CHILD CARRIER WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL SEAT
A child carrier system is disclosed, comprising: a hip belt; a seating surface attached to the hip belt and extending laterally from a first edge of the hip belt, the seating surface having a lateral edge distal from the hip belt; and a storage compartment formed by enclosing an angle between the hip belt and the seating surface with a sidewall connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface and a second edge of the hip belt. A shoulder support comprises a back panel for supporting a child, where the shoulder support bottom is detachably connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface, and at least one shoulder strap connected to at least two different sides of the back panel. The seating surface is also configured to support a child's weight while being held by the wearer without using the shoulder support.
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The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/485,361, filed Apr. 13, 2017, for an “Infant Carrier” by Cecilia Tsai. This U.S. provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDWearable child carriers have been used by adults to carry small children (e.g., infants, babies, and toddlers). Wearable child carriers are used to keep a child close and connected to an adult caregiver as the caregiver engages in daily activities.
Babywearing is a traditional practice in many cultures that is not widely used by modern industrialized societies, but it nonetheless has many benefits for both children and caregivers. According to Babywearing International (www.babywearinginternational.org), babywearing promotes bonding, supports breastfeeding, can help combat postpartum depression, makes caregiving easier, and can be a lifesaver for parents of high-needs children. Carried babies sleep, feed, and grow better. For example, researchers have found that carried 6-week-olds cried 43% less than other children. See Hunziker U A, Garr R G. (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A random-ized controlled trial. Pediatrics 77:641-648.
Babywearing may be practiced by a wide variety of caregivers including moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, nannies, nurses, doulas; in short, anyone who cares for a newborn, infant, or toddler.
Babywearing has also gained popularity in modern times for fostering a sense of security in the child and for building a stronger bond between parent and child. Carriers allow an adult to keep the baby close and content while leaving the adult's hands free to perform other tasks. The ability to hold and bond with the child while still getting things done makes a child carrier a popular accessory for many new parents.
Conventional child carriers, such as soft structured carriers, support the baby from the groin area, leaving baby's legs to hang unsupported, which may lead to discomfort and in some cases, even developmental problems for infants. This is because for the first 6 months, an infant's hip bones are still developing. New babies are very flexible, have a great deal of joint flexibility, and are more prone to developing hip dysplasia (a condition of general instability or looseness of the hip joint). If left untreated, hip dysplasia can permanently damage the structure of the hip socket causing a lifetime of pain. Although using a wearable child carrier is not generally known to cause hip dysplasia if it is not already a pre-existing condition or risk, using a wearable child carrier without proper hip support can worsen the situation if the infant being carried already has or is at risk of developing hip dysplasia.
Since hip dysplasia is a silent condition, it makes early detection very difficult. Using a child carrier is configured to support the child's legs in an “M position”, as recommended by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, meaning the child's knees are bent, hips bent and open to the side with thighs supported, can help prevent or reduce the occurrence of debilitating conditions such as hip dysplasia.
It is also advantageous to have a child carrier that allows a child to be carried comfortably in a forward-facing as well as a backward-facing position, where the baby's weight is well-supported in a healthy position and the weight is distributed evenly to reduce the adult caregiver's fatigue.
SUMMARYAn innovative child carrier having a built-in 3D hip seat is disclosed.
Embodiments of the present invention are ergonomically designed to minimize the cause of back pain when holding a child in arms, where adult caregivers naturally tend to hold infants or small children by resting the child on the side of the hips causing the adult caregiver to twist their spine. Embodiments of the child carrier disclosed herein comprise a child carrier with a weight-bearing three-dimensional hip seat. When the child carrier is worn by the adult caregiver, the weight of the child being carried is distributed evenly on the seat and not the caregiver's hips, which allows the adult caregiver to hold the child standing straight up, thus protecting the caregiver's back.
A child carrier system having a three-dimensional seat is disclosed. The child carrier system disclosed in embodiments of the present invention includes a hip seat comprising: a hip belt comprising a first edge, a second edge, a first end, and a second end; a fastener having a first portion positioned proximate to the first end of the hip belt and a second portion positioned proximate to the second end of the hip belt for adjustably securing the hip belt around a user's waist or hips; a seating surface attached to the hip belt and extending laterally from the first edge of the hip belt, the seating surface having a lateral edge distal from the hip belt; and a storage compartment located below the seating surface wherein the storage compartment is formed by enclosing an angle between the hip belt and the seating surface with a sidewall connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface and the second edge of the hip belt. The child carrier system further comprises a shoulder support comprising: a back panel for supporting a child, the back panel having a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, the bottom detachably connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface; a first shoulder strap connected at a first end to the top of the back panel and at a second end to a left side or a right side of the back panel; wherein the shoulder support is detachably connected to the hip seat, and wherein the hip seat is configured to support a seated child when the shoulder support is detached while the seated child is held by the user.
