Modular infant carrier apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular infant carrier apparatus and method. In one embodiment, a sling comprising a tail portion and two arm portions supports an infant when rings at the ends of the tail portion and arm portions are brought together at a single point above the infant. The rings are held together by a clamp, and the clamp allows the sling to be attached to space-saving receivers including a wall-mounted hook, a ceiling-mounted hook, a door-mounted hook, a hook attached to a heavy item of furniture, a stand-mounted hook, an over-door hook, or an item of clothing worn by an adult. In one embodiment, the sling can be moved from one receiver to another using a single hand, without removing the infant from the sling. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableTHE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0004]Not ApplicableSEQUENCE LISTING[0005]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0006]1. Field of the Invention[0007]This invention relates to a carrier for an infant. More particularly, this invention relates to an infant carrier that includes a sling that can be moved from one location to another, without removing the infant from the sling.[0008]2. Description of Related Art[0009]Slings for carrying infants are well known. Slings are advantageous because they are lightweight and usually inexpensive to manufacture. Almost all prior slings are designed exclusively to attach an infant to an adult. It is well known that it is often soothing for an infant to be carried close to the body of an adult. See ge...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]There are many advantages to the infant carrier and method disclosed. One advantage of aspects of the invention is that an infant in the sling may be moved from one receiver to another without removing the infant from the sling. This advantage allows the infant to be easily attached to and detached from an adult and attached to and detached from other receivers without unnecessarily jostling the infant or waking the infant if it is asleep. Another advantage of aspects of the invention is that the infant in the sling can be moved from one receiver to another easily, using a single hand. Another advantage of aspects of the invention is that the sling is lightweight, so that the sling and infant can be carried together without much more effort than is required to carry the infant alone. Yet another advantage of aspects of the invention is that the infant in the sling can be supported by receivers that take up very little space when not in use. Another advantage of aspects of the invention is that when the sling is attached to a receiver, the sling and receiver take up only a small amount of total space. In some aspects, the sling and receiver are supported without touching the ground and therefore take up no floor space whatsoever. Another advantage of aspects of the invention is that the infant is free to swing gently and soothingly when the sling is attached to certain receivers. Another advantage of aspects of the invention is that the sling provides a swaddling effect to sooth the infant. Yet another advantage of aspects of the invention is that a sling can support an infant in any of the disclosed receivers even if the infant cannot support its own head. Other advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention and from the drawings.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is not possible to carry an infant in a sling at all times. For example, it is impractical or unsafe to perform some common household tasks while carrying an infant in a sling—including lifting heavy objects, cooking on a stove, or using knives, scissors, or other sharp tools.

One disadvantage of such slings is that the infant cannot be detached from the adult without removing the infant from the sling.

Removing the infant from the sling usually requires the adult to use two hands and results in the infant being jostled, potentially causing discomfort to the infant.

A second disadvantage of such slings is that the sling cannot support the infant unless an adult is wearing the sling.

The inability of the adult to easily attach and detach the infant undesirably discourages the adult from using the sling.

However, even prior art slings that can be attached to or detached from an adult without removing the infant have the disadvantage that two hands are required to attach or remove the infant.

Likewise, such slings have the disadvantage that they cannot support the infant unless an adult is wearing the sling.

However, a disadvantage of these car-seat carriers is that they are heavier than slings.

A second disadvantage of such car-seat carriers is that, the carriers themselves must be large enough to surround an infant, and the receivers into which they are attached are also large.

The receivers for such car-seat carriers take up a significant amount of space even when they are not in use.

It is impractical to have multiple receivers for an infant car seat carrier in a small living space, such as a city apartment.

A third disadvantage of car-seat carriers it that, although an adult may be able to carry a car-seat carrier that is holding an infant, car-seat carriers cannot be attached to the adult, so at least one of the adults hands must be occupied holding the carrier.

A fourth disadvantage of car-seat carriers is that they do not hold the infant close to the body of an adult, so that the infant must be removed from the car-seat carrier if the infant is to be carried close to the body of an adult.

This results in jostling of the infant, requires two hands, and discourages use.

Second, the Parewick apparatus can only be used to secure the infant to a chair, grocery cart seat, or other similar receptacle.

It is not practical to have a large number of such receptacles in a small living space.

Third, the infant must be able to sit up to be able to use the Parewick apparatus as a seat harness; it cannot be used by an infant lying down.

Second, an adult wearing the Babykeeper 3-in-1 requires a series of complicated steps to detach it from the adult and attach it to a door.

Third, when the Babykeeper 3-in-1 is attached to a door, the infant's head must be in an upright position, so it cannot be used for an infant that is not yet capable of supporting its own head.

Fourth, the hooking mechanism of the Babykeeper 3-in-1 is bulky and must be worn by the adult when the Babykeeper 3-in-1 is used as a sling.

Images