SLING TYPE CHILD CARRIER

Abstract

A sling type child carrier comprises a sheet and carrying portions extending from a top end and a bottom end of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border. The carrier comprises at least one strap for running between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and forming a loop between the strap and the left or right border of the sheet for holding a leg of the child. The strap has a bottom end attached at or near the left border or the right border, respectively, of the sheet and a top end attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to child carriers, in particular sling-type carriers comprising a sheet and a carrying strap extending from a top end and a second carrying end of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The discussion below is merely provided for general back-ground information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0003] Sling type carriers of the aforementioned type are known. A sling type child carrier can include belts that form loops. However, when a child is sitting in the sling with its legs extending through the loops, the belts can cut into the legs of the child. This is uncomfortable to the child. An improved sling-type carrier is therefore still desired.

SUMMARY

[0004] This Summary and the Abstract herein are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Back-ground.

[0005] An improved sling type child carrier is hereby provided. The carrier comprises a sheet and carrying portions extending from a top end and a bottom end of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border. The carrier comprises at least one strap for running between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and forming a loop between the strap and the left border or the right border of the sheet for holding a leg of a child seated in the carrier. The strap is attached at or near the left or right border, respectively, of the sheet and it is attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet.

[0006] Thus, in use, the strap extends from the left or right border to the top end of the sheet or at least near the latter, generally running up and down between the legs of the seated child. This distributes the retention force of the strap between and past the legs of the child, rather than over and on the legs. Therefore the legs of the child are not pinched by the strap improving comfort and leaving blood flow through the legs intact. Moreover, the provided strap runs over the belly of the child and in case of a small child, may even run over the chest of the child, further increasing retention and security of the child.

[0007] The carrier may comprise one or more releasable connectors for detaching and/or opening at least part of the strap. Opening the strap results in opening the loop, this facilitates seating the child into the sling. Suitable connectors may comprise buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. D-ring), buttons etc. Buckles provide ease of use and they may have a shape that enables retaining a wide strap flat. Ring-type connectors are easy to use, have a low volume and facilitate length-adjustment. Buttons are available in numerous shapes and they may be formed small while being robust.

[0008] In an embodiment, the left border and/or the right border of the sheet are provided with one or more of the releasable connectors attached to the respective border.

[0009] One or more of the releasable connectors may be attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the end of the sheet. Thus, an upper border of the strap may be detached. This facilitates seating the child into the sling and pulling the strap between the child's legs from which the strap may be connected in clear view. A connector between the child's legs is obviated.

[0010] The strap may be provided as a removable part from the carrier, but preferably the strap is formed as an integral part of the carrier, e.g. stitched to the sheet or formed unitary with a portion of the sheet or of a strap forming part of the carrying portion. In particular in case of a removable strap, one or more additional connectors may be provided for attaching and retaining the strap when not in use.

[0011] The strap may comprise a connector matching at least one of the one or more releasable connectors. This may facilitate attaching the strap. Two-part buckles e.g. various types of snap buckles, are known and have proven to be reliable.

[0012] Preferably all connectors are of the same type and size such that the strap may be connected with any one of the releasable connectors. However, different types, sizes and or colours of connectors may be used to identify different configurations and/or options for the strap and/or other parts of the sling.

[0013] An embodiment may comprise a strap portion attached to the left border of the sheet and a strap portion attached to the right border of the sheet, both strap portions comprising a connector matching the at least one of the one or more releasable connectors attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the end of the sheet. Such embodiment facilitates bi-directional use of the sling (carrying the sling over either shoulder of a user) with easy seating of the child in either way.

[0014] One or more of the connectors attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet are preferably attached substantially symmetrically between the left and right borders of the sheet and/or between the left and right borders of the carrying portion, respectively.

[0015] At least one portion of the at least one strap may be reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising one or more slidable buckles. This enables adaptation of the sling to the child's size and position. E.g. shortening the strap can flatten the sling and pull part of the sheet itself between the legs, supporting (the upper legs of) the child in the so-called "M-position".

[0016] The sling may comprise at least one adjustment strap extending along at least part of the left and/or right border of the sheet, e.g. in a seam of the sheet, the adjustment strap being reversibly length-adjustable for tightening and shaping at least part of the sheet. The adjustability may be provided through one or more buttons, clamps, buckles, etc. in and/or on the sling e.g. the adjustment strap and/or the sheet. This facilitates forming the sheet around the child, e.g. to support a sitting child's back and/or closing the sling comfortably around a child lying in the sling, e.g. against a cold wind. At least part of the adjustment band may be elastic, e.g. a bungee cord.

