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[0001] The present invention is generally directed to an item of apparel which include structure to facilitate carrying an infant; and more particularly, to a combination of a garment in the form of a jacket or shirt and an infant carrier that can be removably secured to the garment.
[0002] Carrying an infant in one's arms for a great length of time can become extremely tiring and uncomfortable. Additionally, it prevents or limits the one carrying the infant from effectively using their arms for any other activities.
[0003] Many carriers exist for holding an infant or small child. For example, many infant or baby carseats include a carrier that snaps into a base unit secured in the car. Such carriers also can be snapped into strollers. Additionally, such carriers include handles for otherwise carrying the infant when not placed in the car or stroller. Unfortunately, these carriers do not allow the infant to be in close contact with another human being. Moreover, the additional weight of the carrier can become even more tiring when carrying the infant from place to place utilizing only the carrier (i.e., not in a stroller or car).
[0004] Backpack or frontpack type carriers overcome some of the problems associated with carrying infants or babies. However, such carriers are not configured to maintain the infant in a prone position, and in some cases cannot be utilized for very small infants. Additionally, such carriers are not particularly stylish or fashionable.
[0005] The present invention is provided to overcome these problems.
[0006] The present invention provides an item of apparel that fashionably combines a garment with an infant carrier that can be removably attached to the garment. The infant carrier is designed to connect to the garment, and in effect, become a single item of apparel. Both the garment and the infant carrier are provided with connecting components that allow the carrier to be secured to the garment and subsequently removed as desired.
[0007] The garment is designed to be worn on the upper body, such as a coat, shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, vest, robe etc. In this manner, the garment can be made from a wide variety of materials and designs, as dictated by the popular styles at the time. The infant carrier can also be made from the same materials (i.e., at least the outer layers) in order to match (e.g., the exact same design as the garment) or compliment (e.g., a solid color from a pattern in the garment) the garment.
[0008] Preferably, the infant carrier attaches to the garment in the front and maintains the infant in the carrier in a prone position close to the user's chest. This design allows the user to easily carry an infant, while freeing the user's hands.
[0009] The garment and infant carrier each include a number of cooperating connector components, such as snap-fit connectors, buttons/button holes etc., to attach the infant carrier to the garment. In this regard, the garment may optionally be provided with a number of connector components to allow for different positioning of the infant carrier with respect to the garment (e.g., reversing the side of the infant carrier proximate the user so that the infant is facing the other way—this may facilitate nursing).
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, an item of apparel for carrying an infant comprises a garment configured for wear on an upper portion of a person and, an infant carrier detachably connected to the garment. The infant carrier is connected in a manner to preferably maintain the infant in a prone position. The garment and infant carrier include a plurality of connectors for detachably connecting the infant carrier to the garment. The connectors can be positioned proximate the shoulder portions of the garment and the waist portions of the garment. However, other locations are possible.
[0011] The connectors can be in the form of a first snap-fit element on the garment, and a second snap-fit element on the infant carrier wherein the first snap-fit element interacts with the second snap-fit element to secure the infant carrier to the garment. The snap-fit elements can be, for example, plastic clasps (such as the clasps found on many forms of luggage etc.) or metal snaps. Alternatively, the connectors may comprises a button on one of the garment and infant carrier and a corresponding button hole the other one of the garment and the infant carrier. Other conventional connecting elements may also be used.
[0012] The garment can be in the form of a jacket, shirt, sweatshirt, or other item of clothing worn on the upper portion of a person. The garment can have short sleeves or long sleeves, and can be fashioned from a variety of materials in a variety of styles. Additionally, the garment may be provided with a flap in a front portion of the garment to allow for nursing of an infant in the infant carrier.
[0013] The infant carrier is preferably designed to maintain an infant in a prone position close to the chest of the person wearing the garment. The carrier includes a substantially flat bottom portion and side portions extending upward from the bottom portion. A top portion can be provided to cover the infant in the carrier. However, at least a portion of the top should remain open. Additionally, the infant carrier may include one or more pockets for carrying items associated with the care of a child (e.g., diapers, bottle, etc.).
[0014] The garment and infant carrier can be provided with hook and loop fastener material to prevent the infant carrier from swinging freely from the connectors when attached to the garment. Additional snaps, buttons or other materials may also be used.
[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, an item of apparel for fashionably holding and carrying an infant comprises a garment configured as a shirt or a jacket to be worn on the upper portion of a person. The garment includes a right side and a left side and including a first connector component secured to the right side of the garment, and a second connector component secured to the left side of the garment. The item of apparel further comprises an infant carrier having a first end and a second end disposed from the first end and configured to hold an infant in a substantially prone position. The infant carrier includes a third connector component secured to the first end of the infant carrier and adapted to be releasably connected to the first connector component secured to the garment, and a fourth connector component secured to the second end of the infant carrier and adapted to be releasably connected to the second connector component secured to the garment. The item of apparel may further comprise a fifth connector component secured to the garment, and a sixth connector component secured to the infant carrier and adapted to be releasably connected to the fifth connector component secured to the garment.
