GB2123280A

GB2123280A - Carrying handle

Info

Publication number: GB2123280A
Application number: GB08316612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Eley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-02
Filing date: 1983-06-17
Publication date: 1984-02-01
Also published as: GB8316612D0; GB2123280B

Abstract

A carrying handle intended for use by shoppers when carrying plastics carrier bags and the like comprises a central portion 1 with a hand grip 4 and lower hook-like side portions 2 each presenting a groove within which the handle loops of a carrier bag can be received. To retain the carrier bag loops in position these pass through a flexible arm 13 across each groove, and are removed by passing them back again. Both carrying handle and retaining arms are a unitary plastics injection moulding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Carrier carrying handle This invention relates to carrying handles, and in particular to handles for use when carrying carrier bags and the like.

The use of plastics carrier bags in retail stores, particularly supermarkets and department stores generally, is now a widespread and almost universal practice. However, such carrier bags are not universally popular with customers, particularly when a heavy load has to be carried which is frequently the case when supermarket shopping, as the thin plastics handle loops of the carrier bags tend to cut into the hand. In fact, carrying even one well-laden plastics carrier bag for any material distance can be a painful experience.

Thus the use of such carrier bags, particularly when more than one are carried in each hand, becomes a necessary evil preferable to the inconvenience of a shopping trolley, for example. It will be appreciated that the same problem arises with the old-fashioned paper carrier bags with string loop handles, although these have now been almost entirely superseded by the plastics variety.

The object of the invention is to enable carrier bags and the like, and particularly a plurality thereof, to be carried without the discomfort which at present has to be endured.

To this end, according to the invention, a carrying handle for use when carrying carrier bags comprises a central portion with an aperture providing a hand grip and lower side portions projecting respectively on opposite sides of the central portion, each of said side portions having a groove, a recess or a channel within which groove, recess or channel the handle loop portions of a carrier bag can be received to allow the latter to be carried comfortably with the handle loops thereof looped over the side portions of the carrying handle.

Preferably the side portions are of hook-like form in end view and each present a single groove extending for the full length of that portion, such that both handle loops of one or more carrier bags can be received in the groove.

Extending across the groove of each side portion from the lower central portion of the carrying handle is a small flexible retaining arm through which after passing the handle loop portions of a carrier bag are made secure. To remove the loops of the carrier bag these are passed back again through the retaining arms which after use on each occasion return to their original position. The carrying handle and retaining arms of the invention is preferably a unitary plastics injection moulding.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic draw ings which illustrate, by way of example, a preferred form of carrying handle embodying the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the carrying handle; Figure 2 is an end view thereof; Figure 3 is a top view of the carrying handle; and Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the mode of employment of the illustrated handle when carrying plastics carrier bags.

The carrying handle and retaining arms illustrated is a unitary plastics injection moulding. The carrying handle has a plate-like central portion 1 and lower side portions 2 and 3 projecting respectively, and slightly upwards, on opposite sides of the central portion 1 from the bottom edge thereof. The central portion 1 has an aperture 4 shaped and dimensioned to receive the fingers of a hand and provide a comfortable hand grip, to this end the upper edge of the aperture being radiused both longitudinally and laterally of the handle, as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

Each of the two similar side portions 2 or 3 is of hook-like form in end view, presenting a groove 5 or 6, defined between the central portion 1 and a side wall 7 or 8 of the corresponding side portion 2 or 3.

The handle loops of a carrier bag can be looped over either side portion, with these loops received in the groove 5 or 6. To facilitate the engagement of the carrier handle loops with the side portions, each of the side walls 7 and 8 is outwardly and upwardly inclined and has an upwardly convex radiused edge 9 or 10. The bases 11 and 12 of the grooves 5 and 6 are similarly longitudinally radiused for smooth engagement with the loops of a suspended carrier bag. The upper edge 9 or 10 of each side portion 7 or 8 is just below the level of the bottom of the hand-receiving aperture 4 in the central portion 1.

Figure 3 shows from a top view of the carrying handle the two flexible retaining arms 13 and 14 which are also illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. These extend laterally across the top of both grooves of the side portions from the lower central portion 1 below the bottom of the hand-receiving aperture 4. Figure 4 shows in side view how the handle loops 15 of a plastics carrier bag 16 can be looped over either one of the side portions 2 and 3. It will be appreciated that the handle illustrated is not handed, and hence can be used in either hand.

Figure 5 illustrates how two handles H' and H" in accordance with the invention can readily be used to carry four plastics carrier bags 16, 17, 18 and 19. The bags 16 and 17 are respectively looped over the two side portions of the handle H', and the other two bags 18 and 19 are respectively looped over the two side portions of the handle H". Thus four well-laden carrier bags can be carried with ease and comfort and, depending on the manner in which they are filled, more than two bags can often be carried while suspended from the same carrying handle in accordance with the invention.

1. I claim that the carrying handle comprises a central portion and hand-receiving aperture, with lower hook-like side portions projecting respectively on opposite sides of the central portion, and that within the grooves of such side portions the handle loops of a carrier bag, and the like, can be received.

