Jan. 18, 1966
`
`D. .1. HERSHMAN
`CHILD CARRIER
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`Filed Oct. 23, 1965
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`3,229,873
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`Doro-Hm‘ d. Hevshmcm
`
`BY
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`Rodowdm MA De‘?w’
`ATTORNEYS
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`Petitioner Ex. 1079 Page 1
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`United States Patent 0 ”
`1C6
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`3,229,873
`Patented Jan. 18, 1966
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`. 1
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`3,229,373
`CHILD CARRIER
`Dorothy J. Hershman, Old Litch?eld Turnpike,
`Bethany, Conn.
`Filed Oct. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 318,233
`4 Claims. (Cl. 224-6)
`
`This invention relates to a child-carrier which is
`adapted to be worn by an ‘adult or person capable of
`"carrying the child.
`'
`‘Body-mounted child-carriers have heretofore been
`proposed but are not known to have achieved any com
`mercial acceptance. The previously known child-car
`riers have contained various inherent defects in design
`‘(in that they have not provided proper support for the
`:body of a small child along its back, often have been
`‘designed for back-carrying so that the child is not in
`‘the view ()f-‘thev carrier,’ and in many cases have been
`‘cumbersome on the carrier and also unpleasing in
`' appearance.
`4 The-present invention provides ‘a child-‘carrier arranged
`to carry the child in front of its mother or other bearer
`while allowing-freedom‘iof movement of both arms of
`the bearer. A child-carrier-embodying the invention is
`arranged so that the weight of the child is primarily
`zplraced on the shoulders'of the carrier and no undue
`‘weight or strainlis placed on ‘the back of the carrier.
`‘Another important'feature of the invention is the pro
`,vision of a child-carrier which provides support for the
`child completely along the length of the back of the child
`and simultaneously holds the child close to the front
`torsopof the bearer. A child-carrier embodying the in
`vention- is further arranged so that a child may be easily
`placed in the carrier or'withdrawn therefrom without
`‘removing the carrier from the person of the bearer.
`Another feature of a child-carrier embodying this inven
`"tion is that it is simple and economical in construction
`farid may be made quite pleasing in appearance in a mul
`‘tiplicity of colors to match or properly complement the
`‘dress of the-bearer.
`Accordingly, an object-of this invention is to provide
`:‘a new and improved child-carrier adapted to be worn
`on the upper front torso of a bearer and hold the child
`'closely to the upper front torso of the bearer.
`‘ ‘Another object~of this invention is to provide a new
`and improved child-carrier which enables the bearer to
`carry a child and yet have complete arm freedom.
`Another object of this invention is to provide anew
`and improved child-carrier which provides support all
`along the back of the child and which carries the child
`'in front of and primarily above the waist of the bearer.
`Another object of this invention is to provide a new
`and improved child-carrier which holds the child in front
`of the bearer while supporting the child all along the
`length of its back, and which places the weight of the
`child primarily on the shoulders of the bearer.
`Another object of this invention is to provide a new
`and improved front mounted child carrier in which an
`infant or child -may be easily inserted and removed.
`' "'A further object of this invention is to make a new
`and improved front-mounted child-carrier which achieves
`the foregoing objects which may additionally be simply
`and economically made, and which may be made pleas
`ing in appearance and unobjectionable as an article of
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`apparel.
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`The features of the invention which are believed to
`be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly
`claimed in the concluding portion of this speci?cation.
`The invention, however, both as to its organization and
`operation, together with further objects and advantages
`thereof may best be appreciated by reference to the fol
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`lowing description taken in conjunction with the draw
`ing, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a side View of a child-carrier embodying
`the invention mounted on a bearer and having a child
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`therein;
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`FIG. 2 is a front view of a child-carrier embodying
`the invention mounted on a bearer and having a child
`therein;
`FIG. 3 illustrates details of construction of the back
`portion of a child~carrier embodying the invention with
`relation to a bearer; and
`FIG. 4 illustrates details of construction of a child
`carrier embodying the invention which utilizes an alter
`nate support strap arrangement to that shown in the
`child-carrier of FIGS. 1 through 3.
`A child-carrier embodying the invention, generally
`indicated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a car
`rier portion 11 having a belt portion 12 attached thereto
`and arranged to fit about the waist of a bearer B. The
`carrier portion 11 is arranged to extend upwardly from
`the waist towards the shoulders of the bearer so as to
`provide support ‘for the back of a child C all along the
`length of the back of the child. Attached to the upper
`edge of carrier'portion 11 are shoulder straps 13 which
`extend from the upper edge of the carrier 11 over the
`shoulders of the bearer and to belt portion 12 in back
`of the bearer. The straps 13 are joined together in the
`back by a bridging piece 14 which serves to provide the
`proper spacing between straps l3 and prevent them from
`becoming twisted.
