Abstract:
An infant wrap and carrier for securing an infant during transport. The infant wrap and carrier has a base with a perimeter section extending around an interior portion and a flap connected to the interior portion. The flap may be configured to translate between an open position and a closed position.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/330,902, filed on May 3, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to systems for transporting and carrying babies, infants and/or toddlers and, more particularly, to a novel and improved wrap and carrier to be used by a parent or other caretaker for carrying a baby, infant and/or toddler, in a safe, secure and comfortable way for both the adult and child. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is well known that there are many types of wearable baby or infant carriers to allow parents to carry children while maintaining freedom of hand and arm movement, such as wraps, slings, swaddles and hip carriers. Typically, these types of devices include harnesses, chest straps, waist belts and the like to allow hand and arm freedom, which not only increase the complexity of these devices, but can be uncomfortable to the parent and/or the child. 
         [0004]    While there are also carriers designed for rear use, such as backpack carriers, it is often desirable to have the child resting snugly against the carrying adult in order to feel the rhythm of the adult&#39;s beating heart, to keep the child&#39;s center of gravity close to the adult to make carrying easier and to maintain visual contact with the child. While front carriers accomplish this task, they also suffer from the same limitations discussed above with regard to complexity and discomfort to the adult and/or child. 
         [0005]    As noted above, most of the devices known in the art are directed toward allowing an adult to have his/her hands free while transporting a baby or infant, but are not expressly directed to promoting comfort for the adult and child. Accordingly, there is a need for a more efficient and comfortable wrap and carrier for an infant that maintains the infant in a warm and comfortable setting during transport. Furthermore, there is a need for an infant wrap and carrier that promotes easy and comfortable handling of the infant by the adult. Advantageously, the infant wrap and carrier may be utilized as a bed for the infant as it not only secures the child, but provides a warm and comfortable setting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of this disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the infant wrap and carrier illustrating an open position forming one aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the infant wrap and carrier illustrating a closed position forming one aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2B-2D  are partial cut-out views of the fasteners forming one aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are various perspective views of the infant wrap and carrier in various stages of fastening forming one aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is top view of the infant wrap and carrier illustrating the head of the base in a fastened configuration forming one aspect of this disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are various top views of the infant wrap and carrier illustrating an infant in an open and closed position forming one aspect of this disclosure; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the infant warp and carrier forming one aspect of this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY 
       [0014]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, an infant wrap and carrier is disclosed. The infant wrap and carrier has a base with a perimeter section extending around an interior portion and a flap connected to the interior portion such that the flap may translate between an open and a closed position. The base of the infant wrap and carrier may be formed of a bedding material and the perimeter section of the infant wrap and carrier may have an inverted U-shape. The interior portion may be substantially rectangular-shaped, and may be recessed. 
         [0015]    The flap of the infant wrap and carrier may be integrally connected to a bottom edge of the interior portion, and the flap may substantially cover the entirety of the interior portion in the closed position. The flap may be removably fastened to the perimeter portion in the closed position, and one or more zippers may be used to fasten the flap to the perimeter portion. In some embodiments, a logo may be imprinted on the interior portion. 
         [0016]    In yet another aspect of the disclosure, an infant wrap and carrier is disclosed. The infant wrap and carrier has a one-piece body including an inverted U-shaped perimeter section extending around a recessed interior portion and a center flap connected to a bottom edge of the interior portion that substantially covers the interior portion. The center flap may be movable between a closed position and an open position and the one-piece body may have a head portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bottom portion. The infant wrap and carrier may also include a plurality of first interlocking teeth extending around at least a portion of an outer edge of the first side portion and around at least a portion of a bottom edge of the bottom portion. 
         [0017]    A plurality of second interlocking teeth may also extend around at least an outer edge of the second side portion and around at least a portion of a bottom edge of the bottom portion. A plurality of third interlocking teeth may extend along a first opposed edge of the center flap and a plurality of fourth interlocking teeth may extend along a second opposed edge of the center flap. The plurality of first interlocking teeth may engage with the plurality of third interlocking teeth via a first zipper. The plurality of second interlocking teeth may engage with the plurality of fourth interlocking teeth via a second zipper. 
