SHOULDER STRAP APPLICABLE TO BABY CARRIER

The present application provides a shoulder strap applicable to a baby carrier, comprising: a strap body having a top end and a bottom end and two sides; and at least one of a decompression expansion member extending outwardly from at least one of the two sides of the strap body, being as long as the strap body, and connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively, wherein the decompression extension member has a first extended flap medially extending toward the other one of the two sides of the strap body and a second extended flap extending in a reverse direction to the inner side of the first extended flap, and having an outer side.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to shoulder straps, and, more particularly, to shoulder straps applicable to a baby carrier, which can be more effectively adjustable to fit different users' needs so the user does not have to purchase different carriers for the different shoulder straps thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, baby carriers of prior art have various forms. The structure of shoulder straps is one of the crucial features of the baby carrier, which directly affects the comfort of carrier for the user. In order to reduce the pressure put on the user's shoulders from the baby's weight, a baby carrier with its straps comprising the configuration of decompression blocks is usually used as a solution. However, the decompression blocks are known to be thick and non-breathing. Therefore, users would be sweltered by these straps in hot weather. On the other hand, thinner and more breathing shoulder straps cannot effectively distribute the pressure from baby's weight.

FIG. 9illustrates a baby carrier disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,757 B2. The baby carrier comprises a belt70, a carrier body80, a first shoulder strap90and a second shoulder strap95. The first shoulder strap90and the second shoulder strap95are formed on the two sides of the carrier, respectively, and each of them has a decompression block91. The decompression block91reduces pressure. However, the decompression block91is so thick that it would make the user sweltered and uncomfortable in hot weather.

SUMMARY

The inventor in view of the shortcomings of the prior art, including inconvenience and safety concerns, improves the deficiency and insufficiency thereof, and further invents shoulder straps suitable for a baby carrier.

In order to achieve the above purposes, the disclosure provides a shoulder strap applicable to a baby carrier

In one aspect, the shoulder strap comprises a strap body and at least one of a decompression expansion member.

The strap body has a top end, a bottom end and two sides.

The decompression expansion member extends outwardly from at least one of the two sides of the strap body, and is as long as the strap body. The decompression expansion member is connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively, by sewing or other connecting methods.

The decompression extension member has a first extended flap and a second extended flap, wherein the first extended flap is formed on the at least one of the two sides of the strap body, medially extending toward the other one of the two sides of the strap body and having an inner side, and wherein the second extended flap is formed on the inner side of the first extended flap, extending in a reverse direction to the inner side of the first extended flap, and having an outer side.

In one embodiment, the decompression expansion member has a Z-shaped cross section.

In one embodiment, the second extended flap has a width similar to the width of the first extended flap and the width of the second extended flap is similar to the width of the strap body as well.

In one embodiment, the decompression extension member is foldable.

In one embodiment, when the decompression extension member is folded up, the first extended flap is folded and covering on the strap body, and the second extended flap is further folded and covering on the first extended flap. The width of the first extended flap is similar to the width of the second flap and similar to the width of the strap body as well.

In one embodiment, when the decompression extension member extends (i.e. is unfolded), the total width of the second extended flap, the first extended flap and the strap body is about 2.5 to about 3 times the width of the strap body.

In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a strap body and two decompression expansion member.

The strap body has a top end and a bottom end and two sides.

The two decompression expansion members extend respectively outwardly from the two sides of the strap body and are as long as the strap body. The two decompression expansion members are connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively, by sewing or other connecting methods.

Each of the two decompression extension members respectively has a first extended flap and a second extended flap.

Each of the first extended flaps is formed on each of the two sides of the strap body respectively, and medially extending toward each other.

Each of the first extended flaps has an inner side and each of the second extended flaps is respectively formed on each of the inner side of the first extended flap, outwardly extending toward an outside of the strap body, and having an outer side.

In one embodiment, both of the two decompression expansion members have a Z-shaped cross section. Each of the second extended flaps has a width similar to the width of the first extended flap and the total width of the two second extended flaps are similar to the width of the strap body.

In one embodiment, the two decompression extension members are both foldable.

In one embodiment, when the two decompression extension members are folded up, the two first extended flaps are folded and both of them are covering on the strap body, and each of the two second extended flaps is further folded and covering on each of the first extended flaps.

In one embodiment, when the two decompression extension members extend (i.e. are unfolded), the total width of the two second extended flaps, the two first extended flaps and the strap body is about 2.5 to about 3 times the width of the strap body.

