BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a baby carrier,
and more particularly, to a baby carrier capable of adjusting a ratio of loads transferred
to a shoulder band and a waist band.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] In general, in response to a baby being sat on a baby sling which may carry a baby
on the user's back or hold the baby to the user' chest, a load may be vertically applied
and may be concentrated on the user's shoulders. Accordingly, the load may be hard
on the user's shoulders.
[0003] In recent years, hipseats which may hold a baby to disperse the baby's weight to
the user's waist and pelvis may have been used. However the baby's weight may be mostly
concentrated on the user's waist in hipseats and may be hard on the user's waist.
In the baby slings and hipseats in the related art, the baby's weight may be concentrated
on a specific body part and the user may feel pain while the user wears the baby carrier
and hipseat for a long time.
[0004] To switch the mode to the hipseat mode in the baby sling mode in the structure that
the baby sling and the hipseat are combined, the user has to combine the hipseat with
the baby sling after the user releases wearing of the baby sling and puts the baby
down. To switch the mode to the baby sling mode in the hipseat mode, the user has
to separate the hipseat from the baby sling after the user put the baby on the hipseat
down and unbuckles the belt. Accordingly, the mode switching between the baby sling
mode and the hipseat mode is cumbersome. Since the user has to put the baby down in
the mode switching, the swift mode switching may be difficult and the use of the baby
carrier may be inconvenient.
CN 204 500 102 U and
CN 206 659 566 U disclose a baby carrier with a body part a pair of shoulder bands coupled to opposite
sides of an upper portion of the body part, and a waist band coupled to a lower portion
of the body part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Exemplary embodiments may overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages
not described above. Also, an exemplary embodiment is not required to overcome the
disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment may not overcome any of
the problems described above.
[0006] One or more exemplary embodiments relate to a baby carrier capable of adjusting a
ratio of loads applied to a shoulder band and a waist band by swiftly switching a
load-applied direction through a simple operation of a load control unit. The invention
is defined by independent claim 1.
[0007] According to the invention, there is provided a baby carrier including a body part;
a pair of shoulder bands coupled to opposite sides of an upper portion of the body
part; a waist band coupled to a lower portion of the body part; a load control unit
which is coupled to the waist band and is changed to any one posture of a first posture
and a second posture to switch a load-applied direction. A ratio of loads applied
to the shoulder bands and the waist band is changed in response to the load control
unit being changed from the one posture of the first posture and the second posture
to the other posture of the first posture and the second posture.
[0008] The load control unit does not receive a load applied to a coupling portion of the
shoulder bands and the waist band in the first posture and disperses a portion of
the load applied to the shoulder bands to the waist band in the second posture. The
load control unit includes a base detachably coupled to the waist band; a hipseat
hinge-coupled to the base and configured to rotate to the first posture that the hipseat
is folded to the base and the second posture that the hipseat is unfolded to maintain
a fixed angle to the base; and a posture maintaining unit configured to maintain a
position of the hipseat in the one posture of the first posture and the second posture.
[0009] The posture maintaining unit includes a locking shaft elastically movably disposed
in any one of the base and the hipseat; and a locking groove which is formed in the
other one of the base and the hipseat and the locking shaft is fixedly coupled thereto.
[0010] The locking groove includes a first groove and a second groove which the locking
shaft is selectively inserted thereinto and the locking groove maintains the first
posture in response to the locking shaft being inserted into the first groove and
maintains the second posture in response to the locking shaft being inserted into
the second groove.
[0011] The first groove, according to the invention, is formed in an arc shape along a rotation
direction of the hipseat. A cam surface, which is inclined to a direction that a depth
of the first groove is increased far away from the second groove, may be formed in
the first groove.
[0012] The posture maintaining unit may include a locking shaft elastically movably disposed
in the hipseat; and a locking groove which is formed in the base and the locking shaft
is fixedly coupled thereto. The locking shaft may be disposed in an inner side or
an outer side of the hipseat.
[0013] One end of the posture maintaining unit may be hinge-coupled to the hipseat and may
maintain an unfolded state of the hipseat to the base in the second posture.
[0014] The other end of the posture maintaining unit may be detachably fixed to the hipseat
in the first posture and may be held in the base in the second posture.
[0015] The posture maintaining unit may include a first snap coupling member disposed in
any one of the base and the hipseat and a second snap coupling member disposed in
the other one of the base and the hipseat. The first and second snap coupling members
may be mutually snap-coupled in the second posture.
[0016] The first and second snap coupling members may be disposed in a portion in which
the base and the hipseat are hinge-coupled.
[0017] The posture maintaining unit may include a first link of which one end is hinge-coupled
to the base; and a second link of which one end is hinge-coupled to the hipseat and
the other end is hinge-coupled to a portion of the first link.
[0018] The first link and the second link may be mutually snap-coupled in the second posture.
A protrusion may be formed in any one of the first link and the second link and a
groove to which the protrusion is snap-coupled may be formed in the other one of the
first link and the second link.
[0019] The posture maintaining unit may further include a third link of which one end is
hinge-coupled to the hipseat and the other end is slidably coupled to the second link.
[0020] The third link may be disposed in a truss structure with the second link in the second
posture.
[0021] The third link may overlap the second link in the first posture and the second link
may overlap the first link in the first posture.
[0022] The hipseat may include a hinge part hinge-coupled to the second link and the base
may include a fixing groove to which the hinge part is detachably fixed in the first
posture. The hipseat may be formed to have a structure that opposite sides thereof
are inclined. The waist band may include an engaging protrusion formed to protrude
from the waist band and the load control unit may include an engaging groove detachably
engaged to the engaging protrusion.
[0023] A pull handle configured to control a length may be attached to each of the shoulder
bands.
[0024] The baby carrier may further include a headrest which slidably moves along a rail
formed in the body part and the shoulder bands.
[0025] The baby carrier may further include a sensing unit which includes a diaper state
sensing unit configured to detect a state of a diaper worn by a baby, a processor
configured to determine the state of the diaper based on a signal transmitted from
the diaper state sensing unit, and a communication unit configured to transmit state
information of the diaper processed in the processor to an external apparatus.
[0026] The sensing unit may be disposed in a body part.
[0027] The sensing unit may further include a weight sensing unit configured to measure
weight of a baby. The weight sensing unit may include an air tube disposed in an inner
surface of the body part so that the baby sits on the air tube; and a pressure sensor
configured to detect pressure change in the air tube in response to the weight of
the baby being applied to the air tube.
[0028] The sensing unit may further include a sensor configured to measure a slope of the
baby carrier.
[0029] The baby carrier may further include a distribution plate coupled to the waist band
and configured to support a lower end of the base. The distribution plate may disperse
a load transferred from the base.
[0030] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a baby carrier
including a body part; a shoulder band; a waist band coupled to a lower end of the
body part; a base detachably coupled to the waist band; a hipseat hinge-coupled to
the base and configured to rotate to a first posture which the hipseat is folded to
the base and a second posture which the hipseat is unfolded to maintain a fixed angle
to the base; and a posture maintaining unit configured to maintain a position of the
hipseat in any one posture of the first posture and the second posture. The posture
maintaining unit may include a locking shaft elastically movably disposed in the base;
a first locking groove to which the locking shaft is fixed in the second posture;
and a second locking groove which is formed in an arc shape corresponding to a rotation
trajectory of the hipseat and a cam surface inclined to a direction that a depth of
the second groove is increased far away from the first locking groove is formed therein.
[0031] Additional aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments are set forth in the
detailed description, and will be obvious from the detailed description, or may be
learned by practicing the exemplary embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0032] The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent by
describing certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a baby carrier according to an exemplary
embodiment;
FIG 2A is a side view illustrating an example of the baby carrier of FIG. 1 that a
hipseat of a load control unit is located in a first posture according to an exemplary
embodiment;
FIG 2B is a side view illustrating an example of the baby carrier of FIG. 1 that a
hipseat of a load control unit is located in a second posture according to an exemplary
embodiment;
FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a load control unit and a waist
band illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG 3B is a coupling perspective view illustrating the load control unit and the waist
band illustrated in FIG 3A;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit and the waist
band taken along line B-B of FIG. 3B;
FIG 5 is a perspective view illustrating a hipseat of a load control unit according
to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second posture
through a locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture
through a locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line D-D of FIG 7A;
FIG 7C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line C-C of FIG 6;
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second posture
through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 9A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture
through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG 9B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line F-F of FIG. 9A;
FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line E-E of FIG. 8;
FIG 10 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a secondposture
through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 11A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first
posture through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment
FIG 11B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line H-H of FIG 11 A;
FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line G-G of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a secondposture
through a supporting member according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 13A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first
posture through a supporting member according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG 13B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line J-J of FIG. 13A;
FIG 13C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line I-I of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second
posture through a supporting member having another structure according to an exemplary
embodiment;
FIG 15A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture
through a supporting member having another structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line L-L of FIG. 15 A;
FIG 15C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line K-K of FI G 14;
FIG 16 is a perspective view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second
posture through a supporting member having another structure according to an exemplary
embodiment;
FIG 17A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture
through a supporting member having another structure according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG 17B is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line N-N of FIG. 17A;
FIG 17C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the load control unit taken along
line M-M of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a pull handle provided in a shoulder band
or a waist band of a baby carrier according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an example that a rear fixing member of
a baby carrier is attached to a should band according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 20A is an enlarged view illustrating an "O" portion illustrated in FIG. 19;
FIG 20B is an enlarged view illustrating a rear of an "O" portion illustrated in FIG
19;
FIG 20C is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the "O" portion taken along line
P-P of FIG 20B;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating an example that a sensing unit is provided
in a baby carrier according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the sensing unit illustrated
in FIG 21;
FIG 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a state monitoring system of a
baby and a diaper using a sensing unit according to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sensing unit according
to an exemplary embodiment;
FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external apparatus according
to an exemplary embodiment; and
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example that a state of a baby detected through
a sensing unit is displayed in a display of an external apparatus according to an
exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed
construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding
of the exemplary embodiments. Thus, it is understood that the exemplary embodiments
can be carried out without those specifically defined matters.
