U.S. patent application number 12/678112 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for arrangement for adjusting the width of the carrier means.
This patent application is currently assigned to BABYIDEA OY. Invention is credited to Bettina Lindblom.
Application Number | 20100308088 12/678112 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38572974 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100308088 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindblom; Bettina |
December 9, 2010 |
ARRANGEMENT FOR ADJUSTING THE WIDTH OF THE CARRIER MEANS
Abstract
This invention relates to an arrangement for adjusting the width
of a carrier (1), which carrier (1) includes at least a carrying
section (2) intended for carrying a child, upper support elements
(65) attached to the carrying section and placed over the wearer's
shoulders, and lower support elements (66) to be placed around the
wearer's body. The carrying section (2) is equipped with widening
sections (3, 4), which are attached at least to the lower support
elements (66).
Inventors: |
Lindblom; Bettina;
(Helsinki, FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
BABYIDEA OY
Vantaa
FI
|
Family ID: |
38572974 |
Appl. No.: |
12/678112 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 12, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI2008/050508 |
371 Date: |
May 13, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20130101; A47D
13/025 20130101; A45F 3/10 20130101; A45F 3/047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/160 |
International
Class: |
A47D 13/02 20060101
A47D013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2007 |
FI |
20075640 |
Claims
1. An arrangement for adjusting the width of a carrier (1), which
carrier (1) includes at least a carrying section (2) intended for
carrying a child, upper support elements (65) attached to the
carrying section and placed over the wearer's shoulders, and lower
support elements (66) to be placed around the wearer's body,
characterised in that the carrying section (2) is equipped with
widening sections (3, 4), which are attached at least to the lower
support elements (66).
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the
widening sections (3, 4) are a permanent part of the carrier (1),
being sewn on top of the carrying section (2), in between its
fabric layers or to the sides of the carrying section (2), or are
removably attached with fastening devices (29, 30) or in another
similar manner.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that
the widening sections (3, 4) are attached by their lower end, at
least from below their midpoint, to the lower support elements,
such as the lower straps (67) or the hip belt (31), using fasteners
(33-48, 51-62) or in another similar manner.
4. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that there
are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2), into
which pockets the widening sections (3, 4) are designed to be
placed when not in use.
5. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that there
are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2), into
which pockets non-removable widening sections (3, 4) are designed
to be folded and removable widening sections (3, 4) are designed to
be placed when the widening sections (3, 4) are not in use.
6. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the
closing means (7-22) of the pockets (5, 6) optimally consist of
buttons (7-12) and loops (13-18), zippers (19, 20), Velcro tapes
(21, 22), snap fasteners or snap tapes.
7. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that there
are support loops (49, 50) and/or additional belts (32), sewn on
top of the lower straps (67) and/or the hip belt (31), through
which loops or belts the widening sections (3, 4) are designed to
pass partly or completely when in use.
8. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the
attachment of the widening sections (3, 4) to the carrying section
and to the lower straps (67, 68) and/or the hip belt (31) optimally
consists of fastening devices (29, 30) or fasteners (33-48, 51-62)
such as snap fasteners (33-40, 45-48), ribbons (41-44), D-rings
(55-62), zippers, snap tapes, Velcro tapes or other similar
attachment methods.
9. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that there
are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2), into
which pockets the widening sections (3, 4) are designed to be
placed when not in use.
10. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that
there are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2),
into which pockets the widening sections (3, 4) are designed to be
placed when not in use.
11. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that
there are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2),
into which pockets non-removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be folded and removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be placed when the widening sections (3, 4) are not in
use.
12. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that
there are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2),
into which pockets non-removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be folded and removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be placed when the widening sections (3, 4) are not in
use.
13. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that
there are pockets (5, 6) in or on top of the carrying section (2),
into which pockets non-removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be folded and removable widening sections (3, 4) are
designed to be placed when the widening sections (3, 4) are not in
use.
14. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the
closing means (7-22) of the pockets (5, 6) optimally consist of
buttons (7-12) and loops (13-18), zippers (19, 20), Velcro tapes
(21, 22), snap fasteners or snap tapes.
15. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that the
closing means (7-22) of the pockets (5, 6) optimally consist of
buttons (7-12) and loops (13-18), zippers (19, 20), Velcro tapes
(21, 22), snap fasteners or snap tapes.
16. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the
closing means (7-22) of the pockets (5, 6) optimally consist of
buttons (7-12) and loops (13-18), zippers (19, 20), Velcro tapes
(21, 22), snap fasteners or snap tapes.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the arrangement described
in the preamble of claim 1 for adjusting the width of a carrier,
which carrier is intended particularly for carrying a child on an
adult's front, back, or hip. The carrier has been supplied with a
width adjustment of the carrying section, to make the same carrier
ergonomically suitable for infant babies as well as for larger
toddlers well until their pre-school years.
[0002] In prior art, various fabrics or their combinations are used
for sewing carriers in the form of, for instance, a back carrier, a
front carrier or a mei, with upper straps that go over the wearer's
shoulders, as well as lower straps or a hip belt that are attached
around the waist or hip, and occasionally also other straps such as
a chest strap that holds the upper straps in place. Between the
straps there is a carrying section that can be realized in various
ways, formed a little e.g. into a shape of a cup or into a
rectangle or square. Ergonomically, the carrying section should
support the child's thighs down until the knees. During the most
active carrying period, from newborn to about two-year-old, the
child will grow by dozens of centimetres. Furthermore, carriers are
often used occasionally for carrying larger children, for instance
on longer distances, at airports or while hiking, and for
handicapped or other children with special needs. Most carriers
according to prior art make compromises regarding the width of the
carrying section to make it suitable for children ranging from
approximately six to eighteen months old. This makes it too wide
for small babies and too narrow for larger children. Thus a carrier
designed for a twelve-month-old is not suitable for ergonomic
carrying of a small baby or a larger child. For some carriers, the
problem has been solved by adding a separate inner part for smaller
babies. This adds to the fabric layers of the carriers, which is
undesirable in hot weather, warm climates or indoor use. Nor does
the separate inner section solve the problem in terms of the
ergonomics of carrying larger children.
[0003] The object of this invention is to remove the disadvantages
described above and to achieve an advantageous and easily
modifiable, reliable and ergonomic arrangement for adjusting the
width of a carrier intended particularly for carrying children,
where the width can be increased as a child grows. The arrangement
according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in
the characterisation part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the
invention are characterised by what is disclosed in the other
claims.
[0004] The advantages of the arrangement according to the invention
include the fact that the width adjustment of the carrier's
carrying section is designed in a way that allows the width to be
increased easily as the child grows. Another benefit of the width
adjustment is that the same carrier can be used for children of
different sizes, meaning that a family does not have to purchase
several carriers, if the children are carried at different times.
The width adjustment of the carrying section is flexible. It can be
a fixed part of the carrier or the widening sections can be
removable. The new width adjustment mechanism is suitable for
different carrier models, including back carriers, front carriers
and square cloths--i.e. any equipment with lower straps or a hip
belt and a carrying section. Furthermore, the widening sections
stay with the carrier without being in the way or without danger of
being broken when they are not needed, as the lower part of the
carrier has pockets on both sides into which the widening sections
are folded when the carrier is used to carry a smaller baby.
Alternatively, the widening sections can be attached on the outside
of the carrying section when not in use, or, if removable, they can
be placed in a different pocket of the carrier or temporarily in a
handbag, for example. The width adjustment according to the
invention also enables the same carrier to be realized so that the
child can be carried facing forward, because in such a position the
crotch width must be significantly smaller than when the child is
carried facing the wearer. In addition, the width adjustment and
the wider lower part of the carrying section are useful when the
baby is carried not only in vertical position but also in L-shaped
or reclining position in the same carrier.
[0005] In the following, the invention will be described in more
detail by the aid of embodiment examples with reference to the
attached drawings, wherein
[0006] FIG. 1 presents an arrangement according to the invention
for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening sections of
the carrier folded open, viewed from the back side of the
carrier,
[0007] FIG. 2 presents an enlarged detail of the carrier presented
in FIG. 1,
[0008] FIG. 3 presents the arrangement for adjusting the width of a
carrier according to FIG. 1, viewed from the back side of the
carrier, with the widening sections of the carrier folded into the
pockets on the carrying section, which pockets have closing
implements in the form of loops and buttons.
