WEARABLE CHILD CARRIER
20230263314 · 2023-08-24
Inventors
- Ali Bouali (Haarlem, NL)
- Stefan Van Cleef (Haarlem, NL)
- Heleen Willemsen (Haarlem, NL)
- Boudewijn Martin Wisse (Haarlem, NL)
- Michael Martinus Hölscher (Haarlem, NL)
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A wearable child carrier to be worn by a person to carry a child close to his torso includes a hip belt and a child seat with a seat bottom and a backrest. The child carrier includes a pair of suspension beams for transferring a load from the child seat to the hip support. Each suspension beam has a beam body with a proximal beam end being connected to the hip support. Each beam body is connected to the backrest of the child seat. The connection to the backrest is beneficial in that an improved load transfer from the child seat to the hips is obtained. In addition, the beam body may form a leg restraint for the child to provide lateral stability.
Claims
1: A wearable child carrier to be worn by a person to carry a child close to his torso, which child carrier comprises: a hip support including a hip belt for surrounding a pelvic region of the person, in which ends of the hip belt are provided with a hip belt closure; a child seat for holding a child which child seat has a seat bottom and a backrest; and a pair of suspension beams for transferring a load from the child seat to the hip support in which each suspension beam has a beam body with a proximal beam end being connected to the hip support, wherein each beam body is connected to the backrest of the child seat.
2: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, wherein each beam body has a lower beam portion having a curvature directed towards the child seat.
3: The wearable child carrier according to claim 2, wherein the curvature of the lower beam portion extends away from the hip belt in a substantial perpendicular direction and deflects from a vertical to a tangential curvature angle of at least 30°.
4: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, wherein the proximal beam end is pivotally about a beam pivot point connected to the hip belt and provided with a beam stopper to limit a pivotal movement about a predetermined beam pivot angle.
5: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, in which the child seat is positioned at a middle region of the hip belt to allow that in use the child seat is positioned at a torso side opposite the hip belt closure.
6: The wearable child carrier according to claim 5, wherein each suspension beam is manually-undetachably fixed to the child seat.
7: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, wherein the child carrier further comprises a suspension support for interconnecting the child seat and the hip support for supporting the child seat in a lowered position which lowered position is relative to a raised position situated in a direction away from the person.
8: The wearable child carrier according to claim 7, wherein a proximal end of the suspension support is connected to the hip belt at a position of the hip belt closure.
9: The wearable child carrier according to claim 7, wherein a distal end of the suspension support is connected with one of the child seat and the beam body by a suspension support connector.
10: The wearable child carrier according to claim 9, wherein the suspension support connector is configured to adjust a length of the suspension support to adjust the lowered position of the child seat.
11: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, wherein the child carrier further comprises a lumbar support for bearing upon a lower back portion of the person.
12: The wearable child carrier according to claim 1, wherein the child carrier further comprises a shoulder belt, wherein the shoulder belt is connectable by an upper shoulder belt connector to an upper region of the child seat and by a lower shoulder belt connector to at least one of the pair of suspension beams and the child seat.
13: The wearable child carrier according to claim 7, wherein the suspension support is a waist belt.
14: The wearable child carrier according to claim 9, wherein the suspension support connector is a backrest connector.
15: The wearable child carrier according to claim 11, wherein the lumbar support is incorporated in the hip support.
16: A wearable child carrier to be worn by a person to carry a child close to his torso, which child carrier comprises: a hip support including a hip belt for surrounding a pelvic region of the person, in which ends of the hip belt are provided with a hip belt closure; a child seat for holding a child which child seat has a seat bottom and a backrest; and a pair of suspension beams for transferring a load from the child seat to the hip support in which each suspension beam has a beam body connected to the backrest of the child seat and which has a proximal beam end being connected to the hip support, wherein each beam body has a lower beam portion having a curvature directed towards the child seat, and wherein the curvature of the lower beam portion extends away from the hip belt in a substantial perpendicular direction and deflects to the child seat to delimit a leg opening of the child seat for receiving a child's leg to restrain the child in the seat.
17: The wearable child carrier according to claim 16, wherein each beam body has an upper beam portion forming a S-shape with the lower beam portion.
18: The wearable child carrier according to claim 16, wherein the upper beam portion extends along an upper region of the child seat to form a reinforcement of the child seat.
19: The wearable child carrier according to claim 16, wherein the child carrier further comprises a suspension support for interconnecting the child seat and the hip support for supporting the child seat.
