ADJUSTABLE CHILD CARRIER

Abstract

A system and method of supporting a child in a carrier is presented in embodiments herein. The carrier comprises an adjustable seat that may be adjusted to support a child from infancy to toddlerhood. The adjustable seat may provide support from a left popliteal fossa to a right popliteal fossa providing knee-to-knee support and support to a child in an M-position. The carrier may further comprise support extensions to extend the adjustable seat to provide knee-to-knee support to larger children beyond the adjustable seat alone.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/674,198, filed May 21, 2018, and entitled “ADJUSTABLE CHILD CARRIER.” The identified earlier-filed provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to child carriers. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to adjustable child carriers for adjusting to the changing size of a child.

2. Related Art

Child carriers are common for carrying children that range from newborns to toddlers. Some carriers are adjustable to allow for multiple configurations to accommodate different sizes and shapes of children. The problems with current child carriers is that the adjustability of the carriers is limited. The limitations of the current carriers provide adjustments that jump between predefined settings when using attachments such as button, snaps, or other permanent location attachments. The adjustments may also be limited by the size of the carrier in that a larger child may become too large for the carrier at a premature age.

Typical carriers in the current market lack continuous adjustability for growing children. As a child grows, typical current carriers only offer intermediate changes. This results in a growing child being supported in a carrier that may be configured for a smaller or larger child and not providing full support from a popliteal fossa region on one leg to the popliteal fossa on the other leg (knee-to-knee support).

Unborn babies in the womb are positioned with the legs pulled up such that the knees are proximate the chest and head and the feet are proximate the buttocks. During the first few months of a baby's life, the baby's joints need time to stretch from this position or the baby may be in danger of dip dysplasia or hip dislocation. One problem with typical carriers in the current market is that they do not provide continuous support for a growing child.

Current carriers use inserts or fabric to prop up smaller children. The fabric under the child propping the child does not offer total leg support from knee to knee. Children should be supported with legs flexed (knees bent) abducted (away from midline) position supporting the hip and the spine as would be when a child is properly held by an adult. To achieve this position, fabric must extend all the way to the back of the knee. What is needed is a carrier that supports the child from knee to knee and further in the proper M-position.

What is needed is a proper multidimensional (height and width) adjustability providing full knee-to-knee support for many sizes and shapes of children that support the children in the proper M-position. In some embodiments described herein, a carrier for supporting a baby which supports proximate a left popliteal fossa region to proximate a right popliteal fossa region is discussed. Further, in some embodiments, the carrier may be configured to provide support for the popliteal fossa regions at a position higher than the buttocks of the child while the child's legs are wrapped around a portion of the torso of the user such that the child is supported totally form knee-to-knee in the M-position. Further still, what is needed is long lasting easily and quickly micro-adjustable straps and attachments that provide continuous multidimensional adjustability for both height and width for providing security and comfort for the child from knee to knee in the M-position.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems by providing systems and methods of a floor assembly that reduce labor time and technical skill required to install the floor assembly.

A first embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to at least one shoulder strap and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap, at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child.

A second embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier configured to attach to a user and support a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to at least one shoulder strap and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a shoulder of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt comprising a waist belt strap configured to wrap around a torso of the user, at least one extension attachment for attaching at least one support extension, and at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough for adjusting a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat at a width for supporting the child.

