Baby carrier

Abstract

 A baby carrier comprises a piece of flexible sheet material (12) having an upper part shaped to extend behind a baby's back and a lower part shaped to pass between the baby's legs together with a single shoulder strap (30) secured to the upper part and extending, in use, over an adult's shoulder, and a waist strap (42) attached to the lower part adjacent to a free end (40) thereof and extending, in use, round an adult's waist whereby a baby is carried on an adult's body in such a manner as to leave the adult's hands free. Detachable means (26, 28, 50) connects each side of the upper part to a free end of the lower part so that, in use, the free end (40) thereof is positioned in front of the baby's abdomen.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a baby carrier of the type comprising a piece of flexible sheet material having an upper part shaped to extend behind a baby's back and a lower part shaped to pass between the baby's legs together with a shoulder strap having its ends secured to the upper part and extending, in use, over an adult's shoulder, and a waist strap attached to the lower part adjacent to the free end thereof and extending, in use, round an adult's waist whereby a baby is carried on an adult's body in such a manner as to leave the adult's hands free.

[0002] A baby carrier of this type is disclosed in US-A-4469259 has two shoulder straps, each of which is arranged, in use, to extend over a respective shoulder of an adult user and then under the corresponding arm so that the baby is supported centrally in front of the adult's body. However, medical opinion considers it desirable for the baby to be supported on one side of the adult's body so that part of the baby's weight is supported on the adult's hip. In addition, it is not possible to secure the baby in the baby carrier prior to securing the carrier to the adult's body.

[0003] According to the invention, in a baby carrier of the type described above the shoulder strap means comprises a single shoulder strap and detachable means connects each side of the upper part to a free end of the lower part so that, in use, a free end thereof is positioned in front of the baby's abdomen.

[0004] In one form of the invention, the detachable means for connecting the sides of the upper part to the free end of the lower part comprises a respective loop attached to each side of the upper part and a strap having one end fixed to the lower part of the sheet material and its other end carrying connection means whereby it may be releasably attached to the lower part of the sheet material. The releasable securing means may comprise a touch-and-close fastener such as "velcro". In use, such strap is threaded through the two loops before attachment of the fastener.

[0005] The shoulder strap preferably has each end fixedly attached to one part of a respective two-part releasable fastener on its other end. The other part of each fastener is fixedly attached to the upper part adjacent to its junction with a respective one of the two sides.

[0006] The waist strap is preferably connected to the lower part by a loop through it is freely slidable. The ends of the waist strap are preferably connected to the tongue and receptor, respectively, of a two-part fastener.

[0007] It is preferable for the upper part is dimensioned to extend beyond the baby's head. The baby carrier can then be fixed in place to serve as a mattress in a pram.

[0008] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a baby carrier in accordance with the invention spread out ready for use on a flat surface;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the baby carrier shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view, similar to Figure 1, showing a baby in position in the baby carrier; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the baby carrier of Figures 1 and 2 carried by an adult.

[0009] Figures 1 and 2 show a baby carrier 10 comprising a cover 12 formed from two layers of woven textile material with a mat 14 (Figure 2) between them. The two layers of the cover 12 are stitched together around their periphery and by lines of stitching 16 and 18 which delineate two side zones 20 and 22 into which the mat 12 does not extend. An overlapped portion 24 of the rear layer of the cover 11 provided an opening through which the mat may be withdrawn to permit the cover 12 to be washed. A respective webbing loop 26, 28 is sewn onto each outer edge of the cover 12.

[0010] A shoulder strap 30, carrying a shoulder pad 32, has each end threaded through a respective belt adjuster which forms part of the tongue 34, 35 of a buckle, the receptor 36, 37 of which is attached by a short length of webbing 38, 39 to the rear surface of the cover 12.

[0011] The carrier 10 tapers downwardly and has its bottom edge doubled over to provide a channel 40 in which a waist strap 42 is freely slidable. One end of the waist strap 42 is threaded through a belt adjuster in a tongue 44 of a second buckle, the receptor 46 of which is attached to the other end of the waist strap 42.

