U.S. patent application number 12/445557 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for baby carrier.
This patent application is currently assigned to T-REX CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yasuhiko Sakanishi.
Application Number | 20100288802 12/445557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40885143 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288802 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakanishi; Yasuhiko |
November 18, 2010 |
BABY CARRIER
Abstract
A baby carrier 11, which is entirely formed to be ring-shaped of
a sheet-like member 16, comprises a wrapping portion 12 capable of
wrapping a baby/toddler, the wrapping portion 12 being formed by
folding the sheet-like member 16 along a middle part in a width
direction thereof to form a two-layer structure; and a shoulder
engageable portion 13 engageable with a shoulder of a wearer of the
baby carrier. A put-in/take-out permission portion 14A is provided
in a top part of the wrapping portion 12, the put-in/take-out
permission portion 14A being opened so as to allow the baby/toddler
to be put into, or taken out from, the wrapping portion 12; and a
contraction urging portion 15 is provided, in a put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14 located at an edge of the
put-in/take-out permission portion 14A, for urging the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 in a contracting
direction to hold the baby/toddler in the wrapping portion 12.
Inventors: |
Sakanishi; Yasuhiko;
(Osaka-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
TWO HOUSTON CENTER, 909 FANNIN, SUITE 3500
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Assignee: |
T-REX CO., LTD.
Osaka-shi, Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
40885143 |
Appl. No.: |
12/445557 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
January 16, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/050402 |
371 Date: |
July 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D 13/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/159 |
International
Class: |
A47D 13/02 20060101
A47D013/02 |
Claims
1. A baby carrier, which is entirely formed to be ring-shaped of a
sheet-like member, the baby carrier comprising: a wrapping portion
capable of wrapping a baby/toddler, the wrapping portion being
formed by folding the sheet-like member along a middle part in a
width direction thereof to form a two-layer structure; and a
shoulder engageable portion engageable with a shoulder of a wearer
of the baby carrier; wherein: a put-in/take-out permission portion
is provided in a top part of the wrapping portion, the
put-in/take-out permission portion being opened so as to allow the
baby/toddler to be put into, or taken out from, the wrapping
portion; and a contraction urging portion is provided, in a
put-in/take-out permission edge portion located at an edge of the
put-in/take-out permission portion, for urging the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion in a contracting direction to hold the
baby/toddler in the wrapping portion.
2. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the contraction
urging portion is formed by providing the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion with contraction urging means having a
higher level of stretchability than that of cloth used for the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
3. The baby carrier according to claim 2, wherein the contract
urging means is formed of an elastic linear member located along
the put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
4. The baby carrier according to claim 3, wherein: the elastic
linear member has a natural length shorter than a length of a
locating part of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion in
which the elastic linear member is to be located; and the elastic
linear member is fixed to the locating part in the state of being
stretched to the length of the locating part.
5. The baby carrier according to claim 4, wherein a tubular
accommodation portion for accommodating the elastic linear member
is formed in the put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
6. The baby carrier according to claim 5, wherein: the tubular
accommodation portion has an accommodating opening for
accommodating the elastic linear member; and at the accommodating
opening, a sealed and fixed portion is formed for sealing the
accommodating opening and fixing the elastic linear member to the
tubular accommodation portion.
7. The baby carrier according to claim 6, wherein: the sealed and
fixed portion is formed at each of both ends of the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion; and the sealed and fixed portion is formed
of an overlapped and sewn portion obtained by overlapping and
sewing and thus fixing the tubular accommodation portion together
with the elastic linear member accommodated therein.
8. The baby carrier according to claim 7, wherein an intermediate
position of the elastic linear member is fixed to the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a baby carrier usable for
holding a baby or a toddler.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The above-mentioned baby carrier can be worn in various
manners in accordance with the body size of the baby/toddler, the
physique of a wearer thereof (child care giver), the use or the
like. Owing to such a great convenience, the baby carrier is being
more and more widely used.
[0003] For example, one type of the baby carrier is a "toddler
holding belt" disclosed in patent document 1.
[0004] The "toddler holding belt" is obtained by folding an outer
cloth piece and an inner cloth piece into two and sewing the outer
cloth piece and the inner cloth piece at one position to form a
circular shape. The circular-shaped belt is hung on the shoulder,
and a toddler is held in a horizontal manner on a part of the belt
in a length direction thereof.
[0005] However, the "toddler holding belt" merely supports the baby
in the state where two pieces of cloth are folded into two and
extended in a width direction, and so has a risk of not being able
to stably holding the baby/toddler.
[0006] For example, when the child care giver wearing the "toddler
holding belt", for example, bends forward or when the toddler
moves, there is a risk that, for example, ends of the flexible
outer and inner cloth pieces in the width direction are rolled up,
and as a result, the baby/toddler falls down.
[0007] This is not comfortable to wear for the child care giver
either because he/she always needs to hold the toddler by, for
example, putting his/her hand on the belt so that the baby/toddler
is in close contact with his/her body.
