Baby Carrier for Twins

Abstract

This invention relates to a baby carrier for twin infants in the form of a vest with pouches that allows easy placement and removal of both infants with ease by the wearer and that allows the wearer to breastfeed both infants without having to remove them from the carrier.

Description

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/136,479.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to the field of baby carriers, specifically baby carriers for twins. More particularly, the present invention relates to a twin carrier that allows easy placement and removal of both babies and access for breastfeeding while the babies are being carried. In the field of twin carriers it is desirable to have a means of easily placing each baby into and taking each baby out of the carrier independently with ease (referred to as poppability). In addition, it is desirable for the wearer to be able to see both babies' faces while they are in the carrier, and for the pouches of the carrier to support the heads of small babies. Further, it is sometimes desirable to be able to breastfeed the babies while they are in the carrier. Additionally, it is desirable that the use of the twin carrier is quickly mastered.

When twins are old enough to support their own heads and necks, utilizing two single baby carriers, one worn on the front and the other on the back, is a viable solution.. Before that point, babies should always be worn in front, and combining carriers intended to be worn at center of chest is uncomfortable for both wearer and infants, and is unsafe for the infants. Thus, there is a need for specifically designed twin carriers. In the field of baby carriers, there exist a number of twin carriers. The MaxiMom and the Twin Trexx are virtually identical baby carriers where the wearer has to first put the babies into pouches and then lay the babies in pouches safely down to prepare for attachment to a harness. Both pouches must be attached at the same time, requiring one baby to be dangled from the shoulder while fastening the second baby on, making for a dangerous and difficult process. Similarly, the Baby K'tan and Moby Wrap for twins are wraps that have very steep learning curves. The DoubleTake! Sling is a wide carrier that is similar to having a baby in a bag on each side, providing none of the normal advantages of a sling (such as closeness, ease of adjustment and multiple configurations), while making it difficult to see the babies' faces reliably, creating a risk of banging their heads on doorframes when passing through, and making it impossible to breastfeed the babies in the carrier. The Weego Twin allows babies to be placed in or taken out with ease and has a wide enough seat to ensure the babies' legs don't dangle, but does not provide any support for the head or neck of the baby, requiring an outer shell to be fastened to the carrier and cinched with a strap. Further the Weego has no means for the babies to breastfeed while they are in the carrier. The TwinGo carrier, U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,868, is designed to carry one baby in the front and one in the back (referred to as tandem babywearing) and is not for use with small babies who can't hold their heads up on their own. The TwinStar Baby, LLC carrier, not on the market, is patent pending. While the inventor of this carrier states that it addresses ease of placing the babies, poppability and comfort, it relies on removable shoulder straps and other features that reduce the security of the babies contained therein, and it does not provide means for allowing babies to be breastfed while in the carrier. The present invention provides for all of the desired features of a baby carrier. It has high poppability, an easy set of instructions and a quick learning curve to use it, access for breastfeeding while the babies are in the carrier, positioning of the babies in a safe manner that allows for the wearer to see the babies' faces, and full support for babies' heads while they are in the carrier.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention comprises a wearable vest with pouches for carrying twin infants. It is a principal object of this invention that the donning of the vest and the placement of the babies into and removal of the babies from the vest be quick and convenient for the wearer of said vest without assistance from another person, and safe for the babies. In the principal embodiment of the invention the babies' heads will be appropriately supported for safety while in the carrier. Further, in the principal embodiment of the invention, once the infants are properly positioned and secured in the invention, the wearer's hands will be free to attend other tasks, and the wearer will be maximally unencumbered to move about safely and conveniently, in particular to ascend or descend stairs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vest provides for the wearer to be able to breastfeed twin infants while they are placed in the vest, either individually or simultaneously. It is a further object of this invention that the wearer be able to breastfeed said infants while engaged in other activities. It is yet a further object of this invention that the wearer be able to breastfeed the infants while they are in the carrier with her breasts concealed from public view.

