Patent Publication Number: US-2002011503-A1

Title: Baby carrier

Description:
CLAIMING FOREIGN PRIORITY  
       [0001] The applicant claims and requests a foreign priority, through the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, based on a patent application filed in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) with the filing date of Jul. 21, 2000, with the patent application number 2000-0041864, by the applicant. (See the Attached Declaration)  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a baby carrier, and more particularly, to a baby carrier which enables a baby to be taken on a baby caretaker&#39;s back such as a baby mother&#39;s back at the posture of the baby sitting on a chair, to thereby reduce burdens of the baby caretaker such as the mother of the baby.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In general, most of baby carriers which are used for taking a baby on a baby caretaker&#39;s back includes a cover sheet wrapping both bodies of a baby and a baby caretaker, and a binding strap wound round the cover sheet, for providing a binding force for binding the cover sheet.  
       [0006] Such a conventional baby carrier enables a baby caretaker to take a baby on his or her back comfortably with a comparatively small force, since the baby adheres to the baby caretaker. However, since the baby enclosed with the cover sheet is bound on the baby caretaker&#39;s waist with the binding strap in use, it is not convenient for the baby caretaker to use the baby carrier. Further, the baby can fall down from the baby caretaker&#39;s back at an instant time when the baby is taken on the baby caretaker&#39;s back.  
       [0007] A baby carrier shown in FIG. 1 and disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 99-73529 includes a wrapper  10  capable of enclosing a baby, a hip supporting belt (not shown) whose both ends are combined with the wrapper  10 , to thereby support the hip of the baby, and shoulder belts  30  which are respectively provided on both ends of the wrapper  10 , and which are bound mutually by a binder  31 . In particular, the wrapper  10  includes an elastic supporter  11  for elastically supporting the neck of the baby to smoothly support the neck of the baby. Also, a saddle pants portion  12  having flexibility is provided in the inner surface of the wrapper  10  so that the baby can be stably supported.  
       [0008] However, in the case of the above conventional baby carrier, the weight of the baby is concentrated into the hip support belt, and the saddle pants portion presses over the thighs and the waist of the baby, to thereby have the baby feel uncomfortable. Further, when the baby is inserted into the saddle pants portion, the legs of the baby should be widened. In addition, a variety of articles to be carried basically by a baby caretaker should be carried separately.  
       [0009] Korean patent laid-open publication Nos. 97-61142 and 99-1143, disclose a technology entitled “Waist bag combined with baby holder,” respectively in which a baby is sat in the body of a baby holder combined with a waist bag, and simultaneously a simple article can be accommodated.  
       [0010] However, in the case of the “waist bag combined with baby holder,” since a baby caretaker is somewhat distant from a baby, the baby caretaker should burden a heavy workload. Also, since the baby caretaker should always embrace a baby, the baby caretaker is easy to be tired when he or she is out or works for a long time. Further, since the weight of the baby is concentrated on the inside of the thighs of the baby, the baby may feel uncomfortable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baby carrier that is designed to reduce the burden of the weight of a baby.  
       [0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a baby carrier that enables a baby to sit therein psychologically stable and comfortably due to a structure that a baby adheres closely to a baby caretaker.  
       [0013] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a baby carrier that can be used as a knapsack when the baby carrier is not used for taking a baby on a baby caretaker&#39;s back, and simple articles can be accommodated even when the baby carrier is used for taking a baby on a baby caretaker&#39;s back.  
       [0014] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a baby carrier comprising: a baby wrapper having a back supporter in which the back of a baby is supported, a bottom sheet extended from the back supporter and in which the hip of the baby contacts, and auxiliary supporters each connected to the bottom sheet, for supporting the thighs of the baby; and shoulder straps for mutually connecting the back supporter and the auxiliary supporters and hooking the mutually connected straps on the shoulders of a baby caretaker.  
       [0015] Connection belts for connecting the shoulder straps mutually are formed in the middle of the shoulder straps. Safety belts connected to the shoulder straps are sewed around the lower-center of the baby wrapper.  
       [0016] A sack and an auxiliary pocket each having a reception space are additionally formed in the back supporter of the baby wrapper.  
       [0017] The auxiliary supporters are connected by gap adjustment straps so that a gap with respect to the back supporter or the bottom sheet can be adjusted. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018] The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional baby carrier;  
     [0020]FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a baby carrier according to the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 2B is a bottom view showing a baby carrier according to the present invention;  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the baby carrier shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;  
     [0023]FIG. 4A is a side view showing the unfolded state of the baby carrier according to the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 4B is a side view showing the folded state of the baby carrier according to the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 5 schematically shows the state of using the baby carrier shown in FIG. 2;  
     [0026]FIG. 6 schematically shows a distribution state of the baby&#39;s weight during use of the baby carrier shown in FIG. 5;  
     [0027]FIG. 7 is a schematically perspective view showing a baby carrier according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0028]FIG. 8 schematically shows the state of using the baby carrier shown in FIG. 7. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0030] Referring to FIG. 2, a baby carrier  100  according to the present invention includes a baby wrapper  110  having a back supporter  112  in which the back of a baby is supported to have the baby feel comfortable as if the baby sits on a chair, a sheet  116  extended from the back supporter  112  so that the hip of the baby contacts, and auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b  connected to the sheet  116 , for supporting the thighs of the baby. Also, the baby carrier includes a reception portion  130  which can accommodate nursing bottles and diapers, and supporters  150  for maintaining a baby to be stable at the state where a baby is taken on a baby caretaker&#39;s back.  
