MULTIFUNCTIONAL CHILD CARRIER
The present invention is directed to a multifunctional child carrier. In one embodiment, the multifunctional child carrier is transitionable between front and side carrying positions on a wearer, and has a carrier body with a bottom section having a support sleeve, a lumbar belt configured to extend through the support sleeve and about the body of the wearer, and a pair of adjustable shoulder straps extensible over the wearer's shoulders. In another embodiment, the multifunctional carrier is transitionable between upright and sling carrying positions on a wearer, and the carrier body has both a front sleeve and at least two opposing side sleeves. In yet another embodiment, a lumbar belt for use with the child carrier includes a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the wearer's back.
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to carriers adapted to be worn by an adult in order to support and carry an infant or other young child. More particularly, in at least one aspect, the present invention is directed to an improved multifunctional child carrier that accommodates the carrying of a child in either a front or side carrying position. The multifunctional carrier may also optionally accommodate carrying of a child in a sling position. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an improved lumbar belt for use with the multifunctional carrier or other child carrier.
2. Related Art
Shoulder-supported child carriers are commonly used by parents and child caregivers to carry and transport infants and other young children. A common attribute of these carriers is that they offer “hands-free” operation, and thus allow the adult wearer to carry the child while leaving the hands unencumbered to perform other activities. The shoulder-supported child carriers also typically make it easier for an adult wearer to carry the child by distributing the carrying load about the wearer's shoulders and/or back, as opposed to supporting the child's weight primarily in the adult's arms. A number of different shoulder supported child carriers are currently known in the art, and the carriers come in a wide range of designs and styles. One example of currently known child carrier is a frame-type carrier that typically supports the child on the back of the wearer. However, frameless or soft-sided carriers are also becoming increasing popular, and typically support the child on the front or chest of the wearer. Still further, there has also been developed in the prior art convertible carriers that are configured to allow the infant to be supported on either the front or back of the wearer.
Carriers that allow carrying of a child on the hip of the wearer are also becoming increasingly popular because positioning the child on the hip generally mimics the carrying position that adults frequently use to transport their children without the aid of a carrier. Also, by supporting the child upon one of the hips, the wearer typically has greater freedom to move the opposing arm and hand to accomplish other tasks, and has minimal obstruction of their view. Supporting the child upon one of the hips may be particularly desirable for older and/or heavier children, as the hip provides added stability and support that may make this position more comfortable than front or back carrying positions. As such, many parents and child care providers may transition from using a front carrying child carrier that carries the child or infant in the front position when the child is very young, to using a side carrying child carrier that carries the child on the side or hip of the wearer as the child grows older.
However, a problem with current child carriers is that they typically are not capable of providing both front and side carrying functionality, and are thus limited in terms of the options they provide for carrying and transporting children. Examples of currently known infant hip carriers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,580 to Fair; U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,256 to Ive; U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,637 to Columbo; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,898 to Columbo. Another currently known hip carrier is sold by Playtex under the trademark Hip Hammock® and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. D425,696. Examples of currently known infant carriers suitable for carrying an infant in a front position are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,598,771 and 6,763,983, both to Norman. As these carriers generally are not readily transitionable between front and side carrying positions, a parent or child caregiver is required to purchase at least one of each, and even multiple carriers if they wish to have the option to carry the child in both front and side positions.
Yet another problem with current child carriers is that they typically are not capable of readily transitioning from front and/or side carrying positions to a sling carrying position. Carriers that act as baby slings are well known by parents and other persons involved in child care, and are capable of holding the child in a supine or semi-supine position near the body of the adult sling wearer, which can be comforting to the child and allows easy monitoring and observation of the infant on the part of the adult wearer. Indeed, various different types of baby slings are currently available from manufacturers of infant products, such as for example the Jelly Bean™ Cargo Sling from Munchkin. However, such currently available slings nonetheless do not allow for conversion to more secure and/or more conventional front or side upright carriers, and as such they can be limited in their use.