It is a further object of the invention to maximize the wearer's comfort while carrying twin infants for long periods of time and/or while walking a long distance. It is a further object of the invention to provide a means to comfortably distribute the load of carrying twin infants. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the invention has adjustable straps pressing a foam pad against the wearer's back. The friction of this pad (and the lining of said vest) tight against the wearer's back serves to anchor the loads.

It is a further object of the invention that the infants are worn close to the wearer's torso for reasons including but not limited to the general benefits of close human contact, the benefits of minimizing the hindrance caused by the babies when lifting any heavy object, the benefits of being able to shield the infants from danger with one's hands, and the benefits of the total dimension of wearer and passengers being minimized to fit though doorways and avoid contact with objects in one's environment generally.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, it is an object of the invention to serve as an evacuation vest in case of an emergency, allowing adult wearers to carry infants down stairs for vertical evacuation to safety when the number of infants exceeds the number of physically able adults.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the vest contains convenient pockets and other attachment points for the equipment and/or supplies that a parent or other adult caring for infants frequently carries when traveling with babies.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the straps on the rear of the vest are concealed underneath the outer layer of the vest.

In another alternate embodiment of the invention, the pouches for carrying the babies have extra padding for comfort and security.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a depiction of the invention shown from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a depiction of the invention from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown from the front side.

FIG. 4 is a depiction of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown from the back side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, an easy to use, secure, wearable baby carrier capable of carrying twin babies is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a vest 1 that is closed in the front by main zipper 15. Said vest 1 is reinforced by shoulder reinforcements 3 and 3′ on each shoulder over which pass shoulder straps 2 and 2′ so that they may be connected to chest straps 18 and 18′ on the said vest 1 by means of parachute clips 4 and 4′. Said vest 1 is further secured on the wearer by means of waist strap 7 and hip strap 8, which are secured by parachute clips 4a and 4b respectively. Hip strap 8 can be loosened or tightened by means of hip strap tension adjustment 9. Waist strap 7 can appear above or below the material of the vest 1. Attached to the front of the vest 1 with heavy stitching are two pouches 11 and 11′ in which infants would be placed. Said pouch 11 has an unattached edge 12 for a baby's arm to pass through, an unattached edge 13 for a baby's leg to pass through, a padded head support 5 on the top, and a fastening means 14 on the inside of said pouch near main zipper 15 and under waist strap 7. Said pouch 11′ has an unattached edge 12′ for a baby's arm to pass through, an unattached edge 13′ for a baby's leg to pass through, a padded head support 5′ on the top and a Fastening Means 14′ on the inside of said pouch near main zipper 15 and under waist strap 7. On the vest side of pouches 11 and 11′ are breast access zippers 6 and 6′ respectively. On the front of pouches 11 and 11′ are side-opening pockets 16 and 16′ and top opening pockets 17 and 17′ respectively. Side pouches 11 and 11′ are held in place and supported by upper pouch straps 20 and 20′ and lower pouch straps 21 and 21′. The Upper and Lower pouch straps can be adjusted by fastening means 19 and 19′. Fabric Loops 23 and 23′ help shoulder straps 2 and 2′ and hip strap 8 remain in position on vest 1. Hip strap 8 is further held in place on the vest 1 by fabric loops 24 and 24′. FIG. 2 shows the vest 1 of the invention from the rear. Shoulder straps 2 and 2′ are shown crossing in the middle of the back of the vest 1′ above waist strap 7 and connecting to the back of the vest 1′ on hip strap 8. Back pad 10 is attached to the inside of back of the vest 1′ in the area formed by waist strap 7, hip strap 8 and back straps 25 and 25′. FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention designed for additional support.