[0009] FIG. 4 presents another arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded open, viewed from the back side of
the carrier,
[0010] FIG. 5 presents a third arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded into the pockets, viewed from the
back side of the carrier,
[0011] FIG. 6 presents yet another arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded on top of the carrying section,
viewed from the backside of the carrier,
[0012] FIG. 7 presents a further arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded open, viewed from the back side of
the carrier,
[0013] FIG. 8 presents yet another arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded open, viewed from the backside of
the carrier,
[0014] FIG. 9 presents a further arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded open, viewed from the back side of
the carrier,
[0015] FIG. 10 presents yet another arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded open, viewed from the back side of
the carrier, and
[0016] FIG. 11 presents one more arrangement according to the
invention for adjusting the width of a carrier, with the widening
sections of the carrier folded over the top of the carrying section
and attached to each other, viewed from the back side of the
carrier.
[0017] FIGS. 1-3 present a carrier 1 according to the invention,
viewed from the backside of the carrier, i.e. from the outside,
with the carrier spread freely open. In this case the carrier would
be positioned between the viewer and the wearer of the carrier. The
carrier 1 comprises at least a carrying section 2, widening
sections 3 and 4, pockets 5 and 6 and upper support elements 65,
such as upper straps or carrying straps placed on the wearer's
shoulders. In addition, the carrier has at least lower support
elements 66 to be adjusted around the wearer's body, which elements
consist for example of a hip belt 31 or lower straps 67 or for
example both a hip belt 31 and lower straps 67. In FIG. 1, as in
the other figures, the section marked with diagonal lines is
normally hidden area. Therefore for example in FIG. 1, a section of
an additional belt 32 sewn on top of the hip belt 31 has been
removed from the top of the right widening section 4, in order to
allow a better view of the attachment of the widening section 4 to
the hip belt 31 acting as the lower support element 66. The
widening sections 3 and 4 are attached from their lower parts to
the lower support elements 66, at least when unfolded, i.e. in the
open position, to ensure that the sections stay properly unfolded
during use. The widening sections do not have to be attached to the
lower support elements 66 by their very lowest parts, however. In
practice, it is sufficient if they are attached to the lower
support elements 66 essentially from below their midpoint, at
least. The widening section 4 is fastened by its lower end 4a to
the lower support elements 66, i.e. in this case to the hip belt
31, using an appropriate fastening device, such as snaps 4b or
similar. The attachment of the widening section 3 to the hip belt
31 or the lower strap 67, i.e. in general to the lower support
elements 66, is identical to that of the lower end 4a of the
widening section 4. The lower attachment of the widening sections 3
and 4 may also be a corner attachment or an attachment by the outer
edge of the widening section, or a combination of these. What is
essential is that the widening sections 3 and 4 are durably
fastened to the lower support elements 66, i.e. to either the hip
belt 31 or the lower straps 67.
[0018] In the solutions presented in FIGS. 1-3, the widening
sections 3 and 4 are attached by one of their vertical edges either
directly to the edge of the carrying section 2, essentially in line
with the pockets 5 and 6, or to the edge of the pockets 5 and 6.
The widening sections 3 and 4 are designed to be folded into the
pockets 5 and 6 when they are not needed. FIG. 3 presents a
situation in which the lower part of the widening section 4 has
been detached from the hip belt 31 and folded upwards in order to
make the widening section fit completely into the pocket 6. The
closing means of the pockets 5 and 6 can for example consist of
buttons 7-12 and loops 13-18.
[0019] FIG. 4 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which one of the vertical edges of
each widening section 3 and 4 is attached to the pockets 5 and 6,
which pockets have zippers 19 and 20 as their closing means. In
other respects, the widening sections 3 and 4 and their attachments
are identical to those presented in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0020] FIG. 5 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are unfastened at their lower ends and folded into the pockets 5
and 6, which pockets have Velcro tapes 21 and 22 as their closing
means. In this figure, the lower support element 66 consists of
lower straps 67, to which the lower ends of the widening sections 3
and 4 are attached when the widening sections 3 and 4 are in
use.
[0021] FIG. 6 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are folded over the top of the carrying section 2 and attached to
it with snap fasteners 23-28. In other respects, the attachment of
the lower ends of the widening sections 3 and 4 to the hip belt 31
acting as the lower support element 66 is e.g. identical to the
attachment solution presented in FIGS. 1-3.
[0022] FIG. 7 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are removable and fastened by one of their vertical edges to the
carrying section 2 with zippers 29 and 30. In other respects, the
attachment of the lower ends of the widening sections 3 and 4 to
the hip belt 31 acting as the lower support element 66 is e.g.
identical to the attachment solution presented in FIGS. 1-3.