A third embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for adjusting an adjustable seat on a carrier for supporting a child therein, the method comprising the steps of sliding an attachment loop along a waist belt strap, wherein the attachment loop is disposed on the adjustable seat on a body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt strap is disposed on a waist belt, and attaching the attachment loop to the waist belt to support the child in the adjustable seat.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to two shoulder straps and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap, at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier configured to attach to a user and support a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to two shoulder straps and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a shoulder of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt comprising a waist belt strap configured to wrap around a torso of the user, at least one extension attachment for attaching at least one support extension, and at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough for adjusting a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat at a width for supporting the child, wherein the adjustable seat is configured to provide support to the child from a first popliteal fossa of the child to a second popliteal fossa of the child, and wherein the adjustable seat is further configured to support the first popliteal fossa and the second popliteal fossa at a height higher than a buttocks of the child.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to two shoulder straps and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap, at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child, wherein the adjustable seat is configured to provide support to the child from a first popliteal fossa of the child to a second popliteal fossa of the child, and wherein the adjustable seat is further configured to support the first popliteal fossa and the second popliteal fossa at a height higher than a buttocks of the child providing an M-position for the child.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to two shoulder straps and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap, at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child, wherein the adjustable seat is configured to provide support to the child from a first popliteal fossa of the child to a second popliteal fossa of the child, wherein the adjustable seat is further configured to support the first popliteal fossa and the second popliteal fossa at a height higher than a buttocks of the child providing an M-position for the child, wherein the adjustable seat is adjusted such that a left side of the adjustable seat and a right side of the adjustable seat is proximate the center of the waist belt for supporting a small child.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is directed to a carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising a body of the carrier attached to two shoulder straps and comprising an adjustable seat, wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier, a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier, wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap, at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child, wherein the adjustable seat is configured to provide support to the child from a first popliteal fossa of the child to a second popliteal fossa of the child, wherein the adjustable seat is further configured to support the first popliteal fossa and the second popliteal fossa at a height higher than a buttocks of the child providing an M-position for the child, wherein the adjustable seat is adjusted such that a left side of the adjustable seat and a right side of the adjustable seat are continuously adjustable along the waist belt.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the interior of a carrier;

FIG. 2 depicts a close up of an embodiment of the interior of the carrier;

FIG. 3 depicts a close up of an embodiment of a waist belt of the carrier;

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the interior of the carrier configured fora small child;

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the interior of the carrier configured for a toddler;

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the carrier on a user and carrying a toddler;

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the carrier configured with support extensions;

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of the carrier with support extensions;

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of the exterior of the carrier with an adjustable height and the support extensions; and

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary flow diagram for methods of adjusting the carrier to support a child.

The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a distinct advance in the art by providing a child carrier that includes an adjustable seat that is easily adjustable, long lasting, and provides support through full coverage and optimal positioning of a growing child. The carrier also provides custom fitting (without inserts) from newborns to toddlers. The adjustable seat may be quickly adjustable and quickly lockable such that the carrier is customizable and adapts concisely to the size of the child. The child carrier provides an adjustable seat that adapts to a child's seat requirements for custom knee-to-knee support and optimal child M-positioning. Further, support extensions may be added to the body of the carrier providing extra surface area and support for larger children extending the life of the carrier.

The following description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying illustrations that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Turning first to an embodiment of the carrier 100 presented in FIG. 1 in which an interior 102 of the carrier 100 is presented and configured for carrying a toddler. The carrier 100 may comprise a body 104 featuring an adjustable seat 106, a waist belt 108, shoulder straps 110, and a head and neck support region 112. In some embodiments, the shoulder straps 110 may loop around a user's arms and be supported by the user's shoulders and back. Shoulder strap attachments 114 may be disposed on adjustable shoulder strap attachment straps 116 for attaching the shoulder straps 110 to one another around the user's torso. Pockets 118 may be disposed on the body 104 providing extension attachments 120 therein for securing seat extensions (not shown) for larger sized children such as toddlers.

The shoulder straps 110 may be attached to the body 104 at shoulder strap attachment points 122 by buttons, snaps, sewing, hook and loop fasteners, or adhesive. In some embodiments, the shoulder strap attachments points 122 may be permanent or temporary attachments and may be configured to attach to the opposite side of the body 104 where the straps cross the user's torso.

In some embodiments, the waist belt 108 comprises a waist belt strap 124 and waist belt attachments 126 for wrapping around and securing the carrier 100 to the user's torso. The waist belt strap 124 provides adjustability for securing to a variety of sizes and shapes of users.

