CARRYING ARRANGEMENT FOR ACCOMMODATING A BABY OR INFANT

Abstract

A carrying device includes an accommodating body for a baby/infant, wherein the accommodating body has an inner side and an outer side and is designed such that at least one region of a rear side of a baby/infant can be accommodated and/or supported in the accommodating body. The device has a harness system for fastening the accommodating body on a person. The accommodating body has a central part with upper and lower ends, left-hand and right-hand side edges, and left-hand and right-hand cloth bands. In a region of the upper end, the central part has a left-hand pull-through channel, through which the left-hand cloth band is guided, and a right-hand pull-through channel, through which the right-hand cloth band is guided. The region of the upper end of the central part is mounted for displacement along the left- and right-hand cloth bands by way of the left- and right-hand pull-through channels.

Description

The invention relates to a carrying device having an accommodating body for accommodating a baby or infant according to the preamble of claim 1.

A wide variety of different configurations of carrying devices for babies and/or infants are known. The carrying device should hold the baby or the infant securely against the body of the person carrying him/her. It is also important for the carrying device, both for the baby or infant and for the person carrying him/her, to provide for anatomically favorable carrying positioning which is kind, in particular, to the back. While being carried, the baby or infant should be held securely and comfortably in the carrying device so that the person carrying him/her can perform tasks, it being possible for the person's hands and arms to move freely.

Furthermore, the carrying device should provide for straightforward adjustment both to the size and weight of the baby or infant to be carried and to the anatomy of the person carrying him/her.

It is necessary for a bigger child to be positioned possibly at a lower level, so that the person carrying him/her is not impeded. On the other hand, it can be necessary, for example, to adapt the carrying system to a taller or shorter person, in order to achieve an ideal carrying position for the baby or infant. It is likewise the case that the carrying aid itself should be capable of being adapted in terms of height and width to the size of the child.

In the case of known baby slings, the fastening operation, which is awkward in any case, is difficult to perform such that the size of an accommodating space fits the baby. Thus, in the case of one known fastening method, first of all the baby sling is placed in position/fastened on a preliminary basis and then the child is placed in the sling. If, however, the child has not yet been placed in the sling, the necessary tensioning of the baby sling can only be roughly estimated. If, in contrast, the child has been placed in the positioned baby sling, regulation, if not rendered impossible due to the child's weight, takes place counter to the child's weight, it being necessary at the same time for the tensioning of the baby sling to be adjusted and the child to be held against the body. in the case of another known fastening method, the baby sling is only partially fastened on a preliminary basis, the child is first of all held against the body of the person carrying him/her and the baby sling is fastened around the child. Here too, regulation, if not rendered impossible by the child's weight, takes place counter to the child's weight, it being necessary at the same time for the tensioning of the baby sling to be adjusted and the child to be held against the body. Accordingly, there is also a risk here of the child not being held in the optimum carrying position. For simplified adjustability of the baby slings, for example DE 200 14 477 U1 proposes rings at the baby-sling ends, through which the baby sling or a strap can be pulled in a stepless manner.

Another method of carrying a child against the body originates from Asia, in the form of the so-called Meh Dai carrier, which was subsequently developed further into the modern western Mei Tai carrier. The Mei Tai carrier comprises a rectangular fabric blank, which forms an accommodating body. Straps are fitted at the corners of the rectangular fabric blank. This rectangular fabric blank forms the accommodating space for the baby and, in contrast to the baby sling, virtually exclusively covers the baby's body, but not the person carrying him/her. Rather, the person carrying the baby merely fastens the straps around himself/herself to form hip and shoulder straps, this consequently forming a harness. The disadvantage here is that the rectangular fabric blank does not form an ergonomic seat recess and therefore different tensile stresses in the fabric blank form supporting zones with different levels of effectiveness.

Moreover, the rectangular fabric blank has a fixed size and therefore cannot be adapted to the size of the baby.

A further development of the Mei Tai is described, for example, in DE 20 2016 105 122 U1. Here, a padded hip strap with a closure buckle is provided, in particular, instead of two straps at the two lower corners. The fabric blank is designed to taper downward and two straps are located at the upper two corners, as is also the case for the Mei Tai. Here too, however, the ergonomics of the seat recess are not optimal and it is not possible to adapt the accommodating space to the size of the baby.

