Infant Carrier

Abstract

An apparatus to carry an infant against a chest of a person that includes a central panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first infant seat and a fastening mechanism. The first side panel is attached to the central panel and has a first aperture formed therein. The second side panel is attached to the central panel and has a second aperture formed therein. The first infant seat is attached to the central panel. The first infant seat is adapted to receive a portion of the infant. The fastening mechanism is operably attached to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel for securing the first side panel and the second side panel around a torso of the person.

1 . An apparatus to carry an infant against a chest of a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a central panel;   a first side panel attached to the central panel, wherein the first side panel has a first aperture formed therein;   a second side panel attached to the central panel, wherein the second side panel has a second aperture formed therein;   a first infant seat attached to the central panel, wherein the first infant seat is adapted to receive a portion of the infant; and   a fastening mechanism operably attached to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel for securing the first side panel and the second side panel around a torso of the person.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are attached to opposite edges of the central panel. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is formed in the first side panel proximate an upper edge thereof and wherein the second aperture is formed in the second side panel proximate an upper edge thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising an infant leg receptacle attached to the central panel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a second infant seat attached to the central panel, wherein the second infant seat is adapted to receive a portion of the infant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the central panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprise an inner layer, an outer layer and an insulating layer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a phase change material mounted with respect to the central panel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the infant seat comprises a bottom portion and two side portions, wherein a leg aperture extends through the infant seat intermediate the bottom portion and each of the side portions. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus to carry an infant against a chest of a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a flexible wrapping member comprising a free side edge and a plurality of sections that extend from the free side edge, wherein the plurality of sections adapted for wrapping around a torso of the person, wherein the plurality of sections comprise a front panel and a back section that extends from the front panel, wherein the front panel comprises a top terminal edge, a bottom terminal edge and an interior surface and wherein the front panel has a width from the top terminal edge to the bottom terminal edge;   a reversible attachment element comprising first and second mating parts to hold, when mated, the wrapping member around the torso when the member is wrapped around the torso, such that the bottom terminal edge of the front panel is held snugly against the torso, wherein the first part of the attachment element is located along the width of the front panel, and wherein the second part of the attachment element is located along the back section of the wrapping member; and   an inner seat attached to the interior surface of the front panel, wherein the inner seat is located to hold the infant against the chest of the person, when the member is wrapped around the torso and the first and second parts of the attachment element are mated together.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the front panel comprises an inner layer, an outer layer and an insulating layer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , and further comprising a phase change material mounted with respect to the front panel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the front panel is formed by an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein a pocket is defined between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the pocket forms a container for another member and wherein the front panel further comprises an opening into the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the front panel is separable from the wrapping member; and the inner seat is attached to the interior surface of the front panel at a location coinciding with the separable portion thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional inner seat attached to the interior surface of the front panel. 
     
     
         15 . A method to simultaneously carry and incubate a prematurely born infant, the method comprising:
 placing the infant in a first infant seat that is attached to a central panel of an infant carrier, wherein the infant carrier further comprises a first side panel and a second side panel that are both attached to the central panel, wherein the first side panel and the second side panel each have an aperture formed therein;   positioning the infant carrier so that the first infant seat is adjacent to a chest of the person;   extending one of the person's arms through each of the apertures;   securing the first side panel to the second side panel with a fastening mechanism attached to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel to hold the infant against the chest of the person so that the person may carry and incubate the infant.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 wrapping a sash across the central panel from beneath a first shoulder of the person to over a second shoulder of the person; and   securing the sash so that a head and neck of the infant, held in the inner seat, are supported by the sash.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are attached to opposite edges of the central panel, wherein the first aperture is formed in the first side panel proximate an upper edge thereof and wherein the second aperture is formed in the second side panel proximate an upper edge thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 forming the infant seat with a bottom portion and two side portions, wherein a leg aperture extends through the infant seat intermediate the bottom portion and each of the side portions; and   supporting at least a portion of the infant's legs by placing at least a portion of the infant's legs in an infant leg receptacle attached to the central panel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising attaching a second infant seat to the central panel, wherein the second infant seat is adapted to receive a portion of the infant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 forming at least one of the central panel, the first side panel and the second side panel with an inner layer, an outer layer and an insulating layer positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer; and   mounting a phase change material with respect to the central panel.