Side seating infant carrier

Abstract

A side seating infant carrier which is adapted to support an infant or young child on an adult wearer's hip and is provided with a retention strap arrangement which is specifically adapted to hold the infant or young child within a seat portion defined by the carrier. The infant carrier of the present invention is further provided with a waist belt arrangement adapted to provide optimal support to the lower back/lumbar of the wearer, as well as an adjustable shoulder strap arrangement which is configured to promote enhanced comfort and sizing flexibility.

1 . An infant carrier, comprising:
 a main panel;   an elongate shoulder strap having opposed proximal and distal ends secured to prescribed locations on the main panel;   an elongate waist belt having opposed proximal and distal ends secured to prescribed locations on the main panel; and   an elongate retention strap having opposed proximal and distal ends secured to prescribed locations on the main panel;   the retention strap being sized an configured to be extensible over the chest and under the arms of an infant seated within the carrier.   
   
   
       2 . The infant carrier of  claim 1  wherein:
 the main panel defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges;   the proximal end of the shoulder strap is permanently attached to a portion of the second side edge of the main panel; and   the shoulder strap is releasably engageable to a portion of the first side edge of the main panel.   
   
   
       3 . The infant carrier of  claim 2  wherein:
 a shoulder strap buckle is permanently attached to the first side edge of the main panel;   the shoulder strap is extensible though the shoulder strap buckle;   a female connector is permanently attached to the shoulder strap between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and   a male connector is adjustably mounted to the shoulder strap between the distal end thereof and the shoulder strap buckle;   the releasable engagement of the male connector to the female connector subsequent to the advancement of the shoulder strap through the shoulder strap buckle being operative to maintain the shoulder strap in a looped configuration about the neck and one shoulder of a wearer of the infant carrier.   
   
   
       4 . The infant carrier of  claim 3  wherein the shoulder strap buckle is at least partially housed within a tubular sleeve attached to and extending along a portion of the first side edge of the main panel. 
   
   
       5 . The infant carrier of  claim 3  wherein the shoulder strap further comprises an elongate, tubular shoulder pad sleeve which is selectively positionable therealong between the proximal end thereof and the female connector permanently mounted thereto. 
   
   
       6 . The infant carrier of  claim 1  wherein:
 the main panel defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges;   a pair of lower flap portions are attached to and protrude from respective ones of the first and second sides edges in opposed relation to each other;   the proximal end of the waist belt is permanently attached to one of the lower flap portions; and   the waist belt is releasably engageable to the remaining one of the lower flap portions.   
   
   
       7 . The infant carrier of  claim 6  wherein:
 a female connector is permanently attached to the remaining of the one of the lower flap portions; and   a male connector is adjustably mounted to the waist belt;   the releasable engagement of the male connector to the female connector being operative to maintain the waist belt in a looped arrangement about the waist of a wearer of the infant carrier.   
   
   
       8 . The infant carrier of  claim 7  wherein the waist belt comprises:
 a first waist belt section defining the proximal end;   a second waist belt section defining the distal end; and   a waist belt buckle cooperatively engaging the first and second waist belt sections to each other;   the first waist belt section being adjustably mounted to the waist belt buckle, with the second waist belt section being permanently attached to the waist belt buckle.   
   
   
       9 . The infant carrier of  claim 8  further comprising an elongate, tubular waist belt sleeve which is selectively positionable along the second waist belt section between the male connector and the waist belt buckle. 
   
   
       10 . The infant carrier of  claim 1  wherein:
 the main panel defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges;   a pair of upper flap portions are attached to the main panel in spaced relation to each other;   the proximal end of the retention strap is permanently attached to one of the upper flap portions; and   the retention strap is releasably engageable to the remaining one of the lower flap portions.   
   
   
       11 . The infant carrier of  claim 10  wherein:
 a female connector is permanently attached to the remaining of the one of the lower flap portions; and   a male connector is adjustably mounted to the retention strap;   the releasable engagement of the male connector to the female connector being operative to maintain the retention strap in a looped arrangement about the chest of an infant within the infant carrier.   
   
   
       12 . The infant carrier of  claim 10  wherein:
 the proximal end of the shoulder strap is attached to a portion of the second side edge of the main panel along a shoulder strap seam;   a tubular sleeve is attached to a portion of the first side edge of the main panel along a sleeve seam;   one of the upper flap portions is attached to the second side edge of the main panel along the shoulder strap seam; and   the remaining one of the upper flap portions is attached to the first side edge of the main panel along the sleeve seam.   
   
   
       13 . The infant carrier of  claim 1  wherein the main panel defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges, and a fold seam extending between the first and second side edges in spaced, generally parallel relation to the bottom edge, the folding of the main panel along the fold seam being operative to facilitate the formation of a seat portion in the main panel. 
   
   
       14 . The infant carrier of  claim 13  wherein the outer surface of the main panel defines a pocket. 
   
   
       15 . An infant carrier, comprising:
 a main panel defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges;   an elongate shoulder strap having opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the shoulder strap being permanently attached to a portion of the second side edge of the main panel;   a shoulder strap buckle permanently attached to the first side edge of the main panel, the shoulder strap being extensible though the shoulder strap buckle;   a female connector permanently attached to the shoulder strap between the proximal and distal ends thereof; and   a male connector adjustably mounted to the shoulder strap between the distal end thereof and the shoulder strap buckle;   the releasable engagement of the male connector to the female connector subsequent to the advancement of the shoulder strap through the shoulder strap buckle being operative to maintain the shoulder strap in a looped configuration about the neck and one shoulder of a wearer of the infant carrier.   
   
   
       16 . The infant carrier of  claim 15  wherein the shoulder strap buckle is at least partially housed within a tubular sleeve attached to and extending along a portion of the first side edge of the main panel. 
   
   
       17 . The infant carrier of  claim 15  wherein the shoulder strap further comprises an elongate, tubular shoulder pad sleeve which is selectively positionable therealong between the proximal end thereof and the female connector permanently mounted thereto. 
   
   
       18 . An infant carrier, comprising:
 a main panel defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed first and second side edges extending between the top and bottom edges;   a pair of upper flap portions attached to the main panel in spaced relation to each other;   an elongate shoulder strap having opposed proximal and distal ends secured to prescribed locations on the main panel; and   an elongate retention strap having opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being permanently attached to one of the upper flap portions, with the retention strap being releasably engageable to the remaining one of the lower flap portions;   the retention strap being sized an configured to be extensible over the chest and under the arms of an infant seated within the carrier.   
   
   
       19 . The infant carrier of  claim 18  wherein:
 a female connector is permanently attached to the remaining of the one of the lower flap portions; and   a male connector is adjustably mounted to the retention strap;   the releasable engagement of the male connector to the female connector being operative to maintain the retention strap in a looped arrangement about the chest of an infant within the infant carrier.   
   
   
       20 . The infant carrier of  claim 19  wherein:
 the proximal end of the shoulder strap is attached to a portion of the second side edge of the main panel along a shoulder strap seam;   a tubular sleeve is attached to a portion of the first side edge of the main panel along a sleeve seam;   one of the upper flap portions is attached to the second side edge of the main panel along the shoulder strap seam; and   the remaining one of the upper flap portions is attached to the first side edge of the main panel along the sleeve seam.