Patent Publication Number: US-2011062195-A1

Title: Child carrier with removable liner

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to packs that may be worn on the front or back of a user and, more specifically, to child carrier packs for safely and conveniently carrying a child. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Child carrier packs have been available for some time to help adults carry infants and small children. Typically, the packs are configured with a harness and child support seat for carrying a child proximate either the chest or back of the adult. The harness extends over the shoulders of the wearer. Some versions also include a waist belt. The seat into which the child is situated typically encircles the child to avoid the likelihood that the child should fall out. The extent of support and securement for the child may increase with smaller children and infants. Thus, the seat may be an enclosure around at least the torso of the child with the child&#39;s head, legs, and arms extending out from the enclosure. 
     As the child comes into extensive contact with the enclosure, pack liners have been used in some instances. Such liners allow for the laundering of a portion of the pack that may become soiled by the child. To increase the comfort to the child, some liners are padded. Nevertheless, the child may come into contact with the other portions of the carrier or with fasteners, edges, or other carrier components that may be uncomfortable or become soiled. Enclosure edges near the child&#39;s head, legs, or arms may chafe the child. Such edges will also be a prime location to become dirty. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The child carrier of the present invention includes a removable liner. The removable liner of the present invention includes the advantage of having extension tabs that fold around the edges of the child-support enclosure. The tabs are secured to the exterior face of the enclosure. Thus, a removable liner is provided that is washable separate from the main carrier body. The liner covers portions of the carrier body that are most likely to become dirty and areas to provide a more comfortable interface for the child being carried with a softer, padded material. Situating fasteners on the outer face of the enclosure helps secure the liner to the periphery of the enclosure interior, in desired locations, and avoids the fasteners bearing against the weight of the child or chafing against the child&#39;s body. 
     The present invention provides a child carrier for a person to wear on their body—either the person&#39;s front or back. The carrier includes a harness, a shell, and a liner. The harness has straps adapted to be worn by the person. The shell is coupled to the harness. The shell includes a seat and an upwardly extending support enclosure. The enclosure has peripheral edges, an interior face, and an exterior face. The liner is removably coupled to the shell. The liner and the shell make up the carrier body. The liner includes at least some periphery portions matching some peripheral edges of the shell. The liner has tabs extending from periphery portions. The tabs fold over peripheral edges of the shell to lie adjacent the exterior face of the shell. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners are fixed to the tabs. The fasteners are releasably securable to the shell. In one aspect of the invention, the fasteners secure to the exterior of the shell. Releasable fasteners securable between the shell and the harness are also provided in one embodiment of the intention. The shell includes sleeves within which at least a portion of the releasable fasteners are secured. The sleeves protect the child from full contact with the releasable fasters. Releasable fasteners, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, may also be provided between the liner and the interior face of the shell. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the harness includes two shoulder straps each having two ends. Both ends are secured to the seat of the enclosure. One of the straps has a releasable buckle proximate the seat for separating the strap from the seat. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the upwardly extending support enclosure includes lower arms securable to the harness. The lower arms form leg holes between the seat and the lower periphery of the lower arms. At least one of the tabs extends over the edge of the shell in the area of at least a portion of the leg holes. The upwardly extending support enclosure preferably also includes upper arms securable to the harness above the lower arms. Side recesses are formed between the upper arms and the lower arms, through which a child&#39;s arms may extend. At least one of the tabs extends over the edge of the shell in the area of at least a portion of each of the recesses. In a further aspect of the invention, the fasteners are secured to at least one of the tabs, the fasteners being securable to the shell. 