If use is made hereinbelow only of the term baby, this term is also intended always to include infants, unless explicitly stated to the contrary. Moreover, directional information is given in each case from the point of view of a person who is carrying the baby in front of his/her chest and/or stomach.

The object of the invention is therefore to overcome these, and other, disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a carrying device for babies and infants which forms an ergonomic seat recess and also provides for straightforward adaptation to the size and weight of the baby to be carried and also to the anatomy of the person carrying him/her. The intention is also to provide for straightforward and secure placement and carrying of the baby while maintaining anatomically favorable positioning both for the baby and for the person carrying him/her.

The main features of the invention are specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Configurations form the subject matter of claims 2 to 21.

In the case of a carrying device having an accommodating body for accommodating a baby or infant, wherein the accommodating body has an inner side and an outer side and is designed such that at least one region of the rear side of a baby or infant can be accommodated and/or supported in the accommodating body, and having a harness system for fastening the accommodating body on a person the invention makes provision for the accommodating body to have a central part with an upper end, with a lower end, with a left-hand side edge and with a right-hand side edge and also to have a left-hand cloth band and a right-hand cloth band. In the region of the upper end here, the central part has a left-hand pull-through channel, through which the left-hand cloth band is guided, and a right-hand pull-through channel, through which the right-hand cloth band is guided. The region of the upper end of the central part is mounted for displacement along the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands by way of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels.

An advantage of such a configuration is that the main tensile forces, rather than running centrally over the baby's back, run through the laterally arranged cloth bands. Moreover, the height of the accommodating body can be adjusted straightforwardly with the aid of the pull-through channel systems between the cloth bands and pull-through channels, as a result of which the tensioning of the central part is also maintained. Specifically, the region of the upper end of the central part can be displaced, in particular in a stepless manner, along the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands, by way of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels, between an upper adjustment position and a lower adjustment position. Stops can be provided, in particular in the downward direction, for this purpose. The upward displacement is preferably limited by the maximum length of the central part.

The region between the baby to be accommodated in the carrying device and the person carrying him/her should be designed to remain free, in particular to remain free of components of the harness and of the accommodating body. This achieves great closeness between the baby and the person carrying him/her. Moreover, the carrying device is constructed to be particularly lightweight and, at the same time, inexpensive.

According to a development of the carrying device, provision is made for the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels to be located opposite one another and each to be arranged laterally, and oriented vertically, on the central part. As a result, the central part can open out symmetrically and its upper end can be displaced ergonomically in a parallel state. It is preferred if the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels each lead up to the upper end of the central part. This means that the rear side of the baby can be supported all the way up to the upper end of the central part. Visually appealing and providing for straightforward handling is an optional configuration in the case of which the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels are arranged in each case on the inner side of the accommodating body.

In an optional embodiment of the carrying device, the left-hand cloth band, in the region of the lower end of the central part, is connected to the left-hand side edge of the central part and, in the region of the upper end of the central part, runs in an unfastened state adjacent to the left-hand side edge of the central part and also through the left-hand pull-through channel. The right-hand cloth band, in the region of the lower end of the central part, is connected to the right-hand side edge of the central part and, in the region of the upper end of the central part, runs in an unfastened state adjacent to the right-hand side edge of the central part and also through the right-hand pull-through channel. The advantage here is that the tensile forces in the cloth bands are introduced into the central part predominantly in the lower region, that is to say where there is a connection. It is precisely this location which requires the greatest amount of support, because this is where the baby's bottom and thighs rest. The upper region of the central part is held open predominantly by the horizontal spacing between the cloth bands. This means that the baby's head is pulled less forcibly in the direction of the person carrying him/her. In particular, the connections between the left-hand and right-hand side edges of the central parts and the left-hand and right-hand pull-through or cloth bands end at the same height, and preferably already at a spacing beneath the pull-through channel (this being the case, in particular, when the upper end of the central part has been pushed upward along the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands by way of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels).

