Arrangement for adjusting the length of a carrying section of a child carrier

The invention relates to an arrangement for adjusting the length of a carrying section of a child carrier, intended for carrying a child on an adult's front, back, or hip, the carrier comprising further upper support elements attached to the carrying section and to be placed over the wearer's shoulders, and lower support elements to be placed around the wearer's body, wherein the carrier is equipped with adjustment elements, with which a multi-stepped or stepless length adjustment of the carrying section is arranged to be carried out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for adjusting the length of a carrying section of a child carrier intended particularly for carrying a child on an adult's front, back, or hip. The carrier has been supplied with the length adjustment of the carrying section, to make the same carrier ergonomically suitable for infant babies as well as for larger toddlers well until their pre-school years.

In prior art, various fabrics or their combinations are used for sewing carriers in a form of, for instance, a back carrier, a front carrier or a mei tai, with upper straps, which go over the wearer's shoulders, as well as lower straps or a hip belt, which are attached around the waist or hip, and occasionally also other straps such as a chest strap, which holds the upper straps in place. Between the straps there is a carrying section that can be realized in various ways, somewhat formed e.g. into a shape of a cup or into a rectangle or square. Ergonomically, the carrying section should support the child's back all the way up. This is particularly important for a small baby and for a baby who is sleeping or moving actively in the carrier, in order for the carrier to be safe for the baby and for the carrying to be pleasant for the wearer and to the child. When the carrying section supports the child's back all the way up, or at least up to the level of the arm pits, the mass center of the child stays close to the wearer. During the most active carrying period, from newborn to about a two-year-old, the child will grow by dozens of centimeters.

Furthermore, carriers are often used occasionally for carrying larger children, for instance on longer distances, at airports or while hiking, and for handicapped or other children with special needs. Most carriers according to prior art make compromises regarding the height of the carrying section to make it suitable for children aged approximately six to eighteen months. This makes it too high for small babies and too low for larger children. Thus, a carrier that is suitable for a twelve-month-old is not suitable for ergonomic carrying of a small baby or a larger child. For some carriers, the problem has been solved by adding a separate inner part for smaller babies. This adds to the fabric layers of the carriers, which is undesirable in hot weather, warm climates or indoor use. Nor does the separate inner section solve the problem in terms of the ergonomics of carrying larger children. Other carriers are sold in various sizes, in which case a family has to buy several carriers for the same child or an own carrier for each child of a various age.

In prior art, the main points of focus in the design solutions for the various carriers on the market have, naturally been safety, ease of use and comfort primarily for the wearer and to some degree for the child. Ergonomy, in particular from the child's point of view, is quite a recent consideration. The solutions that exist tend to come in the form of added-on features, for instance a detachable or foldable head support or a separate insert for smaller children or infants. The drawbacks of these solutions are that they add to the complexity of the product, which, on one hand, reduces the ease-of-use and, on the other hand, adds to both the weight of the product, which is an important consideration moving around with a child, and to the cost of the product, making it less affordable and, thus, less desirable. A separate issue is that the size and measurements and the relationship between different measurements, for instance, the size and the placement of possible arm and leg openings, do not easily change and adjust with the add-on features during the period of rapid growth of a young child. Thus, add-on features are usually less than optimal and entail important tradeoffs often in the area of ergonomy for the child. As an example, a headrest can not easily be used for supporting a longer back of the child if it results in that the arm openings are getting “in the wrong place”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to remove the disadvantages described above and to achieve an advantageous and easily modifiable, reliable and ergonomic arrangement for adjusting the height of a carrier intended particularly for carrying children, where the height can be increased as a child grows or falls asleep, and easily decreased again when the child wants to see more, or the adult is about to carry another child of different size. The height adjustment here means the length adjustment of the back part of the carrying section of the carrier. The back part is usually supporting the back of the child.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an arrangement for adjusting the length of a carrying section of an infant carrier is disclosed, in which arrangement the infant carrier comprises a carrying section intended for carrying a child on an adult's front, back, or hip, and further upper support elements attached to the carrying section and intended to be placed over the wearer's shoulders as shoulder straps, and lower support elements to be placed around the wearer's body, and where the carrier is equipped with adjustment elements with which a multi-stepped or stepless length adjustment of the carrying section is arranged to be carried out.

The advantages of the arrangement according to the invention include the fact that the length adjustment of the carrier's carrying section is multi-stepped or stepless, which allows the height of the carrier to be increased and decreased easily according to the size or needs of the child. As mentioned above the height adjustment here means actually the length adjustment of the vertical back part of the carrying section of the carrier so that the distance between the top edge of the carrying section and the lower edge of the carrying section is changed either longer or shorter. Later in this description the length adjustment is mentioned instead of the height adjustment. The vertical back part of the carrying section support usually the back of the child in the carrier, and the solution according to the invention makes it possible to lengthen and shorten the back part of the carrying section as for example the baby grows bigger, the baby falls asleep or has special needs. Later in this description the term carrying section means the back part of the carrying section.

