A child support

Abstract: The invention relates to a device 20 for supporting a child on the body of a human carrier, comprising a seat 21 for the child and a brace 22 projecting from the seat 21 and adapted in use to rest against part (the thigh) of the body of the carrier whereby to support the seat 21.

Description: The invention relates to a child support. It is often desirable to carry a child or infant rather than push it in a push-chair. This is particularly so for infants of from 6 months to 3 years, where the close proximity of the child when carried by a carrier, particularly a parent provides comfort and security for both the child and the parent, as well as leaving the parents' hands free. Moreover, some push-chairs can be harmful to the satisfactory development of the posture of the infant, so that carrying is again beneficial for the infant. However, even a small infant can be heavy to carry, particularly for long periods. Therefore baby carriers have been provided, for example as shown in US-A-1464404 which forms the basis of the preamble of the main claims and which discloses a device for supporting a child on the body of a human carrier, the device comprising a seat for the child and a brace for the seat. It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage. According to the invention there is provided a device for supporting the child on the body of a human carrier, comprising a seat for the child, and a brace projecting from the seat, characterised by the brace having a curved configuration so that it can engage at least partially round a thigh of the carrier whereby to support the seat. Particular embodiments of the invention are set out in dependent claims 2 to 10. Using the invention it is possible to provide a device which allows both males and females to support the weight of a child at the hip, particularly at the male hip which is not such a natural seat as that of the female. The device may be substantially inverted L-shape in use, the arms of the L- comprising the seat and the leg thereof comprising the brace. The distal end of the brace may be curved towards the seat. There may be a support between the brace and the seat. The device may be formed in one piece from plastic or fibreglass material. The device may be used in combination with means to support the device from a shoulder of the carrier. The support means may comprise a strap which extends from one side of the device to the other. There may also be a belt for passing round the waist of a carrier. The device may also include a carrying receptacle which may have means to support it from the device. The carrying receptacle may comprise a bag which is adapted to receive the device as an insert and which may be suspended from the seat by a top or lid which may comprise the supporting means. The top or lid may have padding whereby to provide additional comfort in the seat. There may be closable openings of the bag at two opposite sides, so that the bag can be worn on the left or right hand side of the carrier. The bag may have padding adjacent the brace. The bag may comprise a washable material. Devices embodying the invention, for supporting a child on the body of a human carrier, are diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 supported on the body of a human male carrier; Fig. 3 is a perspective view in phantom of the device of Figs. 1 and 2, in combination with a carrying receptacle; Fig. 4 is a perspective view like Fig. 5, showing the outward appearance of the device; Fig. 5 is a perspective front view of a second embodiment of device according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective rear view of the device of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figs. 5 and 6. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a device 1 for supporting a child on the body of a human carrier 2, comprising a seat 3 for the child, and a brace 4 projecting from the seat and adapted in use to rest against part 5 of the body of the carrier whereby to support the seat 3. The device 1 is moulded integrally in one piece from plastics, eg. fibreglass, and is of substantially L-shape, the "L" being inverted in use as shown. The brace 4 is curved in a concave direction in the direction of projection of the seat 3 so as to fit round the part 5, which is the upper thigh of the carrier 2. The seat 3 is relatively rigid, as is the brace 4. The inside corner of the "L" acts as a support or strut 6 between the brace 4 and the seat 3 for assisting in supporting the seat 3. There is means at opposite edges of the seat in the form of through apertures 7, so that the device can be used in combination with support means in the form of a shoulder strap 8 which is broad, padded and adjustable so as to provide maximum comfort for the carrier 2. The brace 4 also has holes 9 at upper opposite edges thereof so that the device 1 can be mounted on a waistband or belt 10 which is fastenable round the waist of the carrier 2. The belt 10 is adjustable. The distal end of the brace 4 is turned outwardly to provide a smooth lower edge or lip 11 which does not cut into the thigh 5 of the carrier 2 in use. The device 1 is used in combination with a receptacle in the form of a bag 12 which is a carrier, suitably for nappies, wet-wipes, bottles etc., required by the child. The bag is slipped over the device 1 which becomes an insert therefor to keep the bag 12 extended. The bag 12 has a top or lid 13 which is padded to make the seat 3 comfortable for the child, and also has padding on a rear surface 14 which in use is between the brace 4 and the thigh 5 of the human carrier 2, to provide comfort for the carrier 2. The bag 12 has through apertures aligned with the apertures 7 and 9 so that the shoulder strap 8 and the belt 10 can be passed therethrough to provide a unitary seat and bag device. The bag 12 comprises, or is covered with, a washable material, and has two opposite apertures 15 closed by closure means such as zip fasteners 15 extending longitudinally thereof. The bag has a front pouch 17. The device and bag 12 are symmetrical so that they can be worn on either thigh 5 with equal facility, or stated in another way, they can be supported by the strap 8 from either shoulder of the human carrier. In use the strap 8 is adjusted to the correct length and is slipped over the desired shoulder and the device 1 is also adjusted on the belt 10 so that the net result is that the seat 3 rests neatly at the hip of the human carrier, male or female, with the brace 4 receiving and resting against the outside of the thigh 5. The seat 3 is then supported by the brace 4, in a substantially horizontal position 10 so that an infant can sit on the seat and clasp the body of the carrier, so that the child is carried safely and in comfort, the carrier having his or her hands free. When the bag 12 is used, accoutrements of the child can be placed inside for ease of carriage too. Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7, there is shown a second embodiment of device 20 for supporting a child on the body of a human carrier, comprising a seat 21 for the child and a brace 22 projecting from the seat 21 and adapted in use to rest against part (the thigh) of the body of the carrier whereby to support the seat 21. The seat 21 and brace 22 are integral, moulded in two pieces of plastic which are joined together as by glueing plastics or welding along a median line 24, to provide a substantially 'L'-shape device which is an inverted 'L' in use. Each of the two pieces forms part of the seat 21 and the brace 22, and the median line also extends from the seat 21 to the brace 22. This construction is inherently strong and requires no separate support between brace and seat. The seat 21 has an upper (in use) surface on which a child sits in use, and a curved lower 25 surface which merges into or becomes the brace 22 which is concave for fitting round the thigh of a carrier. There is an angle of about 110° between the seat 21 and brace 22 so that in use the seat 21 has a natural incline which tends to move a child on the seat towards the body of the human carrier which provides for safety in ensuring the child is not tipped off the seat 21, and comfort as the child experiences the close proximity of the carrier, usually its father or mother. The angle of 110° could be varied between 100° and 120° as desired. The seat 21 is hollow. The hollow seat 21 is used as a housing for a bag or cover (not shown) of flexible material such as plastic which is secured to the underside of the upper surface of the seat adjacent the entrance 26 to the hollow interior 27 of the seat 21 by suitable means as for example VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) or elastic. The bag or cover can then be permanently attached to the device 20 and, if desired can be pulled out of the hollow interior 27 of the seat 21 and folded down round the device for unobtrusive carrying thereof. When the bag or cover is stowed, it is simply folded and tucked into the hollow interior 27 of the seat so that the bag or cover is out of sight. The device 20 has formed in it through apertures in the form of four slots 28 through which flexible adjustable support means such as straps 29 and 30 are passed, one 29 being a waist strap and the other 30 a shoulder strap. The device 20 can be worn on either thigh with equal facility, or stated in another way, they can be supported by the strap from either shoulder of the human carrier. The device 20 is used to support a child in the same way as the device 1, that is to say in use the strap 30 is adjusted to the correct length and is slipped over the desired shoulder and the device 20 is also adjusted on the belt 29 which is also adjusted for length so that the net result is that the seat 21 rests neatly at the hip of the human carrier, male or female, with the brace 22 receiving in its concave form, and resting against the outside, of the thigh of the carrier. The seat 21 is then supported by the brace 22, so that an infant can sit on the seat and clasp the body of the carrier, so that the child is carried safely and in comfort, the carrier having his or her hands free. In either embodiment, the seat may be ergonometrically designed too, like the brace to provide a shape complementary, or nearly to, to the posterior of the child. Moreover, the seat and the brace could comprise a metal or plastic framework, which can then be covered by a suitable material. The brace extends solely below the seat in use and the surface of the seat forms the upper surface of the whole device (excluding any supporting straps by which the device may be suspended from the carrier). It is therefore easy to place the child in the device and remove the child therefrom without impediments which might otherwise exist above the seat surface. The concave shape of the brace surface intended to face the thigh of the carrier extends the full length of the brace, so that pressure is more uniformly distributed.

