GB2146615A

GB2146615A - Handle assembly and bag including it

Info

Publication number: GB2146615A
Application number: GB08423640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Spiller Wilkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-21
Filing date: 1984-09-19
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: GB8325234D0; GB8423640D0

Abstract

A handle assembly comprises two platelike portions 10 for attachment to (e.g.) a bag 40 in such a manner that they can be moved into overlying relationship. The portions provide a handgrip 16 and have complementary portions which can releasably engage in the overlying relationship (to close the bag). Hook means 26 serve for suspending the bag within a supermarket trolley. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handle assembly and bag including it The present invention relates to a handle assembly, particularly for a bag such as a shopping bag, and to a bag assembly including such a handle assembly. It is particularly applicable to a bag adapted for use with a supermarket trolley.

According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a handle assembly comprising a pair of platelike handle portions each having an attachment portion and a shaped, e.g. apertured, portion which provides a handgrip; the handle portions being attachable via their attachment portion to respective spaced portions of an article which can be flexed to bring the handle portions into overlying relationship with their handgrips in register; the two handle portions having complementary portions which are releasably engageable to hold them in overlying relationship.

Suitably one handle portion has means defining a pair of opposed channels, and the other is slidably engageable therein. Alternatively they may engage on being pressed together, e.g. by means of snap-engaging lugs, or hook-and-eye fabric such as Velcro (trademark).

Preferably there are hook means for suspending the article, e.g. from the sides of a supermarket trolley.

These may be fast with one, or preferably both, of the handle portions. Alternatively there could be separate hook means for attachment to the article.

The attachment portions (and those of the hook means, if separate) may be attachable to the article by stitching, stapling, or adhesion. To facilitate techniques such as stitching they may be of thinner material than the handgrip-providing portions, which may be relatively thick at least in part, so as to permit comfortable gripping.

In suitable cases the handle portions (and/or separate hook means) could be integral parts of the article.

In a second aspect the invention provides a shopping bag having a handle assembly according to the first aspect. Such a bag may be dimensioned so as to fit within a conventional supermarket trolley. Preferably there are said hook means extending from two opposite faces of the bag, whereby it can be suspended within the trolley from the sides thereof. The bag may be foldable into a small volume and stowed in a pouch. A suitable material of high strength is sold under the trademark Reedex-F, and is a layered polyethene.

Other materials, e.g. woven polyethenes, may also be used.

Some embodiments will now be exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one handle portion of an assembly embodying the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are sections on line ll-ll and Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation on a smaller scale of a bag; and Figure 5 is a detail of a view from beneath of a further embodiment.

The illustrated handle assemblies each comprise a pair of similar but not identical handle portions, suitably formed from a strong plastics material e.g.

high density polyethene. The illustrated handle portion 10 is an approximately rectangular, generally platelike moulding, having a thin attachment portion 12 adjacent its bottom edge. The remainder is rather thicker, and is penetrated by an elongate transverse aperture 14. The portion 16 above this serves as a handgrip, and preferably has rounded edges 18,20 and corners 22. From the lower edge 24 of the aperture 14 a pair of hooked tongues 26 extend forwardly and downwardly. At the side edges L-shaped wall portions 28 extend rearwardly to define, with the body of the handle portion 10, opposed open-mouthed channels 30.

The other handle portion is also as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but with the omission of the wall portions 28. It is dimensioned so that it can be slid into overlying relationship with the first handle portion 10, with marginal portions engaged in the channels 30. In this configuration the apertures 14 and handgrip portions 16, which are identical, are in register, so that the whole assembly constitutes a single comfortable handle.

Instead of channels for sliding engagement, one handle portion 10 may have pairs of resilient detent lugs 50 (Fig. 5) such that the other handle portion can snap-engage behind them when the two handle portions are pushed together.

The handle portions may be attached by sewing through their attachment portions adjacent the mouth of a bag 40 at respective opposed positions.

A bag of Reedex-F can be capacious but light and foldable, and a wallet for stowage may be provided. The bag is dimensioned so that it can be slung inside a conventional supermarket trolley with the tongues 26 of the (mutually detached) handle portions hooked over the top of the trolley.

Two such bags can be fitted to a trolley, and substantially fill it. Once a bag has been filled, engagement of the two handle portions closes it and makes it easier to carry.

Instead of, or in addition to, the hooked tongues 26 fast with the handle portions 10, there may be hook means 42 attached separately to the bag 40.

While the preferred embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that much variation is possible The mode of engagement of the handle portions may be different, e.g. employing Velcro (trade mark) strips on handle portions which in this case can be identical plastics mouldings. The utility of handles with associated hook means is not restricted to shopping or other bags, nor to pairs of handle portions which are mutually engageable.

