Abstract:
An infant/child backpack carrier accessory and method is a mirror on the end of a flexible arm. One end of the arm holds the mirror in a position and location allowing a view of a child in the backpack baby carrier with a comfortable focal distance for an adult wearing the baby carrier, while the other end of the arm has a fastener dimensioned and configured to allow it to be secure to the carrier, for example, to the carrier frame, fabric, straps or other location. The mirror may be convex, the flexible arm may be made of flexible material or it may be rigid sections in a jointed relationship allowing them to rotate mutually. The fastener may be any of a wide variety of clamps, strings and other fasteners.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to backpacks, and specifically to backpack-style child carriers. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
       [0004]    This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    As young families become more mobile, a number of types of infant, child and baby carriers have become more common. 
         [0006]    The most practical type for larger infants and greater athletic freedom on the part of adults carrying the child is the backpack style carrier, which has many types and variations. In addition to hard framed backpack carriers, there are soft frameless carriers, the various types found in the collection of the US Patent and Trademark Office, the traditional native American “papoose” style carriers, Korean “pedaegi” “type devices and so on. 
         [0007]    The greatest disadvantage of backpack devices is that the adult wearing the device has no visual contact with the infant being carried in the device. This means the adult cannot see how the child is doing, cannot see the child&#39;s expression, cannot monitor the child&#39;s behavior, and so on. The second greatest disadvantage is that while the infant is held in contact with the adult and can see the back of the adult&#39;s head from a range of several inches, the infant cannot see the face of the adult, which can lead to feelings of unease associated with separation. 
         [0008]    Chisco company provides a mirror which clips onto a baby backpack carrier and has a spring-loaded tether allowing the mirror to be pulled away from the carrier to a point at which it may be used to see the child&#39;s face, however, the product does not have an arm allowing the mirror to be held in a location which allows viewing of the child without effort by the adult. The product may be seen at the following website address: www.travelingwithkids.com/product_info.php/pName/rearview-retractable-childrens-mirror 
         [0009]    The applicant is unaware of any other products or patents which even teach structures suitable to viewing of an infant in a backpack carrier, much less ones with suitable structures and any motivation and suggestion to alter the structures for child care purposes. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,600 issued to Hwang on Jan. 20, 2007, teaches a baby carrier similar to a backpack, like devices known to the inventor, it lacks mirrors of any kind. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,771 issued to McGuinness on May 9, 2006 teaches a bicycle rear view mirror irrelevant to back packs and child care and of course structurally unrelated as well. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,123 issued to Hatchett on Aug. 10, 2004 teaches one of the many types of car baby seat mirrors available on the market, all of which are also non-analogous to the present invention, as well as being structurally dissimilar. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,882 issued to Whittingdale on Mar. 19, 2002, teaches another mirror mounted on a bicycle helmet. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,347 issued to Roh on Sep. 4, 2001 teaches a backpack baby carrier which may be fully enclosed to avoid climate, pests and the like. It too lacks mirrors. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,857 issued to Le Gal on Aug. 8, 2000 for another type of backpack baby carrier also lacks mirrors. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,455 issued to Sorenson on Mar. 21, 2000 teaches a child car seat mirror device non-analogous to backpack baby carriers, as well as being structurally dissimilar to the present invention. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,198 issued Dec. 28, 1999 to Burton teaches another rear view mirror for attachment to glasses and cap brims, but lacking an arm long enough and a fastener large enough to allow attachment to a backpack baby carrier. 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,701 issued to Greenlaw on Dec. 31, 1991 teaches another bicycle helmet mounted mirror. 
         [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,058 issued to Chaney et al on Oct. 26, 1976 teaches yet another mirror dimensioned and configured for attachment to glasses and cap brims. 
         [0020]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,917,970 issued to La Bard on Dec. 22, 1959 teaches yet another mirror attached to glasses. 
         [0021]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,324,421 issued Jul. 13, 1943 to Ouellette teaches a supported stand for infants to sit in securely. 
         [0022]    None of the references teach mirrors to allow adults wearing backpack baby carriers to view the child, nor teaching that such mirrors may allow a child in such a backpack carrier to view the face of the adult. 
