Baby Carrier

Abstract

A garment is provided as a baby carrier where a front panel has a pair of upper slots to allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment to extend through the upper slots and a pair of lower slots so allow legs of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots. The front panel also has a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of the baby to extend through the opening. The lower slots are arranged relative to a bottom band wrapped around the wearer so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the wearer by the band.

1 . A baby carrier comprising:
 a garment to be worn by a caregiver including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the caregiver and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the caregiver can pass, arm openings through which the arms of the caregiver can pass, and a lower portion for surrounding the lower torso of the caregiver;   the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso;   the lower portion including a band for tightly surrounding the caregiver at a level between the waist and hips of the caregiver;   the front panel having a pair of upper slots though the front panel to allow arms of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the upper slots;   the front panel having a pair of lower slots though the front panel to allow legs of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the lower slots;   the front panel having a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel so allow the head of a baby carried inside the garment with the caregiver to extend through the opening;   the lower slots being arranged relative to the band so that the baby with its legs through the lower slots is supported by sitting on that portion of the front panel pulled against the lower torso of the caregiver by the band.   
     
     
         2 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein each of the slots has at least one closure member for closing the slot located at a position spaced from an end of the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein each of the slots has a pair of closure members for closing the slot located at a position spaced from respective ends of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The baby carrier according to  claim 2  wherein the closure members are snap fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the slots are generally upstanding. 
     
     
         6 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein at least some of the slots are covered by a flap which can be closed over the slot to hide the slot against being directly visible from the front of the front panel. 
     
     
         7 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the lower slots are each covered by a fabric cover panel partly covering the front panel and having a side edge of the cover panel spaced outwardly to a respective side from the respective slot. 
     
     
         8 . The baby carrier according to  claim 7  wherein the side edge of the cover panel is inclined upwardly and inwardly toward a center line of the front panel. 
     
     
         9 . The baby carrier according to  claim 7  wherein the side edge of the cover panel is inclined downwardly and outwardly to intersect with the band. 
     
     
         10 . The baby carrier according to  claim 7  wherein the cover panel covers the lower slots and each of the lower slots includes fasteners within the cover panel for closing the lower slot. 
     
     
         11 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the band includes a strap which is contained at least partly within a sleeve attached to the garment around the lower torso. 
     
     
         12 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is at the bottom edge of the garment. 
     
     
         13 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the strap is adjustable and includes a clip. 
     
     
         14 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the front opening extends from the neck opening to the bottom edge and includes a fastener system extending along the full length thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the garment includes sleeves. 
     
     
         16 . The baby carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the garment include a hood at the neck opening. 
     
     
         17 . A method for carrying a baby comprising:
 wearing a garment including front and rear fabric panels shaped for covering the chest and back of the wearer and connected to define a neck opening through which the neck of the wearer pass, with arms of the wearer passing through arm openings, and a lower portion surrounding the lower torso of the wearer;   the panels being shaped to cover substantially the whole of the torso of the caregiver between the neck and the lower torso;   applying a band at the lower portion surrounding the wearer at a level between the waist and hips of the wearer;   carrying a baby inside the garment;   locating the baby with the arms of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced upper slots the front panel;   locating the baby with the legs of the baby extending through a pair of transversely spaced lower slots the front panel;   locating the baby with the head of the baby extending through a front opening extending upwardly along the front panel;