BABY CARRIER

Abstract

A baby carrier (1) is provided comprising a belt (2) stably fastenable to a waist of a user, defining in use a closed path developing along a trajectory (2a) lying on a transverse plane (2b), and including a strap (20) defining a surface (20a) developing along said trajectory (2a) perpendicularly to said transverse plane (2b); a support device (3) comprising at least one rigid panel (30) developing along a support plane (3a); and fastening means (4) mutually fastening the belt (2) and the support device (3) in such a way that the panel (30) may rotate about a rotation axis (4a), developing alongside part of the trajectory (2a), with respect to the strap (20) so as to define at least a stable closed configuration in which the planes (2b, 3a) are substantially parallel to one another and/or the panel (30) is more closely nearer to the strap (20), and a stable maximum open configuration in which the planes (2b, 3a) are mutually transverse and the panel (30) is more far away from the strap (20), defining around the rotation axis (4a) a maximum rotation angle () between the planes (2b, 3a); wherein the fastening means (4) further define a plurality of stable intermediate open configurations in which the planes (2b, 3a) are mutually transverse, each defining a distinct intermediate rotation angle () between the planes (2b, 3a) between 50 and said maximum rotation angle (), and wherein the maximum rotation angle () is distinct from each intermediate rotation angle (), greater than 90 and less than 150.

Claims

1. A baby carrier comprising: a belt stably fastenable to a waist of a user, defining in use a closed path developing along a trajectory lying on a transverse plane, and including a strap defining a surface developing along said trajectory perpendicularly to said transverse plane; a support device comprising at least one rigid panel developing along a support plane; and fastening means mutually fastening said belt and said support device in such a way that said panel may rotate about a rotation axis, developing alongside part of said trajectory, with respect to said strap so as to define at least: a stable closed configuration in which said planes are substantially parallel to one another and/or said panel is more closely nearer to said strap, and a stable maximum open configuration in which said planes are mutually transverse and said panel is more far away from said strap, defining around said rotation axis a maximum rotation angle between said planes; said fastening means further defining a plurality of stable intermediate open configurations in which said planes are mutually transverse, each defining a distinct intermediate rotation angle between said planes between 50 and said maximum rotation angle, and said maximum rotation angle is distinct from each said intermediate rotation angle, greater than 90 and less than 150.

2. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means define at least two of said intermediate open configurations and said intermediate rotation angles are respectively equal to 90 and 110

3. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said maximum rotation angle is equal to 145.

4. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprise: a first component integral with said strap, a second component integral with said panel and rotatable with respect to said first component about said rotation axis, and a control mechanism configured to mutually lock said first and second components when in said open, maximum closed, and intermediate closed configurations.

5. The baby carrier according to claim 4, wherein said control mechanism comprises: a first grooved ring developing around said rotation axis and integral with one of said first and second components, a second grooved ring developing around said rotation axis and integral with the other of said first and second components, and a toothed slider around said rotation axis and movable upon command along said rotation axis so as to define at least: a coupling position in which said slider engages along said rotation axis with each of said rings so as to mutually lock them in rotation, and an uncoupling position in which said slider engages along said rotation axis exclusively one of said rings so as to disengage them from one another in rotation; at least one of said rings including grooves developing radially to said rotation axis exclusively at positions such as to identify said rotation angles (, ).

6. The baby carrier according to claim 5, wherein said control mechanism comprises elastic opposing means configured to oppose the transition of said slider from said coupling position to said uncoupling position.

7. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said support device comprises an enclosure connected to said belt surrounding said panel and said fastening means so as to separate them from the exterior.

8. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said belt comprises a rigid plate fixed to said strap and superimposed on said strap, and said fastening means mutually fasten said plate and said panel.

9. The baby carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a harness integrally fixed to one or more among said panel, said strap, said plate, and said enclosure, and adapted to be further fastened to the shoulders or neck of a user.

10. The baby carrier according to claim 1, wherein said belt comprises connection means at its ends including Velcro.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a baby carrier according to the invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed longitudinal sectional view of the fastening means of a baby carrier according to the invention;

[0016] FIG. 3a illustrates a schematic side view of a baby carrier according to the invention in a closed configuration;

[0017] FIG. 3b is a schematic side view of a baby carrier according to the invention in a first intermediate open configuration;

[0018] FIG. 3c represents a schematic side view of a baby carrier according to the invention in a second intermediate open configuration; and

[0019] FIG. 3d shows a schematic side view of a baby carrier according to the invention in a maximum open configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In this document, measurements, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words such as about or other similar terms such as approximately or substantially, are to be understood as subject to measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, especially, to a slight deviation from the value, measurement, shape, or geometric reference to which it is associated. For example, such terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a deviation not exceeding 10% of the value itself.

[0021] Furthermore, when used, terms such as first, second, upper, lower, main, and secondary do not necessarily identify an order, priority of relation or relative position, but may simply be used to more clearly distinguish between different components.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, as appears from the following discussions, it is considered that terms such as treatment, informatics, determination, calculation, or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical quantities, such as electronic magnitudes of registers of a computer system and/or memories into other data likewise represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers or other storage, transmission or display devices of information.

