A SOFT BABY CARRIER
A baby carrier having at least two carrier parts, a carer's attachment system to be mounted on the carer and a baby part to be mounted on the baby. The baby part and carer's attachment system are adapted to be connected. The baby part and carer's attachment part have first and second connector elements that are mutually connectable and function as the main point of carriage. The first connector element is centrally positioned on the baby part at a position corresponding to a position adjacent to the baby's upper torso when the baby part has been mounted on the baby to ensure a connection stable and balanced relative to the center of gravity of the baby. Only the connector elements need to be connected and function as the carrier point, so the baby part with a baby inside can be mounted to the carer's attachment system in a single action.
The present invention relates to a baby carrier consisting of a carer's attachment system for a caretaker and a baby part.
BACKGROUNDThere are numerous benefits of a baby wearing/using a baby carrier—in short, it can make life easier for the parents and the baby. Baby wearing has been an essential part of child rearing in many cultures for centuries; in recent decades the practice has grown in popularity in many cultures as parents have come to realise its many advantages. Some advantages of using baby carriers are:
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- Holding newborns in close physical contact with a caretaker has physical and physiological benefits for the baby.
- Baby carriers allow a caretaker to provide the baby with the physical comfort while still having hands free for other activities.
- An upright position is great for babies with reflux. The slight pressure on the stomach from being worn also helps with gas issues.
- A colicky baby is more easily soothed when snuggled and rocked in a baby carrier. It is also much easier on a caretaker's arms to have the baby carrier helping with the holding.
- Baby carriers can go many places more easily than e.g. a stroller: maneuvering in crowded places, walking the dog, hiking, sightseeing, and using public transportation are all made easier by using a baby carrier instead of a stroller.
- Once the baby is aware of the world, a baby carrier provides a better view of the surroundings. Carried babies are more easily made a part of the action.
There are a number of baby carriers on the market, and common for most of these are that it is a quite cumbersome process to place the baby in the baby carrier. Typically, the caretaker has to initially mount the carer's attachment system on his/her body, then the mounted baby part has to be opened in the front for placing and securing the baby in the baby part. This process requires a simultaneous balancing of the baby while securing the baby in the baby carrier.
In WO2012/102670, a baby carrier is described, where each side of the baby part is attached to parts attached to the carer's attachment system and in order to place the baby, one side has to be disconnected, and after the baby has been placed, especially the legs of the baby have to be positioned correctly according to a seat part and while positioning and holding the baby at the right position, the disconnected side has to be connected again. Therefore, at the same time, the baby has to be placed correctly, held at the right position, and the side has to be reconnected. This is a quite cumbersome and complex process which could have the consequence of dropping the baby e.g. due to losing the grip of the baby or due to the reconnecting of the sides not being performed properly.
An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned problems by providing a baby carrier which is more simple to use and therefore more user-friendly and more safe to use.
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONIn accordance with the invention, a baby carrier is provided to be used when a person is carrying a baby, wherein said baby carrier comprises at least two parts, a carer's attachment system to be secured on said person/caretaker and a baby part to be on said baby, and wherein these two parts are connected. The baby part and the carer's attachment system comprise a first connector element and a second connector element, respectively, wherein said first and second connector elements are mutually connectable and are functioning as a main point of carriage, and wherein said first connector element on the baby part is positioned on said baby part at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent the upper torso of the baby, when the baby part has been mounted on the baby. The two part baby carrier ensures that the mounting can be performed in separate processes and especially when fastening the baby part on a baby, this can be done while the baby is laying on a surface and not until both the baby part and the carer's attachment system have been mounted on the baby and the caretaker, respectively, the two parts are interconnected via the first and second connector elements.
The assembly and use of the baby carrier follows a simple method. If the baby is to be carried on the front of the caretaker, a first method is used. First, the caretaker mounts the carer's attachment system on him/herself. Secondly, the caretaker mounts the baby part on the baby. These two steps can be interchanged. Thirdly, the caretaker brings the first and second connector elements into an attached position. If the baby is to be carried on the back of the caretaker, a second method is used. First, the baby is mounted in the baby part. Secondly, the baby part is connected to the second connector element of the carer's attachment system. Thirdly, the caretaker mounts the assembled baby carrier on him/herself. These two methods allow the caretaker to safely and easily put the baby into either a front or back position depending on convenience without assistance, where the essential assembly of the two parts is always made up of a single, easy and safe maneuver.
The first connector element may consist of one discrete connector interface, two discrete connector interfaces, multiple such discrete connector interfaces or even a continuous surface of such connection interfaces, placed substantially at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent the upper torso of the baby, when the baby part has been mounted on the baby.
When it is desired to carry the baby e.g. on the back of the caretaker, the first connector element on the baby part with the baby secured inside can be mounted to the second connector element on the carer's attachment system before mounting the baby carrier on the torso of the caretaker.
Thereby, the baby part with the baby inside can be safely mounted to the carer's attachment system by the person carrying the carer's attachment system, and this can be done in one single action since only the connector elements need to be connected and function as the carrier point, whereby the baby is perfectly balanced in an upright position after mounting and the hands of the caretaker are free for operation when standing and/or walking. The single connection is sufficient for holding the baby and thereby, it becomes quite fast to make the connection. In an embodiment, further straps could be used to further secure the baby part to the carer's attachment system. The central upper torso position of the first connector element ensures that the baby will not tilt either backwards or sideways thus making the connection stable and balanced. Another benefit of this more simple invention is that it allows easier handling of the baby. The caretaker may for example put a sleeping baby onto a handling table before disassembling the baby part, thus easing this process and increasing the likelihood that the baby remains asleep.
