of the pouch 20
deforming and becoming detached from the harness under the movement
of the child and/or wearer. The quick-release latches 6a include
rotatable formations that can be moved between locking positions
(in which the lugs 6b cannot be separated from the quick-release
latches 6a) and release positions (in which the lugs 6b can readily
be separated from the quick-release latches 6a). The shoulder
straps 22, on which the quick-release latches 6a are mounted extend
downwardly below the quick-release latches 6a and are joined
together to form a front strap portion 25 that is connected to a
frame 7 adjacent the socket 5a.
[0067] The pouch 20 has lugs 6b on both the front and the back (to
enable the child to face respectively towards or away from the
wearer).
[0068] The socket 5a forms an integral part of the frame 7 and the
arrangement is such that the majority of the weight of the child is
transferred by the frame 7 to a hip belt 8 and through that
directly to the pelvic area of the wearer. The socket 5a may
alternatively be a separate component fixed to the centre of the
top of the frame 7. The ends of the frame 7 are formed with
longitudinally extending slits (as can be seen from FIG. 2) and the
ends of the frame 7 fit securely into pockets 9 around the hip belt
8. As can be seen from FIG. 2, there is a series of pockets 9
extending around the hip belt 8 to permit adjustment of the hip
belt 8 at 10 to suit different waist sizes.
[0069] The frame 7 has a horizontally extending main body portion,
at the centre of which the socket 5a is located, and downwardly
extending end portions such that the frame 7 as a whole has a
configuration similar to a downwardly facing C. The socket 5a has
an upwardly facing open mouth to receive the hook 5b, which
comprises a substantially flat plate that is so shaped that it is a
close fit in the socket 5a. When a pouch 20 containing a child is
attached to the harness 21, the majority of the weight of the child
is transferred via the hook 5b and the socket 5a to the frame 7 and
then to the hip belt 8.
[0070] The configuration of the pouch 20 can be adjusted from time
to time as the child grows. The adjustable strap at 11 accommodates
the child's height while adjustment at 12 accommodates growth in
the volume of the child's torso.
[0071] FIG. 3 illustrates the back of the harness. As can be seen,
the shoulder straps 22 are linked to the hip belt 8 by a back
support 23 which can contain an integral reinforcing support within
the lower back area, to ensure the transferred downward force
applied to hip belt 8 at pockets 9 is spread across the lower back,
and therefore prevents hip belt 8 from `twisting`.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 2, the frame 7 is in the form of a rigid
loop the ends of which fit into pockets 9 on the hip belt 8, with
fixings 5a and 5b being a hook 5b on the pouch 20 and socket 5a on
frame 7; and fixings 6a and 6b being lugs 6b on the pouch 20 that
fit into quick-release latches 6a on the shoulder straps 22.
[0073] In another embodiment, it is possible to replace the rigid
loop 7 with a triangular frame which incorporates the socket for
reception of a hook but also replaces buckle 10, in which case the
ends of the hip belt 8 may connect to this triangular frame, and be
adjusted, at the hips. Different forms of lugs and latches 6a and
6b may be used. The principles of transferring the majority of the
child's weight to the hips of the wearer of the harness, and the
ability to easily and quickly rotate the pouch/child will remain
and are of major importance.
[0074] In the inward-facing position, it is widely accepted that
the style of pouch 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is suitable for a child
that is more than one month old. In the outward-facing position,
this same pouch is suitable for a child sufficiently mature enough
to be able to support his/her own head (commonly recognised as
being between 3 and 6 months).
[0075] A pouch can be used which is in the form of a sling, to suit
a newly-born child. The child can lay in the sling either
horizontally or with its head slightly raised relative to its feet.
The sling is attached to the harness 21 by a fastening
corresponding to the hook 5b, and with the handles of the sling
attached to the upper part of the harness 21 using the same kind of
fixings as at 6b. This enables the harness 21 to be used
continuously from the birth of a baby.
[0076] The harness 21 and the pouch 20 can be made from
shower-proof, insulated padded materials, to suit winter use or
from lighter weight breathable fabrics to suit summer use or use in
a hot country. Either can be styled, coloured or patterned to suit
current vogue, or male/female and smart/casual/sporty fashions.
[0077] The back of the harness 21 can be fitted with a carrying
bag, which may be used to carry items such as creams, diapers,
feeding bottle, spare clothing etc for the child. This bag may be a
rucksack that clips to the existing harness. The centre portion of
the lower-back harness panel can also be removed to aid cooling to
suit designs for hotter climates.
[0078] The harness may be so designed that it is also the frame for
a back carrier, simultaneously enabling one child to be carried on
the back of the parent/carer and another on the front.
[0079] A complementary fabric panel incorporating fixings 5a and 6a
may be designed to fasten onto a normal dining chair and used to
hold a child in either a pouch or a sling temporarily, converting
the dining chair into a temporary `high chair`.
[0080] A sun shade may be provided, which may either be integral to
or attachable to pouch 20. This would serve to protect the child
from the damaging effects of the sun.
[0081] A complementary collapsible umbrella may also be provided
which includes a formation designed to fit into one of the pockets
9 of the hip belt 8 so as to shelter the child and wearer, while
continuing to leave the wearer's hands free for other tasks.
* * * * *