[0017] The carrying portions may be continuous and form an uninterrupted carrying strap, but preferably they are releasably connected with a connector, e.g. one or more buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. D-rings), buttons etc. enabling opening of the sling for easier donning. However, carrying portions may also be knotted together, as in a traditional style. Any buckle in the carrier may be provided with a element according to EP 2 140 785. The carrying portions are preferably reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising one or more slidable buckles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing a number of embodiments by way of example.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a carrier in use for carrying a seated child by a user;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a child sitting in the carrier;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows the carrier worn over the opposite shoulder of a user compared to FIG. 1 and with the carrier adjusted to another configuration;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a detail of an embodiment of the carrier;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the carrier in use.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms "upward", "downward", "below", "above", and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral, where helpful individualised with alphabetic suffixes.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 3 show an adult A carrying a sitting child C in a sling type child carrier 1. At least from a comparison between FIGS. 1 and 3 it will be evident that the sling 1 may be carried over either shoulder, according to the preference of the user and/or the child. The carrier 1 of FIGS. 1-4 and 6 comprises a sheet 3 and a top carrying portion 5 and a bottom carrying portion 7 extending from a top end 9 and a bottom end 11, respectively of the sheet 3. The sheet 3 has a left border 13 and a right border 15 defined by borders, which may be padded and which may comprise one or more guides, loops or tunnels for an adjustment strap. The sheet is flexible, e.g. cloth. The borders may be unitary with the sheet, i.e. made from the same material as the sheet 3, and/or made from a different material and at least partly attached to the sheet 3 e.g. by stitching.

[0027] It should be noted that references to "top", "bottom", "left" and "right" are made with respect to the orientation of the carrier 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, where FIG. 4 is a portion of the carrier 1 between dashed lines 50A and 50B and looking in the direction indicated by arrow IV in FIG. 6.

[0028] Best seen in FIG. 2 is that the carrier 1 comprises a strap 17 attached at a bottom end 17B to the left border 13 of the sheet 1 at about the middle of the border 13 with respect to the top end 9 and the bottom end 11 of the sheet 3 and attached at a top end 17T to the carrying portion 5 and near the top end 9 of the sheet 3. Thus, the strap can run between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and a loop is formed between the strap 17 and the left border 13 of the sheet 3 for holding a leg (here: the right leg) of the child C sitting in the carrier 1. The strap 17 comprises two portions 19, 21 fixed to the border of the sheet 3 and to the carrying portion 5 respectively and being connected with a releasable connector 23 in the form of a two-part snap buckle 23 for opening the loop. The strap portions 19, 21 are slidably attached to (the respective parts of) the snap buckle 23) so that the effective length of the strap 17 between its attachment positions to the sheet 3 and the carrier 5 is adjustable. In another embodiment, not shown, the connector 23 may be attached to the top portion 9 of the sheet or the border 13, or connectors on both these positions may be provided so that the strap may be opened there and/or be removed altogether. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5, when the child is placed in the carrier one of the borders 13 or 15 will be located above the other depending on whether the carrier 1 is on the adult's left (FIG. 1) or right (FIG. 3) shoulder.

[0029] The borders 13, 15 of the sheet 3 are provided with a channel 25 holding an elastic adjustment strap 27 in turn provided with an adjustment clamp 29 accessible outside the sheet 3. An adjustment clamp 29 or other suitable device may be arranged at or near the top end 9 and/or the bottom end 11 of the sheet. Potential loose portions of the adjustment strap may be tucked away, e.g. in an optional pocket and/or the channel 25. The carrying portions 5, 7, of the shown carrier 1 are releasably connected with a set of matching and optionally slidable buckles 31, 33, but other connectors may be provided as well, most notably a pair of rings in one of the carrying portions (to form a so-called "ring sling").

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the carrying portions 5, 7 being provided with an optional pocket for storing objects such as keys, a bottle of milk, a mobile phone, etc.

[0031] As indicated above, FIG. 4 is a detail of the carrier 1, looking into (the carrying side of) the carrier 1, showing the sheet 3 with its top end 9, its left border 13 and its right borders 15, and showing the carrying portion 5 attached to the top end 9, the carrying end in this embodiment being provided with a relatively broad and padded portion 37 and a relatively narrow and unpadded belt portion 39.

