Baby carrier

Abstract

An improved baby carrier is disclosed that includes a support frame coupled to a seating assembly though a suspension mechanism to provide weight support for a baby or toddler. The baby carrier includes an attachment harness worn by an adult to provide non-slip coupling between the baby carrier and the adult. The baby carrier also includes a semi-rigid coupling between the seat and harness assembly, a seat height adjustment capability, a sturdy support frame configuration, and a braking system. The baby carrier is a structurally stable device, and during use, significantly reduces the load of carrying the baby or toddler on the adult. Further, the baby carrier can have a compact size in a “stowed mode” for mobility, and can be used to meet a variety of user needs and carrying scenarios.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baby carrier comprising:
 an adjustable support frame comprising a plurality of legs, wherein each leg comprises a respective leg end configured to contact a floor surface;   an adjustable seating assembly attached to the support frame and configured to support a baby or a toddler; and   an attachment harness attached to at least one of the support frame or the seating assembly, wherein the attachment harness is configured to secure the baby carrier to an adult;   wherein the baby carrier is configured, such that in a deployed arrangement:
 each of the leg ends of the support frame contacts the floor surface, and 
 the seating assembly is supported above the floor surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a suspension assembly disposed between the support frame and the seating assembly, wherein the suspension assembly is configured to provide shock absorption between the support frame and the seating assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one leg end comprises a wheel assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one leg end comprises a brake. 
     
     
         5 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in the deployed arrangement:
 each leg end is disposed along a common first plane extending along an x-axis and a y-axis in a Cartesian coordinate system;   a first leg of the plurality of legs is inclined with respect to an z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system by a first pitch angle; and   a second leg of the plurality of legs is inclined with respect to the z-axis by a second pitch angle, wherein the first pitch angle is different than the second pitch angle.   
     
     
         6 . The baby carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the first pitch angle is between 10° and 25°, and wherein the second pitch angle is between 15° and 30°. 
     
     
         7 . The baby carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the first pitch angle is between 5° and 20°, and wherein the second leg is inclined with respect to the first leg by 25° to 45°. 
     
     
         8 . The baby carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in the deployed arrangement:
 a third leg of the plurality of legs is inclined with respect to the z-axis by the second pitch angle.   
     
     
         9 . The baby carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in the deployed arrangement:
 the first leg is substantially parallel to a second plane extending along the x-axis and a z-axis;   the second leg is inclined with respect to the x-axis by a first roll angle, and   the third the second leg is inclined with respect to the x-axis by a second roll angle, wherein the first roll angle and the second roll angle are substantially equal.   
     
     
         10 . The baby carrier of  claim 9 , wherein the first roll angle and the second roll angle are between 10° and 30°. 
     
     
         11 . The baby carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the seating assembly comprises a support arm attached to the support frame, and
 wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in the deployed arrangement, the support arm is inclined with respect to the z-axis by the first pitch angle.   
     
     
         12 . The baby carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in a second deployed position:
 each leg end is disposed along the first plane; and   the first leg is substantially orthogonal to the first plane.   
     
     
         13 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the second leg is coupled to the first leg through a sleeve coupling encircling a portion of the first leg, and wherein the sleeve coupling is configured to slide along a length of the first leg. 
     
     
         14 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one leg is telescopic. 
     
     
         15 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one leg comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion, wherein the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the support frame are configured to telescope with respect to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The baby carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the first leg portion, the second leg portion, and the support frame are approximately equal in length. 
     
     
         17 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier is further configured, such that in a stowed arrangement, each leg is substantially parallel to each other leg. 
     
     
         18 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable support frame comprises at least three legs. 
     
     
         19 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein a first leg of the plurality of legs is longer or shorter than a second leg of the plurality of legs. 
     
     
         20 . The baby carrier of  claim 19 , wherein the leg end of the first leg comprises a first wheel, wherein the leg end of the second leg comprises a second wheel, and
 wherein the first wheel has a larger diameter than the second wheel.   
     
     
         21 . The baby carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the first wheel comprises a Mecanum wheel. 
     
     
         22 . The baby carrier of  claim 21 , wherein the leg end of the second leg comprises a brake. 
     
     
         23 . The baby carrier of  claim 22 , wherein the brake is configured to apply a variable braking force for the second wheel, and wherein the variable braking force depends on an angle of incline of the support frame with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         24 . The baby carrier of  claim 23 , wherein the variable braking force monotonically increases as the angle of incline increases. 
     
     
         25 . The baby carrier of  claim 24 , wherein the brake is configured to lock the second wheel when the angle of incline exceeds a threshold angle. 
     
     
         26 . The baby carrier of  claim 20 , wherein a rotation of at least one of the first wheel or the second wheel is restricted with respect to a first direction relative to a rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         27 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment harness comprises at least one shoulder strap configured to secure the attachment harness to a shoulder of the adult. 
     
     
         28 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the seating assembly comprises a second attachment harness configured to secure the baby or toddler to the seating assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment harness comprises at least two rigid or semi-rigid support links attached to at least one of the support frame or the seating assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two support links include a first support link disposed on a first side of the seating assembly, and a second support link disposed on a second side of the seating assembly opposite the first side. 
     
     
         31 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the seating assembly comprises a seat having a curved back portion configured to support a back of the baby or the toddler. 
     
     
         32 . The baby carrier of  claim 31 , wherein the seat comprises a shock absorption mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . The baby carrier of  claim 32 , wherein the shock absorption mechanism is configured such that it is more rigid with respect to a first axis of rotation than with respect to a second axis of rotation. 
     
     
         34 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier is configured, such that in the deployed configuration, and when the baby or toddler is positioned on the seating assembly and the attachment harness is secured to the adult, the attachment harness supports at least a portion of a weight of the baby or the toddler. 
     
     
         35 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier is configured, such that in the deployed arrangement, and when the baby or toddler is positioned on the seating assembly the attachment harness is secured to the adult, and the baby carrier is being moved by the adult, the support frame supports at least 90% of a portion of a weight of the baby or the toddler. 
     
     
         36 . The baby carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the baby carrier is configured, such that in the deployed arrangement, and when the baby or toddler is positioned on the seating assembly the attachment harness is secured to the adult, and the baby carrier is stationary, the support frame supports at least 80% of a portion of a weight of the baby or the toddler.