         [0023]    It would be advantageous to provide a method and device allowing an adult and child in a backpack baby carrier to see each other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    General Summary 
         [0025]    An infant backpack carrier and accessory is a mirror on the end of a flexible/jointed arm. One end of the arm holds the mirror in a position and location allowing a view of a child in a backpack carrier with a comfortable focal distance for an adult wearing the baby carrier, while the other end of the arm has a fastener dimensioned and configured to allow it to be secure to the carrier, for example, to the carrier frame, fabric, straps or other location. The mirror of course also allows the child in the backpack to see the adult&#39;s face. The size of the mirror is important: at walking and hiking speeds, wind resistance of the mirror is not important (as it would be with bicycle helmet mirrors) and thus a larger mirror offering a better view is preferable. Mirrors of at least 3 inches across may be used in preferred embodiments, though smaller mirrors may be used in alternative embodiments. Use of a convex mirror allows a wide angle α of adult view and also a wide angle β allowing the infant to see a larger portion, preferably all, of the adult&#39;s face as well. Thus the device may provide comfort to both the adult wearing the backpack baby carrier and also the infant rider in the backpack. 
         [0026]    The flexible arm may be made of flexible material or it may be rigid sections in a jointed relationship allowing them to rotate mutually. The length of the arm, at least about 6 inches, preferably over one foot, is important, as shorter arms such as those for bicycle helmets and the like would not position the mirror far enough from the adult&#39;s face to provide a good view for adult and child. Positioning is also important, as the angle must be sufficient to allow a good view and most types of bicycle helmet or glasses mirrors would not have the proper angle. 
         [0027]    The fastener may be any of a wide variety of clamps, strings and other fasteners. Clamps, patches of hook and loop fabric (VELCRO® brand hook and loop fabric being the famous example), strings, snaps, buttons, wires, zippers, hooks, and combinations thereof may all be used, as may sockets, and other equivalent devices now known or later discovered. 
         [0028]    Summary in Reference to Claims 
         [0029]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an improved backpack baby carrier for use by an adult wearing the backpack baby carrier and an infant/child in the backpack baby carrier, wherein the improvement comprises: 
         [0000]    a mirror firmly attached and held in a first location and dimensioned and configured to allow such adult and such child to see one another. 
         [0030]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an improved backpack baby carrier wherein the improvement further comprises: 
         [0000]    a flexible arm having two ends, the first end secured to the mirror and the second end secured to the backpack baby carrier. 
         [0031]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide an improved backpack baby carrier, wherein the improvement further comprises: 
         [0000]    a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the second end of the flexible arm to the backpack baby carrier. 
         [0032]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory comprising: a mirror; 
         [0000]    an arm having two ends, the first end secured to the mirror and the second end secured to the backpack baby carrier, the arm long enough to provide a view of an upper portion of the backpack baby carrier; and
 
a fastener dimensioned and configured to secure the second end of the flexible arm to the backpack baby carrier.
 
         [0033]    It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the mirror further comprises: a convex reflecting surface. 
         [0034]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the fastener further comprises: one member selected from the group consisting of: at least one clamp, at least one hook and loop fabric area, at least one string, at least one snap, at least one socket, at least one button, at least one wire, at least one zip, at least one hook, and combinations thereof. It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory further comprising: a mirror frame. 
         [0035]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the arm further comprises: 
         [0000]    a flexible arm. 
         [0036]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the flexible arm further comprises: a plurality of rigid sections attached together but able to rotate in relation to one another. 
         [0037]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the flexible arm further comprises: a flexible material. 
         [0038]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a backpack baby carrier accessory wherein the flexible arm further comprises: a telescoping material. 
         [0039]    It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention to provide a method of infant care comprising:
       placing such infant in a backpack baby carrier;   securing to such backpack baby carrier a mirror, the mirror at a first end of an arm, a second end of the arm secured to the backpack baby carrier, the arm long enough to extend from the backpack baby carrier to a mirror location a comfortable focal distance in front of the location of a head of a wearer of the backpack.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a side view diagram of a first embodiment of the device alone, without any context of use. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an attachment of a second embodiment of the device. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  is a side view diagram of a second embodiment of the device, showing a short section of baby carrier frame to which the device attaches. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the mirror end of the device in certain embodiments, showing the convexity of the mirror. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  is an orthogonal front side elevational view of a flexible material embodiment of the device in use, showing a baby carrier, carrier personnel (an adult) and carried personnel (a baby). 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  is a top diagrammatic view showing the field of view of the carrier personnel, illustrating clearly one important advantage of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  is a top diagrammatic view showing the field of view of the carried personnel, illustrating clearly one important aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     INDEX OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         Fastener  112   
         Connection  114   
         Bolt  116   
         Nut  118   
         Annular flange  120   
         Angled arm segment  122   
         Elongated arm segment  124   
         Flexible arm section  126   
         Frame  128   
         Mirror  130   
         Clamp  202   
         Aperture  204   
         Screw  206   
         Fastener  308   
         Carrier frame  310   
         Arm  312   
         Flexible arm section  426   
         Frame  428   
         Mirror  430   
         Adult  502   
         Child carrier device  504   
         Infant/child  506   
         Fastener  508   
         Carrier device frame  510   
         Flexible arm  526   
         Mirror  530   
         Adult  602   
         Child carrier device  604   
         Infant/child  606   
         Fastener  608   
         Flexible arm  626   
         Mirror  630   
         Carrier&#39;s field of view  650   
         Angle of field of view α 
         Adult  702   
         Infant/child  706   
         Carried&#39;s field of view  750   
         Angle of field of view β 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0087]      FIG. 1  is a side view diagram of a first embodiment of the device alone, without any context of use. Fastener  112  may be a clamp, for example, a large spring-loaded and hand operable clamp like that shown. This type of clamp may be useful for cases in which the device is sold as a retrofit to existing backpack baby carrier products, as such a clamp will fit onto a wide range of parts of a backpack baby carrier (frames, cloth, straps, belts, pack body, etc) and can easily be installed, moved, re-arranged and so on. Connection  114  may have bolt  116  with nut  118  holding annular flange  120  of the clamp  112  in place. 