Another benefit of the length adjustment of the arrangement according to the invention is that the same carrier is optimally suitable for children of different sizes, meaning that a family, or e.g. a children's private day care or a day-care center, does not have to purchase several carriers, if the children are carried at different times. The length adjustment of the carrying section can be a fixed part of the carrier or an additional piece or a removably fastened upper part. The length adjustment according to the invention is suitable for different carrier models, including back carriers, front carriers and square cloths—i.e. any equipment with a carrying section that supports the back or the front part of the child to be carried. The length adjustment according to the invention also enables the same carrier to be realized so that the child can be carried facing forward, because in such a position the length of the carrying section must be lower than when the child is carried facing the wearer. In addition, the length adjustment of the carrying section is useful when the baby is carried not only in vertical position but also in L-shaped or reclining position in the same carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1presents a child carrier1according to the invention, viewed from the backside of the carrier, i.e. from the outside towards the wearer, with the carrier hanging freely open. In this case the carrier would be positioned between the viewer and the wearer of the carrier. The carrier1comprises among other things of a carrying section2with an essentially vertical back part and a bum support part, upper support elements5and6, such as upper shoulder straps placed on the wearer's shoulders, i.e. carrying straps. In addition, the carrier1has at least lower support elements to be adjusted around the wearer's body, which lower support elements consist for example of a hip belt9or for example of lower straps7and8presented inFIG. 10, or for example of both a hip belt9and lower straps7and8.

The carrying section2in between the upper support elements5,6and lower support elements7,8or9can be realized in various ways, somewhat formed e.g. into a shape of a cup, or into a rectangle or square. A multi-stepped or stepless length adjustment of the vertical back part of the carrying section2of the carrier1has been developed for the carrier1according to the invention. The carrying section2can be divided into two essentially vertical parts that can be the same or different sizes, namely an upper part3and a lower part4of the carrying section2, which parts3and4are advantageously mutually either of the same uniform material, integrated or otherwise joined to each other. The upper part3and the lower part4together form the vertical back part of the carrying section2.

FIG. 1presents a stepless length adjustment of the carrying section2of the carrier1according to the invention adjusted to the maximum length. That means that the length of the back part of the carrying section2or the distance from the top edge of the back part of the carrying section2to the lower edge of the back part of the carrying section2or to the lower support elements7,8or9is at its maximum. At the same time the distance between the first end of the upper support elements5and6, fastened to the top edge of the back part of the carrying section2, and the lower support elements7,8or9is at its maximum.

The length of the carrying section2has been fitted to be adjusted with webbing straps10,11acting as adjustment elements and with buckles12,13acting as adjustment means. The webbing straps10,11and buckles12,13are placed in between the upper support elements5and6, and the hip belt9or the lower straps7,8. Advantageously the webbing straps10,11and buckles12,13are placed in between the top edge of the upper part3of the carrying section2and the lower edge of the lower part4of the carrying section2.

Each adjustment element10,11consists at least of an upper webbing part10b,11b, which is essentially attached near to the top edge of the upper part3of the carrying section2by its top end, and of a lower webbing part10c,11c, which is attachable to the upper webbing part10b,11bwith the adjustment means, and which is attached by its lower end for example to the lower support elements, such as the hip belt9or the lower straps7,8.

The first ends or upper ends of the upper webbing parts10b,11bof the webbing straps10,11are fastened on top of the upper support elements5,6and/or on the top edge of the back part of the carrying section2, and the second ends of the upper webbing parts10b,11bcan be fastened and adjusted with the buckles12,13. Correspondingly, the first ends or lower ends of the lower webbing parts10c,11cof the webbing straps10,11are fastened to the lower support elements7,8or9or to the lower part4of the carrying section2, and the second ends or the upper ends of the lower webbing parts10c,11chold the buckles12,13in place through which the upper webbing parts10b,11bare threaded.

FIG. 2presents the carrier according toFIG. 1, where the stepless length adjustment is adjusted to a smaller length, in which case the upper part3of the carrying section2is slightly folded towards the hip belt9. Now the distance from the top edge of the back part of the carrying section2to the lower edge of the back part of the carrying section2is smaller than in the situation according toFIG. 1. In other words, the length or the height of the carrying section2is now smaller.

FIGS. 3-9present alternative details of the embodiment presented inFIG. 2. In the solution according toFIG. 3the adjustment elements consists of webbing straps14and the adjustment means consist of D-rings15,16instead of buckles. Respectively,FIG. 4presents a length adjustment solution, in which the adjustment elements consists of webbing straps14and the adjustment means consist of lockable buckles17. In the solution presented inFIG. 5the adjustment elements consists of webbing straps11and the adjustment means consist of buckles18and snap fasteners19-23. Respectively,FIG. 6presents a solution, in which a hook-and-loop fastener system such as a Velcro tape24and a buckle18acting as adjustment means has been sewn on to the webbing strap11acting as the adjustment element. In the solution according toFIG. 7the adjustment elements consists of webbing straps11,14that can be tied to each other, and in the embodiment presented inFIG. 8the adjustment element consists of a cord26that runs inside a channel25and the adjustment means consist of a reinforcement ring27and a cord lock28.FIG. 9presents another solution; where the webbing straps11acting as the adjustment elements begin higher, close to or on top of the upper straps5,6.

