The invention generally relates to baby carriers, and in particular to baby carriers that may be used to safely and comfortably carry a baby on a person’s body, while keeping the hands free.

A known baby carrier of such type includes a harness to be worn on a person’s upper torso and a cradle for supporting a baby’s body. The cradle is connected to the harness to allow a carrier configuration of the baby carrier, in which the cradle extends towards a top portion of the cradle generally along a front of the harness to in use support the baby’s body in a substantially upright position against the person’s upper torso. In addition to providing a way of safely and comfortably taking the baby along, carrying the baby on the front of the torso allows for the person carrying the baby to monitor the baby.

While such baby carrier has advantages, there are also disadvantages associated with it. It can e.g. be difficult for the person to access the baby making it difficult to interact with the baby, for example to feed the baby. Also, the baby carrier is less comfortable and difficult to use when the person carrying the baby in the baby carrier is sitting down. Especially when traveling, for example on an airplane, bus or train, this can become more prominent. For example, the person may carry the baby in the baby carrier when entering the airplane, but may need to remove the baby from the baby carrier once seated for the flight. However, removal from the carrier may leave the baby unsecured. In practice, a special 2 point loop baby seat belt attachment is provided to secure the baby on the parent’s lap via the parent’s seat belt. However, this is rather uncomfortable as the baby is unstable. The parent needs to hold the baby continuously to keep it upright, and is e.g. not able to sleep. Also, the baby may become agitated and may itself also not be able to rest. Thereto, the invention provides for a baby carrier, in particular a baby carrier according to claim 1. The baby carrier comprises a parent part and a baby part. The parent part includes a harness to be worn on a person’s upper torso, the baby part includes a cradle for supporting a baby’s body. The cradle is connected to the harness to allow adjustment of the cradle relative to the harness. The adjustment provided is between a carrier configuration of the baby carrier and a bed configuration of the baby carrier. In the carrier configuration of the baby carrier the cradle extends towards a top portion of the cradle generally along a front of the harness to in use support the baby’s body in a substantially upright position against the person’s upper torso. In the bed configuration of the baby carrier the cradle extends towards a top portion of the cradle generally away from the front of the harness to in use support the baby’s body in a substantially lying position spaced away from the person’s upper torso.

In the context of the invention, a person is defined as a grown up or adult person taking care of the baby such as for example the parent or guardian of a baby. A baby should be understood as an infant of the age of 0- 24 months, in particular 0-18, more in particular 0-12 months. A baby to be carried in the baby carrier may typically not be able to walk, and may not even be able to crawl. Also, a baby to be carried in the baby carrier may not be able to support its own head, and may need protection for its fontanelle.

The carrying configuration is typically used when a person is upright, for example when walking or standing. The bed configuration is typically used when a person is sitting down. That way, the cradle can be at least partly supported on the legs of the person wearing the baby carrier. Where prior art baby carriers are typically used for transportation, the provision of the bed function allows for a broader use. In the bed configuration, a baby carrier can be used to comfortably guard a baby when seated at a table or desk. This way, the baby can be taken along when going for dinner or when going to work. In addition, the bed configuration allows for more comfort for both the baby and the person wearing the harness, in particular when seated. In the bed configuration a baby can comfortably lie stretched out on its back or front. In the bed configuration, the baby can be made more accessible.

For the person wearing the harness, the transfer of forces can take place ergonomically. In the bed configuration, the baby portion may be suspended from the harness at a lower top position than when in the carrying configuration. The baby portion may in the bed configuration e.g. be suspended from the harness at a location below the armpits, and may advantageously be suspended therefrom at a location that is closer to the back than to the front. This way, the pull forces are coupled to the person’s back and the person wearing the harness can sit up straight more easily. Also, straps extending between the baby portion and the harness may be located relatively low, allowing easy access to the baby from the sides. A portion of the weight of the baby can be exerted onto the person wearing the harness as lateral push force onto a lower part of the torso, in particular by force exerted by the baby part onto a bottom portion of the harness, allowing easy transfer to the waist and hips of the person wearing the harness. When seated, the weight of the baby can be partially taken up by the person’s legs, which adds to the person’s comfort. When seated and with the baby carrier in the bed configuration with the baby part at least partially supported on the legs, the baby can be taken out of the carrier particularly safely. Also, the baby part can be removed from the parent part particularly safely as well, if desired with the baby remaining in it.

Providing the functionality to switch between the carrying configuration and bed configuration allows the baby to stay in the carrier. As a result the baby can rest better, can be better accessible for interaction and feeding and the baby may get less agitated when traveling in, for example, an airplane. More specifically, when traveling by airplane it can be possible to have the baby in the baby carrier from gate-to-gate . In other words, the baby can stay in the baby carrier the whole time when traveling by plane, from before boarding until after leaving the airplane.

