Carrying Sling for a Child

Abstract

A sling that helps to lift a sleeping child from a car seat or stroller without waking the child.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PPA Ser. No. 62/060,873 filed on Oct. 7, 2014.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to baby carriers and, in particular, to a carrier which accommodates seat belt restraints, stroller, baby jogger, car seat or other child carrier to assure the child's safety and comfort.

BACKGROUND

Varieties of covers, wraps, slings and carriers have been developed to contain children and toddlers. Known carriers generally consist of a blanket or flat sheet which envelops the child and straps to secure and carry the child.

If the child is at rest these carriers often require waking him or her in order property secure and move child.

This invention provides a carrying sling for a resting child which allows the safe lifting and moving of a child without disturbing them.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a carrying sling for a person, such as a child, that allows the safe and efficient lifting and moving of a child at rest without disturbing the child from that rest. The invention comprises a sling including two handles adjacent to a head support area of the sling, a leg support area with two wings and an aperture on either wing, and a handle adjacent to a leg support area of the sling which is threaded through the two apertures to secure the child's legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many times a sleeping child is awakened when the parent or guardian attempts to lift the sleeping child from a car seat or stroller. The invention claimed here solves this problem by allowing the parent or guardian to gently lift the child in place without disturbing their rest.

When sewn into the designed pattern the components form a form-fitting sling that cradles the child. The posterior end of the sling securely wraps the child's buttocks while the rest of the sling safely and securely cradles the child. The handles are then used to lift the child from the car seat or stroller.

Once the fabric handles and thread are procured they must be cut into the proper shape and length. The components are then sewn together in the proper configuration to create the sling. Button holes may be then cut into the sling. This could be done by hand or by machine. An alternative construction sews metallic rings, such as D-rings to the posterior end of the sling in place of button holes.

The parent or guardian would place the invention into the car seat or stroller and then place the child on top of the sling. Once the child is seated in the car seat or stroller the parent or guardian would secure the child with the handles provided by the car seat or stroller manufacture. The sling will not interfere with the normal use of child restraints provided by the manufacturer of the car seat or stroller. When the parent or guardian wishes to remove the child from the car seat or stroller, the parent or guardian removes the car seat or stroller restrains, wraps the child's buttocks with the invention, secures the sling around the buttocks with the sling's posterior handle, then lifts the child from the car seat or stroller with all of the sling's handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the child sling when used to lift a sleeping child.

FIG. 2 is a plain view of the child sling according as it appears when laid flat.

FIG. 3 is a plain view of the child sling with an alternative aperture construction

FIG. 4A is a view of a portion of the child sling with unsecured anti-tangle restraints

FIG. 4B is a view of a portion of the child sling with secured anti-tangle restraints

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing showing a child supported by the improved carrying sling 100 of the invention. The child 110 can be, for instance, resting on the carrying sling 100 in a car seat. A person lifting the child 110 would then take each wing 120 and 121 and wrap them over each of the child's legs 111 and 112 with the wings 120 and 121 overlapping at the point where the two apertures 125 on the wings are located. The person would then thread the posterior handle 130 through both apertures 125 so as to secure the child's legs 111 and 112 near the buttocks. The person would then grab the anterior handles 140 and 141 near the child's head 113 and posterior handle 130 and lift the child from the car seat with the weight of the child held within the sling. This allows the person to move the child without disturbing his or her rest.

When each of the lifter's hands are positioned at a similar height above a ground surface, the child 100 will be positioned with their head 113 slightly above their legs 111 and 112 due to the length of the posterior region of the sling 100 where the posterior handle 130 is located. This resting position will provide a comfortable position for the child and will ensure the child is positioned in sling 100 such that each of the child's legs 111 and 112 are received in one of leg loops formed by the wings 120 and 121 and the posterior handle 130. The posterior handle 130 threaded through the wings also prevents the child from slipping from the sling. In other words, sling 100 is said to wrap around the sides of a child 110 held within the sling 100 so as to secure the child 110 therein.

FIG. 2 shows a plain view of the carrying sling 200. The primary flexible sheet 210 can be adorned with images and patterns and extends in a longitudinal direction until it terminates at the posterior end 211 where the posterior handle 241 attaches. Two handles 240 are attached to the anterior end 212 of the flexible sheet. The wings 220 extend from the posterior end 211 and oriented in the transverse direction. They are defined by an anterior facing flank 221 and a posterior facing flank 222 which meet and form the perimeter of the wings 220. An aperture 230 is located near the distal end of each wing 220 so that the posterior handle 241 can pass through but the posterior end 211 cannot. The inability of the posterior end to pass through the aperture provides the support necessary to lift the child.

