US20070170738A1 - Expandable shopping bag carrier - Google Patents
Expandable shopping bag carrier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070170738A1 US20070170738A1 US11/338,492 US33849206A US2007170738A1 US 20070170738 A1 US20070170738 A1 US 20070170738A1 US 33849206 A US33849206 A US 33849206A US 2007170738 A1 US2007170738 A1 US 2007170738A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shopping bag
- bag carrier
- carrier
- cylindrical tubes
- tube
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45F5/10—Handles for carrying purposes
- A45F5/102—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
- A45F5/1026—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle
- A45F5/1046—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle and supported above the grip surface of the carrying handle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F5/00—Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A45F5/10—Handles for carrying purposes
- A45F5/102—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
- A45F5/1026—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle
- A45F2005/104—Handles for carrying purposes with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried the carrying element being flexible, e.g. plastic bag handle and supported near the lateral ends of the grip surface of the carrying handle
Definitions
- the shopping is an activity that elicits a favorable attitude, where the shopper takes pleasure in the canvassing of stores in the constant pursuit of bargains.
- the chore of shopping is a necessary evil to accumulate the many items one needs on a day to day basis.
- shopping is elicits many different reactions, one universal experience shared by almost all shoppers in the discomfort that can result from lugging purchases from one location to the next, often causing wrist pain, hand fatigue, and other maladies.
- Shopping bags are typically designed to be grasped individually, but when many different shopping bags each containing various items must be carried at once the above identified problems present themselves. Accordingly, the field of shopping bags is in need of an inexpensive but comforpinle means for carrying one or more shopping bags in a reliable manner
- the present invention is directed to an expandable shopping bag carrying device comprising two or more telescoping cylinders that expand and contract as needed. At each respective end of the carrying device is a radially outwardly extending rim or lip that retains the shopping bag on the cylinders and keeps them from slipping off.
- an elongate slot extends longitudinally in a first of said cylinders, and a second one of said cylinders includes a pin aligned with and extending through said slot in said first cylinder to limit extension of said telescoping cylinders.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevated perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in shadow, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an extended configuration
- FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in shadow, of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a contracted configuration
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 , taken along lines 5 - 5 of FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 , taken along lines 6 - 6 of FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 , taken along lines 7 - 7 of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a tubular telescoping carrier member 10 is shown supporting a plurality of shopping bags 15 .
- Each shopping bag includes an elongate handle 20 that may be fashioned from a cord or cable, or alternatively may be formed from part of the bag itself.
- the cord or other handle has a tendency to focus the pressure on a small area of the palm, which in turn causes the user to continuously shift positions of the bags in the search for a comforpinle position.
- the user may use different fingers to distribute the weight of the packages, but this also causes a great deal of stress to be placed on the user's hands.
- the carrier 10 of the present invention is a tubular member comprised of an outer cylindrical tube 21 and an inner cylindrical tube 22 that cooperate to form a telescoping handle for holding shopping bags.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 show the carrier 10 in an expanded position to accommodate more packages and a contracted position used with fewer packages, respectively.
- Each cylinder 21 , 22 includes a radially outwardly projecting annulus 25 that provides a barrier to keep the bags from slipping off the interlocked tubes.
- a longitudinal slot 26 extends substantially from a position just spaced from the annulus 25 to a position just spaced from the end of the tube.
- the other cylindrical tube includes a peg or pin 28 that rides in the longitudinal slot 26 of the first cylindrical tube to guide the tubes apart and together.
- the inner tube 22 can have a radially outwardly directed pin 28 that can ride in a slot in the outer tube 22 .
- the pin 28 does not protrude out of the carrier 10 and can jab into the user's hand.
- the pin 28 is received in the slot 26 as the tubes extend apart. If the tubes are closely fit together, the carrier will not separate inadvertently and the packages can be carried with confidence.
- the pin 28 can also be used to fix the length of the carrier 10 by including circumferential slots 30 (see FIG. 4 ) branching off the longitudinal slot 26 , such that by rotating the tubes such that the pin 28 is captured by a circumferential slot, the inner tube 22 and outer tube 21 are fixed relative to each other and the carrier will not inadvertently shorten or lengthen.
