The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for safely and comfortably carrying a baby or an infant from place to place, and more particularly to an apparatus which is lightweight and can be used as a garment.

There have been many different devices used over the years to carry a baby or an infant from place to place or to hold a baby or an infant in a comfortable position. This usually means that the baby or infant has to be transported or carried not only by an adult, but also by a vehicle, a baby pram or the like.

When the baby or infant, for instance, is transferred from a baby pram to a child safety seat arranged in a vehicle, or from a bed to a baby pram, or in many other situations, the parent(s) or the adult can choose between carrying the child or infant in one's arms, wheeling it in a baby pram or transporting it in a child safety seat, whereupon the child safety seat is installed in the vehicle. This kind of combined transport is often time-consuming and relatively cumbersome.

In order to improve this situation, various types of carrying devices or child safety seats have previously been developed which can be installed in vehicles. These are normally molded and equipped with padding and take up a great deal of space while being relatively heavy to carry. Child safety seats of this kind have also been designed in such a manner that they can be mounted on a chassis and used as a baby pram. Another variant is a baby seat designed to be secured and mounted in a larger child safety seat. This baby seat may be equipped with carrying straps to enable it to be transferred from the vehicle and to the baby pram. In this case too it is necessary to secure the baby seat in the child's car seat. The disadvantages of the known devices are that they are usually relatively large, thus taking up a lot of space, they can be unwieldy and have to be secured or mounted in the vehicle, or in another child safety seat.

For transporting babies when one is out walking, various kinds of carrying frames have been developed and use is also made of fabric carrying devices with carrying straps, where the baby can be placed, the child thus being carried in a kind of rucksack or front sack.

One of the most common devices of this type is a heavy rigid plastic container having a padded inside. Some of these devices have a handle which is movable between a position for carrying a baby or infant and a position for tilting the front end upwardly to some extent. A major problem with baby carriers of this type is that they are extremely difficult to use in carrying an infant, primarily because it is clumsy and difficult to balance and hold when going from place to place. Also, when using such a device, it is quite often necessary to transfer the baby or infant into or out from shopping carts, strollers, child safety seats, baby swings, etc., which is extremely awkward.

When a baby or infant is being transported in a child safety seat, it is common for the baby or infant to fall asleep, thanks to the soothing motion of the vehicle. When the time comes to remove the baby or infant from the vehicle, this can be done in two ways; either the parent or the adult can attempt to physically remove the baby or infant from the child safety seat without waking it; or the parent or adult can remove the entire child safety seat from the vehicle and transport the baby or infant, inside the child safety seat, to a safe place where the baby or infant can continue to sleep.

The first way will often result in the baby or infant awakening, either during the process of being removed from the child safety seat, or by a subsequent action. It is more common for the baby or infant to awaken from the initial action of being lifted from the child safety seat. This is due to the invasive action of positioning the parents or adult arms underneath the baby or infant in order to lift it out of the child safety seat whilst simultaneously providing the appropriate support to the baby's or infant’s vertebral column. The action of lifting the baby or infant in this way often causes them to be suddenly awake and can cause unnecessary distress, as well as breaking the baby's or infant’s sleeping pattern.

The second way, on the other hand, will often allow the baby or infant to continue sleeping, as there is no change to the baby's or infant’s posture during transportation from the vehicle. The drawbacks of this method may be: (i) removing a child safety seat from a vehicle is often difficult and cumbersome; (ii) lifting a child safety seat whilst the baby or infant is still inside places considerable strain on the person lifting the child safety seat, as the handle is almost always directly over the top of the child safety seat, and necessitates one holding the child safety seat away from one’s body and out to one side. This method of carrying is inefficient and places stress on the person lifting's lower spine; and (iii) it is not advisable to leave a baby or infant in a child safety seat for extended periods unnecessarily, as being in a fixed position restricts a baby's or infant’s freedom of movement, hindering the development of their motor system, arm, back and neck muscles.

EP 1.175.858 A2 relates to a carrying device for children, which is also intended for use as an insert in a child's car seat, is designed with a carrying part of a soft, heat- insulating/heat-absorbent material. The carrying part has a pliability which permits it to enfold the child's body in the carrying position. The carrying part is further extended in the side areas, which have to protect the child's hips and shoulder portion and furthermore has a pants-like portion in the lower area together with a neck support in the upper area. In the extended portions of the carrying part a carrying strap is attached on each side, preferably by attachment lugs.

WO 2006/094341 Al relates to a portable infant support apparatus for supporting an infant's head and torso while carrying or handling the infant and which is capable of providing support for the infant while seated in a motor vehicle child safety seat of the type that includes a seat body having a recess that is adapted to receive an infant or child in a recumbent position. The infant support apparatus includes a resilient head and torso support, restraining means associated with said head and torso support for restraining the infant, and carrying means in the form of two opposing handles.

