Patent Application
20050087146
The present invention relates to child harness and, in particular, to child harnesses which provide handles for lifting and holding a child.
Young children, particularly toddlers, often must be stopped, lifted, held or carried for their own safety. Such handling of children can lead to injury, particularly when a child is in imminent danger. For instance, when a child is wandering onto a roadway or near a stairway or other dangerous area the child is typically quickly grasped away from such danger by the hand or arm which can lead to serious injury. In addition, the child may slip away from such a grasp and encounter the danger despite the adult's effort to restrain the child.
Even when not in danger, safely lifting a child generally requires that an adult use both hands and bend down to the child. This movement can be stressful especially when repeated frequently. In addition, the stress involved can be aggravated when dealing with a child who does not want to be lifted.
Likewise, carrying a child typically requires that an adult support the child with at least one arm while the child clings to the adult. For uncooperative children, the adult may need to use both arms for support. Often, the adult needs to use his arms to carry other articles, especially those used for the child such as car seats, strollers, bedding, extra clothing, diapers, food, etc. Such a need is particularly felt when traveling.
Therefore, there is a continuing significant need in the field of child care for improvements in child handing. More particularly, there is a need for facilitation of restraining, lifting and holding a child.
Furthermore, there is a need in the field of child care for a device which allows restraining, lifting and holding a child with one hand.
In addition, there is a need for such a device which comfortably supports a child while providing adequate control of the child.
There is also a need for such a device which can be worn by a child without injuring or bothering the child.
Such a device would be an important improvement in the field of child care.
It is an object of the invention to provide a harness for a child which overcomes noted problems in the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide a harness which facilitates handling of a child and which can be comfortably worn by a child.
Another object of the invention is to provide a harness which includes a semi-rigid handle which can be comfortably worn by the child.
Another object of the invention is to provide a harness which includes a semi-rigid handle which can be clasped in a position to facilitate grasping of the handle by an adult.
Another object of the invention is to provide a harness which includes a semi-rigid handle which can be fastened down in a position so that the handle does not inadvertently “catch” on anything.
Another object of the invention is to provide a harness which includes a semi-rigid handle which flattens when the child lies on the handle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a harness which allows handling of the child even if the harness is disconnected.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, harness for a child is provided for allowing the child to be lifted and held. The harness of this invention overcomes certain problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those noted above, and provides a unique structure satisfying a number of specific needs.
In certain embodiments, the harness comprises a support belt for encircling the child's waist and having a front portion and a rear portion, a crotch support member extending from the front portion to the rear portion, an upper torso support component extending from the front portion to the rear portion, and a handle connecting the support belt and the torso support component which allows the child to be lifted and supported by the harness.
The support belt may include first and second ends which are connected together at the rear portion to allow the support belt to be fastened around the child's waist. In such embodiments, the crotch support member may include a bifurcated end having a first and second tail with the first tail connected to the support belt near the first end and the second tail connected to the support belt near the second end. In these harnesses, the upper torso support component may include left and right straps with the left strap connecting to the front portion of the support belt, extending over the child's left shoulder and connecting to the rear portion of the support belt, and the right strap connecting to the front portion of the support belt, extending over the child's right shoulder and connecting to the rear portion of the support belt. The left and right straps may each include a releasable connection between the child's shoulder and the support belt. The left and right straps may further be connected to one another by a chest strap which extends across the child's chest when worn.
In certain embodiments, two handles connect the support belt and the upper torso support component. Such handles include a left handle connecting the support belt and the left strap and a right handle connecting the support belt and the right strap. In such harnesses, a clasp may be mounted to one of the handles to allow connection of the handles to one another. In some embodiments, the handles are semi-rigid such that each handle extends out from the child's back when clasped together to facilitate grasping of the handles. The harness may further include a fastener or fasteners for securing the handles against the upper torso support component to make the handles lie flat against the child's back when secured by the fasteners.
In some embodiments, the harness provides sufficient support to the child to allow lifting and holding the child aloft even when the first and second ends of the support belt are disconnected and the left and right straps are disconnected between the child's shoulder and the support belt.
In some embodiments, the harness for a child comprises an upper torso support component having front and rear portions, a lower torso support component having front and rear portions, and two semi-rigid handles extending between the rear portions of the upper and lower torso support components. In such an embodiment, each handle has top and bottom ends and a handle length, with the top and bottom ends being connected to the front and rear portions at mounts spaced apart by a flex length with the flex length being less than the handle length such that the handles flex to provide handle voids to facilitate grasping the handles.
In certain embodiments, one of the handles may include a clasp for connecting the handles such that the handles flex out from the child's back when clasped together. When flexed out from the child's back, the handles form a handle void to facilitate grasping the handles to stop, hold or lift the child. The harness may further include fasteners for securing the handles against the upper torso support component. When secured by the fasteners, the handles lie flat against the child's back. When neither secured by the fasteners or clasped together, the handles are substantially free to move but generally lie between the fastened and clasped positions. The handles easily move or collapse when contacted; for instance, when placing a child on his back the handles collapse and do not prod the child's back. As such, the handles' semi-rigidity allows for comfort to the child while facilitating grasping when clasped together.
In certain embodiments, the upper torso support component includes left and right straps and the lower torso support component includes a support belt and a crotch support member. In such embodiments, the crotch support member and the left and right straps extend from a front portion of the support belt to a rear portion of the support belt. Specifically, the left strap extends from the front portion of the support belt over the child's left shoulder to the rear portion of the support belt and the right strap extends from the front portion of the support belt over the child's right shoulder to the rear portion of the support belt, each strap including a coupling between the child's shoulder and the rear portion of the support belt. Such couplings allow the straps to be disconnected to allow the child to be placed in or removed from the harness.
The harness may be designed to provide sufficient support to the child to allow lifting and holding the child aloft even when the first and second ends of the support belt are disconnected and the left and right straps are disconnected between the child's shoulder and the support belt.
The drawings furnished herewith illustrate a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description of the illustrated embodiment. In the drawings:
Referring to
Upper torso support component 30 includes a front portion 31 and rear portion (32, not shown). A left strap 34 extends from lower torso support component 20 over the child's left shoulder 4 to rear portion 32 and a right strap 36 extends from lower torso support component 20 over the child's right shoulder 3 to rear portion 32. Left and right straps 34,36 are connected in front portion 31 by a chest strap 39 which extends across the child's chest.
As shown, support belt 24 includes a first end 23 and second end 25 which are connected by buckle 27. Buckle 27 may be of similar design to couplings 38, but preferably does not include fittings which will connect to the fittings of couplings 38. For instance, buckle 27 may be of a different size or design such that connection between buckle 27 and either coupling 38 is impossible. Crotch support member 26 is shown as having a bifurcated end 29 which includes a first tail 18 and second tail 19. First tail 18 connects to first end 23 of support belt 24 and second tail 19 connects to second end 25 of support belt 24.
As discussed earlier, handles 44,46 are semi-rigid and may bend or otherwise shift when not secured by clasp 42 or fasteners 48. Therefore, child 2 may roll on his back or lean against walls or other surfaces without being hurt by handles 44,46. Likewise, couplings 38 and buckle 27 may have a thin profile such that the child is not injured or bothered by pressure on these components. All other harness components are preferably formed of fabric, leather or other soft and non-rigid materials such that the child is comfortable when wearing the harness 10. These components may be sewn, adhered, or otherwise safely connected together such that the harness 10 withstands the normal tensions involved in restraining, lifting or holding a child.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments by way of illustration, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
