GB2418839A

GB2418839A - Bag holding device

Info

Publication number: GB2418839A
Application number: GB0422512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zion Nayim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-11
Filing date: 2004-10-11
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Also published as: GB0422512D0; GB0505118D0

Abstract

A bag holding device comprises a planar plastic body with folding lines along its length. There may be two folding lines which may be closer to each other near the margins of the device than they are near the centre of the device. When folded the device may have improved mechanical properties. The device may be the same size as a credit card. A magnetic stripe may be attached to the device and may in use be located on a lower surface thereof.

Description

24 1 8839 Bag Holder This invention relates to bag holder devices, and

more particularly to a device for comfortably holding and carrying heavy plastic bags.

People carrying heavy bags are a common sight. People buy groceries, fruit or vegetables, books or other goods, and have to carry them away - home or to the parking lot, etc. The bags are inconvenient to carry and may do damage to the hand.

The upper part of the bag is usually narrow or becomes narrow under stress, thus applying the weight of the bag over a small area of the hand. This results in a large pressure there, which may cut or otherwise damage the hand and/or the finger's skin.

Where a user carries several bags, there may be relative movement therebetween, causing local stretching of the skin in different directions.

Thus, the bags' movements may result in a differential, scissors-like action that may cause further damage to a customer's hand.

The present disclosure relates to a bags holder device which facilitates carrying heavy bags while preventing or reducing any damage to a user's hand.

According to one aspect of the invention, a device made of plastic sheet is carried between the hand and the bag's handle. The sheet protects the user's hand by distributing the mechanical load move evenly over the customer's hand surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device has a size and shape which is adapted to this task. The device is easy to carry and use.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the device has predefined folding lines thereon. These lines act both to better adapt the device to a user's hand while carrying bags, and to increase its mechanical strength. - 2 -

Thus, even a relatively thin plastic sheet may achieve improved mechanical properties as required for the task of carrying heavy bags.

Furthermore, the device may act as an effective platform for advertising.

Either side, or both sides of the device, may be used to display various advertisements thereon.

An optional magnetic stripe allows to easily attach the device to a refrigerator's door or to other ferromagnetic surfaces. This allows for easy storage of the device while not in use, while keeping it visible and ready to use when necessary.

Further objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading the disclosure set forth hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a bag holder device with a bag attached thereto.

Fig. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the device, with preformed folding lines thereon.

Fig. 3 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the device.

Fig. 4 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the device.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a bag holder device 2 with a bag 1 attached thereto.

The bag 1 usually has a bag handle 13, devised as a means, integral to the bag 1, for holding and carrying the bag 1. The bag handle 13 is placed over the bag holder device 2, with the user's hand (not shown) being placed underneath the device 2. - 3 -

Thus, the device 2 protects the user's hand from the undesirable effects of the bag handle 13.

A plurality of bags can be carried together with the device, by placing all their corresponding handles together over the device 2.

Preferably the device is planar in its normal state, while not in use, for easier storage in a user's handbag, etc. While in use for carrying plastic bags, the device may be folded along the folding lines as indicated, to improve its mechanical strength and for more comfortable holding in the user's hand.

The device may act as an effective platform for advertising.

Advertisements may be placed on the upper side of the device, its lower side or both.

A user may keep a holding device and carry it with him/her, thus allowing the device to act as advertising medium for prolonged time periods.

Furthermore, the device may be attached to various pieces of merchandise on sale. This offers an added benefit to the user - an enhanced package, including both the merchandise and a useful carrying device.

The advertisement placed on the device is thus effective, also while the merchandise is still in the supermarket.

The material of the device should preferably comply with the following requirements: 1. It should have reasonably good mechanical strength, so as to withstand the force and/or pressure exercised by the bag's handles thereon.

2. It should have a measure of flexibility, to bend in the user's hand.

3. Suitable for forming bending lines thereon, such as to allow easier bending of the device along these lines.

4. Suitable for printing an advertising thereon, preferably in color. - 4 -

5. Suitable for attaching a magnetic stripe thereto.

The bag holder device 2 preferably has a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners 21.

Two preshaped folding lines 22, 23 span the length of the device and allow for easy folding of the device along these lines, to create three areas 24, 25, 26 on the device 2.

Area 24 is basically used to carry the weight of the bag while protecting a user's hand by distributing the weight of the bag (or bags) over the surface of the hand.

The areas 25, 26 increase the stiffness of the device while the device is folded along the lines 22, 23, thus improving its mechanical strength when the device is used to carry bags.

Occasionally, the areas 25, 26 may also be used to protect the user's hand, if the bag's movement causes it to exercise a lateral force.

In a preferred embodiment, the folding lines 22, 23 are curved as shown, to be closer to each other near the device's sides and further apart from each other at the middle of the device. It has been found by the present inventor that such a structure may achieve improved mechanical properties.

The device's size may be adapted to the size of a user's hand: a woman, a man and/or a child. Thus, several sizes may be offered, or one size of average value.

The device's size may be similar to that of a credit card.

In a preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the device are about 100 by mm (millimeters), or as indicated in Fig. 2 on a 1:1 scale.

The device's thickness is preferably about 1 mm.

The device is preferably made of a thin plastic sheet. - 5 -

In one embodiment, the device is made of relatively rigid plastic, except for the folding lines which allow for easier folding of the device along those lines.

The rest of the device may also be given a measure of flexibility.

Fig. 3 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the device 2, with a shape more similar to an ellipse than a rectangle, or - a rectangle with rounded corners of a larger radius.

Two preshaped folding lines 22, 23 allow for easy folding of the device along these lines, to create three areas 24, 25, 26 on the device 2.

The areas 25, 26 increase the stiffness of the device, thus improving its mechanical strength.

The device's thickness is preferably about 1 mm.

An optional magnetic stripe 3 allows to easily attach the device 2 to a refrigerator's door (not shown) or to other ferromagnetic surfaces.

This allows for easy storage of the device while not in use, while keeping it visible and ready and available for use as necessary.

Preferably, the magnetic stripe is attached to the middle area of the device between the folding lines 22, 23.

Preferably, the magnetic stripe is attached on the lower side of the device.

If the folding lines 22, 23 allow the side surfaces 25, 26 to be folded upwards, then the magnetic stripe is preferably attached to the other (lower) side of the device. - 6 -

Fig. 4 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the device 2. The device is shaped as a preformed plastic sheet, shaped as a curved surface of circular arc cross section. The folding lines may be disposed with in this case.

Various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to a person skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure. For example, more than two folding lines may be made in the device.

The device may be made of various materials, not only plastic. For example, it may be made of cardboard or metal. - 7 -

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A bag holding device comprising a thin sheet

of plastic with folding lines along its length.
2. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device has a planar shape when at rest and may be folded along the folding lines to improve its mechanical properties when used to carry bags.
3. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device is made of a rigid plastic sheet about 1 mm thick.
4. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device has two folding lines.
5. The bag holding device according to claim 4, wherein the two folding lines have a curved shape, being closer to each other near the device's margins and further away from each other near the center of the device.
6. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device's size is similar to that of a credit card.
7. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device's dimensions are about 100 by 65 mm (millimeters).
8. The bag holding device according to claim 1, further including a magnetic stripe attached thereon.
9. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic stripe is attached to the middle area of the device on its lower side.
10. The bag holding device according to claim 1, wherein the device is made of a material which has reasonably good mechanical strength, has a measure of flexibility, is suitable for forming bending lines thereon, is suitable for printing an advertising in color thereon, and is suitable for attaching a magnetic stripe thereto.