[0034] Various embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which some embodiments are shown. The techniques described herein are
exemplary, and should not be construed as implying any particular limitation on the
present disclosure. It should be understood that various alternatives, combinations
and modifications could be devised by those skilled in the art. In the following description,
unless otherwise described, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements
when they are depicted in different drawings.
[0035] A baby carrier 1 according to an exemplary embodiment may disperse weight of a baby,
which is simultaneously transferred to left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b and
a waist band 30, in an appropriate ratio by operating a load control unit 100 in a
state that a user holds a baby. Accordingly, the user may selectively control load
distribution through the load control unit 100 in a state that the user holds the
baby so that the pain is not concentrated on the shoulder or waist of the user due
to the weight of the baby.
[0036] Hereinafter, a structure of a baby carrier according to an exemplary embodiment will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a baby carrier according to an exemplary
embodiment and FIGS. 2A and 2B are side views illustrating examples of the baby carriers
that a hipseat of a load control unit is located in a first posture and a second posture.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, the baby carrier 1 according to an exemplary embodiment may
include a body part 10, the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b, the waist band
30, aheadrest 50, and the load control unit 100.
[0039] The body part 10 may support the hip and body of the baby in a state that the user
holds the baby using the baby carrier 1. The left and right shoulder bands 20a and
20b may be coupled to opposite sides of an upper portion of the body part 10 and the
waist band 30 may be coupled to a lower portion of the body part 10.
[0040] The left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b may be mutually coupled through a fastening
member 40 in a state that the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b are worn on
both shoulders of the user. The fastening member 40 may include first and second belts
42a and 42b of which one ends are coupled to the left and right shoulder bands 20a
and 20b and a pair of buckles 41 and 43 which are fixed to the other ends of the first
and second belts 42a and 42b and are detachably snap-coupled to each other. The user
may wear the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b on both shoulders and fasten
the pair of buckles 41 and 43 of the fastening member 40 and thus the user may stably
wear the baby carrier 1. The user may hold the baby in a state that the user stably
wears the baby carrier 1. Accordingly, the baby may not be easily escaped from the
baby carrier 1 and the accident that the baby falls down the baby carrier may be prevented
in advance.
[0041] An upper end of a front of the waist band 30 may be coupled to the body part 10 and
the waist band 30 may surround the waist portion of the user while the user wears
the baby carrier 1. The waist band 30 may include a snap-fitting (not shown) such
as the above-described buckles so that the user may easily wear and take off the baby
carrier 1.
[0042] A fixing plate 31 may be coupled to an inner side of the waist band 30. The fixing
plate 31 may be disposed substantially in the front of the waist band 30 so that the
fixing plate 31 may be located in a lower side of the body part 10. The fixing plate
31 to which the load control unit 100 is detachably coupled may transfer the weight
of the baby to the waist band 30 through the hipseat 130 to be described later in
the second posture. The fixing plate 31 and the hipseat 130 may be formed of a material
having fixed rigidity to support the weight of the baby. A detailed configuration
of the fixing plate 31 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4.
[0043] The load control unit 100 may include a base 110 detachably coupled to the waist
band 30, a hipseat 130 configured to rotate to the first posture that the hipseat
is folded to the base 110 and the second posture that the hipseat is unfolded to maintain
a fixed angle to the base 110, and a posture maintaining unit 200 configured to maintain
a position of the hipseat 130 to any one of the first posture and the second posture.
[0044] The base 110 may be detachably coupled to a front surface of the waist band 30. However,
this is not limited thereto and the base 110 may be fixedly coupled to the front surface
of the waist band 30.
[0045] One end portion of the hipseat 130 may be rotatably hinge- coupled to an upper portion
of a front surface of the base 110. A posture that the hipseat 130 is folded to the
base 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2A may refer to the first posture and a posture that
the hipseat 130 is unfolded to maintain a fixed angle to the base 110 as illustrated
in FIG. 2B may refer to the second posture. As the load control unit 100 has the first
posture and the second posture, the degree of load applied to the left and right shoulders
20a and 20b and the waist band 30 due to the weight of the baby may be changed.
[0046] For example, most of the weight of the baby may act on the left and right shoulder
bands 20a and 20b rather than the waist band 30. Since the load applied to the shoulders
of the user is larger than the load applied to the waist of the user in a state that
most of the weight of the baby acts on the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b,
the user who uses the baby carrier 1 for a long time may feel the pain in the shoulders
larger than in the waist.
[0047] For example, in response to the load control unit 100 being changed to the second
posture in a state that the user holds the baby, the hipseat 130 may receive the weight
of the baby applied to the body part 10 and transfer the weight of the baby to the
waist band 30. Accordingly, a considerable portion of the load applied to the left
and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b may be dispersed to the waist band 30 and the
load applied to the shoulders of the user may be alleviated.
[0048] In another example, as the user users the baby carrier for a long time in a state
that the load control unit 100 is in the second posture, the user may feel the pain
in the waist and the user may change the load control unit 100 to the first posture.
Accordingly, the body part 10 is not supported and a considerable portion of the load
applied to the waist of the user may be dispersed to the shoulders of the user.
[0049] Accordingly, the user may change the load control unit 100 to any one of the first
posture and the second posture and change the ratio of the loads applied to the left
and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b and the waist band 30. Accordingly, the load
due to the weight of the baby may not be concentrated on any portion of the shoulders
and the waist of the user and the pain in the corresponding portion may be alleviated.
[0050] FIG 3A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a load control unit and a waist
band illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG 3B is a coupling perspective view illustrating
the load control unit and the waist band illustrated in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional
diagram taken along line B- B of FIG 3B.
[0051] The waist band 30 may include the fixing plate 31 configured to detachably fix the
load control unit 100 to the waist band 30. The fixing plate 31 may be disposed along
a length direction of the waist band 30 to surround the stomach and a portion of the
waist of the user in the front inner side of the waist band 30.
[0052] The fixing plate 31 may include a plurality of engaging protrusions 34 exposed to
the outer side of the waist band 30 in a front surface thereof. Each of the plurality
of engaging protrusions 34 may be configured of a pin portion 32 protruding from the
fixing plate 31 and a head portion 33 having a larger cross-sectional area than the
pin portion in a tip of the pin portion 32.
[0053] The base 110 may be detachably fixed to the waist band 30 and one end of the hipseat
130 may be rotatably hinge-coupled to the front surface of the base 110. A plurality
of engaging holes 111 to which the plurality of engaging protrusions 34 of the waist
band 30 are engaged may be formed in the base 110. Each of the plurality of engaging
holes 111 may be formed in a form that circles having different radii vertically partially
overlap each other. A circle 113 formed in an upper side of the engaging groove 111
may be formed smaller than a circuit 112 formed in a lower side of the engaging groove
111.
[0054] The lower-side circle 112 of the engaging hole 111 may have a diameter equal to or
larger than that of the head portion 33 of the engaging protrusion 34 so that the
head portion 33 of the engaging protrusion 34 passes through the lower-side circuit
112. The upper-side circle 113 of the engaging hole 111 may have a diameter equal
to or larger than that of the pin portion 32 of the engaging protrusion 34 so that
the upper-side circle 113 of the engaging hole 111 may receive the pin portion 32
of the engaging protrusion 34.
[0055] A width of a portion in which the lower-side circle 112 and the upper-side circle
113 meet each other may be formed smaller than the diameter of the pin portion 32
of the engaging protrusion 34. Accordingly, the user may determine whether or not
the base 110 is stably fixed to the fixing plate 31 through an audible click and feeling
in response to the base 110 being coupled to the fixing plate 31. The engaging hole
111 may serve to prevent the base 110 coupled to the fixing plate 31 from being easily
escaped.
[0056] A process of coupling the base 110 to the fixing plate 31 will be described below.
The user may move the base 110 toward the front surface of the fixing plate 31, pass
through the head portion 33 of the engaging protrusion 34 through the lower-side circle
112 of the engaging hole 111, and move the base 110 downward so that the pin portion
32 of the engaging protrusion 34 is engaged to the upper-side circle 113 of the engaging
hole 111. A process of separating the base 110 from fixing plate 31 may be performed
in reverse order of the process of coupling the base 110 to the fixing plate 31.
[0057] The base 110 may be curved to have a fixed curvature corresponding to a curve of
the stomach of the user so that the base 110 may protrude toward a front that the
load control unit 100 is disposed while the user wears the baby carrier 1. Accordingly,
the base 110 may be in tight contact with the stomach and the portion of the waist
of the user and the load transferred from the hipseat 130 in the second posture may
be substantially evenly transferred to the stomach and the portion of the waist through
the base 110. Accordingly, the user may feel comfortable wearing sensation while the
user wears the baby carrier 1. Inclined portions 131 and 133 inclined to a fixed angle
may be formed to extend from opposite sides of a central portion 132 in the hipseat
130. Accordingly, the inclined portions 131 and 133 may smoothly support the legs
of the baby in the second posture. Opposite sides of the hipseat may not protrude
in the first posture and may not be in contact with the body of the baby, for example,
legs or thighs.