[0008] [Patent Document 1]
[0009] Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 5-20665
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has an object of providing a baby
carrier which guarantees the safety of a baby/toddler and comfort
in wearing and is easy to use for a wearer thereof.
[0011] A baby carrier according to the present invention is
entirely formed to be ring-shaped of a sheet-like member, and
comprises a wrapping portion capable of wrapping a baby/toddler,
the wrapping portion being formed by folding the sheet-like member
along a middle part in a width direction thereof to form a
two-layer structure; and a shoulder engageable portion engageable
with a shoulder of a wearer of the baby carrier. A put-in/take-out
permission portion is provided in a top part of the wrapping
portion, the put-in/take-out permission portion being opened so as
to allow the baby/toddler to be put into, or taken out from, the
wrapping portion; and a contraction urging portion is provided, in
a put-in/take-out permission edge portion located at an edge of the
put-in/take-out permission portion (top end of the wrapping
portion), for urging the put-in/take-out permission edge portion in
a contracting direction to hold the baby/toddler in the wrapping
portion.
[0012] Owing to the above-described structure, while the baby is
wrapped in the wrapping portion, the put-in/take-out permission
edge portion can be urged in the contracting direction to hold the
baby/toddler in the wrapping portion. Therefore, the safety and
comfort of the baby can be guaranteed.
[0013] In addition, the put-in/take-out permission portion can be
easily opened by extending the put-in/take-out permission edge
portion against the urging force in the contracting direction.
Therefore, the baby/toddler can be easily put into, or taken out
from, the wrapping portion. Thus, the baby carrier according to the
present invention is easy to use.
[0014] The properties of the material used for the cloth of the
sheet-like member are not specifically limited specific; for
example, either a stretchable or non-stretchable material is
usable, as long as the material is sufficiently strong to hold the
baby while the wearer wears the baby carrier obliquely hung from
one shoulder.
[0015] The sheet-like member may be formed of a knit or woven
material.
[0016] In the specification, the expression "hold the baby/toddler
in the wrapping portion" means to hold the baby/toddler in the
wrapping portion so that the baby baby/toddler does not fall out
from the put-in/take-out permission portion, unless otherwise
specified.
[0017] The contraction urging portion may be formed of a cloth
having a level of stretchability capable of urging the cloth itself
of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion in the contracting
direction to hold the baby/toddler in the wrapping portion. In one
embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the
contraction urging portion is formed by providing the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion with contraction urging
means having a higher level of stretchability than that of cloth
used for the put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
[0018] Owing to the above-described structure, the contraction
urging portion is formed in the put-in/take-out permission edge
portion. Therefore, the cloth itself of the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion does not need to have stretchability. For
this reason, the wrapping portion including the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion may be formed of one type of material
having a low level of stretchability. As a result, the baby carrier
can be produced easily.
[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the contract
urging means may be formed of an elastic linear member located
along the put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
[0020] Owing to the above-described structure, the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion is not bulky and can be easily urged in the
contracting direction. In addition, the elastic linear member is
extendable and contractable in the entire length thereof, and so
can urge the put-in/take-out permission edge portion in the
contracting direction to certainly prevent the baby/toddler in the
wrapping portion from falling down.
[0021] The elastic linear member may be any linear member, with no
specific limitation, which has a higher level of elasticity than
that of the cloth of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion;
and may be, for example, a rubber string, a rubber band, a coil
band or the like.
[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
linear member may have a natural length shorter than a length of a
locating part of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion in
which the elastic linear member is to be located; and the elastic
linear member may be fixed to the locating part in the state of
being stretched to the length of the locating part.
[0023] Owing to the above-described structure, the contraction
urging portion having an appropriate urging force required to hold
the baby/toddler in the wrapping portion can be realized easily and
with a simple structure.
[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, a tubular
accommodation portion for accommodating the elastic linear member
may be formed in the put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
[0025] Owing to the above-described structure, the elastic linear
member can be accommodated in the accommodation portion described
above. This prevents the elastic linear member from disturbing the
work of putting the baby/toddler into, or taking the baby/toddler
out from, the wrapping portion and also allows the accommodation
portion to appear neat.
[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tubular
accommodation portion may have an accommodating opening for
accommodating the elastic linear member; and at the accommodating
opening, a sealed and fixed portion may be formed for sealing the
accommodating opening and fixing the elastic linear member to the
tubular accommodation portion.
[0027] Owing to the above-described structure, the accommodating
opening can be sealed and the elastic linear member can be strongly
attached to the tubular accommodation portion. In addition, the
sealed and fixed portion formed at the accommodating opening can
act both to seal the accommodating opening and to fix the elastic
linear member to the tubular accommodation portion.
[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealed and
fixed portion may be formed at each of both ends of the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion; and the sealed and fixed
portion may be formed of an overlapped and sewn portion obtained by
overlapping and sewing and thus fixing the tubular accommodation
portion together with the elastic linear member accommodated
therein.
