Carrying bag

Abstract

A carrying bag ( 1 ) comprises: an enclosure having an opening and an interior volume for containing items to be carried; a shoulder strap ( 5 ) connected at both ends to the enclosure; and a harness ( 7 ) for receiving and supporting an infant in a substantially upright posture, wherein a base portion of the harness is attached to the enclosure and an upper portion of the harness is detachably attachable to the shoulder strap ( 5 ), such that the harness ( 7 ) can be selectively deployed. The harness ( 7 ) comprises first ( 27 ) and second ( 29 ) webs which, when attached to the shoulder strap ( 5 ), define an opening for receiving the infant. When the webs ( 27,29 ) are not attached to the shoulder strap ( 5 ), they may be stowed in a web stowage compartment ( 11 ) or may alternatively constitute a flap cover for the enclosure.

1 . A carrying bag comprising:
 an enclosure having an opening and an interior volume for containing items to be carried;   a shoulder strap connected at both ends to the enclosure; and   a harness for receiving and supporting an infant in a substantially upright posture,   wherein an upper portion of the harness is detachably attachable to the shoulder strap, such that the harness can be selectively deployed.   
   
   
       2 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein a base portion of the harness is attached to the enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . A carrying bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the harness comprises a first web for supporting the infant, wherein a first edge of the first web constitutes the base portion of the harness attached to the enclosure, and wherein a second edge of the first web, which second edge opposes the first edge and constitutes the upper portion of the harness, is detachably attachable at both ends to the shoulder strap. 
   
   
       4 . A carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein, when the first web is attached to the shoulder strap, the enclosure, the shoulder strap and the first web together define a pair of openings for receiving the legs of the infant. 
   
   
       5 . A carrying bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the first web has a substantially triangular shape. 
   
   
       6 . A carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the harness further comprises a second web, wherein a first edge of the second web further constitutes the base portion of the harness attached to the enclosure, and wherein a second edge of the second web, which second edge opposes the first edge and further constitutes the upper portion of the harness, is detachably attachable at both ends to the shoulder strap. 
   
   
       7 . A carrying bag according to  claim 6 , wherein, when the first and second webs are attached to the shoulder strap, the second edges of the webs together define an opening for receiving the infant. 
   
   
       8 . A carrying bag according to  claim 6 , wherein, when the first and second webs are attached to the shoulder strap, the webs define surfaces for supporting the front and rear of the infant. 
   
   
       9 . A carrying bag according to  claim 6 , wherein the second web has a substantially rectangular shape. 
   
   
       10 . A carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second webs are detachably attachable to the shoulder strap by mechanical connectors. 
   
   
       11 . A carrying bag according to  claim 10 , wherein the mechanical connectors comprise a ring attached to each of the shoulder strap and the first and second webs, and another ring having a spring clip for engagement with each of the other rings. 
   
   
       12 . A carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein, when detached from the shoulder strap, one or both of the first and second webs constitutes a flap cover for the enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . A carrying bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the enclosure comprises at least one web stowage compartment, wherein, when detached from the shoulder strap, one or both of the first and second webs are stowable in the at least one web stowage compartment. 
   
   
       14 . A carrying bag according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one web stowage compartment is separate from a main stowage compartment. 
   
   
       15 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the shoulder strap is adjustable. 
   
   
       16 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap comprises a pair of straps, each strap being connected at both ends to the enclosure, and wherein the pair of straps are coupled together at an intermediate portion of the shoulder strap, such that the straps define a pair of openings for receiving the arms of a user, for balancing the carried weight across both shoulders and the back of the user. 
   
   
       17 . A carrying bag according to  claim 16 , wherein the pair of straps are provided as a single looped strap. 
   
   
       18 . A carrying bag as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the pair of straps are coupled at the intermediate portion by a padded sleeve for contacting the shoulder of the user when the carried weight is carried on one shoulder. 
   
   
       19 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap is, at least in part, extended from the enclosure. 
   
   
       20 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising a selectively deployable harness extension for supporting the head of an infant. 
   
   
       21 . A carrying bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the size of openings for receiving the legs of the infant.