     In accordance with additional aspects of the invention, a pack is provided that may be donned by a person for carrying a child. The pack includes a harness, a support enclosure, and a removable liner. The harness has at least one strap extendable over the shoulder of the person. The strap has a first end and a second end. The support enclosure secures the child. The support enclosure includes an upper support panel and a seat. The upper support panel has lower right and left arms with releasable fasteners proximate the ends of the arms. The releasable fasteners are securable to the harness. The upper support has a peripheral edge. The seat extends from the upper support. It is secured to at least one strap. The seat has a peripheral edge and forms leg openings between the seat and the lower right and left arms. The removable liner is secured to the support structure. The removable liner has peripheral edges and tabs extending from at least portions of those edges. At least one of the tabs extends over the edge of the upper support panel along each of the leg openings and lies adjacent to the outer face of the support enclosure. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the support enclosure includes a head panel extending above the lower arms. The head panel has right and left upper arms securable to the harness. The region between the upper arms and the lower arms forms child arm openings. The liner includes tabs extending over an edge of the upper enclosure in the region of the child arm openings. Preferably, the tabs overlap the exterior of the support closure and include fasteners for securement to the exterior of the support enclosure. 
     As may be appreciated from the foregoing summary, the invention provides a comfortable pack that is easy to use and clean. The liner stays in place, protects the pack edges from becoming soiled and protects the child from the more rigid supporting enclosure edges. The fastener placement on the exterior of the enclosure also adds to comfort of the child and maintains the placement of the liner until removal is desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a child carrier of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a front-elevational view of the carrier of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear-elevational view of the carrier of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side-elevational view of the carrier of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the carrier with the child enclosure unclipped from the upper portion of the harness and folded out; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but with the liner removed; and 
         FIG. 6   b  is a view of the liner separate from the carrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides an improved child carrier with a removable liner. The liner includes extension tabs that fold over the edge of the carrier child enclosure with fasteners on the tabs to secure to the exterior of the enclosure. The carrier thus provides a secure and comfortable location for a child that may be easily cleaned. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates carrier  10  in use. Note in this example, that the child is facing the adult. However, depending on the age and strength of the child, the child may be reversed to face forward with a top flap of the carrier folded over to allow enhanced movement by the child. The carrier may also be adapted for use on the back on the adult. 
     Carrier  10  includes a carrier body  12  and a harness  14 . Carrier body  12  encircles the child such that the child&#39;s torso is substantially enclosed with legs and arms extending from openings in the carrier body  12 . The child&#39;s head also extends upwardly from the carrier and may be at least partially supported by carrier body  12 . Harness  14  is fixedly secured to a seat portion of the carrier body and is preferably clipped to an upper portion of the carrier body with removable fasteners. A harness  14  extends over the shoulders, chest, and back of the user. Harness  14  preferably crosses the back of the user to ensure carrier body  12  rides securely while the adult user is walking and engaging in other activities. 
     As illustrated in the figures, carrier body  12  includes a shell  16  and a liner  18  coupled to the shell. Most of liner  18  is positioned on the interior of shell  16 . Thus, liner  18  provides a comfortable interface for the child held within carrier body  12 . Carrier body  12  may be slightly rigid or at least semi-rigid to provide adequate support for the child within carrier  10 . Liner  18  is constructed with a soft foam material nested between two layers of fabric or other flexible material and is much less rigid than shell  16 . This allows shell  16  to provide the superior support, while liner  18  provides superior comfort with the added feature of removability for cleaning or replacement. 
     Harness  14  includes a first strap  20  and a second strap  22  extending from the seat of shell  16 . The straps  20 ,  22  cross one another after they extend over the shoulders of the user. Their lower ends are also secured to shell  16 . A rear panel  24  is provided where straps  20  and  22  cross to help maintain the proper orientation of straps  20  and  22 . Rear panel  24  is preferably somewhat diamond shaped, but may be square, triangular, or of another shape to interface with the straps and help maintain the orientation of one strap relative to the other. This also helps hold the straps on the user&#39;s back and shoulders with the proper placement for a comfortable and safe carry. Rear panel  24  is preferably constructed of two layers of material stitched together peripherally with slits near the edges through which the straps are routed (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     First strap  20  and second strap  22  have first and second ends. First strap first end  26  is preferably fixedly secured to the left side of shell  16  by stitching. First end  26  extends upwardly and outwardly, such that it can extend over the shoulder of the wearer and down the back. First strap first end  26  extends through rear panel  24  and is secured to a strap adjustment coupler  29 . First strap second end  28  is looped through strap adjustment coupler  29  on one end and fixedly secured to shell  16  on the other. A portion of first strap second end  28  hangs from strap adjustment coupler  29  to be tugged by the user to adjust the fit of first strap  20 . First strap second end  28  also includes an intermediate first strap side buckle  30  that may be disengaged to allow ease of donning the carrier. The user simply disengages buckle  30 , slides his or her head and left arm into place, then secures buckle  30  under the right arm. Side buckle  30  includes a male portion  30   a  and a female portion  30   b  that are easily clipped together to complete the loop of first strap  20  to shell  16 . 