`'
`In accordance with one feature of the invention the
`carrier portion 11 is provided with an opening 15 run
`ning longitudinally thereof to allow placement of a child
`in the carrier and removal therefrom. Opening 15,
`while illustrated as extending the length of the carrier
`portion 11, may only extend partially along the length.
`Opening 15 is arranged to be closed by any suitable
`fastening means, here illustrated as snaps 18. It will
`be understood that hook and eye fasteners, zippers, or
`buttons, may be utilized.
`FIG. 4 illustrates the details of construction of a
`typical embodiment of the invention. The carrier por
`tion 11 comprises sections 16 and 17 of a suitable ma
`terial, such as cotton, which are adapted to be joined
`together at adjacent portions by snaps 18, or other suit
`able fastening means. The adjacent edges de?ne the
`opening 15 which facilitates placement and removal of
`a child in the carrier. To prevent the carrier from cut
`ting the legs or back of the neck of a child the upper
`and lower edges are padded as shown at 19. This pad
`ding or cushioning may be accomplished by rolling the
`edges of the sections 16 and 17 over a suitable padding
`material, such as foam rubber, and stitching or otherwise
`securing the edge of the section 16 or 17 in a manner
`well known. In FIG. 4 the strap arrangement differs
`slightly from that shown in FIG. 3 in that the shoulder
`straps 13 are crossed in the back at 20 and secured to
`gether to predetermine the spacing of the straps with
`relation to one another. It may be noted that padding
`21 is mounted on or in the straps 13 at the point where
`the straps go over the shoulders of the bearer B to pre
`vent the straps cutting into the shoulder of the bearer.
`Further in accordance with the invention, the carrier
`is arranged so that the shoulder straps and belt portions
`are adjustable to the size of the bearer. Belt portion
`12 is provided with hooks 22 at either end thereof and
`mating eye portions 23 adapted to receive hooks 22.
`The free ends of the belt portion are arranged to be
`passed through loops 24 adjacent the bottom edge of
`carrier portion 11. The hooks 22 may then be inserted
`in selected eyes 23 dependent upon the Waist measure
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`Petitioner Ex. 1079 Page 2
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`3,229,873
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`ment of the bearer. In a similar manner the free ends
`of the straps 13 are provided with hooks ZS'and mating ‘
`eyes 26. Also, loops 27 are provided adjacent the upper
`edges of the child~carrier so that the ends of the straps
`may be inserted therethrough and the hooks 25 :then
`inserted in selected eyes 26 to adjust the straps to the
`bearer. Moreover, it is to be understood that the hooks
`and eyes may be replaced by other adjusting devices
`such as the well-known adjusting buckles, snaps, etc;
`From the foregoing it may be noted that a child-car
`rier embodying the invention is so arranged that it holds
`a child in close proximity to the upper torso of the bearer
`which adds to the sense of security of the child, inasmuch
`as the bearer in most all case-s is the mother. The car
`rier portion 11 extends essentially along the total length
`of the back of the child which is quite important with
`younger children who do not yet have su?icient muscular
`development to hold themselves erect. It may further
`be noted that the arms of the bearer are left free.
`Alternatively, the bearer may hold the child adjacent
`the upper torso, in the carrier, in a similar manner that
`a mother would carry a child if no child-carrier were
`present.
`Another important feature of the invention is that the
`carrier portion is provided with the opening 15 either
`completely along its length or along a substantial por
`tion thereof extending from the upper edge, so that the
`carrier portion may be opened to facilitate placement
`of a child in the carrier or withdrawal. of the vchild from
`the carrier. In the child-carrier disclosed, the weight
`of the child is primarily placed on the shoulders of the
`bearer and there is little tendency for the weight of the
`child, through the child-carrier, to place a strain or undue
`pull on the back or waist of the bearer.
`A child-carrier embodying the invention does not pro
`vide an nnpleasing appearance, and it is very simple and
`economical in design and construction. It may be made
`in a variety of colors or materials to complement or to
`match the clothing of the bearer. Moreover, when a
`child is removed from'the carrier, the carrier may be
`very quickly removed from the bearer and folded into a
`small package. In the illustrated embodiment of the
`invention the carrier may be removed from the bearer
`merely by nnhooking one end of the belt portion and
`removing the shoulder straps from the bearer.
