GB2360445A

GB2360445A - Bag carrying handle

Info

Publication number: GB2360445A
Application number: GB0001273A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip John Hayward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-21
Filing date: 2000-01-21
Publication date: 2001-09-26
Also published as: GB0001273D0

Abstract

A bag carrying handle 13 comprises a rigid channel member 14 of U-shaped transverse cross-section having a base and opposing side walls defining a bag-handle receiving channel with gripping means on the underside 16 of the base, first and second handle guiding members 15A,15B extending from the first and second side walls, and a non-planar, outwardly extending palm-engaging portion 17 disposed on the first guide member 15A. The palm-engaging portion 17 may be hemispherical, and the gripping means may include a finger-accommodating contoured region. The ends 14A,14B of the U-shaped channel may be downwardly arcuate, and the bag carrying handle may be formed from a unitary moulding of plastics material. In use, the handles 12A,12B of a bag 11, e.g. a plastics carrier bag, are placed between the handle guiding members 15A,15B and allowed to rest along the U-shaped channel, and the bag carrying handle 13 is lifted by resting the palm of a hand against the palm-engaging portion 17 and curling the fingers around the base 16.

Description

2360445 Title: Hand Guard The present invention relates to a hand guard

for carrying carrier bags.

When carrying carrier bags, the bag handles tend to tension into relatively thin ligaments and the weight of the bag contents are distributed over localised areas of the fingers (particularly the end fore and small fingers), and the handles dig into the skin of the fingers. If the bag is heavy, this can be painful., particularly for elderly persons.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand guard for carrying carrier bags comprising a channel member having a generally Ushaped cross section, in use said channel member being placeable in the hand and the handles of a carrier bag placed in the base of the channel member whereby the channel member protects the hand from the handles.

Preferably guides are provided extending from the upper walls of the channel to guide the carrier bag handles into the base of the channel. In one embodiment one guide has a projection which, in use, engages with the palm of the hand to make the guard feel more comfortable to hold, and the projection may be of generally hemispherical shape.

Preferably the guard is formed as a unitary moulding of plastics material.

2 Preferably the external surface of the bottom of the channel member is contoured to accommodate the curves in the fingers of the hand.

The ends of the channel member may be curved to distribute any load more evenly over the bag handles.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a hand guard supporting a carrier bag, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a hand guard supporting a carrier bag, and Figure 3 shows a side view of the hand guard of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a plastic bag 1 having two handles 2A,2B. Plastic bag 1 may be of any type well known in the art.

A hand guard 3 for carrying carrier bag 1 comprises a channel member 4 having a generally U-shaped cross section. Integral with and extending up from the upper walls of the channel member 4 are a pair of guides 5A,5B to guide the carrier bag handles into the base of the channel.

3 Preferably the external surface of the bottom 6 of the channel member 4 is contoured with four indents as shown to accommodate the curves of the fingers of the hand so that it is comfortable to hold with the fingers.

In use said channel member 4 is placed in the hand and the handles 2A,213 of a carrier bag placed in the base of the channel member whereby the channel member protects the hand from the handles. Furthermore the channel member 4 helps to distribute the load of the carrier bag across all fingers.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown a plastic bag 11 having two handles 12A, 1 2B. Plastic bag 11 may again be of any type well known in the art.

A hand guard 13 for carrying carrier bag 11 is provided and is similar and substantially identical in use to hand guard 3 of Figure 1, and guard 13 comprises a channel member 14, a pair guides 15A, 1 5B, and the bottom 16 of the channel member 14 is contoured with four indents. However in addition to the guard 3 of Figure 1, the ends of channel member 14 has curved ends 14A,1413 to distribute any load more evenly over the bag handles. Also one guide 15A has a solid or hollow projection 17 of generally hemispherical shape which, in use, engages with the palm of the hand to make the guard feel more comfortable to hold. Projection 17 may be integrally formed or a separate component.

4 The guard of the invention may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, but preferably the guard is formed as a unitary moulding of plastics material.

The guard of the invention in its simplest form could just be the Ushaped channel section. The guides and/or curved ends and/or projection may be optional additions.

The guard of the invention may be of any colour/s, and may support printed information such as advertising messages.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS or 1 A hand guard for reducing pressure exerted by handle means of

a baC, on a hand of a user, the hand guard comprising a rigid channel member of generally U-shaped transverse cross-section, so as to provide a base and extending therefrom, a first wall and a second wall opposed to the first wall; gripping means underneath the channel member, whereby a portion of the handle means is locatable between said first and second walls to rest on said base such that, in use, an area of contact between the gripping means and hand is greater than an area of contact between the portion of the handle means and the hand guard; a first guide extending upwards in use from at least a portion of the first wall and an osed second guide extending upwards in use from at least a portion of the opposed second OPP wall, for guiding the handle means therebetween on insertion of the handle means into the channel member. and a non-planar outwardly protruding portion on the first guide for engaging a palm of the hand.

is
2. A hand guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-planar portion is substantially hemispherical.
3. A hand guard as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein an outer surface of the base of the channel member is contoured to accommodate finaers of the hand.

0
4. A hand guard as claimed in any of the preceding, claims, wherein opposed end portions 1 of the base of the channel member are downwardly, in use, arcuate to accommodate arcuate portions of the handle means.
5. A hand guard substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5. A hand ard as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the hand guard is gu W formed from a unitary moulding of plastics material.

6. A hand guard substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

0 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A hand guard for reducing pressure exerted by handle means of a bag on a hand of a user, the hand guard comprising a rigid channel member of generally U-shaped transverse cross-section, so as to provide a base and extending therefrom, a first wall and a second wall opposed to the first wall; gripping means underneath the channel member, whereby a portion of the handle means is locatable between said first and second walls to rest on said base such that, in use, an area of contact between the gripping means and hand is greater than an area of contact between the portion of the handle means and the hand guard; a first guide extending upwards in use from at least a portion of the first wall and an opposed second guide extending upwards in use from at least a portion of the opposed second wall, for guiding the handle means therebetween on insertion of the handle means into the channel member; and a non-planar outwardly protruding, substantially hemispherical portion on the first guide for engaging a palm of the hand.

2. A hand guard as claimed in claims 1, wherein an outer surface of the base of the channel member is contoured to accommodate fingers of the hand.

3. A hand guard as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein opposed end portions of the base of the channel member are downwardly, in use, arcuate to accommodate arcuate portions of the handle means.

4. A hand guard as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the hand guard is formed from a unitary moulding of plastics material.