Abstract:
An infant carrier is formed with a panel, shoulder straps, a belt and an infant support. The infant support holds the infant position such that the infant&#39;s legs wrap around and hug the person&#39;s waist. The structure allows a person to take on and take off the carrier with the infant without help from another person.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This invention pertains to a novel infant carrier that is more comfortable for the child, safer and easier to use. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a carrier arranged and constructed so that the as the infant is carried in either the frontal or rear position, its legs are disposed laterally. 
         [0004]    B. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    It is common practice for adults to employ an infant carrier for carrying an infant. Various types of infant carriers are currently available from different manufacturers of infant products. However all of these are characterized by certain deficiencies which detract from their overall utility. 
         [0006]    Of primary concern are support, safety and comfort of the infant. Another area of concern is the comfort and ease of use (e.g., putting on, adjusting and removing both the carrier and the infant) for the wearer. Typical infant carriers include many straps and buckles which are often difficult for a wearer to put on and/or take off. These devices are not always easy to adjust. Furthermore, it is often difficult for wearers to adjust such infant carriers and position infants in the carrier so that they are both comfortable for the wearer and safe for the infant. Some of the newer carriers are more basic, and do not include many straps and buckles, but the structures leave the baby vulnerable and unsafe when putting infant and carrier onto adult&#39;s back. Because of these difficulties, an adult does not feel safe putting on existing carriers, especially on the back, without the help of another adult. Thus, a need exists for a carrier which provides for secure carrying of the infant, yet is easy for the wearer to put on, take off and adjust. 
         [0007]    The present invention addresses the above described deficiencies in the prior art by providing an infant carrier which is safe when carrying and when loading and unloading the infant onto adult&#39;s body, and which provides proper support for the infant, yet is more comfortable for the child. Additionally, the infant carrier is comfortable for the wearer and easy to adjust. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    An infant carrier is provided that has a panel with four sides, shoulder straps and a belt at the bottom for wrapping around the waist of the person carrying the infant. An infant support is secured to the panel and holds the infant in position. The infant support holds the infant with its hips and torso above the belt so that when the infant is in the carrier, its legs wrap around the waist of person carrying it. With the help of the infant support, the adult can be sure that the baby is correctly in place when wearer puts infant and the carrier onto adult&#39;s body. Additionally with the legs wrapped around the adult, the weight of the infant is not on the infant&#39;s crotch as it is in prior art; instead the weight is on the infant&#39;s bottom with legs splayed which promotes healthy hip development. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an adult with the subject carrier on the back; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a vertical sectional view of the carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an adult with the subject carrier on the front; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the carrier with the infant; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a partial sectional view of the carrier with the infant taken along axis  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows the carrier used as a secure seat which supports the infant in a chair; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a back view of the chair showing the straps supporting the carrier of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . As seen in this Figure, the invention pertains to an infant carrier  10  made of several elements or components. These elements can be made of woven or non-woven fabrics (unless otherwise noted) that are joined by sewing or other well-known means. 
         [0017]    The carrier  10  consists of a main panel  12  that has a generally rectangular shape. The top side  14  of panel  12  is somewhat arched to provide more protection to the infant&#39;s head and two lateral sides  16 ,  18  need not be parallel but can curve slightly toward each other to fit the carrier better on the back of the person carrying the infant and to be more ergonomic. A secure infant support  20  is attached to the panel for holding the infant  22  as shown. The infant support can be attached to the panel  12  by a hook-and-loop arrangement, a zipper, buttons, or other similar means. The secure infant support  20  can be removed for washing, or replaced if necessary. Alternatively, the infant support may be permanently affixed to the panel  12 . 
         [0018]    Two lateral extensions  24 ,  26  are attached to the lower portions of sides  16 ,  18 , respectively, bordering the bottom of the panel  12 . The extensions  24 ,  26  are terminated with mating buckles  28 ,  30 . The extensions  24 ,  26  and buckles  28 ,  30  cooperate to form a belt  32  for the wearer and as support for the child&#39;s bottom as illustrated in the other figures. The ends of the extensions  24 ,  26  are adjustable so that the resulting belt can be used by people with different waists. 
         [0019]    Importantly, the panel  12  is sized so that when the infant is placed on the carrier and into the secure infant support  20 , his hips and torso are above the belt  32 . 
         [0020]    In addition, the two straps  34 ,  36  are attached to the right and left sides  16 ,  18 , respectively. The two straps are adjustable, as shown at  38  so that the carrier can be worn by different people. Each of the straps is attached at one end to the corner between the top  14  and the respective side  16 ,  18 , and at an intermediate point  40  selected so that the straps  34 ,  36  can be worn about the shoulder by a person. 
         [0021]    The carrier  10  is used as follows. First a person adjusts the lengths of straps  34 ,  36  and belt  32  so that they are sized appropriately. Next, the infant  22  is placed into the infant support  20  and any straps or other securing means (not shown) are tightened to insure that the infant is secure. During this time, the carrier  10  and the infant  22  are on a table, dresser, bed, floor or other relatively flat surface. 
         [0022]    The person then pulls his arms into straps  34 ,  36 , picks up the carrier,  10  with the infant safe in secure infant support, and places the carrier to either the rear position, shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  or the front position shown in  FIG. 3 . As a last step, the person engages the buckle members  28 ,  30  to thereby close the buckle. The weight is evenly distributed for the wearer between the shoulders and waist belt,  32 . 
         [0023]    As can be seen from this description, during the initial phase of this process, the infant is firmly secured to the carrier and therefore the person picking up the carrier with the infant is sure that the infant will not fall out. Thus, a second person is unnecessary during this process. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, as discussed above, because of the structure and dimensions or sizes of the carrier  10 , the hips and torso of the infant  22  are above the belt  32 . Once the carrier is mounted on the back of the person, in the position shown in  FIG. 1 , the legs L of the infant extend forward above the belt, hugging the person&#39;s waist. With the help of the secure infant support  20 , the adult can be sure that the baby is correctly in place when wearer puts carrier and infant onto adult&#39;s body. Additionally with the legs wrapped around the carrier, the weight of the infant is not on the infant&#39;s crotch; instead the weight is on the infant&#39;s bottom with legs splayed, which promotes healthy hip development. The position is also more comforting to the infant because it provides more intimate contact between the infant&#39;s and the person&#39;s bodies. In other words, the infant in this position is clearly hugging the carrying person, rather then just being carried like a sack of potatoes. This feature is further enhanced by the fact that the arms of the infant are also free to move forward/up/down. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the panel  12  may be provided with a pocket  50  on its back. The pocket can be provided with a closure  52  and can be used to store various items  54 . 
         [0026]    In order to make sure that the carrier is secure, the carrier is provided with a further strap  46  attached between the two straps  16 ,  18 . 
         [0027]    Another advantage of the carrier  10  is that it can be used to secure an infant to a chair, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , so that the infant can be next to the adults, without the need for a high chair. 
         [0028]    Obviously numerous modifications may be made to this invention without departing from its scope, as defined in the appended claims.