20: The wearable child carrier according to claim 19, wherein one end of the suspension support is connected to one of the child seat and the suspension beam, and the other end of the suspension support is connected to the hip belt.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0093] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader context as a delimiting feature, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments falling within the scope of the above clauses and appended claims, in which:
[0094]
[0095]
[0096]
[0097]
[0098]
[0099]
[0100]
[0101]
[0102]
[0103]
[0104]
[0105]
[0106]
[0107]
[0108]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0109] In
[0110]
[0111] The child carrier 1 has a hip support 3. The hip support 3 includes a hip belt 30 for surrounding a pelvic region PR of the person. The hip belt 30 has extreme ends. The ends of the hip belt are provided with a hip belt closure 31. Each extreme end of the hip belt 30 is provided with a closure member of the hip belt closure 31. The hip belt closure has a first closure member and complementary second closure member which are positioned at the extreme ends of the hip belt.
[0112] Further, child carrier 1 is provided with a child seat to for holding the child C. The child seat has a seat bottom 22 and a backrest 21. The seat bottom 22 is connected to the hip support. The seat bottom 22 may be directly connected to the hip belt 30. Alternatively, the child carrier 1 may comprise an abdominal pad 23 for bearing upon an abdominal region of the person P. The abdominal pad 23 is fixed to the seat bottom 22. The abdominal pad 23 may be incorporated into the hip support 3, such that the hip belt 30 and the abdominal pad 23 form a one-piece item.
[0113] In an alternative embodiment of the child carrier 1, the abdominal pad 23 may be connected to the pair of suspension beams 5. The abdominal pad 23 may be permanently fixed to the pair of suspension beams 5. Alternatively, the abdominal pad may be releasably connected by a seat bottom connector 220.
[0114] The child seat 2 is positioned at a middle region of the head belt 30. Herewith, the child seat 2 is positioned opposite the hip belt closure 31 when wearing the child carrier. In use, the child seat is positioned at a torso side opposite the hip belt closure 31. As shown in
[0115] Further, the child carrier 1 comprises a pair of suspension beams 5. The pair of suspension beams include a left and right suspension beam 5L, 5R. The suspension beams serve to transfer a load from the child seat 2 to the hip support 3. Each suspension beam has a beam body 50 being connected to the child seat 2. The beam body 50 is connected to a side region of the backrest 21. A proximal beam end 501 is connected to the hip support 3.
[0116] The child carrier 1 according to the invention is beneficial in that it provides an improved load transfer from the child seat 2 to the hip support 3. The connection of the suspension beams 5L, 5R to the child seat 2, preferably to the backrest 21, provides a direct transfer via a short path from the child seat 2 to the hip belt 30. The connection of the suspension beams to the backrest is located nearby a point of gravity of the child seat, such that an introduced momentum can be effectively compensated by the pair of suspension beams 5.
[0117] The positioning of the hip belt closure 31 opposite the child seat is beneficial in that it allows that each suspension beam 5 can be unreleasable fixed to the child seat 2. The positioning simplifies putting on steps to start wearing the child carrier. The child carrier can the put on the person's torso by placing the child carrier against the torso and then closing the hip belt closure 31. In comparison with a hip belt closure 31 positioned at a same side of the child seat, a step in motion or overhead pulling is avoided. The fixture of the beam body 50 to the child seat 2 is a permanent connection. The fixture contributes to a child carrier safety in that the child seat 2 cannot be undesirably released in an unexpected situation.
[0118] Each beam body 50 has a lower beam portion 51 which is provided with a curvature. The curvature of the beam body 50 extends away from the hip belt 30 in a substantial perpendicular direction. The curvature is directed towards the child seat 2. Here, the curvature deflects from a vertical to the child seat about a tangential curvature angle of at least 30°, in particular at least 45°.
[0119] The beam body 50 is laterally connected to the backrest 21 of the child seat 2. The left suspension beam 5L is connected to a left side of the child seat 2. The right suspension beam 5R is connected to a right side of the child seat. When a child is received in the child seat 2, the beam body 50 extends over a child leg CL. Together with an edge of the seat bottom 22, the curved beam body 50 delimits a child's leg opening. The child's leg CL is put through the child's leg opening. Herewith, the beam body 50 beneficially forms a lateral restraint to restrain the child in the child seat 2. Besides providing a support to the child seat, the curved suspension beam further contributes to a child carrier safety by forming a lateral restraint.
[0120] The beam body 50 has a S-shape. Each beam body 50 has an upper beam portion 52 which has a curvature in a direction opposite the direction of the curvature of the lower beam portion. Here, each upper beam portion 52 extends along an edge region of the backrest 21, in particular along a headrest 211 of the backrest. Here, the upper beam portion is curved along a smaller radius than a radius of the curvature of the lower beam portion. The upper beam portions provide a reinforcement to the child seat 2.
