U.S. patent application number 13/259688 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-15 for baby carrier having means for facilitating the lifting of a child into and out of the same.
Invention is credited to Filip Sauer.
Application Number | 20120061429 13/259688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43011344 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120061429 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sauer; Filip |
March 15, 2012 |
BABY CARRIER HAVING MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE LIFTING OF A CHILD
INTO AND OUT OF THE SAME
Abstract
A baby carrier adapted for carrying a child either face-to face
or in forward-facing position, comprising chest straps (1), which
are arranged to extend around both shoulder regions of the wearer,
a waist belt (2) connected to the chest straps (1), and a carrier
bag (3) mounted on the chest straps and comprising a carrier pouch
(5) having leg openings, the carrier pouch being formed by on one
hand a lower portion of a front piece (4) and on the other hand by
least a chest piece (6), whereby at least the front piece (4) is at
a lower portion connected to a waist belt (2), and the front piece
(4) being at an upper edge region (7) detachably connected to
respective chest strap (1) by a connecting device (8). A first end
(1a) of respective chest strap (1) is connected to the waist belt
(2) at the region of the connection of the front piece (4) to the
waist belt and the other end (1b) to the front piece through a
expansion means (12) arranged between the front piece and the chest
piece (6).
Inventors: |
Sauer; Filip; (Stockholm,
SE) |
Family ID: |
43011344 |
Appl. No.: |
13/259688 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
April 21, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE2010/050432 |
371 Date: |
November 8, 2011 |
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 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 24, 2009 |
SE |
0900555-4 |
Claims
1. A baby carrier adapted for carrying a child either face-to-face
or in forward-facing position, comprising chest straps (1), which
are arranged to extend around both shoulder regions of the wearer,
a waist belt (2) connected to the chest straps (1), and a carrier
bag (3) mounted on the chest straps and comprising a carrier pouch
(5) having leg openings, the carrier pouch being formed by on one
hand a lower portion of a front piece (4) and on the other hand by
least a chest piece (6), whereby at least the front piece (4) is at
a lower portion connected to a waist belt (2), and the front piece
(4) being at an upper edge region (7) detachably connected to
respective chest strap (1) by a connecting device (8), wherein a
first end (Ia) of respective chest strap (1) is connected to the
waist belt (2) at the region of the connection of the front piece
(4) to the waist belt and the other end (Ib) to the front piece
through a expansion means (12) arranged between the front piece and
the chest piece (6).
2. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the expansion
means (12) is arranged between respective lateral side edge (13) of
the front piece (4) of respective side edge of the chest piece
(6).
3. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the expansion
means is a stiff strap (12).
4. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the second end of
respective chest straps (1) is connected to respective strap (12)
at about half the length between the lateral side edge (13) of the
front piece (4) is the side edge of the chest piece (6).
5. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least the
lower portion of the front piece (4), which is directed towards the
child, is provided with a material having low friction.
6. The baby carrier according to claim 2, wherein the expansion
means is a stiff strap (12).
7. The baby carrier according to claim 2, wherein the second end of
respective chest straps (1) is connected to respective strap (12)
at about half the length between the lateral side edge (13) of the
front piece (4) is the side edge of the chest piece (6).
8. The baby carrier according to claim 3, wherein the second end of
respective chest straps (1) is connected to respective strap (12)
at about half the length between the lateral side edge (13) of the
front piece (4) is the side edge of the chest piece (6).
9. The baby carrier according to claim 2, wherein at least the
lower portion of the front piece (4), which is directed towards the
child, is provided with a material having low friction.
10. The baby carrier according to claim 3, wherein at least the
lower portion of the front piece (4), which is directed towards the
child, is provided with a material having low friction.
11. The baby carrier according to claim 4, wherein at least the
lower portion of the front piece (4), which is directed towards the
child, is provided with a material having low friction.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a baby carrier adapted for
carrying a child either face-to-face or in forward-facing position,
comprising chest straps, which are arranged to extend around both
shoulder regions of the wearer, a waist belt connected to the chest
straps, and a carrier bag mounted on the chest straps and
comprising a carrier pouch having leg openings, the carrier pouch
being formed by on one hand a lower portion of a front piece and on
the other hand at least a chest piece, whereby at least the front
piece is by a lower portion connected to a waist belt, and the
front piece being at an upper edge region detachably connected to
respective chest strap by a connecting device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Thus, the invention relates to a baby carrier of a kind
which includes a harness of the general type comprising chest
straps and a carrier poach mounted on the harness, the carrier
poach being formed by a front piece provided with leg openings and
adapted to be carried on the chest side of a wearer.