[0058] Referring to FIG 4, a distribution plate 35 configured to support the lower end of
the base 110 may be disposed in an outer side of the waist band 30. The weight of
the baby applied to the hipseat 130 in the second posture may be transferred to the
base 110. Accordingly, the base 110 may be, for example, in a state to be rotated
counterclockwise about the engaging protrusion 34 as a reference point. Accordingly,
the lower end of the base 110 may press the front surface of the waist band 30. In
this example, the load may be concentrated on a waist band 30 portion which is in
contact with a corner of the lower end of the inclined base 110. To disperse the concentrated
load, the distribution plate 35, of which one end 35a supports the lower end of the
base 110 and the other end 35b is fixed to the waist band 30, may be disposed in an
outer side of the waist band 30. The distribution plate 35 may be disposed spaced
from the fixing plate 31.
[0059] The distribution plate 35 may support a portion of the base 110 which is farthest
from a portion of the base 110 hinge-coupled to thehipseat 130. An concave arrangement
groove 37 in which the distribution plate 35 is to be disposed may be formed in a
lower end of the fixing plate 31 so that the distribution plate 35 supports a lower
end 116 of the base 110. The arrangement groove 37 may be formed larger than the distribution
plate 35. Accordingly, the distribution plate 35 may be disposed spaced from the fixing
plate 31. The distribution plate 35 may support a lower portion of the base 110 in
response to the lower end 116 of the base 110 being inclined toward the waist band
30. Accordingly, while the lower end 116 of the base 110 may be inclined, the distribution
plate 35 may prevent force from being concentrated on any one point. The distribution
plate 35 may disperse the load concentrated on the corner of the inclined lower end
116 of the base 110. As indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4, the load applied to the hipseat
130 may be dispersed through the distribution plate 35 and may act on the user. Accordingly,
the pain applied to the stomach of the user may be alleviated.
[0060] A posture maintaining unit 200 may be variously embodied and various exemplary embodiments
of the posture maintaining unit 200 will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0061] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a hipseat of a load control unit according
to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a load control
unit which maintains a second posture through a locking structure according to an
exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which
maintains a first posture through a locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment,
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line D-D of FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7C
is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line C-C of FIG 6.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7A, the posture maintaining unit 200 which may maintain the
first posture that the hipseat 130 is folded and the second posture that the hipseat
130 is unfolded may be disposed in one side of the base 110.
[0063] The posture maintaining unit 200 may include a locking shaft 250 and a locking rib
270. The locking shaft 250 may be elastically disposed in the base 110 to be slidably
movable. The posture maintaining unit 200 may be formed in the hipseat 130 and first
and second locking grooves 220 and 230 to which the locking shaft 250 is fixedly coupled
may be formed in the posture maintaining unit 200.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 6, the hinge part 150 may be formed to protrude in an upper portion
of the front surface of the base 110 and a hinge shaft 151 configured to rotatably
couple the hipseat 130 may be coupled to the base 110. A pair of locking ribs 270
which are disposed in opposite sides of the hinge part 150 may be formed to protrude
in an upper portion of a rear surface of the hipseat 130. The pair of locking ribs
270 may be symmetrically arranged and configurations of the pair of locking ribs 270
may be the same as each other and thus only a left locking rib 270 will be described
hereinafter.
[0065] Referring to FIG 5, ahinge hole 153 and the first and second locking grooves 220
and 230 may be formed in one surface 270a of the locking rib 270. The hinge shaft
151 may be supported in a state that one end of the hinge shaft 151 is inserted into
the hinge hole 153. Accordingly, the hipseat 130 may be rotated at a fixed angle clockwise
and counterclockwise about the base 110.
[0066] The first and second locking grooves 220 and 230 may be disposed at intervals and
may be arranged in positions into which the locking shaft 250 is inserted according
to the first and second postures that the hipseat 130 is folded and unfolded to the
base 110. Accordingly, the locking shaft 250 may be inserted into the first locking
groove 220 in the first posture that the hipseat 130 is folded to the base 110 and
may be inserted into the second locking groove 230 in the secondposture that the hipseat
130 is unfolded at a fixed angle to the base 110. Accordingly, the first or second
posture may be maintained in response to the locking shaft 250 being inserted into
the first or second locking groove 220 or 230.
[0067] The first locking groove 220 may be formed in an arc shape along a rotation direction
of the hipseat 130. The first locking groove 220 may include a cam surface 223 inclined
to a direction that a depth of the first locking groove 220 is increased far away
from the second locking groove 230. A fixing portion 225 of the first locking groove
220 to which the locking shaft 250 may be fixed may be formed to be coupled to the
cam surface 223 and may be formed in a cylindrical shape to correspond to an insertion
portion 255 of the locking shaft 250 in a deepest point of the first locking groove
220. As the first locking groove 220 is formed in the arc shape, the user may change
the load control unit from the first posture to the second posture only through an
unfolding operation of the hipseat 130 in a state that the locking shaft 250 is inserted
into the first locking groove 220 without pulling a locking handle 257.
[0068] The second locking groove 230 may be formed in a cylindrical shape corresponding
to the insertion portion 255 of the locking shaft 250 to fix the locking shaft 250.
A diameter of the second locking groove 230 may be formed equal to or slightly larger
than that of the locking shaft 250.
[0069] The hinge coupling structure and the locking structure of the hipseat 130 and the
base 110 will be described in detail.
[0070] The hipseat 130 may be hinge-coupled to the base 110 so that the hipseat 130 may
rotate to the first posture that the hipseat 130 is folded to the base 110 and the
second posture that the hipseat 130 is unfolded to maintain at a fixed angle to the
base 110.
[0071] The hinge shaft 151 may be rotatably supported through the locking rib 270 of the
hipseat 130. One end of the hinge shaft 151 may be inserted into the hinge hole 153
formed in the locking rib 270. The hipseat 130 may rotate at a fixed angle with respect
to the base 110 about the hinge shaft 151 as a rotation center. The hinge shaft 151
maybe disposed in the inner side of the hinge part 150, which is formed to protrude
in the upper portion of the front surface of the base 110, to pass through the hinge
part 150.
[0072] A rotation groove 135 may be formed in an upper portion of the base 110 so that the
base 110 may not interfere with the locking rib 270 which simultaneously rotates with
the hipseat 130. The posture maintaining unit 200 may include the first and second
locking grooves 220 and 230 formed in the locking rib 270 and the locking shaft 250
selectively elastically coupled to the first and second locking grooves 220 and 230
in an outer side of the hinge shaft 151 or an inner side of the rotation groove 153.
[0073] The locking shaft 250 may include a shaft portion 251, the insertion portion 255,
and the locking handle 257.
[0074] The shaft portion 251 may slidably pass through the hinge part 150 and may be coupled
to a portion of the hinge part 150. The insertion portion 255 may be formed to extend
from one end of the shaft portion 251 and may be selectively inserted into the first
and second locking grooves 220 and 230. The locking handle 257 configured to allow
the user to move the shaft portion 251 may be coupled to the other end of the shaft
portion 251.
[0075] As the load control unit 100 is changed to the first posture or the second posture,
the insertion portion 255 may be selectively inserted into any one of the first and
second locking grooves 220 and 230. In response to the insertion portion 255 being
inserted into any one of the first and second locking grooves 220 and 230, the hipseat
130 located in the first or secondposture may be fixed and in response to the insertion
portion 255 being escaped from the first and second locking grooves 220 and 230, the
hipseat 130 may be in a changeable state from one posture of the first and second
postures to the other posture of the first and the second postures.
[0076] An elastic member 253 may elastically support the shaft portion 251 in the inner
side of a portion of the hinge part 150. The elastic member 253 may be formed of a
coil spring into which the shaft portion 251 is inserted. The elastic force of the
elastic member 253 may act to a direction that the locking shaft 250 is pressed to
a locking rib 270 side. Accordingly, the locking shaft 250 may linearly move along
a direction substantially perpendicular to a locking rib 270 surface in which the
first and second locking grooves 220 and 230 are formed.
[0077] The user may pull the locking handle 257 to a direction far away from the locking
rib 270 in the second posture and the insertion 255 may be drawn out from the second
locking groove 230. Accordingly, the unfolded state of the hipseat 130 is released
and the hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110.
[0078] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
will be described with reference to FIGS. 7B and 7C.
[0079] As illustrated in FIG 7B, the hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110 in the first
posture. For example, the weight of the baby may be put on the body part 10 of the
baby carrier 1 and the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b may be pulled down.
In this example, the load applied to the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b
due to the weight of the baby may be larger than the load applied to the waist band
30 in the first posture.
[0080] For example, the user who uses the baby carrier 1 for a long time in a state that
the load control unit 100 is set to the first posture may feel the pain in the shoulders.
In this example, the user may change the load control unit 100 from the first posture
to the second posture through a simple operation and accordingly, a consideration
portion of the load applied to the shoulders is transferred to the waist and the pain
of the shoulders may be alleviated.
[0081] To change the load control unit 100 from the first posture to the second posture,
the user may simply rotate the hipseat 130 to an unfolding direction of the hipseat
130 from the base 110 and thus the fixing of the hipseat 130 in the first posture
may be released.
[0082] In response to the hipseat 130 being continuously rotated to the unfolding direction
of the hipseat 130 by the user, the insertion portion 255 of the locking shaft 250
may be escaped from the fixing portion 225 of the first locking groove 220, may slidably
move along the cam surface 223 and may be escaped from the first locking groove 220.
Then, the insertion portion 255 may slide on the one surface 270a of the locking rib
270 which rotates with the hipseat 130.
