Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Carrier for person
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2002-06-25
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Carrier for person
C224S646000, C224S647000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06409060
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a backpack style apparatus for carrying children. More particularly it relates to a shoulder supported apparatus to transport an infant or small child on the chest area of the care provider, whereby the infant may be facing forward or backward, toward the care provider. The device features improvements that are applicable to provide improvement to current conventional infant carriers as well as used in combination to yield the preferred embodiment of the disclosed device. In addition to other disclosed features, the disclosed device features improved shoulder strap configuration to provide a pivot to the carrier when the user bends over from a standing position and also features a retractable infant seat portion that may be stored in a closeable pocket when the device is used on a larger child.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This device as herein disclosed and described provides a new and unique combination of utility from one or a combination of improved components. The best mode of the device would of course feature all of the disclosed improved components, however, the components by themselves, in selective combinations, or in combination with conventional infant carriers, would also yield increased safety, utility, and function for such carriers and use in combination with existing carriers is anticipated.
One component providing great utility to the user is the addition of an infant seat insert which provides a strong and stable seat for carrying newborn infants. As in the growing athletic environment where hiking is a common healthy family activity, small light carriers do not suffice. Some children, even though they can walk, enjoy the close contact of a parent, where often they will be carried on the shoulders. With this device a child can be turned facing forward or backward, producing a more enjoyable and safer activity. There is a pressing need for an infant carrier with the durability and strength to carry a larger child of 40 pounds or more, on long hikes. When weights of this magnitude are carried for any appreciable distance, the weight must remain centered on the torso of the body, and distributed evenly. The disclosed device herein more than adequately fills the need for an athletic style infant carrier, using extra wide reciprocating shoulder straps which laterally translate during movement by the user in their cross mount with a large padded back support piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 178,309 (Bichelor) teaches an infant carrier formed of a soft body having a back section for supporting the back of an infant, and spaced apart side sections and side bolsters for supporting the sides of an infant. This is a light duty infant carrier for transporting small infants for a short period of time. This device has been designed for carrying the infant facing the care provider, with lightly cushioned straps bearing down on the shoulders.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,687 (Nunemacher) describes a baby pouch which supports an infant in the front of the care provider. This is another light device for carrying a small infant for a short time period. This unit has thin shoulder straps with a single cushioned pad bearing directly on the back of the neck.
U.S. Pat No. 5,772,088 (Nelson) teaches an infant carrier including a sack of flexible sheet material dimensioned to receive an infant. This is yet, another light duty apparatus for transporting a very small infant and requires the care provider to lift the infant down into the carrier. This action of lowering the infant down into the carrier is easily accomplished with small infants, but becomes difficult or impossible as the child increases in size.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,828 (Raedel) describes another light infant carrier but lacks shoulder cushions and the ability to provide even weight distribution of the load on the user especially when used for long periods.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,326 (Storm) teaches a sling type infant carrier, wherein an infant generally “hangs” at the crotch of the user. In this apparatus the infant's arms and legs constrained from moving freely. Further, the weight of the infant is borne primarily on the shoulders of the person wearing the carrier, thereby inducing neck and shoulder strain.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,637 (Columbo) reveals a waist-mounted infant carrier, wherein the infant sits on a seat structure into a belt worn around the waist of the wearer. Although the infant sits comfortably on the seat structure, and the weight of the infant is borne primarily on the waist and lower back of the wearer. Further, the carrier lacks straps to secure the infant against the body of the wearer, thus requiring the wearer to constantly hold the infant. At least one arm of the wearer must hold the infant in the carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,604 (Nagareda)describes a front pack infant carrier, wherein an infant sits on a padded rectangular seat of flexible material and is secured against the body of the wearer by a thin, horizontal strap. The weight of the infant is thus borne primarily by the shoulders of the person wearing the infant carrier.
As such, there is a continuing need for new and improved for an infant carrier and components that may individually or in combination be added to existing carriers, that allows adjustment for the size of the infant being carried. Additionally, such a carrier should provide for even distribution of the weight of the child to the upper body of the user and should provide a strap system that allows the carrier straps to reciprocate during use to lessen the shock to occupant and user during movement. Still further, such a carrier should easily allow a manner to keep the child in the carrier in a substantially upright position when the user bends over during use and should provide easy ingress and egress of the child from the carrier during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This disclosed device relates to an infant carrier which will adapt to the size of the intended infant to be carried using a retractable seat insert. In addition to providing a secure mount for infants, the device features components which render it capable of holding and removing a child up to forty pounds or more depending upon the strength of the care provider. The weight of the occupant situated in the carrier is translated through two wide webbing straps attached at both ends to the device and communicating therebetween over the shoulders of the user. The two straps are constructed to cross the back of the user in an “X” crossover and communicated through two tracks formed in a cushioned one piece back support unit by perpendicular straps at the edges of the back support forming the tracks. The straps communicated through the back support unit in such a fashion as to laterally translate or reciprocate between two points in the tracks formed in the back support unit. This reciprocating action during use provides shock absorption of the load on the user as well as helping reduce shoulder strain.
The straps communicating from the top of the device to attachment at the bottom translate over both shoulders and feature strap-mounted cushions to protect the shoulders of the care provider from chaffing during use and provide easier adjusting of the straps to distribute the weight to the central part of the back, below the neck. The straps are attached to the back support unit at the lower extremity, allowing the straps to shift over the cushioned areas of the shoulders.
The infant carrier body support panel portion of the device is best comprised of moisture resistant foam filled fabric due to the inherent hazards of carrying very young children for long periods of time. The carrier body support panel portion features a unique shape whereby the upper portion may be folded up and attached to the shoulder straps by means of claps to rings affixed at varying portions on the shoulder straps to provide a means of adjustment of the upper portion of the carrier to support a small infants head or a larger child's back. Means of adjustment of strap length to accommodate the varying size of
Cronin Stephen K.
Harms Donn K.
LandOfFree
Child carrier with enhanced back and shoulder support and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Child carrier with enhanced back and shoulder support and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Child carrier with enhanced back and shoulder support and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2910086