In the bed configuration, the inclination of the baby portion may be adjusted, e.g. from a more lying or horizontal orientation to a more inclined position or vice versa.

Supporting the baby in the carrying configuration includes at least supporting the baby’s front- or backside and optionally the bottom and/or the baby’s head. In a preferred embodiment, the baby’s backside, bottom and at least a part of the rear of the baby’s head are supported. Advantageously, the whole rear of the baby’s head is supported, and the head is protected from impact. In the bed configuration, the cradle supports at least the baby’s front- or backside, at least part of the baby’s head and optionally at least part of the baby’s bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the baby’s backside, at least a part of the baby’s bottom and at least a part of the rear of the baby’s head is supported.

A bottom portion of the cradle can be hingedly connected to a lower portion of the harness to as to allow the cradle to swing relative to the harness between a first angular position relative to the harness in the carrying configuration and a second, more inclined angular position relative to the harness in the bed configuration. The baby carrier may then e.g. be embodied to be continuously adjustable between the carrying configuration and the bed configuration. Hingingly connecting the bottom portion of the cradle to the lower portion of the harness, allows for the adjustment of the cradle from the carrying configuration to the bed configuration, and from the bed configuration to the carrying configuration, while keeping the cradle connected to the harness. Preferably the hinged connection can be established via a line hinge or, for example, a bendable strip. Using a line hinge can have the additional advantage of suppressing unwanted movement of the cradle relative to the harness, such as for example rotation about a further axis of rotation. A bendable strip may form a living hinge that has a less precisely defined hinge axis, yet allows for ease of construction.

The cradle can include a stiff bed base that supports the baby in the bed configuration. A stiff bed base can be provided by for example a stiffener extending from the bottom portion of the cradle towards the top portion of the cradle. Such a stiffener can be embodied as a frame or plate. Providing a stiff bed base in the cradle can result in a more stiff cradle, which can facilitate transfer of force from the cradle to the harness of the parent part, in particular to a lower part of the base. In addition, a stiff bed base can allow for the baby to extend and prevents the baby from being bundled up, in particular when the cradle is in carrying or bed configuration. In addition, the stiffener can carry a hinge, for example a line hinge or bendable strip, at a bottom portion of the stiffener. Furthermore, the bed base can be provided with padding to provide comfort for the baby, similar to a mattress on a bed for a conventional bed.

The cradle can include a concavely formed lower section for accommodating the baby’s bottom. When a baby is present in the cradle, such concavely formed lower section can improve the baby’s comfort as well as safety. In a preferred embodiment, a stiffener provides the convex portion to define the concavely formed lower section.

In the carrying configuration a top portion of the cradle can be spaced a first distance from an upper portion of the harness, while in the bed configuration the top portion of the cradle can be spaced a second, larger distance from the upper portions of the harness.

A front portion of the harness can include a pair of higher connection points, preferably located at shoulder level at or above the armpit, to suspend an upper portion of the cradle, e.g. via a set of straps, in the carrying position, and a pair of lower connection points, preferably located below the armpit, to suspend an upper part of the cradle, e.g. via straps, that extend between the arms and the torso in the bed configuration. Providing higher and lower connecting points can improve the comfort of the person wearing the harness and the safety of a baby present in the cradle. The lower connection points may preferably be closer to the back of the harness than the higher connection points. For example, when the cradle is in the carrier configuration and the cradle is suspended from the higher connection points the cradle with the baby is held against the torso of the person. When the cradle is in the bed configuration, and the cradle rests on for example the legs of the person, the cradle can be suspended from the pair of lower connection points. This can reduce the load of the baby carrier, with or without baby, on the shoulders of the person as the load is substantially supported by the legs of the person.

To further improve the comfort, the higher connection points can be located more towards an upper portion of the shoulder straps of the harness, for example such that they are located at or on top of the shoulders of the person carrying the harness. The lower connection points can be located on the web portion, such that a set of straps from which the cradle is suspended are substantially horizontally orientated, such that most of the load can be carried by the persons leg instead of their torso, via the harness.

In order to accommodate for different sizes of the person and the baby, the connection points and straps can be adjustable. For example, the connection points can include fixed or releasable anchoring positions of the strap and/or height adjustable anchoring points. In addition or alternatively, straps from which the cradle is suspended during use can be releasably connected and/or can be adjustable in length. This can allow for adjustment of the position of the cradle relative to the harness when in the carrying configuration and/or bed configuration, for example to fine tune how tight the baby is held to the torso of the person in the carrying configuration and to adjust the incline of the cradle in the bed configuration.