[0032] The sheet 3 may be shaped with a relatively broad middle and relatively narrow top and/or bottom ends 9, 11 (the terms "top" and "bottom" being used primarily for reference purposes and according to the carrying configuration of FIGS. 1 and 3, since the sheet may be symmetric). However, the sheet may be made with a substantially rectangular sheet of material folded and held (e.g. stitched) together at the top and/or bottom ends 9, 11 to provide the hammock shape that is a main trait of sling type carriers. The carrying portions may be integral with the sheet, i.e. made of the same material, in particular in the "ring sling" and knotted type carriers, or they may be of different materials and/or differently shaped material portions, as shown here.

[0033] The carrier 1 is generally left-right symmetric; each of the left and right borders 13, 15 has been provided with a respective lower strap portion 19L, 19R. A single upper strap portion 21 having an optional connector 23U is attached together with an optional releasable connector 41 at the edge of the carrying portion 5 and the end of the sheet 3, the latter (41) being attached substantially without additional strap as an option. Each of the strap portions 19L, 19R is provided with an optional connector 23L, 23R, respectively matched to the connector 23U of the upper strap portion 21. Thus, a closed strap loop may be on the left side of the sheet or on the right side of the sheet by connecting the appropriate strap portions (19L+21 or 19R+21, respectively). The connectors 23L, 23R may be adjustable as shown, as may be one or both of connectors 23U, 41 (not shown). The upper strap portion 21 may be removed altogether or replaced by a longer strap portion if so desired and possibly depending on the size of the child to be carried. The strap portions 19L and/or 19R may be connected directly to the connector 41, when of suitably matched connector types, e.g. to provide a shortened strap 17. Such arrangement may be desired for very small children and/or for shaping the sheet.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a variant of FIG. 4, wherein the lower strap portions 19L, 19R are attached (for example by stitching) on an exterior side of the respective borders 13, 15. Thus hinder from the strap portions to the child may be prevented. FIG. 5 further shows forming the sheet into a relatively deep seat by pulling up one border 13 between the legs of the child C by adjusting the strap 19L+21, as indicated in FIG. 5. Besides the strap 17 now also a part of the border 13 and/or more of the sheet 3 may support the belly of the child. Further adjustment of the shape of the sling 1 may be done using the other lower strap portion 19R. E.g. a supporting back rest may be formed by connecting the lower strap portion 19R to the connector 41 (see dotted lines in FIG. 5) and adjusting the length of the lower strap portion 19R. Such shaping may also be done with the embodiment of FIG. 4. An additional adjustment strap 27 and/or another provision to such effect may be thus be obviated.

[0035] Although the subject matter has been described in a language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. For instance the strap 17, 19R, 19L may comprise one or more padded portions, possibly provided as one or more padded sleeves surrounding a portion of the strap and/or connectors therein. Part of the sheet and/or the borders may be padded.

[0036] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A sling type child carrier, comprising a sheet and carrying portions extending from a top end and a bottom end of the sheet, the sheet having a left border and a right border opposite the left border, wherein the carrier comprises at least one strap configured to extend between the legs of a child seated in the carrier and form a loop between the strap and the left or right border of the sheet through which a leg of the child extends, the strap having a bottom end attached at or near the left border or the right border, respectively, of the sheet and a top end attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet.

2. The carrier according to claim 1, comprising one or more releasable connectors for detaching and/or opening at least part of the strap.

3. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the left border and/or the right border of the sheet are provided with one or more of the releasable connectors attached to the respective border.

4. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the releasable connectors are attached to a carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the top end of the sheet.

5. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the strap comprises at least one connector matching at least one of the one or more releasable connectors.

6. The carrier according to claim 3, comprising a strap portion attached to the left border and a strap portion (19R) attached to the right border, both strap portions comprising a connector (23L, 23R) matching the at least one of the one or more releasable connectors attached to the carrying portion and/or the sheet at or near the end of the sheet.

7. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the at least one strap is reversibly length-adjustable, e.g. comprising a slidable buckle.

8. The carrier according to claim 1, comprising at least one adjustment strap extending along at least part of the left and/or right border of the sheet, e.g. in a seam of the sheet, the adjustment strap being reversibly length-adjustable for tightening and/or shaping at least part of the sheet.

9. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the adjustment strap is elastic.

10. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrying portions are releasably connected with a connector, e.g. one or more buckles, double ring-type connectors (e.g. b-rings), buttons etc.

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