[0023] The measurements and data reported herein are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as carried out in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

[0024] With reference to the Figures, the baby carrier according to the invention is globally denoted by the number 1.

[0025] The baby carrier 1 is substantially adapted to support a child, i.e. an infant or a child, thus having less weight or a smaller size as compared with an adult, at the front or rear of the torso of a user.

[0026] Therefore, the carrier is adapted to allow the positioning of the child in front of the abdomen or the back of the preferably adult user.

[0027] To this end, the baby carrier 1 comprises at least one belt 2.

[0028] The belt 2 is stably attachable at the waist of a user. Therefore, the belt 2 in use, i.e. when employed on the body of a user, defines a closed path.

[0029] The closed path develops along a trajectory 2a. The trajectory 2a is substantially a closed virtual line that defines the extension path of the belt 2.

[0030] The trajectory 2a lies on a transverse plane 2b. The transverse plane 2b is, therefore, a virtual plane along which the trajectory 2a is defined.

[0031] The belt 2 therefore includes a strap 20.

[0032] The strap 20 is a flat deformable element of low thickness. Therefore, the strap 20 defines a surface developing along the trajectory 2a perpendicularly to the transverse plane 2b.

[0033] Preferably, the strap 20 is a finished element, thus defining two mutually opposite ends which can be joined.

[0034] To this end, the belt 2 may comprise connection means 22.

[0035] The connection means 22 may be of the conventional type, for example comprising a buckle with pin and holes, or other types of quick-release buckles or other means known in the current state of the art.

[0036] If present, the connection means 22 are placed at the ends of the belt 2.

[0037] Preferably, the connection means 22 include Velcro. This configuration allows for rapid fastening and unfastening.

[0038] Furthermore, the strap 20 may be elasticised in such a way as to be able to be joined tightly around the user's waist.

[0039] Especially, but not only in this latter case, the strap 20 could be a closed element, a closed band wearable by the user and not openable.

[0040] The belt 2 may, in addition, comprise a plate 21.

[0041] If present, the plate 21 is rigid. It is a predominantly two-dimensional element;

[0042] therefore, the plate 21 is firmly constrained to the strap 20 and superimposed thereon. To this end, the plate 21 may be removably constrained to the strap 20. It may consequently define a reinforced portion of the belt 2, for example adapted to be arranged at the resting zone of the baby carrier 1.

[0043] The latter, in fact, also comprises a support device 3.

[0044] The support device 3 is substantially an element adapted to form a seat for the child. Therefore, the support device 3 defines at least one resting portion for the buttocks of the child.

[0045] To this end, preferably, the support device 3 comprises at least one panel 30. Similarly to the plate 21, the panel 30 is a predominantly two-dimensional element.

[0046] Therefore, it is adapted to make a sort of seat for the child. The panel 30 is preferably rigid, i.e. not structurally deformable by the weight of the child.

[0047] Naturally, the panel 30 is not necessarily a uniformly distributed and continuous element. Indeed, for example, the panel 30 may be a perforated support element, including one or more slots, also in a grid arrangement.

[0048] In addition, preferably, the panel 30 extends along a support plane 3a.

[0049] The support plane 3a is a virtual element along which the panel 30 is mostly developed. Therefore, the support plane 3a defines a reference plane for the panel 30, but the latter may also have a contact surface with the child's buttocks that is flat, or even shaped like the buttocks and thus curvilinear.

[0050] The baby carrier 1 also comprises fastening means 4.

[0051] The fastening means 4 mutually fasten the belt 2 and the support device 3. In particular, the fastening means 4 connect the belt 2 and the support device 3 in such a way that the panel 30 may rotate about a rotation axis 4a with respect to the strap 20.

[0052] The rotation axis 4a extends alongside a part of the trajectory 2a. Therefore, the rotation axis 4a is oriented such that the panel 30 may be pressed against the strap 20 or opened with respect to it.

[0053] In fact, the fastening means 4 define at least one closed configuration and one maximum open configuration.

[0054] Both configurations are stable, i.e. defined by locked fastening means 4.

[0055] In detail, preferably, in the stable closed configuration, the planes 2a, 3a are substantially parallel to one another and/or the panel 30 is more closely approximated to the strap 20. The term substantially indicates that the planes 2a, 3a do not necessarily have to be strictly parallel, but may also be slightly incident, as shown for example in FIG. 3a.

[0056] Instead, in the stable maximum open configuration, the planes 2b, 3a are mutually transverse. Furthermore, preferably, the panel 30 is further away from the strap 20. Therefore, the panel 30 defines with respect to the strap 20, in particular between the planes 2a, 3a, around the rotation axis 4a, a maximum rotation angle .

[0057] The maximum rotation angle is the widest angle of opening between the panel 30 and the strap 20 from the closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 3d.

