Baby carrier

Abstract

The baby carrier is made from a lightweight cotton fabric. The baby carrier has a rectangular body part having a top edge and a bottom edge. The carrier has an upper back support strap attached medially to side edges of the rectangular body part. A pair of shoulder straps extend between the top corners of the rectangular body part and the upper back strap. A pair of waist straps extend from the bottom corners of the rectangular body part. A pair of baby securing straps extend medially from the shoulder straps. In use, the carrier is placed over the head and shoulders, the upper back strap seating at the base of the shoulder blades. The waist straps are wrapped around the waist and tied in front. The baby is placed between the rectangular body part and the caregiver's chest. The baby securing straps are wrapped around the baby and tied.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to infant care accessories, and more particularly to an all fabric material baby carrier that secures the baby in a face-to-face relationship with an adult, leaving the hands of the adult free.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of infant carriers are available that relieve the caregiver from the burden of carrying the baby in their arms, including strollers, carriages, portable car seats, etc. Many parents prefer a carrier that holds the baby close to the parent's body for the added benefit of psychological bonding between the parent and baby. Traditionally, Native Americans have been pictured carrying their young in a papoose, with straps slung over the shoulders and the baby supported on the back and facing rearward.

In recent years, such carriers have been modified so that the baby is supported in front, facing the chest of the person wearing the harness. The chest harness has the advantage of maintaining closeness between parent and child, nourishing the child with warmth in a position where the infant can feel the parent's heartbeat, while supporting the baby's weight with the shoulder's and back, and keeping the parent's arms free. Nevertheless, as the variety of designs attests, there are concerns regarding both the comfort of the infant and the safety of the harness.

Thus a baby carrier solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The baby carrier is made from a lightweight, one hundred percent non-allergenic cotton fabric. The baby carrier has a rectangular body part having a top edge and a bottom edge. The carrier has an upper back support strap attached medially to side edges of the rectangular body part. A pair of shoulder straps extend between the top corners of the rectangular body part and the upper back strap. A pair of waist straps extend from the bottom corners of the rectangular body part. A pair of baby securing straps extend medially from the shoulder straps. In use, the carrier is placed over the head and shoulders, the upper back strap seating at the base of the shoulder blades. The waist straps are wrapped around the waist and tied in front. The baby is placed between the rectangular body part and the caregiver's chest. The baby securing straps are wrapped around the baby and tied.

Once the baby is placed into the carrier, the baby is positioned in an upright sitting position facing the adult's chest. This relationship provides comfort and security for the baby. The baby's weight is distributed across the caregiver's shoulders and back. The waist straps prevent the lower part of the carrier from shifting sideways, and secure the bottom edge against the waist so that the baby does not slide downward. The baby securing straps support the baby's back and prevent the baby's upper torso from bending away from the caregiver's chest. The baby is comforted by the warmth and heartbeat of the caregiver's body while resting in a soft, comfortable carrier.

At the same time, the caregiver can put the carrier on and secure the baby in the carrier quickly and easily, and the baby's weight is comfortably distributed by the carrier.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a baby carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental front view of the baby carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an environmental rear view of the baby carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an environmental rear view of the baby carrier according to the present invention, showing the carrier before securing the waist and baby securing straps.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the baby carrier according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the baby carrier according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a baby carrier, designated generally as 10 in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the baby carrier 10 is worn by a caregiver 12 for carrying an infant or baby 14. The baby carrier 10 is lightweight and preferably made of one hundred percent non-allergenic cotton fabric. The baby 14 is slipped into the carrier 10 facing the caregiver 12. The carrier 10 positions the baby 14 in front of the caregiver 12 so that the baby 14 rests against the caregiver's chest. This propinquity provides the baby 14 with comfort and security. Shoulder straps 16, 18 distribute the weight of the baby 14 and provide support. Waist straps 20, 21 are tied under the baby 14 to support the lower portion of the carrier 10. Baby securing straps 22, 24 are tied around the baby 14 to further secure the baby 14 in the carrier 10.