     First strap first end  26  is preferably constructed of polyester felt, leather, and nylon for an outer enclosure, with a foam material nested there between for increased comfort. First end  26  is somewhat more rigid than second end  28 . Second end  28  is preferably constructed of cotton webbing material, but alternatively may be of nylon webbing. It is, therefore, more flexible while still providing excellent tensile strength. The webbing material of second end  28  is well adapted to being used in adjustment coupler  29 . Second end  28  preferably includes an end piece, either of folded strap material or separate material secured to the strap to prevent accidental exit of the strap through adjustment coupler  29 . 
     Second strap  22  is constructed and configured in a similar manner to first strap  20 , except that side buckle  30  is omitted on second strap  22  in the preferred embodiment. Thus, second strap  22  includes a second strap first end  32  and a second strap second end  34 . The two portions are coupled with a strap adjustment coupler  29 . Second strap  22  also forms a closed loop in conjunction with shell  16  along the chest, over the shoulder, down the back, and to the side of the user. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , carrier body includes a seat  36  having a seat flair  38 , lower arms  40  and upper arms  42 . In the coupled configuration for carrier use in holding a child, seat  36  is the lower-most portion of carrier body  12 . A large portion of the weight of the child is held by seat  36 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the legs of the child extend out of carrier body  12  on either side of seat  36 . The rear portion of seat  36  extends into seat flair  38 —a portion that tapers slightly wider to connections with first and second straps  20 ,  22 . 
     Opposite from seat flair  38 , carrier body  12  tapers outwardly even wider to form lower arms  40 . Lower arms  40  are configured to extend around the sides of the child being carried above the legs of the child. If the child is a small infant, the child&#39;s arms may nest inside lower arms  40 ; whereas if the child is larger the child&#39;s arms may extend over lower arms  40 . In some embodiments, even small infants may have their arms extend out over lower arms  40 . Arm recesses  44  are created between lower arms  40  and upper arms  42 . Arm recesses  44  also create a narrowed portion  46  in carrier body  12 . This narrowed portion creates a natural fold line, such that upper arms  42  may be folded down adjacent to lower arms  40  for children that do not require head support. This may be especially beneficial if the child is facing away from the adult carrying them—back to chest instead of chest to chest. 
     Carrier body  12  is preferably further coupled to harness  14  with four buckles: lower buckles  48  coupling lower arms  40  and upper buckles  50  coupling upper arms  42 . Each of buckles  48  and  50  preferably includes a male portion  48   a ,  50   a  secured to first and second straps  20 ,  22 , and a female end  48   b ,  50   b  secured to upper or lower arms  40 ,  42 . In placing the child, the harness may be secured to the adult with carrier body  12  having buckles  48  and  50  uncoupled. In this configuration, carrier body may be laid on a table or held by the adult while the child is held in place by the adult. The lower and upper buckles  48 ,  50  are then secured. Upper buckles  48  preferably include an adjustment strap to tighten the carrier to the harness to fit as needed. 
