CARRYING DEVICE FOR A BABY OR SMALL CHILD

Abstract

Carrying device for a baby or small child, with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child wherein the joint area of the fabric panel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of German Patent Application No. 20 2014 100 614.1 filed Feb. 12, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Disclosed herein is a carrying device for a baby or small child, with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child.

BACKGROUND

Carrying devices for babies and also carrying devices for small children which are tailored to the special requirements of babies or small children are known from the prior art, i.e. there exist carrying devices which are suitable for carrying babies, wherein the term baby or infant refers to a child in the first year of life. Accordingly, a carrying device is used for a baby or for an infant for the first 12 months of life, wherein such baby-carrying devices can no longer be used after the end of the first year of life as a result of body size and weight since these carrying aids are then too small. After the end of the first year of life, one talks about the small child stage for which special carrying devices are constructed. It is often necessary to purchase a further carrying device for a small child after the end of the infant phase.

For this reason, for example, carrying devices are known which make available relative adjustment possibilities in terms of the back length of a carrying device for a baby or small child. For this purpose, adjustments usually have to be made to different belt straps.

SUMMARY

Proceeding from the above, embodiments disclosed herein provide a carrying device for a baby or small child which is particularly easy to adapt.

The described object is achieved in terms of the carrying device for a baby or small child which is particularly easy to adjust.

A carrying device for a baby or small child is provided with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, wherein the fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child. The carrying device accordingly comprises at least one hip belt which is placed around the hip of the carrier and is closed when carrying a baby or small child. Moreover, at least two shoulder straps are arranged on the hip belt, which shoulder straps are placed around the shoulders of the carriers in order to distribute the weight to be carried optimally to the areas of the shoulders, chest and in the area of the back of the carrying person.

Both shoulder belts can be connected by a further belt by means of a plug-in connection. This can, for example, involve a chest or back belt. This is dependent on whether the baby or small child is placed on the stomach of the carrier or on the back of the carrier. A fabric panel, which is additionally joined to the hip belt, extends between the shoulder straps of the carrying device. This fabric panel defines at least one seat and back support area for the baby or the small child. The seat area involves the area of the fabric panel which is adapted to the anatomy of the baby or child, in particular to the anatomy of the baby or child's buttocks. The back support area involves the area of the fabric panel which serves to support the back and the area of the nape of the neck of the child.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the joint area of the fabric panel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket. The joint area involves the area of the fabric panel which defines the area which is connected or can be connected to the hip belt.

The openable hip belt pocket involves a pocket-type receptacle which is formed so that it can be opened and preferably also closed. The hip belt pocket can form a portion of the hip belt. It is conceivable that the hip belt extends through the hip belt pocket. The pocket is preferably formed to be permanently closed on the underside, i.e. on the side facing away from the child or baby to be carried. The opening of the hip belt pocket is in turn formed on the side or edge of the hip belt pocket facing towards the baby to be carried or the small child to be carried. Insofar as the hip belt pocket forms, for example, a portion of the hip belt, the hip belt pocket can be attached to the hip belt, in particular sewed on. Insofar as the hip belt extends through the hip belt pocket, it is, for example, conceivable that the lift belt is provided on both sides with additional elements or that elements such as padded fabric elements are provided on both sides of the hip belt, which elements form a hip belt pocket.

The joint area of the fabric panel preferably has a tubular portion or comprises a tubular portion through which either the part of the hip belt located within the hip belt pocket or a belt strap arranged separately within the hip belt pocket extends. In other words, the joint area of the material is formed to be tubular at least in portions, wherein a belt extends through the tubular portion. This belt can involve the part of the hip belt located in the hip belt pocket or a belt strap arranged separately within the hip belt pocket.

In one embodiment, the hip belt pocket can be formed from additionally padded material so that the comfort of wear in the case of the carrier of the baby or small child in the hip area is correspondingly increased. It is possible that additional belt straps are incorporated or fitted in the hip belt pocket or on the hip belt pocket in order to correspondingly reinforce the hip belt pocket.

The width of the fabric panel, preferably the width of the joint area of the fabric panel on the part of the hip belt or the separately arranged belt strap located within the hip belt pocket is preferably adjustable. In other words, the width of the fabric panel in the joint area of the fabric panel can be adjusted, wherein the adjustment can be performed at the part of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap located within the hip belt pocket.