In another aspect, the disclosure further provides a baby carrier comprising a waist strap, a carrier body, and two shoulder straps of the disclosure.

The waist strap has two connecting portions formed on both ends thereof, respectively and the carrier body is attached to the waist strap and having a first side and a second side in a lateral direction.

The top ends of the strap bodies of the two shoulder straps are attached to the first side and the second side of the carrier body, respectively, and the buckle member has two ends, both of which are attached to the bottom ends of the strap bodies of the two shoulder straps, respectively.

The baby carrier of the disclosure comprises two rings each disposed on the first side and the second side of the carrier body, respectively.

The top end of the strap body of one of the two shoulder straps is disposed on the first side of the carrier body and the bottom end of the strap body of the one of the two shoulder straps is passing through the ring disposed on the second side.

The top end of the strap body of the other of the two shoulder straps is disposed on the second side of the carrier body and the bottom end of the strap body of the other of the two shoulder straps is passing through the other ring disposed on the first side.

The disclosure is able to provide the width of the shoulder strap which is adjustable by the decompression extension member depending on different requirements of every user when carrying a baby. When the decompression extension member is folded up, the shoulder straps adjoin against on the user's shoulder, so as that the user can carry the baby carrier easily. The decompression extension member can extend when the user carries the baby in a front position. The strap body and the unfolded decompression extension member can not only cover the entire shoulder from the top of the shoulder to the upper portion of the user's upper arm but also more closely fit the curvature of the back side of the user's shoulder, and thereby the pressure on the user's shoulder can be distributed effectively and evenly to the whole shoulder and part of the user's upper back in a more ergonomic way. Therefore, the shoulder strap of the present disclosure provides various corresponding settings configuration for every user to fit their needs and to cope with the baby's varying weights.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With the following drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure, the technical means for achieving a predetermined purpose of the present disclosure are further illustrated.

The present disclosure generally relates to a shoulder strap applicable to a baby carrier, which is more comfortable to use.

In other embodiment, the shoulder strap of the present disclosure comprises a strap body having a top end and a bottom end and two sides; and at least one of a decompression expansion member (not shown in figures).

The decompression expansion member can extend outwardly from at least one of the two sides of the strap body and can be as long as the strap body. The decompression expansion member can be connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively, by any known connecting methods in the art, for example, by sewing or the like.

The decompression extension member has a first extended flap and a second extended flap. The first extended flap can be formed on one of the two sides of the strap body and medially extend toward the other one of the two sides of the strap body. The first extended flap can have an inner side.

The second extended flap can be formed on the inner side of the first extended flap and extend in a reverse direction to the inner side of the first extended flap. The second extended flap can have an outer side.

The decompression expansion member can have a Z-shaped cross section.

Please refer toFIG. 2which illustrates one embodiment of the shoulder strap of the present disclosure in a folded status. In this embodiment, the shoulder strap has a strap body10and two decompression expansion members20.

The strap body10has a top end and a bottom end (not shown inFIG. 2) and two sides12.

The two decompression expansion members20respectively can extend outwardly from the two sides12of the strap body10, are as long as the strap body.

The two decompression expansion members20can be connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body10, respectively, by any known connecting methods in the art, for example, by sewing or the like.

Each of the two decompression extension members20can respectively has a first extended flap21and a second extended flap22. Each of the first extended flaps21can be formed on each of the two sides12of the strap body10respectively and can medially extend toward each other. Each of the first extended flaps21can respectively has an inner side211.

Each of the second extended flaps22can be formed respectively on each of the inner sides211of the first extended flaps21and each of the second extended flaps22can outwardly extend toward an outside of the strap body. Each of the second extended flaps22can have an outer side221, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 2, the two first extended flaps21are folded toward each other and covering on the strap body10and the two second extended flaps22are further folded toward the sides12of the strap body10and each of the two second extended flaps22is covering each of the first extended flaps21.

In one embodiment, the width of the first extended flap21can approximately equal to the width of the second extended flap22. Besides, the width of the first extended flap21or the width of the second extended flap22can be about half of the width of the strap body10, so as that the width of the shoulder strap would approximately equal to the width of the strap body10.

Each of the decompression expansion members can have a Z-shaped cross section and the two decompression expansion members on the two sides of the strap body can be symmetrical.

Please refer toFIG. 3which illustrates one embodiment of the shoulder strap of the present disclosure which extends. The two second extended flaps22and the two first extended flaps21extend toward the two sides12of the strap body10. The two second extended flaps22, the two first extended flaps21, and the strap body10can present a curvature and the curvature can closely fit all the shoulder from the top of the shoulder to the upper portion of the user's upper arm.

