Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Carrier for person
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-07
2001-11-20
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Carrier for person
C224S159000, C224S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318608
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to child carriers for supporting a child in a child compartment adjacent the back of a hiker, and more particularly to a child carrier having an adjustable five point child safety harness for securing the child in the child compartment.
A conventional child carrier has a forward portion with shoulder straps and a waist strap for holding the child carrier on the back of a hiker. A child compartment having a seat portion for supporting the child is positioned rearward of the forward portion. Some older model child carriers included no means for holding the child in the compartment. Later model child carriers include a shoulder harness and/or a simple lap belt to prevent the child from falling (or climbing) out of the carrier.
However, some later model child carrier harnesses and lap belts have proven deficient under real world conditions. It has been reported with regard to recent recalls of some child carriers that certain harnesses and/or lap belts do not always prevent the child from wriggling out of the child compartment. The prior art harnesses and lap belts are often difficult to properly tighten against the child, which is due in part to the difficulty of adjusting straps inside the child compartment while the child is in the carrier. Where the harness and/or lap belt are not properly used, there is a serious risk that the child may wriggle out of the child compartment and fall to the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of an improved child carrier having a child safety harness that reliably secures a child in the carrier; the provision of such a carrier that does not require tightening of straps inside a child compartment of the child carrier while the child is in the compartment; and the provision of such a carrier having a simplified arrangement for tightening the harness on the child.
Briefly, the present invention is directed to a child carrier for supporting a child adjacent the back of a hiker's torso. The carrier comprises a forward portion having straps engageable with the hiker's torso for enabling the hiker to tote the child carrier in a hands-free manner. The carrier further comprises a rearward portion generally rearward of and spaced from the forward portion, a seat portion connected generally between the forward and rearward portions for supporting a child, and a child compartment between the forward and rearward portions and defined at least in part by the seat portion. The carrier includes a child safety harness comprising at least two shoulder straps attached to the carrier at respective first ends of the shoulder straps and positioned in the child compartment to extend over the shoulders of the child when the child is placed on the seat portion. An adjustment strap is coupled to respective second ends of the shoulder straps. An adjustment device is mounted on the carrier and has an engaged position for engaging the adjustment strap such that the shoulder straps may be tightened on the child by exerting a force only on the adjustment strap. The adjustment device inhibits loosening of the adjustment strap and thereby inhibits loosening of the shoulder straps on the child when the adjustment device is in the engaged position. Leg straps extend from the rearward portion of the carrier toward its forward portion and are positioned to extend over at least one leg of the child.
In another aspect of the invention, the child carrier comprises the forward portion as described above, and the rearward portion. In this aspect, the rearward portion includes an inverted U-shape frame member and a cross member extending generally between the legs of the frame member. The carrier further comprises the seat portion and the child compartment as described above. The child safety harness of this aspect comprises said at least two shoulder straps, the adjustment strap and the adjustment device. The cross member is positioned below the seat portion and mounts the adjustment device.
Other objects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
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Fowler Michael
Lennert Christopher B.
American Recreation Products, Inc.
Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
Vidovich Gregory M.
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