EP0470979A1 - Auxiliary handle. - Google Patents
Auxiliary handle.Info
- Publication number
- EP0470979A1 EP0470979A1 EP19900906795 EP90906795A EP0470979A1 EP 0470979 A1 EP0470979 A1 EP 0470979A1 EP 19900906795 EP19900906795 EP 19900906795 EP 90906795 A EP90906795 A EP 90906795A EP 0470979 A1 EP0470979 A1 EP 0470979A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- handle
- auxiliary handle
- container
- ribs
- wall means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45F5/10—Handles for carrying purposes
- A45F5/102—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
- A45F5/1026—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle
- A45F5/1046—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle and supported above the grip surface of the carrying handle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45F5/10—Handles for carrying purposes
- A45F5/102—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
- A45F2005/1066—Details
- A45F2005/1073—Retaining means for controlled release of the carrying element
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45F5/10—Handles for carrying purposes
- A45F2005/108—Accessories
- A45F2005/1093—Labels, logos or indicators
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an auxiliary handle for use with containers such as cans, pails or bags.
- Flexible plastic bags are used extensively to carry goods of many varieties. They are found in grocery stores where recently-purchased groceries are packed in wicketed plastic handle bags for transport to the consumer's residence. They are also used as original packages for granular material such as pet food, fertilizers and salt. In the latter instances the bag may contain material weighing 20 kilograms or more. The material from which such bags are made is very strong and such bags usually include a punched-out opening at the top through which the purchaser can insert his hand so that he can carry the bag suspended at the end of his arm.
- An uncomfortable chore that is because the bag material is very thin and the load is concentrated along a very narrow line across the palm or fingers of the person carrying the bag.
- Each shows a narrow base means having an outer surface containing a plurality of longitudinally adjacent and concave transversely extending finger-receiving recesses, a pair of planar, but parallel side walls, an inner surface to receive a bag handle and means on the inner surface of the side walls to retain a bag handle within the device.
- British Application 2,202,135A shows a pair of conical inserts extending inwardly from each of the side walls to act as retaining means. The manufacturing problems associated with the provision of such inserts would be difficult to overcome. Furthermore, the flexible inserts would make it too easy for the auxiliary handle to fall away from a bag handle when released by a user.
- British Application 2,147,200A has a pair of longitudinally extending retaining ribs molded into each side wall but they are insufficient to retain thin bag handles within the device. Furthermore this auxiliary handle would be difficult to manufacture in a simple and economic manner.
- the present invention overcomes the problems encountered above by providing an auxiliary handle into which the handle of a bag or other container can be inserted and which more evenly distributes the container's load in the carrier's hand.
- the auxiliary handle of this invention includes finger recesses into which the carrier's fingers naturally fall and there is a smooth angled side wall against which the carrier's palm can rest. That side wall can also carry suitable indicia of an advertising or product identification nature if desired.
- the side walls of the auxiliary handle angle inwardly and are provided with vertically extending internal ribs which serve to retain the auxiliary handle on the container's handle or handles in the event that the container is temporarily released from the carrier's hand, as for example if the carrier sets the container on the ground while fumbling for his car keys.
- the broad base of the auxiliary handle makes it easy to carry more than one container with the same handle. This can be especially important with grocery bags since the purchaser often is faced with carrying a large number of bags away from a grocery store to his car or home and will welcome anything that makes his task easier.
- the auxiliary handle of this invention can be used over and over again as it is made from a strong plastics material. It can be molded in any colour and could be a retail product or a promotional product. It can be used with plastic handled bags; it could also be used with paper shopping bags that have rope or cord-type handles; or it can be used with containers such as cans or pails having a bail-type handle. There is sufficient flexibility in the side walls of the auxiliary handle to permit the passage between the ribs of handles that are thicker than the normal minimum spacing between the ribs.
- the first utilizes narrow straight ribs on the inside surface of the side walls, which ribs extend from the inner surface to adjacent the upper edges of the side walls, the ribs on one side wall being opposite the ribs of the other side wall and defining a narrow gap therebetween at their point of closest approach.
- This embodiment is particularly suited for containers that have relatively "thick" handles such as cardboard cartons and pails.
- the gap between the ribs is usually small enough to prevent the auxiliary handle from falling away from such container handles if it is released by the user, as when he temporarily places the container on the ground or a table.
- the auxiliary handle of the first embodiment is perhaps somewhat inconvenient to use, as with containers having extremely thin handles.
