Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Carrier for person
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-13
2001-12-04
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Carrier for person
C224S159000, C224S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325259
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to the field of carriers adapted to be worn by an adult to support and carry an infant or young child. In particular, the present invention concerns child carriers that can be easily folded and stored in a small pouch and opened to provide a secure carrying unit disposed on the adult's hip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since ancient times parents, particularly mothers, have created various devices to assist them to carry infants and young children when walking. Traditionally, most baby carriers have been designed for use by women. As parenting chores are often shared between both parents today, it has become increasingly important that baby carriers are available that will complement both male and female fashions and clothing styles. The prior art contains many examples of devices adapted to carry babies in a variety of ways.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,256, issued to Ive teaches a belt-mounted hip pouch that serves as a platform on which the infant sits. The pouch contains a folding neck harness attached to the outer edge of the pouch that is secured to the neck of the adult. U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,466, issued to Kataoka et al. discloses a baby holder in combination with a hip pouch. The carrier includes a waist strap, a neck strap and a folding pad wall designed to serve as either a back rest or front safety restraint for the baby, depending upon his orientation in the carrier. Yamaguchi adds a triangular piece of cloth or leather to the shoulder strap to provide additional support for the baby. The shoulder strap in this invention is also attached to the outer edge of the pouch. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,666). U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,912, issued to Nakayama is similar to Yamaguchi and adds an additional auxiliary strap above the triangular piece, to further support the baby's back.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compact, lightweight baby carrier that may be easily stowed in a small hip-mounted pouch. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a carrier that will allow the infant to be carried either facing towards or away from the adult wearing the carrier. It is still a further objective of the present invention that the carrier provide firm support for the baby's backside while ensuring that the baby can not slip inadvertently from the carrier. It is yet a further objective of the invention that the unit is comfortable for both the adult and the baby in walking and standing uses. It is another objective of the present invention that the carrier be adjustable for different size adults and babies. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the carrier be compatible with both women's and men's fashions.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a hip pouch baby carrier that may be easily converted into a secure baby carrier. The hip pouch baby carrier may be constructed from the following components. A hip pouch fabricated from flexible material is provided. The hip pouch has a first end, an opposite second end, a top surface, an outer surface and an inner surface.
An adjustable length waist strap is provided. The waist strap has a first end, a second end, a detachable coupling means and an adjustment means located between the first and second ends. The waist strap is attached at its first end to the first end of the hip pouch and at its second end to the second end of the hip pouch.
A first pocket located on the inner surface of the hip pouch is provided. The first pocket has a top opening and an interior surface. A collapsible support sling is provided. The support sling has a first side, a second side, an inner surface, an outer surface, a lower attachment point and first and second upper attachment points. The support sling is fixedly attached to the interior surface of the first pocket.
An adjustable length neck strap is provided. The neck strap has a first end, a second end and a length adjustment means. The neck strap is fixedly attached at its first end to the first upper attachment point of the support sling and at its second end to the second upper attachment point of the support sling.
The support sling is sized, shaped and located to secure a baby against the hip of a wearer with the baby resting upon the top surface of the hip pouch with each of its legs disposed over one of the first and second sides of the sling. The support sling and the neck strap are sized, shaped and located to be storable within the first pocket when not needed to support a baby.
In a variation of the invention, the hip pouch baby carrier further comprises a leg and back strap. The leg and back strap has a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion. The leg and back strap is fixedly attached at the first end to the first side of the support sling adjacent the lower attachment point. It is attached at its intermediate portion to the outer surface of the support sling between the first and second upper attachment points and the lower attachment point. The leg and back strap is attached at its second end to the second side adjacent the lower attachment point.
The leg and back strap provides a first leg opening formed between the leg and back strap and the first side of the support sling and a second leg opening formed between the leg and back strap and the second side of the support sling. In use, when a baby is placed in the support sling with a first leg in the first leg opening and a second leg in the second leg opening the baby will be constrained from slipping out of the support sling.
In another variation of the invention, the leg and back strap is formed of elastic material.
In still another variation of the invention, a second pocket is provided. The second pocket has a top opening and an interior surface. A container sling is provided. The container sling is formed of flexible material and has an open top, a closed bottom and at least one side wall joining the top and the bottom. The container sling is fixedly attached to the interior surface of the second pocket and is sized and shaped to hold a beverage container. The container sling is sized, shaped and located to be storable within the second pocket when not needed to hold a beverage container.
Yet another variation of the invention further comprises an interior storage compartment and means to access the storage compartment.
Still another variation further comprises additional storage pockets on the outer surface of the hip pouch.
In still a further variation of the invention the support sling is formed of a mesh material.
In a final variation, the invention further comprises a neck pad. The neck pad is slidably mounted to the neck strap.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5224637 (1993-07-01), Colombo
patent: 5292042 (1994-03-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5492256 (1996-02-01), Ive
patent: 5641101 (1997-06-01), Nakayama
patent: 5711466 (1998-01-01), Kataoka et al.
patent: 5934528 (1999-08-01), Higuchi
Peterson Dan
Tharalson Diana M.
Tharalson Douglas A.
Arm's Reach Concepts, Inc.
Beehler & Pavitt
Belasco David A.
Brevard Maerena W.
Cronin Stephen K.
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