Abstract:
Child carrier ( 10 ) adaptable for carrying a sitting or prone child ( 90 ) on the wearer&#39;s chest ( 96 ), back ( 97 ) or hip includes belt ( 20 ) adapted for encircling the torso of wearer ( 95 ) and removable seat assembly ( 40 ). Belt ( 20 ) is wider than three inches and includes fastener ( 23 ) for cinching belt ( 20 ), seat attachment ( 25 ), such as pouch ( 60 ), for attaching seat assembly ( 40 ), and elastic portion ( 22 ) providing longitudinal elasticity such that elastic belt ( 20 ) may be secured about wearer&#39;s chest ( 96 ) without discomfort or interference with breathing. In use, belt ( 20 ) is cinched about the torso, seat assembly ( 40 ) is engaged in seat attachment ( 25 ), and child ( 90 ) is supported on seat ( 47 ). Suspenders ( 85 ), selectively attachable to belt ( 20 ) at a plurality of locations, distribute weight to shoulders ( 98 ) of wearer ( 95 ), and also prevent downward slippage of belt ( 20 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a carrier worn by an adult for carrying a child, and more particularly to a multi-function child carrier capable of supporting a child, in either a sitting or a prone position, at different locations on the wearer&#39;s torso, particularly on the chest and back. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is relatively fast, easy and convenient for an adult to carry a child on the hip. A baby or young child likes to be carried on an adult&#39;s hip with his legs straddling the adult. However, the adult often has to bend to a uncomfortable position to retain the child on the hip. Men, particularly, have a difficult time carrying a child in this manner. 
     As a child grows, the most convenient method of carrying the child changes with the size and weight of the child. For example, newborn infants, who are themselves unable to hold onto an adult, are often carried high up on the chest of an adult. Older toddlers may prefer to be carried on the adult&#39;s hip as described above, but this can be uncomfortable and even painful for the adult, especially as the child grows and gains weight. For still older, stronger children, a preferred method is to carry the child on the back, with the child holding onto the adult&#39;s shoulders. 
     There has been a need, therefore, for a device which assists adults in supporting and transporting children in the three modes described above. Adapted for use on the chest, hip, or back, such a child carrier retains its utility as the adult&#39;s or the child&#39;s needs change. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A child carrier includes a belt adapted for encircling the torso of the wearer and a selectively removable seat assembly. The belt is generally wider than three inches and includes means for attaching a seat assembly as well as an elastic portion providing longitudinal elasticity. The width and elasticity of the belt provide orthopedic support as well as abdominal support for the wearer, and the elasticity further enables the belt to expand with the wearer&#39;s chest so as not to interfere with breathing or cause discomfort. 
     In use, the belt is cinched about the torso, the seat assembly is engaged in the seat attachment means, and a child is supported on the seat. The child&#39;s weight, therefore, is distributed by the belt to a relatively large area of the wearer&#39;s torso. Suspenders may be included to distribute the child&#39;s weight further to the shoulders of the wearer, and also to prevent downward slippage of the belt. 
     While the seat assembly is conveniently removable independent of the belt, the invention also encompasses the selective attachment of a plurality of seat assemblies to accommodate multiple children simultaneously. Further, the invention also encompasses adjustable seat attachment means and suspender attachment means, such that the same size belt may offer versatility and accommodate wearers of greatly different sizes. 
     The seat assembly is capable of operating in two different modes, depending upon which side of the seat is facing upward. One side of the seat is adapted to support a child in a seated position, while the opposed side of the seat is adapted to support a child in a supine position. The seat assembly may be removed from the seat attachment means, inverted, and reinserted to accommodate a child in the desired manner. 
     The child carrier described herein is capable of being worn low on the torso, around the waist or hips, for carrying a child at the hip, and it is also adapted for use high on the torso, around the chest, for cradling a child in the arms or for carrying a child on the back. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of carrier  10  with seat assembly  40  on the user&#39;s chest  96 . 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing carrier  10  of FIG. 1 in use supporting a small child  90 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of carrier  10  in use on the chest  96  of user  95  with seat assembly  40  on the user&#39;s back  97 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view showing carrier  10  of FIG. 3 in use supporting an older child  90 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of carrier  10  in use with seat assembly  40  on the user&#39;s chest  96  supporting a small child  90  in a supine position. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of carrier  10 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partially cut away perspective view of belt  20  of FIG. 6 showing seat assembly  40  engaged in pouch  60 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of seat assembly  40 . 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of a first embodiment of carrier  10  in use on the chest  96  of the wearer or user  95 . Child carrier  10  generally includes a belt  20  and a seat assembly  40  including a seat  47  upon which baby or child  90  is supported. FIGS. 3 and 4 show side elevation views, with and without an older child  90 , respectively, of a second embodiment of carrier  10  in use on the chest  96  of the user  95  with seat assembly  40  on the user&#39;s back  97  for use with an older child  90 . FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of carrier  10  in use on the chest  96  of the user  95  with seat assembly  40  on the user&#39;s chest  96  for use with an infant or small child  90  in a supine position. 