The harness can be provided with a set of shoulder straps and a waist belt. Such waist belt may advantageously be used to support the bottom portion of the cradle of the baby part. Additionally the harness can include a web portion to be supported at the rear of the torso from which the shoulder straps and waist belt extend, similar to the harness of a backpack.

The cradle can be provided with body straps to secure the baby to the cradle. To increase the safety of a baby in the baby part, for example to prevent the baby from slipping out of the cradle when the baby carrier is in the bed configuration, body straps that are embodied as a 3, 4 or 5 point strapping arrangement can be provided. Preferably, a 5 point strapping arrangement can be used to facilitate lateral security of the baby in the cradle of the baby part. A 5 point strapping arrangement may be particular advantageous in order to increase the safety of the baby in the baby part when the baby part is transferred from a first adult wearing the parent part to a further adult wearing an auxiliary parent part.

The baby part can be releasably connected to the parent part. This can allow for the baby part to be connected and released subsequently to different parent parts, and can allow for easy and secure transfer of the baby part with the baby between persons. More specifically, the parent part with the baby secured to the cradle can be released from the parent part of a first harness worn by a first person and connected to the parent part of a second harness worn by a second person. In addition, this can allow for the switching out of baby part of the baby carrier, for example for one of another design, while keeping the parent part and the switching out of the parent part while keeping the baby part.

It should be noted that the releasable connection of the parent part and the baby part as described herein in any configuration may advantageously be used in a baby carrier without bed function, in particular in a baby carrier comprising a parent part and a baby part, the parent part including a harness to be worn on a person’s upper torso, the baby part including a cradle for supporting a baby’s body, the cradle being connected to the harness to allow a carrier configuration of the baby carrier in which the cradle extends towards a top portion of the cradle generally along a front of the harness to in use support the baby’s body in a substantially upright position against the person’s upper torso, wherein the cradle is provided with body straps to secure the baby to the cradle, and wherein the baby part is releasably connected to the parent part.

The baby part can be releasably connected to the parent part via at least a releasable connection between the bottom portion of the cradle and the harness. Such a releasable connection can for example be a snap coupling, allowing for the easy releasing and connecting of the connection. The connection can be carried on the stiffener, for example at a free end of a hinge on a bottom portion of the stiffener. Additionally or alternatively, the releasable connection can be provided on the cradle and on the connection points provided on the parent part, and can be provided as snapclips on the straps from which the cradle can be suspended from the harness.

A further example of a releasable connection may be formed by providing a set of magnets, or a set comprising a magnet and a magnetizable material. In a further example, the components of the releasable connection may be self-centering relative to each other, facilitating forming the releasable connection by a user. Additionally or alternatively, a locking mechanism is provided such that when the releasable connection is formed, e.g. when a first part of the releasable connection is inserted in to the second part of the releasable connection, the connection cannot be released without unlocking. For example, a first part of the releasable connection may be inserted in to the second part. Once the releasable connection is formed, the locking mechanism may, e.g. under spring action, prevent the connection from being released. If a user wants to release the connection between the cradle and the harness, they may pull a lever such that the locking mechanism unlocks.

A top portion of the cradle can be adjustable in length as to adjust the support length, for example leave the head unsupported when the baby is facing to the front when the baby carrier is in the carrying configuration. In the bed configuration, the head is preferably supported in full, and shielded from impact. In this respect it is noted that the top portion of the baby carrier is preferably provided with an amount of transverse stiffness, so that the sides of the baby’s head remain free.

The top portion of the cradle can be adjustable via a zipper, for example a zipper that longitudinally extends along the center of the top portion of the edge, thereby dividing the top portion of the cradle in two foldable flaps. Corners of the top portion of the cradle can be provided with couplers so that when the zipper is open, the flaps can be folded back onto themselves and secured to corresponding couplers on the cradle.

Additionally or alternatively, the top portion can be adjusted in length via a telescoping top portion to accommodate for babies having different body lengths and I or to accommodate for growing babies. As an alternative, the top portion can be adjusted in length using a zipper that transversely across the cradle together with a foldable cover for the top portion. For example, when the zipper is zipped and the cover of the cradle is in a folded state, the top portion has the shortest support length. When the zipper is unzipped, and the cover is unfolded, the cradle can be extended, thereby increasing the support length. Furthermore, the invention provides for a baby part comprising a cradle for supporting a baby’s body, body straps to secure the baby to the cradle and a releasable connection arrangement arranged to connect the baby part to a parent part.

