Abstract:
A carrier for use with both younger and older infants, is capable of placing the legs of younger infants having a smaller build and older infants having a bigger build into a desired M-shaped leg posture. A means for opening and closing the leg space formed in a back support web body of the carrier, adapts the carrier for continued use as the younger infants grow into older infants.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2011-0049482, filed on May 25, 2011, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a carrier for use with both younger and older infants. The carrier can be used by younger infants having a smaller build and older infants having a bigger build. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A baby, a younger infant, and even older infants were typically moved around in a baby wrapper carried on a parent&#39;s back. In recent years, a baby carrier to allow a parent to carry his baby on his back or shoulder has come into wide use. 
     However, such baby carrier has the disadvantage of exposure to sunlight. The baby carriers that use a sunlight screen present additional problems of screens that cannot be optionally mounted on the baby carrier. These disadvantages may be avoided by a baby carrier disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0763412 owned by the present applicant. However, the techniques disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0763412 do not overcome the following problems. 
     An M-shaped leg posture is the recommended leg posture of a baby in a baby carrier. As used herein, the phrase “M-shaped leg posture” refers to a posture where a baby&#39;s knee is located above its hip. This leg posture allows a baby&#39;s hip to be tilted toward the front slightly arching its back, to minimize pressure from above, thereby reducing the risk of backbone damage. 
     For the purpose of achieving this posture, a user (for example, a baby&#39;s parent) has to purchase and use different size baby carriers based on age of the baby in days. 
     For example, a small-built younger infant, up to 100 days old (particularly as old as from 30 days to 100 days) should be placed in the M-shaped leg posture in a baby carrier. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a younger infant in an M-shaped leg position leaves spaces  31  on both sides of the lower part of a back support web body  30 . Shoulder supports  10  are lockstitched to both sides of the upper part of the back support with body  30 . A waist band  20  for fastening to a user&#39;s waist is lockstitched to the lower part of the back support web body  30 . 
     With this configuration, the legs of the younger infant in the carrier are placed in the M-shaped leg posture only when the lower part of the back support web body  30  supports the hip of the small-built younger infant. 
     Since the legs of the younger infant placed in the M-shaped leg posture are placed in spaces  31  formed in both sides of the lower part of the back support web body  30 , it is possible for the user to move with the younger infant in the baby carrier. 
     A bigger older infant, older than 100 days, should also be in an M-shaped leg posture in the baby carrier. However, when such a big-built older infant is put into the baby carrier having the same back support web body  30  sized for a younger infant, injury to the baby may occur. Since the lower part of the back support web body  30  is narrower than the hip of the older infant and the legs of the older infant stand up, there is a risk of backbone damage, or dislocation of a hip joint, and so on. 
     In order to avoid this problem, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the M-shaped leg leading spaces are removed from the back support web body  40 . The shoulder supports  10  are lockstitched to both sides of the upper part of the back support web body  40 . The waist band  20  for fastening to the user&#39;s waist is lockstitched to the lower part of the back support web body  40 . The hips and some of the thigh of the big-built older infant can then be supported in the M-shaped leg posture. 
     The problem remains that the user has to buy at least two different baby carriers, one for use with a younger infant, and one for use with the older infant, as the small-built younger infant grows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier that can be used with both younger and older infants, maintaining an M-shaped leg posture for the different sized infants. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a carrier for use with both younger and older infants, including a back support web body which supports the back of a baby and has an M-shaped leg leading space formed in each side of the lower part thereof. A waist band is attached to the bottom of the back support web body for fastening to a user&#39;s waist. A space opening/closing member which opens or closes the M-shaped leg leading space, is formed in each side of the lower part of the back support web body. 
     The space opening/closing member includes a hip supporting part, made of flexible material, with its upper and lower centers fixed to the outer side of the back support web body and the waist band. A pair of movable rails are respectively fixed to the back support web body and the waist band to which both sides of the hip supporting part are respectively fixed. A pair of horizontal moving connectors which are respectively fixed to the upper and lower parts of the hip supporting part, are slidably movable to allow the hip supporting part to be folded. The connectors have connecting projections forming a horizontal moving space, with a lead-in groove. 
     Preferably, the carrier further includes a binding member which fixes the hip supporting part in a position where the hip supporting part is unfolded or doubly folded to open or close the M-shaped leg leading space formed in both sides of the lower part of the back supporting body. 
