Child carrier

Abstract

A child carrier with a carrying frame and a seating unit coupled to the carrying frame. The seating unit includes a height-adjustable seat and a pair of thigh supports, each coupled to the seat at a first end. Each of the thigh supports comprises a wrapping portion configured to at least partially surround a bottom of the thigh of a child. An adjustment of the seat from a first seat height to a second seat height simultaneously adjusts each of the thigh supports. The first end of each of the thigh supports is positioned closer to a front portion of the carrying frame when the seat is at the first seat height than at the second seat height, thereby positioning a thigh support surface of each of the thigh supports closer to a respective knee of the child when the seat is at the first seat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child carrier comprising:
 a carrying frame; and   a seating unit coupled to the carrying frame, the seating unit comprising:
 a height-adjustable seat configured to support a bottom of a child at a first seat height; and 
 a pair of thigh supports, each coupled to the seat at a first end, and each providing a thigh support surface configured to support a thigh of the child, 
   wherein each of the thigh supports comprises a wrapping portion configured to at least partially surround a bottom of the thigh of the child,   wherein each of the thigh supports is coupled to the seat such that an adjustment of the seat from the first seat height to a second seat height simultaneously adjusts each of the thigh supports, and   wherein the first end of each of the thigh supports is positioned closer to a front portion of the carrying frame when the seat is at the first seat height than at the second seat height, thereby positioning the thigh support surface of each of the thigh supports closer to a respective knee of the child when the seat is at the first seat height than at the second seat height.   
     
     
         2 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping portion of each of the thigh supports is configured to at least partially surround the bottom of the thigh at a knee-end portion of the thigh. 
     
     
         3 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the seat and at least a portion of the thigh supports are formed from a different material. 
     
     
         4 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an outer edge of each of the thigh supports are formed from a flexible structure. 
     
     
         5 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein portions of each of the thigh supports are spaced from the seat. 
     
     
         6 . The child carrier of  claim 5 , wherein a fabric structure is disposed between each of the thigh supports and the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The child carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the seat and the thigh supports are integrally formed. 
     
     
         8 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises a seat-fixation member,
 wherein the carrying frame comprises a frame-fixation member, and   wherein an adjustable strap is coupled to the seat-fixation member and the frame-fixation member.   
     
     
         9 . The child carrier of  claim 8 , wherein loosening the strap adjusts the seat from the first seat height to the second seat height. 
     
     
         10 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of side supports extending between the front portion of the carrying frame and a rear portion of the carrying frame. 
     
     
         11 . The child carrier of  claim 1 , wherein a rear portion of the carrying frame comprises a ground support member configured to support the child carrier in an upright position on a surface. 
     
     
         12 . The child carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the ground support member is pivotably coupled to the rear portion of the carrying frame. 
     
     
         13 . A child carrier comprising:
 a carrying frame; and   a seating unit coupled to the carrying frame, the seating unit comprising:
 a height-adjustable seat configured to support a bottom of a child; and 
 a pair of thigh supports, each providing a thigh support surface configured to support a thigh of a child, 
   wherein the seat is adjustable between a first seat height and a second seat height,   wherein each of the thigh supports is coupled to the seat such that adjusting the seat from the first seat height to a second seat height simultaneously adjusts each of the thigh supports,   wherein, when the seat is at the first seat height, each of the thigh supports is configured to support the thigh such that the thigh is inclined relative to the seat, and   wherein, when the seat is at the second seat height, each of the thigh supports is configured to support the thigh such that the thigh is declined relative to the seat.   
     
     
         14 . The child carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the first seat height is higher than the second seat height. 
     
     
         15 . The child carrier of  claim 13 , wherein each of the thigh supports is coupled to the seat at a first end, and wherein each of the thigh supports extends laterally away from the seat from the first end. 
     
     
         16 . The child carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the lateral extension of each of the thigh supports and a corresponding edge of the seat define a space therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The child carrier of  claim 16 , wherein a fabric structure is disposed within the space. 
     
     
         18 . The child carrier of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of an outer edge of each of the thigh supports is padded. 
     
     
         19 . The child carrier of  claim 13 , wherein each of the thigh supports comprises a wrapping portion configured to at least partially surround an inner and outer surface of the thigh of the child. 
     
     
         20 . The child carrier of  claim 19 , wherein the wrapping portion is spaced from the seat.