[0012] A further webbing strap 50 has one end attached to the back of the carrier 10 near its bottom edge. A length 52 of the top part of the a touch-and-close fastener is attached to the free end of the additional strap 50 and a corresponding length 54 (Figure 2) of the loop element of the touch-and-close fastener is sewn onto the back surface of the lower region of the cover 12.

[0013] Referring to Figure 3, when the baby carrier 10 is to be used, a baby 60 is laid with its head and back on the upper central part of the carrier 10. The bottom edge is folded up between the baby's legs and the two side zones 20 and 22 (into which the mat 14 does not extend) are folded round the baby's legs with the loops 26 and 28 either passing under the baby's arms (as illustrated) or over the baby's arms in the case of a very young baby. The third strap 50 is then threaded first through the loop 26 and then through the loop 28 and finally over the exposed back surface of the cover 12 so that the hooks on the fastener element 52 engage with the loops on the fastener element 54 to hold the end of the strap 50 as illustrated.

[0014] The adult who is to carry the baby then positions the baby on the one hip (her left hip as illustrated in Figure 3), passes the shoulder strap 30 over the opposite shoulder and inserts the tongue 34 into the receptor 36.

[0015] Next, the user passes the strap 42 round her waist and inserts the tongue 44 into the receptor 46 and finally pulls on the free end of the strap 42 so as to tighten the waist strap 40 appropriately. The baby 60 is then securely supported and the adult has both hands free.

[0016] If the adult user wishes to support the shoulder strap 30 on her left shoulder with the baby on her right hand side, she would initially have the tongue 34 engaged in its receptor 36 and the tongue 35 disengaged from its receptor 37. Alternatively, she may insert both tongues 34 and 35 into their respective receptors 36 and 37 before picking the baby up, and then pass the shoulder strap 30 over her head and position it on whichever shoulder she prefers.

Claims

1. A baby carrier comprising a piece of flexible sheet material (12) having an upper part shaped to extend behind a baby's back and a lower part shaped to pass between the baby's legs together with shoulder strap means (30) secured to the upper part and extending, in use, over an adult's shoulder, and a waist strap (42) attached to the lower part adjacent to a free end (40) thereof and extending, in use, round an adult's waist whereby a baby is carried on an adult's body in such a manner as to leave the adult's hands free, characterised in that the shoulder strap means comprises a single shoulder strap (30) and detachable means (26, 28, 50) connects each side of the upper part to a free end of the lower part so that, in use, the free end (40) thereof is positioned in front of the baby's abdomen.

2. A baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein the detachable means for connecting the sides of the upper part to the free end of the lower part comprises a respective loop (26, 28) attached to each side of the upper part and a strap (50) having one end fixed to the lower part of the sheet material (12) and its other end carrying connection means (52) whereby it may be releasably attached to the lower part of the sheet material (12).

3. A baby carrier according to claim 2, wherein the releasable securing means comprises a touch-and-close fastener (52, 54).

4. A baby carrier according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the shoulder strap (30) has one end fixedly attached to the upper part adjacent to one side thereof and one part (34) of a two-part releasable fastener on its other end, the other part (36) of the fastener being fixedly attached to the upper part adjacent to its junction with the other side.

5. A baby carrier according to claim 4, wherein the shoulder strap (30) has one part (34, 35) of a respective two-part releasable fastener on each end, the other part (36, 37) of each fastener being fixedly attached to the upper part adjacent to its junction with a respective side.

6. A baby carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the waist strap (42) is connected to the lower part by a loop (40) through it is freely slidable.

7. A baby carrier according to claim 6, wherein the ends of the waist strap (42) are connected to the tongue (44) and receptor (46), respectively, of a two-part fastener.

8. A baby carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper part is dimensioned to extend beyond the baby's head so that the baby carrier can be positioned to serve as a mattress in a pram.

Drawing