[0029] By forming the sealed and fixed portion of the overlapped
and sewn portion, the sealed and fixed portion can be fixed more
strongly than by, for example, merely sewing the cloth. Even when
the elastic linear member is extended, the sealed and fixed portion
can be firmly held.
[0030] Moreover, by forming the sealed and fixed portion at each of
both ends of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion, the
elastic linear member can be held at both ends thereof in a length
direction. Therefore, the elastic linear member can be held without
spoiling the superb elasticity thereof
[0031] The overlapped and sewn portion may be obtained by, for
example, forming a folded part (tucked part) of a plurality of
layers including the elastic linear member and sewing and thus
fixing the folded part.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, an intermediate
position of the elastic linear member may be fixed to the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion.
[0033] Owing to the above-described structure, even when the
baby/toddler dynamically moves, the elastic linear member
accommodated in the tubular accommodation portion can be prevented
from being twisted.
[0034] In addition, such a situation can be prevented that the
rubber string partially extended is lopsided in a part of the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion as a result of, for
example, a part of the rubber string in a length direction being
caught by the tubular accommodation portion when the rubber string
is contracted.
[0035] Therefore, the elastic linear member can be guaranteed to be
elastic entirely uniformly, and thus the entirety of the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion can firmly hold the
baby/toddler so as not to fall out.
[0036] By preventing the elastic linear member from being lopsided
in a part of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion, the
put-in/take-out permission edge can be prevented from being
relaxed. This also provides the effects of preventing the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion from disturbing the other
operations and allowing the put-in/take-out permission edge portion
to appear neat.
[0037] Means for fixing the intermediate position of the elastic
linear member to the put-in/take-out permission edge portion is not
limited to anything specific. For example, the intermediate
position is preferably fixed by sewing.
[0038] Where the intermediate position is fixed by sewing, the
elastic linear member can be strongly fixed to the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion and the fixed part is not bulky.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a state where a baby carrier according to this
embodiment is used.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a front view of a baby wrapping member according
to this embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 3 provides a plan view (FIG. 3(a)) and a bottom view
(FIG. 3(b)) of the baby carrier according to this embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 4 provides a left side view (FIG. 4(a)) and a right
side view (FIG. 4(b)) of the baby carrier according to this
embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 4(a).
[0044] FIG. 6 is a front view of the baby carrier according to this
embodiment in a spread state.
[0045] FIG. 7 provides a plan view (FIG. 7(a)) and a bottom view
(FIG. 7(b)) of the baby carrier according to this embodiment in the
spread state.
[0046] FIG. 8 is a side view of the baby carrier according to this
embodiment in the spread state.
[0047] FIG. 9 is provided to explain a production method of the
baby carrier according to this embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 10 is provided to explain the production method of the
baby carrier according to this embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 11 is provided to explain the production method of the
baby carrier according to this embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 12 is provided to explain the production method of the
baby carrier according to this embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 13 shows a structure of the baby carrier according to
this embodiment.
[0052] FIG. 14 shows a state where the baby carrier according to
this embodiment is used.
[0053] FIG. 15 shows how the baby carrier according to this
embodiment functions.
[0054] FIG. 16 shows how the baby carrier according to this
embodiment functions.
[0055] FIG. 17 shows a state where the baby carrier according to
this embodiment is used.
[0056] FIG. 18 shows how the baby carrier according to this
embodiment functions.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0057] 11 Baby carrier
[0058] 12 Wrapping portion
[0059] 13 Shoulder engageable portion
[0060] 14A Put-in/take-out permission portion
[0061] 14 Put-in/take-out permission edge portion
[0062] 15 Rubber string
[0063] 16 Sheet-like member
[0064] 25 Tubular accommodation portion
[0065] 26 Accommodating opening
[0066] 27 Overlapped, sewn and fixed portion
[0067] 28 Sewn and fixed portion
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0068] A baby carrier 11 in this embodiment will be described with
reference to the figures.
[0069] FIG. 1 shows a baby carrier 11 used by a child care giver to
hold a baby in a so-called "cradle" manner.
[0070] The baby carrier 11 includes a wrapping portion 12 capable
of wrapping a baby and a shoulder engageable portion 13 engageable
with a shoulder of the child care giver. The baby carrier 11
further includes a put-in/take-out permission portion 14A which is
located in a top part of the wrapping portion 12 and is opened so
as to allow the baby to be put into, or taken our from, the
wrapping portion 12. The put-in/take-out permission portion 14A has
a put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 along an edge thereof
(top end of the wrapping portion 12). In the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14, a rubber string 15 is provided for
urging the put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 in a
contracting direction to hold the baby in the wrapping portion
12.
