An adjustable shoulder strap and its adjustment method

Abstract

This invention discloses an adjustable baby carrier and its adjustment method, comprising a main body, a deformable support liner, and a rotary adjustment mechanism. The main body connects shoulder straps and a waist belt. The support liner is located in the central bearing area of ​​the main body, with independent traction cables connected to both sides. The rotary adjustment mechanism is fixed to the side of the main body and drives the two sets of traction cables to extend and retract synchronously via dual-wound wheels, achieving continuous adjustment of the support liner width. When the baby faces the user, the support liner is adjusted to its maximum width to completely cover the baby's buttocks; when the baby's back faces the user, the support liner retracts to a width matching the gap between the baby's thighs. This invention, through the synergistic effect of the rotary adjustment mechanism and the support liner, achieves precise adaptation of the bearing area with a single operation, eliminating discomfort and skin friction risks when used in different orientations, and improving the comfort and adaptability of the baby carrier in all scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of infant and toddler product technology, specifically relating to a baby carrier structure that can dynamically adjust its support shape according to the baby's orientation, and a corresponding method for adjusting the support shape. Background Technology

[0002] Baby carriers, as a tool to free caregivers' hands, have been widely used. However, most existing baby carriers have a fixed-size support structure, which cannot accommodate the different body postures of infants when used in different orientations. When the infant faces the caregiver, a larger area of ​​support for the buttocks is needed to improve the feeling of being wrapped and comfortable; when the infant's back is facing the caregiver, the fixed-width support structure will cause continuous friction between the infant's thighs and the support structure, which can easily cause skin damage with prolonged use. Some adjustable carriers use segmented adjustment structures such as Velcro and buckles, which have limited adjustment precision and are cumbersome to operate, requiring both hands to complete the adjustment, making it difficult for caregivers to adjust independently when carrying an infant alone. Some carriers use a single traction cable adjustment structure, which can easily lead to uneven force on both sides of the support structure, causing the infant's posture to become skewed, posing a safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable shoulder strap and its adjustment method. Through the combined design of a rotary adjustment mechanism and a deformable support, the width of the bearing area can be continuously and accurately adjusted with a single operation, while ensuring that the force on both sides of the support is balanced and that the bearing surface remains flat during deformation.

[0004] The adjustable baby carrier of this invention includes a main body, a support liner, a rotary adjustment mechanism, and two sets of traction cables. The main body serves as the basic load-bearing structure, with a waist belt assembly connected to the lower part. It is made entirely of high-strength, abrasion-resistant fabric and has an internal cushioning layer. The support liner is located in the infant support area at the front of the main body, serving as a support structure that directly contacts the infant's buttocks and thighs. It is made of multi-layered composite fabric, with a skin-friendly and breathable outer layer, an elastic cushioning material in the middle layer, and an abrasion-resistant base fabric at the bottom. The two sides of the support liner are fixedly connected to the first end of each set of traction cables. The connection points are evenly distributed along the side edges of the support liner to ensure that the tension of the traction cables is evenly transmitted to the entire side edge.

[0005] The rotary adjustment mechanism is fixed to the waist belt for easy one-handed operation by the caregiver. Inside the mechanism are two independent winding wheels, with the second ends of the two sets of traction cables fixedly connected to their respective winding wheels. When the knob assembly of the rotary adjustment mechanism rotates, it synchronously drives the two winding wheels to rotate in opposite directions, achieving synchronous winding and unwinding of the two sets of traction cables: when one set of traction cables is wound up, the other set is released simultaneously, causing the two sides of the support to move synchronously towards each other, thus reducing the support's bearing width; conversely, when the two sets of traction cables move in opposite directions, the two sides of the support move synchronously in opposite directions, expanding the support's bearing width.

[0006] The rotary adjustment mechanism features an internal ratchet locking structure, allowing the knob assembly to rotate bidirectionally. Upon stopping, it automatically locks into its current position, ensuring the adjusted state is automatically fixed without additional unlocking. The dual-axis winding assembly employs a precise 1:1 transmission ratio design, meaning that for every rotation of the knob assembly, the width of the support changes by 1 cm, with a width adjustment accuracy of up to 0.1 cm. This ensures precise and controllable adjustment, meeting the refined fitting needs of infants of different body shapes.

[0007] The support pad is fixedly connected to the corresponding traction cable at both ends. When the traction cable moves, all transverse support bars deform synchronously, ensuring the entire bearing surface of the support pad remains flat throughout the width change process, avoiding localized depressions or protrusions, and guaranteeing a stable bearing posture for the baby. The anti-slip textured layer on the surface of the support pad features a dot-matrix raised design with a raised height of 0.5 mm and a spacing of 2 mm between adjacent raised areas. This increases friction with the baby's clothing to prevent slippage without irritating the baby's skin.

