US20050039303A1

US20050039303A1 - Handy handle

Info

Publication number: US20050039303A1
Application number: US10/836,221
Authority: US
Inventors: Sandra Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-18
Filing date: 2004-05-03
Publication date: 2005-02-24

Abstract

Handy Handle, an adult cart handle cover designed for use with shopping carts, airport luggage carts and or rented strollers at amusement park facilities. Handy Handle a new and innovative cart handle cover designed to protect adults hands from germs and bacteria when shopping or traveling and coming into contact with dirty cart handles. Now for the first time, adults can feel confident pushing a cart and holding on to the cart handle bar by being protected from germs and bacteria with a Handy Handle cart cover. Adults of any age (young, old, with or without children) now have the chance to be protected from germs and bacteria that have been proven by University researchers to be contaminated with serious live bacteria that can make us sick. Made from a durable, high quality cotton and or polyester material that is 100% machine washable and some material even contains CRF REPELLAN® finish that further protects against exposure to germs, bacteria and stains. Handy Handle covers the length of a shopping cart or airport luggage cart handle and can be easily removed and taken and used in any store or airport around the world. Fabric materials come in traditional, contemporary, designer and even custom tailored for stores in their colors and logos.

Description

The Handy Handle comes folded up in a two part fold and closed with an elastic band. When in use, one simply un-folds the Handy Handle by removing the elastic band used for fastening when not in use. Second, unfold the right folded side flat and then unfold the left folded side flat.
Now you have one elongated horizontal piece of material that is still fastened by the top and bottom pieces of velcro. Third, un-fasten the velcro by separating the top and bottom portion of the velcro pieces and lay the Handy Handle cart cover flat and open. Place the flat and opened Handy Handle centered directly on top of the handle bar of a shopping cart, airport luggage cart, or amusement park stroller. The Handy Handle will naturally conform and fold over the cart handle bar when placed directly on top and fastens while hanging underneath the cart handle bar.
The Handy Handle cart cover completely covers the horizontal handle bar and comes down approx. 2.5 to 3 inches over the bar and fastens securely with a hook and loop velcro attached to the top and bottom horizontal part of the Handy Handle cart cover and running parallel from each other.
The two continuous pieces of velcro located on the top and the bottom part of the Handy Handle cart cover are aligned in a parallel position from each other so that they fasten securely upon placement over the handle bar of the cart in use.
When finished and to remove from the shopping cart, airport luggage cart or rented amusement park stroller, one simply grabs the far right or left edge of the Handy Handle cart cover and pulls in a quick and upward motion with one arm movement up and off, which releases the previously fasten velcro pieces. Second, lay the Handy Handle cart cover flat and open revealing the now un-fasten velcro pieces on the top and bottom part of the Handy Handle cart cover. Third, fold it over top to bottom so that the two velcro pieces re-attach to one another and the Handy Handle is now in an elongated horizontal manner.
Fourth, fold over the left folded side to the middle and then fold over the right folded side to lay flat on top of the left. Finally, pull the top of the Handy Handle cart cover through the elastic loop to attach together for storage.
When not in use, one simply keeps the Handy Handle cart cover in a two part fold and fastened with the elastic loop.
Handy Handle cart cover is made from a durable, high quality cotton and or polyester material that is 100% machine washable, some even include CRF REPELLAN® Finish to further protect from germs, bacteria and staining and covers the length of a shopping cart or luggage cart handle. Handy Handle cart cover can be easily removed and taken and used in any store or airport around the world. Handy Handle cart cover fabric materials come in traditional, contemporary, designer and even custom tailored for stores in their colors and logos.
Handy Handle, a new innovative adult cart handle cover designed to protect hands from germs and bacteria when using shopping carts, airport luggage carts and or rented strollers at amusement park facilities.
Handy Handle is horizontal in nature and is to be placed on top of the handle bar of a shopping cart, airport luggage cart or amusement park stroller to protect against germs and bacteria.
Designed small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, 100% machine washable, fastens with velcro and folds up easily with an elastic loop closure.
Handy Handle cart cover is made of only high quality materials, some even including CRF REPELLAN® Finish to further protect from exposure to germs, bacteria and soil when in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

