Patent Publication Number: US-6213362-B1

Title: Sling-type infant carrier

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application 60/060,950 filed Oct. 6, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to soft, sling-type infant carriers designed to be worn across the user&#39;s front upper body. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     Human survival can in part be attributed to the ability of adults to carry infants using their hands. This ability has allowed our species to protect our vulnerable children in the event of predation or other dangers. As humans became involved in foraging and eventually agriculture the necessity to carry children in other ways became paramount. Women as primary care takers needed to be able to use their hands and perform necessary tasks while carrying their infants. In order for work to be accomplished mothers needed to be able to have hands free. The infants needed the security and the ability to nurse as this work was being accomplished. 
     Today, the ability to carry infants is seen as an opportunity for adults to do necessary tasks, while also nurturing their child. Adults have work to do and infant carriers enable this work to be accomplished with both hands. Infants genetically are still living in the distant past and emotionally need the direct connection to parental security that carrying offers. 
     Prior art for carrying infants has been primarily broken into two approaches: vertical carriers and horizontal or sling-type carriers. Research today suggests that horizontal carriers are best for young infants that have not yet acquired the musculature to remain seated. Vertical carriers place a large amount of stress on the vertebral column of young infants. The infant&#39;s muscular development is simply not able to support the head and upper torso. 
     The alternative to this approach is a sling-type carrier. Being a more womb-like environment weight is distributed to a larger surface area. Early approaches to slings have focused on relatively wide blankets of fabric that wrap around the wearer&#39;s torso. These slings are bulky and difficult to wear and young infants tend to get lost inside the large cloth sling. 
     These slings have tended to utilize a pair of rings or the like to fasten the sling about the upper body of the wearer. This approach to fastening the sling has allowed the slings to use large fabric blanks, but has tended to keep the slings bulky and blanket-like. The full body wrapping effect of these slings is difficult to wear and unappealing to many adults. 
     Recently, an approach has been made to increase the usability of slings for both infants and adults (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,925). There are several limiting factors in this approach as well: the fabric is woven so that the sling size and shape is still on the large and bulky side, the shoulder pad is narrow creating ineffective weight distribution, the baby carrier does not offer structural padding at the upper edges of the sling. 
     Prior art has been forced by design to use woven fabrics that do not offer stretch. This forces the manufacturer to produce a sling that is of a maximum size. This has made them very large for newborn infants who tend to appear lost in the large fabric blanks. 
     The present invention&#39;s use of stretch fabrics has allowed for a sling that starts out small and expands with the infant. As the infant grows the sling is able to stretch in the cradle area beneath structural straps allowing the sling to get larger. This sling supports the infant&#39;s development with the stretchable fabric by allowing the newborn to be in a fetal position and still be in visual contact with the adult. As the infant develops they are able to sit up and look out, observe and participate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A sling-type infant carrier with the shoulder pad fixedly attached to the sling body and to an adjustable strap. The sling body assembly consists of a body, two bands, two structural straps and batting. The two bands are differing in length with the band positioned closest the wearer shorter in length than that surrounding the infant. This provides a tailored fit for the adult and a cradle for the infant. 
     The top bands are fixedly attached surrounding the batting material or the like. The padded top bands offer the infant&#39;s head support and protection. In addition the padded bands and the structural straps give the sling body assembly a structure not found in prior art. The structural straps offer the sling body assembly rigidity along the upper horizontal margin to both limit the amount of stretch for the sling body and also to create a solid structure for carrying the infant. 
     The sling body assembly&#39;s shorter back top band and sewn in gathering creates a sling that contains a shorter uppermost length adjacent the wearer&#39;s body. The longer front top band allows for a bow shaped cradle while the short top band forms a tailored fit on the adult. The bow shaped cradle creates room for the infant. The tailored fit about the adult facilitates for unobstructed contact with the infant. The sling body and bands are constructed of fabrics capable of stretching that are soft, strong and flexible. For colder climates and weather fabrics, such as, polyester fleece can be used to impart the ideal combination of strength, stretch and warmth. Warmer regions or seasons can utilize thinner, cooler fabrics. The fabric&#39;s stretch characteristics can be accommodated by varying the sling body size. Very stretchy fabrics require a smaller sling body size. 