[0121] Here, the upper beam body portions of the left and right suspension beam are interconnected by a bridge member 55. The bridge member 55 is plate shaped. The bridge member 55 may be an additional item or may be formed by a thickening of the backrest 21. Here, the backrest 21 includes a headrest 211. The upper beam portions 52 and the bridge member 55 provide a reinforcement to the headrest 211.
[0122] Here, as further shown in the enlarged view of
[0123] Here, besides a flexibility of the suspension beams, the rotational movement of the pair of suspension beams 5 is limited by a beam stopper 54. The beam stopper 54 is provided to limit a pivotal movement about a predetermined beam pivot angle α. The beam stopper 54 determines a maximum rotation of the pair of suspension beams 5, e.g. for at most 25°. Here, the beam stopper 54 is formed by a looped strap being positioned above the belt pocket.
[0124]
[0125] The child carrier 1 further comprises a suspension support 6. Here, the suspension support 6 is formed by a waist belt 60. The suspension support 6 interconnects the child seat 2 and the hip support 3 and provides a support to the child seat 2 in the lowered position LP.
[0126] As further shown in
[0127] In an alternative embodiment, the distal end 602 of the suspension support 6 may be connected to a suspension beam 5. The distal end 602 of the suspension support is connected to one of the child seat 2 and the beam body 50 by a suspension support connector, in particular a backrest connector 210. Preferably, the backrest connector 210 is configured to adjust a length of the suspension support 6 to adjust the lowered position LP of the child seat 2.
[0128] As shown in
[0129] As shown in
[0130] Thus, the invention provides a wearable child carrier 1 to be worn by a person P to carry a child C close to his torso. The child carrier 1 comprises a hip belt 30, and a child seat 2 with a a seat bottom 22 and a backrest 21. The child carrier 1 is provided with a pair of suspension beams 5 for transferring a load from the child seat 2 to the hip support 3. Each suspension beam 5L, 5R has a beam body 50 with a proximal beam end 501 being connected to the hip support 3. Each beam body 50 is connected to the backrest 21 of the child seat 2. The connection to the backrest is beneficial in that an improved load transfer from the child seat to the hips is obtained. In addition, the beam body 50 may form a leg restraint for the child to provide lateral stability.
[0131]
[0132] A child is to be received in a child seat 2 of the child carrier. As further shown in
[0133] The child seat 2 may be formed a flexible pouch or by a rigid body. The child seat 2 may comprise a seat shell to provide rigidity to the seat. The child C in the child seat may face away from the person, but in a preferred use as shown, the child is facing to the carrying person and resting with its back to the backrest 21 of the child seat. As shown in
[0134] The child carrier 1 comprises a hip support 3. The hip support 3 includes a hip belt 30 for encircling a pelvic region of the person. The pelvic region of a person is indicated in
[0135] The hip support 3 further has a lower back portion which is resting onto the glutes of the person when wearing the hip support 3. The lower back portion is here integrally shaped with the hip support. The lower back portion forms a lumbar support 4 for bearing upon a lower back portion of the person. Herewith, the hip support is stably attachable to the person.
[0136] Further, the child carrier comprises a pair of suspension beams 5. The pair of suspension beams 5 comprises a left and right suspension beam 51,52. The backrest 21 of the child seat is connectable to the pair of suspension beams 5. The backrest is provided with a left and right backrest connector 210 for connecting the backrest to respectively the left and right distal beam end 502. The person P may release one of the backrest connectors 210 and the hip belt closure 31 for putting off the child carrier.
[0137] Each suspension beam 51,52 has an elongated beam body 50. A proximal end of the beam body 50 is connected to the hip support 3. The proximal beam end 501 is positioned at a lateral side of the hip support 3 substantially corresponding with a hip joint of the person. Each beam body 50 has a distal beam end 502 extending away from the hip support 3 in front of the person. The distal beam end 502 is spaced from the person's upper body.
[0138]
[0139]
[0140] The seat bottom 22 is adjustable in height with respect to the suspension beams 5. At each side, the belly pad 23 is connected to the suspension beam by a seat bottom adjuster 29. Here, the seat bottom adjuster 29 comprises an adjuster housing 291 including a strap 292 to adjust a relative height of the seat bottom 22. The adjuster housing 291 is mounted to the suspension beam at a fixed position. Here, the adjuster housing 291 is mounted in an upper half portion of the suspension beam 51. The strap 292 is extending in between the adjuster housing 291 and the belly pad 23. The strap can be lengthened or shortened to adjust a height of the seat bottom 22. Here, the waist belt 6 is slidably connected to the suspension beam 51. Advantageously, herewith the seat bottom 22 is adjustable in height with respect to the hip support, such that the child carrier can be worn by a person in which the hip support firmly rests onto the glutes, while at the same time, a child is optimally positioned in height with respect to a torso of the person. The child seat 2 is easy adaptable by adjusting the seat bottom to optimally carry either a newborn baby or a one year old toddler while maintaining the stable positioning of the hip support onto the glutes and a desired height of the child relative to the upper body keeping a child head at a shoulder region of the person.