     As discussed above, upper and lower buckle female ends  48   b ,  50   b  are secured to upper and lower arms  40 ,  42 , respectively. The securement of the female ends of the upper buckles  50   b  is substantially within upper sleeves on the ends of the upper arms  42 , whereas the securement of the female ends of the lower buckles  48   b  is substantially within lower sleeves on the lower arms  40 . The sleeves are formed from the ends of the upper and lower arms. They provide a smooth interface to the child to reduce any rubbing or irritable chafing. The sleeves are created by securing the buckles between layers of material or within a sleeve of material with only small portions of the buckles exposed. Cutouts  60 ,  62  are preferably provided in upper sleeves  52  to allow access to press the buckles for release from female portions  50   b . In alternate embodiments, the sleeve material is soft enough that cutouts are not necessary to press the buckle for release. In the preferred embodiment, lower sleeves do not cover quite as much of lower buckles  48 , such that they can be opened without cutouts. In alternate embodiments, lower sleeves  54  substantially cover lower buckles  48 . 
     In another feature of the preferred embodiment that aids in adjusting the fit of carrier body  12  to small infants, buttons  56  and button tabs  58  are provided. Buttons  56  are secured to the edge of carrier body  12  below lower arms  40 . They are preferably secured to liner  18 , but may alternatively be secured to shell  16 . Button tabs  58  are secured to the edges of seat flair  38 . Securing buttons  56  to the button holes of tabs  58  creates a smaller leg opening and a more snug fit of seat  36  to the small infant. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  also illustrate the details of liner  18  and its attachment to shell  16  of carrier body  12 . Liner  18  generally has a shape complementary to shell  16 , as it mates thereto with various fasteners.  FIG. 5  illustrates carrier  10  with upper and lower arms  42 ,  40  detached from harness  14  and folded out flat, away from straps  20 ,  22 . In this view, liner  18  substantially covers the inside surface of shell  16  and follows the outer edges thereof for the same basic shape, such that the inner surface of carrier body  12  is comfortable and padded. The outer face  66  of the liner is shown. 
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates carrier body  12  without liner  18  attached.  FIG. 6   b  shows the liner from attachment face  64  that faces shell  16  and attaches thereto. Note the hook-and-loop fasteners  76  that are secured to the extremities of liner  18  and shell  16 . Preferably, the hook portion of the hook-and-loop fastener is secured to the shell, while the loop (softer portion) is secured to the liner. Hook fasteners are secured to the seat  36  and seat flair  38  regions, to the outer ends of the upper and lower arms  42 ,  40 , and on the upper portion between the upper arms. Corresponding loop fasteners are found on the liner. 
     Liner  18  also includes extensions in the form of tabs that fold at the edges of liner  18  for a more comfortable and secure attachment of liner  18  to shell  16 . An upper tab  68  extends along the upper periphery of liner  18  between the ends of upper arms  42 . This provides a comfortable interface for the child along the top of the carrier body. It also protects shell  16  from becoming soiled in this region. Four tab fasteners  74  are preferably provided in the form of female snap portions that interface with complementary male snap portions on the exterior surface of shell  16 . These fasteners are thus secured away from rubbing contact with the child and they are not in a direct area of contact that supports the weight of the child in carrier  10 . 
     Arm tabs  70  are also provided along at least a portion of arm recesses  44 . In the preferred embodiment, arm tabs  70  extend along an upper portion of arm recesses  44 . Alternatively they may also extend along the lower portion. Similar to upper tabs, they are secured with tab fasteners  74  to the exterior of shell  16 . 
     Leg tabs  72  are secured along the top of the leg opening in a like manner. They may also be secured along more of the opening in alternate embodiments. 
     All tabs share the advantages of covering an edge, making a more comfortable carrier  10 , and protecting portions of shell  16  from becoming soiled. Positioning the tab fasteners on the external surface of the shell furthers these purposes and provides a more secure fit of liner  18  over shell  16 . 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, different fasteners, other than snaps may be used in securing the tabs to the outside of the shell. The extent of the tabs may be increased, both in the length and portion of the periphery along with they extend and in the width and overlap with the exterior of the shell. The liner may further extend onto a portion of the harness to increase child comfort where contact may be made. Alternate materials may be used for most parts of the carrier. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.