     The sling body assembly is fixedly attached to a substantially wide shoulder pad assembly. The direct attachment of the sling body assembly to the substantially wide shoulder pad allows for greater weight distribution than can be accomplished by using the Knittel method (Pat. No. 4,757,925) of mounting a shoulder pad onto a strap. The pad is designed for the left shoulder to place the infant&#39;s head close to the wearer&#39;s heart. The pad can also be designed to be for use on the right shoulder if needed. Future possibilities can be to use hardware to allow for removably fixing the shoulder pad for either right or left shoulder usage. Hardware can be used that also allows for front strap length adjustment and front buckling/unbuckling. 
     The shoulder pad cover can be constructed of a fabric that is strong and flexible. The shoulder pad contains a padding material. The shoulder pad assembly is fixedly attached on its rear side to an adjustable strap. The adjustable strap is adjustably attached to the rear side of the sling body assembly. Future possibility is a strap adjustment that offers the option of using either shoulder for support. 
     The main object of the invention is to create a sling-type infant carrier that is of improved fit and comfort for the infant and the adult wearer. The preferred embodiment of the infant sling contains: a soft, stretch fabric for the sling body, padded upper bands and structural straps for comfort and support. 
     Improved fit for the infant is achieved by the use of stretch fabrics, differing length padded top bands and gatherings of the sling. The stretch of the fabric is controlled by the combination of the fabric blank size, the padded top bands, the gatherings, and the structural straps. The top bands and the structural straps do not allow for significant stretch to occur along the top margin of the sling body. Thus, the sling body has expansion ability below the top margin and the sling has the necessary amount of strength and integrity. 
     The body of the sling starts out small and expands as the infant develops from a fetal position to a sitting position as the infant&#39;s musculature is able. The newborn is held comfortably in a womb type position and the adult can see and connect with the infant. As the infant grows the sling is able to stretch in the cradle area beneath the structural straps, allowing the sling to comfortably support a larger infant in seated positions. 
     Another object of the present invention was to create an infant carrier in which the infant and adult can be in visual contact with each other. The bow shaped cradle and padded top bands create a carrier that is open along the top edges to allow for eye contact and easy access with the adult. The infant is readily accessible for the adult—physically and visually. 
     Another object of the present invention was to provide an infant carrier that was comfortable for the adult. The direct attachment of the shoulder pad assembly to the sling body assembly has an advantage for comfortably carrying the infant&#39;s weight. The shoulder pad has a larger area of effective weight distribution than can be accomplished by using a shoulder strap mounted shoulder pad. 
     Another object of the present invention was to provide an infant carrier that was simple to use. The single adjustment on the strap means is all that is necessary for properly setting up the carrier. The sling body assembly is tailored to fit both the infant and the adult and does not require any adjustment at all. 
     Another object of the present invention was to create an infant carrier that both men and women feel comfortable wearing. Prior art slings have tended to be primarily suited to be worn by women. The tailored body of the sling and the lack of the blanket-like effect clearly make the present invention acceptable to both men and women. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use with a newborn infant; 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use taken from the back view of the user. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in an open position; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the shoulder pad means illustrating attachment to the sling body means with cutaways illustrating the padding in the shoulder pad means and batting material in the top bands; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the sling body means illustrating attachment to the adjustment strap; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back top band; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sling body; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front top band; 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail view of the sling body means illustrating attachment to an adjustable buckle; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the infant carrier fitted with two buckles for removably attaching the shoulder pad means to the sling body means, shoulder pad may be used for either shoulder. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the infant carrier in use with a larger infant illustrating expansion of sling body size. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Drawing Reference Numerals Worksheet 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 10 
                 carrier apparatus 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 sling body 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 front top band 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 back top band 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 sling body means 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 front structural strap 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 back structural strap 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 shoulder pad means 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 shoulder pad cover 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 shoulder pad attachment 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 shoulder pad attachment 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 sling body attachment 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 support strap, long 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 bar slide 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 common loop 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 support strap, short 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 gathers 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 batting 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 foam insert 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 shoulder pad, outer margin 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 shoulder pad, inside margin 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 adjustable buckle-male 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 non-adjustable buckle-male 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 buckle-female 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An infant carrier  10  includes a sling body  12  with its padded top bands  14 , 16 , structural straps  18 , 19 , a shoulder pad  20  and strap assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1,  1 A, and  2 . The sling body  12 , padded top bands  14 , 16  and structural straps are sewn together. The top bands encase a padding material, such as batting (See FIG.  3 ). The arrangement of the sling body  12 , the top bands  14 , 16  and the structural straps  18 , 19  is such that the sling body assembly  17  attains an arcuate configuration (See FIG.  1 ). 
