Adjustable child carrier with multiple carry orientations

Abstract

An adjustable child carrier includes an adjustable bucket seat that can be adjusted to accommodate children of a wide range of sizes. The child carrier includes one or more adjustments that work alone or in cooperation to adjust the depth and width of the bucket seat area provided by the child carrier. The carrier is capable of supporting children of various sizes in an ergonomic position appropriate for the child's size. The child carrier is adjustable for multiple carrying positions and orientations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable child carrier comprising:
 one or more adjustable shoulder straps;   a main body configured to support a child against a torso of a user, the main body comprising:
 a seat portion; and 
 one or more thigh supports,
 wherein each of the one or more thigh supports defines a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 wherein the one or more thigh supports cooperate with the seat portion to form a bucket seat; 
 
   a waist belt defining a first position, a second position, and a third position; and   one or more base adjusters, each of the one or more base adjusters coupled to the first end portion of the one or more thigh supports,
 wherein the one or more base adjusters are configured to selectively attach the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position, the second position, or the third position to thereby adjust a base width of the bucket seat, 
 wherein the second end portion of each of the one or more thigh supports is configured to selectively couple to a first attachment point or a second attachment point defined by the main body to thereby adjust a top width of the bucket seat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 1 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position adjusts the base width of the bucket seat to a first base width,   wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the second position adjusts the base width of the bucket seat to a second base width greater than the first base width,   wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the third position adjusts the base width of the bucket seat to a third base width greater than the second base width and the first base width.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the adjustable child carrier is configured to support a toddler when the base width is adjusted to the third base width,   wherein the adjustable child carrier is configured to support an infant when the base width is adjusted to the first base width.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 1 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position, the second position, or the third position adjusts a depth of the bucket seat.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 4 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position adjusts the depth to a first depth,   wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the second position adjusts the depth to a second depth less than the first depth,   wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the third position adjusts the depth to a third depth less than the first depth and the second depth.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more gussets located between the seat portion and the one or more thigh supports,
 wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position closes the one or more gussets, 
 wherein selectively attaching the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the third position opens the one or more gussets. 
   
     
     
         7 . An adjustable child carrier comprising:
 one or more adjustable shoulder straps;   a neck support;   a first set of neck support fasteners;   a second set of neck support fasteners,
 wherein the neck support is configured to selectively attach to the first set of neck support fasteners or the second set of neck support fasteners to adjust the neck support; 
   a main body configured to support a child against a torso of a user, the main body comprising:
 a torso support portion; 
 a seat portion; and 
 one or more thigh supports,
 wherein the one or more thigh supports cooperate with the seat portion to form a bucket seat; 
 
   a waist belt defining a first position, a second position, and a third position; and   one or more base adjusters coupled to the one or more thigh supports,
 wherein the one or more base adjusters selectively attach the one or more thigh supports to the waist belt at the first position, the second position, or the third position to thereby adjust a base width of the bucket seat, 
 wherein selectively coupling the one or more thigh supports to a first attachment point or a second attachment point adjusts a top width of the bucket seat, 
 wherein the torso support portion defines the first attachment point and the second attachment point. 
   
     
     
         8 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 7 ,
 wherein each of the one or more thigh supports defines a first end portion and a second end portion,   wherein selectively coupling the second end portion of each of the one or more thigh supports to the first attachment point adjusts the top width to a first top width,   wherein selectively coupling the second end portion of each of the one or more thigh supports to the second attachment point adjusts the top width to a second top width greater than the first top width.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 ,
 wherein, when the top width is adjusted to the first top width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to support a child in an outward facing orientation,   wherein, when the top width is adjusted to the second top width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to support a child in an inward facing orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first attachment point and the second attachment point each comprises a button,   wherein the second end portion of each of the one or more thigh supports defines a hole,   wherein the hole of each of the one or more thigh supports receives the button at the first attachment point or the second attachment point to thereby adjust the top width of the bucket seat.   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the first position, the second position, and the third position are located on an interior side of the waist belt.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 7 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the neck support to the first set of neck support fasteners adjusts the neck support to an inside folded down configuration,   wherein selectively attaching the neck support to the second set of neck support fasteners adjusts the neck support to an extended configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 12 ,
 wherein, in the inside folded down configuration, the neck support is configured to fill an inside portion of the adjustable child carrier to provide support for a head of an infant.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 12 ,
 wherein, in the extended configuration, the neck support is configured to extend upward to provide additional back support for a toddler in the adjustable child carrier.   
     
     
         15 . An adjustable child carrier comprising:
 one or more adjustable shoulder straps;   a main body configured to support a child against a torso of a user, the main body comprising:
 a seat portion; 
 a first thigh support; and 
 a second thigh support,
 wherein each of the first thigh support and the second thigh support defines a first end portion and a second end portion, 
 wherein the first thigh support and the second thigh support cooperate with the seat portion to form a bucket seat; 
 
   a waist belt defining a first set of positions, a second set of positions, and a third set of positions;   a first base adjuster coupled to the first thigh support; and   a second base adjuster coupled to the second thigh support,
 wherein the first base adjuster and the second base adjuster are configured to selectively attach the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at any of the first set of positions, the second set of positions, or the third set of positions to thereby adjust a base width of the bucket seat, 
 wherein the second end portion of the first thigh support and the second end portion of the second thigh support are configured to selectively couple to a first set of attachment points or a second set of attachment points to thereby adjust a top width of the bucket seat, 
 wherein the first set of attachment points and the second set of attachment points are located on the main body. 
   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the first set of positions adjusts the base width to a first base width,   wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the second set of positions adjusts the base width to a second base width greater than the first base width, and   wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the third set of positions adjusts the base width to a third base width greater than the first base width and the second base width.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at any of the first set of positions, the second set of positions, or the third set of positions adjusts the base width and a depth of the bucket seat.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 17 ,
 wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the first set of positions adjusts the depth to a first depth,   wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the second set of positions adjusts the depth to a second depth less than the first depth,   wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the third set of positions adjusts the depth to a third depth less than the first depth and the second depth.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first gusset located between the seat portion and the first thigh support;   a second gusset located between the seat portion and the second thigh support,
 wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the first set of positions closes the first gusset and the second gusset to thereby deepen the bucket seat, 
 wherein selectively attaching the first end portion of the first thigh support and the first end portion of the second thigh support to the waist belt at the third set of positions opens the first gusset and the second gusset such that the bucket seat is shallower. 
   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the one or more adjustable shoulder straps are adjustable to configure the adjustable child carrier in a front carry position, a back carry position, or a side carry position.