US2973889A - Baby holder - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1961 R. s. PHlLLlPS BABY HOLDER Filed Jan. 25, 1960 FIG. I

FIG. 3

INVENTOR ROY S. PHILLIPS ATTORNEY United States Patent C This invention relates to a holder for a baby. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a unitary device which is adapted to hold or carry an infant with considerable ease, safety and comfort for both the infant and the person doing the holding or carrying.

A further object is to provide such a holder which is simple, has pleasing features of construction, is light in weight, and is easy to mold from plastic or other material.

A further object is to provide a holder of contoured shape which fits the infant snugly and which gives rigid support for the infants back and neck, whereby the holder is adapted to provide posture control for the infant.

A further object is to provide such a device that permits holding the infant with one hand with complete control and comfort, thus freeing the other hand and relieving fatigue on the person doing the carrying.

A further object is to provide such a device which is so simple, compact and easily handled that burping of the infant on the shoulder may be accomplished without removal from the device, as well as bottle or breast feeding accomplished also without removal of the infant from the device.

A further object is to provide a device which facilitates holding or carrying an infant safely without danger of the infant falling out of the device.

A further object is to provide such a holder which is rounded on the under side thereof whereby it can be used as a rocker and rocked gently when placed on the lap or other supporting surface.

A further object is to provide a device which can be used to prop an infant up in an inclined position against a supporting object for the comfort and benefit of the infant.

A further object is to provide such a .device which is useful in laying a sleeping infant down without disturbing the infant or awakening him, and letting him continue to sleep in the device.

A further object is to provide such a device which because of its compactness makes its use desirable in public places such as theaters, grocery stores, etc.

A further object is, generally, to improve the design and construction of baby holders.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the holder of the present invention with the straps removed therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken as on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the holder of the present invention showing an infant in dotted lines held therein and also showing, in dotted lines, a persons arm I in position to hold the device.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view viewed from the left end of the device shown in Fig. 1.

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Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken as on the -lin V-V of Fig. 1. j

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, the holder 11 of the present invention comprises, in general, an elongated irregular-shaped carrier body 13 which is formed of a rigid material, as plastic or the like. In general, carrier body 13 is basin-like in shape and is contoured to fit the back side of an infants body when he is lying on his back. Thus, the foot end 15 of carrier body 13, i.e., the end to the left as viewed in Figs. 1-3, is contoured to establish a cupped area 17 in the upper surface 19 of carrier body 13, which cupped area is adapted to receive the heels A of the infant B. Intermediate the ends of carrier body 13 another cupped area 23, deeper and larger than cupped area 17, is established in the upper surface 19 and adapted to receive the babys hips C. Upper surface 19 is bulged upwardly at 25 to provide a place to hold the infants legs behind the knees D thereof. There is a smooth transition between the cupped area 23 and the bulged area 25 andthence the upper surface 19 slopes downwardly as at 27 to cupped area 17, whereby providing a surface upon which the legs E of the infant rest. An elongated cupped area 29 is established in upper surface 19 and slopes slightly upwardly from cupped area 23 towards the head end 31 of carrier body 13, i.e., the end to the right as viewed in Figs. l-3. Thus, cupped area 29 is adapted to support the back E and head F of the infant as best shown in Fig. 3. From the foregoing, it'will be understood that the cupped area 29 is greater in depth adjacent cupped area 23 and gradually becomes shallower in depth towards the head end 31. I

The wall 33, of which surface 19.is the upper surface'thereof, is preferably substantially'the same thickness throughout whereby the lower surface 35 thereof substantially follows the contour of the upper surface 19 so that the under side of the carrier is substantially the complement of the upper surface 19. Thus, the lower surface '35 is elongated and rounded as at 37 below cupped area 29 whereby the holder 11 is adapted to be rocked when placed on a supporting surface. -Also, it

will be understood, the lower surface 35 is rounded as at 39 adjacent and below cupped area 23 so that the rounded portion 39 is adapted to be received in the palm of a persons hand G, as shown in Fig. 3.

A vertical rib 41 is preferably integrally attached to carrier body 13 on the under side thereof and extends from adjacent rounded portion 39 to a place adjacent the foot end 15 thereof. Rib 41 preferably extends substantially along the longitudinal center line of carrier body 13 and is preferably integrally formed with wall 33 as best seen in Fig. 2. The lower edge 43 of rib 41- is preferably arcuate and forms an extension of the rounded portion 37, as viewed from the side, and thence angles upwardly along a substantially straight edge 45 and terminates adjacent the extreme foot end of carrier body 13. Straight edge 45 preferably makes an angle of substantially degrees. relative to an imaginary line extending along the bottom of portion 37, as viewed from the side. A lip 47 is integrally formed with carrier body 13 adjacent the upper edge thereof and projects substantially horizontally outwardly therefrom around substan tially the entire edge thereof. Lip 47 preferably extends only a minimum amount outwardly from carrier body 13 to provide suflicient rigidity of the device, yet is narrow so that the device as a whole is as compact as possible.

