Multifunctional child carrier

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multifunctional child carrier. In one embodiment, the multifunctional child carrier is transitionable between front and side carrying positions on a wearer, and has a carrier body with a bottom section having a support sleeve, a lumbar belt configured to extend through the support sleeve and about the body of the wearer, and a pair of adjustable shoulder straps extensible over the wearer's shoulders. In another embodiment, the multifunctional carrier is transitionable between upright and sling carrying positions on a wearer, and the carrier body has both a front sleeve and at least two opposing side sleeves. In yet another embodiment, a lumbar belt for use with the child carrier includes a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the wearer's back.

1 . A child carrier transitionable between front and side carrying positions on a wearer, the carrier comprising:
 (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein, the carrier body comprising a bottom section configured to pass between the legs of the child held in the carrier body to support the child thereon, the bottom section comprising a support sleeve;   (b) a pair of adjustable shoulder straps extensible over the wearer's shoulders, each shoulder strap comprising opposing first and second ends attached to the carrier body to define a loop therebetween, and   (c) a lumbar belt configured to extend through the support sleeve and about the body of the wearer;
 wherein the carrier body, adjustable shoulder straps and lumbar belt are configured such that the carrier body is selectively positionable (i) at the front of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the front carrying position, or (ii) toward the side of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in the side carrying position. 
   
   
   
       2 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is positioned such that the carrier body is supported on the wearer's hip in the side carrying position. 
   
   
       3 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein a bottom edge of the support sleeve is located at the bottom of the carrier body. 
   
   
       4 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the first ends of the adjustable shoulder straps are attached to a top edge of the support sleeve at an angle forming a V-shaped notch above the support sleeve. 
   
   
       5 . The child carrier according to  claim 4  wherein the carrier body comprises a pair of lower support appendages extending outwardly from opposing sides thereof, the lower support appendages being attached to the adjustable shoulder straps at a prescribed location that is spaced a preselected distance above the top edge of the support sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The child carrier according to  claim 5  wherein the prescribed location of attachment to the adjustable shoulder strap is spaced above the top edge of the support sleeve by at least about two inches. 
   
   
       7 . The child carrier according to  claim 5  wherein the lower support appendages, adjustable shoulder straps, and carrier body cooperate to define two openings that are sized, shaped and configured to pass the child's legs therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the carrier body comprises a posterior section connected to the bottom section, the posterior section comprising:
 a torso support region configured to support the torso of the child;   a head support region configured to support the head of the child; and   a transition region between the head and torso support regions, the transition region being sized and configured to allow the head support region to be selectively moved between (i) an unfolded position for carrying of the child facing inwardly towards the wearer, and (ii) a folded position for carrying of the child facing outwardly away from the wearer, wherein in the folded position the head support region is folded down into an overlapping relation to the torso support region.   
   
   
       9 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the carrier body further comprises at least one sleeve disposed on a side of the carrier body that is configured to pass the lumbar belt therethrough. 
   
   
       10 . The child carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the lumbar belt comprises;
 (i) a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the back, the contoured lumbar panel having a curvature that is complimentary to a curvature of the lumbar region of the wearer's back; and   (ii) at least one lumbar belt strap attached to the lumbar panel and extensible about the wearer.   
   
   
       11 . A child carrier transitionable between upright and sling carrying positions on a wearer, the carrier comprising:
 (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein, the carrier body comprising a front sleeve and at least two opposing side sleeves; and   (b) a pair of adjustable straps attached to the carrier body and extensible over the wearer's shoulders; and   (c) a lumbar belt configured to selectively extend through the front and side sleeve segments and about the body of the wearer;
 wherein the lumbar belt is extended through the front sleeve to support the carrier body in the upright carrying position, and the lumbar belt is extended through one of the side sleeves to support the carrier body in the sling carrying position. 
   
   
   
       12 . The child carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier body comprises a bottom section configured to pass between the legs of a child held in the carrier body to support the child thereon, the bottom section comprising the front sleeve. 
   
   
       13 . The child carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the lumbar belt is configured to be slideably extended through the front sleeve segment such that the carrier body is selectively positionable (i) at the front of the wearer's body to support the carrier body in an upright front carrying position, or (ii) towards the side of the wearer's body an upright side carrying position. 
   
   
       14 . The child carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier body comprises a pair of lower support appendages extending outwardly from opposing sides thereof, the support appendages having the opposing side sleeves formed therein. 
   
   
       15 . The child carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier body comprises an interior channel extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the carrier body further comprises a support insert configured to be slideably positionable within the channel to support the infant's head in the sling carrying position. 
   
   
       16 . The child carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the support insert is slideably positionable towards an upper end of the carrier body to support the head of the child in the sling carrying position, and is slideably positionable away from the upper end of the carrier body to support the child in the upright carrying position. 
   
   
       17 . A child carrier configured to be worn by a wearer for the carrying of a child therein, the child carrier comprising:
 (a) a carrier body configured to support a child therein;   (b) a lumbar support belt configured to attach to the carrier body and support the carrier body on the wearer, the lumbar support belt comprising:
 (i) a contoured lumbar panel configured to support the lumbar region of the wearer, the contoured lumbar panel comprising a curvature that is complimentary to a curvature of the lumbar region of the wearer; and 
 (ii) at least one lumbar belt strap attached to the lumbar panel and extensible about the wearer; and 
   (c) at least one shoulder strap attached to the carrier body and extensible over the wearer's shoulders.   
   
   
       18 . The child carrier according to  claim 17  wherein the contoured lumbar panel has a base panel comprising at least one of a formed rigid foam and a molded resilient material. 
   
   
       19 . The child carrier according to  claim 18  wherein the base panel curves inwardly from a top edge of the panel to a bottom edge of the panel, and wherein the base panel is of a thickness that substantially continuously decreases from a greater thickness at a middle portion of the base panel to a smaller thickness at top and bottom portions of the base panel. 
   
   
       20 . The child carrier according to  claim 18  wherein the base panel comprises:
 a panel frame having a top edge defining a generally arcuate shape, sloping side edges and a bottom edge defining an inwardly curved indentation;   a web within the panel frame comprising first web lines radiating upwardly and outwardly from the indentation in the panel frame, and second web lines traversing the first lines; and   support arches superimposed over the first and second web lines.