According to a specific configuration, the left-hand cloth band is mounted in a gathered state, in particular in a slip-resistant state, in the left-hand pull-through channel and the right-hand cloth band is mounted in a gathered state, in particular in a slip-resistant state, in the right-hand pull-through channel. The gathering in the pull-through channel and associated frictional forces mean that no further fixing is necessary in order to arrest an adjusted height of the central part. This means that the height can be adjusted particularly easily and can be altered spontaneously, for example when the baby wakes up and would like to look out of the carrying device. For this purpose, the pull-through or cloth bands should each consist of a single-layer or double-layer cloth element having in particular two essentially parallel side edges. The fanning out of the pull-through bands, or of the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands, beneath the pull-through channel can be utilized for the purpose of forming the seat recess of the accommodating body. Fanning out above the pull-through channel can form a comfortable, wide bearing surface on the shoulders of the person carrying the baby. The cloth bands are preferably each at least three times, further preferably at least four times and particularly preferably at least five times, as wide as the width of the pull-through channel in the pressed-flat state. As an upper limit, it is preferred if the cloth bands are no more than twelve times, further preferably at most ten times and particularly preferably no more than eight times, as wide as the width of the pull-through channel in the pressed-flat state. As an absolute measure of width, a configuration of the cloth bands between 15 cm and 35 cm, preferably between 18 cm and 32 cm, further preferably between 20 cm and 30 cm and particularly preferably between 22 cm and 28 cm, is recommended. For the pull-through channel, an absolute minimum width in the pressed-flat state of between 2 cm and 7 cm, preferably 3 cm and 6 cm and particularly preferably 3.5 cm and 5.5 cm, is recommended. These values make it possible to form a slip-resistant pull-through channel system, but one which is also easy to actuate. Since it is desired to have, in particular, a level of friction which is intended to prevent the pull-through channel from slipping down on the cloth band, it is possible for the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels to be configured in each case such that they taper downward. This allows the pull-through channel to be pushed straightforwardly in the upward direction and somewhat less readily in the downward direction. The cloth bands should have a constant width over the adjustment region. This results in the frictional forces being constant over the adjustment region.

A particularly elegant and inexpensive variant of the carrying device is one in which the left-hand pull-through channel is formed by a left-hand fabric flap of the central part, said fabric flap projecting beyond the left-hand side edge and being sewn in a folded-in state, and in that the right-hand pull-through channel is formed by a right-hand fabric flap of the central part, said fabric flap projecting beyond the right-hand side edge and being sewn in a folded-in state. The left-hand and right-hand fabric flaps are preferably folded in in each case in the direction of the inner side of the accommodating body. As a result, the cloth bands are located on the inside beneath the pull-through channel and form, as it were, side pieces of the seat recess.

The central part is preferably of cloth-like design and preferably comprises a single fabric-blank part, which in turn preferably has one or two fabric layers. This means that the supporting region of the accommodating body has no seams which could form pressure points. The left-hand and right-hand side edges are preferably each oriented essentially vertically. This corresponds to the pulling direction of the cloth bands which is caused by gravity. For ergonomic reasons, a blank in which the central part is narrower in the region of the lower end than in the region of the upper end is recommended. For this purpose, the central part can taper, in particular in a wedge-shaped or V-shaped manner, from the upper end in the direction of the lower end, the latter preferably being in a blunt state. The upper end as such should be designed to be essentially straight, and in particular horizontal. This means that the central part, and its supporting action, extends as far upward as possible. The lower end of the central part can have a convex curvature.

A particularly advantageous configuration is one in which, in the region of the lower end of the central part, the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands are connected to one another via a U-shaped cloth loop, wherein the U-shaped cloth loop is connected to the lower end of the central part. The left-hand and right-hand cloth bands along with the U-shaped cloth loop therefore form a swing-like construction. In particular, the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands and also the U-shaped cloth loop together form a seat loop or seat swing for the baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device. The baby then sits in said seat loop or seat swing. The tensile forces then therefore run essentially laterally past the baby and support, in particular, the baby's bottom and thighs. The left-hand and right-hand cloth bands correspond, as it were, to the swing ropes, which merge into the seat surface of the U-shaped cloth loop. The end regions of the U-shaped cloth loop therefore merge into the lower ends of the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands. The other end regions of the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands can then be utilized, above the pull-through channels, as harness parts, in particular as left-hand and right-hand shoulder straps, for the person carrying the baby. In particular, the U-shaped cloth loop therefore forms a seat recess for the bottom and the thighs of a baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device. The connection between the U-shaped cloth loop and the central part gives rise to a closed ergonomic seat recess, which continues into the region of the baby's back. The baby's back is supported essentially by the central part. One of the side edges of the U-shaped cloth loop can then be pulled into the hollows of the knees of a baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device. In the region of this side edge, the U-shaped cloth loop can be connected, and/or can be configured in such a manner as to allow it to be connected, to an optional hip strap for the person carrying the baby (more on this later). The connection to the central part can be established on the opposite side edge of the U-shaped cloth loop.