Please refer toFIG. 1which illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure applicable to a baby carrier. The baby carrier comprises a waist strap40, a carrier body50, a buckle member60and two of the shoulder straps of the present disclosure. Further refer toFIG. 1in view ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the shoulder strap comprises a strap body10having a top end111, a bottom end112and two sides12.

As shown inFIG. 1, the waist strap40can have two connecting portions41formed on both ends thereof, respectively. The carrier body50is attached to the waist strap40. The two shoulder straps are attached to the two sides of carrier body50. The bottom ends112of the two shoulder straps can pass through the two connecting portions41of the two ends of the waist strap40, respectively. The two ends of the buckle member60are attached to the bottom ends112of the two shoulder straps, respectively.

Please refer toFIG. 4. In one embodiment, when the two decompression extension members20are folded up, the two first extended flaps (not shown) are folded and both of them are covering on the strap body10, and each the two second extended flaps22is further folded and covering on each of the first extended flaps.

As shown inFIG. 4, the decompression expansion members20can be folded up and the strap bodies10can closely fit the user's shoulder. When the decompression expansion members20are folded, the users can take off the baby carrier easily. When the shoulder straps are folded, their structures are tighter and the width is narrower, and users can carry the baby carrier in an easier way.

Please refer toFIGS. 5 and 6, in one embodiment, when the two decompression extension members20extend, the two second extended flaps22, the two first extended flaps21, and the strap body10can present a curvature and the curvature can closely fit all the user's shoulders from the top of the shoulder to the upper portion of the user's upper arm, and even to parts of the user's upper back.

Please refer toFIGS. 7 and 8, the disclosure further provides another baby carrier comprising a waist strap40, a carrier body50, and two shoulder straps of the disclosure.

The waist strap40can have two connecting portions41formed on both ends thereof, respectively. The carrier body50can be attached to the waist strap40and have a first side51and a second side52in a lateral direction.

The top ends111of the strap bodies10of the two shoulder straps can be attached to the first side51and the second side52of the carrier body50, respectively. The buckle member60has two ends, both of which can be attached to the bottom ends112of the strap bodies10of the two shoulder straps, respectively.

The baby carrier of the disclosure comprises two rings30disposed on the first side51and the second side52of the carrier body50, respectively.

The top end111of the strap body10of one of the two shoulder straps is disposed on the first side51of the carrier body50and the bottom end112of the strap body10of the one of the two shoulder straps is passing through one of the two rings30disposed on the second side52.

The top end111of the strap body10of the other of the two shoulder straps is disposed on the second side52of the carrier body50and the bottom end112of the strap body10of the other of the two shoulder straps is passing through the other of the two rings30disposed on the first side51.

In an embodiment, the baby carrier can further comprise two buckle straps42that are disposed on the two connecting portions41of the waist strap40, respectively.

In an embodiment, one of the two buckle straps42can have a fixed length, and the other of the two buckle straps42has an adjustable length to engage the two buckle straps42with each other. In another embodiment, the two engageable buckle straps42can have adjustable lengths and are disposed on the two connecting portions41of the waist strap40, respectively.

According to the present disclosure, each of the two shoulder straps of the baby carrier respectively comprises at least one of a decompression expansion member extending outwardly from at least one of the two sides of the strap body, being as long as the strap body, and connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively. The amount of the decompression expansion member is not limited, for example, it can be 1, 2 or more than 2. In some embodiments, each of the two shoulder straps may comprise one decompression expansion member extending outwardly from at least one of the two sides of the strap body. In another embodiments, each of the two shoulder straps can comprise two decompression expansion members respectively extending outwardly from the two sides of the strap body, being as long as the strap body, and connected to the top and bottom ends of the strap body, respectively.

With above technical means, the present disclosure is able to provide the following:

1. The decompression expansion member20can be disposed on the structure of the shoulder straps. When the decompression expansion member20is folded up, the strap body10closely fit the top of the user's shoulder, and the baby carrier can be used in an easy way. When the decompression expansion member20extends, the strap body10can cover the entire shoulder from the top of the shoulder to the upper portion of the user's upper arm, which allows the loading weight from the baby to be distributed effectively to user's shoulders, upper arms and even parts of the upper back.

2. The shoulder straps can be more adjustable according to the users' requirements effectively, so the user does not have to purchase different carriers for the different shoulder straps thereof.

The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present disclosure and not restrictive of the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present disclosure should fall within the scope of the appended claims.