     Preferably, the carrier further includes a space maintenance binding member which fixes the hip supporting part at a position where the edges of both sides of the hip supporting part are doubly folded to open the M-shaped leg leading space formed in both sides of the lower part of the back supporting body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exact nature of this invention, as well as the objects and advantages thereof, will become readily apparent from consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing a conventional younger infant carrier used for younger infants from birth till 100 days or so; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing a conventional older infant carrier used for older infants above 100 days; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing a carrier used for both of younger and older infants according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of a back support web body of the carrier according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an open position of an M-shaped leg space formed in the back support web body of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a closing position of an M-shaped leg space formed in the back support web body of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a closed position of an M-shaped leg space formed in the back support web of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing the younger infant M-shaped leg space formed in the back support web body opened to allow a younger infant having a small build to take an M-shaped leg posture; 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing the younger infant M-shaped leg space formed in the back support web body closed to allow an older infant having a big build to take an M-shaped leg posture; 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body; 
         FIG. 11  is a view showing main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body; 
         FIG. 12  is a view showing main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body; 
         FIG. 13  is a view showing main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body; 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body; 
         FIG. 15  is a view showing main parts of a space maintenance binding member provided in the back support web body; and 
         FIG. 16  is a view showing main parts of a space maintenance binding member provided in the back support web body. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, a baby placed in a carrier usable with both younger and older infants, according to the present invention, are generally divided into a small-built younger infant being about 30 days to 100 days old, and a big-built older infant over 100 days. 
       FIG. 3  shows a carrier usable for both younger and older infants, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a back support web body  310  of a carrier according to the embodiment.  FIGS. 5 to 7  show phased closing of an M-shaped leg leading space formed in the back support web body of  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 8  shows the carrier in use, with a younger infant. The M-shaped leg space  110  formed in the back support web body  310  opened to allow a younger infant having a small build to take an M-shaped leg posture.  FIG. 9  shows the carrier in use with the younger infant M-shaped leg space  110  formed in the back support web body  310  closed to allow an older infant having a big build to take an M-shaped leg posture.  FIG. 10  shows main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body according to a first example.  FIG. 11  shows main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body according to another example.  FIG. 12  shows main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body according to another example.  FIG. 13  shows main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body according to yet another example.  FIG. 14  shows main parts of a binding member provided in the back support web body according to another example.  FIG. 15  shows main parts of a space maintenance binding member provided in the back support web body according to another example.  FIG. 16  shows main parts of a space maintenance binding member provided in the back support web body according to another example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a younger/older infant carrier according to the present invention generally includes a back support web body  100 , a waist band  200 , a space opening/closing member  300  and a pair of shoulder supports  700 . 
     The back support web body  100  serves to support the back of a baby. For a younger infant, M-shaped leg space  110  is formed in each side of the lower part thereof in such a manner that a small-built younger infant can take an M-shaped leg posture when the infant is put in the carrier. 
     The waist band  200  for fastening around a user&#39;s waist, is attached to the bottom of the back support web body  100  so that the baby can be supported by the back support web body  100 . A female buckle  212  and a male buckle  214  are connected to the ends of the waist band  200 , respectively, so that the waist band  200  can be fastened around a user&#39;s waist. 
     The pair of shoulder supports  700  each have one end connected to one end of the back supporting body  100  and the other end connected to the other end of the back support web body  100 , so that the user can move with the baby put in the carrier. 
     The space opening/closing member  300  serves to open/close the M-shaped leg space  110 , which is formed in each side of the lower part of the back support web body  100 , in phases. Since the M-shaped leg space  110  can be optionally opened or closed in phases with growth of the small-built younger infant into a big-built older infant, this space opening/closing member  300  allows both the younger and older infant to be placed into an M-shaped leg posture in the same carrier. 
     Such a space opening/closing member  300  includes a hip supporting part  310  which is made of flexible material and has its upper and lower centers fixed to the outer side of the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 , respectively. A pair of movable rails  311  are respectively fixed to the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200  to which both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are respectively fixed. A pair of horizontal moving connectors  319  which are respectively fixed to the upper and lower parts of the hip support web part  310 , are slidably movable to allow the hip support web part  310  to be folded. The moving connectors have connecting projections  315  ( FIG. 4 ) to enclose a space  313 . A partial opening is formed in projections  315  by a lead-in groove  317 . 
     The hip support web part  310  is preferably made of cotton material. A shape retention pad  321  may be overlaid and lockstitched near both edges of the hip supporting part  310  so that the hip supporting part  310  made of the cotton material will not lose its shape when supporting a baby. 
     Such a shape retention pad  321  may be a combination of memory foam having high elasticity, such as a sponge, and an inflexible foamed plastic hardboard. 
     In order to fix the movable rails  311  to the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 , respectively, the movable rails  311  are wrapped by a connection fabric  312  ( FIG. 4 ). An end portion of the connection fabric  312  is lockstitched to the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 . In this case, although not shown in the figures, a connecting rod is integrated with the movable rails  311  and is lockstitched with the connection fabric  312  so that the movable rails  311  wrapped by the connection fabric  312  cannot be moved within the connection fabric  312 . 
     The horizontal moving connectors  319  are lockstitched and fixed to the rear side of the hip supporting part  310  by a connection band  318  which is locked in a locking groove of connection pieces  316  integrally formed in the connecting projections  315  of the horizontal moving connectors  319 . 
     A process of opening the younger infant M-shaped leg space  110  formed in both sides of the lower part of the back support web body  100  in phases using the above-configured space opening/closing member  300  for both a younger and older infant will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the carrier support with the younger infant M-shaped leg leading space  110  formed in both sides of the lower part of the back support web body  100  opened by sliding the horizontal moving connectors  319  on moving rails  311  to the center of the moving rails  311 . Non-lockstitched edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are doubly folded, so that a small-built younger infant can take an M-shaped leg posture in the carrier. 
