as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication 10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0014692 Al
` ANDRENetal. (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 16, 2014
`
`
`
`US 20140014692A1
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`(54) BABY CARRIER
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(71) Applicant: BabyBjorn AB, Solna (SE)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Marten ANDREN,Spanga (SE); Ulrika
`VEJBRINK,Hagersten (SE); David
`THALEN, Bromma (SE); Kim DE
`
`(73) Assignee: BabyBjorn AB, Solna (SE)
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/937,420
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 9, 2013
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jul. 12,2012
`
`(SE) vee eeeceseeeneeees 1250817-2
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A47D 13/02
`(52) U.S. CI.
`CPC wieeeeeeeceeeeetecseeeeenees A47D 13/025 (2013.01)
`USPC oi eecceeceeseeeceeceeeeeseneeseesenes 224/161; 224/160
`
`(2006.01)
`
`A babycarrier comprising chest straps, a waist belt and a
`carrier bag mountedto the chest straps and the waistbelt, the
`carrier bag comprises a front piece, a lower portion of the
`front piece being connected to the waist belt. A connection
`betweenthe chest straps is adapted to be achieved by a means,
`and a second part of respective chest strap is connected to a
`middle portion of the front piece so as to permit the baby
`carrier to be rotated around an upper part of the body of a
`wearer, whereby, during one step ofthe rotation of the baby
`carrier, the means extends over one shoulder ofthe wearer and
`carries the weight which in the normal case is carried by the
`chest straps.
`
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`Patent Application
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`Jan. 16,2014 Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 2014/0014692 Al
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`FIG. 1
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`FIG. 2
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`FIG. 3
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`FIG. 6
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`FIG. 7
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2014/0014692 Al
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`Jan. 16, 2014
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`BABY CARRIER
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] The inventionrelates to a baby carrier according to
`the preamble of claim 1, and moreparticularly the invention
`relates to a rotatable baby carrier.
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`To be able to use a baby carrier during a longer
`[0002]
`period oftime,i.e. for carrying an infant until it is about 24
`months, alternatively about 36 months, it would be desirable
`ifthe baby carrier can be carried both on the chestside and the
`back side of a wearer, since, when a child gets heavier, it is
`advantageously carried on the back side of the wearer.
`[0003] One problem with carrying a child on the back side
`of the weareris that it is difficult to put the child into the
`carrier whenthe carrieris already placed on the back and you
`are alone, and that, in the case the child is already carried on
`the chestside,it is difficult to rotate/movethe carrier from the
`chest side to the back side in a safely way.
`[0004] Therefore,
`it would be desirable to have a baby
`carrier in whichit is possible to position a child in the carrier
`when the carrier is carried on the chest side of the wearer,
`whereupon whenthe childis sitting safely in the carrier, the
`carrier may in a simple and for the child and the wearersafely
`way be rotated/movedby the wearer himselfto the back sidec.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0005] The object of the invention1s thus to achieve a baby
`carrier which makesit possible to rotate/move the baby car-
`rier in a way whichis safe for both the child and the wearer
`from the chest side to the back side of the wearer and vice
`
`versa while the child sitting in the carrier.
`[0006] Accordingto the inventionthis is achieved by a baby
`carrier comprising chest straps, which are mutually adapted
`to extend around both shoulders of the wearer and connected
`
`to each other, a waist belt and a carrier bag mounted to the
`chest straps and the waist belt, the carrier bag comprises a
`front piece, a lower portion of the front piece is connected to
`the waist belt, characterized in that the connection between
`the chest straps is adapted to be achieved by a means, and a
`secondpart of respective chest strap is connected to a middle
`portion ofthe front piece so as to permit the babycarrier to be
`rotated around an upperpart of the body of a wearer so as to
`movethe baby carrier between a chest side and a back side of
`the wearer, whereby, during one step of the rotation of the
`baby carrier, the means extends over the shoulder of the
`wearer and carries the weight which in the normalcase is
`carried by the cheststraps.
