Abstract:
The present invention provides an improvement that can be used on any baby carrier in place of a conventional buckle waist or a conventional tie waist. The wide strap system is threaded through a set of rings or a large buckle on the side of a wearer&#39;s torso and can increase comfort, support and smooth the appearance of bulging that a typical narrow or tying waist strap waist gives to the wearer. Therefore, women and men will use the improved baby carrier for a longer period of time, thus increasing the bonding experience between parent and child.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/539,578 filed on Sep. 27, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to a baby carrier and more particularly, to a baby carrier with a Hybrid sling waist which enables a mother to carry her baby for a longer period of time than is allowed for with current methods. This enhanced ability to carry the baby allows for increasing the bonding experience between a baby and his or her parent. Studies have shown that the time spent between child and parent adds greatly to the mental well being and development of the child and any process or system that can be used to encourage this togetherness is of great benefit as to the welfare of a growing baby. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In general, most of the conventional baby carriers that are on the market today are constructed with a big knot in the middle of a wearer&#39;s back or a buckle attached to a narrow stiff nylon webbing which can create pressure on a wearer&#39;s lower back and cause pain. 
         [0006]    Moreover, most of the conventional baby carriers have narrow waist straps which normally dig into the wearer&#39;s torso around the waist or hips, and creating an unsightly appearance with potential discomfort and pain. Such discomfort and pain prevents some parents from wearing said current device for extended periods of time and thus their babies are not within such a system for any length of time. This prevents the parent from creating a bond of security needed for a well adjusted child to develop. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need to improve the conventional baby carrier systems that are available in today&#39;s market with any eye towards increasing the comfort, support, and providing a more flattering look so that more women/parents will use them for longer periods of time, thus increasing the bonding experience between mother and child. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to improve the conventional baby carriers by replacing the narrow waist straps and buckles or tie-knots in the back of a wearer&#39;s body with one wide strap and a plurality of aluminum rings or a large buckle on the side of the wearer&#39;s body. The wide sling style waist strap provides a wearer with greater comfort. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a baby carrier that utilizes a wide waist strap, which spreads across a wearer&#39;s back, and thus evenly creates more support, increases comfort, minimizes muffin top, and creates a more flattering effect that most post partum mothers desire. The baby carrier of the present invention eliminates straps that dig in the wearer&#39;s torso which causes an unflattering appearance and the discomfort of having a knot or buckles fastened in the middle of the wearer&#39;s back creating potential pressure points. 
         [0010]    The present invention provides an improvement that can be used on any baby carrier in place of a conventional buckle waist or a conventional tie waist, including Mei Tai carriers and Soft Structured Carriers. The wide strap threaded through a set of rings or the use of a large buckle on the side of a wearer&#39;s torso increases comfort, support and smoothes the appearance of Bulging that a typical narrow or tying waist strap waist gives to the wearer. 
         [0011]    Many babies have colic and cry for hours. By having a comfortable carrier that doesn&#39;t hurt the wearer&#39;s back, the wearer can wear their baby, and give them the comfort they so desperately need, 
         [0012]    And the satisfaction of knowing the baby and mother are happier and more comfortable while remaining hands free to tend to their other children or household. 
         [0013]    The carrier also puts pressure and warmth on the baby&#39;s abdomen and helps the pain of colic. This also can be used for kangaroo care or skin to skin, which helps the bond of baby and parent. It will help to create a well adjusted child by having that feeling of security and being close and loved while they are young. 
         [0014]    Providing this waist style to the general public will create a Larger, mainstream Consumer Market for Baby Carriers as a whole. Since the wearer will be more comfortable and receive a more flattering and supportive baby wearing experience. 
         [0015]    One wide waist strap at least 5″ wide and up to 20″ wide, is sewn in place, on one side of the carrier instead of a narrow waist strap. One set of small rings or a Buckle are sewn into the opposite side of the waist using a piece of fabric varying in size that is the same as the carrier, or a coordinating fabric. The waist strap is secured by either threading it through the large buckle or rings which is fastened to the side of the carrier. Yjis system allows the wearer to spread the waist strap as wide across the lower back or abdomen as desired. Fastening the waist strap on the side of the carrier is what allows it to stay spread. Eliminating the possibility of any pressure points in lower back causing pain or discomfort. This method creates more comfort by evenly distributing the weight of the child and increasing the support for the wearer. Therefore this system creates, supreme comfort and an incomparable flattering effect. This invention eliminates a knot or buckles in the middle of a wearer&#39;s lower back, so the wearer is also able to lean back comfortably when sitting. 
