Adjustable child carrier

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.

1 . An adjustable child carrier, the adjustable child carrier comprising:
 a body configured to support a child,
 wherein the body is adapted to form a child carrying area in cooperation with a torso of a wearer, 
 wherein the body forms a first thigh support, a second thigh support, and a seat portion, 
 wherein the seat portion cooperates with the first thigh support and the second thigh support to form a bucket seat; 
   an adjustable neck support;   a first set of neck support fasteners;   a second set of neck support fasteners,
 wherein securing the adjustable neck support to the first set of neck support fasteners configures the adjustable neck support in an outward folded down position, 
 wherein securing the adjustable neck support to the second set of neck support fasteners configures the adjustable neck support in an extended position; 
   a waist belt coupled to the body, wherein the waist belt defines a first setting, a second setting, and a third setting;   a first base adjuster coupled to the first thigh support;   a second base adjuster coupled to the second thigh support,
 wherein the first base adjuster and second base adjuster are configured to be selectively positioned to one of the first setting, the second setting, or the third setting located on the waist belt to thereby adjust a width of the bucket seat to accommodate various sizes of the child as the child ages. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 1 ,
 wherein selectively positioning the first base adjuster and the second base adjuster at the first setting adjusts the width of the bucket seat to a first width,   wherein selectively positioning the first base adjuster and the second base adjuster at the second setting adjusts the width of the bucket seat to a second width greater than the first width, and   wherein selectively positioning the first base adjuster and the second base adjuster at the third setting adjusts the width of the bucket seat to a third width greater than the first width and the second width.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry the child when the child has a height within a range of 20-24 inches when adjusting the width of the bucket seat to the first width.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry the child when the child has a height of at least 28 inches when adjusting the width of the bucket seat to the third width.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first adjustable shoulder strap coupled to the body and configured to extend over a first shoulder of the wearer;   a second adjustable shoulder strap coupled to the body and configured to extend over a second shoulder of the wearer;
 wherein the second set of neck support fasteners are located on the first adjustable shoulder strap and the second adjustable shoulder strap. 
   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first setting is defined by a first pair of discrete positions located on the waist belt and positioning the first base width adjuster and the second base width adjuster at the first pair of discrete positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the first setting and adjusts the bucket seat to the first width,   wherein the second setting is defined by a second pair of discrete positions located on the waist belt and positioning the first base width adjuster and the second base width adjuster at the second pair of discrete positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the second setting and adjusts the bucket seat to the second width,   wherein the third setting is defined by a third pair of discrete positions located on the waist belt and positioning the first base width adjuster and the second base width adjuster at the third pair of discrete positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the third setting and adjusts the bucket seat to the third width.   
     
     
         7 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first pair of discrete positions are laterally displaced from the second pair of discrete positions on the waist belt,   wherein the second pair of discrete positions are laterally displaced from the third pair of discrete positions on the waist belt,   wherein the third pair of discrete positions are laterally displaced from the first pair of discrete positions on the waist belt.   
     
