Carrier support system

Abstract

A carrier system includes a carrier base that defines a carrier footprint. A first carrier support member extends from an outer side surface on the carrier base, and includes a first user engagement member that is located outside of the carrier footprint. A second carrier support member extends from the carrier base from a location on the carrier base that is opposite the outer side surface from the first carrier support member, and includes a second user engagement member. The engagement of the first user engagement member with a hand of a user and the engagement of the second user engagement member with a portion of an arm of the user that includes the hand provides for support of the carrier base with the hand located outside of the carrier footprint, which has been found to reduce arm strain and provide a more natural carrying position for the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier system, comprising:
 a carrier base that defines a carrier footprint;   a first carrier support member that extends from an outer side surface on the carrier base, wherein the first carrier support member includes a first user engagement member that is located outside of the carrier footprint and that is configured to engage a hand of a user; and   a second carrier support member that extends from the carrier base from a location on the carrier base that is opposite the outer side surface from the first carrier support member, wherein the second carrier support member includes a second user engagement member that is configured to engage a portion of an arm of the user when the hand of the user is engaging the first user engagement member.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the first user engagement member is moveable relative to the first carrier support member between a first orientation that is substantially parallel with the outer side surface of the carrier base and a second orientation that is substantially perpendicular with the outer side surface of the carrier base. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the first carrier support member extends from a first outer side surface on the carrier base, and wherein the second carrier support member extends from a second outer side surface on the carrier base that is opposite the carrier base from the first outer side surface. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the second user engagement member is configured to engage a first portion of the arm of the user, and the carrier system further comprises:
 a third user engagement member that is located on the first carrier support member and that is configured to engage a second portion of the arm of the user that is located between the hand of the user and the first portion of the arm of the user.   
     
     
         5 . The carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the second carrier support member is extendable to increase a length of the second carrier support member between the second user engagement member and the carrier base. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the first user engagement member with the hand of the user and the engagement of the second user engagement member with the portion of the arm of the user provides for support of the carrier base with both of the hand of the user and the arm of the user located outside of the carrier footprint. 
     
     
         7 . A child support system, comprising:
 a seat chassis that defines a seat channel;   a child seat located in the seat channel;   a first user engagement member that is coupled to a first side of the seat chassis, wherein the first user engagement member is located outside of a footprint of the seat chassis and is configured to engage a first hand of a user; and   a second user engagement member that is coupled to a second side of the seat chassis and that is configured to engage a portion of a first arm of the user when the first hand of the user is engaging the first user engagement member.   
     
     
         8 . The child support system of  claim 7 , wherein the first user engagement member is moveable between a first orientation that is substantially parallel with the first side of the seat chassis and a second orientation that is substantially perpendicular with the first side of the seat chassis. 
     
     
         9 . The child support system of  claim 7 , wherein the first side of the seat chassis is located opposite the seat chassis from the second side of the seat chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The child support system of  claim 7 , wherein the second user engagement member is configured to engage a first portion of the first arm of the user, and wherein the child support system further comprises:
 a third user engagement member that extends from the first side of the seat chassis and that is configured to engage a second portion of the first arm of the user that is located between the first hand of the user and the first portion of the first arm of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The child support system of  claim 7 , wherein the second user engagement member is extendable by increasing a length of the coupling between the second user engagement member and the seat chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The child support system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third user engagement member that is coupled to the second side of the seat chassis, wherein the third user engagement member is located outside of the footprint of the seat chassis and is configured to engage a second hand of the user;   a fourth user engagement member that is coupled to the first side of the seat chassis and that is configured to engage a portion of a second arm of the user when the second hand of the user is engaging the third user engagement member.   
     
     
         13 . The child support system of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement of the first user engagement member with the first hand of the user and the engagement of the second user engagement member with the portion of the first arm of the user provides for support of the seat chassis with the first hand of the user located outside of the footprint of the seat chassis. 
     
     
         14 . A method for supporting a carrier, comprising:
 engaging, by a first hand of a user, a first user engagement member that is included on a first carrier support member that extends from a first outer side surface on a carrier base, wherein the first user engagement member is located outside of a footprint of the carrier base;   engaging, by a portion of a first arm of the user when the first hand of the user is engaging the first user engagement member, a second user engagement member that is included on a second carrier support member that extends from the carrier base from a location on the carrier base that is opposite the first outer side surface from the first carrier support member; and   lifting, by the user, the carrier base by using the first hand to provide a lifting force on the first user engagement member that is transmitted through the first carrier support member to the carrier base, wherein in response to the lifting, a support force is provided by the portion of the first arm on the second user engagement member that is transmitted through the second carrier support member to the carrier base.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 moving the first user engagement member relative to the first carrier support member between a first orientation that is substantially parallel with the outer side surface of the carrier base and a second orientation that is substantially perpendicular with the outer side surface of the carrier base.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second carrier support member extends from a second outer side surface on the carrier base that is opposite the carrier base from the first outer side surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second user engagement member engages a first portion of the first arm of the user, and the method further comprises:
 engaging, by a second portion of the first arm of the user when the first hand of the user is engaging the first user engagement member, a third user engagement member that is included on the first carrier support member, wherein the second portion of the first arm of the user is located between the first hand of the user and the first portion of the first arm of the user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 extending the second carrier support member to increase a length of the second carrier support member between the second user engagement member and the carrier base.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 engaging, by a second hand of the user, a third user engagement member that is included on a third carrier support member that extends from a second outer side surface on the carrier base that is located opposite the carrier base from the first outer side surface, wherein the third user engagement member is located outside of the footprint of the carrier base;   engaging, by a portion of a second arm of the user when the second hand of the user is engaging the third user engagement member, a fourth user engagement member that is included on the second carrier support member that extends from the carrier base from a location on the carrier base that is opposite the second outer side surface from the third carrier support member; and   lifting, by the user, the carrier base by using the second hand to provide a lifting force on the third user engagement member that is transmitted through the third carrier support member to the carrier base, wherein in response to the lifting, a support force is provided by the portion of the second arm on the fourth user engagement member that is transmitted through the second carrier support member to the carrier base.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the engagement of the first user engagement member with the first hand of the user and the engagement of the second user engagement member with the portion of the first arm of the user provides for the lifting and support of the carrier base with both the first hand of the user and the first arm of the user outside of the footprint of the carrier base.