PORTABLE INFANT CARRIER

Abstract

An infant carrier includes a set and a carry handle coupled to the seat. The carry handle is mounted for movement relative to the seat.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/445,848, filed Jan. 13, 2017, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a juvenile seat, and particularly to an infant carrier. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an infant carrier with a shoulder strap.

SUMMARY

A child restraint in accordance with the present disclosure includes an infant carrier. In illustrative embodiments, the child restraint further includes a shoulder grip adapted to engage the shoulder of a caregiver during shoulder transport of the infant carrier by the caregiver.

In illustrative embodiments, the infant carrier includes a seat bucket sized to receive an infant and a carry handle coupled to the seat bucket. The carry handle is coupled to opposing side portions of the seat bucket and arranged to extend laterally over an infant-receiving space formed in the seat bucket and to interconnect the opposing side portions. The seat bucket also includes two opposing end portions and the shoulder grip is coupled to the opposing end portions and arranged to extend longitudinally over the infant-receiving space and the carry handle and to interconnect the opposing end portions.

In illustrative embodiments, the shoulder grip and the seat bucket cooperate to form two separate quick-connect-and-release connectors so that each end of the shoulder grip can be attached to and removed from the seat bucket quickly and easily by a caregiver without disrupting an infant at rest in the seat bucket. A snap connection, a post-and-slot connection, or other suitable quick-connect mechanism can be used to establish each quick-connect-and-release connector and is within the scope of the present disclosure.

In illustrative embodiments, the shoulder grip includes a semi-rigid U-shaped handle and first and second extensible handle anchors. The first extensible handle anchor is coupled to a first end of the U-shaped handle and configured to mate with the first end portion of the seat bucket. The second extensible handle anchor is coupled to an opposite second end of the U-shaped handle and configured to mate with the opposite second end portion of the seat bucket.

In illustrative embodiments, the seat bucket includes a shell formed to include the infant-receiving space. The first end portion of the seat bucket includes a front end of the shell and a first anchor bracket coupled to the front end of the shell. The second end portion of the seat bucket includes a rear end of the shell and a second anchor bracket coupled to the rear end of the shell.

In illustrative embodiments, the first extensible handle anchor includes a lockable first bracket mount configured to mate with the first anchor bracket that is associated with the front end of the shell and a first adjustable-length flexible webbing arranged to interconnect the first end of the U-shaped handle and the lockable first bracket mount. The lockable first bracket mount and the first anchor bracket cooperate to define the first quick-connect-and-release connector.

In illustrative embodiments, the second extensible handle anchor includes a lockable second bracket mount configured to mate with the second anchor bracket that is associated with the rear end of the shell and a second adjustable-length flexible webbing arranged to interconnect the second end of the U-shaped handle and the lockable second bracket mount. The lockable second bracket mount and the second anchor bracket cooperate to define the second quick-connect-and-release connector.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed disclosure particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a child restraint in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the child restraint includes an infant carrier having a seat bucket and a laterally extending carry handle coupled to the side portions of the seat bucket and a longitudinally extending shoulder grip coupled to the end portions of the seat bucket and showing that the seat bucket and the shoulder grip cooperate to form two separate quick-connect-and-release connectors for use by a caregiver to attach and detach the shoulder grip quickly and easily;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a caregiver using the shoulder grip to carry the seat bucket at waist level to transport an infant located in an infant-receiving space formed in the seat bucket; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective assembly view of components that cooperate to form the child restraint of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing that the shoulder grip includes, in series, a first extensible handle anchor that is configured to mate quickly and easily with a first anchor bracket included in a first end portion of the seat bucket, a semi-rigid U-shaped handle, and a second extensible handle anchor that is configured to mate quickly and easily with a second anchor bracket included in an opposite second end portion of the seat bucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A child restraint 10 in accordance with the present disclosure includes an infant carrier 11 comprising a seat bucket 12, a shoulder grip 14, and a carry handle 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Seat bucket 12 is formed to include an infant-receiving space 16. Shoulder grip 14 is coupled to seat bucket 12 using first and second quick-connect-and-release connectors 21, 22 as suggested in FIG. 1. Shoulder grip 14 is arranged to extend longitudinally along the length of seat bucket 12 when in use in an over-the-shoulder orientation by a caregiver as shown in FIG. 2 to carry the seat bucket 12 to transport an infant. Carry handle 18 is arranged to extend laterally over infant-receiving space 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Carry handle 18 is unused and lies alongside the torso of the caregiver when shoulder grip 14 is used by a caregiver so suggested in FIG. 2.