HANDY HANDLE, a new patented product designed to keep adult hands away from germs and bacteria when shopping and traveling and coming into contact with dirty germ infested cart handles
90% of stores, airports and amusement parks have carts, from grocery stores, to drugstores, to big box chain stores, clothing stores, computer-electronic stores, airports big and small, and amusement parks worldwide.
Because carts are everywhere, especially shopping carts, the University of Arizona actually did a study on them and their results went Nationwide with Inside Edition. The researchers uncovered more than they bargained for and a dirty little secret stores don't want you to know about—cart handles are testing “dirtier than public restrooms.” Researchers found “fecal, urine, blood from meat, chicken, and live bacteria on ALL the cart handles they tested!” And it's no wonder, a cart handle becomes dirty after just 1 pair of un-clean hands.
Just think of how many people come in contact with a cart handle per day:

- The person with the Flu, a cold or contagious illness coughing into their hands
- The baby with the runny nose and sticky fingers
- The bloody chicken package that just leaked all over a customers hands—now exposing the next shopper to e-coli and salmonella poisoning.
- People not washing their hands after the bathroom and lots more.

What's worse are places the food warehouses where they hand out food samples and you eat and then place your hands back on the cart handle now exposing your mouth to these germs.
Endorsed by Doctors as being the best protection from germs and bacteria when shopping. A Handy Handle doesn't collect the same types of germs that our hands do because material doesn't sweat.
You simply place your Handy Handle over the cart handle of a shopping cart, airport luggage cart, amusement park stroller and even a shopping basket and you're on your way. When your done you simply fold it up, place it in your pocket or purse and off you go.
It's 100% machine washable and can be washed as often as you like. No other cart handle cover has been designed with adults in mind, until now.
Currently, on the market there are plenty of items to protect babies, but what happens when the baby gets older and the parent is shopping alone? That's when Handy Handle, our new innovated designed cart handle cover comes into play.
The germs and bacteria found on cart handles are always there—whether or not one has a baby or a small child—thus the need for a Handy Handle, an adult cart cover.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