`[0007]
`Preferred embodimentsare defined in the appending
`dependentclaims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0008] The invention is described in more detail below in
`the form of non-limited examples, reference being made to
`the appended drawings, in which
`[0009]
`FIG. 11s a schematic view seen obliquely from the
`front of a first embodimentof a baby carrier according to the
`invention,
`[0010]
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view seen obliquely from the
`front of a second embodimentof a baby carrier according to
`the invention,
`
`FIG. 3 is a schematic view seen from the front ofa
`[0011]
`baby carrier according to the second embodimentcarried by
`a wearer and with a baby sitting in the carrier with its face
`directed towards the wearer,
`[0012]
`FIG. 4isaschematic view ofa wearerfrom the front
`with the baby carrier according to the second embodiment
`shownin a first step for rotating the baby carrier to the back
`side of the wearer,
`[0013]
`FIG. 5isaschematic view ofa wearerfrom the front
`with the carrier according to the second embodiment shown
`in a secondstep for rotating the babycarrierto the back side
`of the wearer,
`[0014]
`FIG. 6 is a schematic view from the front of the
`wearer with the baby carrier according to the second embodi-
`menton the back and showing the connection ofthe twostrap
`loops, the left arm of the carrier being not threaded through
`one ofthe strap loops,
`[0015] FIG.71isaschematic view from behind ofthe wearer
`with the babycarrier carried according to the second embodi-
`ment on the chestside,
`[0016]
`FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the wearer with
`the baby carrier according to the second embodimentplaced
`on the chest side and with a child sitting in the carrier,
`[0017]
`FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the baby carrier
`according to the second embodimentwith its front piece in a
`planestate,
`is a view similar to the one in FIG. 9,
`[0018]
`FIG. 10.
`however with the upper portion of the front piece folded
`downwardly, and
`[0019]
`FIG. 11 is a simplified view showing only the front
`piece from behind, whereby the so formed carrier pouch has
`another construction than the one ofthe carrier pouch of the
`first and second embodiments ofthe baby carrier according to
`FIGS. 1-10.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`In the specification and the claims below the
`[0020]
`description ofthe baby carrieris to be understood such us that
`the baby carrier is carried on the chest side of the wearer if
`nothingelse is stated.
`[0021]
`FIG. 1 shows schematically a first embodimentof a
`baby carrier 1 according to the invention. The baby carrier 1
`comprises adjustable chest straps 11, which are mutually
`adapted to extend around both shoulderareas 3 of the wearer
`2 and are connected to each other on the back side of the
`
`wearer by a means 30. A carrier bag 14 is mounted on the
`chest straps and connectedto a waistbelt 12, preferably to an
`upper edge thereof, and comprises a front piece 16, whereby
`a carrier pouch 18 for a child is formed between the front
`piece and the body of the wearer. A lower portion 20 of the
`front piece is connected to the waist belt and forms a seat
`support 22 for a child sitting in the baby carrier. A second part
`112 ofrespective chest strap 11 is attached to a middle portion
`26 of the front piece 16, whereby preferably at least one
`second part 112 is detachably connected to the side of the
`front piece, preferably the front side, by a connecting device
`
`FIG. 2 shows schematically a second embodiment
`[0022]
`of a baby carrier 1' according to the invention. The baby
`carrier 1' comprises adjustable chest straps 11', which are
`mutually adapted to extend around both shoulder areas 3 of
`the wearer 2 and are connected to each other on the back side
`
`of the wearer by a means 30' and forms each in combination
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`US 2014/0014692 Al
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`Jan. 16, 2014
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`with a connecting means 29' a closed strap loop. An adjust-
`able waist belt 12' is connectedto a first part 111' ofrespective
`chest strap. A carrier bag 14' is mountedto the chest straps and
`to the waist belt, preferably to an upper edge thereof, and
`comprises a front piece 16' which together with at least the
`first part 111' of respective chest strap forms a carrier pouch
`18'. A lowerportion 20'of the front piece is connected to the
`waist belt and formsat least one seat support 22' for a child
`sitting in the baby carrier, which seat support may be adjust-
`able in the height direction. An upperportion 24'of the front
`piece is detachably connectedto thefirst part 111' of respec-
`tive chest strap. The detachable connection of the upperpor-
`tion can be achieved by a strap 25', for instance, which is
`adjustable in the longitudinal direction and whichis attached
`to the inside of the upperportion 24' and which 1s detachably
`connected to respective cheststrap 11' by a connecting device
`25'a. A second part 112' of respective chest strap 11'
`is
`attached to a middle portion 26' of the front piece 16',
`whereby preferably at least one second part is detachably
`attached to the side of the front piece, preferably the front
`side, by a connecting device 28'. The second part 112' is
`connected through the connecting means29", in the form of a
`strap or a piece of fabric, for instance, to the first part 111' of
`respective chest strap.