[0083] In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the second posture that the hipseat
130 is completely unfolded, the insertion portion 255 of the locking shaft 250 may
be inserted into the second locking groove 230 as illustrated in FIG. 7C. Accordingly,
the hipseat 130 may be fixed in the unfolded state.
[0084] In response to the load control unit 100 being switched from the first posture to
the second posture, the weight of the baby put on the body part 10 may be transferred
to the waist band 30 through the hipseat 130 and the load applied to the shoulders
of the user through the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b may be dispersed
to the waist band 30. Accordingly, the load applied to the waist band 30 may largely
act on the user as compared with the load applied to the left and right shoulder bands
20a and 20b. Accordingly, the load control unit 100 may be switched from the first
posture to the second posture and thus the pain applied to the shoulder of the user
may be alleviated. For example, the user who uses the baby carrier 1 for a long time
in a state that the load control unit 100 is set to the second posture may feel the
pain in the waist. In this example, the waist pain may be alleviated by swiftly changing
the load control unit 100 from the second posture to the first posture. Hereinafter,
a process of switching the load control unit 100 from the second posture to the first
posture will be described.
[0085] The user may pull the locking handle 257 to an arrow direction illustrated in FIG
6 to change the load control unit 100 from the second posture to the first posture
and thus the insertion portion 255 of the locking shaft 250 inserted into the second
locking groove 230 may be escaped from the second locking groove 230. In response
to the hipseat 130 being rotated to a folding direction in a state that the insertion
portion 255 is escaped, the insertion portion 255 may be inserted into the first locking
groove 220 along the cam surface 223 of the first locking groove 220 while the insertion
portion 255 slides in a state that the one surface 270a of the locking rib 270 is
pressed through the elastic member 253. The insertion portion 255 may continuously
slide along the cam surface 223 of the first locking groove 220 and simultaneously
may be inserted into the fixing portion 225 of the first locking groove 220. Accordingly,
the hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110 and the load control unit 100 may be
changed to the first posture.
[0086] The load control unit according to an exemplary embodiment may include the posture
maintaining unit having various structures and various exemplary embodiments of the
load control unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 17C.
[0087] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 17C, the load control unit in the exemplary embodiment may
have a basic structure similar to that of the load control unit in an exemplary embodiment.
Accordingly, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements and the same
components in FIGS. 8 to 17C.
[0088] FIG 8 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second posture
through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 9A
is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture through
another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional
diagram taken along line F-F of FIG. 9A and FIG 9C is a cross-sectional diagram taken
along line E-E of FIG. 8.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 9C, a posture maintaining unit 300 configured to operate
the load control unit 100 to be switched to the first posture or the second posture
may include a locking shaft 350 elastically disposed in a hipseat 130 to be slidably
movable and first and second locking grooves 320 and 330 which is formed in the base
110 and the locking shaft 350 is fixedly coupled thereto.
[0090] In the load control unit 100 according to another exemplary embodiment illustrated
in FIG 8, the locking shaft 350 of the posture maintaining unit 300 may be formed
in the hipseat 130 and the first and second locking grooves 320 and 330 may be formed
in the base 110. The load control unit 100 in the exemplary embodiment may have the
different the locking structure from the load control unit 100 of FIG 6 that the locking
shaft 250 is formed in the base 110 and the first and second locking grooves 220 and
230 are formed in the hipseat 130.
[0091] The base 110 may include a locking rib 370 in which a hinge hole 153 and the first
and second locking grooves 320 and 330 are formed. The locking rib 370 may be formed
to protrude toward the hipseat 130 in an upper portion of the base 110. The locking
rib 370 may be formed in an outer surface of the base 110 and a pair of locking rib
370 may be symmetrically formed in opposite sides of the upper portion of the base
110.
[0092] The locking shaft 350 may linearly move along a direction perpendicular to a locking
rib 370 surface. The locking shaft 350 may elastically move in a locking shaft receiving
part 380 through an elastic member 353 to be described later. The locking shaft receiving
part 380 may be formed in the hipseat 130 and the locking shaft receiving part 380
may be disposed close to the locking rib 370 surface.
[0093] The first locking groove 320 and the second locking groove 330 may be formed in one
surface 370a of the locking rib at intervals. The one surface 370a of the locking
rib may be a surface close to the locking shaft receiving part 380.
[0094] The first and second locking grooves 320 and 330 may be arranged at intervals and
may be disposed in positions into which the locking shaft 350 is inserted according
to the first and second postures that the hipseat 130 is folded and unfolded to the
base. Accordingly, the locking shaft 350 may be inserted into the first locking groove
320 in the first posture that the hipseat 130 is folded to the base 110 and may be
inserted into the second locking groove 330 in the second posture that the hipseat
130 is unfolded at a fixed angle to the base 110. Accordingly, the first or second
posture may be maintained in response to the locking shaft 350 being inserted into
the first or second locking groove 320 or 330. The first locking groove 320 may be
located in an upper side than the second locking groove 330.
[0095] For example, in response to the hipseat 130 being maintained in the second posture,
the locking shaft 350 may be inserted into the second locking groove 330 formed in
a lower side of the locking rib 370.
[0096] The first locking groove 320 and the second locking groove 330 may be formed to have
a depth that an insertion portion 355 of the locking shaft 350 is inserted and fixed.
The first locking groove 320 and the second locking groove 330 may be formed in a
cylindrical shape corresponding to the insertion portion 355 of the locking shaft
350. The first locking groove 320 and the second locking groove 330 may be formed
to have diameters equal to or slightly larger than that of the locking shaft 350.
[0097] The locking shaft 350 may include a shaft portion 351, the insertion portion 355,
and a locking handle 357. The shaft portion 351 may slidably pass through a portion
of the locking rib 370 and may be coupled to the locking rib 370. The insertion portion
355 may be formed to extend from one end of the shaft portion 351 and may be selectively
inserted into the first and second locking grooves 320 and 330. The locking handle
357 configured to allow the user to move the shaft portion 351 may be coupled to the
other end of the shaft portion 351.
[0098] The insertion portion 355 may be selectively inserted into any one of the first and
second locking grooves 320 and 330 as the load control unit 100 is changed to the
first posture or the second posture. In response to the insertion portion 355 being
inserted into any one of the first and second locking grooves 320 and 330, the hipseat
130 located to the first posture or the second posture may be fixed and in response
to the insertion portion 355 being escaped from the first and second locking groove
320 and 330, the hipseat 130 may be in a changeable state from one posture of the
first and second postures to the other posture of the first and the second postures.
[0099] The elastic member 353 may elastically support the shaft portion 351 in an inner
side of a portion of the locking shaft receiving part 380. The elastic member 353
may be formed of a coil spring into which the shaft portion 351 is inserted. The elastic
force of the elastic member 353 may act to a direction that the locking shaft 350
is pressed to a locking rib 370 side. Accordingly, the locking shaft 350 may linearly
move along a direction substantially perpendicular to the locking rib 370 surface
in which the first and second locking grooves 320 and 330 are formed.
[0100] The user may pull the locking handle 357 to a direction far away from the locking
rib 370 in the second posture and the insertion 355 may be drawn out from the second
locking groove 330. Accordingly, the unfolded state of the hipseat 130 is released
and the hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110.
[0101] The locking shaft 350 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside in response to
the hipseat 130 being unfolded to the second posture. The locking shaft 350 has to
move to an arrow direction as illustrated in FIG. 8 to change the posture of the hipseat
130. Since the locking handle 357 is exposed to the outside in a state that the hipseat
130 is unfolded, the user may easily change the hipseat 130 from the second posture
to the first posture. In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from
any one posture of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first
and second postures, the insertion portion 355 may be escaped from the first locking
groove 320 or the second locking groove 330. Then, the insertion portion 355 may slide
on the one surface 370a of the locking rib 370 and simultaneously the insertion portion
355 may rotate with the hipseat 130. The elastic force may act on the insertion portion
355 to the locking rib 370 direction through the elastic member 353 and the insertion
portion 355 may be inserted into the first locking groove 320 or the second locking
groove 330 in response to the hipseat 130 being located in the first posture or the
second posture.
[0102] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, in response to the hipseat 130 being located
in the first posture, the insertion portion 355 may be inserted into and fixed to
the first locking groove 320 and as illustrated in FIG. 9C, in response to the hipseat
130 being located in the second posture, the insertion portion 355 may be inserted
into and fixed to the secondlocking grooves 330.
[0103] In the first posture of the load control unit 100 according to another exemplary
embodiment, the posture maintaining unit 300 may be disposed in a portion in which
the base 110 and the hipseat 130 are hinge- coupled. Accordingly, the locking handle
357 may be covered with the hinge part 150 of the baby carrier 1. In response to the
hinge part 150 being disposed to cover the coupling portion of the load control unit
100, the load control unit 100 may have a neat outer appearance.
[0104] In response to the load control unit 100 being maintained in the first posture, the
locking shaft 350 may be inserted into the first locking groove 320. The locking shaft
350 may be inserted into the first locking groove 320 formed in an upper side of the
locking rib 370 in a folded state of the hipseat 130.
[0105] The first locking groove 320 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the insertion
portion 355 of the locking shaft 350 and thus the locking shaft 350 has to be escaped
from the first locking groove 320 to release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed
to the first posture.
[0106] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
will be described with reference to FIGS. 9B and 9C.
[0107] As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110 in the first
posture. For example, the user may pull the locking shaft 350 to an arrow direction
illustrated in FIG. 9A to change the load control unit 100 from the first posture
to the second posture. In response to the locking handle 357 being pulled to the arrow
direction, the insertion portion 355 of the locking shaft 350 may be escaped from
the first locking groove 320. In response to the hipseat 130 being rotated to the
unfolding direction in a state that the insertion portion 355 is escaped from the
first locking groove 320, the insertion portion 355 may slide in a state that the
one surface 370a of the locking rib 370 is pressed through the elastic member 353
and simultaneously the insertion portion 355 may be inserted into the second locking
groove 330.
