VARIABLE POSITION AND ORIENTATION INFANT CARRIER AND SAFETY SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for carrying infants safely and with flexibility with respect to position and orientation of a carried infant relative to a user. The system includes a vest worn by a user, the vest including multiple vest-side attachment means at various positions on the vest, and a corresponding infant carrier component having a multipoint restraint system and corresponding carrier-side attachment means for reversibly attaching the carrier to the vest in any of a number of positions and orientations on, and relative to the vest and its wearer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to infant carriers.

2. Background Information

Both the need and the associated difficulties in carrying infants predate recorded history. Oddly, however, the task has only marginally been made easier and safer with the advancement of design and technology.

If one is charged with the care of an infant and is to traverse any significant distance, carrying or otherwise safely transporting the infant is an undeniable necessity. Many on-body baby carriers and wheeled vehicles (“strollers”, for example) are available, however each presently available such product falls short in minimizing the disruption of attending an infant while mobile, and at the same time addressing safety and comfort concerns (for user and infant). Further still, each product has limitations with respect to the proximity and position of the infant relative to the carrier. Known frontal body infant support, for example, is not safely convertible to safely caring and infant on one's back, in backpack fashion. The converse is also true for carriers designed to be used in backpack fashion. Certainly a stroller cannot be wholly converted to an on-body carrier when space limitations and/or relative to agility is needed while transporting an infant. When one is in a situation with a stroller, but one in which a stroller becomes no longer an option (alone to traverse a long flight of stairs in a public space, for example), things become quickly complicated as one must, if he or she is to continue, abandon the stroller, while still requiring (for safety's sake) some form of on-body baby carrier. If one has such an on-body baby carrier, it may or may not be suitable for the particular need for proximity and position of the infant to the carrier.

As is clear from the above, presently available systems apparatuses for safely and comfortably carrying infants leave certain needs undressed—most notably, flexibility while maintaining comfort and safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present inventor has conceived a design for an on-body infant carrier that maximizes both safety and flexibility with respect to position and proximity of the infant to the person carrying the infant.

The assembly of the present invention maybe thought of as a system that, at the most generalized level, includes a user-worn vest and a detachable infant carrier, each being configured to reversibly attach to the other, but with the vest having multiple attachment points for the variation in positioning of the secured infant relative to the user.

Embodiments of the present invention provide considerable flexibility in positioning and infant relative to the user, while maximizing safety for the carried infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a baby carrier system and assembly of the present invention as worn for carrying and infant who is facing the caregiver.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a baby carrier system and assembly of the present invention as worn in backpack configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts a rotational plate (an example of “dynamic orientation means”) that intervenes attachment media and allows for real-time, dynamic changes in orientation between the infant carrier and the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The infant carrying system 10 of the present invention (an embodiment of which is depicted generally in FIG. 1) is based, in part, on the “tactical vest” approach to flexible carrying systems. Such a tactical vest is generally exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,121 issued to Belson. As in Belson, the vest 12 of the present invention would include attachment devices or media 14 such as, as applicable, one side's pairing of hook and loop fastening strips, snaps, hooks, carabiners, snap buckle assemblies and the like, each suitable for the weight and durability needed for safely carrying an infant. While the principle function of the vest-side attachment means 14 would be to engage with the infant carrier 16 (as described below, and in the figures), the vest-side attachment means 14 could also be used, or supplemented with additional vest-side attachment means for attaching various accessories, supplies, etc. with corresponding means for reversible engagement with the vest-side attachment means.

The corresponding opposing side pairing of the vest-side attachment media or devices 14 would, of course, be on the infant carrier 16. The attachment media or devices 18 on the infant carrier 16 (“carrier-side attachment means”) would be positioned in a variety of locations, allowing a user to position the carried infant in any of a number of varieties of positions relative to the vest 12, and orientations relative to the horizontal. Such a design permits attaching the infant carrier 16 in any of a number of places and orientations relative to the vest wearer, including the user's frontal, reward, and side portions of the body. This, in turn, facilitates carrying the infant in a manner which, in varying circumstances, allows the user to achieve the best balance of user flexibility, infant comfort, user comfort, and infant safety. Likewise, the preferred embodiment of the infant carrier 16 itself would include multiple carrier-side attachment means.

