Harnessed frameless cradles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to frameless cradles that provide cradle platforms free of framing walls and securely harnessed to the user through an innovative cross-over harness and support belt system, offering mobility for the user and freedom for the infant. By elimination of the cradle frame barrier between user and infant (e.g., mother and infant), the harnessed frameless cradles of the present invention allow for intimate contact between the user and the infant positioned on the cradle platform. Moreover, the infant freedom is particularly useful for nursing, including, in certain embodiments, multi-axially positioning of the cradle platform afforded by the cross-over harness.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A harnessed frameless cradle comprising:
 a cradle platform free of framing walls and shaped to partially surround the middle section of a harnessed user when the cradle platform is positioned in a tray orientation;   a cross-over shoulder harness fastened to the receiving side of the cradle platform wherein said fastened cross-over shoulder harness comprises two straps linked in crossed over orientation such that the point of cross-over of the straps would be positioned behind the neck of the harnessed user and the unfastened end of each strap is suitable to wrap around the back and under an arm of said harnessed user and reversibly affix to the cradle platform creating a completed support harness loop; and   a middle section support belt comprising at least one middle section strap affixed to the side of the cradle platform of sufficient length suitable to wrap around the middle section of the harnessed user and reversibly affix to the other side of the cradle platform.   
     
     
         2 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-over shoulder harness is fastened to the receiving side of the cradle at the distal side of the cradle platform positioned in the tray orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-over shoulder harness comprises a reversible fastener positioned on one or two of said straps between the point of cross-over and the receiving side of the cradle platform. 
     
     
         4 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-over shoulder reversible fastener utilizes a magnetic component for reversible fastening. 
     
     
         5 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1  further comprising a security mesh positioned to provide an external safety barrier on the distal side of the receiving side of the cradle platform positioned in the tray orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 6 , wherein the security mesh integrates with the cross-over shoulder harness. 
     
     
         7 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 3 , wherein the security mesh integrates with the cross-over shoulder harness that comprises a reversible fastener positioned on one or two of said straps between the point of cross-over and the receiving side of the cradle platform, and wherein the security mesh is positioned to provide an external safety barrier on the distal side of the receiving side of the cradle platform positioned in the tray orientation between the reversible fastener and the cradle platform. 
     
     
         8 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 5 , wherein the security mesh comprises a stretchy or elastic border material. 
     
     
         9 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 5 , wherein the security mesh comprises an adjustable closure. 
     
     
         10 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 5 , wherein the security mesh comprises flexible tubing positioned from the distal side of the cradle platform to the upper periphery of the security mesh to create a curved tented shape for better visibility and accessibility to the cradle platform. 
     
     
         11 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the straps of the cross-over shoulder harness are interlaced at the point of cross-over of the straps. 
     
     
         12 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section support belt comprises one middle section strap permanently affixed to the side of the cradle platform of sufficient length suitable to wrap around the middle section of the harnessed user and reversibly affixed to the other side of the cradle platform through a reversible fastener attached to the middle section strap and a matching fastener on the cradle platform. 
     
     
         13 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 12 , wherein the middle section strap comprises fabric webbing laced into a reversible buckle, with suitable length to provide variable extension of the length to accommodate larger users. 
     
     
         14 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein each strap of the cross-over shoulder harness may be reversibly affixed to the side of the cradle platform or the bottom of the cradle platform. 
     
     
         15 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the cradle platform comprises a cover made of loop latch material to which hook latch material on the straps of the cross-over shoulder harness is suitable to reversibly affix to the cradle platform creating a completed support harness loop. 
     
     
         16 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 15 , wherein each strap of the cross-over shoulder harness may be reversibly affixed to any position on the cover such that the cradle platform may be multi-axially positioned. 
     
     
         17 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is removable. 
     
     
         18 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the straps of the cross-over shoulder harness each comprise a top strap fastened at one end to the receiving side of the cradle platform and an integrated strap extender reversibly linked through a fixed adjuster positioned on the cross-over shoulder harness between the point of cross-over and the other end of the top strap and comprising hook latch material suitable to reversibly affix to the cradle platform creating a completed support harness loop. 
     
     
         19 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 18 , further comprising an integrated fabric safe pairing system that pairs the hook latch material with a matching loop latch material to protect fabrics on the user. 
     
     
         20 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more accessory snaps. 
     
     
         21 . The harnessed frameless cradle of  claim 20  further comprising one or more accessory items including a snap pair to the accessory snap, wherein the accessory item is selected from the group consisting of a cloth, a pacifier, a bottle, a toy, a flashlight, a pouch, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A harnessed frameless cradle comprising:
 a cradle platform free of framing walls and shaped to partially surround the middle section of a harnessed user when the cradle platform is positioned in a tray orientation,   
       wherein the cradle platform comprises a cover made of loop latch material;
 a cross-over shoulder harness fastened to the receiving side of the cradle platform wherein said fastened cross-over shoulder harness comprises two straps linked in crossed over orientation such that the point of cross-over of the straps would be positioned behind the neck of the harnessed user and the unfastened end of each strap is suitable to wrap around the back and under an arm of said harnessed user and reversibly affix by hook latch material to any position on the cradle platform cover creating a completed support harness loop, and such that the cradle platform may be multi-axially positioned, 
 
       wherein the cross-over shoulder harness comprises a reversible fastener positioned on one or two of said straps between the point of cross-over and the receiving side of the cradle platform, and wherein the straps of the cross-over shoulder harness are interlaced at the point of cross-over of the straps, and wherein the straps of the cross-over shoulder harness each comprise a top strap fastened at one end to the receiving side of the cradle platform and an integrated strap extender reversibly linked through a fixed adjuster positioned on the cross-over shoulder harness between the point of cross-over and the other end of the top strap (e.g., through fabric webbing, e.g., laced through the fixed adjuster) and comprising hook latch material suitable to reversibly affix to the cradle platform creating a completed support harness loop, and an integrated fabric safe pairing system that pairs the hook latch material with a matching loop latch material to protect fabrics on the user;
 a middle section support belt comprising one middle section strap permanently affixed to the side of the cradle platform of sufficient length suitable to wrap around the middle section of the harnessed user and reversibly affix to the other side of the cradle platform through a reversible fastener attached to the middle section strap and a matching fastener on the cradle platform, 
 
       wherein the middle section strap comprises fabric webbing partially encased in foam padded fabric, and laced into a reversible buckle, with suitable length to provide variable extension of the length to accommodate larger users; and
 a security mesh that integrates with the cross-over shoulder harness that comprises a reversible fastener positioned on one or two of said straps between the point of cross-over and the receiving side of the cradle platform, and wherein the security mesh is positioned to provide an external safety barrier on the distal side of the receiving side of the cradle platform positioned in the tray orientation between the reversible fastener and the cradle platform, 
 
       wherein the security mesh is constructed to have openings on at least one side of the cradle platform and an adjustable closure, and wherein the security mesh comprises flexible tubing positioned from the distal side of the cradle platform to the upper periphery of the security mesh to create a curved tented shape for better visibility and accessibility to the cradle platform.