According to a particular embodiment, the bottom of a baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device is encompassed in the transverse direction, in particular from left to right, by the U-shaped cloth loop, in particular by the cloth loop being oriented transversely to the bottom of a baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device, this being done specifically in a swing-like manner. As a result, the U-shaped cloth loop should therefore also run transversely to the person carrying the baby. The baby or infant to be accommodated in the carrying device then sits to the front of the person carrying him/her, in the swing-like U-shaped cloth loop.

In a specific variant, the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands and also the U-shaped cloth loop are formed from a cloth element, in particular the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands and also the U-shaped cloth loop arranged therebetween then constitute nothing more than length portions of the cloth element. The cloth element can comprise a number of sewn fabric-blank parts. However, the cloth element preferably comprises a single fabric-blank part. Variants of the cloth element having one, two or more layers can be realized in each case.

In the case of an optional configuration, the U-shaped cloth loop has, at least to some extent, a number of fabric layers, in particular as a result of an additional fabric-blank part being placed in position, folded or sewn on. This makes it possible to provide a stable and ergonomically preformed seat recess. As an option, it is also possible for the depth of the seat region to be reduced or increased in size as a result of folding.

In addition, in the region of the U-shaped cloth loop, the cloth element can have padding. This increases the level of sitting comfort for the baby.

Furthermore, one design of the carrying device makes provision for the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands to merge into the harness, or to be connected to the harness, in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels. The cloth bands are thereby secured on the harness.

It is possible for the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands to merge into a shoulder strap of the harness, or to be connected to a shoulder strap of the harness, or to form a shoulder strap of the harness, in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels. Therefore, it is, for example, possible for the ends of the cloth bands each to be connected to one end of a shoulder strap, for example also to a padded shoulder strap. In the second variant, the cloth bands can also be secured on fastening devices or on a shoulder strap, it therefore being possible for the shoulder strap to be guided onward for example on the body of the person carrying the baby, said shoulder strap being guided either beneath the armpit or further downward. The third variant is closest to the Mei Tai carrier and is particularly inexpensive to produce.

A straightforward design is achieved if the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands form free cloth ends in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels, said cloth ends forming knottable shoulder straps of the harness. Preferably, the two free cloth ends should be guided (or are guided) over the shoulders and with crossover action over the back, to the area in front of the stomach, of the person carrying the baby and also should be knotted (or are knotted) to one another beneath the accommodating body.

For the purpose of increasing the carrying safety, an optional extra is recommended to the effect that, in the region of the lower end of the central part and/or in the region of the U-shaped cloth loop, the accommodating body is connected to a hip strap. This increases the carrying comfort and provides, in particular, for a large part of the baby's weight to be dissipated directly to the hip of the person carrying him/her. The connection between the accommodating body and the hip strap can be designed to be releasable (for example with a hook-and-loop fastener and/or zipper) or non-releasable (for example sewn). A releasable connection increases the flexibility of use. A non-releasable connection is inexpensive and is a clearer indication of how the carrier should be used. The hip strap can be a padded strap with padding. This is comfortable for the person carrying the baby. Furthermore, the hip strap can have a closure buckle, via which it can be closed. The hip strap can therefore be closed straightforwardly and quickly. In addition, the hip strap should have a length-adjustment device. It can thus be adapted to the height of the person carrying the baby. As an alternative, the hip strap can be formed by a knottable cloth band. This is inexpensive and appeals, in particular, to people who view baby slings as a favorable alternative.

There is also the option of the U-shaped cloth loop having a seat edge which projects beyond the hip strap. As a result, the baby can be supported from the thighs to the hollows of the knees, even if he/she has already become a bit bigger. The seat edge preferably has padding. This avoids pressure points.

For the purpose of reducing the size of the seat, the seat edge is particularly preferably designed such that it can be folded in in the direction of the inner side of the accommodating body. This allows the seat depth to be adapted, as a result of the seat edge being folded in, to the body size of small babies.

