United States Patent [191
`Moore
`
`[54] SOFI‘ ORTHOPEDIC POUCH-TYPE INFANT
`CARRIER
`[75] Inventor: Ann A. Moore, Evergreen, C010.
`[73] Assignee: Snugli, Inc., Evergreen, C010.
`[21] Appl. No.: 350,877
`[22] Filed:
`Feb. 22, 1982
`[51] Int. 01.3 ........................................... .. A47D 13/02
`[52] US Cl ............................... .. 224/160; 224/215
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 224/158, 159, 160, 202,
`224/209, 214, 215, 242, 257, 258, 259, 262
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`3,162,343 12/1964 Anderson .......................... .. 224/160
`4,009,808 3/1977 Sharp ................................ .. 224/160
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[111
`[45]
`
`4,434,920
`Mar. 6, 1984
`
`Primary Examiner-—Steven M. Pollard
`Assistant Examiner—David Voorhees
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edwin L. Spangler, Jr.
`
`ABSTRACI‘
`[57]
`This invention relates to an improved pouch-type infant
`carrier characterized by a drawstring subassembly ex
`tending transversely of the seat operative upon actua
`tion to preset the maximum distance separating the leg
`openings so as to locate the latter directly behind the
`knees when the child is seated in the pouch with his or
`her legs open in spread-eagle relation, and a belt-form
`ing appendage located adjacent the leg openings opera
`tive upon being drawn taut and tied or otherwise se
`cured around the waist to cooperate with the draw
`string subassembly to maintain the leg openings in pre
`selected ?xed spaced relation.
`
`2404414 6/1979 France .............................. .. 224/160
`
`9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 1
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`US. Patent Mar. 6, 1984
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`Sheet 1 of2
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`4,434,920
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`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 2
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`US. Patent Mar. 6, 1984
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`Sheet 2 of2
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`4,434,920
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`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 3
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`1
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`‘4,434,920
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`SOFT ORTHOPEDIC POUCH-TYPE INFANT
`CARRIER
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`Pouch-type infant carriers are well known in the art,
`a prime example being that forming the subject matter
`of U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,517, the assignee of which is the
`inventor in the instant application. Carriers of this gen
`eral type can accommodate infants only a few weeks
`old on up to young children who are still small and light
`enough to be carried on one’s back. Carriers of the type
`shown in the patent aforementioned together with the
`following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 1,039,009; 3,327,914;
`3,780,919; 4,139,131; 4,166,558; 4,234,227, are all so
`called “soft carriers” meaning that they have no rigid
`frame whatsoever. On the other hand, the infant carrier
`forming the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,998
`would not be characterized as a soft carrier'because of
`its rigid frame in the seat area. Some of these carriers, at
`least with very small children, can be worn on either the
`back or the chest of the adult while others like all of
`those in the above list seem to be worn on the chest.
`Larger children are more easily carried on the back and
`they seem to prefer facing forwardly anyway.
`In recent years those trained in orthopedics have
`come to recognize certain hip joint problems in young
`people which they now believe can, under some cir
`cumstances, be associated with the practice of support
`ing the child while very young by the buttocks while
`allowing the legs to hang down. The better way, they
`now feel, is to support the buttocks and the underside of
`the thigh all the way out to the knee joint in more or less
`“spread-eagle” fashion. When this practice is followed
`during the year or so immediately following birth, these
`hip problems disappear.
`It is with this problem in mind that the pouch-type
`soft infant carrier forming the subject matter hereof was
`developed. A simple transversely-extending drawstring
`in the seat area of the pouch provides the means for
`adjusting the maximum spread between the leg open
`ings. The user sets this adjustment to closely approxi
`mate the distance from the inside, or more properly
`backside, of one knee to the other when the upper legs
`or thighs are spread widely apart so as to extend out in
`opposite directions from the torso. In all but the posi
`tion of maximum spread, the soft fabric of which the
`carrier is constructed ends up “gathered” underneath
`the thighs and buttocks due to the action of the draw
`string.