After a trip to a local food warehouse I encountered a disturbing situation when an older man coughed up into his hands a generous amount of phlegm that I could see, wiped his hands together and then continued pushing the cart around the store as if nothing had happened.
What's worse is when we were leaving he did it again and then pushed his slimy cart back to the front of the store where a lovely woman took his gross cart and pushed the cart right back into the store not having a clue of what I had just seen this man do to the handle bar. What's worse, is if she's anything like me she'll be trying out appetizers around the store and then place his germs into her mouth!!!
I went home and couldn't get the thought out of my head and thus began designing Handy Handle for adults to use when shopping or traveling.
Handy Handle cart cover just covers the handle bar (the dirtiest and most contaminated part of the cart) and it folds up easily to fit in your pocket or purse, is 100% machine washable and can be used on any stores shopping carts. Some of our Handy Handles even contain CRF Repellan® to further protect against exposure to germs and bacteria.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The Handy Handle comes folded up in a two part fold and closed with an elastic band. When in use, one simply un-folds the Handy Handle by removing the elastic band used for fastening when not in use. Second, unfold the right folded side flat and then unfold the left folded side flat.
Now you have one elongated horizontal piece of material that is still fastened by the top and bottom pieces of velcro. Third, un-fasten the velcro by separating the top and bottom portion of the velcro pieces and lay the Handy Handle cart cover flat and open. Place the flat and opened Handy Handle centered directly on top of the handle bar of a shopping cart, airport luggage cart, or amusement park stroller. The Handy Handle will naturally conform and fold over the cart handle bar when placed directly on top and fastens while hanging underneath the cart handle bar.
The Handy Handle cart cover completely covers the horizontal handle bar and comes down approx. 2.5 to 3 inches over the bar and fastens securely with a hook and loop velcro attached to the top and bottom horizontal part of the Handy Handle cart cover and running parallel from each other.
The two continuous pieces of velcro located on the top and the bottom part of the Handy Handle cart cover are aligned in a parallel position from each other so that they fasten securely upon placement over the handle bar of the cart in use.
When finished and to remove from the shopping cart, airport luggage cart or rented amusement park stroller, one simply grabs the far right or left edge of the Handy Handle cart cover and pulls in a quick and upward motion with one arm movement up and off, which releases the previously fasten velcro pieces. Second, lay the Handy Handle cart cover flat and open revealing the now un-fasten velcro pieces on the top and bottom part of the Handy Handle cart cover. Third, fold it over top to bottom so that the two velcro pieces re-attach to one another and the Handy Handle is now in an elongated horizontal manner.
Fourth, fold over the left folded side to the middle and then fold over the right folded side to lay flat on top of the left. Finally, pull the top of the Handy Handle cart cover through the elastic loop to attach together for storage.
When not in use, one simply keeps the Handy Handle cart cover in a two part fold and fastened with the elastic loop.
Handy Handle cart cover is made from a durable, high quality cotton and or polyester material that is 100% machine washable, some even include CRF REPELLAN® Finish to further protect from germs, bacteria and staining and covers the length of a shopping cart or luggage cart handle. Handy Handle cart cover can be easily removed and taken and used in any store or airport around the world. Handy Handle cart cover fabric materials come in traditional, contemporary, designer and even custom tailored for stores in their colors and logos.
Handy Handle cart cover is different from other patented shopping cart protective covers.
Other Similar Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 570,546
Their patent contains a middle padded layer which Handy Handle does not have. Their patent contains a claim that their protective cover “the lower portion fastens to the top portion.” Handy Handle fastens with velcro with both top and bottom reaching underneath the cart handle to meet and fasten. Handy Handle does not fold over from bottom to top.
U.S. Pat. No. 168,923
Their patent covers the handle bar, seat and sides of a shopping cart. Handy Handle only covers the handle bar of a shopping cart and further protects from germs and bacteria found on airport luggage carts. Handy Handle is not designed to fit over anything else but the shopping cart handle, airport luggage cart handle or rented amusement park stroller.
The Velcro on U.S. Pat. No. 168,923 is spaced into 3 small pieces. Handy Handle has one continuous piece of velcro. The material from U.S. Pat. No. 168,923 “is padded and is meant to fasten from bottom to top around the cart handle.”
U.S. Pat. No. 168,923 also has snaps attached on their cart cover for placement of toys and attaches to a seat cover that is meant to be used in protecting infants and young children.
Handy Handle lays flat when opened and is placed directly on top of the cart handle and conforms naturally around the cart handle bar with both top and bottom portions of velcro meeting in the front and back portion of the cart handle to fasten underneath the cart handle with velcro. The Handy Handle cart cover material hangs longer than the cart handle and fastens underneath with the hook and loop velcro.
Other similar patents cover the seat in a T-like manner or up and down the sides of a cart. Since Handy Handle is designed with only adults in mind it is used strictly for the cart handle of a shopping cart or luggage cart when traveling. If one has children it also can be used on a rented amusement park stroller.
No other patent has an elastic loop sewn within the material for fastening.
No other patent fastens with one continuous piece of velcro located both at the top and bottom and meeting each other on the front and back part of the cart handle when hanging over the handle bar and attaching underneath.
No other patent includes material with CRF Repellan O formula to further protect from germs and bacteria.
FIG. 1.
Handy Handle, when laid flat and opened is of a horizontal nature and measures between 20-21 inches across horizontally.

(1.) The top portion when laid flat and opened.
(2.) The bottom portion when laid flat and opened.