The interior 102 is the side of the carrier 100 adjacent the user and the body 104 of the carrier 100 is configured such that a child may rest comfortably between the interior 102 of the body 104 of the carrier 100 and the user's torso in the adjustable seat 106. The body 104 of the carrier 100 may be supported from above by the above-mentioned shoulder straps 110 and from below by the waist belt 108.

In some embodiments, the carrier 100 is adjustable such that the adjustable seat 106 is attached to or comprises the body 104 of the carrier 100 and may slide along and attach to the waist belt 108 or components thereof. In some embodiments the adjustable seat 106 of the carrier 100 is a lower portion 128 of the body 104 proximate the waist belt 108. It should be noted that the adjustable seat 106 may not be a separate component but the body 104 may comprise the adjustable seat 106 which may be adjustable by sliding the lower portion 128 of the adjustable seat 106 proximate the waist belt 108 along the waist belt strap 124. Further, the adjustable seat 106 may be secured by attaching the lower portion 128 of the adjustable seat 106 proximate the waist belt 108 to the waist belt 108 using a seat attachment (not shown). The seat attachment may provide a quick-lock system by pressing a hand under the waist belt 108 to secure the body 104 at any point along the length of the waist belt 108. This creates adjustability such that the carrier 100 may be adjusted to the size of a child without the restrictions of predetermined gaps between attachments that may be caused by using buttons or snaps. The seat attachments, in some embodiments referenced as attachment loops, are discussed in more detail below.

Further, in some embodiments, support extensions may be added between the body 104 and the waist belt 124 providing further support for larger children, thus broadening the range of children that may be supported by the carrier 100. The support extensions may be added at the extension attachments 120 disposed in the pockets 118 on the body 104 as described above. The extension systems and methods are discussed in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 depicts the interior 102 of the carrier 100 configured to support a small child or baby. In some embodiments, the carrier 100 is configured with adjustments and attachments on each side of the adjustable seat 106. A left side 129 and a right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 may be continually adjusted to support a growing child. The right side 130 is discussed in detail below in reference to FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the adjustable seat 106 may comprise the lower portion 128 of the body 104 and, in some embodiments, adjustably slides along the waist belt 108 as shown. The lower portion 128 of the adjustable seat 106 may comprise an opening, or loop, that allows the waist belt strap 124 to slide therethrough. In some embodiments, a width of the adjustable seat may be adjusted by moving the left side 129 relative the right side 130, vice versa, or moving both the left side 129 and the right side 130.

Looking at the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106, the adjustable seat 106 is attached to the body 104 of the carrier 100 at a left attachment point 132 and a right attachment point 134. Providing the two attachment points, a loose section 136 of fabric is created between the first attachment point 132 and the second attachment point 134 when the adjustable seat 106 is adjusted towards the center 138 of the waist belt 108. When the adjustable seat 106 is slid along the waist belt strap 124 such that the left attachment point 132 and the right attachment 134 are proximate the center 138 of the waist belt 108, the loose section 136 creates an outward fold 140 that may be laid flat for comfort when the child is seated in the carrier 100.

The adjustable seat 106 may be adjusted by adjusting a left side 129 of the adjustable seat 106 and a right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106. The adjustable seat 106 may be adjusted such that the child may be seated in the adjustable seat 106 and is supported by the adjustable seat 106 from a left popliteal fossa to a right popliteal fossa providing knee-to-knee support. The adjustable seat 106 may be adjusted by sliding the left side 129 and the right side 130 along the waist belt strap 124 and the such that the adjustable seat 106 extends from the popliteal fossa of one leg to the popliteal fossa of the other leg of the child. This provides total knee-to-knee support for the child and support for the child in the M-position as discussed in detail in reference to FIG. 6 below. Total knee-to-knee support may be provided for children from newborns up to forty-five pounds in various configurations of embodiments of the carrier 100.