[0071] In more detail, the baby carrier 11 is formed as follows as
shown in FIG. 2 through FIG. 5. The entirety of the baby carrier 11
is formed of one sheet-like knit member 16 having a low level of
stretchability. The sheet-like member 16 is formed to be
ring-shaped, and is folded at a middle part in a width direction
thereof so as to be have a two-layer structure. As shown in FIG. 5,
the baby carrier 11 has a through-hole B inside the ring-shaped
(tubular) sheet-like member 16 in the two-layer structure, and has
openings A on both sides of the through-hole B along the
through-hole B.
[0072] FIG. 2 through FIG. 5 each show the baby carrier 11 having
the two-layer structure as described above. FIG. 2 is a front view
or a rear view of the baby carrier 1. FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are a plan
view and a bottom view of the baby carrier 11, respectively. FIGS.
4(a) and (b) are a left side view and a right side view of the baby
carrier 11, respectively. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken
along line A-A in FIG. 4(a) in which a part thereof is shown
enlarged.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the shoulder
engageable portion 13 is formed in a part of the baby carrier 11
(the part in a circumferential direction) so as to have a smaller
width than the remaining part, so that when the child care giver
wears the baby carrier 11 obliquely hung from one shoulder, the
shoulder engageable portion 13 is engageable with the shoulder.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the shoulder engageable portion 13
has a shoulder engagement sewing line 21 along a width direction
thereof. The shoulder engagement sewing line 21 is obtained as a
result of sewing and fixing together two ends of the sheet-like
member 16.
[0075] The shoulder engagement sewing line 21 may be optionally
stitched or piped so as to reinforce the shoulder engageable
portion 13, which is likely to be subjected to a load.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the wrapping portion 12
includes a part corresponding to a front bodice and a part
corresponding to a back bodice of the child care giver when he/she
wears the baby carrier 11 obliquely hung from one shoulder. The
part corresponding to the front bodice and the part corresponding
to the back bodice are made so as to have a greater width than the
remaining part in the circumferential direction. Both of these
parts are sufficiently large to wrap and hold the baby/toddler.
[0077] Portions of the baby carrier 11 between the shoulder
engageable portion 13 and the wrapping portion 12 in the
circumferential direction are formed so as to have a width
gradually decreasing toward the shoulder engageable portion 13 from
the wrapping portion 12.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the baby carrier 11 has a
fold sewing line 22 along the folded part at which the wrapping
part 16 is folded to have the two-layer structure (in FIG. 1, the
left side of the baby carrier 11) although the fold sewing line 22
is not formed in the wrapping portion 12.
[0079] Like the shoulder engagement sewing line 21, the fold sewing
line 22 may be optionally stitched or piped so as to be reinforced
and also to keep the shape of the folded sheet-like member 16
having the two-layer structure.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, when the baby carrier
11 is spread into one layer from the two-layer structure, portions
on both sides are symmetrical with respect to the middle part in
the width direction of the sheet-like member 16 including the fold
sewing line 22.
[0081] FIG. 6 through FIG. 8 each show the baby carrier 11 in a
spread state. FIG. 6 is a front view or a rear view of the baby
carrier 11. FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are a plan view and a bottom view of
the baby carrier 11, respectively. FIG. 8 is a right side view or a
left side view of the baby carrier 11.
[0082] For use, the baby carrier 11 in the spread state shown in
FIG. 6 through FIG. 8 is folded as shown in FIG. 2 through FIG. 5
along the middle part in a width direction, so that the portions on
one side and the portions on the other wide overlap each other in
the entirety of the circumferential direction thereof.
[0083] Regardless of whether the baby carrier 11 is folded such
that the portions on one side is outer to the portions on the other
side or the baby carrier 11 is folded such that the portions on one
side is inner to the portions on the other side, the same two-layer
structure is provided. Therefore, the baby carrier 11 may be folded
such that the portions on one side is either outer or inner to the
portions on the other side.
[0084] Here, the outer part of the sheet-like member 16 of the
two-layer structure is set as an outer cloth 16o and the inner part
thereof is set as an inner cloth 16i.
[0085] The put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 is formed as
each of an outer put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o
located at a top end of the outer cloth 16o in the wrapping portion
12 and an inner put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14i located
at a top end of the inner cloth 16i in the wrapping portion 12.
[0086] Each put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 has a
tubular accommodation portion 25 along a length direction thereof,
and the rubber string 15 is accommodated in the tubular
accommodation portion 25 (see the partial enlarged view of FIG.
5).
[0087] The rubber string 15 is formed of an elastic material having
a higher level of stretchability (elasticity) than that of the
cloth used for the sheet-like member 16, and has a natural length
shorter than the entire length of the put-in/take-out permission
edge portion 14.
[0088] Inside the tubular accommodation portion 25, the rubber
string 15 is stretched to a length corresponding to the entire
length of the put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 and is
integrally fixed to, and integrated with, the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14 and the tubular accommodation portion 25
in this stretched state. In this manner, the rubber string 15 is
located through the entire length of the put-in/take-out permission
edge portion 14.