`[0023]
`In the second embodimentof the invention the car-
`rier pouch 18' is formed of the middle portion 26' ofthe front
`piece, the lower portion 20' ofthe frontpiece, the seat support
`22' and at least the first part 111' of respective chest strap
`together with the connecting means 29'. Thefirst part 111' of
`respective chest strap can be replaced by a flexible piece of
`fabric, for instance, which then can form an extension down to
`and a connection of the two chest straps to the waist belt.
`[0024] Below, a baby carrier is described with reference to
`the second embodiment, but the only features which are dif-
`ferent betweenthefirst and the second embodiments are how
`
`the carrier pouch 18;18' is formed andthe possible existence
`thereof.
`
`From FIG. 4 it can be seen that, when the baby
`[0025]
`carrier is rotated/moved around the upperpart of the body of
`the wearer, the first part 111' and the second part 112' of
`respective chest strap 11' are attached to the front piece in
`such a waythat they are substantially parallel to each other,
`i.e. they carry, in the shownposition, about the same load.
`Moreparticularly, the second part 112' of respective chest
`strap is attached to the front piece 16', preferably by the
`connecting device 28', in such a waythat a tangent which
`extendsparallel to the main direction of the second part 112'
`formsan angle a of about 20° to 29°, preferably about 24°, to
`a horizontal plane. See FIGS. 1, 2 and 9.
`[0026] As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 both cheststraps
`11' are connectedto each other by the means30'", preferably in
`the form ofa strap 30', whichis flexible and adjustable in the
`longitudinaldirection.
`[0027]
`Ina preferred embodimentthe strap 30'is a strap 30'
`formedin onepiece,i.e. it may not be separated into twoparts
`by any type of detachable means. Particularly from the posi-
`tion shownin FIG. 5 it can be seenthat the weight, which in
`the normalcase is carried by both strap loops, is carried by,
`during the rotation/movement of the carrier, the strap 30°
`whenthestrap is positioned over one shoulder S ofthe wearer.
`Therefore, it is of great importance that the strap 30' may not
`be detachable from respective chest straps 11' nor be sepa-
`rable into two parts. Moreover, the chest strap 30' is prefer-
`ably arranged adjustable alongat least a part of the length of
`
`respective chest strap 11'. See FIG. 7. This may be achieved
`by an edging 32’, for instance, arranged along a side portion of
`respective strap loop anda sliding shoe 34' adaptedtofit the
`edging, whereby respective end of the strap is securely
`attached to respective sliding shoe.
`[0028]
`Furthermore,
`the waist belt 12' with associated
`buckle 35' is formed in such a way that they facilitate the
`movementof the baby carrier between the chest side and the
`back side of the wearer and vice versa. For this purpose the
`inner surface ofthe waistbelt, i.e. the surface ofthe waistbelt
`directed towards the wearer, may be formed ofa material with
`low friction. The buckle 35' ofthe waist belt 12' is preferably
`a buckle which may be divided into two pieces so as to
`facilitate taking on and off the baby carrier.
