Hands-Free Shoulder Carrier for Children

Abstract

A child carrier and support apparatus for securing a child in a seated position atop a wearer's shoulders comprising a chest strap sized for encirclement of a torso of a body of a wearer which employs means for encircled engagement within a passage of the ankle or the leg adjacent to the ankle, of both legs of a child, sitting upon the shoulders of the wearer, to provide a means for preventing the child from falling rearward. In at least one preferred mode the means for encircled engagement is provided by a pair of ankle engagements which are pivotally engaged to the chest strap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child carrier apparatus providing secure seating for a child, atop a wearer's shoulders, comprising;
 at least one elongated strap having two ends;   said elongated strap sized for an encircled engagement with a body of a wearer, to an as-used position with a frontal portion of said elongated strap extending across the chest of said wearer;   means for encircled removable engagement, of portions of both legs, of a child sitting upon the shoulders of said wearer;   said means for encircled removable engagement of said portions of both legs, in a secure communication to said frontal portion of said elongated strap;   whereby said portions of respective said legs of said child, sitting on said wearer's shoulders, with said elongated strap in said encircled removable engagement, provides a restraint preventing said legs from movement in a direction away from said frontal portion of said elongated strap, thereby preventing said legs from rising above said shoulders and concurrently preventing said child from falling from said secure seating.   
     
     
         2 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for encircled removable engagement, of portions of both legs of a child sitting upon the shoulders of said wearer, comprises:
 a pair of securement straps, each of said securement straps in a secure communication to said frontal portion of said elongated strap;   means for engagement of end portions of said securement straps to each other, or to said frontal portion of said elongated strap, said engagement of said end portions forming a passage surrounded by respective said securement member; and   each said respective passage forming a respective said encircled removable engagement with said frontal portion of said elongated strap.   
     
     
         3 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 said elongated strap in said as-used position, encircling the torso of said wearer's body in a horizontal disposition, parallel with an imaginary line extending across said shoulders of said wearer.   
     
     
         4 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 a pair of said elongated straps;   one each of said securement straps, in a said secure communication to said frontal portion of a respective one of said pair of elongated straps;   said pair of elongated straps, each of said pair of elongated straps in said as-used position, extending in a vertical disposition and forming a said encircled engagement around opposite shoulders of said wearer; and   one each of said securement straps in a said secure communication to a respective one each of said pair of elongated straps.   
     
     
         5 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 said secure communication of each respective one of said securement straps to a said elongated strap being a slidable engagement providing for a translation of each respective said securement strap to multiple positions along a respective said frontal portion, of each of said pair of elongated straps;   said translation to said multiple positions providing an adjustment of a respective positioning of said securement straps closer to, or further from, said shoulder of said wearer; and   said adjustment of said respective positioning of said securement straps repositioning said encircled removable engagement of each respective leg of said child to accommodate longer or shorter said legs.   
     
     
         6 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a pillow having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;   said first side surface configured for contact against the shoulders and a neck therebetween of said wearer;   said pillow in an attachment to said elongated strap, said attachment maintaining said pillow atop said shoulders when in said as-used position; and   a depression formed in said second side surface, said depression defining a shoulder surrounding said depression; and   said depression providing a seating surface for said child wherein said shoulder portion prevents said child from sliding from said seating surface.   
     
     
         7 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 a pillow having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;   said first side surface configured for contact against the shoulders and a neck therebetween of said wearer;   said pillow in an attachment to said elongated strap, said attachment maintaining said pillow atop said shoulders when in said as-used position; and   a depression formed in said second side surface, said depression defining a shoulder surrounding said depression; and   said depression providing a seating surface for said child wherein said shoulder portion prevents said child from sliding from said seating surface.   
     
     
         8 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 3 , additionally comprising:
 a pillow having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;   said first side surface configured for contact against the shoulders and a neck therebetween of said wearer;   said pillow in an attachment to said elongated strap, said attachment maintaining said pillow atop said shoulders when in said as-used position; and   a depression formed in said second side surface, said depression defining a shoulder surrounding said depression; and   said depression providing a seating surface for said child wherein said shoulder portion prevents said child from sliding from said seating surface.   
     
     
         9 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 a pillow having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;   said first side surface configured for contact against the shoulders and a neck therebetween of said wearer;   said pillow in an attachment to said elongated strap, said attachment maintaining said pillow atop said shoulders when in said as-used position; and   a depression formed in said second side surface, said depression defining a shoulder surrounding said depression; and   said depression providing a seating surface for said child wherein said shoulder portion prevents said child from sliding from said seating surface.   
     
     
         10 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 5 , additionally comprising:
 a pillow having a first side surface opposite a second side surface;   said first side surface configured for contact against the shoulders and a neck therebetween of said wearer;   said pillow in an attachment to said elongated strap, said attachment maintaining said pillow atop said shoulders when in said as-used position; and   a depression formed in said second side surface, said depression defining a shoulder surrounding said depression; and   said depression providing a seating surface for said child wherein said shoulder portion prevents said child from sliding from said seating surface.   
     
     
         11 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 each of said pair of elongated straps in operative engagement with a backpack.   
     
     
         12 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 5 , additionally comprising:
 each of said pair of elongated straps in operative engagement with a backpack.   
     
     
         13 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 9 , additionally comprising:
 each of said pair of elongated straps in operative engagement with a backpack.   
     
     
         14 . The child carrier apparatus of  claim 10 , additionally comprising:
 each of said pair of elongated straps in operative engagement with a backpack.   
     
     
         15 . A secure seating child carrier apparatus engageable with the shoulder straps of a backpack-type carrier worn by a wearer, comprising:
 a pair of securement straps, each of said securement straps adapted for a secure engagement with one respective said shoulder strap;   means for engagement of each respective said securement strap, to an encircled removable engagement, with a respective portion of a respective leg a child sitting upon the shoulders of said wearer, whereby, said encircled removable engagement with said portions of respective said legs of said child sitting on said wearer's shoulders, provides a restraint preventing said legs from movement in a direction away from said shoulder straps, thereby preventing said legs from rising above said shoulders and concurrently preventing said child from falling from said secure seating.