[0089] How the rubber string 15 is fixed to the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14 and the tubular accommodation portion 25
will be described in detail.
[0090] Both ends of the rubber string 15 in a length direction
thereof are each fixed by an overlapped, sewn and fixed portion 27,
and an intermediate position of the rubber string 15 is fixed by a
sewn and fixed portion 28.
[0091] The overlapped, sewn and fixed portion 27 is formed as
follows as shown in an enlarged view of an important part in FIG.
4(a). At each of the length-direction ends of each put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14, the put-in/take-out permission edge
portion 14 and the tubular accommodation portion 25 are overlapped
and folded together with the rubber string 15 accommodated in the
tubular accommodation portion 25 to form an overlapping part
(tucked part), and the overlapping part is sewn and fixed.
[0092] The sewn and fixed portion 28 is formed at, for example,
each of two intermediate positions which equally divide the length
of the rubber string 15 into three. Each sewn and fixed portion 28
is formed by sewing and fixing such a position of the rubber string
15 to the put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 and the
tubular accommodation portion 25.
[0093] Owing to the above-described structure, the rubber string 15
urges the put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 in the
contracting direction. Therefore, the rubber string 15 is
contracted together with the put-in/take-out permission edge
portion 14 and the tubular accommodation portion 25.
[0094] Now, with reference to FIG. 9 through FIG. 12, an example of
a production method of the baby carrier 11 described above will be
described regarding each step.
[0095] (Step 1) As shown in FIG. 9(a), one sheet-like member 16
formed of a knit material is made into a rectangular shape. The
sheet-like member 16 can be formed into a rectangular shape by
means of, for example, cutting or sewing. Where the means of sewing
is used, rib knitting (rubber knitting), both-sided knitting
(interlock knitting), plain knitting, latitude knitting such as
circular knitting, longitude knitting, or a combination thereof is
usable.
[0096] The rectangular sheet-like member 16 includes a hollow
portion 17 along both ends thereof in the width direction which can
accommodate the rubber string 15.
[0097] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9(a-1) and (a-2), the hollow
portion 17 is formed by knitting each width-direction end part, of
the sheet-like member 16, having a predetermined width, such that
one knit surface 16A and the other knit surface 16B form a hollow
part so as not to contact each other, i.e., so as to be separable
from each other.
[0098] FIGS. 9(a-1) and (a-2) are respectively an enlarged
cross-sectional view of FIG. 9(a) taken along line A-A and an
enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 9(a) taken along line
B-B.
[0099] (Step 2) As shown in FIG. 9(b), the sheet-like member 16 is
formed to be ring-shaped (tubular) by sewing together ends thereof
in a longitudinal direction.
[0100] At this stage, the shoulder engagement sewing line 21 can be
formed along the part at which the longitudinal-direction ends are
sewn together.
[0101] (Step 3) The sheet-like member 16 is folded along a middle
part 18 (middle part in the width direction) represented in FIG.
9(b) by the phantom line (middle part in the up-down direction in
FIG. 9(b)).
[0102] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10(c), a bottom half below
the width-direction middle part (middle part in the up-down
direction in the figure) is folded inside or outside a top half
above the middle part to form a two-layer structure having the
outer cloth 16o and the inner cloth 16i.
[0103] As a result, as shown in FIG. 10(c-1), the folded part (the
above-mentioned middle part 18) is located at a bottom end of the
two-layer sheet-like member 16, and the hollow part 17 along the
width-direction ends is located at a top end of the sheet-like
member 16.
[0104] FIG. 10(c-1) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.
10(c) taken along line C-C.
[0105] (Step 4) As shown in FIG. 10(d), a part of the folded part
18 of the sheet-like member 16 is cut off along cut line C
represented by the one-dot chain line in the figure.
[0106] Specifically, a part in the circumferential direction of the
folded part 18 (bottom end circumference) is cut off, such that cut
line C forms an arc inclined at, for example, about 30 degrees,
with respect to the bottom end circumference.
[0107] (Step 5) As shown in FIG. 10(e), the part of the folded part
18 which is cut in step (4) is sewn. By this sewing step, the fold
sewing line 22 can be formed.
[0108] (Step 6) As shown in FIG. 10(f), a part of each hollow
portion 17 along the top end circumference of the knit sheet-like
member 16, the part not corresponding to the fold sewing line 22,
is set as the tubular accommodation portion 25 capable of
accommodating the rubber string 15. At each of length-direction
ends of the tubular accommodation portion 25, a slit-like
accommodating opening 26, through which the rubber string 15 can be
inserted to be accommodated in the tubular accommodation portion 25
is formed.
[0109] As shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 10(f) and FIG.
10(f-1), the accommodating opening 26 is formed in both of the
inner cloth 16i and the outer cloth 16o.
[0110] FIG. 10(f-1) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.