GB 2.512.085 A relates to a baby car seat liner with carrying handles that is designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional baby car seat. The seat liner has an integrated looping strap 5 which is designed to function as carrying handles whilst at the same time supporting the baby during transport. The handle is designed to support the baby underneath its head and under its bottom. The seat liner is constructed in such a way as to follow the contours of a baby's profile, giving it a 'peanut' like concave shape, providing additional support and protection for the baby during transport. The seat liner also incorporates a foot pouch to prevent the baby from slipping during transport. The central fabric panel is made from a soft material to absorb vibration and to aid comfort.

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes an ergonomic apparatus for a baby or infant which can be worn by the baby or infant and furthermore may be used to carry the baby.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lighter weight infant carrier which makes the carrying of a baby or an infant easier, provides better balance for the carrier and more undisturbed comfort for the baby or an infant, as well as being adaptable to fit into shopping carts, strollers, infant seats or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment for a baby or an infant, where the garment also can be used to transfer and to carry the baby or infant between different places, where the garment in addition can offer extra protection and comfort for the baby or infant not only when the baby or infant is situated in a child safety seat or in a baby pram, but also when the baby or infant is lifted in or out from the child safety seat, baby pram or the like and/or when the baby or infant is carried by an adult.

It is a further object of the invention that the garment should be easy to put on and take off the baby or infant, and where the garment also can be mounted or attached to an adult harness of a suitable kind. These objects are achieved with a garment for a baby or infant according to the present invention as specified in the following independent claim, where further features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

The invention also relates to an adult harness that may be used in connection with the garment for a baby or an infant according to the present invention.

When a sleeping baby or infant is being removed from, for instance, a child safety seat, the baby or infant can be lifted safely and securely, through the garment, and transported to a safe place where the baby or infant may continue to sleep. The action of lifting and carrying using the garment is preferable to lifting and carrying the baby or infant with the garment, as it reduces the overall lifting and carrying weight and offers an improved carrying position, as the apparatus is worn by the baby or infant. Importantly, the garment is also designed to support the baby or infant during the lifting and carrying process and has integrated support for the baby's or infant’s vertebral column and neck and head. After transporting the baby or infant with the garment, the parent or the adult can then place the baby or infant with the garment down in a safe place.

Preferably, the garment is made using soft and comfortable material to support the baby or infant in the child safety seat and to absorb vibration. Preferably, the materials of the garment may be anti-microbial and hypoallergenic.

The present invention relates to a garment for a baby or an infant, where the garment comprises a body of a flexible material, and the body further comprising a main part and a hood-like part. Although the body preferably is formed from a single portion, it could be envisaged that the body could be formed from several portions, whereby the portions then had to be connected to each other in appropriate ways to form the garment.

In one embodiment, the main part of the garment may be provided with openings for the baby’s or infant’s arms and legs, where the openings for the arms may be arranged in an upper area of the main body, in the vicinity of the hood-like part and arranged towards side edges of the main body. The openings for the legs may be arranged in a lower area of the main body and arranged towards the side edges of the main body. Between the openings for the arms and legs, there are also provided two elongated openings that extend in a longitudinal direction of the main body.

The openings may have a width and a height (or length) that is somewhat larger than a width and a thickness of a hand of an adult, such that the hand can be put into the openings. The openings may then function as carrying handles when the baby or infant is to be lifted and/or carried from place to place. In another embodiment, the main part of the garment may be provided with cut outs between the main part and the hood-like part, where the cut outs, when the garment is in use, form two openings for the baby’s or infant’s arms. A lower end of the main part may also be provided with a cut out on each side of the body of flexible material, where these two cut outs, when the garment is in use, will form two openings for the baby’s or infant’s legs. Furthermore, the main part may, in an area between the cut outs for the arms and the legs of the baby or infant, be provided with two openings, one opening on each side of the main body. These openings may be designed in such a way that a hand or fingers of an adult person can be placed in the openings, in order to be able to lift and carry the baby or infant, whereby the openings will function as carrying handles when the baby or infant is to be lifted and/or carried from place to place.

Furthermore, in this embodiment the main part may be provided with a strap on each side edge of the main body, where the straps may be used to regulate or adjust the garment to the bay’s or infant’s size. The hood-like part and a lower area of the main body may then be provided with hook elements or the like, where the hook elements are to be connected to the straps. Each of the straps may then be connected to the main part through a plurality of separate and spaced apart seams over the length of the straps, thereby providing a plurality of loops over the length of each strap, a loop being provided between two adjacent seams. Each of the hook elements of the hood-like part and the lower area of the main part may then be connected to one of the plurality of loops provided over the length of the straps, in order to close the garment around the baby or infant.

