GB2256130A

GB2256130A - Grip for a carrier bag

Info

Publication number: GB2256130A
Application number: GB9109398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Wolf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-01
Filing date: 1991-05-01
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Also published as: GB9109398D0

Abstract

A grip 10 for use with a carrier bag 2 has a rigid bearing wall 12 and sidewalls 14. The handles 4 of a carrier bag fit between the walls 14. The wall 12 bears on the fingers of the hand and spreads the load of the bag 2 across a wider surface area to avoid the problem of the handles 4 cutting into the fingers. <IMAGE>

Description

GRIP FOR A CARRIER BAG The present invention relates to a grip for use with plastics carrier bags and the like.

Typically, carrier bags are made of thin plastics sheet and the handle is formed by two loops in the sheet at the mouth of the bag. The plastics loop rolls up in the hand so that there is a narrow surface bearing on the fingers. Hence, when carrying a substantial weight iii the bag, there is very considerable pressure on a small area of the fingers, which is quite painful as the bag handles press deep into the fingers and circulation of blood to the fingers is cut-off.

The present invention provides a grip for use with a carrier bag, the grip comprising a substantially rigid bearing wall arranged to extend across the width of the hand, and means for locating the handle of a carrier bag on the grip so that the bearing wall is interposed between the handle and the hand, the bearing wall spreading the load of the carrier bag on the hand.

Preferably, a surface of the bearing wall has ribs to accommodate the fingers of the hand.

The grip preferably has a channel-shaped cross-section, the walls of the channel holding the handle of the bag in place on the bearing wall.

The grip may be flexible in whole or in part, but the bearing wall is sufficiently rigid to spread the load of the bag over a substantial width as well as along the length of the wall.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a grip in accordance with the invention, in conjunction with two carrier bags, the inset A showing a cross-section.

In the drawing, two carrier bags 2 of thin plastics material each have a pair of loops 4 at their mouth 6, the loops 4 forming handles for the bags, as is well known. In use, the handles roll up in the hand to form a narrow band which cuts into the fingers when carrying a heavy load, such as tinned-food 8. A grip 10 in accordance with the invention is moulded from plastics material, such as high density polyethylene. The grip is of generally U-shaped cross-section and has an elongate bearing wall 12 and two sidewalls 14 extending upwards from the long edges of the wall 12. The wall 12 is generally flat, with ends 16 of the wall 12 being down-turned. The underside 17 of the wall 12 has ribs 18 to define four grooves 20 each accommodating a finger of the hand to facilitate holding of the grip 10. The grip may be thin-walled such that the upper surface of the wall 12 is also ribbed.

The function of the sidewalls 14 is to keep the bag handles 4 located on the wall 12, and so the walls may be interrupted along their length, and of various shapes. However, the side walls 14 are preferably continuous and form a smooth transition from the bearing wall 12 so that the grip 10 sits comfortably in the hand The grip is preferably between about 8 and 12 cm long, and preferably about 10 cm long, and preferably between about 2 and 4 cm wide and, preferably about 3 cm wide.

In use, the loops 4 of the carrier bag are slipped between the side walls 14.

The grip may be flexible to a degree, and this can be controlled by the shape of the grip, for example the position of the ribs 18. However, a degree of rigidity is required to ensure that the underside 17 of the bearing surface 12 presents a sufficiently wide load bearing area to the hand to spread comfortably the weight of the carrier bags.

Various modifications may be made to the described embodiment and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A grip for use with a carrier bag, the grip comprising a substantially rigid bearing wall arranged to extend across the width of the hand, and means for locating the handle of a carrier bag on the grip so that the bearing wall is interposed between the handle and the hand, the bearing wall spreading the load of the carrier bag on the hand.

2. A grip as claimed in claim 1, formed of plastics material.

3. A grip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having a pair of generally parallel sidewalls extending upwardly from the bearing wall to form a channel for receiving the handle.

4. A grip as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the underside of the bearing wall is ribbed.

5. A grip for use with a carrier bag, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.