10(f) taken along line D-D, namely, a cross-sectional view of the
cut part of the top end circumference of the sheet-like member 16
at which the accommodating openings 26 are formed.
[0111] The tubular accommodation portion 25 is provided as each of
an outer tubular accommodation portion 25o located on the outer
cloth 16o and an inner tubular accommodation portion 25i located on
the inner cloth 16i.
[0112] A part of the sheet-like member 16 in the circumferential
direction, the part not corresponding to the fold sewing line 22,
corresponds to the wrapping portion 12.
[0113] (Step 7) As shown in FIG. 11(g), two rubber strings 15 are
respectively accommodated in the tubular accommodation portions
25.
[0114] Specifically, among the two rubber strings 15, one rubber
string 15 is inserted through the accommodation opening 26 on the
outer cloth 16o to be accommodated in the outer tubular
accommodation portion 25o, and the other rubber string 15 is
inserted through the accommodation opening 26 on the inner cloth
16i to be accommodated in the inner tubular accommodation portion
25i.
[0115] As a result, the rubber strings 15 can be accommodated in
the tubular accommodation portions 25 as shown in FIGS. 11(h),
(h-1), (h-2) and (h-3).
[0116] FIG. 11(h-1) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.
11(h) taken along line E-E. FIGS. 11(h-2) and (h-3) are schematic
views showing the arc-shaped tubular accommodation portions 25 in
FIG. 11(h) in a planar, spread state. FIG. 11(h-2) is provided to
illustrate a cross-section in a thickness direction of the tubular
accommodation portions 25 of the sheet-like member 16. FIG. 11(h-3)
is a partially cut view provided to explain the rubber string 15
accommodated in the tubular accommodation portion 25.
[0117] (Step 8) As shown in FIGS. 11(i-1) and (i-2), the rubber
strings 15 are stretched in the tubular accommodation portions 25
to reach both of the length-direction ends of the put-in/take-out
permission edge portions 14.
[0118] (Step 9) As shown in FIGS. 12(j-1) and (j-2), each of the
length-direction ends of the put-in/take-out permission edge
portions 14 is overlapped and folded together with the tubular
accommodation portion 25 and the rubber string 15 accommodated in
the accommodation portion 25. The overlapped and folded part
(tucked part) is sewn and fixed. Thus, the overlapped, sewn and
fixed portion 27 is formed at each of both the length-direction
ends of each accommodation portion 25.
[0119] (Step 10) As shown in FIGS. 12(k-1) and (k-2), at an
intermediate position of each rubber string 15 in the length
direction, a sewn and fixed portion 28 is formed for sewing and
fixing the rubber string 15 to the accommodation portion 25 and the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14. The sewn and fixed
portion 28 is formed at each of two intermediate positions of each
rubber string 15 which equally divide the length (L) of the rubber
string 15 into three (L/3).
[0120] As a result of carrying out the steps (1) through (10), the
baby carrier 11 shown in FIG. 13(l) can be formed. At this stage,
the baby carrier 11 is in the state where the put-in/take-out
permission edge portions 14 are contracted as shown in FIG.
13(l-1), the partial enlarged view of FIG. 13(l-1) and FIG.
13(l-2).
[0121] Using the baby carrier 11, the child care giver can hold a
baby in the above-mentioned "cradle" manner as well as in a
"forward directed" manner shown in FIG. 14 in which the baby is
directed forward in the wrapping portion 12 or in a "facing" manner
(not shown) in which the baby faces the child care giver.
[0122] Where the baby is held in the "forward directed" manner or
the "facing" manner, like where the baby is held in the "cradle"
manner, substantially the entire body of the baby can be wrapped in
the wrapping portion 12 and also the baby can be held so as not to
fall out from the wrapping portion 12 owing to the use of the
urging force of the rubber strings 15 included in the
put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14.
[0123] Regardless of whether the baby is held in the "cradle"
manner, the "forward directed" manner or the "facing" manner, the
baby can be put into, or taken out from, the wrapping portion 12 by
substantially the same procedure.
[0124] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 15, a procedure of
putting the baby into, or taking the baby out from, the wrapping
portion 12 will be described in the case where, for example, the
baby is held in the "forward directed" manner shown in FIG. 14.
[0125] First, the baby is put into the wrapping portion 12 as
follows. The child care giver, while wearing the baby carrier 11
obliquely hung from one shoulder, holds only the outer
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o or the vicinity thereof
with one hand. In this state, the child care giver pulls the outer
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o or the vicinity thereof
outward against the urging force of the rubber string 15 included
in the outer put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o to
separate the outer put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o from
the inner put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14i. Thus, the
put-in/take-out permission portion 14A can be opened between the
outer put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o and the inner
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14i.
[0126] The child care giver holds and puts the baby to the wrapping
portion 12 with the other hand through the put-in/take-out
permission portion 14A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the baby
can be accommodated in the wrapping portion 12.
