Hands free pet carrier system

A method for installing a pet carrier in a vehicle seat as an in-vehicle restraint system for a pet, the method comprising:

• providing the pet carrier, the pet carrier comprising:
• a bag defining a cavity therein configured for receiving a pet;
• a top cover releasably attachable to the bag and having a substantially circular orifice of diameter sufficient to accommodate a protruding head of the pet;
• a padded collar surrounding said orifice, wherein the padded collar is adjustable to vary the diameter of said orifice;
• a left shoulder strap and a right shoulder strap, each shoulder strap having a first end attached to an upper portion of the bag and a second end adjustably and releasably attachable to a lower portion of the bag;
• a stabilizing strap that releasably connects both shoulder straps at a mid-point thereof;
• an adjustable lumbar support strap releasably attachable on a lower portion of the bag;
• a first petting pocket provided on a side of the bag, the petting pocket having a closeable orifice through which a user may insert a hand or finger and directly touch the pet within the bag;
• and
• a safety leash having a first end attached directly to an interior surface of the bag cavity and a second end provided with a fastener configured to attach to a collar or harness worn by the pet;
• each of the lumbar support strap, the left shoulder strap, and the right shoulder strap is formed from a material having a tensile strength at least substantially the same as Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate fabric;
• placing the pet carrier on a front side of the vehicle seat;
• threading one end of a seatbelt of the vehicle through a loop secured to a rear side of the pet carrier;
• latching said end of the seatbelt to a seatbelt receptacle of the vehicle adapted to receive said end;
• threading the left and the right shoulder straps of the pet carrier, each unfastened on one end from the pet carrier, through a headrest assembly attached to the vehicle seat so that the shoulder straps extend to a rear side of the vehicle seat;
• fastening the left and the right shoulder straps from the rear of the vehicle seat to the pet carrier;
• and
• wrapping the lumber support strap around the rear and sides of the vehicle seat and connecting said lumber support strap to the pet carrier.

A hands free pet carrier and in-vehicle restraint system, the hands free pet carrier comprising:

• a bag defining a cavity therein configured for receiving a pet;
• a top cover releasably attachable to the bag and having a substantially circular orifice of diameter sufficient to accommodate a protruding head of the pet;
• a left shoulder strap and a right shoulder strap, each shoulder strap having a first end releasably attachable attached to an upper portion of the bag and a second end adjustably and releasably attachable to a lower portion of the bag;
• a stabilizing strap that releasably connects both shoulder straps at a mid-point thereof;
• an adjustable lumbar support strap releasably attachable on a lower portion of the bag;
• one or more petting pockets provided on at least one side of the bag, each petting pocket having a closeable orifice through which a user may insert a hand or finger and directly touch the pet within the bag;
• and
• a safety leash having a first end attached directly to an interior surface of the bag cavity and a second end provided with a fastener configured to attach to a collar or harness worn by the pet;
• and
• the in-vehicle restraint system comprising:
• a seatbelt loop provided at a position substantially intermediate of a top edge and a bottom edge of a rear side of the bag,
• wherein the seatbelt loop has a diameter sufficient to receive a vehicle seatbelt threaded therethrough to secure the pet carrier to a vehicle seat at an intermediate securing position,
• wherein the shoulder straps have a length sufficient to be passable through a headrest assembly of the vehicle seat and secured therebehind with the stabilizing strap to secure the pet carrier to the vehicle seat at an upper securing position, and wherein the lumbar support strap has a length sufficient to be wrapped around the vehicle seat to secure the pet carrier to the vehicle seat at a lower securing position;
• and
• each of the lumbar support strap, the left shoulder strap, and the right shoulder strap is formed from a material having a tensile strength at least substantially the same as Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate fabric.