Child carrier with three-dimensional seat

Abstract

A child carrier system is disclosed, comprising: a hip belt; a seating surface attached to the hip belt and extending laterally from a first edge of the hip belt, the seating surface having a lateral edge distal from the hip belt; and a storage compartment formed by enclosing an angle between the hip belt and the seating surface with a sidewall connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface and a second edge of the hip belt. A shoulder support comprises a back panel for supporting a child, where the shoulder support bottom is detachably connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface, and at least one shoulder strap connected to at least two different sides of the back panel. The seating surface is also configured to support a child's weight while being held by the wearer without using the shoulder support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child carrier system comprising:
 a hip seat comprising:
 a hip belt comprising a first edge, a second edge, a first end, and a second end; 
 a fastener having a first portion positioned proximate to the first end of the hip belt and a second portion positioned proximate to the second end of the hip belt for adjustably securing the hip belt around a user's waist or hips; 
 a seating surface attached to the hip belt and extending laterally from the first edge of the hip belt, the seating surface having a lateral edge distal from the hip belt; and 
 a storage compartment located below the seating surface wherein the storage compartment is formed by enclosing an angle between the hip belt and the seating surface with a sidewall connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface and the second edge of the hip belt; and 
   a shoulder support comprising:
 a back panel for supporting a child, the back panel having a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side, the bottom detachably connected to the lateral edge of the seating surface; and 
 a first shoulder strap connected at a first end to the top of the back panel and at a second end to a left side or a right side of the back panel; 
   
       wherein the first shoulder strap is detachably connected to the back panel, and wherein the hip seat is configured to support a seated child when the back panel is detached while the seated child is held in place by the user. 
     
     
         2 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder strap is connected at the second end to the left side of the back panel, and further comprising a second shoulder strap connected at a first end to the top of the back panel and at a second end to the right side of the back panel. 
     
     
         3 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment is wedge shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage compartment comprises a zipper closure disposed on the sidewall adjacent to the lateral edge of the seating surface. 
     
     
         5 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable support bracket configured for insertion into the storage compartment, the removable support bracket comprising a vertical riser positioned in the storage compartment adjacent to the hip belt and a horizontal shelf positioned in the storage compartment under the seating surface, wherein the vertical riser and the horizontal shelf are joined at an angle that biases the seating surface in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The child carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the storage compartment further comprises a first sub-compartment for receiving the removable support bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The child carrier system of  claim 6 , wherein the first sub-compartment is accessed by at least one zipper closure disposed on an inner surface of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The child carrier system of  claim 6 , wherein the first sub-compartment is accessed by a zipper closure disposed on the sidewall adjacent to the second edge of the hip belt. 
     
     
         9 . The child carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the removable support bracket comprises a rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the first shoulder strap is detachably connected to the left or right side. 
     
     
         11 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the second shoulder strap is detachably connected to the left or right side. 
     
     
         12 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the seating surface has an arctuate shape. 
     
     
         13 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the hip belt and the seating surface is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         14 . The child carrier system of  claim 13 , wherein the angle between the hip belt and the seating surface is between 90 degrees and 120 degrees inclusive. 
     
     
         15 . The child carrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable support bracket configured for insertion into the storage compartment, the removable support bracket comprising one or more hinges, a riser portion, and a seat portion, wherein the riser portion may be positioned in the storage compartment adjacent to the hip belt and the seat portion may be positioned in the storage compartment under the seating surface, wherein the vertical riser and the seat portion are rotatably connected by the one or more hinges at an angle θ. 
     
     
         16 . The child carrier system of  claim 15 , wherein the angle θ is adjustable between 0 degrees and 120 degrees inclusive. 
     
     
         17 . The child carrier system of  claim 15 , wherein the vertical riser and the seat portion may be adjustable by the user into one or more lockable positions at an angle θ.