Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to infant carriers for securely attaching an infant or baby to an adult wearer of the infant carrier. Infant carriers enable both an ergonomically correct and hands-free carrying of said baby. In particular the present invention relates to an adjustable infant carrier that is adaptable to both ergonomically carry an infant as it grows physically larger while offering age-relevant opportunities for the infant to exert segmental acquisition of trunk control, manual grasping behaviors, multisensory object exploration and comfortable engagement with its social and physical environment beyond that of the caregiver when carried in the inward facing position through affordances for infant head and trunk rotation.

Background of the invention

Carrying infants in close contact to the caregiver's torso have become increasingly popular in the past few decades and is practiced through the application of various carrying devices. Wearable baby carriers enable the adult caretaker or wearer to carry the infant or baby while freeing the wearer's hands. Influencing the duration of daily infant carrying, parental objectives and caregiving philosophy associated with infant carrying vary and may include transportation needs, infant hip and spinal health, cry behavior soothing, psychological bonding/attachment and neuroendocrinological development. ^{1 2}

One of the most popular types of wearable infant carriers is the soft structured carrier. This type employs padding, stitching and textiles to provide the necessary structure to hold the infant in a proper ergonomic position.

However, there are some issues with the known infant soft structured carriers.

Responding to orthopedic criticism, most ergonomic soft structured carriers nowadays support the infant in the favored spread squat position across the infant's growth in the first few years. Even though proper head support is important for an infant, total support is only needed for a short period of time, and the possibility of head movement and training of head control is important. However, known soft structured infant carrier designs afford some but limited flexibility in the height of the torso support panel which supports the infant's back and head when carried in the front facing inward position, on the generally accepted baby carrier industry design premise that infants of all ages will need torso/back and head support extending from the buttocks to the level of the ear lobe. This type of design results in the infant's trunk being completely physically supported and constrained within the carrier, requiring low levels of neuromuscular activation of the infant's neck and trunk.

This carrier-induced low level of neuromuscular activation of the neck and trunk during the first year after birth runs contrary to the scientifically recognized head-to-bottom postural developmental trajectory where infants through caregiver-provided age-appropriate daily movement challenges develop, first, control of the head at an average of three months and then gradually acquire downwards trunk control segmentally until the capacity for independent sitting is achieved at an average of six months. ³ Consequently, physiotherapeutic criticism has been raised against current carrier designs with their inherent negative implications for infant motor development across the first years. ^{4 5}

Another issue with known soft structured infant carriers with the back panel extending up to the level of the infant's ear lobe is the inherent closing-off of the infant with the resultant restriction of infant movements, such as its volitional and visually guided arm and hand movement to reach out for objects for purposeful multisensory exploration and manipulation, with negative implications for subsequent cognitive development. ⁵ In addition to that, because of a lack of appreciation of even newborns' drive and capacity to manually and orally explore objects, ^{7 8} known soft infant carriers fail to provide mechanisms for infant access to age-relevant toys while being carried. This failure stands in stark contrast to the unique developmentally appropriate physical support an optimally designed infant carrier (providing sufficient age-relevant postural support, allowing for arm and hand movement and visual access to the target object) can potentially provide, in that pre-sitting infants demonstrate improved reaching behaviors when posturally supported. ^9- ii

Additionally, current carrier design known in the art offers no physical structure that matches the infant's reflexive gripping/grasping capacity (palmar reflex) in terms of size, volume dimensions and positioning of such physical structure within the carrier, which effectively bars the infant from both exerting its evolutionarily conditioned and developmentally appropriate reflexive grasping behavior when carried ^{12 13} and from actively contributing to the act of being carried ^{14 15}

Yet another well-known issue with the soft structured infant carriers known in the art with the back panel extending up to the level of the infant's ear lobe is that they effectively impede the infant's volitional neck and torso rotation through which the infant can explore and engage with its physical and social environment beyond that of the caregiver while being placed in the pediatric orthopedic favored front facing inward position. The obstruction of such intentional infant neck and spine rotation while being carried constitutes a significant missed opportunity for prevention and even mitigation in the infant's first year in a societal context where up to 47% of all infants may suffer from positional plagiocephaly, ¹⁶ which again is linked to a restriction of active neck rotation. ¹⁷ Moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly is associated with poorer cognitive and academic performance at school age. ¹⁸ Placing the infant on the stomach for active play (tummy time) several times a day is one effective preventive or mitigative method during the infant's first year, providing neuromuscular activation to the neck and spine. ¹⁹ . However, many parents (up to 70%) fail to provide sufficient tummy time. ²⁰ Hence, spontaneous infant neck and spine rotations while carried in response to environmental stimuli constitute an ecologically valid and effortless supplementary approach to prevent or mitigate positional plagiocephaly.

Furthermore, such outward infant exploration through neck and spine rotation may appear from as early as 1-2 months postpartum, and the obstruction of this basic behavior through inappropriate infant carrier design will frequently result in infants expressing frustration and disapproval of being carried in the front facing inward position.

This infant reaction has prompted manufacturers to develop carriers which feature an infant front facing outward position where the infant is placed in the bucket seat with the infant's back towards the caregiver's front torso.