[0003] One problem when using a baby carrier of the above mentioned
type is that a heavy load has to be born by the shoulders of the
wearer of the baby carrier when a heavy child is carried during a
long time. Therefore, many parents are forced to stop carrying its
child or are only able to carry the child a short time in this way
when the child grow older and is heavier.
[0004] One way of reducing this problem is to provide the baby
carrier with a waist belt which will take a large part of the load
so as to reduce the load on the shoulders.
[0005] A further problem which exists at known baby carriers of the
above mentioned type provided with a waist belt is that it will be
difficult in an easy way to lift the child into and out of the baby
carrier, particularly the carrier pouch, since the carrier pouch on
one hand has a tendency to "collapse" when the baby carrier is
placed on the chest side of the wearer and on the other hand it can
be very difficult to lift the child into a narrow carrier pouch,
the circumference/size of which cannot be adjusted to be more wide.
This is particularly difficult when the baby carrier is used for
carrying a relatively heavy child from about 4 months to about 15
kg, since in the ordinary case both hands must be used for lifting
the child into and out of, respectively, the baby carrier.
[0006] A further problem is that the child has a tendency to be
worn relatively far from the body, i.e. the central gravity of the
child will be situated at a distance from the wearer, particularly
when the wearer leans forward, whereby it is easy to lose one's
balance and to fall forwardly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the invention is thus to provide a baby carrier
by which the above mentioned drawbacks totally or partly are
eliminated, so that a child may be worn during a longer time, and
may in an easy way be lifted into and out of, respectively, the
baby carrier while carried by the wearer and at the same time as
the child is carried close to the body of the wearer.
[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a baby
carrier adapted for carrying a child either face-to-face or in
forward-facing position, comprising chest straps, which are
arranged to extend around both shoulder regions of the wearer, a
waist belt connected to the chest straps, and a carrier bag mounted
on the chest straps and comprising a carrier pouch having leg
openings, the carrier pouch being formed by on one hand a lower
portion of a front piece and on the other hand at least a chest
piece, whereby at least the front piece is by a lower portion
connected to a waist belt, and the front piece being at an upper
edge region detachably connected to respective chest strap by a
connecting device, wherein a first end of respective chest strap is
connected to the waist belt at the region of the connection of the
front piece to the waist belt and a second end of respective chest
strap to the front piece through a expansion means arranged between
the front piece and the chest piece.
[0009] Further embodiments of the baby carrier according to the
invention are set forth in the depending claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention will now be described in more detail in the
form of a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a baby carrier according to the invention
as carried on the chest side of a schematically shown wearer,
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the baby carrier according to the
invention as carried on the chest side of a schematically shown
wearer with the upper portion of the front piece folded
downwardly,
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view from above of the baby carrier according to
the invention, whereby the chest straps and the waist belt are
shown schematically, and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view obliquely from the side of the baby carrier
according to the invention, whereby in the same way as in FIG. 3
the chest straps and the waist belt are shown schematically.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIGS. 1-4 show a baby carrier according to the invention,
comprising adjustable chest straps 1, which are arranged to extend
around both shoulder regions of the wearer, an adjustable waist
belt 2, and a carrier bag 3 mounted on the chest straps and the
waist belt, the carrier bag comprises a front piece 4 and a carrier
pouch 5 proved with leg openings, the carrier pouch being formed by
a lower portion of the front piece 4 and a chest piece 6, the lower
portion being attached to the waist belt 2 as seen in the lateral
direction at the centre of the stomach of a wearer of the baby
carrier. At an upper edge region 7 the front piece 4 is detachably
connected to respective chest strap 1 by a detachable connecting
device 8, whereby the upper edge region 7 can be folded downwardly,
when the child is sitting in the baby carrier or when the child is
to be placed in the baby carrier. A first end 1a of respective
chest strap 1 is attached to the waist belt 2, while a second end
1b of respective chest strap 1 preferably is attached to an edge
portion 13 of the front piece 4 situated in the vertical direction,
as seen when the carrier is worn, somewhat below the centre of the
height of the front piece. More particularly the second end 1b is
attached to the lateral side edge of the front piece through a
resilient expansion means arranged between the lateral side edge of
the front piece and respective side edge of the chest piece 6, more
particularly at least a portion of respective first end 1a of the
chest straps 1 is arranged to be expanded together with the chest
piece 6 from the lower portion of the front piece so as to achieve
the expanded carrier pouch 5.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment the expansion means comprises a
relatively stiff and resilient strap 12, so that thanks to its
relative stiffness/resilience it will be expanded. More
particularly the strap 12 is formed as a pocket, for instance,
filled with suitable upholstery or made in some other suitable way,
so that it has a suitable stiffness/resilience. The carrier pouch 5
will in this way be expanded which will make it easier to place a
child into the baby carrier, particularly a somewhat heavier child
which has to be lifted into the carrier pouch 5 with both
hands.