A neck and head support may in appropriate ways be connected to the main part of the body, on a back side of the body. The neck and head support is preferably made from a relatively stiff material, such that it will protect the baby or infant when the baby or infant is lifted through the garment.

In one embodiment the neck and head support may be adjustable relative to the main part and/or hood-like part, whereby this will allow the neck and head support to be“adapted” to fit a surface of a child safety seat, a baby pram or the like and/or to allow the baby or infant to sleep with an angle relative a horizontal plane.

A protection for the baby’s or infant’s vertebral column may also be connected to or integrated in the main part of the body, where this protection will provide appropriate support for the baby’s or infant’s vertebral column during the lifting and/or the carrying of the baby or infant.

A person skilled in the art would know how the neck and head support and the protection for the vertebral column could be designed and connected to or integrated in the garment, whereby this is not described any further herein. The side edges of the main part may be provided with a closing and opening device, such that the garment can be closed when worn by the baby or infant. The closing and opening device may, for instance, be a zipper, one or more press buttons,

Velcro or the like.

The material of the body may be a heat-insulating material, a heat-absorbent material or a heat-regulating material, or a combination thereof.

As a person skilled in the art will appreciate, the garment for a baby or an infant according to the present invention may comprise the use of one or more fabric layers and insulating material between the fabric layers, depending on whether the garment for the baby or infant is intended to be a“summer garment” or a“winter garment”. It will also be appreciated that the garment for the baby or infant according to the present invention may be designed to be able to be connected to one or more fabric layers, in order thereby to form a“summer- or winter garment” as required. Alternatively, the garment for the baby or infant may be provided with a“winter side” and a“summer side”, whereby the garment can be turned inside out or reversed, depending on the ambient temperature.

The garment for the baby or infant may further comprise a closing and opening device in the form of a zipper, press buttons, straps or the like.

The garment for the baby or infant may also be provided with one or more attachment points, such as magnet(s) and/or loop(s), such that keys or the like can be attached to the garment.

Furthermore, the garment for the baby or infant may be provided with sensors and an active heating system, and/or a system with sensors that can keep track of baby’s or infant’s heartbeat, temperature and breathing.

The garment for the baby or infant may also be used with an adult harness, whereby the garment for the baby or infant may be provided with one or more attachment means on a back side and/or a front side of the garment, such that the garment for the baby or infant can be connected to the adult harness. The adult harness may then be provided with a corresponding number of attachment means.

Other advantages and special features of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description, the attached drawings and the following claims, in which

Figure 1A-1C illustrates in schematic way two embodiments of a garment for a baby or an infant according to the present invention, where a first embodiment of the garment for the baby or infant is shown in a completely unfolded position in figure 1 A, and where a second embodiment of the garment for the baby or infant is shown in an unfolded position in figure 1B and in a folded or closed position in figure 1C,

Figure 2 shows an example of the garment for the baby or infant put on a baby or infant,

Figure 3 illustrates a baby or an infant placed in a child safety seat and wearing an exemplary garment for the baby or infant,

Figure 4 illustrates how the baby or infant wearing the garment for the baby or infant can be lifted up from the child safety seat and carried out from the vehicle,

Figure 5 illustrates an adult harness that can be used with the garment for the baby or infant according to the present invention in order to carry that baby or infant,

Figure 6 illustrates how the baby or infant, through the garment for the baby or infant, is attached to the adult harness, and

Figure 7 illustrates how two babies or infants can be attached and carried with the adult harness.

Figure 1 A illustrates in a schematic and exemplary way a first embodiment of a garment 1 for a baby or an infant according to the present invention, where the garment 1 can be used to lift, to carry and/or transfer the baby or infant when the baby or infant is to be carried or transported from one place to another place, for instance from a child safety seat, a carry cot a crib or the like, and to a carry cot, a crib, a child safety seat or the like, in a safe way for the baby and the adult, without waking up the baby or the infant, while the neck and the head of the baby or the infant is well supported.

The garment 1 is shown in a completely unfolded position.

The garment 1 comprises a body of a flexible material, where the body further comprises a main part 2 and a hood-like part 3. Furthermore, the main part 2 is provided with openings 4 for the baby’s or infant’s arms, the openings 4 being arranged towards an upper end of the main part 2 and towards side edges of the main part 2. Similarly, openings 5 for the baby’s or infant’s legs are arranged towards a lower end of the main part 2 and towards side edges of the main part 2.

A circumference of the openings 4, 5 may be padded with a band 10A or piece of a softer material, in order to prevent irritation on the baby’s or infant’s arms and legs when the garment 1 is worn by the baby or infant.

Furthermore, the main part 2 is also provided with two elongated openings 6 extending in a longitudinal direction of the main part 2, where these elongated openings 6 are designed in such a way that a hand or fingers of an adult person can be placed in them, to be able to lift and carry the baby or infant, whereby the openings 6 will function as carrying handles when the baby or infant is lifted and/or carried between places.