The adjustment of the width of the fabric panel is carried out by variably wide pushing together or pulling apart of the tubular portion via the part of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap located within the hip belt pocket. In other words, the fabric panel can be adapted to the size of the baby or of the small child, wherein the width of the fabric panel is adjusted by pulling apart or pushing together the panel. Since the fabric panel is guided in a tubular manner around a belt strap, which can involve a part of the hip belt or a separately arranged belt strap, the tubular portion of the fabric panel, which represents the joint area of the fabric panel, can be pushed together or pulled apart via the belt.

This tubular portion can be pushed together or pulled apart along the part of the hip belt located within the hip belt pocket or along the separately arranged belt strap. The desired adjustment of the width of the fabric panel for different baby or small child sizes is thus possible. The two outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel are preferably assigned fixing means, in particular snap fastener elements for progressive fixing, or Velcro fasteners for continuous fixing, or the like, which interact with complementary fixing means on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap for the purpose of width adjustment of the fabric panel. The two outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel involve the two outer ends of the tubular portion of the fabric panel, i.e. the regions located close to the openings of the tubular portion. The two outer ends of the joint area or the two outer ends of the tubular portion have fixing means, wherein these fixing means are formed in a complementary manner to fixing means which are located on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or on the separately arranged belt strap.

The fixing means of the fabric panel can involve, for example, snap fastener elements such as snap fastener recesses which enable progressive fixing of the fabric panel to the hip belt pocket. It is possible that Velcro fasteners are used as fixing means which enable continuous fixing. Fixing means which are complementary to snap fastener elements or Velcro fasteners are located on the part of the hip belt located within the hip belt pocket or on the separately arranged belt strap.

It is conceivable that at least two, in particular three, four, five, or preferably six snap fastener elements arranged at a distance to one another, e.g. snap fastener heads, are provided on each side relative to the center of the part arranged within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap. A back panel, which has a complementary number of snap fastener elements, can be adjusted six times by arrangement or formation of at least six snap fastener elements on each side, i.e. by formation of a total of 12 snap fastener elements. In other words, six different width adjustments are possible in conjunction with the fabric panel. The invention also encompasses such embodiments which comprise snap fastener heads on the fabric panel and corresponding snap fastener recesses on the hip belt pocket, in particular on the hip belt and/or the separate belt located therein.

The adjustment or width adjustment of the fabric panel is carried out by corresponding fixing in the inside of or within the hip belt pocket. The hip belt pocket is preferably formed to be closable. A closing of the hip belt pocket can be carried out, for example, by means of Velcro and/or by means of snap fasteners and/or by means of hook/eye connection and/or by means of zip fasteners.

In one preferred embodiment, at least two zip fasteners are provided on the upper side of the hip belt pocket. The upper side of the hip belt pocket involves the side of the hip belt pocket which has an opening, i.e. the side of the hip belt pocket which points towards the buttocks or in the direction of the baby or of the small child. The two zip fasteners are preferably formed at the two outer ends of the upper side of the hip belt pocket. It can be provided that no zip fastener is arranged in the area of the fabric panel or in the joint area of the fabric panel to the hip belt pocket so that, for example, a corresponding wear of the fabric panel as a result of grinding at a zip fastener is avoided.

It is conceivable that the hip belt pocket is sufficiently large to accommodate baby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc. In other words, the hip belt pocket has such a size to serve the purpose of additional accommodation of baby items.

It is furthermore possible that a newborn insert can be fixed in the hip belt pocket. A newborn insert serves to support or provide additional support for the body of a newborn. Infants in the first four weeks of life are generally referred to as newborns. A newborn insert is correspondingly adapted to the size and the weight of a newborn so that babies, in particular also newborns, and also small children can be carried with the carrying device according to the invention since a width adjustment of the fabric panel is possible in the openable hip belt pocket and a newborn insert can also be fixed in the hip belt. Insofar as a newborn insert for carrying a baby with the carrying device is not (no longer) necessary, the newborn insert can be stored, in particular rolled away, in the hip belt pocket.

Further embodiments will become apparent from the subordinate claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Following is a description of an exemplary embodiment which is explained on the basis of the figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the carrying device according to the invention for a baby or small child with an open hip belt pocket;

FIGS. 2 a, 2b show a schematic representation of various embodiments of a hip belt pocket; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional representation in order to illustrate the arrangement of the joint area of the fabric panel around a belt strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The same reference numbers are used for identical parts and parts with an identical effect in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a carrying device according to embodiments disclosed herein for a baby or small child with a closable hip belt 10. Two individual segments of hip belt 10 are represented schematically which can be connected to one another or closed via a clasp, not represented, so that a closable hip belt 10 is formed. The carrying device furthermore has at least two shoulder straps (not represented) arranged on hip belt 10. A fabric panel 11, which is linked to hip belt 10, extends between the shoulder straps.