[0127] The child care giver gradually alleviates the force of
pulling the outer put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o
outward and releases the outer put-in/take-out permission edge
portion 14o from his/her hand. Thus, the put-in/take-out permission
edge portion 14 contract by the urging force of the rubber string
15. As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, the baby can be wrapped in
the wrapping portion 12 and held by the put-in/take-out permission
edge portions 14.
[0128] The baby can be taken out from the wrapping portion 12 as
follows. Like in the case of putting the baby into the wrapping
portion 12, the child care giver pulls only the outer
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14o outward against the
urging force of the rubber string 15 with one hand to open the
put-in/take-out permission portion 14A, and holds and pulls the
baby out from the wrapping portion 12 with the other hand (not
shown).
[0129] Using the baby carrier 11, the child care giver may also
hold the baby in a manner called "vertical and facing" manner as
shown in FIG. 17 as well as the above-mentioned manners.
[0130] In the case where the baby is held in the "vertical and
facing" manner, the inner cloth 16i of the wrapping portion 12 is
not located between the child care giver and the baby unlike in the
case of the "cradle" manner, but an overlapped assembly of the
outer cloth 16o and the inner cloth 16i wraps the baby from his/her
back.
[0131] In this state, the wrapping portion 12 can support the baby
while the bottom part thereof is curved by the weight of the baby
in compliance with the buttocks of the baby. At the same time, the
rubber strings 15 included in both of the outer put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14o and the inner put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14i urge the baby carrier 11 in the
contracting direction and thus firmly support the baby from his/her
back.
[0132] Accordingly, even for holding the baby in the "vertical and
facing" manner, like for holding the baby in the other manners, the
baby carrier 11 can hold the baby without letting the baby in the
wrapping portion 12 to fall out from the put-in/take-out permission
portion 14A even if, for example, the child care giver releases the
wrapping portion 12 from his/her hand or the baby puts his/her
weight toward the back.
[0133] In the case of holding the baby in the "vertical and facing"
manner, the put-in/take-out permission portion 14A through which
the baby is put into, and taken our from, the wrapping portion 12
corresponds to the opening formed between the front bodice of the
child care giver and the put-in/take-out permission edge portions
14.
[0134] In the case of holding the baby in the "vertical and facing"
manner, the baby can be put into, or taken out from, the wrapping
portion 12 as follows. As shown in FIG. 18, the child care giver
holds both of the inner put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14i
or the vicinity thereof and the outer put-in/take-out permission
edge portion 14o or the vicinity thereof in an overlapped state and
pulls the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 against the
urging force of the rubber strings 15 included therein to open the
put-in/take-out permission portion 14A.
[0135] Hereinafter, the functions and effects of the baby carrier
11 described above will be explained.
[0136] As described above, use of the baby carrier 11 allows the
child care giver to hold the baby/toddler in various manners. In
whichever manner the baby may be held among the above-described
manners, the baby carrier 11 can guarantee the comfort of both of
the baby and the child care giver and the safety of the baby.
[0137] In more detail, the wrapping portion 12 is formed to be like
a bag including the outer cloth 16o, the inner cloth 16i and the
folding part, and is sufficiently large to wrap the baby. Owing to
the wrapping portion 12 having such a structure, even where the
wrapping portion 12 is formed of a cloth having a low level of
stretchability, the baby can be wrapped comfortably (see FIG.
15).
[0138] As described above, the baby carrier 11 further includes the
elastic rubber strings 15 in the put-in/take-out permission edge
portions 14 in the state where the rubber strings 15 having the
natural length thereof are urged in the contracting direction.
Therefore, the urging force of the rubber strings 15 can always act
as the force to hold the baby.
[0139] The length of the rubber strings 15 is changed by extension
or contraction in accordance with, for example, the manner of
holding the baby, the physique of the baby, and the posture and
motion of the baby in the wrapping portion 12. In accordance with
the change in the length, the urging force of the rubber strings 15
is also changed. Therefore, the baby in the wrapping portion 12 can
be held with an appropriate holding force.
[0140] Especially while the baby is held in the "cradle" manner,
the back of the baby in the wrapping portion 12 leans on the outer
cloth 16o of the wrapping portion 12 (see FIG. 1). Even with such a
posture, the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 can be
wrung tight by the urging force of the rubber strings 15 so that
the put-in/take-out permission portion 14A is not inadvertently
opened. Thus, the baby can be held firmly so as not to fall out
from the put-in/take-out permission portion 14A.
[0141] An urging force F of the rubber strings 15 in the
contracting direction of the put-in/take-out permission edge
portions 14 (holding force F in FIG. 13(l-2)) can be obtained as
follows easily and with a simple structure. The rubber strings 15
are formed to have a natural length shorter than the length of the
parts of the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 in which
the rubber strings 15 are to be located, and the rubber strings 15
are fixed to the parts in a stretched state.
[0142] Since the rubber strings 15 are provided in the
put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 in this manner, the
put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 of the baby carrier 11
are not bulky unlike a structure in which the put-in/take-out
permission portion 14A is fixed to be size-adjustable by use of
fixing means such as a belt or a plurality of buckles located in
the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14.
