Child carrier

Abstract

A waistless baby carrier is described, which beneficially includes multiple positions for carrying a baby, including on the caregiver's chest or on the caregiver's back. The carrier may include one or more closures on each side to allow the sides of the carrier to be selectively at least partially closed so the carrier may be safely used with a small infant.

1 . A child carrier comprising:
 a main panel, the main panel forming a child carrying area in cooperation with a wearer's torso, the main panel formed of a piece of continuous material, and the main panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side edge, a second side edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   the main panel having a back support portion extending from the top edge downwardly, and a bottom support portion extending from the bottom edge upwardly;   a first pair of connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the first side edge, the first pair of connectors comprising a first connector proximal to the first side edge in the back support portion and a second connector proximal to the first side edge in the bottom support portion;   a second pair of connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the second side edge, the second pair of connectors comprising a third connector proximal to the second side edge in the back support portion and a fourth connector proximal to the second side edge in the bottom support portion;   the main panel having no connectors on the outer surface, and the child carrier lacking a waist belt; and   a left and right shoulder strap attached to the main panel, the left and right shoulder straps co-joined by a chest strap, the chest strap comprising a first side slidably mounted onto the right shoulder strap and a second side slidably mounted onto the left shoulder strap.   
     
     
         2 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , the first and second connectors for connection together to selectively partially close the first side edge, and the third and fourth connectors for connection together to selectively partially close the second side edge. 
     
     
         3 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a width adjusting mechanism at the inner surface of the main panel. 
     
     
         4 . The child carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the width adjustment mechanism is capable of decreasing a width from the first side edge to the second side edge. 
     
     
         5 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a first padded portion proximal to the first side edge, the first padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion. 
     
     
         6 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a second padded portion proximal to the second side edge, the second padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion. 
     
     
         7 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , the main panel having no additional connectors except the first, second, third, and fourth, connectors. 
     
     
         8 . A waistless child carrier comprising:
 a main panel, the main panel forming a child carrying area in cooperation with a wearer's torso, the main panel formed of a first continuous piece of material sewn to a second piece of continuous material, forming a 2-layered main panel, the main panel having an outer surface of the first continuous piece of material, an inner surface of the second piece of continuous material, a right side edge, a left side edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   the main panel having a back support portion extending from the top edge downwardly, and a bottom support portion extending from the bottom edge upwardly;   a first pair of connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the right side edge, the first pair of connectors comprising a first connector proximal to the right side edge in the back support portion and a second connector proximal to the right side edge in the bottom support portion;   a second pair of connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the left side edge, the second pair of connectors comprising a third connector proximal to the left side edge in the back support portion and a fourth connector proximal to the left side edge in the bottom support portion;   the main panel having no additional connectors except the first, second, third, and fourth connectors;   a left and right shoulder strap attached to the main panel, the left and right shoulder straps co-joined by a chest strap.   
     
     
         9 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second connectors are configured to mate to at least partially close the right side edge. 
     
     
         10 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the third and fourth connectors configured to mate to at least partially close the left side edge. 
     
     
         11 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 8 , further comprising a first padded portion proximal to the right side edge, the first padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion; and
 a second padded portion proximal to the left side edge, the second padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion.   
     
     
         12 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 10 , wherein the closure of the first and second connectors forms a right side edge leg opening and wherein the closure of the third and fourth connectors forms a left side edge leg opening. 
     
     
         13 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the main panel has a generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         14 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 8 , further comprising a width adjusting mechanism at the inner surface of the main panel. 
     
     
         15 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the width adjustment mechanism is capable of decreasing a width from the first side edge to the second side edge. 
     
     
         16 . A waistless child carrier comprising:
 a main panel, the main panel forming a child carrying area in cooperation with a wearer's torso, the main panel formed of a first continuous piece of material sewn to a second piece of continuous material, forming a 2-layered main panel, the main panel having an outer surface of the first continuous piece of material, an inner surface of the second piece of continuous material, a right side edge, a left side edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;   the main panel having a back support portion extending from the top edge downwardly, and a bottom support portion extending from the bottom edge upwardly;   a first pair of mating connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the right side edge, the first pair of connectors comprising a first connector proximal to the right side edge in the back support portion and a second connector proximal to the right side edge in the bottom support portion;   a second pair of mating connectors located on the inner surface of the main panel proximal to the left side edge, the second pair of connectors comprising a third connector proximal to the left side edge in the back support portion and a fourth connector proximal to the left side edge in the bottom support portion;   the main panel having no connectors on the outer surface;   a left and right shoulder strap attached to the main panel, the left and right shoulder straps co-joined by a chest strap.   
     
     
         17 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 16 , the first and second connectors for connection together to selectively partially close the first side edge, and the third and fourth connectors for connection together to selectively partially close the second side edge. 
     
     
         18 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 16 , further comprising a width adjusting mechanism at the inner surface of the main panel. 
     
     
         19 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first padded portion proximal to the right side edge, the first padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion; and   a second padded portion proximal to the left side edge, the second padded portion extending from the back support portion to the bottom support portion.   
     
     
         20 . The waistless child carrier of  claim 16 , the chest strap comprising a first side slidably mounted onto the right shoulder strap and a second side slidably mounted onto the left shoulder strap.