Stretchable Straps for Infant Carriers

Abstract

This invention relates to an infant carrier having harness straps that are sufficiently elastic to extend and retract, thereby eliminating the need for lengthy harness straps and allowing for the carrier to be switched to multiple positions and/or multiple users without necessitating re-adjustment of the straps. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier comprising:
 (a) a compartment dimensioned to support a child, wherein the compartment is attached to   (b) a harness dimensioned to fit a wearer, wherein the harness comprises a pair of straps, wherein each strap comprises an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length, and wherein each strap has a stretch ratio of from about 1.2 to about 4.0.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment comprises:
 (a) a head support member dimensioned to support a child's head, wherein the head support member is connected to   (b) a back support member dimensioned to support a child's back, wherein the back support member is connected to   (c) a seat support member dimensioned to support a child's bottom.   
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the seat support member comprises two openings laterally spaced from each other, wherein each opening is so dimensioned as to allow a child's leg to be insertable through the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the compartment further comprises a transition region defined between the back support member and the head support member, wherein the transition region is configured to allow the head support member to be selectively moved between an unfolded position and a folded position where at the head support member is folded down into an overlapping relation to the back support member. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein each strap is configured to be extensible over a wearer's shoulders and around a wearer's torso. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the harness further comprises a strap connector slidably coupled to the pair of straps, thereby establishing an intersection point, and wherein the strap connector is slidable along the pair of straps to move the intersection point along the pair of straps. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the harness further comprises a strap configured to encircle a wearer's waist. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the strap comprises an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length, and wherein the strap has a stretch ratio of from about 1.2 to about 4.0. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the strap does not contain an adjustment member. 
     
     
         10 . A carrier comprising:
 (a) a compartment dimensioned to support a child, wherein the compartment is attached to   (b) a harness dimensioned to fit a wearer, wherein the harness comprises:
 (i) a pair of straps, wherein each strap comprises an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length, and wherein each strap has a stretch ratio of between 1.2 and 4.0; and 
 (ii) a strap configured to encircle a wearer's waist, wherein the strap comprises an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length. 
   
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein the compartment comprises:
 (a) a head support member dimensioned to support a child's head, wherein the head support member is connected to   (b) a back support member dimensioned to support a child's back, wherein the back support member is connected to   (c) a seat support member dimensioned to support a child's bottom.   
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the seat support member comprises two openings laterally spaced from each other, wherein each opening is so dimensioned as to allow a child's leg to be insertable through the opening. 
     
     
         13 . A harness comprising a pair of straps comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length, wherein the harness is dimensioned to fit a wearer, and wherein the harness is adapted to connect to a compartment dimensioned to support a child. 
     
     
         14 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein each strap has a stretch ratio of from about 1.5 to about 4.0. 
     
     
         15 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein each strap is configured to be extensible over a wearer's shoulders and around a wearer's torso. 
     
     
         16 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein each strap is configured to encircle a wearer's shoulder. 
     
     
         17 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein the harness further comprises a strap connector slidably coupled to the pair of straps, thereby establishing an intersection point, and wherein the strap connector is slidable along the pair of straps to move the intersection point along the pair of straps. 
     
     
         18 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein the harness further comprises a strap configured to encircle a wearer's waist. 
     
     
         19 . The harness of  claim 18 , wherein the strap comprises an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a retracted length, and an extended length. 
     
     
         20 . The harness of  claim 13 , further comprising a compartment dimensioned to support a child, attached to the harness.