- the cylindrical tubes may be made of a metal such as brass or aluminum, but more preferably the tubes are made from a sturdy but inexpensive plastic that make the cost of manufacturing the device relatively low.
- the carrier 10 can include advertising or other indicia 32 on an outer surface and distributed by shopping establishments as a form of free enticement to shop.
Landscapes
- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
An expandable shopping bag carrier includes two cylindrical tubes telescoping within one another to expand and contract as needed. At respective outer ends of the carrier are radially extending annuli that serve to retain handles of conventional shopping bags thereon whilst a middle portion of the carrier is grasped by a hand, leveraging the weight of the shopping bags and providing a more ergonomically favorable surface to grasp. The carrier can include advertising and be made of an inexpensive plastic material so as to be suitable for free distribution by stores.
Description
- For many, the shopping is an activity that elicits a favorable attitude, where the shopper takes pleasure in the canvassing of stores in the constant pursuit of bargains. For others, the chore of shopping is a necessary evil to accumulate the many items one needs on a day to day basis. Whether shopping is elicits many different reactions, one universal experience shared by almost all shoppers in the discomfort that can result from lugging purchases from one location to the next, often causing wrist pain, hand fatigue, and other maladies. Shopping bags are typically designed to be grasped individually, but when many different shopping bags each containing various items must be carried at once the above identified problems present themselves. Accordingly, the field of shopping bags is in need of an inexpensive but comforpinle means for carrying one or more shopping bags in a reliable manner
- The present invention is directed to an expandable shopping bag carrying device comprising two or more telescoping cylinders that expand and contract as needed. At each respective end of the carrying device is a radially outwardly extending rim or lip that retains the shopping bag on the cylinders and keeps them from slipping off. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, an elongate slot extends longitudinally in a first of said cylinders, and a second one of said cylinders includes a pin aligned with and extending through said slot in said first cylinder to limit extension of said telescoping cylinders.
- Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention
- An understanding of the invention may be realized by reference to the drawings and their description below, in conjunction with the detailed description of the preferred embodiment. However, it is to be understood that the drawings and the detailed description is not intended to limit the invention or its scope to only those embodiments depicted or described, but rather the scope of the invention is to be construed solely by the words of the claims appended hereto.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevated perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in shadow, of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in an extended configuration; -
FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in shadow, of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in a contracted configuration; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , taken along lines 5-5 ofFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , taken along lines 6-6 ofFIG. 4 ; and -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , taken along lines 7-7 ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a tubular telescoping carrier member 10 is shown supporting a plurality ofshopping bags 15. Each shopping bag includes anelongate handle 20 that may be fashioned from a cord or cable, or alternatively may be formed from part of the bag itself. In either case, when the bags are grasped in the hand of a user the cord or other handle has a tendency to focus the pressure on a small area of the palm, which in turn causes the user to continuously shift positions of the bags in the search for a comforpinle position. Moreover, the user may use different fingers to distribute the weight of the packages, but this also causes a great deal of stress to be placed on the user's hands. - Accordingly, the carrier 10 of the present invention is a tubular member comprised of an outer
