Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARRYING AID
This invention relates to a carrying aid for supporting a child on the body
of a human carrier
Aids to assist the carrying of small children, particularly babies, are well
known and typically consist of slings or pouches with straps that transfer the
weight of the
child directly to the carrier's shoulders or neck, the child being carried
either in front of or
behind the torso of the carrier. However, for children of approximately 12
months to three
years of age, these carrying aids become impractical due to the child's size
and weight.
Also the natural desire of the older child for alternately being carried or
walking on their
own make these carrying aids where the child is held firmly inside a sling or
pouch
unsuitable.
The natural way most adults carry small children is at waist height and to
hold them underneath with one or both arms. This can be done with the child at
the front,
at the side or in-between. It would be of assistance to the carrier if the
majority of the
child's weight could be supported by a device attached to the carnet by belts
or straps,
hence reducing strain on the carrier's arms.
The use of a belt attachment worn at the waist to hold or support objects is
well known, as is the addition of a vertical or diagonal shoulder strap to
help support the
weight. Such belts and straps are used by marching bands to support drums and
other
musical instruments. However, such attachments are not necessarily suitable to
support
the weight of a small child in a manner that is comfortable for both child and
carrier, or is
strong enough to support the weight without itself also being heavy or
mechanically
complex.
According to the present invention there is provided a carrying aid, for
supporting a child on the body of a human carrier, comprising a rigid seat
unit and a thigh
pad. the thigh pad, in use, resting against the thigh of the human carrier to
support the
rigid seat unit, wherein the thigh pad is adjustably connected to the rigid
seat unit by a
hinge mechanism.
The thigh pad is adjustably connected to the rigid seat unit by a hinge
mechanism which allows varying degrees of movement of the thigh pad while
still
transferring the load into the pad and hence into the carriers thigh. This has
the advantage
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of spreading the load evenly over an area of the thigh, independent of the
degree of tilt of
the seat, and also allows for movement of the thigh during walking.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the hinge mechanism may
comprise a protuberance mounted on one of the rigid seat unit and the thigh
pad and an
orifice mounted on the other of the rigid seat unit and the thigh pad, the
orifice being
adapted to receive the protuberance.
A particularly advantageous hinge mechanism has the protuberance being
laterally moveable within the orifice. Another particularly advantageous hinge
mechanism uses a ball joint to allow rotation and pivoting of the pad in any
direction.
In another preferred embodiment a bag may be placed over the rigid seat
unit. Apart from providing additional cushioning for the child and storage
space for small
items, the cover and storage bag obscures much of the invention's mechanism
making the
invention less obtrusive when being worn.
In another preferred embodiment the bag is a fabric bag having a pocket
for the rigid seat unit, the thigh pad has a fabric cover, and the hinge
mechanism
comprises a fabric hinge joining the fabric cover to the pocket. This is
particularly
suitable for lighter loads, typically, though not exclusively, for infants
from 6 months to
18 months old. The fabric hinge allows varying degrees of movement of the
thigh pad
with respect to the rigid seat unit.
In another preferred embodiment the thigh pad is mounted directly on the
rigid seat unit, which means that the carrying aid may consist only of two
components,
the components being the rigid seat unit and the thigh pad. This has the
advantages of the
carrying aid being simple to manufacture and also of the carrying aid being
stable when a
child sitting on the seat is leaning in any direction.
Another embodiment of the invention also provides a means of attaching
optional cushioning material and a further optional means of attaching a
single or double
shoulder strap.
The shape of the seat unit combined with the particular method of
attaching the seat unit to the belt and optional shoulder strap ensures that
the forces
resulting from the weight of the child are efficiently transferred into the
belt and strap
without the need for fixing attachments that might otherwise form weak points
in the
system or be uncomfortable for the child or carrier. In addition, the method
of holding the
seat unit to the optional cushioning material ensures that the greater the
forces in the belt,
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the more firmly the cushion is held in place providing comfort and stability.
In addition,
the hinged thigh-pad on the seat unit ensures that as the seat unit tips
outwards at an angle
due to the child's weight, the cantilever force that is exerted into the thigh
is evenly and
comfortably spread.
The incorporation of the optional cushioning and shoulder straps enables
the invention to be adapted to assist in the carrying of a small child for
longer periods or
for carrying heavier children for shorter periods. It follows that the
invention can
therefore be used in its different configurations over a period of time to
accommodate the
increased size and weight of a child as it grows.