As seen in FIG. 2, the infant 14 is retained in an upright sitting, position by virtue of the carrier 10 being supported by shoulder straps 16, 18. The infant 14 is in constant view of the caregiver 12, and the caregiver 12 has freedom to use their arms. The weight of the infant 14 is distributed by the carrier 10 so that the majority of the weight is not borne by shoulders straps 16, 18 which would not only be uncomfortable, but would readily impart fatigue to the adult. Baby securing straps 22, 24 are tied in a knot 25 behind the baby's back for convenience, and thereby supporting the baby's back and drawing the baby against the caregiver's chest. The length of baby straps 22, 24 may optionally be extended to wrap around the infant 14 and be tied in the back of the caregiver 12, if desired.

As shown in FIG. 3, waist wraps 20, 21 are drawn rearward and crisscrossed behind the caregiver's waist or hips before extending forward. Upper back strap 30 extends around the caregiver's upper back at or below the bottom of the shoulder blades. Ends 32 and 34 of shoulder straps 16 and 18 are rigidly attached to the upper back support strap 30, e.g., by stitching. The ends 36, 38 of baby securing straps 22, 24 are rigidly attached to shoulder straps 16, 18, e.g., by stitching, and extend medially from shoulder straps 16 and 18. The baby securing straps 22, 24 and are preferably drawn rearward and crisscrossed behind the caregiver's back before extending forward beneath the caregiver's arms. Depending on the size and weight of the infant 14, the baby securing straps 22, 24 can extend either under the arms of the caregiver 12 and tie around the torso of the infant 14 or, alternatively, cross over the top of the shoulders of the caregiver 12 and tie under the bottom of the infant 14. Changing the position of the baby securing straps 22, 24 is done easily, since there are no buckles, clips, buttons, or other artificial type of clasps or fasteners.

Referring to FIG. 4, the caregiver 12 places the carrier 10 over the head with the shoulder straps 16, 18 placed over the shoulder and upper back support strap 30 extending across the upper back at, or just below, the lower ends of the scapulae, or shoulder blades. At this point the two baby securing straps 22, 24 and the waist straps 20, 21 hang down freely. The waist straps 20, 21 are preferably drawn rearward and crisscrossed, as shown in FIG. 3, then drawn forward around the waist or hips and tied in front, as shown in FIG. 1. The central rectangular body part 44 then forms a pouch for receiving the baby 14, the bottom edge of the body 44 being bound against the caregiver's waist or hips by tying waist straps 20, 21 in front of the waist or hips. Baby securing straps 22, 24 are then preferably crisscrossed behind the caregiver's back, as shown in FIG. 3, and then drawn forward and tied behind the baby's back into knot 25, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the baby carrier 10 has a central rectangular body 44. The body has a top edge 40 that may be folded over and hemmed, a double padded bottom edge 42, and opposed side edges. The one-piece baby carrier 10 is lightweight and washable. Preferably, there are no buckles, clips, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners. The carrier is simple and easy to use by a single caregiver 12, and may be quickly folded for compact storage and transport.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A baby carrier, comprising:

a rectangular body having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, the edges forming top corners and bottom corners;

an upper back support strap attached medially to the opposed side edges of the rectangular body;

a pair of shoulder straps extending between the top corners and the upper back support strap;

a pair of waist straps extending from the bottom corners of the rectangular body; and

a pair of baby securing straps extending medially from the shoulder straps;

wherein the carrier is adapted for being worn by a caregiver with the rectangular body facing the caregiver's chest, the shoulder straps resting on the caregiver's shoulders, the upper back support strap seating against the caregiver's upper back, the waist straps being wrapped around the caregiver's waist and hips and secured to form a pouch adapted for holding a baby against the caregiver's chest, and the baby securing straps being wrapped around the rectangular body and secured to support the baby's back.

2. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said rectangular body and said straps are made from a lightweight one hundred percent non-allergenic cotton fabric.