Except as set forth in this paragraph, all numbered elements are the same as those identified in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, shoulder strap 2 and 2′, waist strap 7 and hip strap 8 pass between layers of the fabric of the body of the vest 1. Reinforced openings 27 and 27′ allow shoulder straps 2 and 2′ to pass between the material of vest 1, and reinforced hip openings 27a and 27a′ allowing hip strap 8 to pass between layers of the material of vest 1 and the shoulder reinforcements 3 and 3′.

FIG. 4 shows the same alternative embodiment of the invention from the rear, and uses the same numeration as FIG. 2.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, providing users with the ability to place each baby into, and take each baby out of, the carrier independently with ease. The invention can be used while sitting or standing, and the infants can be placed in or removed in either position. Further, the invention provides for the wearer to be able to see both baby's face while supporting the head of smaller babies. Additionally, the invention provides a means for the wearer to be able to breast feed one or both babies without having to remove them from the carrier.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should not be limited by the above described embodiment, method and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A carrier for twin infants comprising a vest, and two pouches on the front of said vest.

2. The carrier of claim 4, additionally comprising a main fastener on the front of said vest, said main fastener selected from the group comprising a zipper, buttons, snaps and/or clasps.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the upper inside corner of each of said pouches attaches to a support that passes over the shoulder on the opposite side of said vest.

4. The carrier of claim 1 additionally comprising waist, hip and back supports to distribute weight away from the collar or neck area.

5. A carrier for twin infants comprising:

a vest with a main fastener means on the front, first and second shoulder reinforcements over each shoulder;

a waist strap, said waist strap having a waist strap tension adjustment;

a hip strap, said hip strap having a hip strap tension adjustment;

first and second shoulder straps that pass over said first and second shoulder reinforcements and cross on the back of the vest above the waist strap and connect to said hip strap;

first and second chest straps that connect to said first and second shoulder straps;

first and second back straps that runs from above the waist strap to below the hip strap;

first and second pouches connected to said vest, each pouch having a first and second unattached edge on the side of the pouch furthest from the main fastener means, a padded head support on the upper end of each pouch, a fastener means on the inside of each pouch on the side closest to the main closure and below the waist strap, an access opening on the vest side of each pouch, and a protective flap over such access opening;

upper and lower pouch straps connected to said first and second pouches and the vest;

a back pad attached to the inside of the back of said vest between said hip strap, said waist strap, and said first and second back straps.

6. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said waist strap appears above the outer material of vest 1.

7. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said waist strap appears below the material of vest 1.

8. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said first and second pouches are connected to said vest with heavy stitching.

9. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the strap connections are all parachute clips.

10. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said first and second pouches also have side opening pockets and top opening pockets.

11. The carrier of claim 4 wherein the access openings of each are closed by a zipper.

12. The carrier of claim 4, wherein fabric loops are attached to the vest in a position to hold each should strap and the hip strap in place.

13. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the main fastener is selected from the group comprising a zipper, buttons, snaps and/or clasps.

14. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said vest has multiple layers of fabric and reinforced openings into the space between said layers.

15. The carrier of claim 13, wherein said first and second shoulder straps, said waist strap and said hip strap pass through said reinforced openings and between said layers of fabric of said vest.

16. A carrier for twin infants comprising:

a vest,

two pouches on the front of said vest,

a waist strap, said waist strap having a waist strap tension adjustment,

a hip strap, said hip strap having a hip strap tension adjustment;

first and second shoulder straps that pass over the shoulders of said vest and cross on the back of the vest above the waist strap and connect to said hip strap;

first and second pouches connected to said vest, each pouch having a first and second unattached edge on one side of the pouch,

17. The carrier of claim 15 wherein the upper inside corner of each of said pouches attaches to the shoulder strap that passes over the shoulder on the opposite side of said vest.

18. The carrier of claim 15 wherein each of said pouches further comprises a padded head support on the upper end of each pouch, a fastener means on the inside of each pouch, an access opening on the vest side of each pouch, and a protective flap over such access opening;

19. The carrier of claim 15 which further comprises a back pad attached to the inside of the back of said vest between said hip strap and said waist strap.