`The carrier portion 11 and strap arrangement may be
`made of any suitable material. The carrier portion,
`while shown as rectangular, may be made in various
`shapes and styles. However, the carrier portion should
`have sufficient length to provide support for the upper
`back of a child.
`It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,
`among those made apparent from the preceding descrip- I
`tion, are efficiently attained. Since additional embodi
`ments of the invention may occur to others, and in the
`construction set forth without departing from the scope
`of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained
`in the above description and shown in the accompany
`ing drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
`in a limiting sense.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A carrier for a child adapted to be worn by a
`bearer comprising a section of material forming a car
`rier portion adapted to be positioned on the front of
`the bearer, a belt portion fastened to said carrier portion
`on either side thereof and arranged to ?t about the waist
`of the bearer, said carrier portion arranged to extend
`upwardly on the front torso of a bearer from the belt
`portion a su?icient distance to support the upper back
`:of a child therein, and straps extending from the upper
`edge of said carrier portion to said belt portion and
`arranged to ?t over the shoulders of a bearer so that a
`child in said carrier Will be held by said carrier against
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`the upper front torso of a bearer, said carrier portion
`being openable from the top thereof at least a portion
`of its length toward the bottom thereof to allow entrance
`and removal of a child from said carrier portion.
`2. A carrier for a child adapted to be worn by a
`bearer comprising a section of material forming a carrier
`portion adapted to be positioned on the upper front torso
`of the bearer, support means, said support means being
`arranged to ?t on the back of a bearer, extend about
`the waist of a bearer and fasten to either side of said
`carrier portion adjacent the bottom thereof, said support
`means being further arranged to extend over the shoul
`ders of a bearer and connect to‘ the top of said ,carrier
`portion, said carrier portion being so dimensioned asto
`extend upwardly from the waist of a bearer a sufficient
`distance to support essentially the entire back of a child
`therein, so that a child therein will be held by said car
`rier essentially above the waist of the bearer and against
`the upper front torso of the bearer, said carrier portion
`de?ning ‘a closable opening therein to allow entrance ‘
`and removal of achild from ‘said carrier.
`3. A carrier for a child adapted to befworn 1_ by a
`bearer comprisinga section of material forming awar
`rier portion adapted to be positioned on the upper, front
`torso of the bearer, support means, said snpport‘means
`being arranged to ?t on the back, of a_ bearer, extend ,
`about the waist of a bearer and fasten to either sideof
`said carrier portion adjacent the bottom thereof,‘ said
`support means being further arranged to extend over the ‘
`shoulders of a bearer and connect to the top of said 1
`carrier portion, said carrier portion being so dimensioned
`as to extend upwardly from the waist of a bearer a
`sui?cient distance to support essentially the entire back
`of a child therein, so that a child, therein -will be held
`by said carrier essentially above the waist of the bearer
`and against the upper front torso of the bearer,‘ said ‘
`carrier portion being openable from the top thereof at
`least a portion of its length toward the bottom thereof ‘
`to allow entrance and removal of a child from said;
`carrier.
`4. A carrier for a child adapted to be worn by a ,
`bearer comprising a section of material forming a car-,
`rier portion adapted to be positionedon the front, of the
`bearer, a belt portion extending from said carrier por-.
`tion arranged to ?t about thewaist of the ‘bearer, ‘said
`carrier portion arranged to extend upwardly on the front
`torso of the bearer from the waist a su?icient‘ distance
`to support essentially the entire back of a child therein,
`and straps extending from the upper portionv of. said
`carrier portion to said belt portionand arranged to fit
`over the shoulders of a bearer so that a child in- said
`carrier will be held by said carrier againstthe upper
`front torso of a bearer, said carrier portion being open- ‘
`able from the top thereof at least a portion of its length
`toward the bottom thereof to allow entrance and re- .
`moval of a child therefrom.
`References Cited by the Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`484,065 10/ 1892 Taylor ______________ __ 224——6
`1,518,830 12/1924 Woods ____________ __. 224——6
`2,376,657
`5/1945 Chamberlain _______ __ 224—6
`2,411,721 11/ 1946 Hancock et al. _____ __ 224——6
`2,599,474
`6/1952 Mills _______ __' _____ __ 224—6
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`1,215,795 11/ 1959 France.
`.
`907,687 10/1962 Great Britain.
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`GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner,
`HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner.
`A. GRANT, Assistant Examiner,
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`Petitioner Ex. 1079 Page 3