The purpose of carrying the infant in an outward facing position is to allow for the infant's greater (relative to the hitherto restricted front facing inward position) interaction with people and objects in the vicinity of the caregiver's front. Manufacturers of soft structured infant carriers known in the art have strived to achieve the optimum spread squat position when the infant is placed in the front facing outward position, or by offering a hip carrying position through a rearrangement of the shoulder straps

However, adjusting soft structured infant carriers known in the art between the inward and the outward facing or hip-carrying positions is both complicated and cumbersome, producing infant positions with the legs being either spread too far apart or dangling, neither of which is ideal for optimum development of the hip joint. ²¹ And in some instances, the infant front facing outward position may also compromise the airways of the infant as well as the infant's capacity for manual object exploration due to restrictive carrier design affordances for arm movement. Furthermore, the infant front facing outward position also bars the infant's visual access to the caregiver's face and thereby the infant's social referencing to the caregiver in ambiguous social or physical environments.

This results in suboptimum infant carrier usage through user error or noncompliance with potential negative implications for the caregiver's biomechanics/weight loading and for the infant's hip development and stress regulation.

Another issue with the soft structured carriers known in the art relates to the risk of infant injury during placement into the carrier or during removal from the carrier. According to manufacturers' user instructions, the wearer is directed to lift the infant and place the infant's buttocks just above the carrier waist belt enveloping the wearer's hips or midsection and place the infant's front torso against the wearer's front torso while the carrier back support panel is suspended either fully or partially from the carrier waist belt. To position the carrier back support panel up against the infant's back and, in some of the designs known in the art, installing the shoulder straps on the wearer, the wearer will have to let go of the intuitive and more secure bimanual grip or hold of the infant, and release one hand to manoeuvre the carrier back support panel and the associated shoulder straps into place, while the supporting hand is normally placed either below or at the level of the infant's buttocks, rendering insufficient support if the infant drops its head and back backwards. In the many expectable instances of an infant being agitated, wiggly or otherwise unsettled during placement or removal, it is non-optimum that the wearer has only one hand at the level of the infant's buttocks to uphold the infant against the wearer's torso. Falls and drops during placement and removal constitute a not-insignificant share of carrier-related injuries. ^{1 22} It is hence expectable that consumers consistently demand carriers that are easy and safe to use and ideally allows for the wearer's bimanual hold of the infant until a secure placement within the carrier has been achieved, with the infant's buttocks and lower back sufficiently supported by the carrier to avoid drops after the wearer's bimanual hold is released from the infant.

Yet another issue with soft structured infant carriers known in the art relates to the design of the shoulder straps. Most carriers provide a classical backpack shoulder strap design where the shoulder straps run vertically parallel with another and are secured to one another at chest level through a fully or semi-detachable horizontal chest strap to avoid the shoulder straps gradually slipping over the shoulders of the wearer as a result of the movements inevitably associated with walking. The wearer's manual access to securing the horizontal chest strap is relatively easy when the carrier is used on the back of the wearer. However, the by far greatest usage of infant carriers is on the front of the wearer's torso which requires that the horizontal strap become fastened on the upper back of the wearer. This necessitates the wearer to reach over the shoulders and onto the upper back to secure the chest strap. In practice, this maneuver is difficult for many adult wearers, resulting in a variety of suboptimum positions of the shoulder straps and the horizontal strap. The most common non-optimum usage is that the horizontal strap is placed too high on the wearer (at neck level) and is insufficiently tightened, rendering the shoulder straps too far apart on the back of the wearer. The result is wearer discomfort from the horizontal strap pressing upon the neck and from the shoulder straps being placed on the distal (outer) edges of the collarbone and psychological distress from concerns that the carrier may be insufficiently fastened, potentially allowing for infant slips and falls from the carrier. Consequently, some soft structured carriers known in the art offer the wearer another additional way of securing the shoulder straps, namely by crossing the shoulder straps on the back, so that each shoulder strap attaches at the opposite side of the carrier. The shoulder straps currently offered to accommodate such crossing of the shoulder straps on the back of the wearer's torso come in two types of distinct and separate designs: a. relatively narrow and richly padded or b. relatively wide and thinly padded. None of these designs are entirely optimal for the crossed shoulder strap solution. The relatively narrow and richly padded shoulder straps offer the greatest comfort in so far as the load distribution on top of the shoulders is concerned but at the point where the shoulder straps cross each other on the back, the load distribution is less optimum, and a bulge is produced which makes leant-back sitting uncomfortable. Conversely, the relatively wide and thinly padded shoulder straps are less comfortable on top of the shoulders, where they tend to fail to shape themselves to the contours of the wearer's upper torso and thus dig into the wearer's body, whereas at the point of crossing on the back of the wearer the relatively wider and flatter design makes for less of a bulge and for a better load distribution. In addition to these issues, yet another flaw in the design of shoulder straps known in the art relates to the point of crossing on the back of the wearer gradually rising up higher on the wearer's back as a result of the wearer's upper body movements, effecting the shoulder straps to gradually draw towards the sides of the neck of the wearer, thereby exerting pressure on the muscles and sinews of the sides of the neck, which leads to discomfort and pain for the wearer. Hence, there is a need for a better design of infant carrier shoulder straps.

In sum, infant carriers known in the art are designed such that they inadequately support the safe placement and removal of the infant, the development of early infant postural control, infant reflexive grasping, infant rotation of head and torso towards the surroundings as well as infant exploratory reaching behaviors and the multisensory object exploration associated with such reaching behavior. These early sensorimotor skills are antecedent and foundational for future motor, cognitive, language, and social development and ultimately academic achievement. ²³ Barring the developing infant from said experiences is likely to result in less than optimum developmental outcomes. ²⁴

Therefore, there is an unmet need for a soft structured infant carrier that is able to ergonomically support an infant, while being safe, adjustable and equipped to optimally support infant motor development.

