Modular infant carrier apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular infant carrier apparatus and method. In one embodiment, a sling comprising a tail portion and two arm portions supports an infant when rings at the ends of the tail portion and arm portions are brought together at a single point above the infant. The rings are held together by a clamp, and the clamp allows the sling to be attached to space-saving receivers including a wall-mounted hook, a ceiling-mounted hook, a door-mounted hook, a hook attached to a heavy item of furniture, a stand-mounted hook, an over-door hook, or an item of clothing worn by an adult. In one embodiment, the sling can be moved from one receiver to another using a single hand, without removing the infant from the sling. Other embodiments are described and shown.

1 . An infant carrier comprising:
 a sling for carrying an infant, said sling comprising:
 a tail portion capable of being positioned between the legs of an infant; 
 two arm portions capable of being positioned above the shoulders of the infant; 
 rings attached to the end of the tail portion and each arm portion; and 
 said tail portion and said arm portions being of such relative size and position that the sling is capable of supporting an infant when said rings are held together at a single point above the infant; 
   a clamp for holding said rings together at a single point and for attaching the sling to a receiver; and   a plurality of receivers selected from the group consisting of:
 a wall-mounted hook; 
 a ceiling-mounted hook; 
 a door-mounted hook; 
 a furniture-mounted hook; 
 a stand-mounted hook; 
 an over-door hook; and 
 an item of clothing worn by an adult. 
   
   
   
       2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the sling is made of a single piece of fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric is woven cotton. 
   
   
       4 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the arm portions of the sling are of substantially the same length. 
   
   
       5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the sling height is equal to twice the arm length, plus or minus 25%. 
   
   
       6 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the sling height is equal to twice the arm length. 
   
   
       7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the sling further comprises a strap capable of securing the infant to the sling at the infant's waist. 
   
   
       8 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the sling further comprises a head cushion. 
   
   
       9 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is a carabiner. 
   
   
       10 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two receivers is an item of clothing worn by an adult. 
   
   
       11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein the item of clothing worn by an adult comprises:
 a front portion to which a ring is attached;   straps extending from the front portion in an X shape;   a back portion; and   said straps connecting to the back portion in an I shape.   
   
   
       12 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two receivers is a stand-mounted hook. 
   
   
       13 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the legs of the stand-mounted hook are collapsible. 
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two receivers are at least three receivers. 
   
   
       15 . A method for carrying and supporting an infant comprising the steps of:
 placing the infant in a sling comprising a tail portion and two arm portions such that the tail portion is positioned between the legs of the infant and the arm portions are positioned above the shoulders of the infant;   connecting the tail portion to the two arm portions at a single point above the infant, in a position such that the sling is capable of supporting the infant;   attaching the sling to a first receiver;   removing the sling from the first receiver; and   attaching the sling to a second receiver.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second receivers are selected from the group consisting of:
 a wall-mounted hook;   a ceiling-mounted hook;   a door-mounted hook;   a furniture-mounted hook;   a stand-mounted hook;   an over-door hook;   an item of clothing worn by an adult.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first receiver is an item of clothing worn by an adult. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the steps of attaching the sling to a first receiver, removing the sling from the first receiver, and attaching the sling to a second receiver are performed with a single hand. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps of attaching the sling to a first receiver, removing the sling from the first receiver, and attaching the sling to a second receiver are performed with a single hand. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the steps of attaching the sling to a first receiver, removing the sling from the first receiver, and attaching the sling to a second receiver are performed with a single hand.