     [0031] As shown in FIG. 4B, the baby carrier  100  becomes a state where a baby can be taken on a baby caretaker&#39;s back in the case that the baby wrapper  110  is folded into the reception portion  130 . However, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the case that the baby carrier is not used for caretaking a baby, the baby wrapper  110  is unfolded from the reception portion  130 , so that the baby carrier  100  becomes a state where articles can be contained in the reception portion  130 .  
     [0032] The back supporter  112  is formed in the baby wrapper  110 , and the bottom sheet  114  is formed in the lower portion of the back supporter  112 . The back supporter  112  and the bottom sheet  114  form a space where a baby can sit therein. At the portion where the bottom sheet  114  is folded are provided the sheet  116  for supporting the hip of the baby and the auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b  for supporting the thighs of the baby.  
     [0033] The reception portion  130  includes a sack  132  forming a reception space together with the back supporter  112  of the baby wrapper  110 . The sack  132  further includes one or more auxiliary pockets  134 .  
     [0034] The supporter  150  includes safety belts  156   a  and  156   b  which are sewed on the bottom sheet  114 . Hooks S 1  and S 2  are formed in the respective ends of the safety belts  156   a  and  156   b , which are respectively connected to rings S 3  and S 4  (see FIG. 3) provided in shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b.    
     [0035] In the case of connection belts  154   a  and  154   b , a male holder H 1  is formed in each one end thereof and a female holder H 2  is formed in the other end thereof. Accordingly, the connection belts  154   a  and  154   b  are respectively connected to the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b . In this case, the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b  are prevented from slipping down from either shoulder of the baby caretaker.  
     [0036] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2B, the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b  are preferably constituted in the same directions as those of forces Fa and Fb working in the transverse direction with respect to the bottom sheet  114  when a baby caretaker takes a baby on his or her back. In this case, since the weight of the baby is distributed on the bottom sheet  114  uniformly, a baby caretaker feels a relatively small burden during the time when he or she takes a baby on his or her back.  
     [0037]FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the baby carrier shown in FIGS.  2 A, which shows a sack  132  and an auxiliary pocket  134  in the reception portion  130 .  
     [0038] A tightening strap  136  is provided in the upper side of the sack  132 . An adjustment unit  137  is connected to the tightening strap  136 . Thus, when the tightening strap  136  is tightened or released, the opening of the reception portion can be opened and closed.  
     [0039] Also, the auxiliary pocket  134  is formed separately from the sack  132  with a relatively small size in the external middle of the sack  132 . The auxiliary pocket  134  plays a role of containing nursing bottles or diapers during the time when a baby caretaker is out while taking a baby on his or her back with the baby wrapper  110 .  
     [0040] Also, adjustment belts  138   a  and  138   b  are provided in the auxiliary pocket  134  and connected with adjustment strips  139   a  and  139   b  formed in the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b . In this case, the adjustment belts  138   a  and  138   b  can be adjusted in length and the baby wrapper  110  can also be adjusted depending upon the body shape of a baby. Accordingly, in the case that a baby is taken on a baby caretaker&#39;s back, the baby can adhere mutually more closely to the baby caretaker.  
     [0041] A hook-shaped magic tape  162   a  is attached on a belt  160  sewed in the upper-center of the back supporter  112 , and a loop-shaped magic tape  162   b  is attached on the auxiliary pocket  134  to which the hook-shaped magic tape  162   a  is attached.  
     [0042] Referring to FIG. 4A, the baby carrier  100  of the unfolded state enables the back supporter  112  of the baby wrapper  110  is inflated externally, to thereby further widen the reception space  200  in the reception portion  130 . Thus, the sheet  116  in the baby wrapper  110  is unfolded around a folding line  118  formed on the bottom sheet  114  as soon as the back supporter  112  is inflated, to then form a plane integrated with the bottom sheet  114 . In this case, since articles can be accommodated in the reception space  200  formed in the sack  132  of the reception portion  130 , the baby carrier can be used as a knapsack.  
     [0043] Referring to FIG. 4B, the baby carrier  100  of the folded state constitutes a state where the sheet  116  folded toward the reception space  200  in the reception portion  130  around the folding line  118  together with the bottom sheet  114 , in which case a baby can sit on the sheet  116 .  
