Portable infant carrier

Abstract

A portable infant carrier for holding or cradling an infant is provided, which includes a back board, elevated borders, an infant-holding strap or belt and buckles, and a three-way holding pockets. The elevated borders surround a portion of the top surface of the back board so as to form a portable carrier with the back board and the elevated borders. The infant-holding strap is configured to hold the infant in place in the portable carrier. The three-way holding pockets disposed on the bottom or back surface of the back board is configured to add more surface contacting area to hands of the persons holding the infant so as to hold the infant more safely and easily. The three-way holding pockets are configured to insert hands of the persons to hold the portable carrier, and the three-way holding pockets are configured to hand over the portable carrier from one to the other.

1 . A portable infant carrier for holding, cradling, and transferring an infant, the portable infant carrier comprising:
 a back board comprising a top surface and a bottom surface;   elevated borders surrounding a portion of the top surface of the back board so as to form a portable cradle with the back board and the elevated borders, the portable cradle being configured for the infant to lay down;   an infant-holding portion configured to hold the infant in place in the portable carrier; and   a three-way holding pockets attached or disposed on the bottom surface of the back board, wherein the three-way holding pockets comprises two separating barriers, wherein each of the holding pockets is separated by one of the separating barrier from other holding pockets,   wherein the three-way holding pockets are configured to add more surface contacting area to one or two hands of one or two persons holding the infant so as to hold the infant more safely and easily, wherein the three-way holding pockets are configured to insert one or two hands of first and second persons to hold the portable carrier, and wherein the three-way holding pockets are configured to allow easy transfer of the portable carrier from a first transferring person to a second receiving person.   
   
   
       2 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the infant holding portion comprises an infant holding strap, wherein the infant holding strap comprises first and second ends, wherein the first end is fixed to a first portion of the elevated borders and the second end is detachably attached to a second portion of the elevated borders. 
   
   
       3 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the infant-holding strap comprises a plurality of straps. 
   
   
       4 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the infant-holding strap comprises Velcro. 
   
   
       5 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a pouch or pocket for keeping the infant from falling through the infant-holding strap at a lower end of the top surface of the back board. 
   
   
       6 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the back board comprises memory foam. 
   
   
       7 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the memory foam comprises a plurality of inner cores. 
   
   
       8 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an exoskeleton provided on the bottom surface of the back board. 
   
   
       9 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the portable infant carrier has a general shape resembling an object, wherein the object comprises a baseball glove and other sporting gloves, animals, and flowers, animated characters, and shapes. 
   
   
       10 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the three-way holding pockets comprises one or more openings, wherein the one or more openings are disposed along a plurality of directions, and wherein the plurality of directions comprise a right-left direction, a bottom-to-top direction, and a diagonal direction. 
   
   
       11 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the infant holding portion comprises an infant holding belt and buckles, wherein the infant holding belt comprises first and second ends, wherein the first end is fixed to a first portion of the elevated borders and the second end is detachably attached to a second portion of the elevated borders, and wherein the buckles are provided at the first and second ends of the belt. 
   
   
       12 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the infant holding portion further comprises a substantially triangular fabric portion, wherein the fabric portion is attached to the belt and configured to form two holes with the back board. 
   
   
       13 . A portable infant carrier for holding an infant, the portable infant carrier comprising:
 a cushion portion configured to receive at least part of the infant;   an exoskeleton for strengthening the cushion portion, which supports the cushion portion mechanically;   a cover configured to enclose the cushion portion and the exoskeleton and to provide a comfortable contact feeling;   a belt configured to hold or grasp the infant over the cushion portion substantially in place, one end of the belt being configured to be fastened or unfastened; and   one or more hand inserts configured to insert one or more hands and hold the portable infant carrier, and secure grasp,   wherein the one or more hand inserts is configured to transfer the infant from a first person to a second person with ease, comfort, and secure grasp.   
   
   
       14 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 13 , wherein each of the one or more hand inserts is configured to adjust size of the hand inserts. 
   
   
       15 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more hand inserts comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
   
   
       16 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the hook-and-loop fastener comprises Velcro. 
   
   
       17 . The portable infant carrier of  claim 13 , further comprising two or more straps attached to a bottom surface of the exoskeleton such that one of the first and second persons carries the infant in the portable infant carrier on shoulders. 
   
   
       18 . A method of holding and transferring an infant using the portable infant carrier of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 placing the infant on the portable carrier;   securing the infant by securing the infant-holding portion;   inserting a first hand of a first person into the three-way holding pockets with palm facing the back of the infant;   holding up the infant with the butt portion of the infant with a second hand of the first person;   inserting a first hand of a second person into the three-way holding pockets with palm facing the back of the infant;   supporting the butt portion of the infant with a second hand of the second person; and   pulling out the first hand of the first person.