Compact and safe child carrying device

Abstract

An apparatus for assisting an adult in shoulder-carrying a child is provided, wherein the apparatus has a first cuff for clasping a first ankle of the child, second cuff for clasping the second ankle of the child, and a belt in selective engagement with the first and second cuffs, wherein the belt wraps around the back and under the arms of the adult for substantially hands-free carrying of the child on the shoulders. The first and second cuffs are removable from the belt, and selectively clasp the first and second ankles of the child by respective first and second fastening members, such as Velcro, snaps, and buckles. The first and second fastening members, in one example, generally prohibit fastening to one another when not fastened to the belt. A self-contained carrier is further provided, wherein carrier is configured to contain the first and second cuffs and belt for portability.

1 . An apparatus for assisting an adult in shoulder-carrying a child, the apparatus comprising:
 a first cuff comprising a first strap and a first cuff fastening member, wherein the first cuff fastening member is operably coupled to the first strap, and wherein the first strap is configured to encircle and selectively clasp a first ankle of the child;   a second cuff comprising a second strap and a second cuff fastening member, wherein the second cuff fastening member is operably coupled to the second strap, and wherein the second strap is configured to encircle and selectively clasp a second ankle of the child; and   a belt having a first end and a second end, wherein the belt is configured to wrap around the back and under the arms of the adult, wherein the belt further comprises:
 a third strap; 
 a belt length adjustment member, wherein the belt length adjustment member generally determines a length of the belt between the first end and the second end thereof via a selective engagement between the belt length adjustment member and the third strap; 
 a first belt fastening member in selective mating engagement with the first cuff fastening member, wherein the first belt fastening member is operably coupled to the first end of the belt; and 
 a second belt fastening member in selective mating engagement with the second cuff fastening member, wherein the second belt fastening member is operably coupled to the second end of the belt. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff further comprises a first cuff length adjustment member, wherein the first cuff length adjustment member generally determines a length of the first cuff via a selective engagement between the first cuff length adjustment member and the first strap, and wherein the second cuff further comprises a second cuff length adjustment member, wherein the second cuff length adjustment member generally determines a length of the second cuff via a selective engagement between the second cuff length adjustment member and the second strap. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first cuff length adjustment member and second cuff length adjustment member comprise a respective Velcro bands coupled to opposing sides of the respective first strap and second strap. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first cuff length adjustment member and second cuff length adjustment member respectively comprise one or more of a plurality of snaps, and a buckle. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff and the second cuff further each comprise a cuff pad member respectively operably coupled to at least a portion of the first strap and second strap, wherein the cuff pad member generally provides a cushion between the respective first ankle and strap and the second ankle and second strap. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the belt further comprises belt pad member operably coupled to the third strap, wherein the belt pad member generally provides a cushion between the third strap and the back of the adult. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier member operably coupled to the belt, wherein the carrier member is configured to selectively enclose the first cuff, second cuff, and belt therein. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier member comprises a fabric flap operably coupled to the belt, wherein the fabric flap comprises a first closure member and a second closure member operably coupled to opposing ends thereof, wherein the fabric flap is configured to be folded upon itself, wherein the first closure member and second closure member selectively couple to one another, therein generally encasing the first cuff, second cuff, and belt within the fabric flap. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier member comprises a case detachably coupled to the belt, wherein the case comprises an closure member, and wherein the closure member generally secures the first cuff, second cuff, and belt within the case. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the closure member comprises a zipper, drawstring, snap, or biased material operably coupled to the case. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier member comprises a clasp member operably coupled thereto. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the clasp member comprises a caribiner or a hasp. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuff fastening member and first belt fastening member generally define a first quick-release buckle having mating male and female ends, and wherein the second cuff fastening member and second belt fastening member generally define a second quick-release buckle having mating male and female ends. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first cuff fastening member and second cuff fastening member do not mate with one another, therein generally prohibiting a direct coupling of the first cuff to the second cuff. 
   
   
       15 . An child-carrying apparatus, comprising:
 a first cuff;   a second cuff;   a belt having a first end and a second end;   a first quick-release buckle operably coupled to the first cuff and the first end of the belt, wherein the first quick-release buckle provides selective coupling of the first cuff to the belt via a mating engagement of male and female components thereof;   a second quick-release buckle operably coupled to the second cuff and the second end of the belt, wherein the second quick-release buckle provides selective coupling of the second cuff to the belt via a mating engagement of male and female components thereof; and   a compact carrier member, wherein the compact carrier member is configured to selectively enclose the first cuff, second cuff, belt, first quick-release buckle, and second quick-release buckle.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first cuff comprises a first strap and a first cuff fastening member operably coupled to the first strap, wherein the first strap is configured to encircle and selectively clasp a first ankle of a child, and wherein the second cuff comprises a second strap and a second cuff fastening member operably coupled to the second strap, and wherein the second strap is configured to encircle and selectively clasp a second ankle of the child, and wherein the belt further comprises a third strap, a belt length adjustment member, a first belt fastening member in selective mating engagement with the first cuff fastening member, and a second belt fastening member in selective mating engagement with the second cuff fastening member, wherein the belt length adjustment member generally determines a length of the belt between the first end and the second end thereof via a selective engagement between the belt length adjustment member and the third strap, wherein the first belt fastening member is operably coupled to the first end of the belt, and wherein the second belt fastening member is operably coupled to the second end of the belt. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the compact carrier member comprises a case operably coupled to the belt, wherein the case comprises an closure member, and wherein the closure member generally secures at least the first cuff, second cuff, and belt within the case. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the compact carrier member further comprises a clasp member operably coupled thereto. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more of the first cuff, second cuff, belt, and compact carrier member comprise an insignia operably coupled thereto. 
   
   
       20 . A method for carrying a child on the shoulders of an adult, the method comprising:
 placing a child on the shoulders of the adult in a seated position, wherein the buttocks of the child rest on the shoulders of the adult and the legs of the child extend around the neck of the adult and toward the chest of the adult;   placing a first cuff around a first ankle of the child;   placing a second cuff around a second ankle of the child;   coupling a first end of a belt to the first cuff;   wrapping the belt around the back of the adult; and   coupling a second end of the belt to the second cuff, wherein the first and second ankles of the child are generally confined from forward motion via the coupling of the first and second cuffs to the belt.