Baby Carrier

Abstract

A baby carrier including a backpack assembly, first and second legs, a first strap, and a second strap. The first and second legs are operably coupled to the backpack assembly and normally biased toward an open position. The first strap is operably coupled to the first leg and the second strap is operably coupled to the second leg. The first and second straps are used for pivoting the first and second legs toward each other and into a closed position when biased. The first and second legs are operably coupled to the backpack assembly by hinges. The first and second legs are normally biased toward the open position by springs in the hinges.

1 . A baby carrier comprising:
 a backpack assembly;   first and second legs operably coupled to the backpack assembly, the first and second legs normally biased toward an open position;   a first strap operably coupled to the first leg; and   a second strap operably coupled to the second leg, the first and second straps for pivoting the first and second legs toward each other and into a closed position when biased.   
     
     
         2 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs are each normally biased toward the open position by a torsion spring. 
     
     
         3 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second legs are each operably coupled to the backpack assembly by a hinge, the hinges including a torsion spring to bias the first and second legs toward the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The baby carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second straps intersect each other. 
     
     
         5 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and straps include mating connectors, the mating connectors maintaining the first and second legs in the closed position when mated together. 
     
     
         6 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second straps are generally biased in opposing directions to pivot the first and second legs into the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The baby carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second legs are engaged with each other in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier further comprises a child compartment assembly, the child compartment assembly supported by the backpack assembly and forming a seat, the seat generally above the first and second legs. 
     
     
         9 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the backpack assembly includes a shoulder harness, the first and second legs not connected to the shoulder harness. 
     
     
         10 . The baby carrier of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second legs are movable into the closed position without using the shoulder harness. 
     
     
         11 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg is operably coupled to the backpack assembly by a first upper hinge and a first lower hinge and the second leg is operably coupled to the backpack assembly by a second upper hinge and a second lower hinge, each of the hinges including a torsion spring biasing the first and second legs toward the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The baby carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second upper hinges each include a stop, the stops limiting travel of the first and second legs and defining the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg has a first end portion and the second leg has a second end portion and, when the first and second legs are in the closed position, the first and second ends at least one of touch each other or are closer to each other relative to the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the backpack assembly includes a frame, the frame and the first and second legs formed from tubular metal. 
     
     
         15 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier includes a shoulder harness and a belt harness configure to permit a user to support the baby carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second legs project generally rearwardly away from a front of the backpack assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A baby carrier comprising:
 a frame assembly supporting a child compartment;   first and second harnesses operably coupled to the frame assembly;   first and second legs, the first leg having a first rearward end and the second leg having a second rearward end;   a plurality of spring-loaded hinges coupling the first and second legs to the frame assembly, the spring-loaded hinges for biasing the first and second rearward ends away from each other; and   a pair of straps operably coupled to the first and second rearward ends of the first and second legs, the straps for drawing the first and second rearward ends toward each other when the straps are pulled.   
     
     
         18 . The baby carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the first harness is a belt harness and the second harness is a shoulder harness, and wherein the pair of straps are moveably coupled to the belt harness. 
     
     
         19 . The baby carrier of  claim 18 , wherein a first strap in the pair of straps crosses over a second strap in the pair of straps. 
     
     
         20 . The baby carrier of  claim 17 , wherein at least two of the hinges include a stop for limiting movement of the first and second legs.