In the above, the first and second connector elements are positioned at the baby part and the carer's attachment system, respectively. In one embodiment, the first connector element may be of a male type and the second of a female type. The connectability between the two elements is important and in another embodiment, this could also be obtained by the first connector element being a female type and the second connector element being a male type. The connection could likewise be obtained with any other kind of two part connecter solution than male-female.
The first connector element on the baby part should, however, be positioned at the area of the upper torso, either in front of the baby's torso, behind the baby's torso, or both.
In an embodiment, the second connector element is positioned on the front and on the back of the carer's attachment system at a position, which is adjustable, thus ensuring that the mouth and nose of the baby will not be blocked.
The carer's attachment system should be at a position ensuring that the mouth and nose of the baby are at the free area between the upper torso of the caretaker and the chin of the caretaker thus ensuring that the baby can get sufficient air.
In an embodiment, the first connector element is centrally positioned at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent to the upper torso of the baby, more specifically at the uppermost part along or above the armpits of the baby.
By positioning the first connector element on the baby part in the upper torso area, the body of the baby will be blocked against the body of the caretaker which, together with the fact that the position is above the center of gravity of the baby, ensures that the baby will stay in an upright position after connection in the second connector element.
In an embodiment, the second connector element is positioned corresponding to a position being adjacent to the front and/or the back of the torso of the caretaker, when the carer's attachment system has been secured to the caretaker.
Thereby, the baby can be carried at a number of different positions and further, it is possible to carry two babies or alternatively, a baby and a bag or similar.
The second connector element may consist of one discrete connector interface, two discrete connector interfaces, multiple such discrete connector interfaces or even a continuous surface of such connection interfaces, placed substantially at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent the upper torso of the caretaker, when the carer's attachment system has been mounted on the caretaker. The first and second connector elements may be integrated into the baby part and the carer's attachment system, respectively, or one or both may be separate, removable elements.
In an embodiment, the second connector element is removable from and attachable to the carer's attachment system in a number of points, preferably two points.
In an embodiment, the first connector element is positioned corresponding to a position being adjacent to the front and/or the back of the torso of the baby, when the baby part has been secured to the baby.
In an embodiment, the first connector element comprises e.g. a hook for inserting into a hole in the second connector element, whereby the second connector element carries the first connector element.
To avoid the hazards of unintentional release of the first connector element on the baby part from the second connector element on carer's attachment system, the weight of the child acts against the release. In an embodiment, the first and second connector elements contain a mechanism for achieving a locked or closed position, ensuring a safe carriage of the baby where an accidental reversal of forces acting on the connector elements does not loosen or release the connection. Such a reversal of forces might be due to the carer's falling, jumping or other such incident. In one embodiment, a locked position is obtainable by using a spring-loaded connection.
In an embodiment, the first and second connector elements may comprise magnetic means for mutual magnetic attraction between the first and second connector elements.
Thereby, it should be simpler to connect the first and the second connector without requiring precise positioning.
Further, the present invention relates to a carer's attachment element and a baby part element for a baby carrier according to the above.
The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which
As a supplement, a head support may be mounted on the baby part to give further support to the head of especially newborn babies.
Furthermore, the baby part is designed to ensure optimal and comfortable support of the hips and back of the baby. Further, the baby part should be optimised according to the body changes during growth of the baby. Elements of the baby part, which should be considered, are e.g. support of the hips, back, chest and head of the baby.
Claims
1. A baby carrier to be used when a person (103) is carrying a baby (114), wherein said baby carrier comprises at least two carrier parts (101, 111), a carer's attachment system (101) to be mounted on said person/caretaker (103) and a baby part (111) to be mounted on said baby (114), and wherein said baby part (111) and said carer's attachment system (101) are adapted to be connected, wherein said baby part (111) and said carer's attachment part (101) comprise a first connector element (113/115) and a second connector element (105/107), respectively, wherein said first (113) and second (105) connector elements are mutually connectable and are functioning as a main point of carriage, and wherein said first connector element (113) is positioned on said baby part (111) at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent the upper torso of the baby (114), when the baby part (111) has been mounted on the baby (114).
2. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said first connector element (113) is positioned at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent to the center of the upper torso of the baby (114), when the baby part (111) has been mounted on the baby (114).
3. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first connector element (113/115) is centrally positioned at a position corresponding to a position being adjacent to the upper torso of the baby (114), more specifically at the uppermost part (121) along or above the armpits of the baby.
4. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the second connector element (105/107) is positioned corresponding to a position being adjacent to the front and/or the back of the torso of the person/caretaker (103), when the carer's attachment system (101) has been mounted on the person/caretaker (103).
5. A baby carrier according claim 1, wherein the first connector element (113/115) is positioned corresponding to a position being adjacent to the front and/or the back of the torso of the baby (114), when the baby part (111) has been mounted on the baby.
6. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first connector element (113/115) and second connector element (105/107) contain a mechanism for achieving a locked position once connected.
7. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the first connector element (113/115) comprises e.g. a hook for inserting into a hole in the second connector element (105/107), whereby the second connector element (105/107) carries the first connector element (113/115).
8. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said first (113/115) and second (105/107) connector element comprise e.g. magnetic means for mutually magnetic attraction between the first (113/115) and the second (105/107) connector elements.
9. A carer's attachment system for a baby carrier according to claim 1.
10. A baby part for a baby carrier according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2018
Applicant: JUVENILE APS (Middelfart)
Inventor: Bente Pia Vangsgaard FOGED (Middelfart)
Application Number: 15/531,681