References:

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Summary of the invention

Thus, an object of the present invention relates to providing an easily adjustable soft infant carrier, for ergonomically carrying an infant while providing adjustable back support and thereby allowing the infants volitional and visually guided arm movement and its evolutionarily conditioned and developmentally appropriate reflexive grasping behavior.

Another object of the present invention relates to providing an easily adjustable soft infant carrier, enabling a smooth and straightforward alteration of the soft infant carrier between an inward and outward facing position, while providing an optimum spread squat position when the infant is placed in the front facing outward position.

Embodiments described herein provide a wearable infant carrier with two adaptations for optimum hip and spinal ergonomic carrying across the infant's first years of life and with an adjustable torso support panel to provide affordances for the infant's segmental acquisition of trunk control, rotation of head and torso, multisensory object exploration as well as handlebars to accommodate manual reflexive grasping during the first year of life.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an easily adjustable infant carrier that solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. Thus, one aspect of the invention relates to an adjustable infant carrier for attaching to an adult wearer, for carrying a baby, said infant carrier comprising an adjustable waist belt comprising lumber support and support section constructed for carrying the baby's lower torso and the main part of the baby's weight, said infant carrier further comprising a main section, two side panels comprising shoulder panels and midriff panels, wherein said shoulder panels and midriff panels are attached by adjustable strapping means constructing adjustable shoulder straps, a middle panel constructed for supporting the upper part of a baby torso, adjustably attached to both side panels, said middle panel comprising the top side of the main section and wherein the length of the middle panel can be reversibly adjusted, resulting in a change in the vertical length of the infant carrier and thereby the vertical support provided by the infant carrier to the torso of the baby.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein at least one of the shoulder panels comprises a handle holder and at least one handle attached to the at least one handle holder. When the baby within the infant carrier of the present invention holds on to at least one handle, it provides a stabilizing effect for the upper torso of the baby. Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising at least one handle holder, wherein one or more activity object, in the form of an agerelevant object, such as a sensory toy, a sound-generating toy or any other suitable activity item, is reversibly attached to the at least one handle holder of the infant carrier of the invention, thereby providing the infant opportunities for multisensory object exploration.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an ergonomically correct and adjustable infant carrier wherein the horizontal width of the supporting section can be reversibly altered between at least two horizontal widths, by either attaching the side support panels to the adjustable waist belt or the main support panel, thereby providing the baby within the infant carrier with horizontally longer or shorter leg and/or thigh support.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an infant carrier that can be reversibly vertically shortened, by folding the adjustable waist belt up and over the support section, then securing the adjustable waist belt in place by utilizing the supporting cover for both covering the adjustable waist belt and fastening it, thereby effectively hiding the support section behind the adjustable waist belt which in turn shortens the vertical length of the main section of the infant carrier, by a vertical length corresponding to the, now hidden, vertical length of the support section.

Brief description of the figures

Figure la shows one embodiment of the inside of the infant carrier of the present invention.

Figure lb shows another embodiment of the inside of the infant carrier of the present invention.

Figure 2a shows one embodiment of the outside of the infant carrier of the present invention.

Figure 2b shows another embodiment of the outside of the infant carrier of the present invention. Figure 3 shows a small portion of a side panel on the outside of the infant carrier of present invention.

Figure 4a shows a small portion of a partly open side panel on the outside of the infant carrier of the present invention.

Figure 4b shows a small portion of a fully open side panel on the outside of the infant carrier of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows how the length of attachment between side panel and main panel of the infant carrier of the present invention can be altered, when viewed from the outside.

Figure 6 shows how the main panel can be folded, thereby altering the vertical length of the main panel (or the length of attachment between the main panel and the side panel) of the infant carrier of the present invention, when viewed from the outside.

Figure 7a shows the outside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provided by the present invention.

Figure 7b shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provide by present invention, wherein the support panels have detached from the adjustable waist belt and been folded over the main support panel.

Figure 8a shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provided by present invention.

Figure 8b shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provided by present invention, wherein the supporting cover has been detached from the adjustable waist belt.

Figure 8c shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provided by present invention, wherein the supporting cover has been detached from the adjustable waist belt and the support panels have detached from the adjustable waist belt and been folded over the main support panel.

Figure 8d shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provided by present invention, wherein the support panels have detached from the adjustable waist belt and been folded over the main support panel and the supporting cover has been folded over the folded support panels and attached to the adjustable waist belt.

Figure 9a shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provide by present invention, wherein the supporting cover has been detached from the adjustable waist belt and the adjustable waist belt folded over the supporting section 3.

Figure 9b shows the inside of the lower part of the main section of the infant carrier provide by present invention, wherein the adjustable waist belt folded over the supporting section 3 and the supporting cover has secured the position of the folded adjustable belt. The present invention will now be described in more detail in the following.

Definitions

As used within this application, a baby is a young human individual, anywhere between 0 and 5 years old. The term infant as used in this application, refers to a young human individual anywhere between 0 and 4 years old, while the term new-born as used within this application refers to a young human individual anywhere between 0 and 6mo old, and as such, all new-borns fall into the term infant and all infants fall within the term baby as used her within.