Still another problem with currently available child carriers is that they frequently do not provide adequate back support to the adult wearer. In particular, certain child carrier designs can unacceptably strain the wearer's back, which can make wearing of the child carrier uncomfortable. This may be especially true for child carriers that incorporate lumber belts that extend about the wearer's waist and/or torso to help support and/or brace the child carrier on the wearer. While such belts often include padded sections intended to cushion and lessen the strain on the lumbar region of the wearer's back, they nonetheless can become uncomfortable to the wearer, especially over long periods of time. The padded sections of the lumbar belt also typically impart minimal structural support to the lumbar belt.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for multifunctional child carriers that allow for versatility in terms of the positions in which a child may be held in the carrier. There is also a need for multifunctional child carriers that are readily convertible between front and side/hip carrying positions. Also, a need remains in the art for multifunctional carriers that readily convert from upright front and/or side carrying positions to sling carrying positions. There furthermore remains a need for a lumbar belt for use with child carriers that provides adequate support to a wearer's back.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention specifically addresses and alleviates the above-identified deficiencies in the art. In this regard, the present invention is directed to a multifunctional child carrier that provides for improved versatility in the carrying of a child in a number of different positions that are generally convenient and comfortable for both the child and the wearer. In one embodiment of the invention, the child carrier is transitionable between front and side carrying positions on a wearer. In this embodiment, the child carrier has a carrier body configured to support a child therein that has a bottom section configured to pass between the legs of the child held in the carrier body to support the child thereon. The bottom section of the carrier body also has a support sleeve, and the child carrier further includes a lumbar belt configured to extend through the support sleeve and about the body of the wearer. The child carrier also has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps that are extensible over the wearer's shoulders, with each shoulder strap having opposing first and second ends that are configured to attach to the carrier body to define a loop therebetween. The carrier body, adjustable shoulder straps and lumbar belt are configured such that the carrier body is selectively positionable (i) at the front of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the front carrying position, or (ii) toward the side of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the side carrying position.
In another embodiment of the invention, the multifunctional child carrier is transitionable between upright and sling carrying positions on a wearer. In this embodiment, the carrier has a carrier body configured to support a child therein, with the carrier body having a front sleeve and at least two opposing side sleeves. The carrier body also has a pair of adjustable straps configured to attach to the carrier body and that are extensible over the wearer's shoulders, and a lumbar belt configured to selectively extend through the front and side sleeve segments and about the body of the wearer. The lumbar belt is extended through the front sleeve to support the carrier body in the upright carrying position, and is extended through one of the side sleeves to support the carrier body in the sling carrying position.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, an improved lumbar belt is provided that is suitable for use with the multifunctional child carrier described herein or other child carrier. A version of child carrier having the improved lumbar belt has a carrier body configured to support a child therein, and the lumbar support belt configured to attach to the carrier body and support the carrier body on the wearer. The lumbar support belt includes a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the back, where the contoured lumbar panel has a curvature that is complimentary to a curvature of the lumbar region of the wearer's back. The lumbar support belt also has at least one lumbar belt strap configured to attach to the lumbar panel and extend about the wearer. The child carrier having the improved lumbar belt may also optionally have at least one shoulder strap configured to attach to the carrier body that is extensible over the wearer's shoulders.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:
Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a multifunctional child carrier 10 that is readily transitionable between different carrying positions on a wearer 12 to provide improved versatility in child carrying and transport. For example, as shown in the embodiments depicted in
In still another version, an embodiment of which is shown in
Referring now to
In the embodiment of the child carrier 10 as shown in