These and other embodiments are more fully described below.
The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purposes of explanation, several aspects of particular embodiments of the invention are described by reference to the following figures. The following figures are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrative principles of the invention.
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications and their requirements. Various modifications to the exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
The invention provides a multi-position child carrier with innovative under-seat storage. More specifically, the invention provides a storage compartment under the seating surface.
With continuing reference to
For maximum versatility, back support portion 200 and hip seat portion 300 of child carrier 10 can be detachably connected using one or more fasteners, such as a horizontal zipper 410, vertical side release buckles 420, snaps, buttons, hook and loop, or any other suitable fasteners. In an embodiment of the invention, alternate versions of back support portion 200 may be detachably connected to hip seat portion 300 in addition to the embodiment shown in
In another embodiment of the invention, back support portion 200 may include a fabric seat portion (not pictured) for securely holding an infant while detached from hip seat portion 300. This permits hip seat portion 300 to be used as a hip seat carrier alone to carry another child for example, while the back support portion 200 with an included fabric seat portion is being worn by another person to carry a child. When the back support portion 200 is in use without hip seat portion 300, back support portion 200 may be detachably connected to a separate hip belt that will fit around the wearer's hips and help support the weight of a child being carried. In one embodiment of the invention, the hip belt used with the back support portion 200 with an included fabric seat portion may be similar in construction to hip belt 320, but without an integrated hip seat or under-seat storage compartment. Alternatively, a one-shoulder strap or other alternate version of back support portion 200 may also include an integrated fabric seat portion and be used in a manner similar to the two shoulder strap version of back support portion 200 with integrated fabric seat as discussed above.
In the example of a zipper, one half of the zipper tape can be sewn directly into a seam of the hip seat portion 300 or to a flap of material that in turn is sewn into a seam of the lower portion. The other half of the zipper tape is sewn into or otherwise attached to the back panel 270. In one embodiment of the invention, the zipper tapes comprise polyester webbing or fabric, and the zipper teeth are nylon, plastic, metal or other suitable material. In the example of side release buckles, the buckles can be attached, using suitable webbing material (e.g., nylon webbing) to a lower area 422 of the back panel 270 and to an upper area 424 of the hip seat portion 300. Using multiple, redundant attachment mechanisms between the top and bottom portions of the carrier mitigates accidental detachment of the top and bottom portions during use. In one embodiment of the invention as shown in
The primary outer surface material used in the back support portion and the hip seat portion of one embodiment of the invention is a durable polyester fabric, similar to that used in some backpacks or rucksacks, although any other durable fabric or material such as canvas or even natural or synthetic leather or pleather may be used in place of the durable polyester fabric. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, fasteners such as strap adjusters and side release buckles are made of a relatively lightweight, durable, shatterproof polymer material such as POM (polyoxymethylene). Alternatively, other durable, hard materials such as wood, steel or brass may be used for buckles and strap adjusters.
As shown in
The seating surface 340 can have an arcuate profile when viewed from above, but in practice any profile can be employed. The arcuate shape provides a healthy seating posture for the child when facing inward, facing outward, front carry, side carry and back carry supporting the child's legs at knee level, and the arcuate shape also reduces the child carrier's profile for better ambulatory maneuverability for the wearer.
The structural support 500 also can be sculpted to conform to the wearer's body for more comfortable wearing. For example, the riser 510 and joining edge 530 of shelf 520 can be slightly concave, to better conform to a wearer's abdomen and/or lower back. The structural support 510 can include perforations or cut outs 550 to reduce weight and material, and to improve ventilation. In addition, reinforcing ribs 540 can be added to improve rigidity and strength. The structural support also can have rounded edges and corners 560 to reduce fabric wear, improve comfort, and facilitate insertion/removal of the support into/from the storage compartment. Structural support 500 can comprise a variety of shapes and configurations in addition to that shown in
Structural support can be secured in the under-seat storage compartment by a separate compartment for the structural support which may be accessed via a 3-way zipper opening inside the under-seat storage compartment as shown in
In one embodiment of the present invention, a foldable structural support may be used in place of structural support 500, where a foldable structural support allows the riser and seat for less bulky, more compact storage of the child carrier when not in use. The purpose of this foldable structural support system is to allow the carrier seat to be folded in half when stored away. One embodiment of a foldable structural support is shown in
The use of headings and sections in the application is not meant to limit the invention; each section can apply to any aspect, embodiment, or feature of the invention.
Throughout the application, where compositions are described as having, including, or comprising specific components, or where processes are described as having, including or comprising specific process steps, it is contemplated that compositions of the present teachings also consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited components, and that the processes of the present teachings also consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited process steps.
