Horizontal Cradle Child Carrier for Infant Head Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable child carriers lack adequate support for the head and neck of infants, force them into awkward positions, and are often complex or uncomfortable to use.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sling child carrier with a sash across the torso, a cradle supporting the child in a horizontal position, and a flap that wraps around the body to secure the child, providing head and neck support and adjustable fasteners for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional backpack-like front carriers are used, then hands-free carrying is achieved, but adequate head and neck support for infants is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into distinct functional zones: a head support region with contoured shaping and optional head support elements, a torso cradle region, and a waist belt system. This segmentation allows each zone to independently address specific support needs, providing reliable head and neck support while maintaining hands-free operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A head support element acts as an intermediary component between the infant's head and the carrier structure. This element can be adjusted or removed to provide appropriate head and neck support while allowing the carrier to remain hands-free, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and support reliability.
2Ease of operation
If conventional carriers force child into vertically-oriented position, then hands-free carrying is achieved, but awkward positioning with arms and legs extending laterally occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier employs adjustable and flexible components including expandable waist belts, adjustable shoulder straps, and flexible cradle materials that can adapt to different infant sizes and positions. This dynamic design allows the carrier to maintain hands-free operation while providing ergonomic positioning that keeps the infant's arms and legs in natural positions rather than forcing lateral extension.
3Reliability
If existing carriers are designed for secure carrying, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases making them difficult to use and manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple security functions are merged into integrated components: the waist belt combines adjustability, expansion, and securing functions; the shoulder straps integrate padding, adjustment, and attachment mechanisms; the cradle combines head support, body support, and securing features. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining secure carrying capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier components are designed with multi-functionality: the expandable waist belt serves both as a securing mechanism and an adjustment system; the adjustable shoulder straps provide both support and positioning functions; the flexible cradle material provides both comfort and structural support. This universality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying both manufacturing and use.
Data Source
AI summary
Wearable child carriers and methods for use are disclosed. A representative device includes a sash configured to rest across a shoulder of the user and be positioned over the user's torso, and a cradle supported by the sash and configured to support and secure a child in a generally horizontal position against a frontside of the user's body. The cradle can include a head region supported by one end of the sash and configured to support and secure the sides and back of the child's head, a body region supported by another end of the sash and configured to support the child's torso and legs, and a flap extending from the body region and configured to wrap at least partially around the child's body and a portion of the body region.