`The above, however, is only half of the solution to
`the problem because the drawstring is incapable of
`keeping the leg openings spread apart and, as a matter of
`fact, the child’s tendency to hang his or her legs down
`as opposed to out to the side quickly causes the sought
`after spread relationship to disappear as the leg open
`ings are squeezed back toward one another. The unique
`solution to this problem comes by way of a belt-like
`appendage. In its simplest form, a couple of straps are
`fastened to the front panel alongside each leg opening
`that can be pulled taut and tied at the waist to maintain
`the desired spread relation. The preferred construction
`utilized the shoulder straps for this purpose. Strap
`receiving loops are provided near the bottom front of
`the carrier alongside the leg openings through which
`these shoulder straps are reaved after passing under the
`arms preparatory to being tied at the waist. More specif~
`ically, when the child is being carried on the back, the
`shoulder straps pass forwardly over the shoulders and
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`40
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`down the chest, (preferably without being crossed) then
`rearwardly under the arms to where they are reaved
`through the loops‘ before being tied at the waist in front.
`Conversely, with the child being carried on the chest,
`the straps pass rearwardly over the shoulders and down
`the back where they preferably cross, forwardly under
`the arms and through the loops before being tied in the
`back at the waist. In any event, the shoulder straps and
`associated loops perform the same function as a separate
`belt when drawn taut and tied at the waist, namely, that
`of maintaining the adjusted spread between the leg
`openings permitted by the‘ drawstring. Obviously, this
`cooperative action can be changed to accommodate
`infants from a few weeks to a year old or more which is
`the critical period in hip joint development that requires
`attention. More signi?cant than accommodating differ
`ent children is, of course, the ability to adjust the spread
`between the leg openings so as to match the growth of
`the same child. None of the prior art patents relating to
`pouch-type infant carriers, regardless of whether they
`include a rigid frame or not, even recognizes the prob
`lem yet alone provides a solution.
`'
`'
`The carrier of the present invention also includes
`drawstrings at the waist and in the head or neck area;
`however, they do not cooperate with the waist-tie fea
`25
`‘ ture like the one in the seat. Besides, drawstrings, snap
`fasteners and other adjustment mechanisms in the waist
`and neck areas are commonplace in such carriers any
`way.
`Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present
`invention to provide a novel and improved soft pouch
`type infant carrier.
`'
`A second objective is the provision of a device of the
`type aforementioned that includes means for both ad
`justing and maintaining a preselected spread between
`the leg openings.
`Another object is the provision of a carrier for infants
`from birth up to a year or more old which can be wQorn
`both front and back while retaining its same leg opening
`spread adjustment feature.
`_
`An additional object is to provide a carrier of the type
`herein disclosed and claimed, the utility of which is
`undiminished for the older child who has outgrown the
`need for the orthopedic feature.
`Further objects of the within described invention are
`to provide a soft carrier which is simple, versatile, easy
`to use, lightweight, safe, comfortable, washable and
`quite decorative.
`Other objects will be in part apparent and in part
`pointed out speci?cally hereinafter in connection with
`the 1 description of the drawings that follows, and in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the left side show
`ing the pouch-type carrier adjusted to carry an infant no
`more than a few weeks old, the child having been
`shown inside thereof supported upon the chest of the
`mother;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front showing
`the same carrier adjusted to carry a much larger child
`similarly supported on the mother’s chest;
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view to an en
`larged scale showing the front face of the carrier that
`lies against the adult’s body, the full line position show
`ing the unit fully extended to accommodate a large
`child while the phantom line position demonstrates how
`it is gathered in at the sides and seat for use by the very
`young infant, portions of the shoulder straps having
`been broken off to conserve space while other portions
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`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 4
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`4,434,920
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`presently to define a channel C for retaining drawstring
`have been broken away to more clearly reveal the inte
`D, the latter having been revealed most clearly in FIG.
`rior construction;
`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to
`6. In these same ?gures is revealed yet another trans
`FIG. 3 and to the same scale but showing the rear face
`versely-extending waistband 34 on the rear inside face
`of the carrier remote from the body of the adult with
`of the carrier bridging the space between stitched areas
`the shoulder straps broken off and other portions bro
`16 at the sides. This band lies behind the child in the
`waist area of the larger child 14L of FIG. 2 and just
`ken away to better show the interior construction;
`underneath the shoulders of the smaller infant 145 of
`FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the carrier to the same
`scale as FIGS. 3 and 4; and,
`FIG. 1. In like manner to band 32 along the top, waist
`FIG. 6 is a diagram revealing the interaction between
`band 34 cooperates with main panel P to de?ne a chan
`the crotch liner, waistband and neokband in coopera
`nel C for a second drawstring D at the waist. The most
`tion with the main fabric panel which cooperate to
`signi?cant drawstring D of all is that which extends
`de?ne the drawstring retaining channels in these three
`across the bottom of the carrier in the channel C de?ned
`between the folded portion of main panel P and crotch
`areas.