[0016] The first connector component secured to the garment may comprises a first snap-fit element, and the third connector component secured to the infant carrier may comprise a second snap-fit element adapted to cooperate with the first snap-fit element of the first connector component. Other types of connector components or elements may also be used. For example, snaps, buttons, zippers etc.
[0017] The item of apparel may also include a first element of a hook and loop material fastener secured to the garment, and a corresponding second element of the hook and loop material fastener secured to the infant carrier to maintain the infant carrier in place when connected to the garment. Additional hook and loop material may be added.
[0018] The first connector component may be secured proximate a right shoulder portion of the garment, and the second connector component secured proximate a mid or waist portion of the garment. The connectors may also be configured in reverse (e.g., from the left shoulder portion).
[0019] The item of apparel may include certain functional features. For example, the garment may include a flap in a front portion of the garment configured to allow nursing of an infant positioned in the infant carrier. Additionally, the infant carrier may include storage pockets for holding items such as bottles or diapers.
[0020] The garment and infant carrier may include an outer fabric layer with matching or otherwise complimentary patterns. The garment and infant carrier can collectively form a fashionable item of apparel.
[0021] The garment may further include a first strap secured to an upper portion of an interior of the garment, and a second strap secured to the upper portion of the interior of the garment. The first and second straps can be adapted to cooperatively be secured to a person wearing the item of apparel to counterbalance the weight of the infant carrier.
[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, a garment for use with a detachable infant carrier comprises a piece of material configured to be worn on an upper portion of a person, the piece of material including a right arm sleeve, a left arm sleeve and a main body portion. The garment further comprises a first connector component secured to the main body portion, the first connector component adapted to engage a corresponding connector component on an infant carrier and, a second connector component secured to the main body portion, the second connector component adapted to engage a corresponding connector component on an infant carrier. The garment may further comprise a third connector component secured to the main body portion, the third connector component adapted to engage a corresponding connector component on an infant carrier. The piece of material can be configured as a jacket, shirt, or other similar item.
[0023] The garment may further comprise a first flap on a front portion of the main body portion of the piece of material to allow for nursing of an infant in an infant carrier. A second flap may also be included.
[0024] Additionally, the garment may further comprise a first strap secured to an upper interior portion of the piece of material, and a second strap secured to the upper interior portion of the piece of material. The first and second straps can be configured to attach to a user of the garment to counterbalance an attached infant carrier.
[0025] In yet another embodiment of the invention, an infant carrier configured to be detachably connected to a garment to form an item of apparel comprises a main body having a first end and a second end, a first connector component secured proximate the first end of the main body, the first connector component adapted engage a corresponding connector component on a garment and, a second connector component secured proximate the second end of the main body, the second connector component adapted to engage a corresponding connector component on a garment. Additionally, the infant carrier may comprise a third connector component secured to the main body, the third connector component adapted to engage a corresponding connector component on a garment.
[0026] The main body of the infant carrier may include a bottom generally flat panel portion, a first side panel portion and a second side panel portion. The bottom panel portion, first side panel portion and second side panel portion may be configured to hold an infant in a generally prone position.
[0027] Additionally, at least one of the first connector component and the second connector component may be attached to a strap extending from the main body of the infant carrier. In this instance, the connector component attached to the strap can connect proximate to an opposing side of the main body to provide a handle for carrying the infant carrier. Alternatively, a separate strap may be provided to connect to the infant carrier.
[0028] The infant carrier may further comprise a generally c-shaped rigid member disposed proximate one end of the main body to maintain a generally open structure in the main body.
[0029] In yet another alternative embodiment, the infant carrier may be configured to carry two infants. In this case, the infant carrier may be provided with a divider in the main body of the infant carrier.
[0030] The present invention can also be utilized to enhance care of preterm babies. Two neonatologists working in Bogota Columbia in 1983 discovered that mothers who held their babies twenty four hours a day increased the survival rate of the preterm babies. The neonatologists did not have access to sophisticated medical equipment, such as incubators and ventilators, and instead, instructed the mothers of the preterm babies to continuously hold the babies under their blouses or in a shawl that formed a “pouch.” The present invention provides an item of apparel that takes this practice to another level. Continuously holding a preterm baby in the item of apparel may bring about a more stable body temperature, a more regular heartbeat, improved breathing patterns, increased weight gain and growth, improved sleep patterns and increased levels of alertness. The close continuous contact may also improve the mother's lactation.
[0031] Further aspects of the invention are described below and are shown in the accompanying Figures.
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[0048] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
[0049] An item of apparel
[0050] The garment
[0051] The infant carrier
[0052] The infant carrier
[0053] A third connector element
[0054] The connectors
[0055] As illustrated in
[0056] The item of apparel
[0057] The garment may also include an internal support system. One embodiment of the support system is shown in phantom in
[0058] The garment
[0059] The infant carrier
[0060] The infant carrier
[0061] The infant carrier
[0062] When not connected to a garment, a handle or strap may be connected to the second and fourth connector elements
[0063] In an alternative embodiment shown in
[0064] In another alternative embodiment shown in
[0065] Additional alternative embodiments are shown in
[0066] In yet a further embodiment, an infant carrier
[0067] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.