The fabric panel defines a seat and a back support area for the baby or the small child to be carried, wherein only seat area 12 is represented in FIG. 1. Seat area 12 is preferably formed in such a manner that a shaping is formed in the region of the buttocks of the baby or the small child, for example, such that an outwardly directed bulge is formed and the buttocks of the baby are lower than the knee of the child. Such a bulge is in particular advantageous when carrying newborns.

The fabric panel furthermore has a joint area 13, wherein said joint area 13 of the fabric panel is arranged according to the invention within an openable hip belt pocket 14.

Hip belt pocket 14 can form a portion of hip belt 10. It is possible that hip belt 10 extends through hip belt pocket 14. With regard to the various embodiments of a hip belt pocket, reference is made to FIGS. 2a and 2b.

A tubular portion 15 is encompassed in joint area 13 of fabric panel 11, through which tubular portion 15, in the represented example, the part of hip belt 10 located in hip belt pocket 14 extends or, for example, alternatively a belt strap arranged separately within hip belt pocket 14 extends.

Width B of fabric panel 11 can be adjusted at the part located within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or of a separately arranged belt strap. The adjustment of width B of fabric panel 11 is carried out by variably wide pushing together or pulling apart of tubular portion 15 via the part located within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or also of the separately arranged belt strap, not represented in FIG. 1. Two outer ends 16 of joint area 13 of fabric panel 11, which also represent both outer ends 16 of tubular portion 15 of fabric panel 11, are assigned fixing means, in the present case snap fastener recesses 17 for progressive fixing, wherein the fixing means located on outer ends 16, i.e. the snap fastener recesses, interact with complementary fixing means, i.e. snap fastener heads 18, which are arranged on the part located within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 for the purpose of adjustment of width B of fabric panel 11.

At least two, in the present case six snap fastener part elements or snap fastener fixing means, namely snap fastener heads 18 arranged at a distance a to one another are provided on each side relative to center M of the part arranged within hip belt pocket 14 of hip belt 10 or of a separately arranged belt strap, not represented. Distance a of snap fastener heads 18 to one another corresponds to distance c of snap fastener recesses 17 located in each case on an outer end 16 of joint area 13 of fabric panel 11. In the present exemplary embodiment, two snap fastener elements or snap fastener fixing means, namely snap fastener recesses 17, are formed on each outer end 16 so that the forces acting on the outer ends of joint area 13 can be distributed evenly and additionally a double securing means is present in relation to two snap fastener recesses 17 arranged next to one another.

After adjustment of width B of fabric panel 11 by variably wide pushing together or pulling apart of tubular portion 15 via the part of hip belt 10 located within hip belt pocket 14, the fixing of joint area 13 of fabric panel 11 within open hip belt pocket 14 can be carried out by snap fastener fixing once desired fabric panel width B is reached.

For a continuous fixing of the joint area of the fabric panel, the two outer ends of joint area 16 can, for example, have a Velcro fastener which interacts with a complementary fixing means, namely a non-woven material, which is located on a hip belt or on a separately arranged belt strap within the hip belt pocket.

In the present case, hip belt pocket 14 is formed by a folded fabric opening 20 which is padded and forms an opening 19. Padded material element 20 ensures in the region of the hip belt additional padding and corresponding comfort of wear in the case of the carrier. The folded down fabric element layers are fixed, in particular sewed, to one another at outer ends 21 of padded fabric element 20. Hip belt 10 can also be fixed within hip belt pocket 14, in particular sewed.

Hip belt pocket 14 is preferably formed so as to be closable. For this purpose, at least two zip fasteners 23 are provided on upper side 22 of hip belt pocket 14. Zip fasteners 23 preferably extend from outer ends 21 of padded fabric element 20 up to fabric panel 11. Center M of hip belt 10 or width B of fabric panel 11 is preferably not closed with a zip fastener since this could lead to corresponding damage to fabric panel 11.

Hip belt pocket 14 preferably has sufficiently large dimensions that baby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc. can be stored in the hip belt pocket.