To support the carrier body 18 on the wearer 12, the bottom section 26 of the carrier body 18 comprises a support sleeve 35 through which the lumbar belt 24 can be extended. The sleeve 35 comprises a channel 38 formed laterally therein that is sized, shaped and configured to pass at least a portion of the lumber belt 24 therethrough. The lumbar belt 24 thus lifts both the sleeve 35 and the child 14 supported on the bottom section 26 in which the sleeve 35 is formed, thereby supporting the carrier 10 on the wearer's body. Locating the support sleeve 35 within the bottom section 26 is advantageous because positioning the sleeve 35 relatively low on the carrier body 18 can facilitate transitioning between front and side carrying positions. As such, the support sleeve 35 is preferably located towards or even at the very bottom or lowermost point of the carrier body 18. By way of explanation, it can be seen by referring to
Accordingly, in one version, the child carrier 10 comprises a support sleeve 35 having a bottom edge 40a that is located at about the bottom or lowermost point of the carrier body 18, with the lowermost point of the carrier body 18 being defined as that point that is lowest to the ground when the carrier 10 is used to transport a child 14 therein. The lumbar belt 24 extended through the sleeve 35 thus lifts and supports the child 14 from a point close to, and even at, the lowest part of the child's pelvis, thereby lifting the child's center of gravity up and even above the hip 16 of the wearer 12. For example, in the version as shown, the bottom edge 40a of the sleeve 35 is located at a vertex formed between the bottom and posterior sections 26, 28, and a top 40b edge of the sleeve 35 is located at a front peripheral edge 42 of the bottom section 26. The support sleeve 35 thus supports the carrier body 18 on the wearer 12 in a position that allows for ready transitioning between front and side carrying positions, and improves the comfort and convenience of the side carrying position.
The arrangement and configuration of the carrier body 18 can also be selected according to the desired support to be imparted to the child 14. In one version, the posterior and bottom sections 26, 28 form sections of the same panel 30 of material, or material layers, that have been shaped, for example by stitching and sewing, to form the desired shape of the carrier body 18. For example, the bottom section 26 can comprise a portion of the panel 30 that is located at the bottom side of the carrier body 18, and that forms a seat panel section 32, and the posterior section 28 can comprise a portion of the panel 30 that is located at the back side of the carrier body 18, and that forms a longitudinal panel section 34 that is at an approximately 90 degree angle to the seat panel section 32. The carrier body 18 can also optionally comprise a linking panel section 36 that gradually slopes between the bottom section 26 and the posterior section 28. Loading a child 14 into the carrier 10 causes one or more of the panel sections 32 and 34 to curve and deform according to the weight and shape of the child 14. For example, the seat panel section 32 can curve and deform from the otherwise relatively flat panel section shape as shown in
The multifunctional child carrier 10 further comprises adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b that are extensible over the wearer's shoulders 44a, 44b, with each strap 22a, 22b comprising opposing first and second ends that are configured to attach to the carrier body 18 to define a loop therebetween, as shown for example in
The shoulder straps 22a, 22b can comprise various strap configurations that may be selected to provide comfortable and secure transport of the child 14 and carrier 10. In the version as shown, the shoulder straps 22a, 22b comprise strap sections including as elongate padded shoulder sections 25a, 25b, back strap sections 27a, 27b, as well as carrier body attachment sections 29a, 29b. The elongate padded shoulder sections 25a, 25b are configured to extend over the wearer's shoulders 44a, 44b and have a padded material therein to increase the wearer's comfort. While the padded sections 25a, 25b are typically located about the wearer's shoulders, it should be understood that other sections of the shoulder straps 22a, 22b can also be padded, and alternatively the shoulder straps 22a, 22b may be absent any particular padded section. The straps 22a, 22b can be padded by inserting a cushioning material into the desired sections thereof, as well as by other means such as by sliding a tubular padded member over a portion of a shoulder strap 22a, 22b. The shoulder straps 22a, 22b also comprise back strap sections 27a, 27b that are configured to traverse the wearer's back and loop back to the carrier body 18 where they are attached at the second ends 46b to the opposing side edges 43a, 43b of the support sleeve 35. Finally, the shoulder straps 22a, 22b can comprise carrier body attachment sections 29a, 29b that are located at the first ends 46a of the straps 22a, 22b and connected to the top edge 40b of the sleeve 35. The attachment sections 29a, 29b rise up from their points of attachment on the sleeve 35 in V-shape, thereby effectively providing a compartment for supporting and carrying the child between the V-shaped attachment sections 29a, 29b of the shoulder straps 22a, 22b and the posterior and bottom sections 26, 28 of the carrier body 18.