2. I claim that across the top of each groove of the side portions of the carrying handle, as claimed in Claim 1, and extending laterally from the lower

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Carrier carrying handle This invention relates to carrying handles, and in particular to handles for use when carrying carrier bags and the like. The use of plastics carrier bags in retail stores, particularly supermarkets and department stores generally, is now a widespread and almost universal practice. However, such carrier bags are not universally popular with customers, particularly when a heavy load has to be carried which is frequently the case when supermarket shopping, as the thin plastics handle loops of the carrier bags tend to cut into the hand. In fact, carrying even one well-laden plastics carrier bag for any material distance can be a painful experience. Thus the use of such carrier bags, particularly when more than one are carried in each hand, becomes a necessary evil preferable to the inconvenience of a shopping trolley, for example. It will be appreciated that the same problem arises with the old-fashioned paper carrier bags with string loop handles, although these have now been almost entirely superseded by the plastics variety. The object of the invention is to enable carrier bags and the like, and particularly a plurality thereof, to be carried without the discomfort which at present has to be endured. To this end, according to the invention, a carrying handle for use when carrying carrier bags comprises a central portion with an aperture providing a hand grip and lower side portions projecting respectively on opposite sides of the central portion, each of said side portions having a groove, a recess or a channel within which groove, recess or channel the handle loop portions of a carrier bag can be received to allow the latter to be carried comfortably with the handle loops thereof looped over the side portions of the carrying handle. Preferably the side portions are of hook-like form in end view and each present a single groove extending for the full length of that portion, such that both handle loops of one or more carrier bags can be received in the groove. Extending across the groove of each side portion from the lower central portion of the carrying handle is a small flexible retaining arm through which after passing the handle loop portions of a carrier bag are made secure. To remove the loops of the carrier bag these are passed back again through the retaining arms which after use on each occasion return to their original position. The carrying handle and retaining arms of the invention is preferably a unitary plastics injection moulding. The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic draw ings which illustrate, by way of example, a preferred form of carrying handle embodying the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the carrying handle; Figure 2 is an end view thereof; Figure 3 is a top view of the carrying handle; and Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the mode of employment of the illustrated handle when carrying plastics carrier bags. The carrying handle and retaining arms illustrated is a unitary plastics injection moulding. The carrying handle has a plate-like central portion 1 and lower side portions 2 and 3 projecting respectively, and slightly upwards, on opposite sides of the central portion 1 from the bottom edge thereof. The central portion 1 has an aperture 4 shaped and dimensioned to receive the fingers of a hand and provide a comfortable hand grip, to this end the upper edge of the aperture being radiused both longitudinally and laterally of the handle, as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 respectively. Each of the two similar side portions 2 or 3 is of hook-like form in end view, presenting a groove 5 or 6, defined between the central portion 1 and a side wall 7 or 8 of the corresponding side portion 2 or 3. The handle loops of a carrier bag can be looped over either side portion, with these loops received in the groove 5 or 6. To facilitate the engagement of the carrier handle loops with the side portions, each of the side walls 7 and 8 is outwardly and upwardly inclined and has an upwardly convex radiused edge 9 or 10. The bases 11 and 12 of the grooves 5 and 6 are similarly longitudinally radiused for smooth engagement with the loops of a suspended carrier bag. The upper edge 9 or 10 of each side portion 7 or 8 is just below the level of the bottom of the hand-receiving aperture 4 in the central portion 1. Figure 3 shows from a top view of the carrying handle the two flexible retaining arms 13 and 14 which are also illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. These extend laterally across the top of both grooves of the side portions from the lower central portion 1 below the bottom of the hand-receiving aperture 4. Figure 4 shows in side view how the handle loops 15 of a plastics carrier bag 16 can be looped over either one of the side portions 2 and 3. It will be appreciated that the handle illustrated is not handed, and hence can be used in either hand. Figure 5 illustrates how two handles H' and H" in accordance with the invention can readily be used to carry four plastics carrier bags 16, 17, 18 and 19. The bags 16 and 17 are respectively looped over the two side portions of the handle H', and the other two bags 18 and 19 are respectively looped over the two side portions of the handle H". Thus four well-laden carrier bags can be carried with ease and comfort and, depending on the manner in which they are filled, more than two bags can often be carried while suspended from the same carrying handle in accordance with the invention. CLAIMS

2. I claim that across the top of each groove of the side portions of the carrying handle, as claimed in Claim 1, and extending laterally from the lower central portion below the bottom of the handreceiving aperture, is a small flexible retaining arm through which after passing, the handle loop portions of a carrier bag, and the like, are made secure until removal back through the retaining arms is required.

3. I claim that the carrying handle, as claimed in Claim 1, and the retaining arms, as claimed in Claim 2, is a unitary plastics injection moulding.

4. I claim that the carrying handle is not handed and can be used in either hand.

5. I claim that each side portion of the carrying handle, as claimed in Claim 1, is capable of holding both loops of a carrier bag, and depending on the manner in which they are filled, more than two bags can be suspended from the same carrying handle.