Patent Publication Number: US-9848713-B2

Title: Convertible infant carrier

Description:
The present application is a utility conversion of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/926,059 filed 10 Jan. 2014, for CONVERTIBLE INFANT CARRIER and herein incorporated by reference. 
     The following relates to an infant carrier and more particularly relates to a novel and improved infant carrier that is designed to support newborns and may be converted from a front infant carrier to a hip carrier or back carrier. 
     BACKGROUND AND FIELD 
     Infants are often carried next to the body of an adult in an infant carrier and many carriers have been designed to accomplish this result while attempting to minimize the stress and fatigue that can result from carrying an infant. Often the wearer of the carrier becomes fatigued and suffers back pain as a result of carrying an older infant in a front carrier. Further, the carriers are often difficult to assemble and put on, uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time due to uneven weight distribution of the infant and must be completely disassembled in order to remove the infant. 
     An infant carrier has been devised which includes an infant support member made of a light flexible, breathable fabric, padded shoulder support straps, a modified waist belt that includes lumbar support and a removable infant insert for placement of a smaller infant therein. The removable infant insert with hook and loop fasteners and quick release buckles and webbing straps is secured to the support member with hook and loop tabs. The padded shoulder pads are designed to evenly distribute the weight of the infant along the shoulders of a wearer while promoting proper posture of the wearer as well. A sternum/back strap on the shoulder straps provides for horizontal and vertical adjustment. A pull-out, padded headrest is also provided that provides back or neck support for a larger infant and support for the head of a smaller infant. An infant may be placed securely within the carrier to face the wearer in front carrier mode, to face the side of the wearer in hip carrying mode or facing the back of the wearer in back carrying mode. The above and other features will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of different embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an infant support carrier; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  with an extended headrest; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  with the headrest stored in the carrier; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of a removable infant insert of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a removable infant insert of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cut away view of a securing portion of the removable infant insert shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  demonstrating the carrier used as a hip carrier; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  demonstrating the carrier used as a back carrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring in detail to the  FIGS. 1-12  there is shown an infant carrier  11  having an infant support member  13  for supporting preferably the rear or back and lower portion of an infant and a shoulder support system  15  to be secured around a wearer, typically an adult user. The combination infant support member  13  and shoulder support system  15  is symmetrical about a vertical axis. The infant support member  13  is defined by a continuous, semi-rectangular panel  17 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , including in some portions, a layer of durable cotton blend fabric  10  and a separate mesh, breathable fabric  12  as well as an inner or bottom layer of soft, breathable fabric  16 . The upper portion of the main panel support member  13  includes a padded portion  18  that provides support to an infant. A lower portion  14  of the main panel support member forms a slight pouch or support for an infant or toddler&#39;s lower body and is attached or joined to a waist band  19 , defined by a length of padded material designed to encircle a waist of the wearer. A portion of the waist band  19  is elongated with a rounded lower portion and contains relatively stiff padding  20  throughout. The waist band  19  has straps  22 ,  22 ′ that are secured to the padded portion of the waist band  19 , a tri-lock buckle including buckle closure members  21 ,  21 ′ and a buckle release button  25 . The dual straps  22 ,  22 ′ have free hemmed ends  24 ,  24 ′ that are inserted through complementary closure/adjustment members  26 ,  26 ′. The waist band  19  has an outer surface covering of durable cotton blend fabric  10  and an inner surface layer of a soft, breathable mesh fabric  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The waist band  19  is designed to be adjustable for all users. 
     The shoulder support system  15  includes dual shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ extending upwardly and outwardly from and located on opposite sides of the continuous panel  17 . The shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ include a moderate amount of padding  25 , along the entire length of the straps as shown in  FIG. 9 . The dual shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ include intermediate sternum/back strap adjustment members  27 ,  27 ′ and lower shoulder strap adjustment members  29 ,  29 ′. The shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ include buckle closure members  30 ,  30 ′,  32 ,  32 ′ and lower straps  34 ,  34 ′. 