A further adaptation possibility is achieved by an optional configuration in the case of which, for the purpose of shortening the accommodating body, the upper end of the central part is designed such that it can be folded over downward, in particular along a folding line running from the left-hand side edge to the right-hand side edge.

According to a specific embodiment of the carrying device, an upper region of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels is of cuff-form design in each case, and a lower region of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels is of radially closed design in each case. As a result, the cloth bands can be straightforwardly threaded in. The optional folding line then runs preferably transversely through the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels and, for the purpose of shortening the accommodating body, the upper region of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels is designed such that it can be folded over downward in each case with the central part. The cuff-form region of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels is then folded back, in particular in a manner similar to a sleeve or a pair of trousers. As a result, for the purpose of shortening the accommodating body, the upper end of the central part is designed such that it can be folded over downward as far as the transition between the lower and upper regions of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels, wherein in particular the upper region of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels is designed such that it can be folded back.

Further features, details and advantages can be gathered from the wording of the claims and also from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a carrying device which is being carried by a person who is illustrated from the front, and in which a baby is accommodated;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the person according to FIG. 1 from the rear;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 from the inner side;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIGS. 1 to 3 from the outer side;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 4 from the outer side, wherein an upper end of the central part has been pushed downward;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 4 from the outer side, wherein a left-hand and a right-hand cloth band have been fanned out beneath pull-through channels;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 3 from the inner side, wherein an upper end of the central part has been swung upward;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 7 from the inner side, wherein a seat edge has been folded in in the inward direction;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 7 from the outer side;

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged perspective view of the pull-through channel with cloth band shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged perspective view of the pull-through channel with cloth band shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the carrying device according to FIG. 9 from the outer side, wherein the cloth bands have been unthreaded from the pull-through channel;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a carrying device from the outer side, this carrying device differing from that in FIG. 4 by way of a different hip strap; and

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a carrying device from the outer side, this carrying device differing from that in FIG. 13 by way of the absence of a hip strap.

FIGS. 1 to 12 all show the same carrying device 1, and will therefore be described together. Identical reference signs therefore relate to identical components. Different functional states will be referred to separately. FIGS. 1 to 12 show, in particular, a carrying device 1 having an accommodating body 10 for accommodating a baby or infant, wherein the accommodating body 10 has an inner side S1 and an outer side S2 and is designed such that at least one region of the rear side B1 of a baby or infant B can be accommodated and/or supported in the accommodating body 10 (see, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2). The carrying device 1 also has a harness system 40 for fastening the accommodating body 10 on a person P (see, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2).

The accommodating body 10 has a central part 11 with an upper end 12, with a lower end 13, with a left-hand side edge 14 and with a right-hand side edge 15, and also has a left-hand cloth band 31 and a right-hand cloth band 32. All directional information relates to the point of view of the person P carrying the baby. The left-hand and the right-hand side edges 14, 15 are each oriented essentially vertically, in particular in the upper region. In the region of the lower end 13, the central part 11 narrows in relation to the region of the upper end 12, for which purpose it tapers in a wedge-shaped manner from top to bottom. However, a convex radius ensures that the lower end 13 is blunt, rather than pointed. In contrast, the upper end 12 is designed to be essentially straight and horizontal.

The central part 11, in the region of the upper end 12, has a left-hand pull-through channel 16, through which the left-hand cloth band 31 is guided in a slip-resistant and gathered state, and a right-hand pull-through channel 17, through which the right-hand cloth band 32 is guided in a slip-resistant and gathered state. As a result, the region of the upper end 12 of the central part 11 is mounted such that it can be displaced along the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands 31, 32 by way of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17, this displacement taking place, in particular, in a stepless manner between an upper adjustment position E1 as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6 to 12, and a lower adjustment position E2, as FIG. 5 shows.