- the auxiliary handle of the first embodiment might fall away from the bag handle if released due to the "large" gap between the ribs (large in comparison to the thickness of the bag material) .
- the second embodiment of this invention solves that problem by using ribs on the side walls that interengage such that in use it is impossible for the auxiliary handle to fall away from the container handle under its own weight.
- a conscious effort is required on the part of the user to pass the container handle past the ribs of the second embodiment when attaching the auxiliary handle to the container handle and when releasing the auxiliary handle from the container handle.
- a single rib on one side wall is receivable between a pair of similar ribs on the other side wall, there being a small zone of overlap between the nose portions of the opposing ribs to effectively prevent unwanted passage of a container handle past the ribs.
- FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the auxiliary handle of this invention.
- FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the handle of Figure 1.
- FIGURE 3 shows an end view of the handle of Figure 1.
- FIGURE 4 shows the handle of Figure 1 in use with a loaded bag.
- FIGURE 5 shows the handle of Figure 1 in use with a paint can.
- FIGURE 6 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the auxiliary handle of this invention.
- FIGURE 7 shows a plan view of the handle of Figure
- FIGURE 8 shows an end view of the handle of Figure
- FIGURE 9 shows a cross-section taken on the line 9- 9 of Figure 6.
- the first auxiliary handle of this invention is illustrated in Figures 1-5 of the drawings under reference number 10.
- the handle includes a longitudinally arcuate base portion 12 and a pair of upstanding side walls 14,16.
- the base portion 12 is relatively thick and includes an inner surface 18 which is both longitudinally curved (see Figure 1) and transversely curved (see Figure 3) .
- the bottom surface of the base portion 12 includes a plurality of longitudinally adjacent finger-receiving recesses 20 each of which is both longitudinally arcuate (concave) and transversely curved at the side edges thereof for the comfort of the user. Four such finger-receiving recesses are provided.
- each side wall 14,16 extends upwardly from each side of the base portion, the outer surface 22 of each wall merging smoothly with finger-receiving recesses 20 and the inner surface 24 of each wall merging smoothly with the inner surface 18 of the base portion 12. As seen in Figures 1 and 2 each side wall 14,16 extends beyond the end of the base portion at 26 and includes upwardly and inwardly sloping edges 28 and a top edge 30.
- ribs 32,34,36,38 Extending downwardly within the auxiliary handle 10 are four narrow ribs 32,34,36,38.
- the ribs have the same thickness as the side walls 14,16. They start a short distance below the top edge 30 of each side wall and extend downwardly to the inner surface 18.
- the side walls 14,16 converge upwardly from the base portion 12 such that there is a narrow gap "g" between the ribs 32,36 and 34,38 on the order of 2 mm at the point of closest approach.
- the angle ⁇ representing the angle of convergence of the side walls, is desirably in the order of 10*.
- the convergence of the side walls 14,16 is not, as would be expected, achieved in the molding process per se. Clearly, it would be difficult to create a suitable mold so that the resulting product would have the desired shape but could still be removed from the mold without damaging the product.
- the product of this invention is molded with side walls 14,16 parallel to each other, thereby allowing the mold halves to move smoothly away from each other along the arrows A,B in Figure 1.
- the side walls will shrink consistently towards each other to the position shown in Figure 3. The degree of convergence will depend on the relative amounts of material in the side walls 14,16, the ribs 32,34,36 and 38, and the base portion 12.
- Figures 4 and 5 show the auxiliary handle 10 in position on two types of container, a grocery bag 42 in Figure 4 and a paint can 44 in Figure 5.
- the auxiliary handle provides a relatively wide surface having comfortable finger-receiving recesses which can be engaged by a person's hand and fingers to ease the burden of carrying a heavy load in the container.
- the load is carried with the fingers engaging the recesses 20 one of the side walls 14,16 will be against the palm of the person's hand and this provides additional support by ensuring that the hand is in the optimum orientation for carrying and by preventing any unwanted rotation or twisting of the auxiliary handle relative to the container's handle. This latter effect is most desirable with wire-like bails such as the bail 46 on paint can 44.
- the auxiliary handle 10 of this invention is ideally suited for advertising purposes since the relatively large expanse of the outer surface 22 of each side wall 14,16 may carry a store's logo (48 in Figure 1) molded into the surface 22 during production or may carry a label hot stamped or transfer printed thereon after production with such label carrying whatever information is deemed appropriate.