FIG. 3 presents an exemplary embodiment of the carrier 100 depicting the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 with the waist belt strap 124 running through an opening, or an attachment loop 142, in the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106. The right side 130 is discussed in detail, but it should be understood that, in embodiments, the left side of the adjustable seat 106 is symmetric to the right side 130 and any embodiments discussed regarding the right side 130 may be applied to the left side 129 in a symmetric manner. As depicted in FIG. 3, the adjustable seat 106 comprises seat attachments such as the attachment loop 142 that allows the waist belt strap 124 to slide therethrough. The attachment loop 142 may slide along the waist belt strap 124 and, on a back side 144, comprise a loop fastener 146 that attaches to the waist belt 108 at any location. The waist belt 108 may comprise a waist belt fastener 148 that is compatible to the loop fastener 146 such that the waist belt fastener 148 may attach to the loop fastener 146 at any location along the waist belt 108. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the loop fastener 146 and the waist belt fastener 148 are hook and loop fasteners providing continuous adjustment to the adjustable seat. The loop fastener 146 allows the user to quickly and easily slide the attachment loop 142 along the length of the waist belt strap 124 and press the loop fastener to the waist belt fastener 148 when the adjustable seat 106 is in the proper configuration to provide total knee-to-knee support for the child. For example, a user may switch between a first child that may be, for example, 10 pounds, and a second child that may be, for example, 20 pounds. The user may simply slide the attachment loop 142 adjusting the adjustable seat 106 to the proper size and press the attachment loop 142 into place securing it with the loop fastener 146 to the waist belt fastener 148. This may all be done in a matter of seconds without the need to remove the carrier 100. This provides quick and easy continuous adjustment of the adjustable seat without removing the carrier from the user.

The adjustable seat 106 may be adjusted to a position that best fits the child and is attached to the body 104 by attachments on the waist belt 108 and the attachment loop 142 of the adjustable seat 106. In some embodiments, the adjustable seat 106 may slide along the waist belt strap 124 changing from a configuration where the left side 129 and right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 are proximate the center 138 of the waist belt 108 configured to support a small child such as, for example, a baby to a configuration where the left side 129 and right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 are further from each other as depicted in FIG. 5 where the adjustable seat 106 is configured for supporting a larger child such as, for example a toddler. The attachment loop 142 may also be connected at any point in between the two described configurations along the waist belt strap 124 allowing continuous adjustment to fit any size child and allowing infinitely many configurations for the child. When the adjustable seat 106 is in the configuration where the left side 129 and the right side 130 are proximate the center 138 of the waist belt 108 as depicted in FIG. 3, the adjustable seat 106 supports a smaller child such as, for example, an 8-pound baby. In the configuration where the adjustable seat 106 is spread to the outer limits of the body 104 as depicted in FIG. 5, the adjustable seat 106 may support a larger child such as, for example, a 20-pound toddler.

Further, the adjustable seat 106 may be placed in any configuration between the two limits described above. The adjustable seat 106 allows the carrier 100 to be adjusted as a child grows. The carrier 100 may conform to the changing child rather than the child being positioned in a seat that is not optimal for intermediate sizes and weights such as with typical carriers that are not continuously adjustable. The adjustability provided by the adjustable seat 106 is not limited to predefined intermediate attachment points such as with buttons, snaps, clips, or any other attachment that may define non-adjustable attachment locations.

In some embodiments, the carrier 100 comprises elastic bands 150 for securing excess strap lengths 152. Excess strap lengths 152 on typical carriers can get in the way of the user and the child and cause a nuisance when users are handling, for example, teething rings, books, play things, and mobile devices all while safely carrying a child. Securing the excess strap lengths 152 out of the way is a convenient solution to this problem. The excess strap lengths 152 may be rolled up and the elastic band 150 may wrap around the rolled strap to secure the excess strap length 152 in a small, out-of-the-way package.

FIG. 4 presents an exemplary embodiment of the carrier 100 with the adjustable seat 106 cinched into a narrow configuration for supporting a small child. The right side 130 of the adjustable seat, as depicted in FIG. 4, is secured proximate the left side 129 of the adjustable seat 106. The left side 129 and the right side 130 are pulled together proximate the center 138 of the waist belt 108 along the waist belt strap 124. With the left side 129 and the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 secured at positions proximate the center 138, the adjustable seat 106 is configured to comfortably seat a small child from knee-to-knee in the M-position.