FIG. 10presents a multi-stepped length adjustment of the carrier1according to the invention, where the upper part3of the carrier1is removably fastened and where the adjustment and attachment means consist of snap fastener rows29-32and buckles33-35and the adjustment elements consist of webbing straps10,11,36and also support loops37-43. Respectively,FIG. 11presents a stepless length adjustment of the carrier1according to the invention, where in the carrying section2there is a removably fastenable additional piece44with snap fastener rows45,46as attachment elements. In the solution according toFIG. 11the adjustment means consist of buckles33,34and the adjustment elements consist of webbing straps10,11and also support loops47-50.

FIG. 12presents yet another stepless length adjustment solution of the carrier1according to the invention, where the adjustment means consist of buckles33,34and the adjustment elements consist of webbing straps10,11. In the carrier1there is a removably fastened upper part3with snap fastener tape51as the attachment means. In the carrier1there are also removably fastened upper straps5,6with pockets52-55and buckles56-59and webbing straps60-63as the attachment means.

FIG. 13presents a stepless length adjustment according to the invention, where in the carrying section2there are two or more channels within which webbing parts such as webbing straps10,11or belts run and are locked with belt buckles12,13that are fastened to a lower part of the carrying section2itself. In this solution only upper webbing parts such as webbing straps10,11or belts are needed. Separate lower webbing parts are not needed because the webbing straps10,11are locked directly to the belt buckles12,13. The webbing straps10,11are placed into webbing channels, which are either separate or sewn in the carrying section2.

FIG. 14presents a stepless length adjustment according to the invention, where the length adjustment elements consist of a string10a, such as a shoestring or alike, and upper holding means3aand lower holding means3bthrough which holding means3a,3bthe string10ais guided so that when shortening the length of the string10athe distance between the upper holding means3aand lower holding means3bbecomes shorter. At the same time the length of the back part of the carrying section2shortens correspondingly. When the length of the string10ais made bigger the length of the back part of the carrying section2becomes correspondingly bigger. The length of the string10acan be locked in a desired position with a locking element28a.

The multi-stepped or stepless length adjustment of the carrier1according to the invention, which carrier1is intended for carrying a child, consists of webbings or webbing straps, thongs or straps acting as the adjustment elements10,10a11and14, which are placed on top of/under the carrying section2or in between its fabric layers, and of various adjustment means12,13,15-24,26,29-34. The adjustment means include various buckles12,13,17,33-34, snap fasteners19-23,29-32, snap fastener tape, Velcro tape24, buttons or rings15,16. For example, there can be one or several webbing straps acting as adjustment elements. Each adjustment element consists at least of an upper webbing part, which is essentially attached near to the top edge of the upper part3of the carrying section2by its top end, and of a lower webbing part, which is attachable to the upper webbing part with the adjustment means, and which is attached by its lower end to the lower support elements, such as the hip belt9or the lower straps7,8. When adjusting the length of the carrying section2, the adjustment elements are locked to a desired position with the adjustment means. The adjustment elements10,11and14are, for example, various ready-made webbing straps and made of the same or a different fabric than the carrying section2is made of. What is essential is that the adjustment elements are sufficiently durable for adjustment use, particularly when the upper part3of the carrying section2is removably fastened as presented inFIGS. 10-12. Upper webbing parts can begin from the point where the shoulder straps5,6are attached to the top part of carrying section2, or they can be extended and sewn on top of the shoulder straps5,6as shown for example inFIG. 7. The lower webbing parts are advantageously fastened with their lower ends to the lower support elements7,8or9. The buckles12,13,17,33-35or other adjustment means15,16,18-24,28,29-32can be attached either to the webbing strap attached to the lower edge of the adjustable part as shown inFIG. 1, or to the webbing strap attached near to the shoulder as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

The above description represents the most advantageous embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will see, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment examples presented above, but can be varied within the scope of the patent claims presented below. The webbings or webbing straps can alternatively be placed into webbing channels25, which are either separate or sewn in between the fabrics of the carrying section2, and which have cord locks28as adjustment means in their one end or both ends or in the middle as shown inFIG. 8. The upper part3of the carrying section2can be removably fastened to the lower part4of the carrying section2, and in between these there may be one or several additional parts44. In the removably fastened model the support loops37-43,47-50are helpful in keeping the webbing straps in place.

The parts, shape and length of the multi-stepped or stepless adjustment of the carrier1according to the invention can be varied to optimally suit each carrier. For example, zippers, snap fasteners, snap fastener tape and Velcro tape are suitable to act as the attachment means29-32,45,46,51of the removably fastened upper part3and the additional part/parts44of the carrying section2. Other variation possibilities of the invention include adding various removable or non-removable linings and/or various removable or non-removable, foldable or non-foldable neck or head rests or supports.

In its own way, the neck/head rest or support can, when in use, add to the total height of the total carrier, this, however, without altering the height of the carrying section, intended primarily to support the back of the child, itself.

In addition, the length and the width of the webbings or webbing straps, straps and other adjustment parts can be varied. Knots and various fastening clips can be used instead of cord locks. The carrier can be made as a one-size solution or in several sizes.