Universal Child Travel Sling and Methods of Use

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/697,141 Filed Sep. 20, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a device for holding a child and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a universal child travel sling for use in conjunction with an article of luggage or to be worn by an adult carrying the child.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traveling with a small child can be an extremely challenging and stressful endeavor for parents. Your hands are full of your carryon luggage in one hand and your child in the other, especially with a toddler. Lugging your suitcase and child around a large airport should be an Olympic sport. The current options that solve this are inadequate. They include bulky and rickety seats that attach to the front of your suitcase and give you no visual sight of your child or expensive suitcases that have built in options.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a universal child travel sling with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a flexible sling device utilizing straps to attach the sling on top of an article of luggage, such as a rolling suitcase. The device attaches to the base of the suitcase handle and the child sits on top of the suitcase with their legs around the handle. The sling wraps around their bottom and back and a strap runs around the back of the sling to the suitcase handle. The tension from the child will help to maintain the sling and the child relative to the top of the suitcase. The sling edge-webbing provides additional stiffness to the fabric and the straps use buckles with adjustable straps that can be adjusted in length as the child grows.

The present invention provides the user with complete visual on the child within the sling atop the suitcase. The sling is designed to universally fit to most pieces of luggage no matter the brand, however, a preferred embodiment works best with a hard case rolling suitcase.

Because the device is flexible, formed from fabric or another suitable material, it can be easily rolled up for storage and will take up little space.

The sling is also multifunctional and can also be used in ways other than in conjunction. The sling can be used worn by a parent or other caretaker as a front support carrier, piggy-back assist carrier, or even a leg rest that can attach to a tray table or a changing pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in a first orientation in a typical environment mounted atop a piece of luggage with a child being supported therein.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional isometric view thereof without the child being shown.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of the present invention alone.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view thereof shown folded into a storage pocket.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a pair of support straps that optionally interface with the primary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional isometric view of the preferred embodiment shown in a wearable sling orientation.

FIG. 8 is a left-side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being worn by a caretaker as a front sling element for supporting a child.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 11 is a right-side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention being worn by a caretaker as a rear, piggy-back sling element for supporting a child.

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Universal Child Sling System 2

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a universal child sling system 2 which allows a sling 4 to be placed onto the top surface 24 of suitcase 20 or other piece of luggage such that a child 26 can be secured atop the suitcase and transported thereon.

The sling 4 includes a flexible body 6 constructed out of a double layer of water-resistant utility fabric with cushion material filling the sling interior, or other suitable flexible and durable material. The body 6 can form an upper portion 8 and a lower portion 10. The upper portion forms a seat back, while the lower portion forms a seat. The edge of the sling body 6 may have a thick webbing folded over the fabric for trim. The thickness of this material gives the sling some rigidity. The bottom edge 11 of the sling is in a ‘U’ shape to help the sling fit around the suitcase 20 handle 22. The bottom straps 14 are anchored into the tips of the ‘U’, are adjustable and connect together with a buckle 18. The top strap 12 is shown as a continuous across the back of the sling 6 and sewn into the fabric. The top strap 12 is adjustable in length and incorporates a buckle 16 to secure the straps together. The buckles are arraigned to be able to be crisscross for the carrier modes. In other embodiments, the sling can have a hard frame to sit on top of a luggage article, such as a hard-case suitcase, and in further embodiments the sling material has more rigidity.

FIG. 2 shows how a third strap 37 and associated buckle 38 which can secure between the top strap 12 and the suitcase handle 22, with a fourth strap 39 and associated buckle 40 forming a loop which a child could use as a handle.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the sling 4 in detail, including a pair of seatbelt loops 28 which could be used within a vehicle for receiving a seatbelt. A number of infant leg loop closures 30 are also shown, which can be used to further secure an infant child within the sling 4 when in use.

FIG. 4 shows an integrated pocket 32 with a double-sided zipper 34 which can be used to store the entire sling 4 into a compact configuration as shown in FIG. 5. A carry strap 35 may also be included for ease of transport of the entire stored sling 4.

FIG. 6 shows the third 37 and fourth 39 straps in a crisscross orientation 36, with the associated third 38 and fourth 40 buckles, which can then interface with the first 16 and second 18 buckles of the first 12 and second 14 straps, respectively. FIG. 7 shows the sling 4 in a wearable orientation where the crisscross orientation 36 is connected to the first 12 and second 14 straps, forming a wearable sling.

FIGS. 8-10 show the wearable sling 4 being worn as a front sling by a caregiver. FIGS. 11-13 show the wearable sling 4 being worn on the caretaker's back as a piggy-back sling.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.