In addition, the invention provides for a baby carrier set comprising a baby carrier comprising an auxiliary harness to be worn on an auxiliary person’s upper torso, wherein the baby part is arranged to, when released from the harness, as an alternative be releasably connected to the auxiliary harness.

The invention further provides for a method of transferring a baby part comprising a cradle with a baby from a harness to an auxiliary harness, comprising the steps of releasing an upper part of the cradle from the harness, releasing a lower part the cradle from the harness, releasably connecting the lower part of the cradle to the auxiliary harness, and releasably connecting the upper part of the cradle to the auxiliary harness.

Additionally, the invention provides for a method of supporting a baby in a baby carrier on a person, comprising the steps of placing the baby carrier on substantially horizontally orientated legs of a person, and orientating the baby carrier such that the cradle extends towards a top portion of the cradle generally parallel to the legs of a person to in use support the baby’s body in a substantially lying position spaced away from an upper torso of the person.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention are set out in the description and appended claims.

The technical features described in the paragraphs can be isolated from the context, and the isolated technical features from the different paragraphs can be combined. Such combinations are herewith specifically disclosed in this description.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, which is represented in the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1A shows an isometric drawing of a baby carrier according to the invention in a carrying configuration;

Fig. IB shows an isometric drawing of the baby carrier of Fig. 1A in a bed configuration;

Fig. 2 shows a front view of a parent part;

Fig. 3A shows a side view of a baby part;

Fig. 3B shows a front view of the baby part of Fig. 3A including a baby;

Fig. 4A shows an isometric top view of a stiffening bed; Fig. 4B shows an isometric bottom view of the stiffening bed of Fig.

4a;

Fig. 5 shows a further example of a coupling mechanism;

Fig. 6A shows a further example of a cradle of a baby carrier having a first supporting length; and

Fig. 6B shows the cradle of the baby carrier having a second support length.

It is noted that the drawings are only schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, identical or corresponding parts are represented with the same reference numerals.

Referring to Fig. la and Fig. lb, a baby carrier 1 comprising a parent part 2 and a baby part 3 is depicted. The parent part 2 includes a harness 4 to be worn on a person’s upper torso 5, the baby part 3 includes a cradle 6 for supporting a baby’s body 9. The cradle 6 is being connected to the harness 4 to allow adjustment of the cradle 6 relative to the harness 4 between a carrier configuration I of the baby carrier 1. In the carrier configuration I the cradle 6 extends towards a top portion 7 of the cradle 6, generally along a front of the harness 8, to in use support the baby’s body 9 in a substantially upright position against the person’s upper torso 5. In the bed configuration II of the baby carrier 1 in which the cradle 6 extends towards a top portion 7 of the cradle 6, generally away from the front of the harness 8, to in use support the baby’s body 9 in a substantially lying position spaced away from the person’s upper torso 5. In the carrying configuration II a top portion 7 of the cradle 6 is spaced a first distance from an upper portion 14 of the harness 4, and wherein in the bed II configuration the top portion of the cradle 7 is spaced a second, larger distance from the upper portion 14 of the harness 4.

Fig. 2 depicts the harness 4 from the baby carrier 1. The harness 4 is provided with a set of shoulder straps 17 and a waist belt 18. The waist belt 18 comprises a releasable connectable belt buckle 32. The waist belt 18 preferably is adjustable in length to accommodate for different sizes of the person carrying the baby carrier 1. Furthermore, the front portion 8 of the harness 4 includes a pair of higher connection points 19, preferably located at shoulder level or above the armpit, to suspend an upper part 20 of the cradle 6 via a set of snap straps 21 in the carrying position I. In addition, a pair of lower connection points 22, preferably located below the armpit, is provided to suspend an upper part 20 of the cradle 6 via straps 23 that extend between the arms and the torso 5 in the bed configuration II.

In Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the cradle 6 of the baby carrier 1 is shown. The cradle 6 includes a stiff bed base 11 that support the baby 10 in the bed configuration II. Furthermore, the cradle 6 includes a concavely formed lower section 12 for accommodating the baby’s bottom 13. Body straps 15 are provided with the cradle 6, where the body straps 15 can secure the baby 10 to the cradle 6. The top portion 7 of the cradle 6 is adjustable in length. In the shown embodiment, this is done via a zipper 29 that longitudinally extends along the center of the top portion 7 of the cradle 6, thereby dividing the top portion 7 in two foldable flaps 30. The corners of the foldable flaps 30 are provided with couplers 31 such that when the zipper 29 is open, the foldable flaps 30 can be folded back onto themselves and secured to the couplers 31 on the cradle 6. The body straps 15 in the shown embodiment comprise a cross strap 16.