The term wearer as used within this application refers to any adult or older teenager that is wearing the infant carrier provided by the present invention, with or without a baby being placed in the infant carrier. The wearer is usually the baby's caregiver, either related or not, such as parent, older sibling, professional babysitter or other relevant caregivers.

As used within this application, the term inside, used in connection with different sides of the infant carrier of the invention, is the side that faces towards the wearer of the infant carrier, in the infant carrier original position, and therefore also the side that is in direct contact with both the wearer and the baby placed within the infant carrier provided by the present invention. Accordingly, the term outside, when applied in connection with the infant carrier provided by the present invention, regards the side of the infant carrier that faces outward, away from the wearer and towards the surroundings of said wearer, again in the infant carrier's original position. However, in contrast to most carriers known in the art where the main section emanates from the horizontal top of the adjustable waist belt, due to the specific carrier mounting procedure for one particular position of the current invention, where the main section (1) emanates from the horizontal bottom of the adjustable waist belt (19) and where the inside of the main section is then lifted up over the outside of the adjustable waistbelt in that particular usage situation, in illustrations la, lb, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d described as inside, what is visible in so far as the adjustable waistbelt is concerned is "outside". Nevertheless, what defines whether the illustration is labelled inside or outside is the orientation of the main section, not the waistbelt.

Facing orientation, as used within this application refers to the direction that the baby being carried in the infant carrier provided by the current invention faces. The present invention provides an infant carrier where the baby can be carried in different facing orientations. An inward facing orientation, as used within this application, is where the baby is carried with its front and face facing against the wearer and away from the surroundings and the baby's back is pressed against the infant carrier itself, hence facing inward towards the wearer and away from its surroundings. A forward-facing orientation, as used within this application, is where the baby is carried with its front and face, facing away from the wearer, towards the surrounding, the front of the baby's torso is pressed against the infant carrier itself, while the baby's back is facing the wearer of the infant carrier.

Vertical length, as used within the present application refers to the vertical length of any part of the infant carrier provided by the present invention, extending in vertical direction when the infant carrier is placed upright, such as when the infant carrier is worn by an upright standing/sitting wearer, meaning that the shoulder panels are on top, or above the waist belt of the infant carrier. Accordingly, the vertical length of the middle panel (9) is defined as the length of the middle panel (9) in a vertical direction, when the infant carrier is worn by an upright standing/sitting wearer.

Horizontal length or width as used within the present application refers to the horizontal length or width of any part of the infant carrier, when the infant carrier is placed upright, such as when the infant carrier is worn by an upright standing/sitting wearer, meaning that the shoulder panels are on top, or above the waist belt of the infant carrier. Accordingly, the horizontal length or width of the support section of the infant carrier is the span of the support section horizontally across the wearer of the infant carrier, while worn upright.

The terms "top part" and "lower part" of any part of the infant carrier provided by the present invention, refers to the lower or higher parts of the infant carrier provided by the present invention, when the infant carrier is placed upright, such as when the infant carrier is worn by an upright standing/sitting wearer, meaning that the shoulder panels are a part of the higher or top part of the infant carrier, being a above the waist belt of said infant carrier. Activity object, as used within this application refers to any object that can capture the attention of the baby within the infant carrier, stimulating the baby's drive and capacity to explore. This includes, but is not limited to, any kind of age-appropriate toy, such as a sound-generating toy or a sensory toy for infant multisensory exploration.

A handle as used within this application refers to any object of any size, form or material that can offer the baby within the infant carrier the opportunity to grab and/or hold on to, either by one or both hands, both for support and for sensory experience.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention provides an infant carrier that can be adjusted as to conform with both the size of the baby to be carried within the infant carrier and the facing orientation of said baby.

Figures la and lb, depicts the inside of an infant carrier (100) of the present invention, the main difference between the two embodiments depicted being the length of the supporting cover (14) and thereby the placement of supporting cover attachment means (16), that can be placed on or above the adjustable waist belt (19). Though not shown in figure la or lb, the adjustable waist belt (19) can also be of different vertical width, that is broader or smaller than depicted in figures la and lb. The infant carrier is constructed to be worn by an adult or older teenager, for securing a baby to the wearer of the infant carrier. The infant carrier (100) comprises a main section (1) that extends between the horizontal lines I and III in figures la and lb, constructed to receive and support the baby torso, comprising four substantially diagonal sides, the main section divided into the upward-section (2) that extends between the horizontal lines I and II in figures la and lb, constructed to receive and support the upper part of the baby's torso, and a support section (3) that extends between the horizontal lines II and III in figures la and lb, constructed to receive and support the rear end/buttocks and the upper legs of the baby's and thereby to carry most of the baby's weight. The main section (1) further comprises two side panels (4a and 4b), each side panel comprising a shoulder panel (5a, 5b) and a midriff panel (6a and 6b). The shoulder panels (5a and 5b) and the midriff panels (6a and 6b) are attached to an adjustable strapping means (7a and 7b) constructing shoulder straps, not shown in figures la or lb. The shoulder straps can be worn in different ways, such that the straps intersect or crisscross on the back of the wearer of the infant carrier (100) for stability, straight if preferred or altered as to place the infant carrier (100) on the hip of the wearer. One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising shoulder panels (5a and 5b) that are constructed for additional comfort and distribution of the weight of the infant carrier on the shoulders of the wearer. Such comfort can be achieved by any suitable means known in the art, such as by soft padding or lining of the shoulder panels (5a and 5b) and/or by additional width of the panels.

