United States Patent [191
`Hansson
`
`154] INFANT CARRIER
`[75] Inventor: Margaret S. Hansson, Boulder,
`C010.
`[73] Assignee: Gerico, Inc., Boulder, C010.
`[22] Filed: ‘
`Jan. 19, 1972
`[21] Appl. No.: 218,917
`
`3,780,919
`[111
`[45] Dec. 25, 1973
`
`403,153
`167,146
`
`12/1933 Great Britain ........................ .. 224/6
`11/1950 Austria ................................. .. 224/6
`
`Primary Examiner—Gerald M. Forlenza
`Assistant Examiner—]erold M. Forsberg
`Attorney-Reilly and Lewis
`
`[52] [1.5. CI. .................................................. .. 224/6
`[51] Int. Cl ........................................... .. A47d 13/02
`[58] Field of Search .................. .. 224/6, 5 Q, 5 MA,
`224/5 MC, 25 A; 297/385, 390, 391
`
`[56]
`
`3,481,517
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`12/1969 Aukcrman ............................ .. 224/6
`
`3,587,952
`
`6/1971
`
`Higuchi . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 224/6
`
`1,605,473
`.. 224/6 X
`1926 sghngidau
`2,376,657
`1945 Chamberlain ......................... .. 224/6
`FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS
`907,687
`10/1962 Great Britain ........................ .. 224/6
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A carrier for an infant child includes a fabric pouch in
`which the child can be seated having leg openings
`near its bottom end and a unique strap arrangement
`includes shoulder straps and reinforcing straps so con
`nected to the pouch and to one another as to permit
`secure but adjustable suspension either from the front
`or back of the user. A head support is disposed be
`tween the open upper end of the pouch and the shoul
`der straps in a manner such that it can be retained in
`a head-supporting position or folded down into the
`pouch in an out-of-the-way position.
`
`9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 1
`
`

`
`P.AIENIED4}£‘c25 ms
`
`$780,919
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 2
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 2
`
`

`
`1.
`INEA-N'ZIE‘CARRIER
`Titer-present invention; generally concernsa carrier
`formaninfant‘child;andzmore particularly relates to a.
`fab-riccarrier ofthetyperwhich may be suspended from
`the-shoulders of ‘a;user.
`Childcarriersoffthevtype whichiare adapted-to be
`suspended; fromv the. shoulders of a user are. now in
`widespread'usetforrcarryingchildren in'piggyback fash
`ion- over terrain‘ not adapted for travel by wheeled
`carts, carriages andzthezlik-e. Such carriers are. often
`usedzby m-en-and;women.>inrhikingandother extended
`walkingactivitiesso:thatsitsisimportant that the carrier
`be'.~c.omfo.rtable:for both the user and the child. Gener
`ally‘, thecarriers .includea frameworkof metal or some
`other-rigidgmateriali from‘ which‘ is suspended a fabric
`pouch-inwhichthe-child?can sit. This type of carrier,
`however; ispractically speaking'limited for use with
`children‘of at least thetoddler stage because of the size
`of -the_frame.necessary torcomfortboth the user and the
`child. Anexampleofsuch-a carrier is disclosed in US.
`LettersrPat. No. 3;097',773"issued. to G. A. Cunning.
`.ham"; Carriersadaptedtfdr use with babies or infants of.
`only a fewvmonth's ofrage, generally speaking, are de
`signediso that theinfant is held‘close to the body of the
`user where the. infant'has a feelingof security. Typical
`of such infant carriers are those disclosed in US. Let
`ters-Pat. No. 3,481,517‘to A: L. Aukerman and in US.
`Letters-Pat. No. 2,411,331 to N. Nettleship.
`lne-carriersfor infants or babiesof a very young age,
`it is~preferably desirable that the carrier includea sup
`port'for theinfant’s head; since it is-frequently the case
`that theinfant is-not strong enough‘to independently
`hold his head erect. However, as the infant grows older
`and requires less head. support, it isdesirable. for the
`comfort and contentment of the infant that his head not
`be;con?ned.so that he.is free to move his head and ob
`serve his surroundings.
