FR2721589A1 - Removable handle for use with disposable carrier bag etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

The handle is formed by a hollow U-section body (1) with one open longitudinal face which may be covered by a closure panel (4) to define a tubular body. The panel is formed integrally with the body, with a line of weakening defining a longitudinal hinge (5) along one edge. The opposite edge of the panel includes at least one elastic lip formation (6,7) which cooperates with similar formations (10,11) at the free edge of the U-section body to form a closure clip. A series of indentations (14) may be formed at intervals along the external curved surface of the body, corresponding to the positions of a user's fingers.

Description

"Removable handle"
The present invention relates to a removable handle, for example, for gathering the shoulder straps of bags, in particular of shopping bags of the disposable type.

 Such bags, distributed at the cash desks of large surfaces, are generally plastic and do not include handles but simple flexible straps cut in the walls. However, the customers of these large surfaces often come to make important purchases there and thus leave charged. If they have to use several bags to carry their purchases, it can be difficult to collect the straps of all the bags to transport them. In addition, if the bags are heavy, the shoulder straps shear the wearer's hands and transportation is painful and difficult.

 To facilitate the transport of such bags, it has been imagined to use a "suspender holder" which allows the suspenders of all the bags to be brought together.

 In particular, a "suspender holder" has been proposed consisting of a flat part, hollowed out to serve as a handle, the lower end of which is curved to form a hook. The bags to be transported are suspended from this hook.

 It has also been proposed a "suspender holder" consisting of a generally rectangular frame, one side of which is split transversely. The straps of the take-out bags are then inserted into the frame through this slot, the frame forming a handle for transport.

 These two devices have drawbacks.

First of all, these types of "suspenders" make it possible to collect the suspenders of the bags for transport, but, if the bags are put down, for example in a car trunk, the suspenders tend to escape and the bags can be emptied. The device must be replaced before a new transport.

 In addition, these "suspenders" are generally flat in shape and the handles they constitute are therefore not very comfortable for the user because all the pressure resulting from the weight of the bags is exerted on a small portion of the hand.

 To overcome these drawbacks, the present invention provides a handle capable of being connected to the straps of at least one bag, in particular of the disposable shopping bag type, characterized in that it comprises a body of U-shaped cross section, having a completely open face longitudinally and a closure wall of said open face adapted to be fixed on said U-shaped body so as to form a tubular section.

 The shoulder straps of the bags are introduced into the U-shaped body and the latter is then closed using its closing wall. Thus the bag straps cannot escape from the "suspender holder". It is more pleasant to use because it forms a rounded handle which prevents shearing of the wearer's hand.

 Other advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, in the closed position, - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the handle of Figure 1, in the open position, - Figure 3 is a side view of the handle in the closed position.

 According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the removable handle comprises a body 1 of U-shaped cross section, with a concave face and a convex face, having a completely open face longitudinally delimited by two edges 2 and 3. The handle comprises in in addition to a closure wall 4, of generally rectangular shape. When the body 1 is closed by the wall 4, it forms a tubular section.

 The edges 2 and 3 of the body 1 each have an inner edge and an outer edge. A flexible veil 5 connects the outer edge of the edge 2 to the closure wall 4, the handle thus being molded in one piece. The closing wall 4 pivots around the flexible veil 5 to close and open the U-shaped body 1.

 The closure wall 4 has a free edge, opposite the flexible web 5, from which extend two hooks 6 and 7, placed on either side of the free edge of the closure wall 4. The projections 6 and 7 are formed. by curved extensions of the wall 4.

 Opposite these protrusions are provided notches 8 and 9 on the outer edge of the edge 3 of the body 1, which thus has two recessed outer wall portions 12 and 13. Protrusions 10 and 11 extend from the portions of face 12 and 13, respectively, in the notches 8 and 9. The assembly consisting of a hook projection 6 or 7 of the closure wall 4 and a projection 10 or 11, respectively, forms a latching means elastic.

 Four imprints 14 are formed on the convex face of the U-shaped body 1 to accommodate the fingers of the hand carrying the handle.

 When the user has filled his shopping bags, he collects the shoulder straps of the bags in the open U-shaped body 1. Once the bags are assembled, it closes the handle by folding down the closure wall. The hook protrusions 6 and 7 of the closure wall 4 slide over the protrusions 10 and 11 of the U-shaped body 1 until their curved ends engage under said protrusions 10 and 11.

 If the bags are placed on the ground, their shoulder straps do not escape. The bags can thus be placed as is in the trunk of a car and picked up at the end of the journey, without the need to put the device back in place.

 The removable handle proposed also constitutes a comfortable "shoulder strap" because it is ergonomically shaped, the pressure resulting from the weight of the bags being distributed over a large portion of the hand.

 Finally, the proposed device is simple to produce since it is preferably molded in one piece. This results in a "suspender holder" of low cost price.

 Of course, the device described above is not only usable for carrying disposable bags. It can advantageously be used for the transport of certain packages of water or milk, known as "packs" for the grouping of other types of paper or canvas bags, for the transport of cans of paint or other materials for DIY and more generally for the transport of heavy, even sharp objects, joined by links.

Claims (5)

 1. Handle, for example capable of being connected to the shoulder straps of at least one bag, in particular of the disposable shopping bag type, characterized in that it comprises a body (1) of U-shaped cross section, having a face completely open longitudinally and a closure wall (4) of said open face adapted to be fixed to said U-shaped body so as to form a tubular section.  2. Handle according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall comprises on at least one of its edges elastic snap-fastening means (6, 10 - 7, 11) adapted to cooperate with fastening means on the edge of said body in U.  3. Handle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said wall is articulated (5) by one of its edges to the said U-shaped body.  4. Handle according to claim 3, characterized in that said wall is connected to said body by a flexible veil (5).  5. Handle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that imprints (14) are provided on the external face of said U-shaped body to improve the grip of the handle.