A newborn insert 24 can furthermore be fixed in hip belt pocket 14. Newborn insert 24 serves the purpose of additional support of the small newborn body so that it can be stored rolled up within hip belt pocket 14 in the case of non-use or corresponding size of the baby. In order to ensure adequate holding of the newborn by means of a newborn insert 24, newborn insert 24 is fixed at least on padded fabric element 20, preferably on a reinforced belt strap. This can be carried out with the help of a Velcro fastener or a snap fastener or a hook/eye fixing element.

Various embodiment possibilities in terms of the hip belt pocket and the hip belt are represented in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

Two hip belt portions 10a and 10b, namely a left-hand hip belt portion 10a and a right-hand hip belt portion 10b are represented in FIG. 2a. Hip belt pocket 14 is connected to left-hand hip belt portion 10a and right-hand hip belt portion 10b. Hip belt pocket 14 is preferably sewed and/or glued to hip belt portions 10a and 10b. A separate belt strap 25 is arranged within represented hip belt pocket 14. Separately arranged belt strap 25 can be sewed and/or glued to hip belt pocket 14.

In FIG. 2b, hip belt pocket 14 is formed as a portion of hip belt 10, wherein hip belt 10 extends through hip belt pocket 14.

It is conceivable that at least in portions a hip belt 10 and in addition at least one further separately arranged belt strap 25 are located in a hip belt pocket 14.

According to a schematic sectional representation, FIG. 3 represents tubular portion 15 of a fabric panel 11, wherein, for formation of tubular portion 15, joint area 13 of fabric panel 11 is guided or wound around hip belt 10 so that, in the event of connection or fixing of end portion 26 of fabric panel 11 to wound-around fabric panel 11, a tubular portion 15 is formed through which the part of hip belt 10 located within a hip belt pocket 14 extends. A snap fastener head 18 arranged on fabric panel 11 as well as a snap fastener recess 17 formed in a complementary manner thereto, which is located or formed on hip belt 10, are also apparent.

It should be pointed out at this point that all of the parts described above in the context of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1-3 are claimed as relevant to the disclosure seen alone or in any combination, in particular the details represented in the drawings. Modifications to this are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Hip belt

10 a, 10 b Hip belt portion

11 Fabric panel

12 Seat area

13 Joint area fabric panel

14 Hip belt pocket

15 Tubular portion

16 Outer end of the joint area

17 Snap fastener recess

18 Snap fastener head

19 Opening of the hip belt pocket

20 Padded fabric element

21 Outer end padded fabric element

22 Upper side hip belt pocket

23 Zip fastener

24 Newborn insert

25 Separate belt strap

26 End portion fabric panel

B Width of the fabric panel

M Center hip belt

a Distance snap fastener heads

c Distance snap fastener recess

Claims

1. Carrying device for a baby or small child, with a closable hip belt, at least two shoulder straps arranged on the hip belt and a fabric panel extending between the shoulder straps and joined to the hip belt, which fabric panel defines a seat and back support area for the baby or small child, whereinthe joint area of the fabric panel is arranged within an openable hip belt pocket.

2. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinthe hip belt pocket forms a portion of the hip belt.

3. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinthe hip belt extends through the hip belt pocket.

4. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinthe joint area of the fabric panel comprises a tubular portion through which either the part of the hip belt located with the hip belt pocket or a belt strap arranged separately within the hip belt pocket extends.

5. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinthe width of the fabric panel on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap can be adjusted.

6. Carrying device according to claim 5, whereinthe adjustment of the width of the fabric panel is carried out by variably wide pushing together or pulling apart of the tubular portion via the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap.

7. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereintwo outer ends of the joint area of the fabric panel are assigned fixing means, in particular snap fastener part elements for progressive fixing, or Velcro fasteners for continuous fixing, or the like, which interact with complementary fixing means on the part located within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap for the purpose of width adjustment of the fabric panel.

8. Carrying device according to claim 4, whereinat least two, in particular three, four, five, or preferably six snap fastener part elements arranged at a distance to one another are provided on each side relative to the center of the part arranged within the hip belt pocket of the hip belt or of the separately arranged belt strap.

9. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinat least two zip fasteners are provided on the upper side of the hip belt pocket.

10. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereinthe hip belt pocket has sufficiently large dimensions for accommodating baby items such as cream containers, diaper mats, etc.

11. Carrying device according to claim 1, whereina newborn insert can be fixed in the hip belt pocket.