The Velcro: 6 inch continuous piece of velcro is sewn and centered at the (4.) top and (5.) bottom portions of the Handy Handle cart cover.
On the (1.) top and sewn in a loop like fashion is the 7 inch piece of (3)elastic used to fasten the cart cover together when not in use.
FIG. 2
When Handy Handle is folded over horizontally the top edge and bottom edge meet together and fasten with the continuous piece of velcro sewn to the top and bottom of the cart cover. Velcro is not seen in the above drawing as it is now in the fastened position with the top folded over to fasten to the bottom.
(1.) The 7 inch piece of elastic is sewn in a loop like fashion and centered in the middle as shown in the above drawing. The elastic is used to keep the Handy Handle in place when folded together.
FIG. 3.
(2.) The Handy Handle, cart cover is placed directly on top of the handle bar and fastens at the bottom with the 2 continuous pieces of velcro touching each other when hanging off of the cart handle on the front and back.
When placed over the cart handle and folded over, Handy Handle measures 2.5-3 inches wide on each side leaving the material hanging and fastening at the bottom underneath the cart handle bar.
For reference purposes only, please note: The standard cart (shopping, luggage, amusement park stroller) handle measures 1 inch wide.
FIG. 4.
(1.) Piece of elastic holding together the Handy Handle.
Drawing above is seen folded up in a two-fold manner and held together by an elastic loop.

Claims

1.) Handy Handle cart cover is a new, innovative design of a handle cover that is elongated and horizontal and measures the length of a standard shopping cart, luggage cart and amusement park stroller handle bar.

2.) Handy Handle cart cover is made from a durable cotton or polyester 100% machine washable fabric material that includes CRF REPELLAN® Finish and is sewn together and top stitched all around for superior quality and longevity when in use.

Fabric materials come in traditional, contemporary, designer and even custom tailored for stores in their colors and logos.

3.) Handy Handle cart cover, when laid flat is horizontal in nature and measures between 20 and 21 inches long and is between 5-6 inches wide. When folded over the cart handle it measure 2.5 to 3 inches on each side of the handle bar, front and back. Running parallel and in the centered position of the top and bottom portion of the Handy Handle cart cover is a continuous piece of hook and loop velcro. (See FIGS. 1 and 1A)

4.) Handy Handle cart cover when opened and laid flat is placed over the cart handle.

The top and bottom horizontal edges meet at the bottom, underneath the cart handle and fasten with two pieces of continuous hook and loop velcro. The velcro measures 6-8 inches across the center of the top and bottom part of the Handy Handle cart cover and run parallel from each other. (See FIGS, 1 and 1A and FIGS. 3 and 3A)

5.) Handy Handle cart cover when laid flat and opened has attached to one side of the top horizontal portion of the cover, a piece of elastic that measures 7 inches long and is tucked, looped and sewn within the fabric to provide a closure when folding it together and placing it in your purse or pocket. (See FIGS. 2 and 2A and 4 and 4A)

6.) Handy Handle cart cover when not in use: Simply remove from the shopping cart, airport luggage cart or rented stroller handle bar by grabbing an edge of the Handy Handle cart cover and pull in an upward motion with one quick arm movement up and off.

Second, lay the Handy Handle cart cover flat and open. Third, fold it over top to bottom horizontally so that the two velcro pieces attach to one another.

Fourth, fold over the left side to the middle and then fold over the right side to lay flat on top. Finally, pull the material through the elastic loop to attach the Handy Handle together. (See FIGS. 4 and 4A)

7.) Handy Handle cart cover is the first such product to be claimed for use by adults when shopping or traveling and coming into contact with germs and bacteria found by documented research on cart handles.

8.) Handy Handle cart cover is the first such product to be custom made for individual stores in the US and Canada and to include custom logos and advertisements.

9.) Handy Handle cart cover is the first such product to contain CRF REPELLAN® Finish on Handy Handle fabrics that include a stain and germ repellant product within the material itself.

10.) Handy Handle cart cover is the first to have sewn within the fabric an elastic loop for fastening and easy storage.

11.) Handy Handle cart cover is the first to fasten and close at the bottom underneath the cart handle bar.

12.) We claim that in the future Handy Handle cart cover could have 1 additional continuous piece of velcro on the outside of the cart cover in a horizontal nature to attach a coupon holder that is square in nature and would hang over the Handy Handle cart cover.