         [0088]    The flexible arm of the invention may comprise a single or multiple jointed arm made up of a number of different sections, the sections in turn made up of individual segments such as angled arm segment  122 , elongated arm segment  124 , individual short segments such as those of the flexible arm section  126  and so on. It may be seen that one, two or three such joints make an efficient joint such as those near the middle of the arm or the fastener, while a number of such joints may easily make an entirely flexible arm section such as flexible section  126 . Joints of the type pictured may rotate in relation to each other in several directions, however, even a single joint rotating in a single dimension is sufficient. Flexible materials such as wound metal arms, plastic arms and the like may be used instead of joints with the same result. Telescoping arms, articulated arms and like types of flexible arms may be used as well. 
         [0089]    Frame  128  may hold mirror  130 . It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments may dispense with frame  128 , however, in the preferred embodiment and best mode now contemplated, frame  128  is used as a structural protector for mirror. Without frame  128 , mirror  130  may receive damage from tree limbs, projecting shelves and the like as the user hikes, shops, walks, engages in normal activities and so on while wearing the pack. Obviously, the mirror  130  may be made more durable and light (for example, a metal or polymer mirror instead of a glass mirror), however, traditional glass mirrors may offer superior optical qualities for the reflection, and a good view of the infant will be more satisfactory to the adult wearer, while a good view of the adult will be more soothing to the infant. 
         [0090]    For the same reason, the larger the mirror is, the better it serves its purpose. Unlike bicycling mirrors which must be small enough to minimize wind resistance for a bike rider, a larger mirror is desirable in the present application. While small mirrors (under 3 inches in diameter) may be used in alternative embodiments, a larger mirror (roughly 3 inches or more in size, possibly 5 inches or more) may be desirable. While a round mirror is pictured, any shape of mirror may be used within the scope of the invention and claims. 
         [0091]    The arm should also be long enough to provide a comfortable focal distance to wearer, that is, a mirror quite close to the user&#39;s face (like a helmet, cap or glasses mirror) is more difficult to focus on. 
         [0092]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an attachment of a second embodiment of the device, more suitable to original equipment at the time of manufacture but still easy to retrofit, remove, move, rearrange and so on. Clamp  202 , tightened and loosened with a Phillips head screw, thumb screw, hex head fastener, or other screw  206 , may have an aperture  204  which may pass about a frame portion of a baby carrier, and  FIG. 3  is a side view diagram of the second embodiment of the device, showing a short section of baby carrier frame  310  to which the device attaches by means of clamp  308 . Arm  312  may be seen to provide a considerable extension of the device away from the back pack, a distance of 6 to 28 inches being a useful range. In terms of the eye of adult carrier personnel, a distance of roughly 6-10 inches from user&#39;s eye at an angle roughly 15 to 50 degrees forward from a line parallel to the user&#39;s eyes is most useful 
         [0093]    In addition to the embodiments pictured, any other type of fastener now known or later developed may be used: at least one clamp, at least one hook and loop fabric patch, at least one string, at least one snap, at least one socket, at least one button, at least one wire, at least one zip, at least one hook, and also combinations thereof. 
         [0094]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the mirror end of the device in certain embodiments, showing the convexity of the mirror. Flexible arm section  426  may attach or end in frame  428 , which holds mirror  430 , which may clearly be seen to be convex. In other embodiments, mirrors of greater or lesser convexity may be used, as may substantially flat mirrors. 