Claims: A device for supporting the child on the body of a human carrier, comprising a seat for the child, and a brace projecting from the seat, characterised by the brace (4) having a curved configuration so that it can engage at least partially round a thigh of the carrier whereby to support the seat (3, 21). A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the device (1) is of substantially inverted L-shape in use, the arm of the L-comprising the seat (3) and the leg thereof comprising the brace (4). A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the seat (21) is hollow. A device according to Claim 3, characterised by a bag or cover (12) which is secured to the device (1) adjacent a mouth or entrance to the hollow interior of the seat. A device according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterised by being formed from two parts secured together. A device according to Claim 3, wherein an angle between the seat and the brace is between 100° and 120°. A device according to Claim 3, wherein an angle between the seat and the brace is 110°. A device according to Claim 2, characterised by the distal end (11) of the brace (4) being curved towards the seat (3, 21). A device according to any preceding claim, characterised by there being a combination with means (8, 10) (29, 30) to support the device (1) from a shoulder of the carrier. A device according to any preceding claim, characterised by a bag, cover or carrying receptacle (12) which has means to support it from the device (1).

Inventors: BENTINCK TIMOTHY CHARLES ROBER, BENTINCK, TIMOTHY CHARLES ROBERT NOEL
Applicants: BENTINCK TIMOTHY CHARLES ROBER, BENTINCK, TIMOTHY CHARLES ROBERT NOEL
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A47D13
IPC codes: A47D13