Patent Application
20240382016
The field of the present disclosure relates generally to the field of baby carriers, and more specifically to sling-type baby carriers.
The field of baby carriers has seen various developments over the years, with numerous designs aimed at improving the convenience and comfort of carrying infants. Traditional designs have focused on different aspects of usability and support, yet there remains a need for further innovation in this area. Despite the variety of existing solutions, challenges persist in finding an optimal balance between functionality, ease of use, and comfort for both the caretaker and the child.
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a convertible baby carrier. In certain examples, the convertible baby carrier may comprise a bag portion equipped with at least one bag connector, a strap including a strap connector, and a panel featuring a panel connector. The convertible baby carrier may be configured to transition between a bag mode and a carrier mode. In the bag mode, the strap connector can attach to the at least one bag connector, aligning the panel with the back surface of the bag portion. In the carrier mode, the strap connector may engage with the panel connector, arranging the panel at an angle to the back surface to form a sling, allowing for the carrying of a baby.
Covered embodiments are defined by the claims, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification, any or all drawings, and each claim.
Some embodiments of the disclosure are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the embodiments shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the disclosure. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced.
The present disclosure relates to a convertible baby carrier that is structured to transition between a bag mode and a carrier mode, offering convenience and ease of use for caretakers.
Some embodiments of the convertible baby carrier can include a bag portion, indicated as 10, which may include a back surface 11. The bag portion 10 may be equipped with at least one bag connector 12, and may further include one or more bag compartments 13, which can range in number and size. In certain examples, the bag portion 10 provides the primary storage capacity and serves as the structural base in the bag mode, as depicted in
The at least one bag connector 12 may be positioned on a bottom portion of the carrier, designated as 15, as shown in
In certain examples, a strap, indicated as 20, may be present. The strap 20 can include a strap connector 21, which may be situated on a distal portion of the strap. Some implementations may include a proximal portion 22 of the strap 20 being integral with the top 14 of the bag portion 10. Some implementations may include the proximal portion 22 of the strap 20 being affixed (e.g., sewn or otherwise adhered) to the top 14 of the bag portion 10. The strap 20 can be adjusted for length, accommodating various user preferences and body sizes. In certain examples, the strap 20 may be adjusted using an adjustable fastener such as, but not limited to, a buckle 23. However, the use of the buckle 23 is not mandatory, with other adjustable fasteners, such as, but not limited to, hook-and-loop fasteners, slide adjusters, snap-fit connectors, d-rings, or cord locks, being suitable examples.
Some embodiments may include a panel, indicated as 30. The panel 30, may, in certain examples, be integral with the bottom of the bag portion 10, via the panel's proximal end 32. The panel 30, may, in certain examples be affixed (e.g., sewn or otherwise adhered) to the bottom of the bag portion 10, via the panel's proximal end 32. Panel 30 may include a panel connector 31, which may be present on the distal portion 34 of the panel 30. Panel 30 can be furled or unfurled relative to the back surface 11 of the bag portion 10. In certain implementations, when in the bag mode, the at least one bag connector 12 engages with the strap connector 21 as shown in
In some examples, the alignment of the panel 30 against the back surface 11 positions the panel 30 in place without requiring the panel 30 to be affixed to the back surface. However, in certain examples, the panel 30 could be affixed to the back surface 11, by a clip 33 as shown in
The connectors 12, 21, and 31 may comprise any suitable connector, such as but not limited to snap connectors, magnetic connectors, hook-and-loop fasteners, buckle connectors, or any suitable combination thereof. Suitable connectors further include, but are not limited to, zippers, ties, latches, press studs, and other mechanical or magnetic fastening systems. The convertible baby carrier's dual-mode functionality is supported by the arrangement and interaction of the bag portion 10, strap 20, and panel 30, along with their respective connectors 12, 21, and 31. These components and their configurations support the operational features of the convertible baby carrier as claimed, providing the necessary structure, adjustability, and conversion capability between the bag mode and the carrier mode.
Transitioning to the carrier mode, as illustrated in
In this disclosure and the following claims, the word “or” indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, the list of X, Y, or Z means X or Y or Z or XY or XZ or YZ or XYZ. Also the phrase “based on” is not used to represent a closed set of conditions. For example, a step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both condition A and condition B. In other words, the phrase “based on” shall be construed to mean “based at least in part on.” Also, the words “a” or “an” indicate “at least one.”
Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and “in some embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), though it may. Furthermore, the phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. All embodiments of the disclosure are intended to be combinable without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.
As used herein, the term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
All prior patents, publications, and test methods referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Variations, modifications and alterations to embodiments of the present disclosure described above will make themselves apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations, modifications, alterations and the like are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, limited solely by the appended claims.
Any feature or element that is positively identified in this description may also be specifically excluded as a feature or element of an embodiment of the present disclosure as defined in the claims.
The disclosure described herein may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein, any of the terms “comprising,” “consisting essentially of and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/503,305 filed May 19, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their respective entireties for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63503305 | May 2023 | US |
