US2550851A - Baby carrier - Google Patents

Description

y 1, 1951 Q J. NICHOLS 2,550,851

BABY CARRIER Filed Dec. 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN L. NICHOLS,

Attorney M y 17951 J. L. NICHOLS 2,550,351

BABY CARRIER Filed D90. 24, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. 4 3 JOHN L. NICHOLS, I 2

Attorney J. L. NICHOLS May 1 1951 BABY CARRIER Filed Dec. 24, 1948 3 Shuts-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN 1., NICHOLS,

Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for carrying infants or small children and more specifically a light-weight device which may be suspended from the adults shoulders leaving the arms and hands free for opening doors, carrying luggage, bundles, etc. The entire weight of the device and occupant is borne Wholly on the carriers shoulders'. Meanwhile the infant is ina comfortable, normal position and is able to rest the head on the adults shoulder with as perfect repose as if in the parents arms.

The baby carrier is constructed of a strong washable fabric and is preferably provided with a strong metallic back of light-weight rust-proof material such as aluminum to which is cemented a soft cushion of sponge rubber or like material. The invention is easily convertible into a swing which may be suspended from a suitable frame work.

The baby carrier is also adapted to be fastened to the back of any type dining room chair, thus utilizing the chair, comfortably and conveniently,

and with greater safety, as a childs high-chair.

In like manner the baby carrier may be attached to the front or back seat of any type automobile, railway coach, or highway bus.

Another object of this invention is to employ the baby carrier as a hammock. For this purpose the device is provided with head and foot flaps, which, when so used, support the head and feet of the child. These head and foot flaps fold over the back and snap together to form a pouchpocket for diapers or clothing when the device is used only as a carrying case or carrier.

This invention is more particularly described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a view of a man carrying an infant in the baby carrier.

Fig. 3 is a view of a child carried by the baby carrier which is converted into a swing suspended from any suitable framework.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the device converted into a hammock with the child reclining therein.

Fi 5 is a view of the back of the device on a smaller scale.

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 'l'l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view of the before-mentioned metallic back showing D-shaped rings attached to the corners thereof.

Fig. 9 is a view of the (one of) spring-steel clamps which fit over the back of a seat and hold the baby carrier securely to such seat.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a front portion l, and a back portion 2, of any suitable material, preferably a waterproof fabric which is washable. The front portion I, is cut away as at 3 and 4 with the edges thereof properly bound and stitched as at 5 and B for reinforcement.

In front of the device, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, are adjustable straps 'i and 8. These straps are of suitable length to pass over the shoulder of the wearer as shown in Fig. 2, and their ends are provided with snap-hooks 9 which snap into D shaped rings l 0, mounted on the corners of the metal back II, and are adapted to support the weight of the child.

The metal back I I, as shown in Fig. 8, is formed to give full protection to the infant's shoulders, spine and hips and is fitted with a sponge-rubber type pad l2 cemented to the metal back II, and thus providing a soft cushion for supporting the child in a sitting or lying position. The metal back I I is encased in a pouch formed by the front and back portions l and 2.

It will be observed that this pouch is formed when the front and back portions are stitched together at substantiall parallel opposed edges and at the bottom. The metal back is inserted through the opening at the top and then this opening is closed by means of the lacing cords or thongs l 9. As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the snap hooks 9, snap into the D shaped rings l0, mounted on the corners of the metal back ll. As also shown in Fig. 1, the carrier or pouch has metal reinforced eyelets 20, for fasteners in the event a collapsible type nest is preferred.

As shown in Fig. 4, the baby carrier is adapted to be converted into a hammock. For this purpose it is provided with head and foot flaps l3, I4, adapted to support the head and feet of the infant. These head and foot flaps are adapted to fold over the back and snap together to form a pouch-pocket for diapers or clothing when used as a carrying case for traveling or on shopping trips.

Baby carrier is provided with rope connections l5, l6, applicable when used as a swing or hammock. Such rope connections may also be used to pass through the D shaped ring [1, shown in Fig. 1, of the drawing to tie the baby carrier in the center of a bed to prevent the child from rolling off by fastening one end to each top and bottom bed-posts at opposite sides of each end. Such ropes are also used to fasten the device to chairs, car seats, etc., to hold child securely in fixed position.

Two separate spring-steel clamps l8, such as are shown in Fig. 9 are provided to fit over seat backs of automobiles, buses or railway coaches and are adaptable to hook into D shaped rings I0 that are attached to the aluminum back-support and thereby hold the baby carrier to the back of such seats.

The straps l and 8 are adjustable and the heavy cotton fabric structure is fitted with heavy metal buttons and/or heavy zippers, as fasteners for safety and adjustable to age and size of child.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having noW particularly described my invention and the manner of its use, I claim:

1. In a carrier adapted to support an infant, in combination, a front fabric piece and aback fabric piece suitably joined together at substantially parallel opposed edges, a metal back, a spongerubber pad or cushion attached to the face of said metal back, D shaped rings mounted on the corners of the metal back, said front and back I fabric pieces being securely attached together to form a pouch to encase the metal back, the front piece and the back piece at their bottoms having registering arcuate cut-outs to provide leg holes for the child sitting in the carrier, adjustable carrier straps of suitable length to pass over the shoulders of the wearer and having their ends provided with snaphooks which snap into the D shaped rings thereby supporting the weight of the child.

2. Ina carrier adapted 'to support an infant, in combination, a front fabric piece and a back fabric piece suitably joined together at substantially parallel opposed edges, a metal back, a sponge-rubber pad attached to the face of said metal back, D shaped rings mounted on corners of said metal back, said front and back pieces being securely attached together to form a pouch to encase the metal back, in combination "with spring steel clamps adapted to fit over a seat back and hook into the D shaped rings to hold thec'arrier to the back of said seat.

3. In a carrier adapted to support an infant, in combination, a front fabric piece and a back fabric piece suitably joined together at substantially parallel opposed edges, a metal back, a sponge-rubber pad attached to the face of said metal back, said front and back pieces being securely attached together to form a pouch to encase the metal back, snap member elements disposed on said back fabric piece, head and foot flaps attached to said back fabric piece, said head and foot flaps containing snap fastener elements which, when said head and foot flaps are in folded condition, lie adjacent said back fabr'ic piece snap member elements to form a pouch pocket for diapers or other accessories, said flap members in unfolded condition adapted to support the head and feet of a 'child when carrier is used as a hammock. H J I JOHN L. NICHOLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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