`[0029]
`Ina preferred embodimentthe seat support 22'is, as
`known, adjustably arranged in the height direction of the
`carrier bag 14' so that the depth of the carrier pouch 18' can be
`adaptedto the size ofthe child. Moreparticularly, as shown in
`FIG.8, the seat support should be adjusted in such a waythat,
`together with the position of the coupling device 28' on the
`front piece 16' and the connecting means 29' betweenthefirst
`part 111' and the secondpart 112' ofrespective chest strap 11',
`the depth ofthe carrier pouchis such thatthe centre of gravity
`T of the child always is located below the level of an upper
`edge 29a' ofrespective connecting means29", 1.e. a distance D
`between the centre of gravity T of the child and a schemati-
`cally showncircle C, whichis located at the level of the upper
`edge 29a' of respective connecting means29', always should
`be greater than zero. This for securing that the child will never
`fall out of the baby carrier on one hand whenthe babycarrier
`is rotated/moved from the chest side to the back side of the
`wearer or vice versa and on the other hand whenthe childis
`sitting in the baby carrier when the babycarrier is located
`either on the chest side or on the back side of the wearer.
`
`[0030] Ascanbeseen from FIG.9, in the preferred embodi-
`mentandin the plane direction of the baby carrier, a distance
`Y from the fastening ofthe frontpiece 16' to the waistbelt 12'
`to acentre point A of the attachmentof the connecting device
`28' to the front piece 16' shall always be about 23-27 cm,
`preferably about 25 cm. Furthermore, a distance X between
`the upper attachment point Gin FIG. 9 shown asa line of
`stitches on the outside ofthe front piece) for attachment ofthe
`adjustable strap 25' to the inside of the upper portion 24' and
`the centre point A of the attachmentof the connecting device
`28' to the front piece 16' shall be about 13-17 cm, preferably
`about 15 cm.
`
`[0031] As can be seen in FIG.10, in the plane direction of
`the baby carrier, a distance Z between the upper fastening
`point of the adjustable strap 25' at the inside of the upper
`portion 24' and a centre point B ofthe fastening of the con-
`necting device 25a' to the chest strap 11' shall be about 13-17
`cm, preferably about 15 cm.
`[0032]
`FIG. 11 shows schematically a baby carrier 1" the
`carrier pouch of which is formedbythe front piece 16" anda
`piece of fabric 40. A lower portion 41 ofthe piece of fabric 40
`is fixed connected to the front piece 16" and/orthe waist belt
`12" to form a seat support 22". At least one side, at an upper
`portion 42 of the piece of fabric 40, is detachably connected
`to the front piece 16" by press buttons, for instance. In all
`other parts the baby carrier 1" may be shaped as the baby
`carrier 1 accordingto the first embodiment.
`[0033]
`To be able to rotate/move the baby carrier with a
`child sitting in the samefrom the chestsideto the back side of
`the wearer the following steps are taken:
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`Jan. 16, 2014
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`[0034] When the child has been placed into the baby carrier
`on the chestside ofthe wearer, the wearerslips one ofhis/her
`arms under i) one chest strap 11 (in the first embodiment) or
`it) first part 111' of one chest strap 11' (the second embodi-
`ment) which extends aroundthefirst shoulder, androtates the
`babycarrieruntil that the chest strap/first part is situated fully
`under one arm. Thereafter the wearer slips his second arm
`under the second part 112;112', whereby the second chest
`strap is placed over the second shoulder of the wearer (FIG.
`4). The strap 30;30' forms together with the two chest straps
`11;11' a closed loop over the second shoulder of the wearer,
`which ensures that henceforth the child is sitting in a mainly
`upright position with the centre of gravity of the child below
`an imaginary circle around the child (FIG.8). In this position
`the wearer may now rotate the child under his/her one arm
`back to the back side (FIG. 5). When the child is rotated
`completely to the back side of the wearer the wearer mayslip
`one arm back through one chest strap and the other arm
`throughthe other cheststrap so that the child is now sitting on
`the backside ofthe wearer and with the two cheststraps ofthe
`babycarrier totally on both shoulders of the wearer. In this
`position the strap 30;30' is placed on the chest side of the
`wearer.
