초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a baby and toddler carrier and in particular to a novel and improved baby and toddler carrier to be used by a parent or other caretakers for carrying a baby in a secure and comfortable way, both for the adult and for the baby, in various carrying positions, the carri

The present invention relates to a baby and toddler carrier and in particular to a novel and improved baby and toddler carrier to be used by a parent or other caretakers for carrying a baby in a secure and comfortable way, both for the adult and for the baby, in various carrying positions, the carrier includes an elastic back and neck support, harness straps, and buckles, all of which enable carrying the baby in at least five different carrying positions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A baby carrier, comprising: a back and neck support facilitating back, neck and head support for said baby, the back and neck supporting defining a baby-spine direction and a baby side-to-side direction perpendicular thereto; anda baby leg holder comprising a hammock that is permanently formed be

1. A baby carrier, comprising: a back and neck support facilitating back, neck and head support for said baby, the back and neck supporting defining a baby-spine direction and a baby side-to-side direction perpendicular thereto; anda baby leg holder comprising a hammock that is permanently formed between first and second ends thereof, a central axis and a length direction of the hammock being along the baby side-to-side direction and perpendicular to the baby-spine direction, a width-direction of the hammock being along the baby-spine direction, the first end of hammock to be positioned on one side of a baby and the second end thereof to be positioned on a second side of the baby, the hammock being disposed substantially at the lower end of said back and neck support, the hammock being width-adjustable to adapt to a desired position of the legs of the baby and to cover a variety of sizes and amounts of said baby's bottom and legs, the desired position including a first leg position in which the legs point downward and a second leg position in which the legs are spread so that the baby's knees are higher than the baby's bottom, the hammock further being length-adjustable when the baby is carried in and supported by the carrier;the hammock having a wider central portion and narrower first and second ends, each of the first and second ends connected to respective first and second shoulder pads via respective straps that respectively extend from the first and second ends of the hammock, a closed loop of integrally connected material including the baby leg holder, back and neck support, first shoulder pad and second shoulder pad, the closed loop being structured to enable the caretaker to load a baby into the carrier and hang the carrier with the baby by the shoulder pads before wearing the carrier and to then wear the carrier without assistance from another person by successively inserting the caretaker's arms through the shoulder pads so as, at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby on a back of the caretaker, or at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby in front of the caretaker. 2. A baby carrier as in claim 1, further comprising: a baby crotch harness having an end disposed at said back and neck support wherein said baby crotch harness has a split form before and after loading the baby carrier with the baby and before and after hanging the baby carrier by the shoulder pads, wherein the closed loop of material including the baby leg holder, back and neck support, first shoulder pad, second shoulder pad and baby crotch harness, the closed loop structured to enable the caretaker to load the baby into the carrier and securely hold the carrier with the baby before wearing the carrier and to then wear the carrier so as, at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby in a secure and comfortable way on a back of the caretaker, or at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby in a secure and comfortable way in front of the caretaker. 3. The baby carrier of claim 1 having a frameless structure. 4. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein said back and neck support is made of a flexible flat surface, has a flat form when no bending force is applied on said back and neck support, and when curved, such that a horizontal cross-section of the back and neck support has a curved form, achieves increased structural rigidity, which operatively carries the bending loads applied on said back and neck support, thereby facilitating back and neck support for said baby. 5. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the first and second shoulder pads are tubular and the first end of the baby leg enters the first tubular shoulder pad and the second end of the strip of material enters the second tubular shoulder pad, wherein the baby leg holder is movable relative to said first and second tubular shoulder pads. 6. The baby carrier of claim 5, wherein each of said first tubular shoulder pad and said second tubular shoulder pad includes a lower end, an upper end and a wall disposed between said lower end and said upper end, wherein said wall of each of said first and second tubular shoulder pads includes a caretaker side wall and an external side wall, wherein a lower opening is formed at said lower end of each of said tubular shoulder pads, and wherein an exit opening is formed in said external wall, proximal to said upper end, of each of said tubular shoulder pads, wherein a first adjustment strap passes through said lower opening in said lower end of said first tubular shoulder pad and exits through said exit opening in said external side wall of said first tubular shoulder pad and then passes through a first adjustment buckle, and wherein a second adjustment strap passes through said lower opening in said lower end of said second tubular shoulder pad and exits through said exit opening in said external side wall of said second tubular shoulder pad and then passes through a second adjustment buckle, wherein the first and second adjustment straps are each movable relative to the respective first and second tubular shoulder pads, and wherein the first and second adjustment buckles are fixed relative to the respective first and second tubular shoulder pads. 7. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the first and second shoulder pads are tubular and further comprising a first adjustment buckle disposed at, and fixed relative to, the first tubular shoulder pad and a second adjustment buckle disposed at, and fixed relative to, the second tubular shoulder pad, wherein the first end of the hammock enters the first tubular shoulder pad and the second end of the hammock enters the second tubular shoulder pad. 8. A method of carrying a baby by an adult, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a baby carrier as in claim 2;(b) securing said baby inside said baby carrier, including: (i) spreading said baby carrier open;(ii) positioning the back of said baby onto said back and neck support;(iii) passing the baby crotch harness between the legs of said baby; and(iv) securely closing a baby adjustment and locking strap assembly that includes a security belt, the security belt disposed at said back and neck support, and tightening said security belt until the baby is comfortably secured, and(c) lifting said baby carrier with said secured baby. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: (d) loading and mounting said baby carrier with a baby onto a selected carrying position; and(e) carrying said baby carrier by said adult. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selected carrying position is selected from the group consisting of: said adult's chest, said adult's back; wherein the face of said baby is in position selected from a group consisting of: facing said adult, facing away from said adult. 11. The baby carrier of claim 6, wherein said upper end of said first tubular shoulder pad is securely attached to said first side harness and said upper end of said second tubular shoulder pad is securely attached to said second side harness. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the back and neck support becomes curved when the baby adjustment and locking strap assembly is closed prior to lifting said baby carrier with said secured baby so as to provide support for the baby's back and neck during the process of lifting said baby carrier with said secured baby. 13. The baby carrier of claim 1, further comprising: a first adjustment strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said baby leg holder's length is disposed at said second end of said first adjustment strap; anda second adjustment strap having a first end and a second end, wherein said second end of said baby leg holder's length is disposed at said second end of said second adjustment strap, wherein operative adjustments of said first and second adjustment strap facilitate a lateral adjustment of said leg holder and control the height and proximity of said baby on said caretaker. 14. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the hammock is formed of a totality of material that would not lay flat if laid on a flat surface, the hammock having a magnitude in the third dimension greater than a thickness of the material, the magnitude of the third dimension greatest at the central portion. 15. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the first and second shoulder pads are tubular and the first and second ends of the baby leg holder are enabled to enter the respective first and second tubular shoulder pads as a result of the first and second ends being narrowed. 16. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein a lowermost length of the hammock is free and unsupported along a central portion of said lowermost length, wherein said lowermost length is defined to be a length furthest from the back and neck support when moving along an outer surface of the hammock from an uppermost length adjacent the back and neck support. 17. The baby carrier of claim 2, wherein when the baby sits in the hammock in the second leg position in which the legs are spread, a bottom of the hammock extends further into the third dimension than does the front or rear of the hammock. 18. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein said back and neck support is made of a flexible flat surface, wherein said back and neck support has a flat form when no bending force is applied on said back and neck support, and wherein said back and neck support operatively carries the bending loads applied on said back and neck support, thereby facilitating back and neck support for said baby. 19. The baby carrier of claim 18, wherein closing and pulling the baby adjustment and locking strap assembly bends the back and neck support. 20. The baby carrier of claim 1 wherein when the baby is loaded in and supported by the baby carrier, both legs of he baby exit from the same side of the hammock. 21. The baby carrier of claim 1 wherein when the baby is loaded in and supported by the baby carrier, the hammock does not separate the legs of the baby. 22. A baby carrier, comprising: a back and neck support facilitating back, neck and head support for said baby, the back and neck support defining a baby-spine direction and a baby side-to-side direction perpendicular thereto; anda baby leg holder comprising a hammock that is permanently formed between first and second ends thereof, a central axis and a length direction of the hammock being along the baby side-to-side direction and perpendicular to the baby-spine direction, a width-direction of the hammock being along the baby-spine direction, the first end of the hammock to be positioned on one side of a baby and the second end thereof to be positioned on a second side of the baby, the hammock being disposed substantially at the lower end of said back and neck support, the hammock being width-adjustable to adapt to a desired position of the legs of the baby and to cover a variety of sizes and amounts of said baby's bottom and legs, the desired position including a first leg position in which the legs are spread so that the baby's knees are higher than the baby's bottom and a second leg position where the baby's legs are spread to a lesser extent than in the first position, the hammock further being length-adjustable when the baby is carried in and supported by the carrier;the hammock having a wider central portion and narrower first and second ends, each of the first and second ends connected to respective first and second shoulder pads via respective straps that respectively extend from the first and second ends of the hammock, a closed loop of integrally connected material including the baby leg holder, back and neck support, first shoulder pad and second shoulder pad, the closed loop being structured to enable the caretaker to load a baby into the carrier and hang the carrier with the baby by the shoulder pads before wearing the carrier and to then wear the carrier without assistance from another person by successively inserting the caretaker's arms through the shoulder pads so as, at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby on a back of the caretaker, or at the option of the caretaker, to carry the baby in front of the caretaker.