         [0018]    Another related aspect of this disclosure is a method for securing an infant for transport. The method includes providing an infant carrier having a base including an inverted U-shaped perimeter section extending around a recessed interior portion and a center flap connected to the bottom edge of the interior portion to substantially cover the interior portion, unfolding the center flap to expose the recessed interior portion such that the infant is positionable within the inverted U-shaped perimeter, and fastening the center flap along a pair of opposed outer edges on the recessed interior portion. An additional step that may be used in this method of securing an infant for transport includes that the fastening step utilizes a zipper. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and like numerals represent like details in the various figures. Also, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process or other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents. In accordance with the disclosure, an infant wrap and carrier, which may be marketed and sold as the BABY KIP™ is hereinafter described. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the infant wrap and carrier  10  is illustrated for use in handling, transporting and placing a resting baby, infant or toddler for sleep. The infant wrap and carrier  10  provides a simple, compact and convenient design that maximizes comfort for both the infant and adult during sleeping, holding and transport of the infant, especially new fathers. Advantageously, the infant wrap and carrier  10  is designed to keep the infant in a comfortable bedding unit to maximize comfort and to keep the infant warm in winters and cool locations. The infant wrap and carrier  10  provides the infant or baby with a sense or warmth and comfort even when a parent or adult is not with the child as it “snuggles” the infant and makes the infant think someone is next to them. 
         [0021]    During transport of the infant or baby within the infant wrap and carrier  10  only the infant&#39;s head is exposed, which prevents germs from passing easily between adults handling the infant and the infant. Furthermore, the infant or baby may easily be handled, transported and transferred between adults while the infant or baby remains comfortably positioned with the infant wrap and carrier  10 . The infant wrap and carrier  10  also helps with the Moro reflex, which is an infantile reflex normally present in all infants and newborns up to about 4 or 5 months of age as a response to a sudden loss of support, when the infant feels as if it is falling. 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIGS. 1-6 , the infant wrap and carrier  10  is made from a comfortable bedding material. The infant wrap and carrier includes a base  20  having an inverted U-shaped perimeter  30  and a recessed interior portion  40 . A middle flap  50  extends from the outer edge of the interior portion  40  at the base of the open end of the inverted U-shaped perimeter  30 . Generally, the middle flap is integrally connected to the interior portion such that it cannot be removed. As perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the baby or infant may be placed in the center of the interior portion  40  and then the middle flap  50  may be fastened along both sides of the middle flap to secure the baby or infant. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , in an open configuration, the inverted U-shaped perimeter  30  includes side-perimeter fasteners  32   a  and  32   b  in the form of interlocking teeth along a substantial portion of the outer perimeter edges. As perhaps best illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 3A-3D . The side perimeter fasteners  32   a  and  32   b  are configured to engage middle flap fasteners  52   a  and  52   b  also in the form of interlocking teeth, respectively. The middle flap fasteners  52   a  and  52   b  are included on the opposed sides of the middle flap  50 . As perhaps best illustrated in  FIGS. 2C and 2D , the sides of the perimeter are folded over such that the fasteners  32   a  align with fasteners  52   a  and the fasteners  32   b  align with fasteners  52   b . Then the corresponding fasteners may be fastened with the zippers  36   a  and  36   b , respectively. Of course, it should be appreciated that other types of fastening devices may be used. 
         [0024]    The inverted U-shaped perimeter further includes top-perimeter fasteners  34   a  and  34   b  also in the form of interlocking teeth along substantially the entire top edge. The top-perimeter fastener  34   a  is configured to engage top-perimeter faster  34   b . As perhaps best illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the fasteners may be fastened with the zipper  38  to form a pillow portion to support the infant&#39;s head as shown in  FIGS. 3D, 4 and 5B . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 3A-3D , the various steps of enclosing and fastening the infant wrap and carrier are illustrated.  FIGS. 2A and 3B  illustrate the infant wrap and carrier in a closed state. In other words, the middle flap  50  covers the recessed interior portion  40 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , once the middle flap  50  has been positioned over the interior portion  40 , zippers  36   a  and  36   b  are then used to fasten the fasteners  32   a  and  32   b  and  52   a  and  52   b  together, respectively, creating an enclosure for the infant. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the interior portion  40  may be imprinted with a logo or design  60 . 
         [0026]    In use, the center flap portion  50  is configured to be movable in a direction D (see  FIGS. 3A ,B) between an unfolded position (see  FIGS. 1, 3A , and SA) and a folded position (see  FIGS. 2A, 3B -D, and SB) such that an infant may be positioned on the interior portion  40  within the U-shaped perimeter  30  (see  FIG. 5A ,B). Once the center flap portion  50  is in the folded position, the outer edges of the recessed portion  30  including the fasteners  32   a,b  are folded inwardly in direction I (see  FIG. 3B ) towards the center flap portion  50 . The fasteners  52   a,b  are then fastened to fasteners  32   a,b  respectively via zippers  36   a,b  creating a secure compartment for the infant. Finally, the top-perimeter portion is folded together such that fasteners  34   a,b  are fastened together via zipper  38  to form a pillow portion to support the infant (see  FIGS. 3D and 4 ). 
         [0027]    The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. These descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. The embodiments described provide the best illustration of the inventive principles and their practical applications to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.