`
`In all embodiments of the baby carrier 1;1';1", dur-
`[0035]
`ing the whole operation ofrotation/movement, preferably the
`buckles 28;28', and where appropriate the buckles 25a’, are
`locked to its respective parts of the carrier. The waist belt
`12;12' shall always be closed during the above-mentioned
`rotation/movementof the carrier.
`
`1. A baby carrier comprising chest straps, which are mutu-
`ally adapted to extend around both shoulders of the wearer
`and connected to each other, a waist belt and a carrier bag
`mountedto the chest straps and the waistbelt, the carrier bag
`comprises a front piece, a lower portion ofthe front piece is
`connected to the waist belt, characterized in that the connec-
`tion between the chest straps is adapted to be achieved by a
`means, and a second part of respective chest strap is con-
`nected to amiddle portion ofthe front piece so as to permit the
`babycarrier to be rotated around an upperpart ofthe body of
`a wearer so as to movethe babycarrier between a chest side
`and a back side ofthe wearer, whereby, during onestep of the
`rotation ofthe babycarrier, the means extends over one shoul-
`der of the wearer and carries the weight which in the normal
`caseis carried by the cheststraps.
`2. The baby carrier according to claim 1, characterized in
`that the meansis a flexible means formed din one piece and
`
`whichis adjustable in the longitudinal direction, and that said
`meansis adjustably arranged alongat least a part ofthe length
`of respective chest strap.
`3. The babycarrier according to claim 1, characterized in
`thatat least one of the secondparts is detachably attached to
`the front side of the front piece by a coupling device.
`4. The baby carrier according to claim 1, characterized in
`that the waist belt is connected to the chest straps, that the
`front piece together with at least the chest straps forms a
`carrier pouch,that the lower portion ofthe front piece forms
`at least one seat support which is adjustable in the height
`direction, that the front pieceis at an upper portion detachably
`connectedto the first part of at least one chest strap, and that
`the secondpart ofrespective chest strap is connected to on one
`hand the middle portion of the front piece and on the other
`hand, through a connecting means, to thefirst part at such a
`level relative to an upper edge of the connecting meansthat a
`centre of gravity of a child carried by the babycarrier always
`will be located underthe upper edge ofthe connecting means.
`5. The baby carrier according to claim 1, characterized in
`that the second part is attached to the front piece, that a
`tangentparallel to the secondpart formsan angle (a) of about
`20° to 29°, preferably about 24°, to a horizontal plane, which
`results in that, when rotating the baby carrier, when the means
`extends over the shoulder of the wearer, the first part and the
`second part ofrespective chest strap will be almostparallel to
`each other and will carry about equally the same load.
`6. The baby carrier according to claim 1, characterized in
`that a distance (Y), seen in the plane direction of the baby
`carrier, between a centre point for attachment of the second
`part to the front piece and the attachmentofthefront piece to
`the waist belt is about 23-27 cm, preferably about 25 cm.
`7. The baby carrier according to claim 4, characterized in
`that a distance (X), as seen in the plane direction of the baby
`carrier, between a centre point (A) for attachment of the
`secondpart to the front piece and an upperfastening point for
`a strap for attachmentof the upperportionofthe front piece
`to respective chest strap is about 13-17 cm, preferably about
`15 cm.
`
`8. The baby carrier according to claim 4, characterized in
`that a distance (Z), as seen in the plane direction of the baby
`carrier, between a centre point (B) for attachmentofa strap to
`the first part of respective chest strap and an upperfastening
`pointfor a strap to the upperportion ofthe frontpiece is about
`13-17 em, preferably about 15 cm.
`*
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