[0017] As can be seen from FIG. 1 a coupling device 10,11, for
instance in the form of a loop 10 provided with one or several
openings, is adapted to be detachably connected to a button 11
provided at respective side of the baby carrier, preferably between
a lower portion of the first end 1a and the second end 1b of the
chest strap 1 or the strap 12. When connecting the loop 10 to the
bottom 11 the size of a leg opening form between on one hand the
side edge of a seat support 9 and on the other hand the first and
second end 1a,1b of the chest strap 1 or the chest piece 6 so as to
prevent that a child unintentionally will slip out of the baby
carrier.
[0018] Moreover, at least the lower portion of the front piece 4 is
attached to the waist belt 2 and forms the seat support 9 so as to
carry a child, not shown, in the baby carrier. The upper edge
region 7 of the front piece is adapted to give a good head support
to the child. At respective laterally separated side edge of the
upper edge region 7 an adjusting device 30 is provided, which
enables the effective distance to be set selectively of the upper
edge region 7 so as to in best possible way support the head of the
child when it sleeps, for instance.
[0019] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 the carrier pouch 5 is
formed by the seat support 9, the respective first ends 1a of the
chest straps 1, the strap 12 and the chest piece 6, whereby a lower
edge of the seat support 9 and the first ends 1a are attached to
the upper edge of the waist belt 2, as seen when the baby carrier
is carried by a wearer. In the embodiment shown the chest piece 6
is arranged between the respective first ends 1a of the chest strap
1, and more particularly between side edges of respective first
ends of the chest strap 1 directed towards each other. In an
alternative embodiment, not shown, as is described below, the first
ends 1a of the chest strap 1 can be connected to the chest piece 6,
preferably at its upper edge.
[0020] As can be seen from FIG. 4 the second end 1b of respective
chest strap 1 is preferably attached to respective strap 12 at
about half its length between the lateral side edges 13 of the
front piece 4 and respective side edge of the ends 1a, preferably
somewhat closer to the lateral side edge 13 of the front piece 4.
In the description below the side edge of the chest piece 6 is
equal to the external edge of respective side edge of the first end
1a, as the chest piece 6 can be formed in one piece having the same
area as the chest piece with connected first ends of the chest
straps, the chest straps 1 being connected to the chest piece. In
the embodiment shown the chest piece 6 is formed by the first end
1a of respective chest strap 1 and a intermediate piece of
material, which is attached to the chest piece, the piece of
material may be made of fabric, or some other suitable material and
in the form of a net.
[0021] When the upper edge region 7 of the front piece 4 is
detached from respective chest strap 1 by releasing the connecting
device 8 the child may be placed in the carrier pouch 5 of the baby
carrier whereupon the chest straps 1 are tightened. This results in
that the length of the strap 12 will be shortened and the size of
the carrier pouch will be reduced. In this way the centre of
gravity of the child will come closer to the wearer. If desirable
the connecting devices 8 at the upper edge region 7 may then be
connected to the chest straps. It is obvious that it is possible to
first connect the connecting devices 8 of the upper edge region 7
to the chest straps and then tighten the same.
[0022] In an embodiment, not shown, at least a lower portion 14 of
the front piece 4, which is close to the child, is provided with a
material having low friction so as to make it easier to place or
take a child in/out of the carrier pouch 5 of the baby carrier.
* * * * *