In the application, where an element or component is said to be included in and/or selected from a list of recited elements or components, it should be understood that the element or component can be any one of the recited elements or components and can be selected from a group consisting of one or more of the recited elements or components. Further, it should be understood that elements and/or features of a composition, an apparatus, or a method described herein can be combined in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present teachings, whether explicit or implicit herein.
The use of the terms “comprise,” “include,” “includes,” “including,” “have,” “has,” or “having” should be generally understood as open-ended and non-limiting unless specifically stated otherwise.
The use of the singular herein includes the plural (and vice versa) unless specifically stated otherwise. Moreover, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Where the use of the term “about” is before a quantitative value, the present teachings also include the specific quantitative value itself, unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “about” refers to a ±10% variation from the nominal value.
It should be understood that the order of steps or order for performing certain actions is immaterial so long as the present teachings remain operable. Moreover, two or more steps or actions may be conducted simultaneously.
Where a range or list of values is provided, each intervening value between the upper and lower limits of that range or list of values is individually contemplated and is encompassed within the invention as if each value were specifically enumerated herein. In addition, smaller ranges between and including the upper and lower limits of a given range are contemplated and encompassed within the invention. The listing of exemplary values or ranges is not a disclaimer of other values or ranges between and including the upper and lower limits of a given range.
While the present invention has been particularly described with respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that various alterations, modifications and adaptations may be made based on the present disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. While the invention has been described in connection with what are considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A child carrier system comprising: wherein the first shoulder strap is detachably connected to the back panel, and wherein the hip seat is configured to support a seated child when the back panel is detached while the seated child is held in place by the user.
- a hip seat comprising: a hip belt comprising a first edge, a second edge, a first end, and a second end; a fastener having a first portion positioned proximate to the first end of the hip belt and a second portion positioned proximate to the second end of the hip belt for adjustably securing the hip belt around a user's waist or hips; a seating surface attached to the hip belt and extending laterally from the first edge of the hip belt, the seating surface having a lateral edge distal from the hip belt; and a storage compartment located below the seating surface wherein the storage compartment is formed by enclosing an angle between the hip belt and the seating surface with a sidewall connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface and the second edge of the hip belt; and
- a shoulder support comprising: a back panel for supporting a child, the back panel having a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, the bottom detachably connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface; and a first shoulder strap connected at a first end to the top of the back panel and at a second end to a left side or a right side of the back panel;
2. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder strap is connected at the second end to the left side of the back panel, and further comprising a second shoulder strap connected at a first end to the top of the back panel and at a second end to the right side of the back panel.
3. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment is wedge shaped.
4. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment comprises a zipper closure disposed on the sidewall adjacent to the lateral edge of the seating surface.
5. The child carrier system of claim 1, further comprising a removable support bracket configured for insertion into the storage compartment, the removable support bracket comprising a vertical riser positioned in the storage compartment adjacent to the hip belt and a horizontal shelf positioned in the storage compartment under the seating surface, wherein the vertical riser and the horizontal shelf are joined at an angle that biases the seating surface in a substantially horizontal orientation.
6. The child carrier system of claim 5, wherein the storage compartment further comprises a first sub-compartment for receiving the removable support bracket.
7. The child carrier system of claim 6, wherein the first sub-compartment is accessed by at least one zipper closure disposed on an inner surface of the storage compartment.
8. The child carrier system of claim 6, wherein the first sub-compartment is accessed by a zipper closure disposed on the sidewall adjacent to the second edge of the hip belt.
9. The child carrier system of claim 5, wherein the removable support bracket comprises a rigid plastic material.
10. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder strap is detachably connected to the left or right side.
11. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the second shoulder strap is detachably connected to the left or right side.
12. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the seating surface has an arctuate shape.
13. The child carrier system of claim 1, wherein the angle between the hip belt and the seating surface is an obtuse angle.
14. The child carrier system of claim 13, wherein the angle between the hip belt and the seating surface is between 90 degrees and 120 degrees inclusive.
15. The child carrier system of claim 1, further comprising a removable support bracket configured for insertion into the storage compartment, the removable support bracket comprising one or more hinges, a riser portion, and a seat portion, wherein the riser portion may be positioned in the storage compartment adjacent to the hip belt and the seat portion may be positioned in the storage compartment under the seating surface, wherein the vertical riser and the seat portion are rotatably connected by the one or more hinges at an angle θ.
16. The child carrier system of claim 15, wherein the angle θ is adjustable between 0 degrees and 120 degrees inclusive.
17. The child carrier system of claim 15, wherein the vertical riser and the seat portion may be adjustable by the user into one or more lockable positions at an angle θ.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 18, 2018
Applicant: Overtea Sagl (Porza)
Inventor: Cecilia Tsai (Porza)
Application Number: 15/952,193