Child restraint 10 also includes a carrier-support base 13 adapted to support the infant carrier 11 in a vehicle passenger seat (not shown) when the seat bucket 12 is used to transport an infant in a vehicle. Shoulder grip 14 can be separated from seat bucket 12 by a caregiver in accordance with the present disclosure and stored on board seat bucket 12 when seat bucket 12 is mounted on carrier-support base 13 for use in a vehicle.

Shoulder grip 14 includes a semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140, a first extensible handle anchor 141, and a second extensible handle anchor 142 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3. To adapt the seat bucket 12 to be carried by a caregiver away from the vehicle in an at-the-waist mode as shown in FIG. 2, shoulder grip 14 is arranged to extend longitudinally along the length of seat bucket 12. First extensible handle anchor 141 is coupled to a first anchor bracket 121 included at a first end portion 12EP1 of seat bucket 12 to establish a first quick-connect-and-release connector 21 as suggested, for example, in FIG. 1 second extensible handle anchor is coupled to a second anchor bracket 122 included in an opposite second end portion 12EP2 of seat bucket 12 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1.

Semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 of shoulder grip 14 is made of an elastic plastics material in an illustrative embodiment for easy grip and carry. U-shaped handle 140 has an initial narrow shape along its length as suggested in FIG. 3 but can be deformed elastically to assume a temporary broader shape along its length as suggested in FIG. 1.

First extensible handle anchor 141 includes a lockable first bracket mount 141M and a first adjustable-length flexible webbing 141W as shown in FIG. 3. First bracket mount 141M is configured to mate with and separate from the first anchor bracket 121 included in first end portion 12EP1 of seat bucket 12 at the option of the caregiver as suggested in FIG. 1. First adjustable-length flexible webbing 141W is arranged to interconnect a first end 140E1 of U-shaped handle 140 and the lockable first bracket mount 141M as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Flexible webbing 141W can be adjusted in length by the caregiver to help establish the carrying height of seat bucket 12 above the underlying ground.

Second extensible handle anchor 142 includes a lockable second bracket mount 142M and a second adjustable-length flexible webbing 142W as shown in FIG. 3. Second bracket mount 142M is configured to mate with and separate from the second anchor bracket 122 included in second end portion 12EP2 of seat bucket 12 at the option of the caregiver as suggested in FIG. 1. Second adjustable-length flexible webbing 142W is arranged to interconnect a second end 140E2 of U-shaped handle 140 and the lockable second bracket mount 142M as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2. Flexible webbing 142W can be adjusted in length by the caregiver to help establish the carrying height of seat bucket 12 above the underlying ground.

Seat bucket 12 includes a shell 120 that is formed to include the infant-receiving space 16 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3. First anchor bracket 121 is mounted on a front end 120F of shell 120 using first quick-connect-and-release connector 21 and second anchor bracket 122 is mounted on a rear end 120R of shell 120 using second quick-connect-and-release connection 22 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3.

Infant carrier 11 also includes a carry handle 18 coupled to seat bucket 12 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3. Carry handle 18 is stationary in illustrative embodiments. It is within the scope of this disclosure to mount carry handle 18 for pivotable movement about a laterally extending handle-pivot axis 18A. Carry handle 18 is arranged to extend laterally over infant-receiving space 16 and is coupled to opposite side portions of shell 120 of seat bucket 12 as shown, for example in FIGS. 1 and 3. Carry handle 18 includes a central hand grip 18G and is used by a caregiver to carry the seat bucket 12 in an at-the-knees mode (not shown).

In illustrative embodiments, first bracket mount 141M includes a plate 141P and a button 141B that is coupled to the plate 141P and configured to snap into a button receiver 14R formed in the companion first anchor bracket 121 mounted on shell 120 to establish first guide-connect-and-release connector 21 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. First adjustable-length flexible webbing 141W is arranged to pass through and slide in a web-receiver slot formed in plate 141P as suggested in FIG. 3 so that the caregiver can adjust the length of webbing 141W.

Second bracket mount 142M includes a plate 142P and button 142B that is coupled to plate 142P and configured to snap into a button receiver 14R formed in the companion second quick-connect-and-release connector 22 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. Second adjustable-length flexible webbing 142W is arranged to pass through and slide on a web-receiver slot formed in plate 142P as suggested in FIG. 3 so that the caregiver can adjust the length of webbing 142W.

Shoulder grip 14 can be snapped into engagement with seat bucket 12 by a caregiver along the centerline of shell 120 at the head and foot ends using the first and second quick-connect and-release connections 21, 22 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. Shoulder grip 14 can be disengaged and stored when not in use. Carry handle 18 can be used by the caregiver to carry seat bucket 12 whether shoulder grip 14 is engaged or disengaged.