     In this case, the doubly-folded edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are as wide as the shape retention pad  321 , and the doubly-folded edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are folded such that inner sides of the shape retention pad  321  near the doubly-folded edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  can make contact with each other. 
       FIG. 8  shows the carrier adjusted for a small-built younger infant, with the infant positioned in the carrier. 
     The horizontal moving connectors  319 , fixed near an edge of the back side of the hip supporting part  310 , by virtue of the weight of the small-built younger infant, pull the upper and lower moving rails  311  in a direction perpendicular to the horizontally-arranged moving rails  311  and lock the moving connectors  319  in place. 
       FIG. 6  shows a carrier support web where the younger infant M-shaped leg space  110  formed in both sides of the lower part of the back support web body  100  is about half opened. The horizontal moving connectors  319 , fixed to the doubly-folded edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310 , are moved towards the outside of the moving rails  311 . A middle-built baby between a small-built younger infant and a big-built older infant can take an M-shaped leg posture in a carrier so adjusted. 
       FIG. 7  shows a carrier support web where the M-shaped leg leading space  110  formed in both sides of the lower part of the back support web body  100  is closed by further sliding the horizontal moving connectors  319 , to the outside of the moving rails  311 . A big-built older infant can take an M-shaped leg posture in the carrier so adjusted. 
       FIG. 9  shows a carrier adjusted for a big-built younger infant with a baby located in the carrier. 
     In this embodiment, a binding member  400  (see  FIGS. 10 to 14 ) is further provided to fix the hip supporting part  310  at a position where the edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are doubly folded so that a younger or older infant can take an M-shaped leg posture in the carrier, thereby providing complete binding of the folded hip supporting part  310 . 
     This binding member  400  may be implemented with different configurations. 
     The binding member  400  may have a button structure of different configurations. First, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the button structure of the binding member  400  includes a connection strap  401  having its one end fixed to an edge of the outer side of the hip supporting part  310 . A male button  403  is fixed to the other end of the connection strap  401 . A female button  405  is fixed to the back support web body  100 . 
     The female button  405  may be fixed to a finishing fabric  404  whose one side is lockstitched along the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 . The reason for fixing the female button  405  to the finishing fabric  404  is to conceal the moving rails  311 , and the horizontal moving connectors  319 , and so on, thereby providing an aesthetic appearance. The female and male buttons may be positioned in consideration of a user&#39;s taste and convenience. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the button structure of the binding member  400  may be a simplified structure where the male button  403  is directly fixed to the hip supporting part  310  without being fixed to the connection strap  401 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the binding member  400  may include a connection strap  401  having its one end fixed to an edge of the outer side of the hip supporting part  310 . A stud  407  is fixed to the other end of the connection strap  401 , and a stud hole  409  is formed in the back support web body  100 . The waist band  200  (not shown) fixed with both sides of the hip supporting part  310  is disposed to correspond to a position where the hip supporting part  310  is unfolded or doubly folded. 
     The stud hole  409  is preferably formed in a finishing fabric  404  whose one side is lockstitched along the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the binding member  400  may include a fixing loop  411  fixed to an edge of the outer side of the hip supporting part  310 , and a hook  413  which is fixed to the back support web body  100 . 
     The waist band  200  is fixed to both sides of the hip supporting part  310  and is disposed to correspond to a position where the hip supporting part  310  is unfolded or doubly folded. 
     Here, the fixing loop  411  is preferably made of elastic material and tightly fixed to the hook  413  by virtue of its elasticity. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the hook  413  may be an L shape or a stud shape, and is preferably formed in a finishing fabric  404  whose one side is lockstitched along the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the binding member  400  may include a male Velcro tape  415  provided on an edge of the outer side of the hip support part  310 , and a female Velcro tape  417  fixed to the back support web body  100 . The waist band  200  is fixed to both sides of the hip supporting part  310  and is disposed to correspond to a position where the hip supporting part  310  is unfolded or doubly folded. 
     The female Velcro tape  417  is preferably attached to a finishing fabric  404  whose one side is lockstitched along the back support web body  100  and the waist band  200 . 
     In a different embodiment, a space maintenance binding member  500  (see  FIGS. 15 and 16 ) may be further provided to fix the hip supporting part  310  at a position where the edges of both sides of the hip supporting part  310  are doubly folded to contact each other so that a small-built younger infant can take an M-shaped leg posture in the carrier. 
     This space maintenance binding member  500  may be implemented in different configurations. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the space maintenance binding member  500  may include a zipper  510  lockstitched along both sides of a contact portion when the hip supporting part  310  is folded. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the space maintenance binding member  500  may include a pair of binding strings  520  which are respectively provided in both sides of a contact portion when the hip supporting part  310  is folded. Here, a pair of upper binding strings  520  and a pair of lower binding strings may be provided to further increase binding efficiency. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments are provided for the purpose of illustrating the invention, not in a limitative sense. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.