`Thetinfant carrier ofthe present invention is made of
`alight ?exiblefabric material andlincludes a pouch in
`which'the child can be seated. The pouch is uniquely
`securedto strap means which are adapted to pass over
`theshoulders of the-userso that the child can be sup
`ported either in front'orin back of the user. A head
`support is-flexibly connected to the shoulder straps so
`that nit*is-movablebetween an in-useposition wherein
`it supports thehead of'th‘e-Jnfant and an out~of-use po
`sition wherein it is fOIdBdi'dOWH into the pouch with the
`infant ‘so. that the infantYslhead is free to moveabout
`without restriction. A'pair of reinforcement straps are
`attached. tothe-pouch-in-such a manner that they-rein
`force the‘pouch‘ at'tthe: bottom wherethe maximum
`amount ofwear occursand. also serve to adjustably and
`releasably connect theh‘ead support to the shoulder
`straps for easy manipulation of the-head‘support.
`Accordingly, it ‘is-an object of the present invention
`to. provide an infant carrier of the-type adapted to be
`suspendedv from th'e.shoulders of a userhavinga head
`support :which is~movable between in-use and out-of
`use-positions.
`ltiisanotherobject of'the present ‘invention to pro
`videan-infa'nt carrier with‘a head support movablebe- _
`tween in=use and out-‘of-‘usepositions, the head support
`b'eingssecured to thecarrier in a manner such that it is
`easily-and readily moved-from oneposition to the other
`while .thecarrier is suspended from the shoulders of the
`user.
`
`2.v
`It is a further object of. the presentinvention to pro
`vide. an infant carrier of the type which can besus
`pended from the shoulders .of a'user either- in~.front or:
`in back of the user and. has an adjustable'reinforcingi.
`and shoulder strap arrangement which reinforces-‘the.
`carrier to extend its'useful life.
`.
`Other objects, advantages and featuresof the present
`invention will become more. readily appreciated and
`understood from a consideration of the. followingzdee
`tailed description taken in conjunction with'the accom
`panying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is alperspective view of-the carrier-suspendedv
`from the shoulders of a user withia child seated therein;
`FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the carrier shown in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the carrier of FIG. 1; and'
`FIG. 4>is a bottom plan of the carrier ofv FIG. 1. ,
`Referring now to the drawings which show by way of
`illustrative example an‘infant carrier 10 constructed in
`accordance with the present invention, the-infant car
`rier 10 can beseen in FIG. 1 to include a pouch-12' in.
`which the infant “can be seated, a head support->161
`for holding the infant's head in an erect position, and /
`supporting straps generally designated 18‘ including:
`shoulder straps 20 and reinforcement straps 221
`The pouch 12 is made of a strong but ?exiblefabric
`material such aslight canvas or the like and when not
`folded has a cup-like con?guration with leg openings
`24near the bottom end 26 thereof and an open upper
`end 28 through which the upper torso and head of the
`infant can protrude when seated in thepouch. The sup
`porting straps 18 for the carrier are also made of a
`strong but flexiblefabric material such as light canvas
`and each includes a shoulder strap 20 and a reinforce
`ment strap 22 which are secured to the pouch‘ as by
`sewing in a speci?c arrangement to be described here
`inafter.
`Referring ?rst to the shoulder straps 20, they can be
`seen in FIG. 2 to have one end sewn as at 29 to the
`front portion 31 of the pouch adjacent the open upper
`end 28'. The shoulder straps extend away from the
`upper end of the pouch in a divergent angle so that they
`form a substantially V-shaped con?guration whereby
`- when the carrier 10 is in use, the shoulder straps can be
`45
`comfortably extended over the shoulders of the user.
`The shoulder straps are comprised of a cushioning por
`tion 30 and a fastening portion»32veach of which de
`?nes approximately one-half the length of the shoulder
`straps.'The cushioning portion is wider than the fasten
`ing portion and comprises the segment of the shoulder
`strap which lies on the shoulder of the user and is sewn
`to the upper end of the pouch. The wide cushioning;
`portion 30 of thetshoulder straps distributes the weight
`of the infant across a substantial area of the shoulders:
`of the vuser for optimum comfort. Theend of the-cush
`ioning portion 30 which is not sewn ‘to the pouch is se
`curely sewn to one end of the narrower fasteningzpor
`tion 32so that the fastening portion has a free end 33v
`available to be attached to a reinforcement strap 22 ‘as
`will be discussed hereinafter.