     The infant carrier  11  includes a removable infant insert  31  to accommodate small infants and newborns allowing secure placement in the carrier as shown in  FIGS. 4, 7, 8 and 9 . The removable infant insert  31  is defined by at least two layers made up of a soft fabric  10  and a mesh fabric  16  forming a main panel  33  having dual arm members  35 ,  35 ′ extending outwardly from an upper portion of the main panel  33 , forming an X-shaped flat panel and terminating in rounded ends  37 ,  37 ′. The rounded ends  37 ,  37 ′ are designed to be inserted through corresponding loops  39 ,  39 ′ on the inner layer  16  of the back support member  13 . The dual arm members  35 ,  35 ′ also have alternating hook and loop bands  41 ,  41 ′,  43 ,  43 ′ which correspond to alternating hook and loop bands, band shown in  FIG. 10 , located along the interior of the corresponding loops  39 ,  39 ′. In this way, the dual arm members  35 ,  35 ′ are securely anchored in place within the loops. The main panel also has tabs  47 ,  47 ′ having hook and loop material along one surface of the tab. The tabs  47 ,  47 ′ are inserted through corresponding intermediate loops  51 ,  51 ′ on the back support member as shown in  FIG. 6  and mate with corresponding hook and loop material  49 ,  49 ′ located on an interior side of the main panel  16 . The lower portion of the infant insert main panel  33  has outwardly extending straps  53 ,  53 ′ for securement to corresponding buckle closures  55 ,  55 ′ on a mid-portion of the carrier, forming at least six points of contact between the back support member and the infant insert. The carrier may be used with or without the insert, and the insert may be stored in a front auxiliary pocket  57  when not in use. 
     The back support member  13  includes a front storage pouch or pocket  57  extending transversely across the exterior upper portion of the main support panel. The pocket member  57  is shown in one embodiment with a zipper  58 , but other forms of closure may also be used. An additional upper pocket member  59 , located along an exterior upper portion of the main panel support member  13 , is designed to secure and hold a pull-out headrest  61 . The headrest  61  has a main body portion  63  that is padded  64  and dual wings  65  and  67  on opposite sides of the main body portion. A reinforced padded edge  69  is located along an upper portion of the headrest  61 . The middle portion  70  of the padded edge  69  contains additional, stiffer padding than side reinforced padded edges  72 ,  72 ′. The dual wings  65 ,  67  may be releasably secured to an upper portion of the shoulder strap members with loops  71 ,  71 ′ and dual snap closures  73 ,  73 ′,  75 ,  75 ′ located near terminal ends of the dual wings  65  and  67 . The upper portion of the headrest  61  may be extended outwardly and upwardly from the upper pocket  59  and the dual wings  65  and  67  may be secured by placing terminal ends through the loops  71 ,  71 ′ and securing one of the snap closures,  73  or  75 ;  73 ′ or  75 ′ to a corresponding snap closure  77 ,  77 ′. The headrest  61  is adjustable with the snap closures  73 ,  73 ′ and  75 ,  75 ′ depending upon the amount of room desired for the infant&#39;s head. The headrest  61  may be used for added infant head support or back and shoulder support for a larger infant. 
     A second form of carrier has a harness  80 . The lower portion  14  of the main panel member  13  may also include the infant harness  80  on the interior having outwardly extending straps  81 ,  81 ′ with buckle closures  83 ,  83 ′ for securement to the corresponding buckle closures  55 ,  55 ′ on a mid-portion of the carrier as shown in  FIG. 6 . The infant harness  80  may be used in situations where the removable infant insert  31  is removed and not in use. 
     In use, the infant carrier  11  may be adjusted based on the size of the infant to be placed within the carrier for use in the forward facing position. If a newborn or small infant is to be placed within the carrier, the removable infant insert  31  may be attached along the inner surface of the main panel support member  13  as described above. Next, the lower waist band  19  is secured around the waist of the wearer by buckling the dual closure/adjustment members  21 ,  21 ′. The free ends  24 ,  24 ′ of the dual straps  22 ,  22 ′ may be pulled outwardly to adjust the width of the waist belt to ensure a comfortable and snug fit around the waist of the wearer and provide balancing of the weight of the infant. Once attached for use in the forward facing position, the wearer should be in a seated position and the rear support member  13  of the carrier is placed on the wearer&#39;s lap or legs. The infant is placed on the seat portion of the back support member  13 , including the removable insert  31  for a smaller infant, with the infant&#39;s legs placed on opposite sides of the wearer&#39;s torso. The lower portion of the infant insert main panel  33  has outwardly extending seat support straps  53 ,  53 ′ that may be drawn up between an infant&#39;s legs for securement to corresponding buckle closures  55 ,  55 ′ on a lower end of the shoulder support system. The straps  53 ,  53 ′ may be adjusted based upon the size of the infant. In this way, the insert positions smaller infants higher in the carrier and prevents them from sitting too low in the carrier. The infant and carrier may then be raised to an upright position with the opposite shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ being placed on the wearer and the sternum/back strap being secured and adjusted. If desired, the pull-out headrest  61  may be extended outwardly and upwardly from the pouch and secured along both sides of the infant&#39;s head. When not in use, the headrest  61  may be returned to the storage pouch or pocket  59 . 