When not in use, sling 200 is easily folded and stored. Moreover, sling 200 is easily washed and may be manufactured in any size as may be desired. The sling may also be manufactured of a plastic coated or other water resistant/repellant material so as to facilitate cleaning of the sling. The sling of the present invention, therefore, provides a secure and comfortable carrying sling which allows the lifter to efficiently and safely lift and carry a child without holding the child under the child's armpits. Moreover, the thin flexible nature of sling 200 allows the child to remain in the sling 200, when handles 240 and 241 are not gripped, so that the sling need not be removed when the child is placed in a high chair, a car seat or a stroller, for example. Accordingly, the child may be easily lifted from the high chair, car seat or stroller, without requiring repositioning of sling 200 underneath the child after such activities.

FIG. 3 shows a plain view of an alternate embodiment of the carrying sling 300. This embodiment has an alternative construction for the apertures 330. This embodiment has a primary flexible sheet 310 extending in a longitudinal direction until it terminates at the posterior end 311 where the posterior handle 341 attaches. Two handles 340 are attached to the anterior end 312 of the flexible sheet. The wings 320 extend from the posterior end 311 and oriented in the transverse direction. They are defined by an anterior facing flank 321 and a posterior facing flank 322. In this embodiment the posterior and anterior flanks do not meet at an apex but are connected by a longitudinal flank 323 at which point a ring 330 is attached. This ring can be of any type, such as “D” ring or an “O” ring; but it must form an aperture so that the posterior handle 341 can pass through but the posterior end 311 cannot. The inability of the posterior end to pass through the aperture provides the support necessary to lift the child.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an alternative construction of the handles of the carrying sling. In this embodiment the flexible sheet 410 and the handle 440 contain a fastener allowing the loop of the handle to be secured to the flexible sheet so as to prevent a child from getting tangled in the handle when not being used to lift the child. The fastener in this embodiment is a snap fastener 420 which comprises a female portion 421 adapted to receive a male portion 422 and hold the male portion securely in place. In this embodiment the male portion 422 of the snap faster is located centrally on the handle 440 and the female portion 421 of the snap fastener is located adjacent to the edge of the fabric sheet 410 and centrally between the connection points of the handle 440 to the fabric sheet 410. FIG. 4A shows the snap fastener on the sling 400 in the disengaged position where the handle 440 is free to be used to lift an infant. FIG. 4B shows the snap fastener on the sling 401 in the engaged position where the handle 440 is stowed so as not to entangle the child when he is not being lifted. The male and female components of the snap fastener can be installed on either the fabric sheet 410 or the handle 440 so long as a matching pair exists. Further other fasteners such as button, hook and loop, or magnetic fasteners may be substituted for the snap fastener so long as a solid connection can be made to stow the handle safely.

While the invention has been described with respect to various presently preferred constructions, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description should be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A carrying sling for a person having a longitudinal and a transverse direction, the carrying sling comprising:

a flexible sheet extending in the longitudinal direction, where the flexible sheet has a posterior end region and an anterior end region;

a posterior handle extending in the longitudinal direction from the posterior end region;

a flexible right wing extending in the transverse direction from the posterior end region, the right wing delimited by a posterior flank and anterior flank which converge at a right distal end, the right wing having a right aperture proximate to the right distal end adapted to receive the posterior handle;

a flexible left wing extending in the transverse direction from the posterior end region and opposite the right wing, the left wing delimited by a posterior flank and anterior flank which converge at a left distal end, the left wing having a left aperture proximate to the left distal end adapted to receive the posterior handle; and

at least one anterior handle extending from the anterior end region.

2. A carrying sling set forth in claim 1 where the right aperture is formed by a ring fastened to the right distal end and the left aperture is formed by a ring fastened to the left distal end.

3. A carrying sling as set forth in claims 1 and 2 where the primary flexible sheet and wings are formed from one continuous sheet of material.

4. A carrying sling as set forth in claims 1 and 2 where the at least one anterior handle comprises a right anterior handle extending in the transverse direction from the anterior end region and a left anterior handle extending in the transverse direction from the anterior end region and opposite the right anterior handle.

5. A carrying sling as set forth in claims 1 and 2 where the at least one anterior handle and the posterior handle can be securely fastened to the flexible sheet.

6. A method of producing a carrying sling for a person, the carrying sling having a longitudinal and a transverse direction, said carrying sling comprising:

a flexible sheet extending in the longitudinal direction, where the flexible sheet has a posterior end region and an anterior end region;

a posterior handle extending in the longitudinal direction from the posterior end region;

a flexible right wing extending in the transverse direction from the posterior end region, the right wing delimited by a posterior flank and anterior flank which converge at a right distal end, the right wing having a right aperture proximate to the right distal end adapted to receive the posterior handle;

a flexible left wing extending in the transverse direction from the posterior end region and opposite the right wing, the left wing delimited by a posterior flank and anterior flank which converge at a left distal end, the left wing having a left aperture proximate to the left distal end adapted to receive the posterior handle; and

at least one anterior handle extending from the anterior end region.