When the wearer carries the infant carrier provided by the present invention intersecting or crisscrossing on the back, the overlapping shoulder panels (5a and 5b) can become too "thick" or have too much volume right at the overlapping, due to the padding.

Though not depicted in the figures, the form or shape of the shoulder panels (5a and 5b) can be differentiated throughout the length of the panel. When discussing the form of the shoulder panels (5a and 5b) we here refer to the height and width of a panel, those being the two parameters that create the cross-section of a shoulder panel. Furthermore, we refer to the different sections of the shoulder panels as the "load carrying section" and the "intersection section". The load carrying section is the top, or first part of the shoulder panels, the part that is attached to the top of the main section or part of the baby carrier. This section is the part of the shoulder panels that is placed on the shoulders of the wearer and where the weight of the baby carrier and the infant is placed on the wearer's shoulders. The intersecting section is the part where the two shoulder panels intersect on the back of the wearer. This section or part of the shoulder panels is not load carrying but intersects for more stability of the infant carrier of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the load carrying section, that is the part that goes over the shoulders of the wearer is narrower and comprises more padding than the intersecting section.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the intersecting section, that is the section of the shoulder panels that intersect or crisscross on the back of the wearer is wider and comprises less padding than the load carrying section of the shoulder panels.

As both the height and girth of wearers can vary, the length of the shoulder panels and the length of different forms said shoulder panels can vary. One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising shoulder panels (5a and 5b) that can be reversibly removed and replaced, such that different wearers can wear the same infant carrier. Any know attachment means for such a reversible attachment of the shoulder panels can be used, including but not limited to attachment means such as buttons, hook and loop, hook and loop fastening, magnets, snap buttons, rail or zippers. The infant carrier (1) provided by the present invention further comprises a middle panel (9), said middle panel comprising the top side (10) of the main section (1), extending between, and attached to both side panels (4a and 4b) down to the supporting section (3) of main section (1). Middle panel (9) is preferably constructed of a strong but relatively soft and thin material, enabling easy folding of the middle panel (9) down from the top side (10) thereby adjusting the length of attachment between the middle panel (9) and the side panels (4a and 4b) and thereby the vertical length of the middle panel (9) when the infant carrier is worn in up-right position and effectively adjusting the vertical length of the support provided the main section (1) to a baby in the infant carrier.

Though not depicted in figures la or lb, the middle panel (9) can also be constructed as a combination panel constructed of 2 different layers. Such a combination panel is favorable where the infant carrier provided by the present invention is to be used in different temperature or weather conditions. One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the middle panel (9) comprises an inner layer comprising a highly permeable breathable material, and an out layer, attached to the inner layer by any suitable attachment systems, such as but not restricted to, buttons, hook and loop fastening, magnets and snap buttons. In one embodiment of the present invention the outer layer comprises weatherproof insulating material.

In figures la and lb, a pocket (11) is featured over the lower part of the middle panel (9), but it should be noted that such a pocket is just a possible embodiment, and the infant carrier provided by the present invention can also not comprise such a pocket. Shoulder panels (5a and 5b) each comprise a handle holder (13a and 13b), constructed as to be used for reversibly attaching/removing a handle (12 in figure 2a and 2b) or other attachments as replaceable toys or other sensory or entertainment objects for the infant within the infant carrier.

It should be noted that different types of handles or grabbing means can be attached onto the handle holders (13a and 13b) within the scope of this invention. Any form or shape of handle, made by any material that is suitable for the infant to grab and/or hold on to can be utilized within the scope of this invention. Such a handle can be reversibly attached to the handle holders, both for sensory purposes and for supporting and steadying the infant within the carrier. One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising at least one handle holder. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising two handle holders. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising at least one handle holder wherein at least one handle is attached to at least one handle holder. One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising at least one handle holder wherein at least one handle holder is attached to at least one object, such as a sensory toy. And yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising at least one handle holder wherein at least one handle and at least one another object are attached to at least one handle holder

Further referring to figures la and lb, the support section (3) comprises a supporting cover (14), the top (15) attached to both side panels (4a and 4b) and middle panel (9), said supporting cover (14) lower part comprising an attachment means (16) enabling the lower part of the supporting cover (14) to be reversibly attached to different attachment means, thereby enabling adjustment or transformation of the support section (3) of the infant carrier (100). The support section (3) further comprises a main support panel (17) and two adjustable side support panels (18a and 18b). The main difference between the two embodiments shown in figures la and lb is the length of the supporting cover (14) and thereby how that cover is utilized in the adjustment or transformation of the support section.

Further to Figure 1, the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention further comprises an adjustable waist belt (19) attached to the support section (3) comprising lumber support (19a), constructed to encircle the wearer's waist and thereby placing a considerable part of the baby's weight on the wearer's hips. The adjustable waist belt (19) as illustrated in figure la, further comprises at least one small pocket (20) and adjustable strops (21).

