Collapsible baby carrier device

• US 5,509,590 A
• Filed: 05/12/1994
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Waco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Waco Corporation
• Inventors: Sanders, Stan A., Medeiros, Edmund E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/241,918
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 224/161, 224/160, 224/159, 224/158
• US Class Current: 224/161
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/025 for carrying children in seated position
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 13/027 Baby-carriers with rigid frames

Abstract

An infant carrier device adapted to be worn on the upper torso of a wearer to position the infant in front of the wearer comprising a support frame having a first end and an opposite second end, bifurcated shoulder support members extending from the support frame first end to position the carrier about the upper torso of a wearer and a seat member secured to the support frame second end to receive and support an infant or small child.

Claims

1. An infant carrier device adapted to be worn on the upper torso of a wearer to position the infant in front of the wearer comprising:

a) a support frame having a first end, an opposite second end and a central member therebetween;

b) bifurcated shoulder support frame extending from said central member at said support frame first end to enable said carrier to be positioned about the upper torso of a wearer; and

c) seat member secured to said support frame second end to receive and support an infant or small child.

2. A infant carrier device as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising;

a) cushion covering means for cushioning a user and infant from the device during use.

3. An infant carrier device as is claim 1 and wherein:

a) said bifurcated shoulder support frame comprising a pair of juxtaposed elongated struts, each individual strut of said pair of elongated struts having a first end and an opposite second end, each of said first ends provided with a respective arcuately shaped portion adapted to be positioned upon an individual user'"'"'s shoulders, said opposite second ends of each of said pair of struts extensibly coupled to said support frame first end.

4. An infant carrier device as in claim 3 and wherein:

a) said seat member extends in an opposite direction from said arcuately shaped portions.

5. An infant carrier device as in claim 3 and wherein:

a) said seat member is pivotally connected to said support frame to allow said seat member to fold against said support frame into a closed position from a perpendicular open position.

6. An infant carrier device as in claim 5 and wherein:

a) said support frame including a hinge member positioned between said first and second ends to allow said frame to be folded from an extended position into a collapsed position.

7. An infant carrier device as set forth is claim 6 and wherein;

a) said seat member folds in an opposite direction from said frame member.

8. An infant carrier device as in claim 3 and wherein:

a) each of said arcuately shaped portions is pivotally connected to a respective one of said elongated strut first ends to allow said portions to be selectively protracted into an open position and retracted into a folded position.

9. An infant carrier device as in claim 8 and wherein:

a) said arcuately shaped portions are positioned parallel along their longitudinal axis when said carrier is to be worn by an individual.

10. An infant carrier device as in claim 8 and wherein:

a) said arcuately shaped portions are substantially aligned along their respective longitudinal axis and in a common plane when said carrier is in a folded position.

11. An infant carrier device as in claim 8 and wherein:

a) each of said arcuately shaped portions are extensibly coupled to said respective first ends of said elongated struts with a rotatable pin member extending therein and disposed colinear therebetween.

12. An infant carrier device as in claim 3 and wherein:

a) said arcuately shaped portions are fixedly secured to said respective first ends of said elongated struts.

13. An infant carrier device as in claim 12 and wherein:

a) each of said opposite second ends of said pair of struts is extensibly coupled to said support frame first end with a multi-pivot member to enable each of said elongated struts to rotate about their respective longitudinal axis thereby allowing selective protraction of said pair of struts into an open position and retraction into a folded position.

14. An infant carrier device as in claim 13 and wherein:

a) said arcuately shaped portions extend parallel along their longitudinal axis when said carrier is to be worn by an individual.

15. An infant carrier device as in claim 14 and wherein:

a) said arcuately shaped portions are substantially aligned along their respective longitudinal axis and in a common plane when said carrier is in a folded position.

16. An infant carrier device as in claim 13 and wherein:

a) said multi-pivot member including a sliding fulcrum member for allowing each of said pair of struts to pivot around 180 degrees within a horizontal plane between the protracted position and the retracted position; and

b) said multi-pivot member further including an axial rotation member for allowing each of said pair of struts to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

17. An infant carrier device as in claim 16 and further comprising:

a) separate shoulder harness strap members releasibly secured at a first end to said bifurcated shoulder support member and at an opposite second end to said seat member; and

b) waist strap means releasibly secured to said support frame.

18. An infant carrier device adapted to be worn on the upper torso of a wearer to position the infant in front of the wearer comprising:

a) a support frame having a generally X-shaped main body portion including a first end and an opposite second end;

b) bifurcated shoulder support members extending from said support frame first end to enable said carrier to be positioned about the upper torso of a wearer; and

c) seat member secured to said support frame second end to receive and support a infant or small child.

19. An infant carrier as set forth in claim 18 and wherein;

a) said bifurcated shoulder support members including a pair of arcuately shaped portions adapted to be positioned upon an individual user'"'"'s shoulders.

20. An infant carrier device adapted to be worn on the upper torso of a wearer to position the infant in front of the wearer comprising:

a) a support frame having a first end and an opposite second end;

b) a bifurcated shoulder support frame extending from said support frame first end to enable said carrier to be positioned about the upper torso of a wearer;

c) said support frame and said bifurcated shoulder support frame having a generally Y-shaped configuration; and

d) seat member secured to said support frame second end to receive and support an infant or small child.