[0058] The fastening means 4, advantageously, further define a plurality of stable intermediate open configurations. Even in an intermediate open configuration, the planes 2b, 3a are mutually transverse, each defining a distinct intermediate rotation angle between the planes 2b, 3a.

[0059] The intermediate rotation angle is, therefore, preferably between 50 and the maximum rotation angle .

[0060] The maximum rotation angle is also advantageously distinct from each intermediate rotation angle . In addition, advantageously, the maximum rotation angle is greater than 90 and less than 150.

[0061] In other words, as shown in FIGS. 3b-3d, the fastening means 4 define a plurality of different open configurations in which the panel 30 is opened beyond the strap 20 of the belt such that the transverse projection to the ground, when the baby carrier 1 is in use, of the panel 30 toward the strap 20 lies above the strap 20 with respect to the ground.

[0062] In a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment, the fastening means 4 define at least two intermediate open configurations. The intermediate rotation angles are therefore respectively equal to 90 and 110.

[0063] Naturally, the fastening means 4 could define an additional intermediate open configuration in which the intermediate rotation angle is, for example, approximately equal to 130.

[0064] In this case, preferably, the maximum rotation angle is equal to 145.

[0065] From a structural point of view, the fastening means 4 may be implemented in various ways.

[0066] In a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment, the fastening means 4 may comprise a first component 40, a second component 41, and a control mechanism 42.

[0067] The first component 40 is preferably fixed to the strap 20. If a plate 21 is present, the first component 40 is preferably directly connected to it; therefore, in this case, the fastening means 4 may loosely fasten the plate 21 and the panel 30 to one another.

[0068] The second component 41, in fact, is preferably fixed to the panel 30. Therefore, the second component 41 rotates with respect to the first component 40 about the rotation axis 4a.

[0069] The control mechanism 42 is, instead, configured to mutually lock the first and second components 40, 41 when in the open, maximum closed and intermediate closed configurations.

[0070] To this end, for example, the control mechanism 42 may comprise a first grooved ring 42a extending around the rotation axis 4a and integral with one of the first and second components 40, 41. Furthermore, the control mechanism 42 may comprise a second grooved ring 42b extending around the rotation axis 4a and integral with the other of the first and second components 40, 41.

[0071] In addition, the control mechanism 42 may comprise a toothed slider 42c around the rotation axis 4a.

[0072] The slider 42c is therefore preferably movable upon command along the rotation axis 4a. In this manner, the slider 42c may define at least one coupling position and one uncoupling position.

[0073] In the coupling position, the slider 42c engages along the rotation axis 4a with each of the rings 42a, 42b in such a way as to mutually lock them in rotation.

[0074] Therefore, the slider 42c is in a coupling position at least in the different open configurations. Consequently, advantageously, at least one of the rings 42a, 42b includes grooves extending radially to the rotation axis 4a exclusively at positions identifying the rotation angles , .

[0075] In the uncoupling position, instead, the slider 42c engages along the rotation axis 4a exclusively with one of the rings 42a, 42b in such a way as to disengage them from one another in rotation.

[0076] To control the transition between the various positions, preferably, the control mechanism 42 may comprise opposing means 43.

[0077] If present, the opposing means 43 are elastic. Furthermore, the opposing means 43 are configured to oppose the transition of the slider 42 from the coupling position to the uncoupling position.

[0078] Naturally, the control mechanism 42 may be implemented in other ways, including for example one-way clutches, or elements that generate friction at the open configurations or even others.

[0079] Furthermore, the baby carrier 1 may comprise additional features.

[0080] For example, to especially cover the fastening means 4, the support device 3 may comprise an enclosure 31.

[0081] The enclosure 31 may be closed and connected to the belt 2. Therefore, the enclosure 31 may surround the panel 30 and the fastening means 4 so as to separate them from the exterior. The enclosure 31 may be openable and comprise, for example, a zipper allowing access to the inside.

[0082] In addition, to improve safety, the baby carrier 1 may also comprise a harness rigidly fixed to one or more among the panel 30, the strap 20, the plate 21, and the enclosure 31 and also adapted to be additionally fastened to the shoulders or neck of a user.

[0083] The operation of the baby carrier 1 previously described in structural terms is as follows.

[0084] Substantially, through the fastening means 4, it is possible to obtain a plurality of different open configurations. In the different configurations, the panel 30 may be

[0085] M more or less close to the abdomen or back of the user and, therefore, defines a different height of the child with respect to the body of the user on which the baby carrier 1 is in use.

[0086] For this reason, the baby carrier 1 according to the invention achieves significant advantages.

[0087] Indeed, the baby carrier 1 makes it possible to realise, as mentioned, a plurality of different stable support positions in which the panel 30 defines different support heights.

[0088] Consequently, the baby carrier 1 is easily adaptable to children of different builds and/or the advancement of the child's growth, allowing, for example, the panel 30 to be stably lowered with respect to the body as the child grows, i.e. moving the fastening means 4 from the maximum open configuration to the different intermediate open configurations.

[0089] The invention is susceptible to variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims.

[0090] Within said scope, all details may be replaced by equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and dimensions may be any.