[0108] As illustrated in FIG 9C, the insertion portion 355 of the locking shaft 350 may
be inserted into and fixed to the second locking groove 330 in response to the hipseat
130 being located in the second posture that the hipseat 130 is completely unfolded.
As the locking shaft 350 is inserted into the second locking groove 330, the hipseat
130 may be fixed to maintain the second posture.
[0109] The user may move the locking shaft 350 to the arrow direction illustrated in FIG.
8 to change the load control unit 100 from the second posture to the first posture.
In response to the locking handle 357 being pulled to the arrow direction, the insertion
portion 355 of the locking shaft 350 may be escaped from the second locking groove
330. In response to the hipseat 130 being rotated to the folding direction in a state
that the insertion portion 355 is escaped from the second locking groove 330, the
insertion portion 355 may slide in a state that the one surface 370a of the locking
rib 370 is pressed through the elastic member 353 and simultaneously the insertion
portion 355 may be inserted into the first locking groove 320.
[0110] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a secondposture
through another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 11A
is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture through
another locking structure according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional
diagram taken along line H-H of FIG 11A and FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional diagram
taken along line G-G of FIG 10.
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 11C, aposture maintaining unit 400 of a load control unit
100 according to another exemplary embodiment may include first and second locking
grooves 420 and 430 wherein the first locking groove 420 is located in a lower side
than the second locking groove 430. For example, the first locking groove 420 configured
to fix the hipseat 130 to the first posture may be located in the lower side than
the second locking groove 430 configured to fix the hipseat 130 to the second posture.
[0112] The load control unit having another locking structure illustrated in FIG. 10 is
different from the load control unit illustrated in FIG 8 that the first locking groove
320 is formed in an upper side than the second locking groove 330.
[0113] In response to the hipseat 130 in the load control unit 100 according to another
exemplary embodiment being fixed to the second posture, a locking shaft 450 may be
inserted into and fixed to the second locking groove 430 formed in an upper side than
a hinge hole 153 as illustrated in FIG 11C. Accordingly, the locking shaft 450 may
not be exposed to the outside in response to the hipseat 130 being located to the
second posture. The locking shaft 450 may be disposed in an outer surface of the hipseat
130.
[0114] Since a locking handle 457 is not exposed to the outside in the second posture, the
risk that the fixing of the hipseat 130 in the second posture is released due to a
misoperation of the user may be reduced.
[0115] In the load control unit 100 according to another exemplary embodiment, the posture
maintaining unit 400 may be disposed in the outer surface of the hipseat 130 in the
first posture and thus the posture maintaining unit 400 may be exposed to the outside.
[0116] In response to the load control unit 100 being maintained to the first posture, the
locking shaft 450 may be inserted into the first locking groove 420 as illustrated
in FIG 11B. The locking shaft 450 may be inserted into the first locking groove 420
formed in a lower side than the hinge hole 153 of a fixing bracket 470 in the folded
state of the hipseat 130.
[0117] The first locking groove 420 may be formed in a shape corresponding to an insertion
portion 455 of the locking shaft 450 and thus the locking shaft 450 has to be drawn
out from the first locking groove 420 to release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed
to the first posture.
[0118] The user may release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed to the first posture by
pulling the locking handle 457 to an arrow direction illustrated in FIG 10. The locking
handle 457 may be exposed to the outside in the first posture and thus the user may
easily approach to the locking handle 457. Accordingly, it is convenient for the user
to change the posture of the load control unit 100.
[0119] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from any one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
is the same as the process in the exemplary embodiment of FIG 8 and thus the detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0120] FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a secondposture
through a supporting member according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG. 13A is a
front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a first posture through
a supporting member according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional
diagram taken along line J-J of FIG. 13A and FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional diagram
taken along line I-I of FIG. 12.
[0121] Referring to FIGS. 12 to 13C, a posture maintaining unit 500 configured to control
the load control unit 100 to be changed from the first or second posture in a state
that the hipseat 130 is located in the second posture may be provided in one end of
the base 110.
[0122] The posture maintaining unit 500 may include a supporting member 510 which one-side
ends thereof are hinge-coupled to the hipseat and maintains an unfolded state of the
hipseat to the base in the second posture.
[0123] One-side ends 512a and 512b of the supporting member 510 may be hinge-coupled to
the hipseat 130 and the other-side end 514 of the supporting member 510 may be detachably
fixed to the hipseat 130 in the first posture and may be held in the base 110 in the
second posture. The support member 510 may be formed in a "⊏" shape and the one-side
ends 512a and 512b of the supporting member 510 may be rotatably inserted into insertion
grooves 511 formed in the hipseat 510. The supporting member 510 may be rotated from
the unfolded hipseat 130 to the base 110. The other-side end 514 of the supporting
member 510 may be held in the supporting groove 513 formed in the base 110.
[0124] The one-side ends of the supporting member 510 may be disposed in the hipseat 130
and the other-side end of the supporting member 510 may be held in the base 110 so
that the hipseat 130 may be fixed in the second posture.
[0125] In response to the load control unit 100 being located in the first posture, as illustrated
in FIG. 13B, the one-side ends 512a and 512b of the supporting member 510 may be hinge-coupled
to the hipseat 130 and the other-side end 514 of the supporting member 510 may be
detachably fixed to a receiving groove 515 formed in the hipseat 130.
[0126] In response to the load control unit 100 being located in the second posture, as
illustrated in FIG. 13C, the one-side ends 512a and 512b of the supporting member
510 may be hinge-coupled to the hipseat 130 and the other-side end 514 of the supporting
member 510 may be held in the supporting groove 513 formed in the base 110.
[0127] First and second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be disposed in the hinge part
150 to which the hipseat 130 and the base 110 are hinge-coupled. The first and second
snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be disposed on the hinge shaft 151. The first
snap coupling member 531 may be disposed in the hipseat 130 and the second snap coupling
member 535 may be disposed in the base 110. The first snap coupling member 531 and
the second snap coupling member 535 may be disposed close to each other.
[0128] The first snap coupling member 531 may be disposed in a snap coupling receiving groove
515 formed in the hipseat 130 and may be disposed between an elastic member 533 and
the second snap coupling member 535. The elastic member 533 may be disposed in a surface
of the first snap coupling member 531 which is not close to the second snap coupling
member 535. The elastic member 533 may have the elastic force to a direction that
the first snap coupling member 531 presses the second snap coupling member 535. Accordingly,
the first snap coupling member 531 may press the second snap coupling member 535 while
the first snap coupling member is rotated with the hipseat 130. One end of the first
snap coupling member 531 may be in contact with the elastic member 533 and the other
end of the first snap coupling member 531 may be in contact with the second snap coupling
member 535. A plurality of protrusions 532 which protrude the outer side may be formed
in the other end of the first snap coupling member 531.
[0129] The second snap coupling member 535 may be disposed in a fixed state to the hinge
shaft 151. The second snap coupling member 535 may be disposed in the hinge part 150
formed in the base 110. Grooves 536, which may be coupled to the protrusions 532 of
the first snap coupling member 531, may be formed in the one end of the second snap
coupling member 535 which is in contact with the first snap coupling member 531. The
protrusions 532 and the grooves 536 may be formed to be engaged to each other in the
first or second posture.
[0130] The first and second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be snap-coupled to each
other in the first or second posture. In response to the hipseat 130 being rotated
in the first or second posture, the first snap coupling member 531 may be rotated
through the rotation of the hipseat 130. Accordingly, the coupling of the first and
second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be released. In response to the rotating
hipseat 130 being located to the first or second posture again, the first and second
snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be snap-coupled to each other.
[0131] In response to the hipseat 130 being changed from the first posture to the second
posture, the first snap coupling member 531 may be rotated with the hipseat 130 according
to the rotation of the hipseat 130. The first and second snap coupling members 531
and 535 may be snap-coupled to each other in the first posture state of the hipseat
130, but the protrusions 532 of the first snap coupling member 531 and the grooves
536 of the second snap coupling member 535 may not be coupled to each other in response
to the first snap coupling member 531 being rotated. Accordingly, the first snap coupling
member 531 may linearly move to a direction opposite to a surface of the first snap
coupling member 531 close to the second snap coupling member 535. For example, the
first snap coupling member 531 may move to a direction in which the elastic member
533 is disposed. In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the second posture,
the first and second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be snap-coupled to each
other.
[0132] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from any one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
will be described with reference to FIGS. 13B and 13C.
[0133] To change the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from the first posture to
the second posture, the user may simply rotate the hipseat 130 to the unfolding direction
and thus the fixing to the hipseat 130 in the first posture may be released.
[0134] In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the second posture, the first and
second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be snap-coupled to each other and the
hipseat 130 may be temporarily fixed to a position of the second posture. The user
may separate the other-side end 514 of the supporting member 510 from the hipseat
130 and may hold the other- side end 514 of the supporting member 510 in the supporting
grove 513 of the base 110. Accordingly, the other-side end 514 of the supporting member
510 is held in the base 110 and the hipseat 130 may be fixed to the second posture.
The supporting member 510 may support the hipseat 130 in the second posture.
[0135] In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from the second posture to
the first posture, the user may separate the other-side end 514 of the supporting
member 510 held in the base 110 from the supporting groove 513 and may fix the other-side
end 514 of the supporting member 510 to the receiving groove 515 of the hipseat 130.
