Infant carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839302-B2
Application number	US-201514940565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Aug 19, 2009
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide infant carrying devices. In particular, embodiments described herein provide infant inserts to carry an infant in a child carrier. Inserts according to various embodiments can comprise a flexible panel having a curved shape that narrows toward one end of the panel. The panel can define a front opening to an area to hold the infant. A cushion can be disposed at the bottom of the area to hold the infant. The infant insert can be adapted to support an infant in a wearer facing position with the infant's knees raised. In particular, embodiments of infant inserts can be adapted to promote a spread-squat-position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An infant insert to carry an infant comprising:
a flexible panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the flexible panel having a curved shape that narrows toward the bottom of the flexible panel, the flexible panel defining a front opening to an area for holding an infant without use of a crotch strap, the flexible panel sized to provide support along the infant's spine and neck, and wherein a first side bottom corner and a second side bottom corner are joined together to form a cushion opening at the bottom of the flexible panel; and
a cushion positioned in the cushion opening, the cushion shaped to support the infant forward of the infant's tailbone when in use;
wherein the infant insert is sized and configured for placement in a child carrying area of a front wearable child carrier to accommodate the infant in a wearer facing position with the infant's legs extending out the front opening and the infant's knees raised at least 90 degrees from the coronal plane.

2. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the infant insert is adapted to support the infant in a position with the infant's femur at an angle of 90-120 degrees from the coronal plane.

3. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the infant insert is adapted to support the infant in a position with the infant's knees at 45-60 degrees from the median plane.

4. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the infant insert is adapted to promote a spread-squat-position.

5. The infant insert of claim 4 , further comprising a cushion retaining strap coupled to the flexible panel and passing under the cushion.

6. The infant insert of claim 1 , further comprising a closure strap having a first end coupled to the outer surface of the flexible panel on one side of a vertical access of the flexible panel and a second end coupled to the outer surface of the flexible panel on a second side of the vertical access of the flexible panel, the closure strap adapted to bring a first side edge and second side edge of the flexible panel closer together to close the front opening.

7. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the infant insert comprises an area of spinal padding.

8. The infant insert of claim 7 , wherein the area of spinal padding is progressively more padded toward the bottom of the area of spinal padding.

9. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel comprises a head rest area.

10. The infant insert of claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel further comprises a rail of padding disposed at the edge of the panel, the rail adapted to support the infant's thighs and cushion around the head and neck.

11. An infant insert comprising:
an elongated flexible panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first bottom corner and a second bottom corner, wherein the first bottom corner and second bottom corner are stitched together to form a cushion opening at the bottom of the elongated flexible panel and cause the first side edge and second side edge to converge to form a tapered front opening to an area to hold an infant without use of a crotch strap, wherein the length of the elongated flexible panel from the top edge to the bottom edge is selected to allow the panel to provide support along the infant's spine and neck and provide a head rest area and the width of the elongated panel is selected so that the panel provides side padding for the infant when in use, the elongated flexible panel further comprising:
a continuous rail of padding along the first side edge, top edge and the second side edge;
an area of spinal padding disposed about a vertical axis of the elongated flexible panel to provide padding for the infant's spine;
a cushion disposed in the cushion opening at the bottom of the area to support the infant's pelvis;
wherein the infant insert is adapted to fit in a child carrying area of a front wearable child carrier to position the infant in a wearer facing position with the infant's legs extending out the front opening and the infant's knees raised at least 90 degrees from the coronal plane.

12. The infant insert of claim 11 , wherein the cushion is positioned to support the infant in front of the infant's tailbone to prevent the sacrum from being in a weight bearing position.

13. The infant insert of claim 11 , wherein the infant insert is adapted to support the infant in a spread-squat-position.

14. The infant insert of claim 11 , further comprising a cushion retaining strap coupled to the elongated flexible panel and passing below the cushion to retain the cushion.

15. The infant insert of claim 11 , further comprising a closure strap coupled to one side of the outer surface of the elongated flexible panel and to another side of the outer surface of the elongated flexible panel, the closure strap crossing the front opening.

16. The infant insert of claim 15 , wherein the closure strap is adjustable.

17. The infant insert of claim 16 , wherein the closure strap is detachably coupled to the elongated flexible panel on at least one end.

18. The infant insert of claim 11 , wherein the area of spinal padding comprises a set of areas that are progressively more padded from the top of the set of areas to the bottom of the set of areas and wherein the lowest of the set of areas is positioned to support the infant's lower back.

19. The infant insert of claim 11 , wherein the rail is positioned to pad the infant's legs if the infant's legs extend out the front opening to straddle the wearer.

20. A method of carrying an infant comprising:
providing an infant in an infant insert comprising:
a flexible panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, the panel having a curved shape that narrows toward the bottom of the panel, the panel defining a front opening to an area for holding the infant without use of a crotch strap, the flexible panel is sized to provide support along the infant's spine and neck; and
a cushion disposed proximate to the bottom of the area for holding an infant, the cushion adapted to support the infant forward of the infant's tailbone when in use; positioning the infant insert in a child carrier area of a child carrier in a front carrying position on a wearer, wherein the infant insert is positioned so that the infant is facing the wearer of the child carrier and the infant's spine and neck are supported by the flexible panel; and
tilting the infant's pelvis forward to encourage a natural curve in the infant's spine;
wherein the infant is positioned so that the infant's legs extend out the front opening and the infant's knees are raised at least 90 degrees from the coronal plane.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the infant is positioned in a spread-squat-position.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising decreasing the size of the front opening prior to inserting the infant insert into the child carrier.

Assignees

• The Ergo Baby Carrier Inc

Inventors

• Frost Karin Annette

Classifications

• A47D13/025 Primary

  for carrying children in seated position · CPC title

• A47D13/02 Primary

  Baby-carriers; Carry-cots · CPC title

• A41B13/06 Primary

  Slip-in bags; Swaddling clothes · CPC title