The shoulder straps 22a, 22b can further comprise various securing members, cinching members and other strap securing and length adjustment devices. In the version shown in
In one embodiment of the lumbar belt 24, as shown in
The carrier body 18 as shown further comprises support appendages 62a, 62b, 64a, 64b that extend outwardly from opposing sides 65a, 65b thereof, and that assist in supporting and maintaining the child 14 within the carrier body 18. For example, as shown in
In one version, the carrier body 18 is absent any front panel section, and instead the V-shaped attachment sections 29a, 29b of the shoulder straps 22a, 22b serve to retain the infant 14 in the carrier body 18. In this version, the lower support appendages 62a, 62b are attached to the adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b at prescribed locations 68a, 68b that is spaced a preselected distance above the top edge 40b of the support sleeve 35. The adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b thus extend from the prescribed locations of attachment 68a, 68b across the space between the lower support appendages 62a, 62b and the bottom section 26, to their point of attachment to the top edge 40b of the support sleeve 35. The attachment sections 29a, 29b of the adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b thus form front restraints to secure the infant 14 in the carrier 10. In one version, the prescribed locations of attachments 68a, 68b of the lower appendages 62a, 62b to the attachment sections 29a, 29b of the shoulder straps 22a, 22b are spaced apart from the top edge 40b of the support sleeve 35 by at least about two inches, and may even be spaced apart by a greater amount.
In the version as shown in
The carrier body 18 further comprises upper support appendages 84a, 84b that extend outwardly from opposing sides 65a, 65b thereof. The upper support appendages 84a, 84b provide lateral support to the child's head and/or body, and can help retain the child 14 within the carrier body 18. The upper support appendages 84a, 84b can further comprise elongate straps 86a, 86b attached thereto that are configured to attach at prescribed locations to the v-shaped attachment sections 29a, 29b of the adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b. For example, the elongate straps 86a, 86b can have distal ends comprising mating connectors 88a, 88b that are configured to releasably attach to the adjustable shoulder straps 22a, 22b at prescribed locations 90a, 90b. The mating connectors 88a, 88b can also comprise cinching mechanisms that allow for tightening and loosening of the elongate straps 86a, 86b to adjust the position of the carrier body 18 with respect to the shoulder straps 22a, 22b and/or wearer 12. For example, the elongate straps 86a, 86b can be tightened to pull the carrier body 18 more upright and close to the wearer's body 13, and can be loosened to release the carrier body 18 into more of a reclining position angled outwardly from the wearer's body 13. The upper support appendages 84a, 84b may be configured with respect to the rest of the carrier body 18 such that, the arms of a smaller child 14 pass through the space formed between the upper and lower support appendages 62a, 62b, 84a, 84b on either side of the carrier body 18, as shown for example in
As described above, the carrier body 18 comprises a posterior section 28 connected to the bottom section 26 that is configured to support the body of the child 14, including the child's torso and head. In one version, as shown for example in
Referring now to
In one version, the child carrier 10 is configured to provide the sling carrying functionality by including both a front support sleeve 100, as well as at least two opposing side sleeves 98a, 98b that are configured to selectively pass the lumbar belt 24 therethrough, embodiments of which are shown in
In yet another version, the sling carrying position is further supported by providing a support insert 102 that imparts further rigidity to the posterior section 28 of the carrier body 18 in the sling position to provide support for the child being carried therein. An embodiment of a carrier body 18 having the support insert 102 is shown in
Referring now to
In one embodiment, as shown in
The shape of the base panel 114 may be further selected to provide a curvature and/or flex of the support panel 110 that imparts improved comfort and wearability. In one version, the base panel 114 comprises varying thicknesses along the curvature of the lumbar panel 110, with the thickness being selected to provide the desired degree of flex in the select regions of the panel 110. For example, as shown in
The lumbar support panel 110 can further comprise one or more layers 120 of material covering the base panel 114 to improve the comfort of the panel 110. For example, in the version as shown in
The contoured support panel 110 can further be shaped and configured to comfortably fit the wearer 12 of the child carrier 10. For example, in one version the lumber panel 110 comprises top and bottom edges 112a, 112b having lateral curvatures. For example, the top edge 112a can define a generally arcuate shape, and the bottom edge 112b can define an inwardly curved indentation that is configured to provide support and comfort, as shown in
Thus, the improved lumbar belt 24 can be understood to impart enhanced comfort and support to the wearer 12 in the carrying of a child 14 in a child carrier 10. The contoured support panel 110 braces and supports the wearer's back, while also providing an amount of flex that allows the wearer 12 to comfortably move and travel as well as bend or sit with the carrier 10, without excessive discomfort to the wearer 12.