     Looking also at FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of carrier  10  showing belt  20 , seat assembly  40 , and suspenders  85 . Belt  20  is made of strong material such as nylon, canvas, denim, or other such material as is common in belt manufacture, and cinches around a wearer&#39;s hips, waist, or chest  96 . Belt  20  is wide, being between three and ten inches in width and preferably between four and eight inches in width. Belt  20  includes a longitudinally elastic portion  22 , such that belt  20  has sufficient longitudinal elasticity to enable the wearer  95  to cinch belt  20  tightly around a selected area of the torso, especially around the lower chest, without hindering the wearer&#39;s breathing. Elastic portion  22  may encompass all or nearly all of the length of belt  20 . 
     A wide belt  20  helps distribute a child&#39;s weight over a broad area of the wearer&#39;s torso effectively reducing the load carried by the back muscles. Additionally, the width and elasticity of belt  20  provide broad, firm orthopedic support for the wearer&#39;s back and abdominal muscles as the wearer carries the weight of a child. Belt  20  may also include support ribbing (not shown) transverse to the longitudinal axis to supplement the orthopedic support provided. 
     Belt  20  also includes fastening or cinching means  23  for cinching belt  20  tightly about the wearer&#39;s torso. Preferably, cinching means  23  are hook-and-loop type material located near ends  26  of belt  20 . Alternatively, cinching means  23  may be clasps, buttons, snaps, a buckle, or other similar belt cinching mechanisms. 
     To carry child  90  on the chest  96  as seen in FIG. 2, belt  20  of FIG. 6 is cinched on the right side of wearer  95 . To carry child  90  on the back  97  as seen in FIG. 4, belt  20  of FIG. 6 is cinched on the left side of wearer  95  and asymmetrical suspenders need to be rotated 180 degrees. To carry child  90  on the left hip, belt of FIG. 6 is cinched on the front of the wearer  95  and suspenders  85  are rotated ninety degrees. 
     As seen in FIG. 6, belt  20  includes a seat attachment means  25 , such as pouch  60 , for selectively attaching seat assembly  40  to belt  20 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view, FIG. 9 shows a top plan view, and FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of seat assembly  40 , which includes a backing portion  41  and a seat  47 . Seat assembly  40  may be made of plastic, fiberglass, wood, metal, or other material such as is common in fabrication of portable seats. Backing portion  41 , including lower end  42  and upper end  43 , functions in cooperation with pouch  60  and is adapted to be selectively attached to belt  20  by pouch  60 . Seat  47  is attached to backing portion  41  and projects outward therefrom for supporting a child  90  thereon. Seat  47  may be integral with or rigidly attached to backing portion  41 , but it is preferable that seat  47  is not hinged or otherwise movably attached to backing portion  41  because movable seats are a potential source of injury to child  90 . 
     Preferably, backing portion  41  is rigid in the vertical direction to resist the moment applied by child&#39;s weight on seat  47 , but flexible in the horizontal direction to conform to the shape of belt  20  as it encircles the wearer&#39;s torso. Backing portion  41  includes finger holes  44  which assist in insertion and removal of backing portion  41  as it is engaged and disengaged with pouch  60 . 
     Seat  47  is generally saddle-shaped as best seen from the top plan view of FIG.  9 . Seat  47  includes straddling side  48  and supine side  49 . The narrow portion (line  10 — 10  in FIG. 9) of straddling side  48  is downwardly sloped toward the edges, as best seen in FIG. 10, to accommodate the legs of child  90  seated thereupon. Supine side  49  is substantially planar to provide a flat surface for supporting child  90  in a supine position, as shown in FIG.  5 . Seat  47  is therefore capable of supporting child  90  in either a seated or supine position depending upon the orientation of backing portion  41  in pouch  60 . 
     Pouch  60  and backing portion  41  are adapted to cooperate such that backing portion  41  may be inserted into pouch  60  when seat assembly  40  is oriented either with straddling side  48  or with supine side  49  facing upwards. That is, backing portion  41  may be inserted into pouch  60  such that seat assembly  40  is supported with straddling side  48  of seat  47  positioned facing upward for supporting child  90  in a seated position as in FIGS. 2 and 4; alternatively, backing portion  41  may be inverted such that pouch  60  supports seat assembly  40  with supine side  49  of seat  47  positioned facing upward for supporting child  90  in a supine posture as in FIG.  5 . 