     
         8 . An adjustable child carrier for supporting a child by a user, the adjustable child carrier comprising:
 a body configured to support the child between the body and a torso of the user,
 wherein the body forms a plurality of thigh supports and a seat portion, 
 wherein the seat portion cooperates with the plurality of thigh supports to form a bucket seat, 
 wherein the plurality of thigh supports are configured to support the legs of the child; 
   shoulder straps configured to extend over shoulders of the user;   an adjustable neck support comprising a first attachment and a second attachment;   a first set of neck support fasteners disposed on the body;   a second set of neck support fasteners disposed on the shoulder straps,
 wherein the adjustable neck support is configured in an outside folded down position when the first attachment and second attachment are coupled to the first set of neck support fasteners, 
 wherein the adjustable neck support is configured in an extended position when the first attachment and second attachment are coupled to the second set of neck support fasteners; 
   a waist belt adapted for securing about hips of the user,
 wherein the waist belt defines first positions, second positions, and third positions; and 
   a plurality of base width adjusters coupled to the plurality of thigh supports
 wherein selectively moving the plurality of base width adjusters among the first, positions, the second positions, and the third positions located on the waist belt adjusts the plurality of thigh supports such that the width of the bucket seat adjusts to accommodate various sizes of the child as the child ages. 
   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 wherein the shoulder straps couple to the body at locations above the plurality of thigh supports.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 ,
 wherein moving the plurality of base width adjusters from the first positions to the second positions adjusts the width of the bucket seat from a first width to a second width, the second width being greater than the first width,   wherein moving the plurality of base width adjusters from the second positions to the third positions adjusts the width of the bucket seat from the second width to a third width, the third width being greater than the first width and the second width.   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the adjustable neck support couples to the body proximate a top edge of the body,   wherein the adjustable neck support flips over the top edge of the body when transitioning between the extended position and the outward folded down position.   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the waist belt comprises a lumbar support position configured to rest on the hips of the wearer.   
     
     
         13 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 10 ,
 wherein, when the plurality of base width adjusters are moved to the first positions to adjust the width of the bucket seat to the first width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry the child when the child has a height within a range of 20-24 inches.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 10 ,
 wherein, when the plurality of base width adjusters are moved to the third positions to adjust the width of the bucket seat to the third width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry the child when the child has a height of at least 28 inches.   
     
     
         15 . An adjustable child carrier, the adjustable child carrier comprising:
 a body adapted to form a child carrying area in cooperation with a torso of a wearer, wherein the body forms a bucket seat;   an adjustable neck support;   a first set of neck support fasteners;   a second set of neck support fasteners,
 wherein securing the adjustable neck support to the first set of neck support fasteners configures the adjustable neck support in an outward folded down position, 
 wherein securing the adjustable neck support to the second set of neck support fasteners configures the adjustable neck support in an extended position; 
   a waist belt coupled to the body and adapted to secure about hips of the wearer,   a first set of positions, a second set of positions, and a third set of positions defined by the waist belt,
 wherein the first set of positions corresponds to a first setting, wherein the second set of positions corresponds to a second setting, and the third set of positions corresponds to a third setting; and 
   one or more base width adjusters coupled to the body,
 wherein adjustment of the one or more base width adjusters among the first set of positions, second set of positions, and third set of positions adjusts a width of the bucket seat to configure the adjustable child carrier to one of the first setting, the second setting, or the third setting. 
   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the body forms one or more thigh supports and a seat portion, the seat portion cooperating with the one or more thigh supports to form the bucket seat,   wherein the one or more base width adjusters couple to the one or more thigh supports.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 15 ,
 wherein adjustment of the one or more base width adjusters from the first set of positions to the second set of positions adjusts the width of the bucket seat from a first width to a second width, the second width being greater than the first width,   wherein adjustment of the one or more base width adjusters from the second set of positions to the third set of positions adjusts the width of the bucket seat from the second width to a third width, the third width being greater than the first width and the second width,   wherein, when the adjustable child carrier is adjusted to the first width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to the first setting,   wherein, when the adjustable child carrier is adjusted to the second width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to the second setting, and   wherein, when the adjustable child carrier is adjusted to the third width, the adjustable child carrier is configured to the third setting.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 17 ,
 wherein adjusting the one or more base width adjusters to the first set of positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the first setting,   wherein, in the first setting, the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry a child with a height within the range of 20 to 24 inches.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 17 ,
 Wherein adjusting the one or more base width adjusters to the second set of positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the second setting,   wherein, in the second setting, the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry a child with a height between 24 and 28 inches.   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable child carrier of  claim 17 ,
 wherein adjusting the one or more base width adjusters to the third set of positions configures the adjustable child carrier in the third setting,   wherein, in the third setting, the adjustable child carrier is configured to carry a child with a height of at least 28 inches.