Embodiments of the invention thus improve the versatility and comfort of child carriers 10 to enhance the carrying and transport of children 14. The multifunctional child carriers 10 allow for greater ease of selection among different child carrying positions, and well as ready transitioning between the different positions. The child carriers 10 may also provide for ready transition between front and side carrying positions, as well as upright and sling carrying positions. The improved lumber belt 24 further enhances comfort in the wearing of multifunctional and other child carriers 10.
Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of components and steps described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices and methods within the spirit and scope of the invention. Along these lines, it should be understood that the carrier body 18 can comprise other configurations of shoulder straps 22a, 22b and/or lumbar belts 24 other than those specifically shown, and similarly the improved lumbar belt 24 described herein may be used with other infant and child carriers other than those specifically described. The child carrier may also comprise pockets or other attachments for the transport of bottles, toys, keys, and other child care or everyday items. The child carrier body 18, shoulder straps 22a, 22b and lumbar belt 24 also may take any of a variety of forms that are known or later developed in the art, and further contemplates that existing or newly formed configuration, such as newly formed carrier body, shoulder strap and/or lumbar belt configurations, should fall within the scope of the present invention. Also, it should be understood that the carrier body 18, shoulder straps 22a, 22b and lumber belt 24 can comprise various different materials and material layers that are other than those specifically described, such as different combinations of padding and mesh materials.
Claims
1. A child carrier transitionable between front and side carrying positions on a wearer, the carrier comprising:
- (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein, the carrier body comprising a bottom section configured to pass between the legs of the child held in the carrier body to support the child thereon, the bottom section comprising a support sleeve;
- (b) a pair of adjustable shoulder straps extensible over the wearer's shoulders, each shoulder strap comprising opposing first and second ends attached to the carrier body to define a loop therebetween, and
- (c) a lumbar belt configured to extend through the support sleeve and about the body of the wearer; wherein the carrier body, adjustable shoulder straps and lumbar belt are configured such that the carrier body is selectively positionable (i) at the front of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the front carrying position, or (ii) toward the side of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the side carrying position.
2. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is positioned such that the carrier body is supported on the wearer's hip in the side carrying position.
3. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein a bottom edge of the support sleeve is located at the bottom of the carrier body.
4. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein the first ends of the adjustable shoulder straps are attached to a top edge of the support sleeve at an angle forming a V-shaped notch above the support sleeve.
5. The child carrier according to claim 4 wherein the carrier body comprises a pair of lower support appendages extending outwardly from opposing sides thereof, the lower support appendages being attached to the adjustable shoulder straps at a prescribed location that is spaced a preselected distance above the top edge of the support sleeve.
6. The child carrier according to claim 5 wherein the prescribed location of attachment to the adjustable shoulder strap is spaced above the top edge of the support sleeve by at least about two inches.
7. The child carrier according to claim 5 wherein the lower support appendages, adjustable shoulder straps, and carrier body cooperate to define two openings that are sized, shaped and configured to pass the child's legs therethrough.
8. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein the carrier body comprises a posterior section connected to the bottom section, the posterior section comprising:
- a torso support region configured to support the torso of the child;
- a head support region configured to support the head of the child; and
- a transition region between the head and torso support regions, the transition region being sized and configured to allow the head support region to be selectively moved between (i) an unfolded position for carrying of the child facing inwardly towards the wearer, and (ii) a folded position for carrying of the child facing outwardly away from the wearer, wherein in the folded position the head support region is folded down into an overlapping relation to the torso support region.
9. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein the carrier body further comprises at least one sleeve disposed on a side of the carrier body that is configured to pass the lumbar belt therethrough.
10. The child carrier according to claim 1 wherein the lumbar belt comprises;
- (i) a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the back, the contoured lumbar panel having a curvature that is complimentary to a curvature of the lumbar region of the wearer's back; and
- (ii) at least one lumbar belt strap attached to the lumbar panel and extensible about the wearer.
11. A child carrier transitionable between upright and sling carrying positions on a wearer, the carrier comprising:
- (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein, the carrier body comprising a front sleeve and at least two opposing side sleeves; and
- (b) a pair of adjustable straps attached to the carrier body and extensible over the wearer's shoulders; and
- (c) a lumbar belt configured to selectively extend through the front and side sleeve segments and about the body of the wearer; wherein the lumbar belt is extended through the front sleeve to support the carrier body in the upright carrying position, and the lumbar belt is extended through one of the side sleeves to support the carrier body in the sling carrying position.
12. The child carrier according to claim 11 wherein the carrier body comprises a bottom section configured to pass between the legs of a child held in the carrier body to support the child thereon, the bottom section comprising the front sleeve.
13. The child carrier according to claim 11, wherein the lumbar belt is configured to be slideably extended through the front sleeve segment such that the carrier body is selectively positionable (i) at the front of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in an upright front carrying position, or (ii) towards the side of the wearer's body an upright side carrying position.
14. The child carrier according to claim 11 wherein the carrier body comprises a pair of lower support appendages extending outwardly from opposing sides thereof, the support appendages having the opposing side sleeves formed therein.
15. The child carrier according to claim 11 wherein the carrier body comprises an interior channel extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the carrier body further comprises a support insert configured to be slideably positionable within the channel to support the infant's head in the sling carrying position.
16. The child carrier according to claim 15 wherein the support insert is slideably positionable towards an upper end of the carrier body to support the head of the child in the sling carrying position, and is slideably positionable away from the upper end of the carrier body to support the child in the upright carrying position.
17. A child carrier configured to be worn by a wearer for the carrying of a child therein, the child carrier comprising:
- (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein;
- (b) a lumbar support belt configured to attach to the carrier body and support the carrier body on the wearer, the lumbar support belt comprising: (i) a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the wearer, the contoured lumbar panel comprising a curvature that is complimentary to a curvature of the lumbar region of the wearer; and (ii) at least one lumbar belt strap attached to the lumbar panel and extensible about the wearer; and
- (c) at least one shoulder strap attached to the carrier body and extensible over the wearer's shoulders.
18. The child carrier according to claim 17 wherein the contoured lumbar panel has a base panel comprising at least one of a formed rigid foam and a molded resilient material.
19. The child carrier according to claim 18 wherein the base panel curves inwardly from a top edge of the panel to a bottom edge of the panel, and wherein the base panel is of a thickness that substantially continuously decreases from a greater thickness at a middle portion of the base panel to a smaller thickness at top and bottom portions of the base panel.
20. The child carrier according to claim 18 wherein the base panel comprises:
- a panel frame having a top edge defining a generally arcuate shape, sloping side edges and a bottom edge defining an inwardly curved indentation;
- a web within the panel frame comprising first web lines radiating upwardly and outwardly from the indentation in the panel frame, and second web lines traversing the first lines; and
- support arches superimposed over the first and second web lines.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 19, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 25, 2010
Inventors: MICHAEL A PARNESS (San Diego, CA), Jessica A. Miller (La Mesa, CA)
Application Number: 12/234,045
International Classification: A47D 13/02 (20060101);