`The reinforcement straps 22 are approximately the
`same width as the fastening portion 32-of the shoulder
`straps 20 and- are also made of a stronglbut ?exible ma
`terial such as light canvas. They are secured» to the
`pouch 20 as by sewingin such a manner that they have
`free lower ends 34‘1which extend away from thefront
`portion of the pouch in between'the leg openings 241
`
`55
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`60
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`6.5
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 3
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`

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`3,780,919
`
`3
`and criss-cross at the bottom of the pouch before ex
`tending upwardly across the rear portion 36 of the
`pouch toward the open upper end 28. The upper por
`tions of the reinforcement straps 22 extend beyond the
`open upper end of the pouch and each is sewn to one
`side edge of the head support 16 so as to retain the
`head support in slightly spaced relation from the open
`upper end 28 of the pouch. The reinforcement straps
`extend on beyond the upper edge of the head support
`de?ning free upper ends 38 (FIG. 3) of the reinforce
`ment straps which are adapted to be adjustably and re
`leasably attached to the shoulder straps 20 as by buck
`. les 40 which are affixed to the shoulder straps at a posi
`tion which is substantially equispaced between the two
`ends of the cushioning portion 30 of the shoulder
`straps. The lower free ends 34 of the reinforcement
`straps are provided with fasteners 42, such as D-ring
`fasteners, so that the free ends 33 of the fastening por
`tion 32 of the shoulder straps ‘can be easily and readily
`adjustably attached to the lower ends of the reinforce
`ment straps. When the fastening straps are attached to
`the reinforcement straps, a closed loop is established
`whereby the carrier can be comfortably suspended
`from the shoulders of a user. The adjustment allowed
`by the D~ring fasteners 42 enables the user to position
`the carrier for optimum comfort both to himself and
`the infant.
`It will be appreciated that, with the reinforcement
`straps 22 criss-crossing at the bottom 26 of the pouch,
`the pouch will be reinforced to give added strength to
`the area where the infant’s weight is concentrated.
`Thus, the useful life of the pouch is extended by provid
`ing additional strength to the fabric in the area where
`there is the greatest tendency for the fabric to wear.
`It can be seen that, by disconnecting the upper free
`ends 38 of the reinforcement straps from the buckles
`40 on the cushioning portion 30 of the shoulder straps,
`the head support 16 along with the upper portion of the
`reinforcement straps can be folded down into the
`pouch 12 in the out-of-use position so that the infant’s
`head movement will not be inhibited by the head sup
`port. In reverse, it is very simple to draw the head sup
`port and upper portion of the reinforcement straps
`back out of the pouch and quickly and easily attach the
`free upper ends of the reinforcement straps to the
`buckles on the shoulder straps to again secure the head
`support in its in-use position. The simple procedure for
`moving the head support between in-use and out-of-use
`positions makes the carrier 10 adaptable for use with
`infants in various stages of growth. It also makes the
`carrier useful when it is desirable that an infant’s head
`be supported some of the time, perhaps when sleeping,
`and unsupported the remainder of the time. Also, the
`reinforcement straps are adjustably secured in the
`buckles 40 so that the position of the head support
`when in its in-use position can be adjusted to satisfy
`variables such as the size of the infant and particularly
`his head size.
`Another important feature of the invention is- the
`spaced relationship between the head support 16 and
`the open upper end 28 of the pouch which eliminates
`any bulk folds in the material when the head support is
`folded into the pouch in the out-of-use position as
`might be present if the pouch were integral ,with the
`head support. This prevents any undue discomfort for
`the infant which, as is well known, is critical to the con
`tentment of the infant.
`
`4
`Since the carrier is fabricated of a light fabric mate
`rial, an, important feature of the carrier is that the effec
`tive load supported by the user is not much different
`that the weight of the infant himself. Another impor
`tant feature of the carrier is that it can be folded into
`a very small package because of the minimum amount
`of fabric used in its construction, and thus carried in
`the purse or pocket of the user when not in use.
`Although the present invention has been described
`with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood
`that the present disclosure has been made by way of ex
`ample and that changes in details of structure may be
`made without departing from the spirit thereof.
`7 What is claimed is:
`1. A carrier for an infant comprising in combination‘
`a pouch in which the infant can be seated, said pouch
`including a pair of lower leg openings and an open
`upper end, shoulder strap means affixed to the pouch
`and adapted to pass over the shoulders of a user, and
`a head support de?ning an extension of the pouch on
`the side thereof opposite the shoulder strap connection
`to the pouch, and means releasably connecting the
`upper portion of the head support to said shoulder
`strap means at a location along the length of the shoul
`der strap means in a manner such that the head support
`serves as a firm ?exible support for the infant’s head.