The user may move the other-side end 514 of the supporting member 510 to the hipseat
130 and may release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed to the second posture. The
locking-released hipseat 130 may be folded to the first posture.
[0136] In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the first posture, the first and
second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may be snap-coupled to each other and the
hipseat 130 may be temporarily fixed to the position of the first posture. The fixing
force by the first and second snap coupling members 531 and 535 may have a magnitude
sufficient to release the fixing in response to the hipseat 130 being unfolded through
the hand of the user.
[0137] FIG 14 is a perspective view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a second
posture through a supporting member having another structure according to an exemplary
embodiment and FIG. 15A is a front view illustrating a load control unit which maintains
a first posture through a supporting member having another structure according to
an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line L-L
of FIG. 15A and FIG. 15C is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line K-K of FIG
14.
[0138] Referring to FIGS. 14 to 15C, a posture maintaining unit 600 of the load control
unit 100 according to another exemplary embodiment may include a supporting member
600 configured of a first link 610 of which one end is hinge-coupled to the base 110
and a second link 630 of which one end is hinge-coupled to the hipseat 130 and the
other end is hinge-coupled to a portion of the first link 610.
[0139] A hinge first shaft 613 which is rotatably coupled to the base 110 may be disposed
in the one end of the first link 610 and a third hinge shaft 650 configured to rotatably
couple the first link 610 and the second link 630 may be disposed in a central portion
of the first link 610. A protrusion 615 snap-coupled with the second link 630 in the
second posture may be formed in a portion of the first link 610. The protrusion 615
of the first link 610 may be formed in an upper side than the third hinge shaft 650.
[0140] A second hinge shaft 633 which is rotatably coupled to the hipseat 130 may be disposed
in the one end of the second link 630 and the third hinge shaft 650 configured to
rotatably couple the first link 610 and the second link 630 may be disposed in a central
portion of the second link 630. A groove 635 snap-coupled with the first link 610
in the second posture may be formed in a portion of the second link 630. The groove
635 of the second link 630 may be formed in a lower side than the third hinge shaft
650.
[0141] The third hinge shaft 650 may rotatably couple the first link 610 and the second
link 630. The first link 610 and the second link 630 may be rotated in association
with each other through the third hinge shaft 650.
[0142] The first link 610 and the second link 630 may be snap- coupled to each other in
the second posture. The first link 610 and the second link 630 may partially overlap
each other and may be arranged on a straight line in the second posture. The hipseat
130 may be supported so as not to be folded in a position of the second posture through
the first link 610 and the second link 630 arranged on the straight line.
[0143] In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from the first posture to
the second posture, the user may unfold the hipseat 130 to be located in the position
of the second posture. The first and second links 610 and 630 may be snap-coupled
to each other so that the hipseat 130 may be fixed to the position of the second posture.
[0144] In response to the load control unit 100 being located in the first posture, the
first and second links 610 and 630 may be folded to overlap each other.
[0145] In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from the second posture to
the first posture, the first and second links 610 and 630 may be rotated to a direction
that a coupling portion of the first and second links 610 and 630 by the third hinge
shaft 650 is far away from the base 110. The first link 610 may be folded so that
the third hinge shaft 650 coupled to the second link 630 is located in a lower side
than the first higne shaft 613 coupled to the base 110. The second link 630 may be
folded so that the third hinge shaft 650 coupled to the first link 610 is located
in a lower side than the second hinge shaft 633 coupled to the hipseat 130.
[0146] The user may apply the force to the third hinge shaft 650 portion to which the first
link 610 and the second link 630 are coupled to a direction far away from the base
110 and thus may release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed to the second posture.
The locking-released hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110 while the first and
second links 610 and 630 are folded to overlap each other.
[0147] As the first and second links 610 and 630 are folded to overlap each other, the hipseat
130 and the base 110 may be folded in a compact manner.
[0148] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from any one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
will be described with reference to FIGS. 15B and 15C.
[0149] The hipseat 130 may be folded to the base 110 in response to the load control unit
100 being located in the first posture. The hipseat 130 may overlap the whole base
110 or at least a portion of the base 110 in the response to the load control unit
100 being located in the first posture.
[0150] The user may simply rotate the hipseat 130 to the unfolding direction to change the
hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from the first posture to the second posture
and thus the fixing to the hipseat 130 in the first posture may be released. In response
to the hipseat 130 being unfolded by the user, the first and second links 610 and
630 may be rotated between the hipseat 130 and the base 110 and the first and second
links 610 and 630 may be arranged on the straight line. For example, the first link
610 may rotate and move to the unfolding direction of the hipseat 130 and the second
link 630 may rotate and move to a direction opposite to the unfolding direction of
the hipseat 130. In response to the first link 610 and the second link 630 being arranged
on the straight line, the protrusion 615 of the first link 610 may be snap-coupled
to the groove 635 of the second link 630. As the first and second links 610 and 630
are snap-coupled, the hipseat 130 may be fixed to maintain the secondposture.
[0151] The user may release the snap-coupling of the first link 610 and the second link
630 to change the load control unit 100 from the second posture to the first posture.
The snap-coupling-released first link 610 may be rotated to a rotation direction that
the hipseat 130 is rotated to the first posture and the second link 630 may be rotated
to a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the hipseat 130. As illustrated
in FIG. 15B, the first and second links 610 and 630 may be rotated so that the first
and second links 610 and 630 are arranged to overlap each other.
[0152] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a load control unit which maintains a
second posture through a supporting member having another structure according to an
exemplary embodiment and FIG. 17A is a front view illustrating a load control unit
which maintains a first posture through a supporting member having another structure
according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional diagram taken
along line N-N of FIG. 17A and FIG. 17C is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line
M-M of FIG. 16.
[0153] Referring to FIGS. 16 to 17C, a posture maintaining unit 700 of the load control
unit 100 according to another exemplary embodiment may include a supporting member
700 configured of a first link 710, a second link 730, and a third link 750.
[0154] One end of the first link 710 may be hinge-coupled to the base 110 and one end of
the second link 730 may be hinge-coupled to the hipseat 130 and the other end of the
second link 730 may be hinge-coupled to the other end of the first link 710. One end
of the third link 750 may be hinge- coupled to the hipseat 130 and the other end of
the third link 750 may be slidably coupled to the second link 730.
[0155] A first hinge shaft 711 rotatably coupled to the base 110 may be disposed in the
one end of the first link 710 and a second hinge shaft 731 rotatably coupled to the
hipseat 130 may be disposed in the one end of the second link 730. A third hinge shaft
721 configured to couple the first link 710 and the second link 730 may be disposed
in the other end of the first link 710 and the other end of the second link 730. The
first link 710 and the second link 730 may be rotated in association with each other
through the third hinge shaft 721. A supporting end 733 formed to protrude toward
the second link 730 may be further included in a rear surface of the other end of
the first link 710. In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the second posture,
the supporting end 733 may serve to prevent the first link 710 from being rotated
to a direction opposite to the base 110. The supporting end 733 may be formed to support
a rear surface of the second link 730.
[0156] A fourth hinge shaft 751 rotatably coupled to the hipseat 130 may be disposed in
the one end of the third link 750. The other end of the third link 750 may be disposed
in the center of the second link 730 to slidably move along the second link 730.
[0157] In response to the hipseat 130 being located to the second posture, the first link
710 and the second link 730 are arranged on the straight line. The third link 750
may support the second link 730 so that the first link 710 and the second link 730
are maintained on the straight line.
[0158] The third link 750 may form a truss structure to support the second link 730. The
hipseat 130, the second link 730, and the third link 750 may be mutually arranged
to form a triangular shape. The load applied to the hipseat 130 may be applied to
the third link 750 and the third link 750 may fix the second link 730 and the first
link 710 to be arranged on the straight line.
[0159] A plurality of first links 710 may be formed. For example, first links 710a and 710b
may be formed to be disposed in a right side and a left side of the second link 730.
A pair of first links 710 may be hinge- coupled to the second hinge 730. The third
hinge shaft 721 may simultaneously hinge-couple the pair of first links 710 and the
second link 730.
[0160] The second link 730 may be disposed between the pair of first links 710 and the second
link 730 may be hinge-coupled to the first link 710 to be rotated in association with
the first link 710. A moving hole 737 which one end of the third link 750 is inserted
thereinto and the third link 750 moves along a length direction of the second link
730 may be formed in a central portion of the second link 730. A guide groove 735
may be formed in either side of the moving groove 737 along the length direction of
the second link 730.
[0161] A guide protrusion 747 disposed in the guide groove 735 of the second link 730 may
be formed in either side surface of the third link 750.
[0162] A process of changing the hipseat 130 of the load control unit 100 from any one posture
of the first and second postures to the other posture of the first and second postures
will be described below.
[0163] In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from the first posture to
the second posture, the folded first link 710 may be unfolded to a direction far away
from the base 110 and the folded second link 730 may be unfolded to a direction far
away from the hipseat 130. In response to the first link 710 and the second link 730
being arranged on the straight line, the user may move the third link 750 to a direction
close to the hipseat 130 so that the third link 750 may support the first link 710
and the second link 730 to be maintained on the straight line. The third link 750
may form a triangular shape in an inner side thereof with the second link 730 and
the hipseat 130. Accordingly, the truss structure may be formed and the load applied
to the hipseat 130 may be supported through the truss structure.
[0164] In response to the load control unit 100 being located in the first posture, the
first link 710, the second link 730, and the third link 750 may be folded to overlap
each other.