[0143] In addition, since the rubber strings 15 are accommodated in
the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14, the rubber strings
15 do not disturb the motion of putting the baby/toddler into, or
taking the baby/toddler out from, the wrapping portion 12, and also
allow the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 to appear
neat.
[0144] Owing to the above-described structure, the motion of
putting the baby into, or taking the baby out from, the wrapping
portion 12 does not require the operation of attaching or detaching
the fixing means, such as a belt or a buckle, for keeping the
put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 in a contracted
state.
[0145] Namely, the baby carrier 11 allows the child care giver,
wearing the baby carrier 11 obliquely hung from one shoulder, to
handle the baby easily and safely with one hand by extending the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14, i.e., the rubber string
15, to adjust the size of the put-in/take-out permission portion
14A.
[0146] Owing to the above-described structure, even where the cloth
itself of the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 of the
sheet-like member 16 is not stretchable, the urging force in the
contracting direction can be provided.
[0147] This makes it possible to form the entirety of the
sheet-like member 16 including the put-in/take-out permission edge
portions 14 of one sheet having a low level of stretchability.
This, in turn, makes it possible to produce the baby carrier 11
easily.
[0148] The overlapped, sewn and fixed portions 27 are each formed
by overlapping, sewing and thus fixing the rubber string 15 and the
tubular accommodation portion 25 at each of both ends of the
put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14.
[0149] Owing to the above-described structure, while the rubber
strings 15 are extended, both of the length-direction ends thereof
can be strongly attached to the put-in/take-out permission edge
portions 14 and the tubular accommodation portions 25, and the
accommodating openings 26 at both ends of the put-in/take-out
permission edge portions 14 can be sealed (see the partially
enlarged view of FIG. 12(j-1)).
[0150] The sewn and fixed portions 28 are each formed by sewing and
thus fixing an intermediate position of the rubber string 15 to the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14. Therefore, even when
the baby dynamically moves, the rubber strings 15 can be prevented
from being twisted in the tubular accommodation portions 25.
[0151] In addition, the intermediate position of the rubber string
15 can be fixed at an appropriate position of the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14 in the length direction. Therefore, the
rubber string 15 can be prevented from being caught by a part of
the tubular accommodation portion 25 or the put-in/take-out
permission edge portion 14 and thus lopsided.
[0152] The sewn and fixed portion 28 is formed by sewing and fixing
each rubber string 15 at each of two intermediate positions equally
dividing the length of the rubber string 15. By forming an
appropriate number of sewn and fixed portions 28 at an equal
interval in the length direction of the rubber strings 15 in this
manner, the put-in/take-out permission edge portions 14 can be
contracted equally in the entirety of the length direction to
firmly hold the baby while guaranteeing the stretchability of the
rubber strings 15.
[0153] The baby carrier 11 provides various other functions and
effects.
[0154] For example, the entirety of the baby carrier 11 is formed
of the above-described sheet-like member 16, which is ring-shaped
so as to be worn by the child care giver as being hung obliquely
from one shoulder. Therefore, unlike a conventional band-like baby
carrier which is lengthy in one direction, the baby carrier 11 does
not require separate members, for example, connecting members for
forming the baby carrier to be ring-shaped in order to be wearable
by the child care giver as being hung obliquely from one shoulder.
Therefore, the baby carrier 11 can be easily worn as being hung
obliquely from one shoulder without the extra work of connecting
the connecting members.
[0155] The baby carrier 11 is formed of members including the
sheet-like member 16 and the rubber strings 15, and is entirely
flexible. Therefore, the baby carrier 11 is foldable when not used,
and is not bulky in the folded state and thus can be accommodated
in a compact manner. The baby carrier 11 is entirely washable.
[0156] The baby carrier 11 according to the present invention is
not limited to the baby carrier 11 according to the above-described
embodiment, and can be carried out in many other embodiments.
[0157] For example, at least one of the outer cloth 16o and the
inner cloth 16i may be formed of an air-permeable material such as
a mesh material or the like, or may be formed of a fluffy material
or a woven material.
[0158] The elements in the above-described embodiment and the
elements of the present invention correspond as follows.
[0159] The child care giver in the embodiment corresponds to the
wearer of the present invention; [0160] the baby in this embodiment
corresponds to the baby/toddler of the present invention; [0161]
the rubber string 15 in this embodiment corresponds to the elastic
linear member of the present invention; [0162] the entire length of
the put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 in this embodiment
corresponds to the locating part of the present invention; and
[0163] the sewn and fixed portion 28 in this embodiment corresponds
to the intermediate part of the elastic linear member fixed to the
put-in/take-out permission edge portion 14 of the present
invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0164] The present invention is usable as, among various
baby/toddler-related products, a baby carrier used for holding a
baby/toddler.
* * * * *