For example, while feeding an infant, while also walking, the infant would be best positioned to the user's front, and a supine position. Conversely, while traversing long distances with an infant who is compatible with backpack style riding, a user's back comfort would be best served by mounting the carrier 16 in backpack fashion. The same configuration would be necessary if a user is to be able to freely use one's arms and hands and/or to shield an infant from some possible hazard at which the user is facing (cooking, for example).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the infant carrier would include a head support extension (not separately shown and the figures).

As generally depicted in FIG. 3, a further embodiment involves a “dynamic orientation means”, in the depicted case, a rotating plate assembly 20. The rotating plate assembly (or equivalent alternatives) intervene the infant carrier 16 and the tactical vest 12. This feature can be a feature of all, or merely some of the attachment engagements between infant carrier 16 and the vest 12. When included, this feature facilitates highly flexible relative orientations between the infant carrier 16 and the vest 12. For example, when such a dynamic orientation means 20 is included, one may position the infant carrier 16 (and, of course, the carried infant) for feeding, and then (without detaching any attachment medium) simply rotate the carrier 16 to any other desired orientation about the rotational axis for, for example “burping”, and the like. Alternatives to the depicted rotational plate assembly may include “ball and socket” assemblies, with suitable reversible locking means (not depicted), such that the relative orientation between vest and carrier may be in other than solely about a single axis. Attachment means of this nature are exemplified by the ball and socket mounts of various of the RAM MOUNT systems (www.rammount.com).

The dynamic orientation means itself may be permanently attached on one, the other, or both of the vest and infant carrier, or may be detachably attached with such as hook and loop (suitably of “industrial” strength, for apparent reasons).

Referring again to FIG. 1, one or more hooks, clamps, or the like (“lower stability means”) 22 may be provided to extend from the lower margin of vest 12 to secure vest 12 to a wearer's pants, skirt, or other garment. These are to provide stability as against rotation of the vest relative to the wearer, when, for example, the weight of the infant carrier and housed infant exert downward forces opposite the vest/garment attachment point.

The child carrier of the present system may come in a number of forms, including hard shell varieties with associated, strap-based restraints (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,049, issued to Monot) or non-rigid ones, the latter possibly being nothing more than the straps and fasteners of a multi-point restraint assembly, including the attachment media or apparatuses for attachment to the vest component. In any event, the preferred embodiment will include a five point support and restraint assembly such as is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,617 B2, issued to Aaron, et al.

The system of the present invention incorporates pre-existing elements, however no known infant carrying system includes the present combination of features, nor provides the flexibility, safety, and comfort for hey user and a carried infant.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An infant carrying system comprising:

a vest configured for wearing user, and having a plurality of vest-side attachment means, at least one such vest-side attachment means being positioned on each of said vest's frontal and rearward faces; and

an infant carrier assembly having reversibly openable restraint means for admitting and removing an infant therein, and further including first carrier-side attachment means configured for reversible engagement with one or more of said plurality of said vest-side attachment means, and for supporting said infant carrier in a first orientation relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

2. The infant caring system of claim 1 where in said plurality of vest-side attachment means are additionally positioned at alternative locations on said frontal face of said vest.

3. The infant caring system of claim 1 where in said plurality of vest-side attachment means are additionally positioned at alternative locations on said rearward face of said vest.

4. The infant caring system of claim 2 where in said plurality of vest-side attachment means are additionally positioned at alternative locations on said rearward face of said vest.

5. The infant caring system of claim 1 wherein said reversibly openable restraint means is configured, at least in part, of straps, in turn, configured as at least a four point restraint system.

6. The infant caring system of claim 5 where in said plurality of vest-side attachment means are additionally positioned at alternative locations on said frontal face of said vest.

7. The infant caring system of claim 5 where in said plurality of vest-side attachment means are additionally positioned at alternative locations on said rearward face of said vest.

8. The infant caring system of claim 1 further included garment attachment means for reversibly engaging said vest with an external stabilizing member.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said one ore more of said vest-side attachment means and said o attachment means comprises rotational interface means for permitting a rotational realignment between said vest and said carrier.

10. The infant caring system of claim 1 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second position relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

11. The infant caring system of claim 1 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second orientation relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

12. The infant caring system of claim 1 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second position and orientation relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

13. The infant caring system of claim 2 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second position relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

14. The infant caring system of claim 2 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second orientation relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.

15. The infant caring system of claim 2 where second carrier-side attachment means are positioned on said infant carrier for orienting said infant carrier in a second position and orientation relative to said vest when engaged with said vest.