[0165] In response to the load control unit 100 being changed from the second posture to
the first posture, the user may move the third link 750 to the direction far away
from the hipseat 130. The user may move the third link 750 along the length direction
of the second link 730 and release the locking of the hipseat 130 fixed to the second
posture. As the third link 750 moves to a direction far away from the hipseat 130,
the truss structure formed through the second link 730, the hipseat 130, and the third
link 750 may be collapsed and the fixing of the second link 730 and the first link
710 may be released. Accordingly, the first link 710 may be rotated to a direction
close to the base 110 and the second link 730 may be rotated to a direction close
to the hipseat 130. The third link 750 may be disposed in an inner side of the moving
groove 737 of the second link 730 and the second link 730 may be disposed between
the pair of first links 710.
[0166] In response to the hipseat 130 being located in the first posture, the first to third
links 710, 730 and 750 may be folded to overlap each other. A portion of the second
link 730 coupled through the third hinge shaft 721 may be rotated to a direction far
away from the base 110. The first link 710 may be folded so that the third hinge shaft
721 coupled to the second link 730 is located in a lower side than the first hinge
shaft 711 coupled to the base 110. The second link 730 may be folded so that the third
hinge shaft 721 coupled to the first link 710 may be located in a lower side than
the second hinge shaft 731 coupled to the hipseat 130.
[0167] As the first and second links 710 and 730 may be folded to overlap each other, the
hipseat 130 and the base 110 may be folded in a compact manner.
[0168] A second hinge receiving part 753 hinge-coupled to the second link 730 may be formed
in the hipseat 130 and a fixing groove 715 to which the second hinge receiving part
753 is detachably fixed in the first posture may be formed in the base 110. In response
to the hipseat 130 being located in the first posture, the second hinge receiving
part 753 may be inserted into the fixing groove 715. Accordingly, the hipseat 130
and the base 110 may be folded in a further compact manner.
[0169] FIG 18 is a perspective view illustrating a pull handle provided in a shoulder band
or a waist band of a baby carrier according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0170] Referring to FIG 18, a fixing ring 27 may be further attached to a general band adjustment
apparatus. In general, a spare portion of a base band 21 remaining after a length
of the base band 21 is adjusted may dangle and may provide a dirty outer appearance.
Accordingly, the remaining spare portion of the base band 21 may be fixed through
the fixing ring 27 to overcome the dirty outer appearance.
[0171] A pull handle 25 may be further attached to adjust the length of the base band 21
in response to the fixing ring 27 being applied. The pull handle 25 may be attached
to the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b or the waist band 30. The lengths
of the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b or the length of the waist band 30
may be easily adjusted through the pull handle 25.
[0172] It may be difficult to adjust the length of the base band 21 due to applying of the
fixing ring 27. To solve the difficulty in adjusting the length of the base band 21,
the pull handle 25 configured to adjust the length of the general base band 21 may
be further attached. The user may pull up the pull handle 25 to adjust the lengths
of the left and right shoulders 20a and 20b or the length of the waist band 30 and
thus a space 22 may be formed as the folded based band 21 is lifted. Then, the user
may pull down the pull handle 25 to adjust the lengths of the left and right shoulders
20a and 20b or the length of the waist band 30. Portions of the pull handle 25 and
the base band 21 remaining after the length adjustment may be neatly arranged through
the fixing ring 27.
[0173] FIG 19 is a perspective view illustrating an example that a rear fixing member of
a baby carrier is attached to a shoulder band according to an exemplary embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 19, in a rear surface of the baby carrier 1 according to an exemplary
embodiment, the fastening member 40 may be disposed to be fixed to a front side of
the baby carrier.
[0174] The fastening member 40 may include the first and second belts 42a and 42b coupled
to the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b and the buckles 41 and 43 provided
in one end portions of the first and second belts 42a and 42b. The first and second
belts 42a and 42b may be detachably fastened through the buckles 41 and 43.
[0175] It may be difficult for the user to find a position of the fastening member 40 according
to a body type of the user and thus it may be difficult for the user to wear the baby
carrier 1 by his/herself. Accordingly, the fastening member 40 may be fixed to the
front side of the baby carrier all the time in an unfastening state of the fastening
member 40 in order for the user to easily fasten the fastening member 40.
[0176] A magnetic fixing unit 45 may be provided in the fastening member 40 and magnets
45b having a different polarity from a magnet 45a formed in the fastening member 40
may be provided even in the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b. Accordingly,
the fastening member 40 may be detachably disposed in front sides of the left and
right shoulder bands 20a and 20b.
[0177] Accordingly, since the fastening member 40 is always located in the front side of
the baby carrier 1, the user may wear the baby carrier 1 and then easily fasten the
fastening member 40.
[0178] It has been described in the exemplary embodiment that the fixing unit configured
to detachably fix the fastening member 40 to the front sides of the left and right
shoulder bands 20a and 20b is a magnet, but this is not limited thereto. Any fixing
unit configured to detachably fix the fastening member 40 to the front sides of the
left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b in a state that the baby carrier 1 is not
worn may be employed as the fining unit 45.
[0179] FIGS. 20A and 20B are enlarged diagrams illustrating an "0" portion and a rear of
the "0" portion illustrated in FIG 19. FIG. 20C is a cross-sectional diagram taken
along line P-P of FIG. 20B.
[0180] Referring to FIGS. 20A to 20C, the baby carrier 1 according to an exemplary embodiment
may include the headrest 50 which is vertically movable.
[0181] The headrest 50 may be formed to be movable along the rail 51 disposed in the body
part 10 and the left and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b of the baby carrier 1. The
rail 51 may be disposed in a portion of the body part 10 and portions of the left
and right shoulder bands 20a and 20b. The rail 51 may be concavely curved to correspond
to curved shapes of the body part 10 and the left and right shoulder bands 20a and
20b. A plurality of grooves 53 may be formed in the rail 51 along a length direction
of the rail 51. A guide part 52 configured to guide the headrest 50 to the length
direction of the rail 51 may be formed in upper sides of the plurality of grooves
53. The guide part 52 may be formed to protrude toward the outside along the length
direction of the rail 51.
[0182] A movable member 55 coupled to the headrest 50 and configured to move along the rail
51 may be disposed in the rail 51. A coupling portion 55a of which a fixing protrusion
56 is formed in one side and a guide groove 57 into which the guide part 52 is inserted
may be formed in the movable member 55. The movable member 55 may further include
a guide moving portion 55b formed to surround a portion of the guide part 52 so that
the movable member 55 is not deviated from the guide part 52 of the rail 51. The guide
groove 57 may be formed in a lower end of the movable member 55 and when viewed in
a rear as illustrated in FIG 20B, the coupling portion 55a may be formed in a central
portion of the movable member 55 and the guide moving portions 55b may be formed in
both ends of the movable member 55. The coupling portion 55a may be disposed in the
central portion of the movable member 55 and thus the movable member 55 may be firmly
fixed in a specific position after moving. When viewed in a front as illustrated in
FIG. 20A, the movable member 55 may be configured of only the guide moving portion
55b.
[0183] The coupling portion 55a may be formed to extend longer than the guide moving portions
55b and may extend to be in contact with the groove 53 of the rail 51. The fixing
protrusion 56 formed to protrude to a rail 51 direction may be provided in one end
of the coupling portion 55a. As illustrated in FIG 20C, the fixing protrusion 56 may
be formed to be inserted into the groove 53 of the rail 51. The fixing protrusion
56 may have a circular cross-section to be inserted into the groove 53 of the rail
51. The groove 53 of the rail 51 may be formed to have a width slightly larger than
a diameter of the fixing protrusion 56. The fixing protrusion 56 may be formed to
have a length slightly smaller than the width of the rail 51. The fixing protrusion
56 of the movable member 55 may be inserted into the groove 53 of the rail 51 and
thus the position of the headrest 50 may be fixed.
[0184] The headrest 50 may move along the length direction of the rail 51. One end of the
movable member 55 may be coupled to the headrest 50 and the other end of the movable
member 55 may be movably disposed in the rail 51. The movable member 55 may move to
the length direction of the rail 51 along the guide part 52 of the rail 51 and the
fixing protrusion 56 of the coupling portion 55a of the movable member 55 may be inserted
into the groove 53 of the rail 51. Accordingly, the movable member 55 may be fixed
to the position and the final position of the headrest 50 may be fixed.
[0185] The headrest 50 may be coupled to the movable member 55 through a connection member
54. The connection member 54 may be formed in a portion of the headrest 50. A connection
groove 58 to which the connection member 54 may be couple in a ring shape may be formed
in the movable member 55. One end of the connection member 54 may be formed to extend
from the headrest 50. Members 54a and 54b which may be snap-coupled to each other
may be disposed in the connection member 54. Any members snap-coupled to each other
may be employed as the members 54a and 54b. In response to the other end of the connection
member 54 being inserted into the connection groove 58 of the movable member 55 and
the members 54a and 54b being snap-coupled to each other, the headrest 50 and the
movable member 55 may be coupled to each other. The headrest 50 may be detachably
attached to the movable member 55 through the connection member 54.
[0186] As the headrest 50 of the baby carrier 1 vertically moves, the position of the headrest
50 may be changed according to the developing status and posture of the baby.
[0187] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating an example that a sensing unit is provided
in a baby carrier according to an exemplary embodiment and FIG 22 is an exploded perspective
view illustrating the sensing unit illustrated in FIG. 21.
[0188] Referring to FIG. 21, in the baby carrier 1 according to an exemplary embodiment,
a sensing unit 60 configured to support the baby may be disposed in the body part
10. The sensing unit 60 may be located in the inside of the body part 10 of the baby
carrier and the body of the baby may not be in direct contact with the sensing unit
60.
[0189] Referring to FIG. 22, the sensing unit 60 may include a weight sensing unit 61, adiaper
state sensing unit 63, aprocessor (see 67 of FIG. 24) a communication unit (see 69
of FIG. 24), and a storage unit (see 68 of FIG 24).
