Infant Carrier Holder

Abstract

An infant carrier holder has a floor with a ramp and sidewalls and is mounted to a shopping cart. The ramp and sidewalls can contribute to stably supporting an infant carrier. The holder serves as a mechanical interface between an infant carrier, which can be received in the holder, and the shopping cart. The holder can be concavely shaped to assist in shopping cart nesting in addition to supporting a received infant carrier at a desired angle. The holder can be adjustably mounted to a gate or a basket of the shopping cart and may/may not interfere with nesting operations. The holder permits an infant carrier to be supported on a shopping cart without using a significant amount of shopping cart space or interfering with nesting operations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant carrier holder for supporting a handheld infant carrier, comprising:
 a lower support element with a top surface that extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end;   a plurality of restraining members coupled to the lower support element and extending above the top surface for limiting lateral movement of the infant carrier; and   a first restraining member of the plurality of restraining members coupled to the first end of the lower support element for supporting the infant carrier in a secure position.   
     
     
         2 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower support element being at an angle to the horizontal. 
     
     
         3 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower support element is constructed with tubular members. 
     
     
         4 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or a plurality of restraining members are constructed with tubular members. 
     
     
         5 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least two of the plurality of restraining members being opposed to each other and separated by a dimension sufficient to permit the infant carrier to contact the lower support element when the infant carrier is placed atop the infant carrier holder. 
     
     
         6 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 5 , further comprising a lip on each of the top edges of the two of the plurality of restraining members that extends outward. 
     
     
         7 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ramp protruding from the lower support element for contributing to supporting an infant carrier in a stable position. 
     
     
         8 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a securing device attached to at least one of the plurality of restraining members and operative to secure the infant carrier in the infant carrier holder. 
     
     
         9 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first restraining member of the plurality of restraining members is configured and arranged to permit mounting to a gate of a shopping cart. 
     
     
         10 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting component configured to rigidly mount the infant carrier holder to an object. 
     
     
         11 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 10 , wherein the mounting component is disposed on one restraining member of the plurality of restraining members. 
     
     
         12 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 10 , wherein the mounting component is disposed on the lower support element. 
     
     
         13 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the lower support element includes a barrier member for supporting an infant's feet. 
     
     
         14 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the barrier member further comprises an upright portion for providing leverage to stabilize the infant carrier in a secure position. 
     
     
         15 . An infant carrier holder for supporting an infant carrier on a shopping cart, comprising:
 a lower support element for supporting the infant carrier; and   a plurality of restraining members integral with the lower support element and the shopping cart for limiting lateral movement of the infant carrier.   
     
     
         16 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 15 , wherein a first restraining member of the plurality of restraining members is integral with a gate of the shopping cart. 
     
     
         17 . The infant carrier holder according to  claim 15 , wherein the infant carrier holder acts as a mechanical interface between the infant carrier and the shopping cart.