Figures 2a and 2b. depict the outside of infant carrier (100), that faces away from the body of the wearer. Again, the main difference between the two embodiments depicted is the length of the supporting cover (14) and thereby the placement of supporting cover attachment means (16). The infant carrier provided by the present invention comprises side panels (4a and 4b), that are illustrated mirrored compared to figure 1, middle panel (9) and support portion (3), said support portion (3) comprising side support panels (18a and 18b), that comprise side support panel attachment means (22) enabling the lower part of the side support panels (18) to be reversibly attached to different side support panel attachment means, thereby enabling adjustment or transformation of the support section (3) of the infant carrier (100). The inward facing side of the infant carrier (100) further comprises an adjustable strap (23), comprising adjustment means (25), said adjustable strap (23) attached to the side panels (4a and 4b) or side panels fixed panel brim (26a and 26b, not shown in figure 2) and extending over the middle panel (9). As depicted by figures 2a and 2b, the adjustable shoulder panels (5a and 5b) comprise a webbing (34) running atop of the outside facing side of the shoulder panels, secured with stitches at regular or irregular intervals, forming webbing loops wide enough for the insertion of one shoulder panel through the webbing loop at the point of crossing on the wearer's back.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising shoulder panels (5a and 5b) that are constructed to be thicker (more padding) over the shoulders of the wearer and to become thinner (less padding) where the two shoulder panels overlap on the back of the wearer. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising shoulder panels (5a and 5b) that are constructed to be thicker (more padding) and narrower over the shoulders of the wearer and to become thinner (less padding) and wider where the two shoulder panels overlap on the back of the wearer. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the position of the crossing of the shoulder straps on the back of the wearer is made stable by inserting the intersecting part of one of the shoulder panels underneath the webbing that runs on the outside of the intersecting parts of both shoulder panels, which webbing is stitched onto the padding at intervals, which produces loops with inner dimensions matching at least the width of the intersecting part of shoulder panels, thereby allowing for the insertion of one shoulder strap through the loop. The inside of the loops and the outside of the webbing may comprise a hook and loop or any other suitable attachment or anti-slip system for a more gradual vertical adjustment of the crossing of the intersecting parts of the shoulder panels on the back of the wearer. An embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the shoulder panels comprise a form of stabilizing element, such as a loop of webbing or other material, or a fastener such as hook-and-loop fastener, snaps, or any other suitable fastener, for securing the crossing of the shoulder panels on the back of the wearer. Another embodiment provides an infant carrier wherein the stabilizing means are adjustable, for allowing different placement of the crossing of the shoulder panels for different size of wearer.

In one embodiment, the intersecting parts of shoulder panels may comprise an attachment or anti-slip system on the inside and the outside of the padded parts or on the inside of the padded part and on the outside of the webbing.

Adjustable strap (23) is constructed to enable adjustment of the horizontal width of the lower section of the upward section (2) of the infant carrier (100). That is, by utilizing the adjustable strap (25) adjustment means, the width of the lower part of the upward section, just above the support section (3) can be narrowed, as to suit different seating/placement arrangement of the infant within the carrier, such as when the infant's upper legs are relatively short or when the infant is forward facing, and the infants' legs will be placed on each side of the lower part of the upward section. Side panels (4a and 4b) further comprise a closing crook (24a and 24b) constructed for closing the opening in the side panels, by closing means (31a and 31b), into the adjustment system of the middle panel (9) and thereby also the top side or edge of the infant carrier.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein at least one of the shoulder panels comprise a handle holder (13a and/or 13b). In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle holder and/or handle (12) attached to the handle holder enables reversibly attaching an activity object, such as a stimulating toy for grabbing and maintaining the attention of the baby within the infant carrier. In another embodiment of the present invention, the handle and/or handles enables the baby within the infant carrier of the present invention to grab the at least one handle, thereby providing a stabilizing effect on the upper torso of the baby during caregiver locomotion as well as neuromuscular activation of infant hands, shoulders, neck, trunk and core. Furthermore, as one resting position that infants often prefer is with their hands above the head, such handles provide a calming effect on an infant within the infant carrier.

Figure 3 zooms in on the outside of one corner of the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention, showing part of side panel (4a), midriff panel (6a) and shoulder panel (5a) as well as small part of the middle panel (9) and the top side (10). Side panel (4a) and midriff panel (6a) comprise a fixed panel brim and a reversibly openable/closable panel center (25a), that is kept closed by side panel closing crook (24a) by closing means (31a).

Figure 4a and 4 b depict the same corner of the infant carrier provided by the current invention. In figure 4a the panel center (25a) is partly opened, revealing the part of the middle panel (9) beneath the panel center (25a) comprising a zipper (27a) and first attachment means (28a). Here the vertical length of the middle panel (9) is defined as the length of the middle panel (9) in a vertical direction, when the infant carrier is placed upright, such as when the infant carrier is worn by an upright standing/sitting wearer.

Another way of defining the direction of the vertical length or length adjustment of the main panel (9) of the adjustable infant carrier provided by the present invention is the length of the attachments between the main panel (9) and the side panels (4a and 4b). The infant carrier provided by the current invention is constructed such, that when the vertical length of the infant carrier is adjusted, the position of the top edge (10) of the main section (1) of the infant carrier (100) is altered, and as the main panel (9) is constructed for supporting the upper part of a baby's torso when in the infant carrier, the change in vertical length of the main panel (9) changes the vertical support provided by the infant carrier to the upper part of the baby's torso. Such adjustment of the length of attachment between main panel (9) and side panels (4a and 4b) thereby alters the relative vertical position of the top edge (10) of the main panel (9) of the present invention and is constructed to be used to alter the support provided to the baby within the infant carrier, such as for freeing the baby's head and torso and/or arms and hands.