[0190] The sensing unit 60 may be disposed in the body part 10 so that the hip of the baby
is located in the sensing unit 60.
[0191] The weight sensing unit 61 may include an air tube 62 and a pressure sensor 61a.
A connection port 62a configured to couple an inner side of the air tube 62 and the
pressure sensor 61a and a first receiving groove 62b in which the pressure sensor
61a may be disposed may be formed in the air tube 62. The connection port 62a may
be disposed to couple the pressure sensor 61a to the inner side of the air tube 62.
The first receiving groove 62b may be disposed coupled to the inner side of the air
tube 62. Accordingly, the pressure sensor 61a may be disposed in the first receiving
groove 62b to detect pressure change of the air tube 62.
[0192] The pressure of the air tube 62 before and after the baby sits on the sensing unit
60 may be measured through the pressure sensor 61a and the weight of the baby may
be detected through the measured value. As the sensing unit 60 on which the baby sits
is configured of the air tube 62 and includes the pressure sensor 61a, the weight
of the baby who sits on the baby carrier 1 may be detected through the pressure sensor
and the sensing unit may notify the user of the weight of the baby in the growth of
the baby.
[0193] The diaper state sensing unit 63 may include sensors configured to measure temperature,
humidity, and gas or an integrated sensor 65 thereof.
[0194] The integrated sensor 65 may be disposed in an upper frame 64a and a lower frame
64b and may be disposed in the inner side of the air tube 62 in an inserted state
into a cradle 66. A second receiving groove 62c configured to receive the diaper state
sensing unit 63 may be formed in the air tube 62. The second receiving groove 62c
may be formed in the center of the air tube 62 to be close to the body of the baby
or a diaper worn by the baby. In response to the baby being sat, the diaper state
sensing unit 63 may detect temperature, humidity, and gas around the sensing unit
60. A 6-axis sensor (an acceleration sensor + a gyro sensor) may be further included
and thus the sloping degree of the baby carrier may be detected in wearing of the
baby carrier.
[0195] FIG 23 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a state monitoring system of
a baby and a diaper using a sensing unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0196] Referring to FIG 23, a baby and diaper state monitoring system 1000 using an external
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include a sensing unit 60 attached
to be close the diaper of the baby and an external apparatus 80 of the user. The sensing
unit 60 which is close to the body of the baby (or the diaper worn by the bay) may
measure the diaper state and the weight of the baby. For example, the sensing unit
60 may detect temperature, humidity, gas, and pressure. The sensing unit 60 may be
close to the diaper of the baby and may measure signals related to the diaper state
of the baby and the weight of the baby. The sensing unit 60 may transmit the measured
signals for the baby to the external apparatus 80.
[0197] The external apparatus 80 of the user may receive a plurality of signals measured
from the sensing unit 60. The external apparatus 80 of the user may calculate the
weight of the baby using the plurality of received signals and determine the diaper
state of the baby. For example, the external apparatus 80 of the user may display
the wright of the baby based on the plurality of received signals and represent the
diaper state of the baby with weather. The user may determine the baby state as one
of a sunny state, a cloudy state, a rainy state, and a thunder state according to
the diaper state.
[0198] For clarity, it has been described and illustrated that the external apparatus 80
of the user is a smart phone of the user, but the external apparatus 80 of the user
may be substantially implemented with a display device such as a smart television
(TV), a tablet personal computer (PC), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a personal
digital assistant (PDA), or a smart watch or a lamp (not shown) configured to provide
the alarm through change in light of a light emitting diode (LED).
[0199] FIG 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a sensing unit according
to an exemplary embodiment.
[0200] Referring to FIG 24, the sensing unit 60 according to an exemplary embodiment may
include the weight sensing unit 61, the diaper state sensing unit 63, the processor
67, the communication unit 69, and the storage unit 68.
[0201] The sensing unit 60 according to an exemplary embodiment may be disposed close to
the diaper of the baby and may measure a plurality of signals related to the baby
and the diaper.
[0202] The weight sensing unit 61 may measure a signal relate to the weight of the baby.
For example, the weight sensing unit 61 may be configured of the pressure sensor 61a
and the air tube 62. The pressure sensor 61a may be disposed to measure the pressure
of the air tube 62. The pressure sensor 61a may detect the pressure change of the
air tube 62. The pressure sensor 61a may measure the physical change such as air pressure,
a magnitude of force, and the like through the air tube 62.
[0203] The diaper state sensing unit 63 may measure the signal related the diaper state
of the baby. For example, the diaper state sensing unit 63 may include a temperature
sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas sensor, or an integrated sensor 65 thereof.
[0204] The diaper state sensing unit 63 may be disposed close to the diaper of the baby
and may detect temperature, humidity, and gas of the diaper. The diaper state sensing
unit 63 may measure the state of the diaper through detected values. To couple the
sensing unit 60 and the external apparatus 80 of the user, the communication unit
69 may use a wired communication method which couples the sensing unit 60 to the external
apparatus through a local area network (LAN) and an Internet network or a wireless
communication method (for example, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wireless
Broadband Internet (WiBRO), WiFi, Bluetooth, and the like).
[0205] The communication unit 69 may transmit the plurality of signals measured through
the weight sensing unit 61 and the diaper state sensing unit 63 or result values processed
through the processor 67 to the external apparatus 80 of the user according to an
exemplary embodiment. The communication unit 69 may determine the weight of the baby
determined based on the plurality of signals for the baby measured through the weight
sensing unit 61 and the diaper state sensing unit 63 or may transmit information for
the diaper state of the baby to the external apparatus
[0206] The storage unit 68 may store the plurality of signals measured through the weight
sensing unit 61 and the diaper state sensing unit 63.
[0207] The processor 67 may control the weight sensing unit 61 and the diaper state sensing
unit 63 to measure a plurality of pieces of information for the baby and the diaper.
The processor 67 may control the communication unit 69 to transmit the plurality of
measured signals to the external apparatus 80.
[0208] The processor 67 may control the storage unit 68 to store a plurality of bio-signals
measured through the weight sensing unit 61 and the diaper state sensing unit 63.
[0209] The processor 67 may determine the wright of the baby or the diaper state of the
user using the plurality of measured signals.
[0210] FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external apparatus
according to an exemplary embodiment and FI G 26 is a diagram illustrating an example
that a state of a baby detected through a sensing unit is displayed in a display of
a smart phone according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0211] Referring to FIG. 25, the external apparatus 80 of the user may include a communication
unit 83, a storage unit 85, a speaker 87, a display 89, and a processor 81.
[0212] The external apparatus 80 of the user may determine the weight of the baby or the
diaper state of the baby by receiving the plurality of signals for the weight and
the diaper state of the baby from the sensing unit 60. For example, the external apparatus
80 of the user may be a display device which may be portable through the user such
as a smart phone, a tablet PC, a PMP, a PDA, and a smart watch or a display device
which may not be portable through the user such as a smart TV. In another example,
the external apparatus 80 of the user may be a lamp and the like configured to provide
the alarm through change in light of a LED.
[0213] To couple the sensing unit 60 and the external apparatus 80 of the user, the communication
unit 83 may use a wired communication method which couples the sensing unit and the
external apparatus through a local area network (LAN) and an Internet network or a
wireless communication method (for example, GSM, UMTS, LTE, WiBRO, WiFi, Bluetooth,
and the like).
[0214] The communication unit 83 may receive the signal for the weight of the baby and the
signal for the diaper state of the baby measured through the sensing unit 60.
[0215] The processor 81 may determine the weight of the baby using the pressure signal received
through the communication unit 83. For example, the processor 81 may output the weight
of the baby using a Fussy algorithm based on the received pressure signal. Accordingly,
the weight of the baby may be easily measured in home.
[0216] It has been described that the algorithm for estimating the weight and determining
the diaper state is processed in the processor 81 of the external apparatus, but this
is not limited thereto. The algorithm for estimating the weight and determining the
diaper state may be processed through the processor 67 of the sensing unit 60 included
in the baby carrier 1.
[0217] The display 89 may display information for the measured weight of the baby.
[0218] The processor 81 may determine the diaper state of the baby using the plurality of
signals received through the communication unit 83. For example, the processor 81
may represent the diaper state of the baby with weather based on the plurality of
signals for the received diaper state. The processor 81 may determine the baby state
as one of a sunny state, a cloudy state, a rainy state, and a thunder and lightning
state according to the diaper state.
[0219] The information for the diaper state of the baby determined through the processor
67 of the sensing unit 60 or the processor 81 of the external apparatus 80 may be
displayed in the external apparatus 80 of the user.
[0220] A speaker 87 may provide a sound alarm.
[0221] The display 89 may display the information for the diaper state of the baby. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 26A) the display 89 may display the diaper state of
the baby with a sunny state in response to the diaper being in a clean state that
change of the diaper being not necessary. In another example, as illustrated in FIG.
26B) the humidity of the diaper may be slightly increased and a small amount of urine
may be expected. In this example, the diaper state may be displayed with a cloudy
state. In another example, as illustrated in FIG. 26C, the diaper state of the baby
may be displayed with a rainy state. In response to the humidity of the diaper of
the baby being further increased, the diaper state may be displayed with a rainy state.
In another example, as illustrated in FIG. 26D, the diaper state of the baby may be
displayed with a thunder state. In this example, the thunder state may refer to a
state that stool, a large amount of urine, or the like is defecated in the diaper.
The sound alarm may be simultaneously provided through the speaker 87.
[0222] The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not
to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily
applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments
of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope
of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent
to those skilled in the art.