The right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 is attached to the waist belt 108 proximate the center 138 such that as the right side 130 is moved toward the center 138 of the waist belt 108 the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 folds outward. The outward fold 140 is indicative of the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 106 moving relative to the left attachment point 132 that is stationary with respect to the waist belt 108 of the carrier 100. Once the left side 129 and the right side 130 of the adjustable seat 100 are in the proper position, the loop fastener 146 of the attachment loops 142 may be secured to the waist belt fastener 148. In some embodiments, the loop fastener 146 and the waist belt fastener 148 are hook and loop fasteners such that the user may simply apply pressure to secure the adjustable seat in the proper position. This may provide the adjustable seat an infinite number of positions to secure the adjustable seat providing continuous adjustment to the adjustable seat.

An embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 presents a configuration of the carrier 100 in which the adjustable seat 106 is extended to a position distal the center 138 for supporting larger children or toddlers. In some embodiments, the carrier 100 in the configuration depicted in FIG. 5 is capable of supporting children up to forty-five pounds in either a front or back carry position.

Continuing with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 presenting an exemplary embodiment of the user sliding the adjustable seat 106 into a position distal the center 138 using the attachment loop 142. Once the adjustable seat is in the proper position, the attachment loop 142 may be pressed to the waist belt 108 attaching the waist belt 108 to the attachment loop 142 as described above. In some embodiments, the carrier 100 is not reliant on predefined intermediate attachment points making the carrier 100 adjustable, providing optimal M-positioning with support from a popliteal fossa of one knee to the popliteal fossa of the other knee to provide knee-to-knee support for all stages from infancy extending into toddlerhood as shown in FIG. 6. The configuration depicted in FIGS. 5-6 present the carrier 100 for supporting a toddler prior to the toddler needing support extension.

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the carrier 100 configured to support a child 154 from knee-to-knee in the M-position. The user 156 is pulling on the shoulder strap attachment straps 116 tightening the shoulder straps 110 around the user's torso 158 while carrying the child 154. The shoulder strap attachment straps 116 are easily accessible in any configuration of the carrier 100 and may be adjusted by the user 156 to provide comfort and support for the user 156 and the child 154.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the child 154 is supported by the adjustable seat 106 from knee-to-knee in the M-position 160. Providing knee-to-knee support in the M-position as described herein may reduce the risk of hip dysplasia or hip dislocation. The M-position 160 is depicted in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the carrier 100 is configured such that the child's legs 162 wrap around the user 156 and hang while being support totally up to the knee. The leg is supported up to the left popliteal fossa 164 and up to the right popliteal fossa 166. The child's legs 162 are supported at a point higher than the child's buttocks in adjustable seat 106. The buttocks of the child 154 are supported at a point either level with or lower than the left popliteal fossa 164 and the right popliteal fossa 166. This creates the M-position 160 for the child 154 as shown in FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, the exterior 168 of the carrier 100 presents an upper pocket 170 where a hood 172 may be stored. The hood 172 may roll up, or fold up, and be stored in the upper pocket 170. In some embodiments, the hood 172 is secured to the interior of the upper pocket 170 with fasteners such as, for example, buttons, snaps, zippers, and hook and loop fasteners. The hood 172 may be stored in the upper pocket 170 or may be removed.

An embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 depicts a close-up view of the attachment between the body 104 of the carrier 100 and the waist belt 108 with support extensions 174 attached therebetween. The support extensions 174 may be attached to the body 104 at a body support extension attachment 176 disposed in the pocket 118 and a waist belt support extension attachment 178 disposed in the waist belt 108. The body support extension attachment 176 and the waist belt support extension attachment 178 as well as the coinciding support extension attachments 180 disposed on the support extensions 174 may be zippers as shown or may be any other attachment as described in embodiments above such as buttons, hook and loop, adhesive, or any type snap attachment. In some embodiments, the support extensions 174 may be permanently attached (e.g. sewn) to the body and the waist belt. In some embodiments, the support extension attachments 176, the waist belt support extension attachments 178, and the support extension attachments 180 may be referred to generally as extension attachments 120.