As depicted in figure 4a, the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the vertical length of the main panel (9) can be adjusted utilizing the hook-and loop fastener (28) and zippers (27). In one embodiment of the present invention, as demonstrated in figure 4a, the infant carrier provided by the present invention comprises a labelled first attachment means (28) comprising labels or markings (29) for easy alignment of the vertical length, of the middle panel (9). In another embodiment of the present invention, as demonstrated in figure 4b, the infant carrier provided by the present invention comprises patches of first attachment means (28).

It should be noted that different types of adjustable fasteners can be utilized within the scope of the invention. Both only one type or more than one type of adjustable fasteners can be utilized. It should also be noted that different placement of the adjustable fasterner of choice is also within the scope of the invention. Any suitable adjustable fastener can be placed within the side panels (4a and 4b), behind the side panels (4a and 4b) or on front of the side panels (4a and 4b).

In one embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided comprising both hook-and-loop fastener and zipper. In another embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided comprising either hook-and-look fasteners or zippers.

It should be noted that though not depicted in the figures, the present invention provides an infant carrier with different technical solutions for adjustable attachment means, constructed for altering or adjusting the vertical length of the middle panel (9), by applying different known attachment means, such as but not restricted to, buttons, hook loop, Velcro hook loop, magnets, snap buttons.

In one embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided wherein the vertical length of the main panel (9) is controlled by utilizing any of the abovementioned adjustable attachment means and where the folding of the released part of the panel is rendered automatically through the rolling-up forces of a snap-wrap tape or similar system (not depicted in figures)." The inside of the panel center (25a) correspondingly comprises a side panel closing means (30a) constructed for coupling with the first labelled attachment means (28a) thereby closing the reversibly openable/closable panel center (25a).

Figure 5 illustrates from an outside view how the zipper slider (32) on zipper (27) is constructed for enabling controllable separation of the middle panel (9) from the side panels (4a) enabling controllable and reversible adjustment of the vertical length of the middle panel (9) or the length of the attachment between middle panel (9) and side panel (4a). The adjustment of the vertical length of middle panel (9) I attachment between middle panel (9) and side panel (4a), alters the vertical height of the top side or edge (10) of the infant carrier and as explained above, thereby the vertical support provided to a baby within the infant carrier.

Referring to the outside view rendered in figure 6, the vertical length of the middle panel (9) or the length of attachment between middle panel (9) and side panel (4a) has been shortened, by folding the top of the middle panel (9). As depicted in figure 6 and figure 5, the patches of labels on both the first attachment means (28a) and the second labelled attachment means (33a), can be used for alignment, for ensuring symmetric alteration on both sides of the main panel (9), that is that the length of attachment between main panel (9) and side panel (4a) is the same as the length of attachment between main panel (9) and side panel (4b). This alteration of the vertical length of the main panel (9) results in changes in the support provided for a baby within the infant carrier.

In one embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided comprising a combination middle panel (9) comprising at least one layer of fabric. In another embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided comprising a middle panel comprising more than one different layer of fabric, such as two different layers of fabric.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable infant carrier is provided wherein the middle panel (9) comprises at least one layer of fabric that is reversibly removable and replaceable. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the middle panel comprises two layers of fabric that are both individually removable and replaceable. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an adjustable infant carrier wherein the middle panel (9) comprises at least on layer of fabric that is reversibly removable and replaceable, both for changing the infant carrier visually, by changing colors or pattern, or for altering the insulation effect by altering the material used. In one embodiment of the present invention an infant carrier is provided wherein the middle panel comprises two layers of fabric that are both individually removable and replaceable and wherein the inner layer of the panel comprises a highly permeable breathable material to which another outer layer of weatherproof insulating material can be attached through a variety of attachment systems, such as but not restricted to, zippers, buttons, hook loop, Velcro hook loop, magnets, snap buttons.

In other embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the middle panel comprises at least one layer of a soft, air and/or moisture permeable material. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the middle panel comprises at least one layer of non-permeable material. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the middle panel comprises water resistant or water-repellent and thermal-insulating material.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising a middle panel (9) comprising at least two different layers of fabric. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising a middle panel (9) comprising at least two different layers of fabric and wherein the vertical length of different layers of the middle panel (9) can be altered or amended individually.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising adjustable attachment means comprising the first and second attachment means (33 and 28) and the corresponding side panel closing means (30) comprise a hook-and-loop fastener. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier comprising adjustable attachment means comprising first attachment means, second attachment means and the corresponding side panel closing means, and wherein the adjustable attachment means comprise any suitable attachment means, such as, but not limited to zippers, buttons, snaps, laces, hook-and-eye, magnets and buckles attachment means or any combination thereof.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the zipper (27) comprises an auto-locking slider mechanism, which keeps the slider in place unless the slider's tab is pulled, which releases the locking mechanism. This prevents the slider from moving on its own when forces are applied that would otherwise have forced the zipper tape apart. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the zipper (27) comprises a standard non-self-locking slider or when the zipper comprises a pin lock slider where pins on the pull-tab are pushed down into the elements of the zipper. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the zipper (27) comprises or is substituted with different suitable attachment means, such as hook-and-loop fastener, buttons, snaps, laces, hook-and-eye, and buckles attachment means.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an infant carrier wherein the horizontal width of the panel center (25) is gradually increased from the point where it meets the shoulder panels (7) down to where the panel center meets the main support panel (17), allowing for the insertion of the outer vertical edges of the middle panel (9) in between the panel center (17) and the side panels (4) when the wearer has adjusted the vertical height of said middle panel (9). In this embodiment, the panel center (17) and the side panels (4) may or may not comprise attachment means.

