초록

An integrated carrier and support system for supporting and moving a child that includes a carrier assembly and a support assembly. The support assembly may collapse and expand and, when collapsed, may fit cooperatively adjacent to the carrier.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An infant carrier comprising: a lightweight shell made of a hardened material for supporting an infant in a supine or reclining position; anda support assembly coupled with the shell, the support assembly comprising a frame, to which are mounted at least three wheels, the frame comprising a curve

1. An infant carrier comprising: a lightweight shell made of a hardened material for supporting an infant in a supine or reclining position; anda support assembly coupled with the shell, the support assembly comprising a frame, to which are mounted at least three wheels, the frame comprising a curved shaft coupled with the shell for moving between an extended position and a retracted position, the support assembly supporting the shell above the ground, with the at least three wheels on the ground and the shell positioning the infant in a supine or reclining position, when the shaft is in an extended position;wherein the shaft is centrally located and the support assembly further comprises arms extending away from the shaft and shell when the central shaft is moved to the extended position, and retracting toward the shell when the central shaft is moved to a retracted position, each of the arms having mounted to it at least one of the at least three wheels. 2. The infant carrier of claim 1, wherein the shell is shaped and configured with recesses to at least partially receive the support assembly when the shaft is in the collapsed position, the shaft being accommodated when in a retracted position along a bottom side of the shell. 3. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a base to which the carrier is connected when the support assembly is in a collapsed position, the base being adapted for being restrained against a seat of a moving vehicle. 4. An infant carrier comprising: a lightweight shell made of a hardened material for supporting an infant in a supine or reclining position; anda support assembly coupled with the shell, the support assembly comprising a frame having a front and back, to which are mounted a plurality of wheels comprising at least three wheels, the frame comprising a curved central shaft coupled with the shell for moving between an extended position and a retracted position, the support assembly supporting the shell above the ground, with the at least three wheels on the ground and the shell positioning the infant in a supine or reclining position, when the shaft is in an extended position;wherein the plurality of wheels includes one wheel in the front and two spaced apart wheels in the back;wherein the shaft is centrally located; andwherein the front wheel is mounted to one end of the shaft, opposite an end to which is coupled the shell. 5. An infant carrier comprising: a lightweight shell made of a hardened material for supporting an infant in a supine or reclining position; anda support assembly coupled with the shell, the support assembly comprising a frame having a front and back, to which are mounted a plurality of wheels comprising at least three wheels, the frame comprising a curved shaft coupled with the shell for moving between an extended position and a retracted position, the support assembly supporting the shell above the ground, with the at least three wheels on the ground and the shell positioning the infant in a supine or reclining position, when the shaft is in an extended position;wherein the plurality of wheels includes one wheel in the front and two spaced apart wheels in the back; andwherein the back wheels are mounted to the shaft via spaced apart arms. 6. An infant carrier comprising: a lightweight shell made of a hardened material for supporting an infant in a supine or reclining position; anda support assembly coupled with the shell, the support assembly comprising a frame having a front and back, to which are mounted a plurality of wheels comprising at least three wheels, the frame comprising a curved shaft coupled with the shell for moving between an extended position and a retracted position, the support assembly supporting the shell above the ground, with the at least three wheels on the ground and the shell positioning the infant in a supine or reclining position, when the shaft is in an extended position;wherein the plurality of wheels includes one wheel in the front and two spaced apart wheels in the back; andwherein the shell is formed to at least partially accommodate the back wheels when the central shaft is moved to a retracted position. 7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the support assembly further comprises extendable struts coupled with the shell at at least two points for supporting the shell when the support assembly is in an expanded position. 8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the shaft is adapted to fit a handle used to maneuver the support assembly when in an expanded position. 9. A carrier comprising: a carrier shaped to receive and to support an infant in a reclined or supine position, the carrier comprised of a unitary shell of rigid material;means coupled with the carrier for selectively raising and lowering the carrier from the ground, the means for selectively raising and lowering the carrier comprising an elongated shaft extending from front to back of the carrier, from which depends at least three wheels and being selectively moveable between an extended and a retracted position with respect to the carrier, the carrier having a backside shaped to at least partially receive the means for selectively raising and lowering the carrier when in a retracted position; anda handle for manually pushing the carrier when in a raised position. 10. The carrier of claim 9, further comprising means for extending and retracting the handle. 11. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the elongated shaft a central shaft coupled near one end of the carrier, the central shaft moving between an extended and retracted position in order to raise and lower the carriage, the carrier being supported on the shaft to hold the infant in a supine or reclined position when the carrier is raised above the ground and supported on the ground by the at least three wheels. 12. The carrier of claim 11, further comprising a strut assembly pivotally coupled to the central shaft for supporting the carrier on the shaft. 13. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the means for selectively raising is comprised of a curved, central member extending along the length of the backside of the carrier. 14. The carrier of claim 13, wherein at least two of the at least three wheels are mounted to a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the central shaft. 15. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the means for selectively raising and lowering is comprised of a means for locking the carrier in a raised or lowered position. 16. The carrier of claim 9, further including means for mechanically assisting in moving the means for selectively raising and lowering the carrier. 17. An apparatus comprising: a carrier comprising a shell made of hardened and lightweight material for carrying a child in a reclined or supine position;an articulating support assembly cooperating with the carrier, the articulating support assembly comprising a elongated shaft extending under the carrier from front to back, to which are mounted a plurality of wheels, the articulating support assembly extending between a retracted position and at least one extended position, the carrier being shaped to accommodate and receive at least in part the support assembly, the support assembly adapted for supporting the carrier above the ground when in an extended position, the carrier being adapted for supporting an infant in a reclined or supine position when the support assembly is in the extended position and the plurality of wheels are on the ground. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the carrier is adapted for use as an infant car seat. 19. The apparatus for claim 18, wherein the elongated shaft is comprised of a single, centrally located boom, to which the carrier is coupled at one end.