An exemplary embodiment presented in FIG. 7 depicts the support extensions 174 connecting the waist belt 108 to the body 104 of the carrier 100 at the adjustable seat 106. The support extension attachments 180 may attach directly to the waist belt 108 at a top portion 182 as depicted. The support extensions 174 may increase the size of the seating area and add support for the child 154 when the child 154 is larger. The support extensions 174 may functionally widen the body 104 of the carrier 100 in the region supporting the child 154 providing more surface area, extended leg support, and adding a wider seat for sustained M-position 160 of the child 154 than a carrier 100 configuration not including the support extensions 174. The support extensions 174 may increase the range of child sizes that may be supported with knee-to-knee support throughout the child's growth.

FIG. 8 depicts the child 154 as a toddler in the carrier 100 with the support extensions 174 providing full knee-to-knee support. The carrier 100 is attached to the user's torso 158 in a back carrying position with the toddler facing the user 156. The shoulder straps 110 are wrapped around the shoulders and arms of the user 156 and attached across the user's chest. The toddler is seated comfortably in the adjustable seat 106 which is extended by the support extensions 174. The support extensions 174 extend fully to the toddler's popliteal fossa regions 184 providing total knee-to-knee support.

Turning now to an exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 providing an exemplary height adjustment of the carrier 100 creating a multidimensional adjustability to the carrier 100. FIG. 9 depicts the exterior 168 (side facing away from the user 156) of the carrier 100. Depicted is an exemplary embodiment in which the user 156 is adjusting a right height adjustment strap 186 decreasing the height of the body 104 of the carrier 100. In some embodiments, the height adjustment, like the adjustable seat 106, is continuously adjustable in that the height is not limited to predefined locations using buttons, snaps, or other attachments. This makes the height customizable to the height and size of the child 154 supported by the carrier 100.

The height adjustment may provide a plurality of benefits. Though, both a left height adjustment strap 188 and the right height adjustment strap 186 may be adjusted to the same length, in some embodiments, a unilateral adjustment, or one height adjustment strap of a different length than the other, may provide benefits for an arm out toddler or for coverage during nursing. Adjusting one strap may allow the child 154 to view out of one side of the carrier 100 or may cover a side of the child 154 from the sun. Further, the user 156 may increase the height of one side to protect the view of a nursing child 154.

In some embodiments, a storage pocket 190 may be disposed on the waist belt 108 for storing personal objects such as, for example, a wallet, cell phone, teething rings, or any other personal item that the user 156 may carry. The storage pocket 190 may be closed using fasteners such as, for example, buttons, snaps, zippers, and hook and loop fasteners or may remain open. The storage pocket 190 may be elastic such that it may stretch to allow objects to be inserted and may contract to hold the objects in place within the storage pocket 190. In some embodiments, the storage pocket 190 may comprise a draw string for cinching the storage pocket 190 closed. The storage pocket 190 may be any size and shape and fasten closed using any fasteners described herein.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary flow diagram 1000 presenting a method for securing the child 154 in the adjustable seat carrier 100. At Step 1002, the size of the child 154 is determined for adjusting the adjustable seat 106 to an estimated size of the child 154 to achieve a comfortable knee-to-knee support providing support from a left popliteal fossa 164 to the right popliteal fossa 166 in the M-position 160. In some embodiments, the child 154 is a son or daughter and the carrier 100 is already set to the dimensions of the child 154, or the carrier 100 is easily set because the size is known. In some embodiments, the size of the child 154 is not exactly known and the adjustable seat 106 setting is estimated. If the adjustable seat 106 is set to a wrong position or configuration in this step, it should be obvious when the child 154 is in the carrier 100 and is not support totally from knee-to-knee. At this point the child 154 should simply be taken out of the carrier 100 and the adjustable seat 106 can be adjusted. In some embodiments, the adjustable seat 106 may be adjusted while the child 154 is in the seat to ensure that the child 154 is fully supported.