1. A handle assembly comprising a pair of platelike handle portions each having an attachment portion and a shaped portion which provides a handgrip; the handle portions being attachable via their attachment portion to respective spaced

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Handle assembly and bag including it The present invention relates to a handle assembly, particularly for a bag such as a shopping bag, and to a bag assembly including such a handle assembly. It is particularly applicable to a bag adapted for use with a supermarket trolley. According to the present invention in a first aspect there is provided a handle assembly comprising a pair of platelike handle portions each having an attachment portion and a shaped, e.g. apertured, portion which provides a handgrip; the handle portions being attachable via their attachment portion to respective spaced portions of an article which can be flexed to bring the handle portions into overlying relationship with their handgrips in register; the two handle portions having complementary portions which are releasably engageable to hold them in overlying relationship. Suitably one handle portion has means defining a pair of opposed channels, and the other is slidably engageable therein. Alternatively they may engage on being pressed together, e.g. by means of snap-engaging lugs, or hook-and-eye fabric such as Velcro (trademark). Preferably there are hook means for suspending the article, e.g. from the sides of a supermarket trolley. These may be fast with one, or preferably both, of the handle portions. Alternatively there could be separate hook means for attachment to the article. The attachment portions (and those of the hook means, if separate) may be attachable to the article by stitching, stapling, or adhesion. To facilitate techniques such as stitching they may be of thinner material than the handgrip-providing portions, which may be relatively thick at least in part, so as to permit comfortable gripping. In suitable cases the handle portions (and/or separate hook means) could be integral parts of the article. In a second aspect the invention provides a shopping bag having a handle assembly according to the first aspect. Such a bag may be dimensioned so as to fit within a conventional supermarket trolley. Preferably there are said hook means extending from two opposite faces of the bag, whereby it can be suspended within the trolley from the sides thereof. The bag may be foldable into a small volume and stowed in a pouch. A suitable material of high strength is sold under the trademark Reedex-F, and is a layered polyethene. Other materials, e.g. woven polyethenes, may also be used. Some embodiments will now be exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one handle portion of an assembly embodying the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are sections on line ll-ll and Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation on a smaller scale of a bag; and Figure 5 is a detail of a view from beneath of a further embodiment. The illustrated handle assemblies each comprise a pair of similar but not identical handle portions, suitably formed from a strong plastics material e.g. high density polyethene. The illustrated handle portion 10 is an approximately rectangular, generally platelike moulding, having a thin attachment portion 12 adjacent its bottom edge. The remainder is rather thicker, and is penetrated by an elongate transverse aperture 14. The portion 16 above this serves as a handgrip, and preferably has rounded edges 18,20 and corners 22. From the lower edge 24 of the aperture 14 a pair of hooked tongues 26 extend forwardly and downwardly. At the side edges L-shaped wall portions 28 extend rearwardly to define, with the body of the handle portion 10, opposed open-mouthed channels 30. The other handle portion is also as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but with the omission of the wall portions 28. It is dimensioned so that it can be slid into overlying relationship with the first handle portion 10, with marginal portions engaged in the channels 30. In this configuration the apertures 14 and handgrip portions 16, which are identical, are in register, so that the whole assembly constitutes a single comfortable handle. Instead of channels for sliding engagement, one handle portion 10 may have pairs of resilient detent lugs 50 (Fig. 5) such that the other handle portion can snap-engage behind them when the two handle portions are pushed together. The handle portions may be attached by sewing through their attachment portions adjacent the mouth of a bag 40 at respective opposed positions. A bag of Reedex-F can be capacious but light and foldable, and a wallet for stowage may be provided. The bag is dimensioned so that it can be slung inside a conventional supermarket trolley with the tongues 26 of the (mutually detached) handle portions hooked over the top of the trolley. Two such bags can be fitted to a trolley, and substantially fill it. Once a bag has been filled, engagement of the two handle portions closes it and makes it easier to carry. Instead of, or in addition to, the hooked tongues 26 fast with the handle portions 10, there may be hook means 42 attached separately to the bag 40. While the preferred embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that much variation is possible The mode of engagement of the handle portions may be different, e.g. employing Velcro (trade mark) strips on handle portions which in this case can be identical plastics mouldings. The utility of handles with associated hook means is not restricted to shopping or other bags, nor to pairs of handle portions which are mutually engageable. CLAIMS

1. A handle assembly comprising a pair of platelike handle portions each having an attachment portion and a shaped portion which provides a handgrip; the handle portions being attachable via their attachment portion to respective spaced portions of an article which can be flexed to bring the handle portions into overlying relationship with their handgrips in register; the two handle portions having complementary portions which are releasably engageable to hold them in overlying relationship; the assembly further including hook means for suspending the article.

2. A handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein one handle portion has means defining a pair of opposed channels, and the other is slidably engageable therein.

3. A handle assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one handle portion has at least one opposed pair of detent lugs by which the other handle portion is releasably engageable on pressing the portions together.

4. A handle assembly according to any preceding claim wherein respective hook means are provided on each handgrip portion.

5. A handle assembly substantially as any described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A bag comprising a flexible bag portion and a handle assembly according to any preceding claim, the handle portions being provided at opposed regions of the bag portion.

7. A bag substantially as any described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.