     If the removable insert  31  is not used, the insert should be removed from the carrier. The wearer should be in a seated position and the back support member  13  of the carrier is placed on the wearer&#39;s lap. Next, the lower waist band  19  is secured around the waist of the wearer by buckling the dual closure/adjustment members  21 ,  21 ′. The free ends  24 ,  24 ′ of the dual straps  22 ,  22 ′ may be pulled outwardly until snug to adjust the width of the waist belt to ensure a comfortable fit around the waist of the wearer and provide balancing of the weight of the infant. The infant is placed on the back member support portion with the infant&#39;s legs placed on opposite sides of the wearer&#39;s torso. The optional infant harness  80  with outwardly extending straps  81 ,  81 ′ may be drawn up between an infant&#39;s legs and the buckle closures  83 ,  83 ′ may be secured to corresponding buckle closures  55 ,  55 ′ on the shoulder support system forming leg openings  85 ,  85 ′. The infant and carrier may then be raised to an upright position with the opposite shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ being placed on the wearer and the sternum/back strap being secured and adjusted. If desired, the pull-out headrest  61  may be partially removed from the pouch and secured along both sides of the infant&#39;s head. When not in use, the headrest  61  may be returned to the storage pouch or pocket  59 . 
     If the carrier is to be used as a hip carrier as shown in  FIG. 11 , the lower waist band  19  is secured around the waist of the wearer by buckling the dual closure/adjustment members  21 ,  21 ′. The free ends  24 ,  24 ′ of the dual straps  22 ,  22 ′ may be pulled outwardly to adjust the width of the waist belt to ensure a comfortable fit around the waist of the wearer and provide balancing of the weight of the infant. The waist band  19  should then be adjusted around the wearer&#39;s body so that the pouch  13  is shifted on to the hip of the wearer. The shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ should be unbuckled and allowed to hang loose. The infant harness  80  with the buckle closures  83 ,  83 ′ may be secured to corresponding buckle closures  55 ,  55 ′ forming leg openings  85 ,  85 ′. The shoulder strap  23  should be secured with buckle closure  30 ,  32  and allowed to hang down in front of the wearer. The infant may be picked up and straddled on the hip of the wearer and the infant&#39;s legs may be inserted through the leg openings  85 ,  85 ′. The main panel support member  13  should be directly behind the infant&#39;s back so that the infant can be lowered into the seat portion of the support member. The buckled shoulder strap  23  may then be raised across the shoulder of the wearer and tightened. Shoulder strap  23 ′ may be placed beneath the arm of the wearer and secured across the back of the wearer. 
     If the carrier is to be used as shown in  FIG. 12 , the lower waist band  19  is secured around the waist of the wearer by buckling the dual closure/adjustment members  21 ,  21 ′. The free ends  24 ,  24 ′ of the dual straps  22 ,  22 ′ may be pulled outwardly to adjust the width of the waist belt to ensure a comfortable and snug fit around the waist of the wearer and provide balancing of the weight of the infant. With assistance from another adult, the larger infant may be placed facing against the back of the wearer, sliding the infant&#39;s feet through the leg openings  85 ,  85 ′. The back support member  13  should be directly behind the infant&#39;s back so that the infant can be lowered into the seat portion. The opposite shoulder straps  23 ,  23 ′ should be placed on the wearer and the sternum/back strap secured and adjusted. 
     The configuration of the back support member in combination with the back support system, allows an infant to be carried next to the chest or back of the wearer without any type of wall or material separating the infant from the wearer. Further the configuration of the carrier prevents undue tangling of the carrier and allows for ease of use. 
     It is therefore to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments shown and described have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms and reasonable equivalents thereof.