Shoulder grip 14 can be used by a caregiver to carry infant carrier 11 hands free for an extended period of time in an over-the-shoulder mode as shown in FIG. 2. The semi-rigid character of the U-shaped handle 140 will prevent shoulder grip 14 from becoming tangled and make it easier for the caregiver to lift the shoulder grip 14 over their head while putting it on or taking it off. Each end of the shoulder grip 14 has a sturdy decoupling mechanism 141M, 142M allowing for easy removal of shoulder grip 14 when it is not needed.

Infant carrier 11 includes seat bucket 12 and carry handle 18 as shown in FIG. 3. Carry handle 18 is coupled to the laterally spaced-apart first and second side portions 31, 32 of seat bucket 12. Carry handle 18 is arranged to extend laterally over the infant-receiving space 16 formed in seat bucket 12.

Shoulder grip 14 includes a semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 adapted to engage the shoulder of a caregiver during shoulder transport of infant carrier 11 by the caregiver as suggested in FIG. 2. Shoulder grip 14 also includes first and second extensible handle anchors 141, 142 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. First extensible handle anchor 141 is coupled to a first end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 and mated to a first end portion 12EP1 of seat bucket 12. Second extensible handle anchor 142 is coupled to an opposite second end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 and mated to second end portion 12EP2 of seat bucket 12 and to cause shoulder grip 14 to extend longitudinally between first and second end portions 12EP1, 12EP2 of seat bucket 12 to locate carry handle 18 between seat bucket 12 and the semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 of shoulder grip 14 during shoulder transport of infant carrier by the caregiver using shoulder grip 14 as suggest in FIG. 2.

Seat bucket 12 includes a shell 15 formed to include the infant-receiving space 16 as suggested in FIG. 1. First end portion 12EP1 of seat bucket 12 includes a front end of shell 15 and a first anchor bracket 121 coupled to front end of shell 15 and to first extensible handle anchor 141. Second end portion 12EP1 of seat bucket 12 includes an opposite rear end of shell 15 and a second anchor bracket 122 coupled to the opposite rear end of shell 15 and to second extensible handle anchor 142.

First extensible handle anchor 141 includes a first bracket mount 141M mated with the first anchor bracket 121 associated with the front end of shell 15 and a first adjustable-length flexible webbing 141W arranged to interconnect a first end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 and first bracket mount 141M as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 3. First bracket mount 141M includes a first plate 141P slidably coupled to the first adjustable-length flexible webbing 141W and first mating means coupled to first plate 141P for releasably mating with first anchor bracket 121 to tether first extensible handle anchor 141 to first anchor bracket 121. First anchor bracket 121 is formed to include a button receiver 14R and the mating means is a button 141B configured to engage and disengage the button receiver 14R formed in first anchor bracket 121.

Second extensible handle anchor 142 includes a second bracket mount 142M mated with the second anchor bracket 122 associated with the opposite rear end of shell 15 and a second adjustable-length flexible webbing 142W arranged to interconnect an opposite second end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle 140 and second bracket mount 142M. Second bracket mount 142M includes a second plate 142P slidably coupled to the second adjustable-length flexible webbing 142W and second mating means coupled to the second plate 142P for releasably mating with the second anchor bracket 122 to tether the second extensible handle anchor 142 to the second anchor bracket 122.

The laterally spaced-apart first and second side portions 31, 32 are separated by a first distance as suggested in FIG. 3. The longitudinally spaced-apart first and second end portions 12EP1, 12EP2 are separated by a relatively longer second distance as also suggested in FIG. 3. Carry handle 18 has a first length that extends from side portion 31 to side portion 32 and is greater than the first distance and lesser than the second distance. Shoulder grip 14 has a second length that is longer than the second distance as suggested in FIG. 1.

The carry handle 18 includes a middle portion 18M that lies at a first height above a floor 12F of the seat bucket 12 as suggested in FIG. 1. Shoulder grip 14 includes a middle portion 14M that lies at a relatively greater second height above floor 12F when used by the caregiver to transport seat bucket 11 to locate middle portion 18F of carry handle 18 between floor 12F and middle portion 14M of shoulder grip 14 as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2.