`2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said means releas
`ably connecting the head support to the shoulder straps
`includes a pair of reinforcement straps secured to the
`pouch and the head support and having free ends
`adapted to be individually connected to the shoulder
`strap means to retain the head support in an in-use po
`sition.
`3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said head support
`comprises a piece of ?exible fabric sewn to the rein
`forcement straps whereby when the reinforcement
`straps are disconnected from the shoulder strap means
`the reinforcement straps can be folded so that the head
`support is positioned within the pouch in an out-of-use
`position.
`I
`4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein said head support
`is connected to the reinforcement steaps in spaced rela
`tion to the open upper end of the pouch.
`5. A carrier for an-infant comprising in combination
`a pouch in which the infant can be seated, said pouch
`including a pair of leg openings near the bottom and
`open at the upper end, a pair of shoulder straps each
`having one end secured to the pouch near the open
`upper end of the pouch for extension of said shoulder
`straps over the shoulders of a user, reinforcement
`straps secured to the pouch including free lower ends
`adapted to be individually attached to the free ends of
`the shoulder straps and free upper ends adapted to be
`attached to the shoulder straps at a preselected loca
`tion along the length of the shoulder straps, and a head
`support secured to the reinforcement straps near the
`free upper ends whereby when the free upper ends are
`secured to the shoulder straps the head of the infant
`will be supported and comfortably held in place.
`6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein said reinforcement
`straps comprise a pair of elongated straps being se~
`cured, to the pouch along an intermediate portion of the
`straps so that the free lower ends extend awayfrom the
`pouch adjacent the leg openings and the free upper
`ends extend away from the pouch adjacent the open
`upper end.
`
`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`65
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`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 4
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`

`
`5
`7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein said reinforcement
`straps cross each other at the bottom end of the pouch
`adjacent the leg openings.
`8. The carrier of claim 6 wherein said pouch, shoul
`der straps, reinforcement straps, and head support are
`made of a strong but ?exible fabric material.
`9. A carrier for an infant comprising in combination
`a fabric pouch in which the infant can be seated, said
`pouch including a pair of leg openings near the bottom
`and an open upper end through which the infant's head
`can protrude, a pair of ?exible fabric shoulder straps
`secured at one end to one side of the pouch near the
`open upper end of the pouch, said shoulder straps hav
`ing free opposite ends adapted to be passed over the
`shoulders of a user, a pair of ?exible fabric reinforce
`ment straps secured to the pouch with free lower ends
`extending away from the bottom of the pouch on said
`one side, said reinforcement straps criss-crossing at the
`bottom of said pouch and extending up the opposite
`side of said pouch from said one side and having free
`upper ends extending away from the open upper end of
`
`6
`the pouch on said opposite side, said free upper ends
`being adapted to be individually releasably attached to
`the shoulder straps at a preselected location along the
`length of the shoulder straps, said free lower ends of the
`reinforcement straps and the free opposite ends of the
`shoulder straps having fasteners whereby they can be
`individually fastened together to complete loops which
`pass over and under the shoulders of the user for sup
`porting the carrier on the shoulders of the user, and a
`fabric head support secured to the reinforcement straps
`in spaced relation from the open upper end of the
`pouch whereby'when the free upper ends of the rein
`forcement straps are fastened to the shoulder straps the
`head support will securely and comfortably support the
`head of an infant seated in the pouch and when the free
`upper ends of the reinforcement straps are not fastened
`to the shoulder straps can be folded to allow the head
`support to be positioned within the pouch in an out-of-
`use position.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`3,780,919
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
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`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 5
`
`

`
`@233?
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`Patent No. 3,780,919
`
`Dated 25 December 1973
`
`Inventor(s) Margaret 3- Hansson
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent
`and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:
`
`I"
`
`‘
`
`'
`
`‘
`
`'1
`
`In the Claims:
`
`'
`
`Column 4, line 43, cancel "steaps" and substitute
`
`-- straps -—
`
`Signed and‘ sealed this 9th day of April 197A.
`
`(SEAL)
`
`Attest:
`
`‘
`
`EDWARD M.FLETCHER-,JR.
`Attesting; Officer _
`
`C. MARSHALL DANN
`Gommissioner~_ of Patents
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1075 Page 6