The left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17 are located opposite one another and are each arranged laterally, and oriented vertically, on the central part 11. It can be seen that the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17 each lead all the way up to the upper end 12 of the central part 11 (see, in particular, FIGS. 7 to 9 and 11). Moreover, the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17 are each located on the inner side S1 of the accommodating body 10, which is achieved in that the left-hand pull-through channel 16 is formed by a left-hand fabric flap 18 of the central part 10, said fabric flap projecting beyond the left-hand side edge 14 and being sewn so as to be folded in in the direction of the inner side S1, and in that the right-hand pull-through channel 17 is formed by a right-hand fabric flap 19 of the central part 10, said fabric flap projecting beyond the right-hand side edge 15 and being sewn so as to be folded in in the direction of the inner side S1.

The left-hand cloth band 31, in the region of the lower end 13 of the central part 11, is connected to the left-hand side edge 14 of the central part 11 and, in the region of the upper end 12 of the central part 11, runs in a loose state adjacent to the left-hand side edge 14 of the central part 11 and also through the left-hand pull-through channel 16. In a manner symmetrical to this, the right-hand cloth band 32, in the region of the lower end 13 of the central part 11, is connected to the right-hand side edge 15 of the central part 11 and, in the region of the upper end 12 of the central part 11, runs in a loose state adjacent to the right-hand side edge 14 of the central part 11 and also through the right-hand pull-through channel 17.

In the region of the lower end 13 of the central part 11, the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands 31, 32 are connected to one another via a U-shaped cloth loop 33, wherein the U-shaped cloth loop 33 in turn is connected to the lower end 13 of the central part 11. The left-hand and right-hand cloth bands 31, 32 and also the U-shaped cloth loop 33 are formed, in particular, from a single-piece cloth element 30 which, in particular in the region of the U-shaped cloth loop 33, forms a seat loop or seat swing for the baby B to be accommodated in the carrying device. The connection between the U-shaped cloth loop 33 and the central part 11 gives rise to a seat recess 38 for the bottom B3 and the thighs B4 of the baby B to be accommodated in the carrying device. The region between the front side B2 of the baby or infant B to be accommodated in the carrying device and the person P carrying the baby is designed to remain free of components of the harness 40 and of the accommodating body 10. As a result, the baby lies directly against the upper body of the person P carrying him/her.

For the purpose of shortening the accommodating body 10, the upper end 12 of the central part 11 is designed such that it can be folded over downward, in particular along a folding line 20 running from the left-hand side edge 14 to the right-hand side edge 15. FIGS. 1, 3 to 6 and 10 each show this swung-down state of the upper end 12. In contrast, in the illustrations of FIGS. 7 to 9 and 11 to 12, the upper end 12 has been raised upward. The swing-over action is made possible, and at the same time kept in place, in particular in that an upper region 21, 22 of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17 is of cuff-form design in each case (i.e. is not radially closed), and a lower region 23, 24 of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17 is of radially closed design in each case. In the region of the pull-through channels 16, 17, the action of folding over the upper end 12 results in the cuffs being folded back, and the latter therefore assume a stable position and also retain the upper end in the swung-down position. In the erected position, however, it is possible to tension the central part right up to the upper end 12 in a transverse direction between the two cloth bands 31, 32. As a result, the folding line 20 runs transversely through the pull-through channels 16, 17 and essentially at the height which is predetermined by the separation between the upper and lower regions 21, 22, 23, 24.

As is provided in respect of the carrying device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands 31, 32 directly form a left-hand and a right-hand shoulder strap 41, 42 of the harness 40 in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels 16, 17. These two shoulder straps 41, 42, are formed simply by free cloth ends 34, 35 of the cloth element 30, which should be guided over the shoulders P1, P2 and with crossover action over the back P3, to the area in front of the stomach P4, of the person P carrying the baby and also should be knotted to one another beneath the accommodating body 10. This can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, in the region beneath the lower end 13 of the central part 11, having the U-shaped cloth loop 33, the accommodating body 10 is connected to a hip strap 43. This connection can be designed to be optionally releasable, for example with a hook-and-loop fastener and/or zipper, or non-releasable, for example sewn. The length-adjustable hip strap 43 is a padded strap with padding 44, and can be closed by means of a closure buckle 45.

As can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the region of a seat edge 36, the U-shaped cloth loop 33 has a number of fabric layers, between which padding 37 is introduced. Said seat edge 36 projects beyond the hip strap 43. According to FIG. 7, this results in the seat edge 36 projecting in the direction of the person P carrying the baby (see FIG. 1). The load produced by the baby's thighs thus gives rise to the baby's legs assuming an M-shaped position, even if the baby has already become a bit bigger. This is because, in the position according to FIG. 7, the seat edge extends a long way in the direction of the hollows of the baby's knees.