     The sling body assembly&#39;s shape is achieved by using a shorter back top band  16  than front top band  14 . The arcuate configuration is also achieved by utilizing gathers  40  sewn into the sling body during the attachment of the top bands (See FIG.  2 ). The structural straps  18 , 19  are sewn on after the sling body, top band and gathering process (See FIGS.  1  and  2 ). The arcuate configuration of the sling creates a tailored fit surrounding the adult&#39;s torso. It also creates a cradle for the infant (FIGS.  1  and  10 ). 
     The sling body  12  can be made of a fabric that is capable of a significant amount of stretch (FIG.  10 ). The top bands  14 , 16  may be made of a fabric that may or may not stretch. The top bands  14 , 16  if using a stretch fabric may use the fabric in such a way that the stretch of the fabric is reduced. The structural straps  18 , 19  can be made of any strong strap such as grosgrain ribbon, tapestry tape or the like. The structural straps need to have an insignificant amount of stretch and have considerable strength 
     The padded top bands  14 , 16  give the sling body assembly  17  a structure not found in prior art. The structure allows for ease of baby placement within the sling. The structure also leaves the sling open along the top margin for the adult and infant to have visual contact with each other (See FIGS.  1  and  10 ). The infant is reassured with direct contact with the adult. 
     The shoulder pad assembly  20  is constructed of a cover  22  sewn to enclose a padding material  44 . The shoulder pad assembly contains an arcuate shape with the longest peripheral axis being along the outside margin  50  (See FIGS. 1,  1 A and  2 ). The shorter margin  52  is closest to the wearer&#39;s neck. The design allows for as wide a shoulder pad as possible to be utilized for maximum weight distribution. 
     The shoulder pad assembly  20  is fixedly attached to the sling body assembly with shoulder pad attachment  24 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sling body assembly is folded to fit into the attachment  24  and sewn. The back side of the shoulder pad assembly  20  is attached to the shoulder strap  30  with shoulder pad attachment  26 . These three layers are sewn together. The arrangement of the shoulder pad assembly being sewn directly to the sling body assembly  17  creates an infant carrier that positions the infant&#39;s head close to the wearer&#39;s heart. This placement creates a restful environment for the infant. The direct attachment of the shoulder pad assembly  20  to the sling body assembly also allows for greater weight distribution than can be accomplished by using a shoulder strap mounted shoulder pad. 
     The shoulder strap consists of a long strap  30 , a bar slide  32 , a common loop  34  and a short support strap  36  (See FIGS.  2  and  4 ). The short support strap  36  is fixedly sewn to the body of the sling using attachment piece  28 . The attachment pieces  24 , 26 , 28  are constructed of a strong, flexible fabric. The coupling and adjustment of the support straps is accomplished using respectively, a common loop  34  and a bar slide  32  (see FIGS.  1 A and  5 ). The support straps  30 , 36  can be made of any strong strap. The use of the straps and adjustment/coupling hardware allows for ease of adjustment and security for the infant. 
     The sling body assembly  17  design lends itself to further innovative and useful hardware usage. The sling body assembly can remain identical to present invention and be fitted with hardware variations to create a front adjustable sling that can be removed by unbuckling (See FIG. 8) or that can be used on either shoulder (See FIG.  9 ). These simple modifications can be useful for breast feeding or for people that want or require a product that can be used on either shoulder. 
     The advantage of a front adjustable buckle (See FIG. 8) can be that the wearer can tighten or loosen the sling without taking it of. The buckle can further allow the adult to remove the sling without sliding the strap over their head. The double buckle approach (FIG. 9) allows for the wearer to choose the shoulder for carrying the child. This again may be helpful for breast feeding and also for either left or right handed adults. 
     It is therefore to be understood that various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of parts comprising the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope there of as defined by the, to be added, appended claims.