[0008] The two sets of guide channels inside the main body of the baby carrier are made of smooth nylon fabric with a PTFE coating on the inner wall to reduce friction when the traction cable slides. The guide channels extend from the rotary adjustment mechanism to the edges of both sides of the support, with a rounded transition to prevent bending and wear on the traction cable. The transverse support bars inside the support are made of high-toughness composite flexible material, possessing sufficient structural strength to maintain shape stability regardless of the width adjustment of the support, preventing sagging and deformation, and providing stable support for the baby. Beneficial effects

[0009] This invention achieves continuous width adjustment with a single hand by utilizing the synergistic action of a rotary adjustment mechanism and the support liner. No pressing or unlocking is required during adjustment; simply rotating the knob increases or decreases the width. The two sides of the support liner maintain synchronized movement, ensuring the flatness of the support surface remains unaffected by the adjustment. It provides a precise fit to the infant's body shape in two usage scenarios: when the infant faces the adult, the support liner opens to its maximum for complete swaddling and comfort; when the infant's back faces the adult, the support liner contracts inward to match the gap at the groin, eliminating the risk of skin friction. The locking structure of the adjustment mechanism ensures that the width of the support liner will not change unexpectedly during use, enhancing safety.

[0010] The overall structure of this invention requires no additional accessories, and the adjustment operation does not require the use of both hands. Caregivers can independently complete the adjustment while carrying the baby, which greatly improves the ease of use and adaptability of the baby carrier. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the unfolded support portion of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the shrinkage of the support portion of the present invention.

[0012] In the picture: 100 - Main body, 210 - Supporting part, 200 - Rotation control adjustment mechanism, 220 - Traction cable, 300 - Waist belt Detailed Implementation

[0013] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention have been clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0014] In this embodiment, the adjustable carrying straps feature a main body 100 made of 600D Oxford cloth as the outer layer, an inner layer of 3D breathable mesh, and a 1 cm thick layer of EVA cushioning material in between. The support layer 210 has a pure cotton knitted fabric surface, a 2 cm thick memory foam middle layer, and a wear-resistant Oxford cloth bottom layer. The two sets of traction cables 220 use 1.5 mm diameter nylon-core steel wire ropes with a breaking strength greater than 500 Newtons.

[0015] The base of the rotary adjustment mechanism 200 is made of ABS engineering plastic and is fixed to the side of the main body 100 with rivets. The dual-axis winding assembly uses metal gear transmission with a gear module of 0.5, a tooth surface machining accuracy of IT6, a transmission ratio of 1:1, zero backlash during transmission, and a fitting accuracy of less than 0.02 mm. The knob has a diameter of 4 cm, an anti-slip knurled surface, and a rotational operating force of less than 5 N. The pawl locking structure is made of stainless steel or plastic, with a pawl-ratchet engagement depth of 1 mm. In the locked state, it can withstand a reverse pulling force of more than 100 N. No additional unlocking operation is required during bidirectional rotation, and it automatically locks after rotation stops.

[0016] The waist belt 300 has an overall length adjustment range of 70 cm to 120 cm and is connected by a buckle made of POM material, which can withstand a tensile force of more than 200 Newtons. The support part 210 and the traction cable 220 are connected in sections, which have both flexible deformation capability and structural support strength, and can maintain a flat and stable bearing surface at different widths.

[0017] In actual use, the caregiver first secures the waist belt 300 component to the waist and adjusts it to a suitable tightness. The baby is then placed in the support area 210, and adjustments are made according to the baby's orientation. When facing the caregiver, the knob is rotated counter-clockwise to its maximum travel, fully opening the support area 210 to its maximum width, completely supporting the baby's buttocks and inner thighs. The baby's legs hang naturally, maintaining an M-shaped hip posture, conforming to infant ergonomic requirements. When facing away from the caregiver, the knob is rotated clockwise, retracting the support area 210 inwards to match the gap at the baby's groin. The retracted support area 210 only supports the baby's buttocks, with its side edges flush with the baby's groin, preventing pressure and friction on the inner thigh skin, allowing the baby's legs to move freely. The entire adjustment process does not require removing the baby from the carrier; the caregiver can complete the operation with one hand. The carrier automatically locks after adjustment, requiring no additional securing.