     Pouch  60  functions to secure backing portion  41  of seat assembly  40  against belt  20  such that seat  47  is retained in a substantially horizontal position suitable for supporting child  90 . Pouch  60  may be fixedly attached, as with stitching or fabric rivets, to belt  20 , but the position of pouch  60  may also be adjustable along the length of belt  20  such that the location of seat assembly  40  is selectively variable. Such longitudinal variability of pouch  60  may be accomplished through the use of panels of hook-and-loop type fastening material, or rows of grommets, hooks, or other fastening devices distributed along the length of belt  20  adapted to engage pouch  60  at a selected location. Alternatively, pouch  60  may be slidably connected to belt  20 , as through the use of a belt loop or similar mechanism. 
     The invention also encompasses the simultaneous use of a plurality of seat attachment means  25  at different locations along belt  20 . For example, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, carrier  10  includes an additional pouch  60  to accommodate an additional seat assembly  40  so as to carry two children; for example, one child  90  on each hip. Alternatively, the adult  95  may cradle one child  90  across the chest  96  and carry another child  90  on the back  97 , “piggy-back” style. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a carrier  10  with two pouches  60 , one on the user&#39;s chest  96 , shown without an attached seat assembly  40 , and one on the user&#39;s back  97  with seat assembly  40  engaged for use. 
     FIGS. 6 through 8 show the cooperation between pouch  60  and seat assembly  40 . When child  90  is supported, the weight on seat  47  tends to force the lower end  42  of backing portion  41  into the wearer&#39;s body, causing the upper end  43  of backing portion  41  to separate from belt  20 . Pouch  60  prevents outward movement of upper end  43  and downward movement of lower end  42 . 
     Pouch  60  has a first aperture  63  for receiving seat assembly  40 . Pouch  60  is connected to belt  20  and secures backing portion  41  such that seat  47  is retained in a substantially horizontal position suitable for supporting child  90 . Pouch  60  includes a seat-retention section  62  which, in use, operates to maintain backing portion  41  against belt  20 . Seat-retention section  62  includes a second aperture  64  for accommodating the exit of seat  47  from pouch  60 . Preferably, pouch  60  includes closure means  65 , such as closure flap  66 , for securely closing first aperture  63  such that backing portion  41  cannot inadvertently slip out of pouch  60 . Flap  66  may be retained in the closed position with suitable fasteners such as patches of hook-and-loop type fastening material, denoted as  67 , or buttons or snaps. 
     FIG. 7 is a partially cut away perspective view and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view (taken on line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7) of carrier  10  showing seat assembly  40  in pouch  60 . In FIG. 7, backing portion  41  is hidden from view by seat-retention section  62  of pouch  60 . Closure flap  66  is shown in the closed position, and seat  47  is shown extending through second aperture  64 . 
     Other seat attachment means  25  (not shown) are contemplated. For example, belt  20  and backing portion  41  may include cooperating fasteners for attaching seat assembly  40  to belt  20 . For example, belt  20  may include grommets and backing portion  41  may include cooperating hooks. A longitudinal row of grommets, integral with belt  20 , would allow attachment of seat assembly  40  at desired locations along belt  20 . 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1-6, adjustable-length suspenders  85  are used in conjunction with belt  20 . Suspenders  85  may be asymmetrical front to rear as shown or may be symmetrical. Suspender attachment means  80  may be integral with belt  20 , such that suspenders  85  are fixedly attached to belt  20 , such as with stitching or fabric rivets. However, the locations of suspender attachment means  80 , such as buttons or snaps  81 , if connected to belt  20 , are preferably adjustable along the length of belt  20  such that the location of attachment of suspenders  85  is selectively variable. Such variability may be accomplished in the same ways as with seat attachment means  25 , discussed above. Alternatively, suspender attachment means  80  may be integral with suspenders  85  themselves, such as clips, as is typical with clip-on suspenders, such that suspenders  85  are attachable at any location along belt  20 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, buttons or snaps  81  are fixed in location on belt  20 . Suspenders  85  may be rearranged, however, by attaching suspender ends  87  to different sets of buttons  81 . For example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, where pouch  60  is located on the front of the chest of the wearer, is also shown in FIG.  1 . To switch to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, where pouch  60  is located on the back of the wearer, suspenders  85  are simply rotated 180 degrees such that each end  87  is attached to the set of buttons  81  opposite its location shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Suspenders  85  pass over the wearer&#39;s shoulders  98  and support belt  20  from the wearer&#39;s shoulders  98  at a desired height on the wearer&#39;s torso, thereby reducing the risk that belt  20  will slip out of place under the weight of child  90 . Suspenders  85  further distribute a child&#39;s weight over the shoulders  98  of the wearer  95 , relieving tension on the wearer&#39;s back muscles. Suspenders  85  are preferably adjustable in length through the use of suspender adjustment buckles  86  so as to support belt  20  at a plurality of positions on the user&#39;s torso. 
     It can be seen that the invention provides a very convenient device for safe and convenient support and transportation of children of various ages and sizes. A baby or child  90  can easily be set on seat  47  and carried without excessive bending by the adult. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.