In contrast to this, for the purpose of reducing the size of the seat, the seat edge 36 according to FIG. 8 has been folded in in the direction of the inner side S1 of the accommodating body 10. This allows the legs of a small baby to hang out of the accommodating body at an angle, the legs assuming an M-shaped position in this case too.

It can be seen to good effect, in particular, by comparing FIGS. 5 and 6 that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands 31, 32 can be fanned out beneath the pull-through channels 16, 17 in order to obtain a deeper seat recess 38 or else in order to close the lateral gap between the person P and the baby B if required, e.g. when the baby is sleeping and awake or for hot and cold ambient temperatures.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show once again, this time in an enlargement, how the right-hand pull-through channel 17 behaves when it has been folded back downward (see FIG. 10) and when the upper end 12 of the central part 11 is standing upright (see FIG. 11). In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, an optional, additional pull-through sub-channel has been sewn into the upper cuff-form portion (see arrowhead 17). The cloth band 32 can be threaded through said sub-channel if the erected position (see FIG. 11) is to be utilized on a long-term basis. However, neither this additional pull-through sub-channel nor the threading in of the cloth band are imperative.

In the illustration according to FIG. 12, for the purpose of depicting the cloth bands 31, 32 clearly, the latter have both been pulled out of the pull-through channels 16, 17. It can therefore be seen to particularly good effect that there is no connection between the cloth bands 31, 32 and the central part 11 in the region of the upper end 12, in particular all the way down to beneath the pull-through channels 16, 17.

FIG. 13 contains an optional modification to the embodiment of the carrying device 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 12. The closest comparison is the carrying device 1 in the state according to FIG. 4. The modification consists in the adjustable hip strap with padding and closure buckle being replaced simply by a cloth band, which forms the hip strap 43. The two free ends of the cloth band can be straightforwardly knotted to one another, in particular on the back of the person P carrying the baby.

The variant according to FIG. 14 corresponds to that according to FIG. 13, with the exception that there is no hip strap at all present. The baby B then simply hangs in front of the stomach of the person P carrying him/her. In order to avoid the situation where the baby swings too much when the person carrying him/her is engaged in activity, it is also possible for the free ends 34, 35 of the cloth bands 31, 32 to be guided over the accommodating body 10 and knotted together, instead of being knotted beneath the accommodating body 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

The invention is not restricted to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in various ways.

All of the features and advantages which can be gathered from the claims, the description and drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of different combinations.

List of reference signs
1  Carrying device
10 Accommodating body
11 Central part
12 Upper end
13 Lower end
14 Left-hand side edge
15 Right-hand side edge
16 Left-hand pull-through channel
17 Right-hand pull-through channel
18 Left-hand fabric flap (central part)
19 Right-hand fabric flap (central part)
20 Folding line
21 Upper region (left-hand pull-through channel)
22 Upper region (right-hand pull-through channel)
23 Lower region (left-hand pull-through channel)
24 Lower region (right-hand pull-through channel)
30 Cloth element
31 Left-hand cloth band
32 Right-hand cloth band
33 U-shaped cloth loop
34 Left-hand free cloth end
35 Right-hand free cloth end
36 Seat edge
37 Padding
38 Seat recess
40 Harness system
41 Left-hand shoulder strap
42 Right-hand shoulder strap
43 Hip strap
44 Padding
45 Closure buckle
B  Baby or infant
B1 Rear side
B2 Front side
B3 Bottom
B4 Thighs
E1 Upper adjustment position
E2 Lower adjustment position
P  Person
P1 Left shoulder
P2 Right shoulder
P3 Back
P4 Stomach
S1 Inner side (accommodating body)
S2 Outer side (accommodating body)

Claims

1. A carrying device (1) having an accommodating body (10) for accommodating a baby or infant (B), wherein the accommodating body (10) has an inner side (S1) and an outer side (S2) and is designed such that at least one region of the rear side (B1) of a baby or infant (B) can be accommodated and/or supported in the accommodating body (10), and having a harness system (40) for fastening the accommodating body (10) on a person (P), characterized in that

the accommodating body (10) has a central part (11) with an upper end (12), with a lower end (13), with a left-hand side edge (14) and with a right-hand side edge (15), and also has a left-hand cloth band (31) and a right-hand cloth band (32),

wherein, in the region of the upper end (12), the central part (11) has a left-hand pull-through channel (16), through which the left-hand cloth band (31) is guided, and a right-hand pull-through channel (17), through which the right-hand cloth band (32) is guided,

wherein the region of the upper end (12) of the central part (11) is mounted for displacement along the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) by way of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17).

2. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17) are located opposite one another and are each arranged laterally, and oriented vertically, on the central part (11).

3. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand cloth band (31), in the region of the lower end (13) of the central part (11), is connected to the left-hand side edge (14) of the central part (11) and, in the region of the upper end (12) of the central part (11), runs in an unfastened state adjacent to the left-hand side edge (14) of the central part (11) and also through the left-hand pull-through channel (16), and in that the right-hand cloth band (32), in the region of the lower end (13) of the central part (11), is connected to the right-hand side edge (15) of the central part (11) and, in the region of the upper end (12) of the central part (11), runs in an unfastened state adjacent to the right-hand side edge (14) of the central part (11) and also through the right-hand pull-through channel (17).

4. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand cloth band (31) is mounted in a gathered state in the left-hand pull-through channel (16) and the right-hand cloth band (32) is mounted in a gathered state in the right-hand pull-through channel (17).

5. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a fanning out of the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) in each case beneath the pull-through channels (17) is utilized for the purpose of forming the seat recess of the accommodating body (10).

6. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand pull-through channel (16) is formed by a left-hand fabric flap (18) of the central part (10), said fabric flap projecting beyond the left-hand side edge (14) and being sewn in a folded-in state, and in that the right-hand pull-through channel (17) is formed by a right-hand fabric flap (19) of the central part (10), said fabric flap projecting beyond the right-hand side edge (15) and being sewn in a folded-in state.

7. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the main tensile forces run through the laterally arranged cloth bands (31, 32), that is to say in particular they do not run centrally in a vertical direction over the back of the baby (B).

8. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in the region of the lower end (13) of the central part (11), the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) are connected to one another via a U-shaped cloth loop (33), wherein the U-shaped cloth loop (33) is connected to the lower end (13) of the central part (11).

9. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the U-shaped cloth loop (33) forms a seat recess for the bottom and the thighs of a baby or infant (B) accommodated in the carrying device.

10. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the bottom of a baby or infant (B) accommodated in the carrying device is encompassed in the transverse direction, in particular from left to right, by the U-shaped cloth loop (33), in particular by the cloth loop (33) being oriented transversely to the bottom of a baby or infant (B) accommodated in the carrying device.

11. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) and also the U-shaped cloth loop (33) are formed from a cloth element (30).

12. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, in the region of the U-shaped cloth loop (33), the cloth element (30) has padding (37).

13. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the U-shaped cloth loop (33) has, at least to some extent, a number of fabric layers.

14. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) and also the U-shaped cloth loop (33) together form a seat loop or seat swing for the baby or infant accommodated in the carrying device.

15. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) merge into the harness (40), or are connected to the harness (40), in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17).

16. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32)

merge into a shoulder strap (41, 42) of the harness (40), or

are connected to a shoulder strap (41, 42) of the harness (40), or

form a shoulder strap (41, 42) of the harness (40),

in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17).

17. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the left-hand and right-hand cloth bands (31, 32) form free cloth ends (34, 35) in each case above the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17), said cloth ends forming knottable shoulder straps (41, 42) of the harness (40).

18. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in the region of the lower end (13) of the central part (11) and/or in the region of the U-shaped cloth loop (33), the accommodating body (10) is connected to a hip strap (43).

19. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the U-shaped cloth loop (33) has a seat edge (36) which projects beyond the hip strap (43).

20. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that, for the purpose of reducing the size of the seat, the seat edge (36) is designed such that it can be folded in in the direction of the inner side (S1) of the accommodating body (10).

21. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, for the purpose of shortening the accommodating body (10), the upper end (12) of the central part (11) is designed such that it can be folded over downward.

22. The carrying device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an upper region (21, 22) of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17) is of cuff-form design in each case, and a lower region (23, 24) of the left-hand and right-hand pull-through channels (16, 17) is of radially closed design in each case.