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows an overall view of one embodiment of the invention being worn.
Figures 2, 3, 4 & 5 show each individual component of the invention.
Figures 6,7 & 8 show the method of attaching the belt to the invention.
Figures 9 & 10 shows the operation of the hinged thigh-pad.
Figures 11 & 12 show the optional seat cover and storage bag.
Figure 13 shows the optional shoulder straps.
Figures 14 & 15 show the method of attaching the optional shoulder straps to
the seat unit.
Figure 16 shows an overall view of one embodiment of the assembled invention
including
the option of the seat cover, storage bag and shoulder strap.
Figure 17 shows additional embodiments of the hinging mechanism between the
seat unit
and thigh-pad.
Figures 18, 19, 20 & 21 show an embodiment of the invention suitable for
lighter loads
Figure 22 shows a further embodiment of the invention suitable for lighter
loads.
Referring to Figure 2, the invention consists of a seat unit 1, a hinged
arcuate thigh-pad 2, a cushion unit 3, a belt 4, a load spreading pad 5 and a
belt fastening
and adjusting mechanism 6.
Referring to Figures 3 & 4 being side and front views of the seat unit 1.
The seat unit consists of a top 7 on which the child sits. The top 7 is
typically though not
exclusively saddle shaped. The top 7 is supported by a plurality of pillars,
typically
though not exclusively a central pillar 8 and two side pillars 9. The central
pillar 8 is
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typically though not exclusively deeper than the side pillars 9 hence
providing greater
cantilever support for the depth of the saddle top. The central pillar 8 is
typically though
not exclusively rectangular or semi-elliptical in cross section. The side
pillars 9 are
typically though not exclusively semi-circular in cross section. All three
pillars converge
and combine together in a tapered lower section that contains the hinge 10 for
the arcuate
thigh-pad 2. In one particular embodiment of the invention the pillars 8 and 9
are
interconnected along their vertical heights by a web 11. The web 11 has
orifices 12 and
13 to facilitate threading of the belt 4.
Figure 3 shows that the three pillars are curved in the vertical plane. Figure
is a horizontal section through the seat unit 1 and shows that the central
pillar 8 and side
pillars 9 together with the web 11 lie on a curved line in the horizontal
plane.
In one particular embodiment of the invention the components of the seat
unit 7, 8, 9, 10 and 1 l, can be separate, but firmly attached to each other
through the use
of adhesives or fixings. Another embodiment of the invention combines these
components in a single moulded or machined item. Yet another embodiment of the
invention includes a soft layer of foam rubber or foam plastic or some such
similar
material (not shown on the figures) on the saddle top 7 to give increased
comfort for the
child.
Figure 6 shows a front view of the threading arrangement for the seat unit
l, cushioning pad 3 and the belt 4. Figure 7 shows a horizontal sectional view
of the
threading arrangement. The relative positioning of the central pillar 8, the
side pillars 9
and the openings in the cushion unit, results in a highly efficient transfer
of forces
between the seat unit, cushion and belt. The greater the lateral force on the
seat in
direction of arrow F, the greater the tension in the belt and hence the
greater the force
keeping the seat unit in contact with the cushion. This threading arrangement
ensures that
the seat unit does not slip laterally on the belt. Figure 8 shows a side view
of the threading
arrangement including a cut-away section showing the cushioning pad 3
supporting an
overhanging section of the saddle 7. This feature ensures that the seat unit 1
does not slip
vertically on the belt.
Figures 9 and 10 show the operation of the curved pillars and the hinged
thigh-pad. The pillars 8 and 9 form curves in both vertical and horizontal
planes following
the contours of a typical hip and thigh, combined with the arcuate and hinged
thigh-pad
this ensures that the invention will comfortably fit and operate effectively
on most sizes
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and shapes of adults. Figure 10 shows that the weight of the child acting in
direction W
tends to tip the seat unit outwards. This tipping is resisted by the tension
in the belt T, but
results in a cantilever force F pushing into the thigh. The arcuate hinged pad
ensures that
this force is spread over a large area independent of the degree of tip of the
seat unit.
Figure 11 shows an optional seat cover 30 incorporating a storage bag 14.
