CHILD CARRIER

A child carrier apparatus for holding a child such as an infant near a user includes a flexible casing which houses a rigid or semirigid insert panel. The flexible casing may lie flat or may be positioned in a use configuration in which the flexible casing forms a U-shape. The insert panel lies in the base of the U-shape when the flexible casing is in the use configuration. A carrying strap is usable to hang the flexible casing on the user's shoulder and around the user's torso. A retaining fastener is operable to keep the flexible casing in the use configuration. The child may be placed atop the insert panel, and the user may help secure the child in the child carrier apparatus by placing an arm next to the child during use of the apparatus.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to child carriers and more particularly pertains to a new child carrier for holding a child such as an infant near a user.

The prior art relates to child carriers for facilitating a user to carry a child. Various structures are available which use a variety of structural arrangements including slings which hang on the user's shoulder. However, the prior art fails to describe such a sling arrangement for a child carrier which comprises a casing that houses a rigid or semirigid insert panel, and which may fold into a U-shape with the insert panel positioned in a base portion of the U-shape to support the child.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flexible casing which comprises a plurality of fabric panels that are layered with each other and joined at their peripheral edges to form a perimeter of the flexible casing. The flexible casing has a first end and a second end. The flexible casing also comprises a first end portion adjacent to the first end, a second end portion adjacent to the second end, and a central portion which is coupled to and extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The flexible casing is positionable in a planar configuration in which the first end portion, the second end portion, and the central portion lie on a common plane. An insert panel is positioned in the flexible casing. The insert panel has a first edge and a second edge positioned opposite each other. The first edge faces the first end of the flexible casing and the second edge faces the second end of the flexible casing when the flexible casing is positioned in the planar configuration.

The flexible casing and the insert panel are also positionable in a use configuration wherein the flexible casing forms a U-shape and the insert panel lies horizontally in a base portion of the U-shape. A carrying strap is mounted to the first end of the flexible casing and is configured to hang the flexible casing on a shoulder and across a torso of a user. A retaining fastener is engageable to retain the flexible casing in the use configuration.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the child carrier apparatus 10 generally comprises a flexible casing 12 which comprises a plurality of fabric panels 14 that are layered with each other and are joined at their peripheral edges to form a perimeter 16 of the flexible casing 12. With reference to FIG. 2, there are four fabric panels 14, but other quantities may be suitable. For example, only two fabric panels 14 may be used. Additional layers may be added to provide additional cushioning, for ornamental purposes, and for waterproofing purposes, for example. The fabric panels 14 comprise cotton but may comprise any suitable material such as wool, polyester, vinyl, or the like.

The flexible casing 12 has a first end 18 and a second end 20. The flexible casing 12 also comprises a first end portion 22 adjacent to the first end 18, a second end portion 24 adjacent to the second end 20, and a central portion 26 coupled to and extending between the first end portion 22 and the second end portion 24. The flexible casing 12 is positionable in a planar configuration 28 in which the first end portion 22, the second end portion 24, and the central portion 26 lie on a common plane. The second end portion 24 tapers away from the central portion 26 to the second end 20 of the flexible casing 12.

An insert panel 29 is positioned in the flexible casing 12 between a middlemost pair of fabric panels 15 of the plurality of fabric panels 14. The insert panel 29 comprises a semirigid material such as high-density polymer foam or the like but may comprise a rigid material in other embodiments. The insert panel 29 has a first edge 30 and a second edge 32 positioned opposite each other. The first edge 30 faces the first end 18 of the flexible casing 12 and the second edge 32 faces the second end 20 of the flexible casing 12 when the flexible casing 12 is positioned in the planar configuration 28. The first edge 30 is concavely arcuate.

The flexible casing 12 and the insert panel 29 are positionable in a use configuration 34 wherein the flexible casing 12 forms a U-shape and the insert panel 29 lies horizontally in a base portion of the U-shape. The rigid or semirigid material of the insert panel 29 resists deformation such that the insert panel 29 may remain oriented substantially horizontally in the use configuration 34. Some deflection may occur and is desirable for comfortably cradling a child 54 atop the base portion of the U-shape. The first end portion 22 and the second end portion 24 of the flexible casing 12 form a pair of upright portions of the U-shape when in the use configuration 34, and the central portion 26 of the flexible casing 12 houses the insert panel 29 when in the use configuration 34. The flexible casing 12 also comprises a barrier 27 formed of a stitched thread which is positioned to prevent the insert panel 29 from entering the second end portion 24 of the flexible casing 12. In some embodiments, an additional barrier 27 may be used to secure the insert panel 29 in the central portion 26 of the flexible casing 12. The barrier 27 may also be formed of fabric or other suitable material.

A carrying strap 36 is mounted to the first end 18 of the flexible casing 12 and forms a closed loop with the flexible casing 12. The carrying strap 36 is sized and configured to hang the flexible casing 12 on a shoulder 58 and across a torso 60 of a user 56. The carrying strap 36 is length-adjustable via a slider or other suitable means. In some embodiments, the carrying strap 36 may have two separable portions joined by a buckle or other fastener. A shoulder cushion 38 is mounted to the carrying strap 36 to cushion the shoulder 58 of the user 56 during use.

A retaining fastener 40 is provided which is engageable to retain the flexible casing 12 in the use configuration 34. The retaining fastener 40 comprises a first mating member 42 mounted to the carrying strap 36 and a second mating member 48 mounted to the second end 20 of the flexible casing 12. The first mating member 42 comprises a first connecting strap 44 and a first magnet connector 46, and the second mating member 48 comprises a second connecting strap 50 and a second magnet connector 52. The first magnet connector 46 is releasably couplable to the second magnet connector 52 to retain the flexible casing 12 in the use configuration 34. The first connecting strap 44 is length-adjustable via a slider or other suitable means to position the flexible casing 12 as desired. The first connecting strap 44 is also slidable along the carrying strap 36 and may be kept in any of a variety of desirable positions along the carrying strap 36 via friction or suitable fastener. Other fasteners such as any of a variety of buckles, a hook-and-loop fastener, a tie, or the like may be used in other embodiments.

In use, the child 54 carrier apparatus 10 is worn on the user's 56 shoulder 58 via the carrying strap 36 as described. While being worn, the flexible casing 12 may be positioned in the planar configuration 28 with the flexible casing 12 lying against the user 56. In this manner, the child 54 carrier apparatus 10 may be worn without substantially obstructing an area in front of the user 56. To carry a child 54, such as an infant, the flexible casing 12 and the insert panel 29 are positioned in the use configuration 34 and retained there by the retaining fastener 40. The child 54 is then placed within the U-shape formed by the flexible casing 12 such that the child 54 is supported by the insert panel 29. The first edge 30 of the insert panel 29 rests on the user's 56 torso 60. The first edge 30 is concavely arcuate to conform substantially to the torso 60, thereby providing a comfortable engagement between the torso 60 and the insert panel 29. The second end portion 24 of the flexible casing 12 tapers so that the child 54 is more visible while being carried than if the second end portion 24 did not taper.