- the auxiliary handle can be molded in any colour such as a particular store's or producer's distinctive colours so as to readily associate the auxiliary handle with that store or producer. Since the auxiliary handle of this invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, it could be given away as part of a promotion or it could be sold for small profit adjacent check-out counters in retail stores.
- FIG. 6-10 A second embodiment of the auxiliary handle of this invention is seen in Figures 6-10 of the drawings under reference number 50.
- This handle has a longitudinally arcuate base portion 52 and a pair of upstanding side walls 54,56. There is also an inner surface 58 which is both longitudinally curved (see Figure 6) and transversely curved (see Figure 8) .
- the bottom surface of the base portion 52 includes a plurality of longitudinally adjacent, finger-receiving recesses 60 each of which is both longitudinally arcuate (concave) and transversely curved at the side edges thereof for the comfort of the user. As illustrated, four such finger-receiving recesses are provided.
- the side walls 54,56 extend upwardly from each side of the base portion, the outer surface 62 of each side wall merging smoothly with the recesses 60, and the inner surface 64 of each wall merging smoothly with the inner surface 58 of the base portion 52.
- the end edges 66 of the side walls are flush with the adjacent end of the base portion 52 and there are upwardly and inwardly sloping edges 68 and a generally straight top edge 70.
- the inner walls of the auxiliary handle are provided with interengaging ribs which close the handle and prevent inadvertent release from a container handle.
- a first, generally triangular rib 72 is integrally molded on one wall 54 so as to project inwardly therefrom at right angles thereto adjacent the top edge 70.
- the ribs 74 are positioned so that one will be on each side of the rib 72, the spacing between the ribs 74 being just sufficient to permit the rib 72 to enter therein as shown in Figure 7.
- each rib is shown as having a rounded nose portion 76, there being an overlap of the nose portion 76 of rib 72 with the nose portions 76 of ribs 74 when the auxiliary handle is in its normal, unstressed condition as illustrated in Figures 6-9.
- the side walls 54,56 converge upwardly from the base portion 52 at an angle of convergence of about 10*.
- the auxiliary handle of the second embodiment is molded with the side walls 54,56 parallel to each other to allow the mold halves to move smoothly away from each other.
- a complementary portion of the upper mold part would form the upper part of each rib.
- the side walls will shrink consistently towards each other as the molded part cools, to the position shown in Figure 8.
- the user When using the auxiliary handle of this invention the user will be able to easily move the side walls slightly apart either by hand or by forcing the sloping upper edges 80 of the ribs against the container handle. If the side walls are moved apart by hand the ribs will be released from the interleaved position and the container handle will pass thereby towards the inner surface 58. Once the container handle is in position the side walls are released to spring back to the position of Figure 8 with the nose portions 76 interleaved and preventing any inadvertent separation of the auxiliary handle from the container handle. If the upper edges 80 of the ribs are pushed against a fairly rigid container handle such action will cam the ribs and side walls apart so that the container handle can pass by the nose portions into the interior of the auxiliary handle. Thereafter the auxiliary handle of the second embodiment is used in the same manner as the auxiliary handle of the first embodiment.
- auxiliary handle of this invention provides an economical effective aid for shoppers or other individuals who often carry heavy loads in bags, pails or cans. It is comfortable and easy to use and meets a definite need in the marketplace. While a preferred form of the invention has been disclosed herein it is understood that a skilled practitioner could effect changes to the product without departing from the spirit of the invention and accordingly the protection to be afforded the invention is to be determined from the scope of the claims appended hereto.