An infant carrier 11 includes a seat bucket 12, a rigid stationary carry handle 18, and a shoulder grip 14 as suggested in FIGS. 1-3. Carry handle 18 has a first length and is arranged to extend upwardly away from floor 12F of seat bucket 12 and laterally between first and second side walls 31, 32 of seat bucket 12. Shoulder grip 14 is coupled at one end to a foot end of seat bucket 12 and an opposite end to a head end of seat bucket 12 that is located in longitudinally spaced-apart relation to the foot end to locate the rigid stationary carry handle 18 therebetween. Shoulder grip 14 includes a U-shaped handle 140 that is arranged to lie above the rigid stationary carry handle 18 when a caregiver is using only shoulder grip 14 to transport seat bucket 12 as shown in FIG. 2.

Claims

1. An infant carrier comprising

a seat bucket formed to include an infant-receiving space, the seat bucket including a first side portion, a second side portion arranged to lie in laterally spaced-apart relation to the first side portion to locate the infant-receiving space therebetween, a first end portion arranged to extend between aligned first ends of the first and second side portions and form a boundary of the infant-receiving space, and a second end portion arranged to lie in longitudinally spaced-apart relation to the first end portion to locate the infant-receiving space therebetween and arranged to extend between aligned opposite second ends of the first and second side portions,

a carry handle coupled to the laterally spaced-apart first and second side portions of the seat bucket and arranged to extend laterally over the infant-receiving space formed in the seat bucket, and

a shoulder grip including a semi-rigid U-shaped handle adapted to engage the shoulder of a caregiver during shoulder transport of the infant carrier by the caregiver, a first extensible handle anchor coupled to a first end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle and mated to the first end portion of the seat bucket, and a second extensible handle anchor coupled to an opposite second end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle and mated to the second end portion of the seat bucket and to cause the shoulder grip to extend longitudinally between the first and second end portions of the seat bucket to locate the carry handle between the seat bucket and the semi-rigid U-shaped handle of the shoulder grip during shoulder transport of the infant carrier by the caregiver using the shoulder grip.

2. The infant carrier of claim 1, wherein the seat bucket includes a shell formed to include the infant-receiving space, the first end portion of the seat bucket includes a front end of the shell and a first anchor bracket coupled to the front end of the shell and to the first extensible handle anchor, the second end portion of the seat bucket includes an opposite rear end of the shell and a second anchor bracket coupled to the opposite rear end of the shell and to the second extensible handle anchor.

3. The infant carrier of claim 2, wherein the first extensible handle anchor includes a first bracket mount mated with the first anchor bracket associated with the front end of the shell and a first adjustable-length flexible webbing arranged to interconnect a first end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle and the first bracket mount.

4. The infant carrier of claim 3, wherein the first bracket mount includes a first plate slidably coupled to the first adjustable-length flexible webbing and first mating means coupled to the first plate for releasably mating with the first anchor bracket to tether the first extensible handle anchor to the first anchor bracket.

5. The infant carrier of claim 4, wherein the first anchor bracket is formed to include a button receiver and the mating means is a button configured to engage and disengage the button receiver formed in the first anchor bracket.

6. The infant carrier of claim 3, wherein the second extensible handle anchor includes a second bracket mount mated with the second anchor bracket associated with the opposite rear end of the shell and second adjustable-length flexible webbing arranged to interconnect an opposite second end of the semi-rigid U-shaped handle and the second bracket mount, and the second bracket mount includes a second plate slidably coupled to the second adjustable-length flexible webbing and second mating means coupled to the second plate for releasably mating with the second anchor bracket to tether the second extensible handle anchor to the second anchor bracket.

7. The infant carrier of claim 1, wherein the laterally spaced-apart first and second side portions are separated by a first distance, the longitudinally spaced-apart first and second end portions are separated by a relatively longer second distance, the carry handle has a first length that is greater than the first distance and lesser than the second distance, and the shoulder grip has a second length that is longer than the second distance.

8. The infant carrier of claim 7, wherein the carry handle includes a middle portion that lies at a first height above a floor of the seat bucket and the shoulder grip includes a middle portion that lies at a relatively greater second height above the floor when used by the caregiver to transport the seat bucket to locate the middle portion of the carry handle between the floor and the middle portion of the shoulder grip.

9. An infant carrier comprising

a seat bucket formed to include an infant-receiving space,

a rigid stationary carry handle having a first length and arranged to extend upwardly away from a floor of the seat bucket and laterally between first and second side walls of the seat bucket, and

a shoulder grip coupled at one end to a foot end of the seat bucket and an opposite end to a head end of the seat bucket that is located in longitudinally spaced-apart relation to the foot end to locate the rigid stationary carry handle therebetween, the shoulder grip including a U-shaped handle that is arranged to lie above the rigid stationary carry handle when a caregiver is using only the shoulder grip to transport the seat bucket.