[0141]
[0142] Here, the thigh pad arm 91 is pivotally connected to the hip support 3. Preferably, a pivot axis of the pivot connection is positioned at the hip support to align with a hip-leg joint of the person. In particular, the thigh pad arm 91 is mounted by a thigh support pivot housing 92 to a proximal beam end 501 of a suspension beam. Both the suspension beam 51 and the thigh pad arm 91 are connected to the same housing 92. Herewith, a load from a suspension beam is directly transferred via the pivot housing 92 and the thigh pad arm 91 to the thigh pad 90 to a person's leg.
[0143] The thigh pad arm 91 may be adapted in flexibility to provide a predetermined pressure on to a leg. In particular, the thigh support 9 is biased by a spring 93. The spring 93 may be a torsional spring or a gas spring inside the pivot housing 92. The spring 93 may be a releasable spring 93 to allow a user to adapt a spring tension. The releasable spring tension is beneficial to allow a user to release the spring tension when using the child carrier during a walk. In that case, the spring tension may be strongly reduced or eliminated to allow a free movement of a person's leg.
[0144]
[0145] The chest belt 8 is connected to the child seat 2 to prevent a movement of the child seat 2 away from the upper body. The chest belt 8 may be directly connected to the child seat 2. Preferably, as shown, the chest belt 8 is connected to the pair of suspension beams 5 to prevent the suspension beams bending away from the upper body. Herewith, the suspension beams function to transfer a weight of the child to the hip support, while the chest belt 8 contributes in compensating an introduced momentum. The chest belt 8 has a chest belt closure 81. The chest belt closure 81 is preferably positioned to be situated at a lateral side of a person's upper body.
[0146] The at least one shoulder belt 7 may also function to reduce an introduced momentum. Here, a pair of shoulder belts is provided which is shown in further detail in
[0147] The shoulder belt 7 comprises an upper shoulder belt connector 71 for connecting the shoulder belt 7 to the backrest 21 of the child seat 2. Here, the upper shoulder belt connector 71 connects the headrest 211 to the shoulder belt 7.
[0148] The shoulder belt 7 is adjustable in length to adapt to a person's body. The shoulder belt 7 has a lower shoulder belt connector 72 in which the shoulder belt 7 is connected to the left or right suspension beam 51, 52. Here, the shoulder belt 7 is connected by a shoulder strap 720 forming the lower shoulder belt connector 72 to the seat bottom connector 220 formed by the adjuster housing 291 which is mounted to the suspension beam 51.
[0149] As shown in
[0150]
[0151] Thus, in the second aspect, the invention provides a wearable child carrier comprising a hip support with a hip belt, a lumbar support and a pair of suspension beams. The child carrier includes a child seat with a backrest which is connectable by at least one manually releasable backrest connector to a distal beam end of one of the suspension beams. A weight of a child sitting in the child seat is transferred via the pair of suspension beams to the hip support positioned at the pelvic region. Due to the effective transfer of the load, the child carrier can advantageously be embodied without any additional cumbersome belts surrounding the upper body.
[0152] Although the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure and claims.
TABLE-US-00001 Reference signs list: P person 05 beam pivot pointα beam pivot angle PR pelvic region 50 beam body LR lumbar region 51 lower beam portion SR shoulder region 52 upper beam portion LP lowered position 501 proximal beam end RP raised position 502 distal beam end C child 5L left suspension beam CL child leg 5L left suspension beam 1 child carrier 53 beam connector; belt pocket 54 beam stopper 2 child seat 55 bridge member 21 backrest 210 backrest connector; 6 suspension support suspension support connector 211 head rest 601 waist belt proximal end 22 seat bottom 602 waist belt distal end 23 abdominal pad 220 seat bottom connector 7 Shoulder belt 29 seat bottom adjuster 71 upper shoulder belt connector 291 adjuster housing 710 shoulder band 292 adjuster strap 72 lower shoulder belt connector 720 shoulder strap 3 Hip support 30 Hip belt 8 chest belt 31 hip belt closure 81 chest belt closure 4 lumbar support 9 thigh support 40 lower back panel 90 thigh pad 91 thigh pad arm 5 Pair of suspension beams 92 pivot housing 5L left suspension beam 93 spring 5R right suspension beam