The side edges of the main part 2 are furthermore provided with a closing and opening device 1 1 A in the form of a zipper, push buttons or the like, whereby the garment 1 can be closed when worn by the baby or infant.

A neck and head support 7 is connected to the main part 2 of the body, on a back side of the body. The neck and head support 7 is then made from a relatively stiff material, such that it will protect the baby or infant when the baby or infant is lifted through the garment 1 for the baby or the infant.

The neck and head support 7 may be adjustable relative to the main part 2 and/or hood-like part 3, whereby this will allow the neck and head support 7 to be “adapted” to fit a surface of a child safety seat, a baby pram or the like and/or to allow the baby or infant to sleep with an angle relative a horizontal plane.

Furthermore, a protection (not shown) for the baby’s or infant’s vertebral column is integrated in the main part of the body, where this protection will provide appropriate support for the baby’s or infant’s vertebral column during the lifting and/or the carrying of the baby or infant.

Figure 1B-1C illustrates in a schematic way a second embodiment of a garment 1 for a baby or an infant according to the present invention, where the garment 1 can be used to lift, to carry and/or to transfer the baby or infant between two places, in a safe way for the baby and the parent, without waking up the baby or infant, while the neck and the head of the baby or infant is well supported.

Figure 1B shows the garment 1 in an unfolded or open position, while figure 1C shows the garment 1 in a closed or folded position (i.e. when the baby or infant is wearing the garment 1).

The garment 1 comprises a body of a flexible material, where the body includes a main part 2 and a hood-like part 3. The body of the flexible material is, between the main part 2 and the hood-like part 3, provided with a cut out 4 on each side of the body. The cut outs 4 will, when the garment 1 is in use, form two openings for the baby’s or infant’s arms.

A lower end of the main part 2 is also provided with a cut out 5 on each side of the body, where these cut outs 5 will, when the garment 1 is in use, form two openings for the baby’s or infant’s legs.

Furthermore, the main part 2 is, in an area between the cut outs 4, 5, provided with two openings 6, where the openings 6 are designed in such a way that a hand or fingers of an adult person can be placed in the openings 6, in order to be able to lift and carry the baby or infant, whereby the openings 6 will function as carrying handles for the garment 1 when the baby or infant is to be lifted and/or carried between places.

A strap 1 1B is also connected to each side of the main part 2, nearby the opening 6. each strap 11B being connected to the main part 2 by a plurality of separate and spaced apart seams 20, thereby providing a plurality of loops 21 over a length of the strap 11B, a loop 21 being provided between two adjacent seams 20.

Each of the hood-like part 3 and the main part 2 is then provided with two hook elements 12, where the hook elements 12 are to be connected to a loop 21 provided in the strap 11B when the garment 1 is worn by the baby or infant. Depending on which loop 21 the hook element 12 is connected to, the garment 1 can be adjusted or fitted to the size of the baby or infant.

In figure 1C the garment 1 is shown in a folded or closed position, where it can be seen that each hook element 12 of the hood-like part 3 is connected to a dedicated loop 21 in the strap 11B. In the same way the lower part of the main part 2 is folded upwards, such that the hook elements 12 of the main part 2 also can be connected to the loops 21 of the straps 11B.

In figure 2 it is exemplarily shown how the baby or infant is dressed in the garment 1 for the baby or infant according to the present invention.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate how the garment 1 according to the present invention can be used to lift and/or to carry or transfer the baby or infant from a child safety seat and to, for instance, a baby pram (not shown). A parent or an adult person will then put hers or his hand through the openings 6 provided in the main part 2, the openings 6 functioning as carrying handles, and thereafter lift up the baby or infant up from the child safety seat.

Figure 5 shows an adult harness H that can be used together with the garment 1 for the baby or infant according to the present invention, in order to carry the baby or infant between, for instance a vehicle and to home. The adult harness H is provided with one or more attachment means 10 on both a front side and a back side of the adult harness H, such that one or two babies or infants can be connected to the adult harness H through corresponding attachment means 8 provided on the garment 1 for the baby or infant.

The corresponding attachment means 8 may then be connected to a back side and/or a front side of the garment 1 for the baby or infant. As a person skilled in the art would know how the adult harness H is to be designed, and how the adult harness H and the garment can be provided with corresponding attachment means 8, 10, this is not described any further herein.

Figure 6 shows how a baby or infant wearing the garment 1 for the baby or infant can be connected to the adult harness H through the attachment means 8, 10, whereafter the baby can be carried by the adult.

Figure 7 shows how two babies or infants each wearing a garment 1 according to the present invention can be connected to the adult harness H.

The present invention has now been explained in relation to an embodiment.

However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations and modifications may be implemented to the garment for a baby or an infant as described within the scope of the invention as it is defined in the attached claims.