Multifunction infant carrier

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided is an infant carrier adaptable to support an infant in a forward facing position or a rearward facing position. The infant carrier may also be configured to allow for easy adjustment to fit the infant carrier to the specific size of the wearer. The infant carrier may also be configured to be connectable with a bib in a variety of configurations to protect the wearer or infant carrier from fluids or objects which may fall from the infant's mouth. The bib may also be connected to the infant carrier in a position to provide shade to the infant. In this regard, the bib may provide three-in-one functionality to the infant carrier to enhance the overall experience of wearing the carrier for both the wearer and the infant.

1 . An infant carrier assembly for carrying an infant, the infant carrier assembly comprising:
 an infant carrier including:
 a pair of shoulder straps; and 
 a main panel having a body portion and a distal portion, the main panel being engageable with the pair of shoulder straps to define a pair of leg openings to receive and support the infant within the infant carrier, the main panel being transitional between a rearward configuration wherein the distal portion is substantially coplanar with the body portion and a forward configuration wherein the distal portion is folded relative to the body portion to overlap the body portion; and 
   a bib having a pair of attachment tabs and a bib panel connected to the pair of attachment tabs, the pair of attachment tabs being configured to be releasably attachable to the infant carrier in a first bib configuration when the infant carrier is in the rearward configuration to dispose the bib panel between the pair of shoulder straps, and a second bib configuration when the infant carrier is in the forward position to dispose the bib panel adjacent the main panel.   
     
     
         2 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of attachment tabs are connected to respective ones of the pair of shoulder straps when the bib is in the first bib configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bib panel extends from the body portion to the distal portion when the bib is in the second bib configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of attachment tabs are connected to prescribed locations of the body portion when the bib is in the second bib configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the bib panel is connected to a prescribed location of the distal portion when the bib is in the second bib configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bib is configured to be attachable to the infant carrier to assume a sun visor configuration, wherein the pair of attachment tabs are connected to respective ones of the pair of shoulder straps, and the bib panel is attached to the main panel. 
     
     
         7 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the bib is connected to the infant carrier in the sun visor configuration when the infant carrier is in the rearward configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the bib panel includes a distal portion connected to the distal portion of the main panel when the bib is in the sun visor configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of fasteners configured to engage the distal portion to the pair of shoulder straps to dispose the distal portion in the rearward configuration and to disengage the distal portion from the pair of should straps to dispose the distal portion in the forward configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of shoulder straps are connected to the main panel to assume an overlapping, intersecting configuration to define an intersection point. 
     
     
         11 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a strap connector slidably coupled to the pair of shoulder straps, the strap connector being slidable along the pair of shoulder straps to move the intersection point along the pair of shoulder straps. 
     
     
         12 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 1 , further including a pair of strap fasteners for engaging the pair of shoulder straps to the main panel, the infant carrier further comprising a pocket coupled to the main panel, the pocket being sized and configured to capture the pair of strap fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . An infant carrier for carrying an infant, the infant carrier comprising:
 a main panel;   a pair of shoulder straps engageable with the main panel to define a pair of leg openings to receive and support the infant within the infant carrier, the pair of shoulder straps being connected to the main panel to assume an overlapping, intersecting configuration to define an intersection point; and   a strap connector slidably coupled to the pair of should straps, the strap connector being slidable along the pair of shoulder straps to move the intersection point along the pair of shoulder straps.   
     
     
         14 . The infant carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the main panel includes a body portion and a distal portion moveable relative to the body portion between a rearward configuration wherein the distal portion is substantially coplanar with the body portion, and a forward configuration wherein the distal portion is folded relative to the body portion about a fold line to overlap the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The infant carrier assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a pair of rearward fasteners configured to engage the distal portion to the pair of shoulder straps to dispose the distal portion in the rearward configuration and to disengage the distal portion from the pair of should straps to dispose the distal portion in the forward configuration. 
     
     
         16 . An infant carrier for carrying an infant, the infant carrier comprising:
 a main panel;   a pair of shoulder straps engageable with the main panel to define a pair of leg openings to receive and support the infant within the infant carrier;   a pair of strap fasteners for engaging the pair of shoulder straps to the main panel; and   a pocket coupled to the main panel, the pocket being sized and configured to capture the pair of strap fasteners.   
     
     
         17 . The infant carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the main panel includes a body portion and a distal portion moveable relative to the body portion between a rearward configuration wherein the distal portion is substantially coplanar with the body portion, and a forward configuration wherein the distal portion is folded relative to the body portion about a fold line to overlap the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The infant carrier of  claim 17 , further comprising a pair of rearward fasteners configured to engage the distal portion to the pair of shoulder straps to dispose the distal portion in the rearward configuration and to disengage the distal portion from the pair of should straps to dispose the distal portion in the forward configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The infant carrier of  claim 16 , further comprising a bib having a pair of attachment tabs and a bib panel connected to the pair of attachment tabs, the pair of attachment tabs being configured to be releasably attachable to the infant carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The infant carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of shoulder straps are connected to the main panel to assume an overlapping, intersecting configuration to define an intersection point, the infant carrier further comprising a strap connector slidably coupled to the pair of should straps, the strap connector being slidable along the pair of shoulder straps to move the intersection point along the pair of shoulder straps.