     [0044] A border is formed on the edge of the sheet  116  by the folding line  118 . The sheet  116  is lengthened due to the weight of the baby, to thereby form a catenary curve, which distributes the load of the baby and supports the thighs of the baby.  
     [0045] Referring to FIG. 5 schematically showing the use state of the baby carrier, a baby B is sat on the back supporter  112  and the sheet  116  of the baby wrapper  110 . The connection belts  154   a  and  154   b  go across the chest of a baby&#39;s caretaker M and mutually connect both the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b  by a male holder H 1  and a female holder H 2  so that the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b  are prevented from slipping down from the shoulders of the baby caretaker. Also, the safety belts  156   a  and  156   b  in the supporter  150  pass through between the legs of the baby and hooks S 1  and S 2  in the safety belts  156   a  ad  156   b  are combined with rings S 3  and S 4  provided on the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b , to thereby prevent the baby B from falling down from the baby carrier.  
     [0046]FIG. 6 schematically shows a distribution state of the baby&#39;s weight during use of the baby carrier shown in FIG. 5.  
     [0047] In the case that the baby&#39;s caretaker M wears a baby carrier, the weight of the baby B works on the wide curve of the back supporter  112  and the bottom sheet  114 . The loads indicated by f 1 , f 2 , . . . , and fn of the baby B are transferred to the shoulder strap  152   a  as the external forces F 1  and F 2 . As a result, an equilibrium state is maintained and enables the baby B to closely adhere to the baby caretaker M. As the baby B closely adheres to the baby caretaker M, a distance between the load center of the baby B and the baby caretaker M is short. Accordingly, since a coupling moment become small, external forces F 1  and F 2  burdened by the baby caretaker M become small. Thus, since a much smaller force is consumed during the time when the baby caretaker M works after caretaking the baby B, the fatigue of the baby caretaker M is reduced. Also, since the baby B adheres to the baby caretaker M, the baby B becomes psychologically stable.  
     [0048] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 showing another embodiment of the present invention, a baby carrier includes a sheet  116  which has a concave structure into which a baby can be loaded.  
     [0049] Also, auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b  are sewed on each one edge of the sheet  116  so that the thighs of the baby can be supported. The other edges of the auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b  and the sheet  116  are connected with adjustment straps  140  and  141  so that the gap between the auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b  and the sheet  116  can be adjusted mutually. In this case, the adjustment straps  140  and  141  can be adjusted according to the body shape of the baby.  
     [0050] Also, a waist belt  180  is connected to the auxiliary supporters  119   a  and  119   b . The waist belt  180  is worn on the waist of the baby caretaker to prevent movement of the baby carrier. Accordingly, the baby caretaker can be freely at work even when he or she wears the baby carrier.  
     [0051] Reference numerals  201  and  202  denote connection belts having the same functions as those of the connection belts  154   a  and  154   b  in the previous embodiment. The connection belts  201  and  202  are connected to shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b , to thereby prevent the shoulder straps  152   a  and  152   b  from slipping down from the shoulders of the baby caretaker.  
     [0052] Reference numeral  205  denotes a protector for preventing a pressure when hooks of the connection belts  201  and  202  contact the body of the baby caretaker.  
     [0053] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It is apparent to those who are skilled in the art that there are many modifications within the technical scope and spirit of the invention.  
     [0054] As described above, the bay carrier according to the present invention has the following merits and advantages.  
     [0055] First, at the state when a baby is strapped to a baby caretaker&#39;s back, the tensile strength works on the sheet and the back supporter by the shoulder straps and the weight of the baby, to thereby form a catenary curve in the sheet and the back supporter. Thus, the weight of the baby is distributed uniformly, and the baby adheres closely to the baby caretaker&#39;s back. As a result, a coupling moment occurring when the baby caretaker is at work becomes smaller, which enables the baby caretaker to consume a much smaller amount of force and burden when he or she takes the baby on his or her back.  
     [0056] Second, the structure that the baby adheres closely to the baby caretaker&#39;s back provides the baby with a sense of psychological stability.  
     [0057] Third, the baby carrier can be used as a knapsack when the baby carrier is not used for taking a baby on a baby caretaker&#39;s back.  
     [0058] Fourth, the conventional baby carrier requires that the legs of the baby are widened to enable a baby caretaker to insert the baby into a saddle pants portion. Using the baby carrier according to the present invention, a baby caretaker easily carries the shoulder straps of the baby carrier on his or her shoulder after a baby is laid or positioned on the baby wrapper at the state where the baby wrapper is unfolded, with a result that the baby can be easily taken on the baby caretaker&#39;s back at a time.  
     [0059] Finally, the baby carrier according to the present invention can be applied depending upon the body shape of a baby by adjusting adjustment straps.