`Referring next to the drawings for a detailed descrip
`liner 26. Before describing these three drawstrings and
`tion of the present invention and, initially, to FIGS. 3, 4
`their functions, however, they will be better understood
`if the means by‘yvhich the leg openings are kept spread
`and 5 for this purpose, reference numeral 10 has been
`selected to broadly identify the infant carrier which will
`apart is explained ?rst for which purpose reference will
`be seen in the particular form shown to comprise a
`be made from time to time with all six ?gures of the
`drawings.
`single elongate fabric panel P folded more or less in half 20
`transversely so as to de?ne an open-topped pouch
`In the preferred and most unique version of the car- ‘'
`rier, the shoulder straps perform the dual function of
`closed at the bottom 12 to produce a seat supporting the
`buttocks and back of the thighs of a small child 14 in the
`supporting the carrier and child on the chest or back of
`manner which will be described in greater detail pres
`an adult in the usual way while, in addition, acting as
`ently in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Panel P is
`the belt which maintains the spread relation between
`the leg openings. Speci?cally, a pair of shoulder straps
`preferably contoured in a manner well known in the art,
`36 are employed, each being initially secured to the
`especially at the rear, to provide a concave shape better
`suited to conform to the child’s back as seen in FIG. 5.
`' carrier within the crotch area as shown so as to pass up
`the front in divergent relation to ?nal points of attach
`The sides are sewn or otherwise fastened together ap
`proximately half way up as shown most clearly at 16 in
`ment alongside the armholes 20. In. the preferred con
`FIG. 3 so as to leave leg openings 18‘between it and the
`struction, these straps cross one another in the crotch
`and diverge upwardly from there. They are sewn or
`bottom 12. The sides are also sewn or otherwise fas
`tened together at the top as indicated at 20. The latter
`otherwise fastened to the panel P all the way along and
`stitching cooperates with the stitched area 16 therebe
`thus provide a secure harness for supporting the garrier.
`neath to de?ne armholes 22 for the smaller child (FIG.
`In addition, a pair of shoulder strap loops 38 are dis
`posed on the front side margins of the carrier alongside
`1) who cannot hang his or her arms over the top like the
`large child 14L (FIG. 2). Strips of cloth binding or the
`each of the two leg openings 18. These loops receive the
`like 24 are, in the particular form shown, folded over
`shoulder straps in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
`the side margins of the fabric panel P and sewn thereto
`and cooperate with the crotch drawstring to vary the
`spacing between the leg openings. A simple version of
`as both a binding and a reinforcement. The bottom or
`crotch area is similarly reinforced as well as lined with
`the carrier is one in which the shoulder straps are termi
`a transversely~extending solid fabric liner 26.
`nated at the point where they return to the side margins
`Since the pouch-type carrier of the present invention
`of the front panel under the arms and a separate belt
`forming appendage is attached to the panel in such a
`can be worn on'either the chest of the adult as shown in
`FIGS. 1 and 2 or, alternatively, on the back in more or
`way that it can be drawn taut and secured in some man
`less “papoose fashion”, it will facilitate the present de
`ner so as to maintain the desired spread between the leg
`scription of the elements of the carrier 10 are oriented
`openings. Both systems, of course, cooperate with the
`relative to the child being carried rather than the adult
`seat drawstring subassembly to achieve the identical
`since, for all practical purposes, the child is always in a
`end result.
`>
`position facing the adult irrespective of which way the
`The manner of adjusting and using the carrier to
`carrier is deployed. Accordingly, the “front” of the
`support a small infant 145 will now be examined in
`carrier will be that which the child faces and the rear
`connection with FIGS. 1 and 3. Starting with the car
`rier in the fully-extended position shown in full lines in
`will, of course, be that against which his or her back
`FIG. 3, the crotch drawstring is pulled to narrow the
`rests.