[0018] The specific implementation process of the adjustment method of the present invention is as follows: When the infant faces the caregiver, the caregiver rotates the knob assembly counterclockwise to its maximum stroke with one hand. At this time, the two sides of the support liner 210 expand to their maximum spacing. The fully expanded support liner 210 has a width of 28 cm, which can completely cover the infant's buttocks and provide maximum support area. The state automatically locks after rotation stops. When the infant's back faces the caregiver, the caregiver directly rotates the knob assembly clockwise. During the rotation, the two sides of the support liner 210 simultaneously contract inward. The caregiver can stop the rotation at any time by observing the fit between the support liner 210 and the infant's thigh root. The current state automatically locks. In the contracted state, the minimum width of the support liner 210 is 10 cm, which can adapt to the thigh gap size of infants of different ages.

[0019] The adjustable baby carrier of this embodiment has been tested and can support infants weighing between 3 kg and 25 kg. The width of the support part 210 can be adjusted from 10 cm to 28 cm. It can be adjusted more than 10,000 times without failure. All materials meet the requirements of GB31701 Safety Technical Specification for Infant and Toddler Textile Products, and the overall structural strength meets the requirements of GB / T35270 National Standard for Infant and Toddler Baby Carriers (Bags).

[0020] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An adjustable shoulder strap, characterized in that, The system includes a carrying body (100), a support liner (210), a rotary adjustment mechanism (200), and two sets of traction cables (220). The carrying body (100) is connected to a waist belt (300) assembly. The support liner (210) is located in the infant carrying area of ​​the carrying body (100). The two sides of the support liner (210) are fixedly connected to the first end of a set of traction cables (220), and the second ends of the two sets of traction cables (220) are connected to two independent winding wheels of the rotary adjustment mechanism (200). The rotary adjustment mechanism (200) is fixed to the waist belt 300 and drives the two winding wheels to rotate synchronously through rotation, thereby realizing the synchronous opening and closing of the two sets of traction cables (220). During the opening and closing of the traction cables (220), the two sides of the support liner (210) move synchronously in opposite directions, thereby completing the continuous adjustment of the carrying width of the support liner (210).

2. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary adjustment mechanism (200) includes a base, a dual-axis winding assembly, a knob assembly, and a pawl locking structure. The base is fixed to the belt (300), the dual-axis winding assembly is horizontally installed inside the base, the two winding wheels are fixed to the two output ends of the dual shaft, the transmission ratio of the dual-axis winding assembly is 1:1, the width of the support part changes by 1 cm for each rotation of the knob assembly, the knob assembly is fixedly connected to the input end of the dual shaft, and the pawl locking structure is set between the knob assembly and the base to restrict the knob assembly to rotate only in one direction.

3. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 2, characterized in that, The two output ends of the dual-axis winding assembly rotate in opposite directions. When the knob assembly rotates clockwise, the first winding wheel winds up the first traction cable (220), and the second winding wheel releases the second traction cable (220), causing the two sides of the support (210) to move synchronously towards each other. The support (210) bears the width contraction, and the width adjustment accuracy can reach 0.1 cm.

4. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pawl locking structure allows the knob assembly to rotate in both directions and automatically locks after rotation. When the knob assembly rotates counterclockwise, the first winding wheel releases the first traction cable (220), and the second winding wheel winds up the second traction cable (220), causing the two sides of the support (210) to move in opposite directions synchronously. The support (210) expands its bearing width, and the width adjustment accuracy can reach 0.1 cm.

5. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two ends of the support (210) are connected to the corresponding side of the traction cable (220) in a segmented manner to maintain the flatness of the bearing surface of the support (210).

6. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 5, characterized in that, The surface of the support (210) is provided with an anti-slip texture layer, which is distributed in the area of ​​the support (210) that contacts the baby's buttocks, and the texture direction is consistent with the direction of the baby's leg extension.

7. The adjustable shoulder strap according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (100) is equipped with two sets of guide channels, and two sets of traction cables (220) are respectively inserted into the corresponding guide channels. The exit of the guide channel is located at the midpoint of the two sides of the support (210).

8. A method for adjusting an adjustable shoulder strap, applied to an adjustable shoulder strap as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Confirm the baby's orientation. If the baby is facing the user, proceed to Step 2; if the baby is facing away from the user, proceed to Step 3. Step 2: Rotate the knob assembly counterclockwise to the maximum travel. The two sides of the support (210) expand to the maximum gap, and the support (210) fully opens to achieve complete coverage. The current state is automatically locked. Step 3: Rotate the knob assembly clockwise and observe the contraction state of the support (210). When the two sides of the support (210) are completely in contact with the gap at the base of the baby's thighs, stop rotating. The current state is automatically locked.

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