Baby Carrier

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for guards which attach to a baby carrier and protect a pelvic area of a caregiver wearing the baby carrier. The resulting improved baby carrier physically blocks and/or damps the force of kicks and other motions of an infant positioned in the baby carrier, particularly a front facing infant having a degree of leg movement freedom. The guard may be shaped with a substantially widened portion to provide increased coverage for the entire pelvic area of the caregiver. This comprehensive protection may be especially appreciated by male caregivers, whose pelvic regions would otherwise be unprotected. A variety of form factors are described, including a hanging guard, a pocketed guard, a wrap-around guard, and a through-buckle guard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guard for a baby carrier, the guard comprising:
 an elongated top portion including an opening near a top of the elongated top portion;   a widened bottom portion connected to a bottom of the elongated top portion;   wherein the guard substantially covers a pelvic region of a caregiver when the caregiver is wearing the baby carrier and the opening is used as a handle to hang onto a fastening element at a base of the baby carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The guard of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated top portion is 110 mm to 166 mm wide, the widened bottom portion is 160 mm to 240 mm wide, the opening is 80 mm to 120 mm wide and 32 to 48 mm long, and the guard is 240 mm to 362 mm long. 
     
     
         3 . The guard of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the guard comprises molded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with a thickness of 4-6 mm and a durometer of 65-100. 
     
     
         4 . A guard for a baby carrier, the guard comprising:
 an attachment means;   a main body portion substantially covering a pelvic region of a caregiver when the caregiver is wearing the baby carrier and the attachment means is attached to a base of the baby carrier.   
     
     
         5 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the main body portion comprises:
 an elongated top portion including the attachment means;   a widened bottom portion connected to a bottom of the elongated top portion.   
     
     
         6 . The guard of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated top portion is 110 mm to 166 mm wide, and wherein the widened bottom portion is 160 mm to 240 mm wide. 
     
     
         7 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means comprises an opening near a top of the main body portion, and wherein the attachment means is attached to the base of the baby carrier by using the opening as a handle to hang onto a fastening element of the baby carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The guard of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is 80 mm to 120 mm wide and 32 to 48 mm long. 
     
     
         9 . The guard of  claim 7 , wherein the fastening element comprises a buckle that is attachable to one or more clips of the baby carrier to secure the guard in place. 
     
     
         10 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the guard is 240 to 362 mm long. 
     
     
         11 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the main body portion comprises a pocket of stretchable material receiving a sheet or molded form of plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means extends from sides of the main body portion to wrap around the base of the baby carrier, the wrapping around above a fastening element of the baby carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment means comprises a clip that is inserted into a fastening element of the baby carrier, wherein the clip is attached to a back of the main body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The guard of  claim 14 , wherein the clip is attached to a top of the main body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The guard of  claim 14 , wherein the clip is attachable within a range of positions to the back of the main body portion, enabling a height adjustment of the guard. 
     
     
         17 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein a shape of the guard is substantially flat or convex. 
     
     
         18 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein a shape of the guard is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein a material of the guard comprises molded ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with a thickness of 4-6 mm and a durometer of 65-100. 
     
     
         20 . A baby carrier providing protection for a pelvic region of a caregiver, the baby carrier comprising:
 a carrier portion structured to receive and secure an infant facing away from the caregiver;   a guard portion integrated with the carrier portion and substantially covering the pelvic region of the caregiver when the caregiver is wearing the baby carrier.