GB2459466A

GB2459466A - A portable child carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2459466A
Application number: GB0807374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Paul Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-23
Filing date: 2008-04-23
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Also published as: GB0807374D0

Abstract

A portable child carrier consisting of one piece of material in the form of a belt which is wrapped around the child and adult such that the child is held securely either to the back of the adult in a piggyback position or on the front of the adult, facing the adult. Preferably the belt is secured around the child via a hook and loop fastener strap F that restrains the child to the belt and maintains the child in an upright posture. When the child is carried on the back of the wearer the belt wraps around the back of the child, the retaining strap on the belt securing the child to the belt (fig 2), the ends of the belt pass underneath each of the child's arms and then pass over the wearer's shoulders before passing back underneath the wearer's arms and crossing over each other underneath the child's bottom (fig 5), the ends of the belt then pass to the front of the wearer and are detachably fastened together (fig 7). Preferably the belt has an adjustable chest strap G slidably attached to vertical slots C on the belt to maintain belt on the shoulders of the carrier. When the child is carried on the front of the wearer (fig 9), the belt wraps around the same points of the body but may cross across the back of the wearer (fig 10) negating the need for a chest strap.

Description

Child carrier belt

Description

Most child carriers for toddlers and older (children age 2-4) are large and bulky with rigid parts and they are awkward to carry. They are therefore not suitable for situations where adults unexpectedly wish to carry a child. Additionally some child carriers carrying children up to age 4 are heavy and difficult to lift onto the back of the adult without assistance from another person.

This child carrier overcomes these problems, consisting of just one piece of strong material (the belt) which is wrapped around the child and adult such that the child is held securely either on the back of the adult in a piggyback position or on the front of the adult, facing the adult. Rucksack type clasps and a hook and loop fastener tape fitting around the chest of the child provide complete security for the child, over and above the traditional use of Japanese belts in this manner, whereby they would be merely tied in a knot at the front of the adult.

The child carrier can be folded up and contained in a bag approximately 12cm X 26cm X 6cm, making it ideal for parents to carry at all times and for spontaneous use. The belt has a simple buckle system which can be easily adjusted to fit different sized adults/children, The carrier is suitable for young children aged approximately 2-4 years who are able to walk.

The following describes the features and advantages of the invention supported by the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the carrier belt, showing all the features: Figure 2 is a front view showing how the belt is fixed to the child; Figure 3 is a front view showing how the belt is first positioned on the adult wearer; Figure 4 is a front view showing the belt being secured to the adult with the chest strap; Figure 5 is a side view showing how the belt is passed behind the adult and under the child; Figure 6 is a front view showing how the belt carrier is then passed to the front of the adult; Figure 7 is a front view showing how the belt is secured with the buckle at the front of the adult; Figure 8 is a back view showing the carrier belt in the correct position across and under the child; Figure 9 shows the use of the carrier belt to carry a child in the front position; Figure 10 shows the back view of the carrier belt carrying a child in the front position.

In the following description the adult carrying the infant is referred to as the wearer. The infant being carried is referred to as the child.

The carrier belt acts as a support for children riding in the piggy back' position as shown in Figure 8. Unlike some carrier devices, this device is suited to children who are already able to assume this position.

The carrier belt and composed parts is shown in Figure 1. The device has no rigid parts, with the exception of the belt buckles (A, B) and vertical sliding buckles (C) which are formed of plastic. The belt is formed of one piece of padded material. At either end of this piece is joined a length of nylon webbing (D).

The nylon webbing is passed through a plastic side release buckle having both a male member and a female member that can be mated to releasably join the two ends of the belt together (A). Adjustment of the belt is also possible once the buckle is fastened.

The excess length of the belt is tucked into two belt guides (E). Thus once the belt is adjusted by the wearer, it may be taken off and remounted at a later date with no further adjustment required. The belt guides ensure that the loose ends of the belt are tucked out of the way and do not interfere with the wearer's limbs.

At the centre of the belt is joined two lengths of nylon webbing with hook and loop fastener tape stitched onto their surface (F) which act as a restraining strap. The hook and loop fastener tape is mounted such that the webbing may be closed about the chest of the child without any twisting of the material across the surface of the child. As well as acting as a safety feature by restraining the child in the belt, the restraining strap aids in maintaining an upright posture for the child. In addition if the restraining strap is fastened firmly a proportion of the child's weight is supported through the chest area. The restraining strap may be fastened about the child whilst the child is standing.

A chest strap (G) is joined to a plastic vertical slider (C) which is threaded by nylon webbing and joined to the main body of the belt (H). The chest strap fittings are on the opposite side of the belt to the restraining strap. This ensures that the belt traverses over the shoulder in a smooth untwisted fashion. The chest strap is fixed to a small side release buckle (B) having both a male member and a female member that can be mated to releasably join the two ends of the chest strap together (B). Adjustment of the strap ensures that the belt is positioned over the top of the shoulders and cannot slip off. The chest strap additionally ensures that the child is in an upright sitting position. The position of the chest strap across the chest may be adjusted in vertical height down to the waist by means of two vertical sliders (C). This is necessary for women who are not comfortable wearing the strap across the chest area. In this instance the chest strap (G) may be lowered so that it is worn across the stomach. It is possible to loosen and tighten the chest strap while it is fastened. It is also possible to vertically adjust the positioning of the strap across the chest while the chest buckles are fastened.

Figures 2 to 8 show the different stages to carry a child on the back of the wearer with the carrier belt. The belt is attached to the child first, as in Figure 2. The centre of the belt is passed around the back of the child and the restraining strap (F) is closed around the chest of the child.

The belt straps are passed over the shoulders of the adult as in Figure 3.

Pulling the child up into piggy back position, the chest strap is fastened with the side release buckle (B) and tightened by pulling the strap across the chest of the adult (Figure 4).

The belt straps are passed behind the wearer and are crossed over under the seat of the child at the top of the legs (Figure 5). The belt is not twisted.

The two ends of the belt are then brought to the front of the adult (Figure 6) and the main belt buckle (A) is then fastened around the waist of the adult (Figure7). The buckle can be adjusted according to the size of the adult.

The wearer can then make further small adjustments of the chest strap and main belt to ensure the child is securely and comfortably supported with the weight distribution being taken around the chest, under the anus and under the seat of the child (Figure 8).

Figures 9 and 10 shows how the carrier belt secures the child on the front of the wearer with the child facing the wearer. In this position the belt is crossed at the back negating the need to utilise the chest strap.