Turning to Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the stiff bed base 11 that supports the baby 10 is depicted. The baby part 3 is releasably connected to the parent part 2. This is done at the bottom portion 25 of the stiff bed base 11. Additionally, the bottom portion 25 of the cradle 6 is hingedly connected to the lower portion 14 of the harness 4 to as to allow the cradle 6 to swing relative to the harness 4 between a first angular position relative to the harness in the carrying configuration I and a second, more inclined angular position relative to the harness 4 in the bed configuration II. To facilitate the hingedly connection and releasable connection, a releasably hinge connection 26 is provided. The releasable hinge connection 26 comprises of a first part 27, attached to the harness 4 and a second part 28, attached to the cradle 6. The first and second part 27, 28 can be connected via a snap fitting.

Referring to Fig. 5, an example of a releasable hinge connection 26 is depicted. The releasable connection comprises a first part 27 and a second part 28, the second part comprises a line hinge 37. Each part 27, 28 comprises a magnet 32. The magnets 32 are provided such that the first part 27 and the second part 28 can connect, i.e. such that the first part 27 and second part 28 attract. The second part 28 comprises a protrusion 33 that is substantially circularly shaped such that it fits in to opening 34 of the first part 27. Opening 34 is in connection with a slot 35. Protrusion 33 is shaped such that it can move in to the slot 35 once it has been inserted in to opening 34 but the protrusion 33 cannot leave the first part 27 via the slot, only via the opening 34. In other words, once the second part 28 has been inserted in to the first part 27, thereby forming a connection, the connection can only be released by removing protrusion 33 via opening 34. Furthermore, a locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism prevents the protrusion 33 from leaving opening 34 and I or slot 35 via spring action. If, for example, a user wants to release the connection between the cradle and the harness, i.e. release the second part 28 from the first part 27, the user may pull cord 36 in order to unlock the locking mechanism. In a further advantage, the protrusion 33 is conically shaped, i.e. tapered away from the second part 28, such that the protrusion 33 becomes self-centering when a user tries to form the releasable connection between the first part 27 and the second part 28. In Figs 6A and 6B schematic views of the cradle 6 having a first and a second supporting length have been depicted. In order to accommodate for babies having different body lengths and I or to accommodate for growing babies, the cradle 6 is adjustable in supporting length. In Fig 6A a cradle 6 having first supporting length LI has been depicted, in Fig. 6B a cradle 6 having a second, shorter, supporting length L2 has been shown. The cradle 6, or a top portion of the cradle 6, is adjustable in length using zipper 37 that is provided transversely across the cradle 6. Zipper 37 comprises of a top half 38, and a bottom half 39 that can be zipped together. In the shown example, a single zipper top half 38 is provided connected with a top portion of the cradle 6. A plurality of zipper bottom halves 39, or in the shown example of Figs 6A and 6B two zipper bottom halves 39, 39’, are provided that are in connection with a bottom half of the cradle 6. In Fig. 6A, a zipped together zipper 37 is shown (i.e. comprising a top half 38 and a bottom half of the zipper 39) and a further bottom half 39’ are shown. If a shorter support length, e.g. L2, is preferred, the zipper 37 from Fig. 6A can be unzipped. The cradle 6 is then folded such that the top half of the zipper 37 can be zipped together with the further bottom half 39’, forming a further zipper 37’. While in the shown example two zipper bottom halves 39, 39’ are shown, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that any number of zipper bottom halves may be provided.

As for the scope of this disclosure, it is pointed out that technical features which have been specifically described may be susceptible of a functional generalization. Furthermore, it is pointed out that - as far as not explicitly indicated - such technical features can be seen separately from the context of the given exemplary embodiment, and furthermore can be seen separately from the technical features with which they cooperate in the context of the example.

As for the scope of protection, it is pointed out that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment represented here, and that many variations are possible. For example, the person skilled in the art shall understand that regular straps can be used instead of snap straps. Also, other types of body straps can be used than those shown in the example, such as for example a 5-point harness. Further, the connection between the baby part and the parent part may be formed as a single connection, e.g. at the bottom of the cradle only, and may e.g. not be releasable , but permanent. Further, instead of a hinge connection between the baby part and the parent part that may be angularly adjusted and that may include intermediate positions, a connection may be provided that allows connection of the baby part to the parent part in an upright and transverse orientation relative to the parent part only for respectively the carrying configuration and the bed configuration. Such variations shall be readily apparent to the person skilled in the art and are within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.