Amphibious carrier and method of manufacturing

Abstract

An all weather amphibious carrier and method for manufacturing thereof, for use on land and in water, which includes an adjustable strap system for wearing by a person; a foldable body or member adjustably attachable to the strap system and capable of supporting an infant or child upon folding the member and attaching the member to the strap system; the strap system being made of weather-resistant, synthetic, polymerized rubber, a high-strength, resilient synthetic polymer, and a polymer containing polyurethane; and the foldable body member being made of a weather-resistant, synthetic, polymerized rubber, a synthetic fabric made from a polymer containing polyurethane; and a flexible polyurethane open-cell antimicrobial-coated foam. The unique combination of materials keeps the baby/toddler from becoming sweaty when used for land activities, because the materials breathe. When used in water, rain, and snow, it dries quickly, because the water can pass through the through the body if conventional stitching is used or the body can be completely water-tight by using flatlock, breathable seams. The special quilted design also adds extra support, comfort and security for both care-giver/parent and baby, making this carrier ergonomically sound, both on land and in water.

1 . An amphibious carrier comprising:
 an adjustable strap system for wearing by a person;   a member adjustably attachable to said strap system and capable of supporting a load upon attaching said member to said strap system; wherein said strap system is made of weather-resistant, synthetic, polymerized rubber, a high-strength, resilient synthetic polymer, and polymer containing polyurethane; and   said member is made of a weather-resistant, synthetic, polymerized rubber, a synthetic fabric made from a polymer containing polyurethane, and an antimicrobial-coated foam.   
     
     
         2 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said member has a stitched pattern therethrough forming quilted sections. 
 
     
     
         3 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 2  wherein:
 said strap system is made of a layer of neoprene secured to a layer being one of nylon webbing and polypropylene webbing. 
 
     
     
         4 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 3  wherein:
 said member is made of two layers of neoprene with a layer of open cell antimicrobial-coated foam sandwiched between said neoprene layers. 
 
     
     
         5 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 said strap system and said member allow water to pass there-through for quick drying and preventing mildewing and mold. 
 
     
     
         6 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 said carrier is intended for carrying one of an infant and toddler that can be seated facing inward toward the person or outward facing away from the person when wearing said carrier. 
 
     
     
         7 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 6  wherein:
 said strap system and said member are adjustable so as to accommodate a baby weighing between less than 10 and 35 pounds. 
 
     
     
         8 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 7  wherein:
 said strap system includes strap members that when said carrier is worn ride on the shoulders and cross on the back of the person and said member is supported when worn by the person on the upper chest of the person wearing the carrier; and 
 a stabilizer member is provided through which said strap members cross on the person's back when the carrier is worn by the person. 
 
     
     
         9 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 8  wherein:
 said strap members cross on the person's back at about the bottom third of the person's shoulder blades. 
 
     
     
         10 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 9  wherein:
 said member includes a head support, upper tabs on either side and lower tabs below said upper tabs so as to form arm openings for the baby when seated in said carrier; and said upper tabs can be adjustably attached to said strap members near the person's shoulders and said lower tabs can be adjustably attached at a lower position than said upper tabs along said strap members. 
 
     
     
         11 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 said member forms a lower portion in which the baby can be seated and from which the baby's legs can extend and are freely movable; and said lower portion having a waist strap attached thereto, said waist strap being adjustably attachable to the ends of said strap members opposite the shoulder portions of said strap members. 
 
     
     
         12 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 11  wherein:
 said upper tabs are attachable to said strap members by hooks secured to said upper tabs and attachable to a selected one of a plurality of rings secured at different positions on said strap members, allowing adjustment of said carrier; 
 said lower tabs are attachable to said strap members by releasable buckles secured to said lower tabs and to said strap members; and 
 said waist strap is attachable to said strap members by releasable buckles secured to said waist strap and the ends of said strap members opposite said shoulder portions of said strap members; 
 wherein said hooks and buckles are adjustable for securely and snugly positioning the baby in said carrier. 
 
     
     
         13 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 13  wherein:
 said hooks have a protective loop around them to increase the comfort of a baby when placed in the carrier; and 
 said hooks, buckles and rings are all made of non-corrosive materials. 
 
     
     
         14 . An amphibious carrier as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 said head support and upper tabs can be folded over so that a larger baby when placed in the carrier can hang its arms freely over the sides of said member. 
 
     
     
         15 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein, said member further comprises a high performance material comprising:
 a top layer formed from a synthetic polymerized rubber;   a bottom layer formed from a synthetic polymerized rubber; and   an intermediate layer formed from an antimicrobial-coated foam.   
     
     
         16 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the synthetic polymerized rubber is neoprene. 
     
     
         17 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the top layer has a thickness of about 1.0 mm-3.0 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom layer has a thickness of about 1.0 mm-3.0 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the antimicrobial foam has an open cell structure. 
     
     
         21 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the top layer and the intermediate layer are stitched together and the intermediate layer and the bottom layer are stitched together to form a water-tight body. 
     
     
         22 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein a stitching pattern is formed through the top, intermediate and bottom layers forming quilted sections. 
     
     
         23 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer is secured between the top and bottom layers by an edging stitched along an edge and through each of the top layer, the bottom layer and the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         24 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 23 , wherein the edging is formed from a polymer containing polyurethane. 
     
     
         25 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 24 , wherein the polymer containing polyurethane is one of spandex or Lycra. 
     
     
         26 . The amphibious carrier according to  claim 23 , wherein the edge stitching includes flatlock stitching to create breathable seams.