Figure 7a depicts the outside of the lower part of main section (1) of infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention. In figure 7a the side support panels (18a and 18b) of the support section (3) are both attached to the adjustable waist belt (19) by side support panel attachment means (22a and 22b). A dotted line shows the leg and thigh area A, that is the corner or triangle that can be either open for a baby's legs to extend through or closed off by side support panels (18a and 18b). As illustrated in figure 7a, the side support panels, can cover the leg and thigh area (A), thereby supporting the baby's thighs and together with main support panel (17) creating a wider bottom and leg support for a baby placed within the infant carrier (100). Figure 7b illustrates from an inside view how side support panels (18a and 18b) can be separated from the adjustable waist belt (19) and folded up against main support panel (17), opening for the leg and thigh area (A) and enabling a baby leg, of a baby within the infant carrier (100) to extend through the leg and thigh area (A) previously closed by support panels (18a and 18b).

Figure 8a depicts the same part of the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention from the inside. Figure 8a depicts the side support panels (18a and 18b) attached to the adjustable waist belt (19) and said side support panels (18a and 18b) construct, together with main support panel and the supporting cover (14) the support section of the infant carrier (100), with leg and thigh area (A) closed and therefore providing a wide leg support for a baby carried by the infant carrier provided by the invention. Figure 8b depicts the same part and side of the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention, where the supporting cover (14) has been separated from the adjustable waist belt (19), by use of supporting cover attachment means (16) and lifted up (again, up towards the top of the infant carrier, when worn in an upright position), freeing the inside side of the main support panel (17) and side support panel attachment means (22a and 22b). Figure 8c once more depicts the same part of the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention, illustrating how side support panels (18a and 18b) can be folded over the main support panel (17) and attached to the main support panel by applying side support panel attachment means (22a and 22b). As demonstrated by figure 8c, this again opens the leg and thigh area (A), enabling a baby leg, of a baby within the infant carrier (100) to extend through the leg and thigh area (A) previously closed by support panels (18a and 18b).

Finally figure 8d depicts the same part and side of the infant carrier (100) provided by the present invention, illustrating how the supporting cover can be re-folded over both the side support panels (18a and 18b) and the main support panel (17) and attached by applying supporting cover attachment means (16) to the adjustable waist belt (19), effectively hiding or covering the side support panels (18a and 18b). Again, the folding of side support panels (18a and 18b) over the main support panel (17) opens the leg and thigh area (A), enabling a baby leg of a baby within the infant carrier (100) to extend through the leg and thigh area (A) previously closed by support panels (18a and 18b).

It should be noted that different embodiments are possible within the present invention. Figures 8a and 8b depict the adjustable waist belt (19) with two pockets (20a and 20b) while figure 8b depict the adjustable waist belt (19) with just one pocket (20b) and in figure 8c the adjustable waist belt (19) does not comprise any pockets.

Referring to figure 9, it demonstrates how the infant carrier (100) provided by the current invention is constructed to be vertically shortened. Figure 9a depicts a similar view of the infant carrier (100) as figure 8b, showing the inside of the upward section (2), with the supportive cover (14) separated from the supporting cover attachment means (16) comprised on the inside of adjustable waist belt (19). However, figure 9a depicts the inside of adjustable waist belt (19), as the adjustable waist belt (19) has been folded upwards and over support section (3), effectively covering support section (3), that is not visible in figure 9a (as the whole of support section 3, both the main support panel (17) and side panels (18 and 18b) are behind the adjustable belt (19). Figure 9b illustrates how supporting cover (14) is then folded over the adjustable waist belt (19) and secured by applying supporting cover attachments means (16), resulting in a infant carrier (100) that is vertically shortened by the length of the support section as well as horizontally shortened by the width of the support section, making this position suitable for new-borns and smaller infants (3).

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention. It should also be noted that the present invention is by no means limited to the combination of features displayed in each figure. As used herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "including", "includes", "has", "having" or any other variations hereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, article or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary "or refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or.

All patent and non-patent references cited in the present application, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Numbering of figures

100 - Infant carrier

1 - Main section

2 - Upward section

3 - Support section

4 - Side panels

5 - Shoulder panels

6 - Midriff panels

7 - Adjustable strapping mechanism

9 - Middle panel

10 - Top side

11 - Pocket

12 - Handle

13 - Handle holder

14 - Supporting cover

15 - Supporting cover top

16 - Supporting cover attachment means

17 - Main support panel

18 - Side support panels

19 - Adjustable waist belt

20 - Small pockets

21 - Adjustable strops

22 - Attachment means

23 - Adjustable strap

24 - Side panel closing crook

25 - Panel center

26 - Fixed panel brim

27 - Zipper

28 - First attachment means

29 - Labels

30 - Side panel closing means

31 - Closing means

32 - Zipper slider

33 - Second labelled attachment means 4 Webbing

A - Leg and thigh area

I - Horizontal line for marking the top of the infant carrier

II - The boundary between the upward section (2) and support section (3)

III - The boundary between the support section (3) and waist belt (19)