`spacing between the leg openings 18 to just that which
`With this in mind, it can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6
`that another transversely-extending fabric liner 28 is
`will support the buttocks and back of the thighs of the
`folded over the top front edge of panel P and sewn
`infant when spread-eagled as shown in FIG. 1 while still
`permitting the forelegs and feet to hang down freely.
`thereto so as to extend down inside for a distance
`Essentially, this means that the leg openings lie just
`adapted to de?ne a soft moisture-absorbent bib facing
`the head 305 of the small child 148 much in the manner
`behind the knees. Such a position is represented by
`shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, on the other
`phantom lines in FIG. 3 where it will be seen that the
`hand, most clearly reveal a somewhat narrower, but
`crotch liner 26 is gathered to a considerable degree, the
`nonetheless similar, transversely-extending fabric band
`drawstring D is much extended, and drawstring lock 40
`32 bordering the top rear edge of the carrier behind the
`is pushed up snug against the seat of the pouch. Essen
`tially, this same condition is represented by full lines in
`child’s head or neck as the case may be. The aforemen
`tioned band both pads the head or neck and binds the
`FIG. 1.
`top edge while, at the same time, cooperating with main
`At this point, however, the infant can still squeeze his
`panel P in a manner to be described in greater detail
`or her legs together and further narrow the space sepa
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`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 5
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`market.
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`rating the leg openings. As previously noted, this is
`maximum orthopedic advantages of the carrier are real
`undesirable from an orthopedic standpoint and the
`ized from shortly after birth up to, say, a year and a half
`child’s legs should be supported in the spread position
`old. After that, the skeletal system is fully enough de
`of FIG. 1. Now, to maintain this spread position, the
`veloped to require no further support of the type pro
`mother or other adult carrying the child need only
`vided by the instant carrier and its function, therefore,
`actuate whatever is provided forlpulling the leg open
`returns to the one its‘ predecessor has ful?lled so ade
`ings apart and secure it iin 1 the position .of. maximum
`quately over the many years‘ the latter has been on the
`spread permitted by the seat drawstring. In the case of
`a separate belt, the shoulder'straps. would be secured to
`the sides‘ of the carrier .?rst'and then the belt.pulled taut
`and tied or otherwise secured. In the preferred version
`illustrated when the‘shoulder straps function as the belt
`that keeps the leg openings spread apart, the adult car
`rying the child need only pass the shoulder straps'36
`over the shoulders, cross them‘ behindv they back, then
`pass them forwardly again under the arms before mov
`ing the ends through loops 38, and ?nally passing the
`straps back around the waist and tying them together
`behind the back. If this is done as shown in FIG. 1, the
`tied straps will pull the front of the carrier out as wide
`as it can go before the partially retracted crotch draw
`string prevents further spreading thereof‘. In so doing,
`the shoulder strap/strap-receiving loop subassembly
`cooperates in a unique and bene?cial way with the
`crotch drawstring subassembly to maintain the leg
`openings in precisely the desired ?xed spaced relation
`to one another. The infant 148 of FIG. 1 is so small that
`the head 30S lies almost totally inside the carrier. These
`very young infants generally keep their arms inside the
`pouch also as illustrated. Because of their small size, the
`waist and neck drawstring subassemblies can be simi
`larly actuated to narrow the width of the pouch as
`shown; however, no novelty is claimed for these fea~
`tures nor do they coact in the same way with the shoul
`der straps and shoulder strap loops as does the crotch
`drawstring.
`It should, perhaps, be mentioned at this point that the
`same cooperative relationship is obtained when the
`child is carried on the back as opposed to the chest. The
`shoulder straps are generally left uncrossed on the chest
`40
`but they still pass back under the arms where they are
`either terminated and the separate belt used or passed
`through the loops 38, then forwardly again around the
`waist before being tied in front. Either way, the resul
`tant effect of holding the front panel in spread relation
`45
`along the bottom to whatever extent is permitted by
`pre-adjustment of the crotch drawstring is still present
`to the same degree it is when the child is carried on the
`chest.
`FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the use of the carrier for the
`larger child 14L in full lines. If, as shown, the distance
`between the child’s forelegs in essentially spread-eagle
`position is such that the crotch can be left fully ex
`tended, there is obviously no necessity for tightening
`the crotch drawstring. Nevertheless, the separate belt
`or shoulder strap/shoulder-strap loop subassembly will
`function as before to maintain this desired maximum
`spacing. FIGS. 1 and 2, therefore, represent the ex
`tremes of adjustment while it is to be understood that all
`positions therebetween can be accommodated. The
`large child of FIG. 2 sits with his or her legs supported
`in the seat of the carrier in exactly the same way as the
`very small child of FIG. 1. The waist and neck area
`drawstring subassemblies can probably be left fully
`extended as shown in FIG. 2 with the larger child who,
`oftentimes, will have his or her arms, shoulders and
`head completely outside the pouch so that only the leg
`openings in the sides are used, not the armholes. The
`
`With the exception of FIG. 3, all the remaining ?g
`ures show the drawstring subassemblies with some de
`gree of_ particularity; however, the overall construction
`of the carrier can, perhaps, best be seen in the diagram
`of FIG. 6 to which detailed reference will now be made.
`The main panel P is backed up in each of the three areas
`(neck, waist and crotch) where a drawstring D is found
`by a transversely-extending fabric panel of some sort,
`the one in the crotch being crotch liner 26, the one in
`the middle comprising waistband 34 and the third neck
`band 32. The side margins of each of these bands are
`folded over and the resulting double thickness of mate
`rial sewn to the panel P in the usual manner to produce
`a smooth hem as indicated at 42. Spaced parallel rows of
`stitching 44 interconnecting the medial portion of each
`band (26, 34 and 32) with the opposed surface of the
`main panel cooperate to de?ne the drawstring channels
`C in each instance. Shoulder straps 36 are shown in
`FIG. 6 sewn to the panel P only at intervals; however,
`in the actual carrier, they are preferably sewn thereto
`all the way along. FIGS. 4 and 5 have been broken
`away in area of the waistband to show how the ends 46
`of the drawstrings are terminated and sewn within the
`tapes 24 binding the side margins. The ends of the neck
`band drawstring are fastened at 20, those of the waist
`band at 26 and those in the crotch in the bottom of the
`fold.
`What is claimed is:
`1. In an infant carrier' of the type having front and
`rear soft fabric panels connected along the bottom and
`at spaced points on both sides to de?ne an open-topped
`pouch with a seat in the bottom, leg openings at the
`sides of the seat and armholes above the leg openings;
`and, supporting means connected to one of the panels
`for carrying said pouch on the chest or back, the im
`provement which comprises: adjustment means ar
`ranged transversely of the seat operative upon actuation
`to narrow the distance separating the leg openings, and
`belt-forming means connectable alongside each leg
`opening operative upon actuation to maintain the maxi
`mum spread relation therebetween permitted by said
`seat width adjustment means.
`2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
`the belt-forming means comprise a pair of shoulder
`straps functioning as the supporting means for the car
`rier, and wherein strap-receiving means are provided
`alongside each leg opening for receiving one of the
`shoulder straps after being passed over the shoulder and
`under the arm preparatory to tying same at the waist on
`the opposite side of the body from that upon which the
`pouch is carried, said shoulder straps and strap-receiv
`ing means cooperating with one another and with the
`adjustment means when said straps are thus reaved,
`pulled taut and tied to maintain a preselected ?xed _
`spaced relationship between the leg openings.
`3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
`the adjustment means comprises a drawstring having
`end portions connected alongside the leg openings and
`a medial portion accessible therebetween, said medial
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`6. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein:
`the strapwreceiving means comprise loops af?xed to the
`portions of the front panel alongside the leg openings.
`7. The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein:
`locking means is provided upon the medial portion of
`the drawstring operative upon actuation to releasably
`latch same in adjusted position.
`8. The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein:
`said waist-adjustment means comprises a drawstring
`subassembly including a drawstring and locking mecha
`nism therefor.
`9. The improvement as set forth in claim 5 wherein:
`said neck adjustment means comprises a drawstring
`subassembly including a drawstring and a locking
`mechanism therefor.
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`7
`portion when pulled being effective to move said ends
`and the adjacent leg openings closed together.
`4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a
`waist-adjustment means is located between the leg
`openings and armholes extending transversely therebe
`tween, said means being operative upon actuation to
`gather the pouch in at the waist.
`5. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
`an adjustment means is located at the open top of the
`pouch extending transversely thereof and operative
`upon actuation to narrow the opening therein.
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`:1
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`Petitioner Ex. 1034 Page 7