A pair of finger holes 49, 51 are provided through wall 33 adjacent cupped area 23 so that with the hand G gripping carrier body 13, as above-described, the fingers H are adapted to be placed in the holes 49, 5-1 to the babys body,

zontal slots 57 are provided in wall 33 adjacent the raid-portion of carrier body 13 through which is received a strap 59 that is adapted to be looped over outwardly through the slots and beneath the carrier body 13 as shown in Fig. 3. Suitable connecting means, not shown, as for example, a conventional buckle, is provided for joining the ends of strap .59 so that the infant may be removed and secured in the device. Another pair of transversely aligned slots 61 are provided in wall 33 between slots 57 and the head end 31 of carrier body 13 through which is received a strap 63 placed in the same manner as above-described for strap 59. Strap 63 is also provided with suitable connecting means so that the infant may be removed from and secured in the device. Strap 63 is preferably positioned so that the strap passes under the arms H of the infant, as best seen in Fig. 3 and strap 59 is preferably positioned across the infants lap as best seen in this figure. It will be understood from the foregoing that the infant will be securely held in the carrier body 13 by means of straps 59 and 63 so that he cannot climb or fall out yet the legs E and arms H of the infant are free to move about.

It will be understood that after the infant B has been secured in holder 11 of the present invention, a variety of uses of the device may be accomplished, for ex ample, the mother, or other person desiring to carry the infant, grips cupped area 23 with her hand G, as heretofore described, and with the under side of the carrier body 13 supported along her arm I as best shown in Fig. 3, the device with the infant therein may be easily carried with complete safety and comfort for both the mother and the baby. It will be understood that the use of holder 11 provides many advantages over simply carrying the baby without the use of such a holder. This is because without the device the babys body is relatively flexible which makes carrying difficult, especially with one arm so that there is danger of the baby moving about and kicking to dislodge himself from his mothers arm. In contrast to this, it will be understood that in using the present invention, the infant secured in holder 11 provides a rigid and easily carried compact bundle, which has a total weight only slightly greater than the weight of the infant alone; and which, because of its close fit to the infant and its narrow lip 47, occupies very little space over that occupied by the infant alone. Another example of the use of the present invention is that the device with the infant therein may be propped up against a supporting surface as a chair or the like with the straight edge 45 resting on the floor and the rounded portion 39 leaning against the chair at substantially a 45 degree angle. Still another example of the use of holder 11 is to use the holder for rocking the infant, in which case the carrier body 13 is placed on the floor or other supporting surface with rounded portion 37 and lower edge 43 in contact therewith. Then the device is given a side wise rocking motion in contact therewith as by pushing downwardly on lip 47. It will be understood that the lower edge 43 of rib 41 prevents a tilting downwardly of the foot end 15 of the carrier body when the infant kicks his legs.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that a very convenient, useful and handy device is provided which adds greatly to the convenience of the person doing the carrying and also to the infant.

Although the invention has been described and i1- lustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A holder for a baby comprising an elongated rigid carrier body having an upper surface and a lower surface; said carrier body being contoured to fit the babys body to establish an elongated first cupped area extending longitudinally of said carrier body adapted to con form to and receive the babys back on the upper surface thereof, a second cupped area adapted to receive the babys hips on the upper surface thereof, and a third cupped area adapted to receive the babys heels on the upper surface thereof; strap means attached to said carrier body for holding a baby therein, said carrier body being rounded transversely on the under side thereof adjacent said first cupped area, a vertical rib attached to said carrier body on the under side thereof extending from adjacent said second cupped area longitudinally of said carrier body to a place adjacent said third cupped area, said rib adjacent its lower edge forming an extension of said rounded under side of said carrier body, said carrier body adjacent said second cupped area being provided with at least one finger hole therethrough and being rounded on the under side of said second cupped area to fit the palm of a persons hand, whereby said carrier is adapted to be carried in one .arm only in such a position that the persons hand grips the under side of said carrier body adjacent said second cupped area with at least one finger extending into said finger hole and with said ri'o extending between an adjacent pair of fingers.

2. The holder in accordance with claim 1, including a straight lower edge provided on said rib at an angle relative to said under side of said carrier body, whereby said holder is adapted to be propped at an angle against an object with said straight lower edge resting on a supporting surface.

3. The holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein said carrier body on the underside of said second cupped area is provided with indentations adapted to aid in gripping the carrier body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,377 Creelman Oct. 15, 1957 576,292 Vanderburg Feb. 2, 1897 995,114 Clark et al. June 13, 1911 FOREIGN PATENTS 462,472 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1937 268 Great Britain AD. 1892

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