[0023] FIG. 8 presents an attachment of the lower ends of the
widening sections 3 and 4 of the carrier 1 according to the
invention to an additional belt 32 sewn on top of the hip belt 31
of the carrier 1. The fasteners can be for example snap fasteners
33-40 and ribbons 41-44.
[0024] This attachment solution also corresponds to the attachment
of the widening sections 3 and 4 in the other embodiments presented
in the previous figures. Where the snap fasteners 33-40 and ribbons
41-44 are, the additional belt 32 is detached from the hip belt 31,
which means that the lower ends of the widening sections 3 and 4
are easy to insert and remove from between the additional belt 32
and the hip belt 31.
[0025] FIG. 9 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are fastened between the hip belt 31 and the additional belt 32
sewn on top of it. The ends of the additional belt 32 are not
presented in the figure. The fasteners can be for example snap
fasteners 45-48.
[0026] FIG. 10 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are fastened to the hip belt 31 with ribbons 51-54 that pass
beneath the support loops 49 and 50. The fasteners can be for
example D-rings 55-62.
[0027] FIG. 11 presents a width adjustment of the carrier 1
according to the invention, in which the widening sections 3 and 4
are folded over the top of the carrying section 2 and attached to
each other by the ends of the ribbons 51-54 with snap fasteners 63
and 64.
[0028] The width adjustment arrangement common to all the
abovementioned embodiments of the carrier 1 according to the
invention consists of widening sections 3 and 4 that are fastened
to the top or to the sides of the carrying section 2 of the carrier
1 with a fixed or non-fixed attachment. The widening sections 3 and
4 increase the width of the carrying section 2 on both sides. It is
essential that the widening sections stay in place properly and
stay essentially wide and do not bunch up in use. The various
fastening methods described above have been developed with this in
mind, but the fastening itself may vary, as may the way of removing
the widening sections from use. When the widening sections are not
in use, if they are fixed permanently to the carrier, they are
folded into pockets 5 and 6 placed in, on or under the carrying
section 2, or they are attached on the top of the carrying section
2 as presented in FIG. 6, or attached to each other as presented in
FIG. 11. The closing means 7-22 of the pockets 5 and 6 are buttons
7-12 and loops 13-18, or zippers 19, 20 or Velcro tapes 21, 22. The
widening sections 3 and 4 are attached to the lower support
elements 66 of the carrier 1, i.e. to the hip belt 31 and/or the
lower straps 67 with fasteners 33-48, 51-62. The fasteners 33-48,
51-62 go under and/or through the additional belts 32 placed on top
of the hip belt 31 and then the fasteners 33-48, 51-62 go under the
support loops 49, 50 placed on top of the hip belt 31 and/or the
lower straps 67, so that the widening sections 3 and 4 stay better
in place. In some carriers 1 it is sufficient to fasten the
widening sections 3 and 4 with the fasteners 33-48, 51-62 to the
lower support elements 66, i.e. to the hip belt 31 and/or the lower
straps 67. The widening sections 3 and 4 are sewn by one of their
vertical edges to the edges of the carrying section 2, partly
within the pockets 5 and 6, as presented for example in FIGS. 4 and
5, or the widening sections 3 and 4 are a fixed part of the
carrying section 2, as presented for example in FIG. 9.
[0029] The above description represents the most advantageous
embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will see,
however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment
examples presented above, but can be varied within the scope of the
patent claims presented below. The widening sections of the carrier
according to the invention can be made out of a single or several
layers of fabric, padded or unpadded. The shape, size and placement
of the widening sections can be varied to optimally suit each
carrier. The fasteners of the widening sections can be e.g.
zippers, snap fasteners, snap tape, b-rings, buttons, ribbons or
Velcro tapes. The abovementioned fasteners are also suitable for
use as the closing means of the pockets into which the widening
sections are folded or placed when not in use. The attachment of
the widening sections to the lower straps or hip belt can be
carried out in many ways; it is important that the widening
sections stay in place without bunching up in use. The attachment
of the widening sections to the lower straps or to the hip belt can
be carried out with support loops or make use of additional belts
and fasteners, such as zippers, snap fasteners, pieces of snap
tapes, D-rings, buttons, ribbons or Velcro tapes, sewn on top of
the hip belt in one or more layers.
[0030] Other variation possibilities of the invention include
changing the shape of the widening sections, lengthening or
shortening and/or widening or narrowing their model, and adding
diverse removable or non-removable linings.
* * * * *