At a Step 1004, it is determined whether the child 154 needs the support extensions 174. If the carrier 100 is configured such that the left side 129 and the right side 130 are fully separated as described above and the adjustable seat 106 does not fully extend from the left popliteal fossa 164 to the right popliteal fossa 166, then the support extensions 174 should be attached to the carrier 100 body 104. If the support extensions 174 are required, the adjustable seat 106 is adjusted by sliding the attachment loops 142 along the waist belt strap 124 to the outermost position as described in embodiments above.

Moving to a Step 1006, if the support extensions 174 are not needed, the adjustable seat 106 is adjusted by sliding the attachment loop 142 along the waist belt strap 124 to the desired position and applying pressure to secure the attachment loop 142 to the waist belt 108 connecting the loop fasteners 146 with the compatible waist belt fasteners 148. This secures the adjustable seat 106 in the proper configuration to provide total knee-to-knee support as described in embodiments above. The adjustable seat 106 is adjusted such that the smallest children are supported by the attachment loops 142 secured proximate the center 138 of the waist belt 108 and as the size of the child 154 grows, the attachment loops 142 are secured further from the center 138 of the waist belt 108 until they reach the outermost position.

At a Step 1008, the loop fasteners 146 are moved to the outermost position such that the left side 129 and the right side 130 are furthest form the center 138. At the outermost position, the support extensions 174 may be added to support the child 154. The seat adjustment may be performed while the user 156 wears the carrier 100 or, in some embodiments, not.

At a Step 1010, in some embodiments, the support extensions 174 are attached to the body 104 of the carrier 100 at the adjustable seat 106 as well as the waist belt 108 to provide a larger surface area for the child 154. This provides knee-to-knee support for the child 154 beyond the capabilities of the adjustable seat 106 alone. The support extension attachments 174 on the support extensions 174 may attach to the body 104 and the waist belt 108 by zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, snaps, or any other method as described in embodiments above.

At a Step 1012, the child 154 may be placed in the carrier 100. Once the child 154 is securely in the carrier 100, the user 156 may check that the buttocks of the child 154 are firmly in and resting in the center of the adjustable seat 106. Further, the user 156 may check that the adjustable seat 106 and/or the support extensions 174 extend to the child's left popliteal fossa 164 and right popliteal fossa 166 providing knee-to-knee support and that the child 154 is resting in the M-position 160 as described in embodiments above.

At a Step 1014, the user 156 may adjust any straps, such as, for example, the shoulder strap attachment straps 116 and the right height adjustment strap 156, to loosen or tighten the carrier 100 around the user's torso 158 and the child 154 to ensure that the child 154 and the user 156 is comfortable and secure as described in embodiments presented above.

In some embodiments, the carrier 100 may be configured with attachments and/or fasteners. The attachments and/or fasteners may be buttons, snaps, clips, zippers, friction-based attachments, surface-area-based attachments, adhesive, or the components may be sewn. The attachments and/or fasteners may be different from one component of the carrier 100 to the next. For example, as depicted in the figures above, the attachments for the support extensions 174 may be zippers and the attachments to connect the waist belt 108 and the attachment loop 142 is a surface area attachment such as a hook and loop fastener (commonly known as Velcro®). Any combination of attachments and/or fasteners may be used.