         [0095]      FIG. 5  is an orthogonal front side elevational view of the device in use, showing a baby carrier, carrier personnel (an adult) and carried personnel (a baby). In the presently preferred embodiment and best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, adult  502  may have the child carrier device  504  (either an original equipment model with the mirror original or a retrofit model with the mirror attached later as an accessory) worn on their back, while the infant/child  506  rides within the baby carrier. Fastener  508  may hold the carrier device frame  510  or may be secured to another portion of the baby carrier, such as the fabric, the shoulder straps for the adult, the safety straps (“seat belts”) for the infant, or any other portion. 
         [0096]    Flexible arm  526  may run from the fastener  508  to the mirror  530 , and it may be seen that the mirror is located at a distance from the baby, in fact, the mirror may be characterized as to the side, and slightly in front of the head of the adult wearer or even in front of the adult wearer&#39;s face (or at an intermediate angle) such that the adult may either see the mirror and thus the child at all times in their normal field of view, or the adult may see the mirror and thus the child merely by turning their head to a modest degree. It is worth drawing the distinction that a modest turn of the head to see the mirror, or no turning of the head at all, is an enormous improvement over mirror-less prior designs: for an adult wearing such a traditional mirror-less pack, the most extreme and even painful contortions of the head and neck absolutely will NOT provide a clear view of the child in the carrier, a fact which can cause extreme frustration for adult wearers. 
         [0097]      FIG. 6  is a top diagrammatic view showing the field of view of the carrier personnel, illustrating clearly this important advantage of the present invention, as does  FIG. 7  (another top diagrammatic view showing the field of view of the carried personnel, the infant, illustrating clearly the other important advantage of the present invention. 
         [0098]    Adult  602  depicted wearing child carrier device  604  with infant/child  606  safely riding therein could not normally see the child  606 . However,  FIGS. 6 and 7  clearly show the use of the device: fastener  608  holds flexible arm  626  which in turn holds mirror  630 . 
         [0099]    Due to the dimension, configuration and location of mirror  630 , the adult carrier&#39;s field of view  650  may be seen to be quite large, as illustrated by angle α of the field of view. The field of view includes upper portions of the baby carrier and further includes the upper portions of baby  606 , allowing worried adults to check on their baby at any time, allowing the adult to interact with the child at all times, and so on. Conversely and equally advantageous, adult  702  in  FIG. 7  is clearly visible to the infant/child/baby  706  because the mirror affords a “baby&#39;s field of view”  750  (seen to be wide angle of field of view A) which allows a full view of the adult&#39;s face. If the adult is a parent, the mirror with a view of the adult face may help the child feel more secure, and facilitates two way interaction of parent and child. 
         [0100]    To a limited extent, the device may also offer the advantages of a “rear-view” mirror of the bike helmet type, however, the two devices are not structurally interchangeable, even with different fasteners. The device of the present invention sits on a longer arm further out from the head of the adult wearer. If the device is closer like the mirror of a bicycle helmet, then the difficulty of focusing can present a challenge to clear vision. Worse, if a bicycle-helmet-style mirror is set close to the adult&#39;s head, the head itself partially blocks the rear view. Attached to the user&#39;s head, like devices mounted on glasses or helmets or caps, the device will move it&#39;s field of view as the user moves their head, rather than staying in a position in which the infant is clearly framed in view at all times. Furthermore, a bicycle helmet type device must present minimum wind drag. For that reason, a bicycle helmet type device must have a short arm, the mirror must be small, and the mirror must be as close as possible to the user&#39;s head. All of these structural factors prevent a bicycle mirror type device from providing a clear view of a baby in a backpack style carrier. In addition to that, the bicycle helmet or glasses mounted mirror type device must have either a bicycle helmet or pair of glasses for mounting. An adult who is not wearing either glasses or a bicycle helmet (for example, an adult hiking, grocery shopping and so on) will not be able to use the reference devices at all. Finally, an infant attempting to see the adult&#39;s face in a tiny glasses or bicycle mounted mirror (which is typically less then 2 cm. on a side) will see only a tiny fraction of the adult&#39;s face, such as one eyeball. The view of a single eyeball is unlikely to sooth an infant or provide meaningful two way interaction. 
         [0101]    The method of the invention allows the adult carrier wearer to place such infant in a backpack baby carrier, and then secure to such backpack baby carrier the mirror. Since the mirror is located at a first end of the arm and a second end of the arm is secured to the backpack baby carrier, and since the arm is long enough to extend from the backpack baby carrier to a mirror location a comfortable focal distance in front of the location of a head of a wearer of the backpack, the user may then care for the baby while carrying the baby on their back. 
         [0102]    The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.