Figure 12 shows this cover and storage bag fitted to the invention. Apart from
providing
additional cushioning for the child and storage space for small items, the
cover and
storage bag obscures much of the invention's mechanism making the invention
less
obtrusive when being worn.
Figure 13 shows two versions of an optional shoulder strap, a single
shoulder strap 15 and a double shoulder strap 16. The double shoulder strap 16
passes
through two rectangular rings 17. The double shoulder strap 16 can move freely
through
these rings and this ensures that equal forces are exerted on each shoulder of
the user.
Figures I4 and IS show the arrangement for securing the optional shoulder
straps I S or 18 to the seat unit 1. The strap 15 or 18 passes through
openings 13 in web 11
(shown in Figure 4) round and under the central pillar 8, twisting in the
process such that
the width of the strap starts off flat against the back of the saddle 7 on one
side, is again
flat against the angled front of the central pillar 8 and is flat once more
against the saddle
7 on the other side. Hence there is even tension in the whole width of the
strap. This
arrangement also ensures that the main weight of the child is transferred
directly through
the load bearing central pillar 8 and into the strap 15 or 18 without the need
for
attachment points.
Figure 16 shows the completed assembly including the options of a seat
cover 30, storage bag 14 and shoulder strap 15.
Conventional means for adjusting the Lengths of the belt and shoulder
straps using buckles, clips or friction rings are employed but do not form
part of this
invention.
Figure 17 shows several embodiments of the hinge mechanism that
attaches the thigh-pad 2 to the seat unit 1. These embodiments are in addition
to the
conventional butt-hinge that could be employed. In one embodiment a
cylindrical
protuberance 19 on the back of the pad 2 mates with a cylindrical orifice 20
on the seat
unit I . In a second embodiment a similar cylindrical protuberance 21, but
having a shorter
length, mates with the cylindrical orifice 20, thus providing a degree of
lateral movement
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allowing the pad to slide backwards and forwards in relation to the seat unit
1 and hence
allows for movement of the thigh during walking. A third embodiment consists
of a ball
joint 22 and 23 allowing rotation and pivoting of the pad 2 in any direction.
Yet another
embodiment can consist of the ball protuberance 22 mating with the cylindrical
orifice 20,
hence allowing lateral movement of the pad in addition to rotation and
pivoting. These
embodiments therefore allow varying degrees of movement of the thigh-pad while
still
transferring the force into the pad and hence the carrier's thigh.
Figure 18 shows an embodiment of the invention suitable for lighter loads,
typically, though not exclusively, for infants from 6 months to 18 months old.
It consists
of a seat unit covered by a fabric bag 24 attached to a belt 4. The lower
extremity of the
fabric bag 24 is attached to a fabric cover on thigh pad 27 by a hinge
mechanism. This
embodiment will now be described in detail.
Figure 19 shows the seat unit 26 and thigh-pad 27. These are typically,
though not exclusively made from plastic. The seat unit can be attached to the
belt by the
threading technique outlined in the previously described embodiment, or
alternatively the
fabric covering the seat unit can be stitched directly to the belt 4 by
conventional means.
Figure 20 shows a cross section through the fabric bag 24 , seat unit 26,
thigh-pad 27 and
fabric cover 29. and shows how the seat unit 26 fits inside a pocket 25 in the
fabric bag.
The weight of the infant is transferred down the seat unit 26, into the pocket
25. Tension
in the material of the bag then transfers the force back up into the belt 4.
Figure 21 shows an enlarged view of the cross section through the pocket
25, seat unit 26, thigh-pad 27 and fabric cover 29. The hinge mechanism 28
keeps the
thigh-pad in position and allows it to pivot. This hinge mechanism consists of
a piece of
fabric stitched to both the pocket 25 and the fabric cover 29 of the thigh-
pad.
Figure 22 shows a section through a further embodiment of the fabric
hinge mechanism in which the thigh-pad is contained in a pocket 31
incorporated into the
rear of the fabric bag 32. When the fabric bag is in use all forces are
compressional in
both the vertical and horizontal planes. hence the seat unit 26 and the thigh-
pad 27 remain
firmly inside their respective pockets 33 and 31. The large opening in the
thigh-pad
pocket 31 at its base enables the thigh-pad to be inserted into the pocket via
the inside of
the bag, hence the plastic and fabric items can be manufactured independently
then
assembled.