The shoulder straps 110 and waist belt strap 124 of the carrier 100 may be adjustable using any webbing buckle, knob, tie, or any other type strap adjustment. This may provide versatility to the carrier 100 to support different sized and shaped children. This may also provide versatility for the carrier 100 to be worn in different manners by the user 156. For example, with two shoulder straps 110 the carrier 100 may be worn with the front portion on the front of the user's torso 158 and the child 154 facing towards the user 156. In this configuration, the child 154 may also be seated facing away from the user 156. Alternatively, the carrier 100 may be worn with one shoulder strap 110 and the shoulder straps 110 and the waist belt straps 124 may be adjusted accordingly. In this configuration, the carrier 100 may be worn on the front, back, or side of the user's torso 158. In the side position, the child 154 may face the user 156 with the child's legs 162 wrapped around the user 156 such that the user's hip helps support the child 154. The different positions of the child 154 may be based on the child 154 age, weight, height or may be based on the configuration of the carrier 100, the style of the carrier 100, the size of the carrier 100, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the steps provided in the methods described above may be omitted or rearranged. Any method or process that may be performed using any systems as described herein may be added to the methods described above.

Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described with reference to the illustrations in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope hereof as recited in the claims.

Claims

1. A carrier for supporting a child therein, the carrier comprising:

a body of the carrier attached to at least one shoulder strap and comprising an adjustable seat,

wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a torso of the user and support the body of the carrier;

a waist belt attached to the body of the carrier,

wherein the waist belt is configured to wrap around the torso of the user, wherein the waist belt comprises a waist belt strap; and

at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough providing adjustability to a width of the adjustable seat,

wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat width to support the child.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the adjustable seat extends to a left popliteal fossa and a right popliteal fossa of the child providing knee-to-knee support.

3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the at least one attachment loop comprises fasteners for attaching to the waist belt at a location that provides the knee-to-knee support for the child.

4. The carrier of claim 3, further comprising a hook and loop fastener disposed on the waist belt for attaching the attachment loop providing continuous adjustment to the adjustable seat.

5. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising support extensions attached to the carrier for providing support to the child.

6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the support extensions comprise a first set of extension attachments for attaching to the body of the carrier and a second set of extension attachments for attaching to the waist belt.

7. The carrier of claim 6, wherein the support extensions extend from the body of the carrier to a popliteal fossa of the child for provide knee-to-knee support.

8. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the carrier is configured to provide knee-to-knee support for children up to forty-five pounds.

9. A carrier configured to attach to a user and support a child therein, the carrier comprising:

a body of the carrier attached to at least one shoulder strap and comprising an adjustable seat,

wherein the at least one shoulder strap is configured to rest on a shoulder of the user and support the body of the carrier;

a waist belt comprising a waist belt strap configured to wrap around a torso of the user;

at least one extension attachment for attaching at least one support extension; and

at least one attachment loop attached to the adjustable seat and configured for the waist belt strap to slide therethrough for adjusting a width of the adjustable seat,

wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured to attach to the waist belt to secure the adjustable seat at a width for supporting the child.

10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the adjustable seat is configured to extend proximate a left popliteal fossa to a right popliteal fossa of the child.

11. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the at least one support extension is secured to the at least one extension attachment for providing knee-to-knee support for legs of the child.

12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the at least one support extension attaches to the at least one extension attachment and the waist belt.

13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the at least one support extension comprises a first zipper for attaching to the body of the carrier and a second zipper for attaching to the waist belt.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one attachment loop is configured for looping around the waist belt strap and attaching to the waist belt via a hook and loop fastener providing continuous adjustment to the adjustable seat.

15. A method for adjusting an adjustable seat on a carrier for supporting a child therein, the method comprising the steps of:

sliding an attachment loop along a waist belt strap,

wherein the attachment loop is disposed on the adjustable seat on a body of the carrier,

wherein the waist belt strap is disposed on a waist belt; and

attaching the attachment loop to the waist belt to support the child in the adjustable seat.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjustable seat provides support for the child from a left popliteal fossa to a right popliteal fossa providing knee-to-knee support for the child positioned in the carrier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the carrier is configured to be worn on a back of a torso of the user and the child is positioned facing the user.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the carrier is configured to be worn on a front of the torso of the user and the child is positioned facing the user.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the adjustable seat further supports the child in an M-position such that the left popliteal fossa and the right popliteal fossa are supported at a height higher than a height of buttocks of the child.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of adjusting a height of the carrier such that a head of the child is supported by an upper portion of the body of the carrier.