         [0016]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0017]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0018]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can not readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the baby carrier lying flat wherein the wide waist strap is lying flat. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a close-up view of the embodiment of the body carrier wherein the wide waist strap is secured by threading through the sling rings. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the baby carrier being worn on the front. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the baby carrier being worn on the back. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is disclosed a baby carrier with a hybrid sling waist  100  according to the present invention which comprises a baby covering panel  10 , a wide waist strap  20  secured to one lateral side near (or adjacent) the bottom edge of the baby covering panel  10 , at least one rings  30  or buckles on the opposite side of the wide waist strap  20  and secured to the other side of the baby covering panel  10  through a small piece of fabric  40 , and a pair of wide shoulder straps  50  respectively attached to the top right and left corners. 
         [0026]    The baby covering panel  10  has a top edge  11  and a bottom edge  12  and two lateral sides  13 . The dimension between the top and bottom edges  11 ,  12  of the baby covering panel  10  is great enough to span the length of a baby and can vary to accommodate babies of different ages/sizes. The baby covering panel  10  may comprise one or more layers. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the baby covering panel  10  has more than one layer, it has an internal supportive layer. The wide waist strap  20  measuring between 6 inches-20 inches in width with an average of about 15 inches and 25 inches-50 inches in length is secured to the right or left side adjacent the bottom end of the baby covering panel  10  by sewing it about 5″ deep into the internal supportive layer of fabric inside of the covering panel  10 . The width and length of the waist strap may vary based on the size of the woman wearing the carrier. 
         [0028]    On the opposite side to the wide waist strap  20 , at least one small aluminum sling rings  30  are secured by wrapping a piece of fabric  40  around them. The fabric  40  is stitched about 5″ deep into the internal supportive layer of the fabric inside of the covering panel  10 . The fabric  40  measures about 10 inches by 15 inches. 
         [0029]    On top of the internal supportive layer one or more outer layers can be added to the baby covering panel  10 . The baby covering panel  10  may further comprise additional features such as a sleep hood, pouch  14  for storing necessity items, toy loop, etc. which may be stitched to the outer layer of the covering panel  10 . The covering panel  10  may also have pads or other reinforced materials to provide additional support and comfort to the baby. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the baby covering panel  10  has a single layer, the wide waist strap  20  is secured by bar tacking the straps to the baby covering panel  10  instead of x-boxing them. 
         [0031]    The hybrid sling waist on a baby carrier  100  according to the present invention also comprises a pair of wide shoulder straps  40  which projects from both top right and left corners. Each shoulder strap  40  measuring 12-20″ wide and 65-100″ long depending on size of person wearing the conversion. The wide shoulder straps  40  are secured by stitching or bar tacking them to the covering panel  10 . The wide shoulder straps  40  are designed to toss over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and crisscross on the back and wrap around the middle portion of the wearer&#39;s torso and wrap over the baby&#39;s hips to provide additional support to baby&#39;s hips. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 2  for a close-up view of how the waist strap is secured by threading through the sling rings. 
         [0033]    When in use, a wearer holds the baby covering panel  10  upright with the internal supportive layer facing towards the wearer&#39;s torso. The wearer then threads the wide waist strap  20  through the rings  30 , and spreads out the waist strap  20  evenly across the hips or waist. Then, the wearer places baby against her body and pulls the covering panel over the baby. Then places the wide shoulder straps  50  over her shoulders and crisscrosses the shoulder straps  50  in her back and then brings the shoulder straps forward to wrap around the mid section of her torso and the baby&#39;s hips. The shoulder straps  50  are spread out evenly to cover the baby&#39;s hips and thus provide support in addition to the baby covering panel  10 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of the baby carrier being worn on the front.  FIG. 4  is a side view of the baby carrier being worn on the back. 
         [0034]    This wide spread strap  20  creates more support for the wearer, which encourages wearing children past the first few months after birth and for longer periods of time per day. This waist style innovation eliminates the typical narrow straps you see on the waist of most baby carriers of all styles and variances that are secured around the hips or waist. 
         [0035]    In contrast to a carrier that has narrower straps or a strap made of webbing that is secured with buckles which normally cause unflattering bulges or uncomfortable digging into torso. The waist strap  20  remains spread across the wearer&#39;s hips or waist, eliminating any unflattering bulges or uncomfortable digging in of narrower waist straps, whether tied or secured with a buckle. It threads through Small Rings  30  which locks the strap in place, and it remains spread out on the wearer. 
         [0036]    This sling waist style innovation can be used on a variety of different baby carriers. For consumers or baby carrier manufacturers who have acquired proper licensing rights, they can use this new sling waist style to make improved baby carriers. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the waist strap  20  is cut, hemmed and folded, then secured to the carrier by sewing a dually enforced triple strength x-box method. It therefore lays flat and remains 5 inches deep into the internal supportive layer of the baby covering panel  10 . The small rings  30  are secured by wrapping the fabric  14  around both rings, and sewing it 5 inches deep into the internal supportive layer using the same sewing method mentioned above. 
         [0038]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.