Landscapes
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
- Fishing Rods (AREA)
- Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
- Cartons (AREA)
Abstract
La poignée auxiliaire (10) qui est conçue pour être utilisée avec des récipients tels que des sacs, des seaux ou des cartons auxquels sont associées des poignées comprend une base longitudinalement arquée (12) et une paire de parois latérales (14, 16) convergeant vers le haut depuis les côtés opposés de la base (12). Dans un mode de réalisation, une nervure généralement triangulaire (72) s'étend vers l'intérieur depuis la surface interne de l'une des parois latérales (54) et est entrelacée avec une paire de nervures similaires (74) située sur la surface interne de l'autre paroi latérale (56). Dans un autre mode de réalisation, une paire de nervures étroites opposées parallèles (32, 34, 36, 38) est disposée sur chaque paroi latérale, définissant ainsi un étroit interstice (9) entre elles au niveau de leur point de proximité le plus proche. La paroi externe ou la surface inférieure de la base (12) contient des cavités de réception de dents transversales (20). La poignée auxiliaire s'adapte sur la poignée du récipient et contribue à répartir le poids du récipient plus uniformément, de façon à alléger la charge s'exerçant sur la personne qui porte le récipient. Les nervures sont destinées à empêcher que la poignée auxiliaire ne se détache accidentellement de la poignée du récipient.The auxiliary handle (10) which is designed to be used with containers such as bags, buckets or cartons with which handles are associated includes a longitudinally arched base (12) and a pair of converging side walls (14, 16) upward from opposite sides of the base (12). In one embodiment, a generally triangular rib (72) extends inward from the inner surface of one of the side walls (54) and is intertwined with a pair of similar ribs (74) located on the surface internal of the other side wall (56). In another embodiment, a pair of opposite parallel narrow ribs (32, 34, 36, 38) is disposed on each side wall, thereby defining a narrow gap (9) between them at their closest point of proximity . The outer wall or the lower surface of the base (12) contains cavities for receiving transverse teeth (20). The auxiliary handle fits over the container handle and helps distribute the weight of the container more evenly, so as to lighten the load on the person carrying the container. The ribs are intended to prevent the auxiliary handle from accidentally detaching from the container handle.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA598728 | 1989-05-04 | ||
CA000598728A CA1311727C (en) | 1989-05-04 | 1989-05-04 | Auxiliary handle |
US07/499,818 US4982989A (en) | 1989-05-04 | 1990-03-27 | Auxiliary handle |
US499818 | 1990-03-27 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0470979A1 true EP0470979A1 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
EP0470979B1 EP0470979B1 (en) | 1993-10-27 |
Family
ID=25672680
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19900906795 Expired - Lifetime EP0470979B1 (en) | 1989-05-04 | 1990-04-27 | Auxiliary handle |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0470979B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU623776B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69004257T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2046778T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1990013236A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AU638781B2 (en) * | 1989-12-15 | 1993-07-08 | Reynold Laferla | Carry handle for carry bags |
GB2262220A (en) * | 1991-11-26 | 1993-06-16 | Philip James Wadey | A handle device |
GB2264434A (en) * | 1992-01-30 | 1993-09-01 | Lawrence Maxwell Shephard | Bag carrier |
ES2049669B1 (en) * | 1992-10-15 | 1994-11-01 | Cutiller Francisco Codina | SUPPORT FOR MANUAL TRANSPORT OF BAGS. |
AU5661294A (en) * | 1992-12-10 | 1994-07-04 | John Michael Condon | Hand grip |
ES1030603Y (en) * | 1995-03-29 | 1996-07-16 | Simo Jose Campos | HANDLE FOR BAGS, IMPROVED. |
GB2430144A (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2007-03-21 | Francis Buckley Denis | Handle device for carrying carrier bags or the like |
RU2326575C1 (en) * | 2006-10-12 | 2008-06-20 | Дмитрий Вениаминович Рясной | Removable handle for carrying load |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3912140A (en) * | 1973-11-30 | 1975-10-14 | Hoton M Franges | Carrying handle for packages or the like |
GB2147200A (en) * | 1983-09-28 | 1985-05-09 | * Simon Andrew | Detachable carrier bag handle |
GB2202135A (en) * | 1987-03-17 | 1988-09-21 | James Mcdermott | Plastic carrier bag holder |
GB2207856A (en) * | 1987-08-11 | 1989-02-15 | Nicholas Aleck | Bar carrying handle |
-
1990
- 1990-04-27 ES ES90906795T patent/ES2046778T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-04-27 DE DE90906795T patent/DE69004257T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-04-27 AU AU55465/90A patent/AU623776B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1990-04-27 EP EP19900906795 patent/EP0470979B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-04-27 WO PCT/CA1990/000132 patent/WO1990013236A1/en active IP Right Grant
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9013236A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69004257T2 (en) | 1994-04-28 |
AU5546590A (en) | 1990-11-29 |
EP0470979B1 (en) | 1993-10-27 |
WO1990013236A1 (en) | 1990-11-15 |
DE69004257D1 (en) | 1993-12-02 |
AU623776B2 (en) | 1992-05-21 |
ES2046778T3 (en) | 1994-02-01 |
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