cylindrical tube 21 and an innercylindrical tube 22 that cooperate to form a telescoping handle for holding shopping bags.FIGS. 3 and 4 show the carrier 10 in an expanded position to accommodate more packages and a contracted position used with fewer packages, respectively. Eachcylinder annulus 25 that provides a barrier to keep the bags from slipping off the interlocked tubes. In one of the cylindrical tubes, alongitudinal slot 26 extends substantially from a position just spaced from theannulus 25 to a position just spaced from the end of the tube. The other cylindrical tube includes a peg orpin 28 that rides in thelongitudinal slot 26 of the first cylindrical tube to guide the tubes apart and together. While the drawings illustrate an example where theouter tube 21 carries thepin 28 and theinner tube 22 has theslot 26, it is to be understood that theinner tube 22 can have a radially outwardly directedpin 28 that can ride in a slot in theouter tube 22. However, in the illustrated example thepin 28 does not protrude out of the carrier 10 and can jab into the user's hand. - As shown in
FIGS. 5-7 , thepin 28 is received in theslot 26 as the tubes extend apart. If the tubes are closely fit together, the carrier will not separate inadvertently and the packages can be carried with confidence. Thepin 28 can also be used to fix the length of the carrier 10 by including circumferential slots 30 (seeFIG. 4 ) branching off thelongitudinal slot 26, such that by rotating the tubes such that thepin 28 is captured by a circumferential slot, theinner tube 22 andouter tube 21 are fixed relative to each other and the carrier will not inadvertently shorten or lengthen. - The cylindrical tubes may be made of a metal such as brass or aluminum, but more preferably the tubes are made from a sturdy but inexpensive plastic that make the cost of manufacturing the device relatively low. With a low cost, the carrier 10 can include advertising or
other indicia 32 on an outer surface and distributed by shopping establishments as a form of free enticement to shop. - The method and apparatus for using the apparatus described above is illustrative of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize variations of the above-described methods and apparatus, and such variations should be considered within the scope of the invention. The above described methods and apparatus are not intended to the limiting in any manner, and the scope of the invention should be measured by the words of the appended claims, taken in their ordinary meaning in conjunction with the specification and documents cited therein.
Claims (5)
1. An expandable shopping bag carrier comprising:
a pair of cylindrical tubes arranged in a telescoping relationship such that a first tube extends out from and retracts into a second tube;
first and second radially outwardly projecting bag retaining annuli disposed at substantially distal edges of said pair of cylindrical tubes;
an elongate slot extending longitudinally in a first of said pair of cylindrical tubes, said elongate slot having a first end spaced from said annulus and a second end spaced from a distal end of said first cylindrical tube; and
a pin secured to the second of said cylindrical tubes, said pin aligned with and extending through said slot in said first cylindrical tube to limit extension of said telescoping tubes.
2. The expandable shopping bag carrier of claim 1 further including advertising on an exterior surface of one of said pair of cylindrical tubes.
3. The expandable shopping bag carrier of claim one wherein said first and second cylindrical tubes are made of plastic.
4. The expandable shopping bag carrier of claim 1 wherein said first and second cylindrical tubes are sized so that an inner tube does not move freely within an outer tube.
5. The expandable shopping bag carrier of claim 1 further comprising a circumferential slot branching from said longitudinal slot and sized to retain said pin therein to fix an overall length of said shopping bag carrier.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/338,492 US20070170738A1 (en) | 2006-01-24 | 2006-01-24 | Expandable shopping bag carrier |
PCT/US2007/001783 WO2007087308A2 (en) | 2006-01-24 | 2007-01-22 | Expandable shopping bag carrier |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/338,492 US20070170738A1 (en) | 2006-01-24 | 2006-01-24 | Expandable shopping bag carrier |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070170738A1 true US20070170738A1 (en) | 2007-07-26 |
Family
ID=38284826
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/338,492 Abandoned US20070170738A1 (en) | 2006-01-24 | 2006-01-24 | Expandable shopping bag carrier |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070170738A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007087308A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070252398A1 (en) * | 2003-12-09 | 2007-11-01 | Wulf Schormair | Device for Storage Tanks Producing Combined Packages |
US20220270066A1 (en) * | 2019-07-11 | 2022-08-25 | LAKRA Invest GmbH | Shopping and purchasing system |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US728004A (en) * | 1902-06-23 | 1903-05-12 | John B Phillips | Parcel-carrier. |
US1655744A (en) * | 1928-01-10 | Batteby gabbier | ||
US2454908A (en) * | 1945-07-14 | 1948-11-30 | Frederick L Buxton | Hanger |
US3866257A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-02-18 | Sr William H Cansdale | Swivel top paint roller with adjustable handle |
US3904197A (en) * | 1974-07-12 | 1975-09-09 | S I Dev Co | Rhythmic dancing poles |
US5060998A (en) * | 1989-08-21 | 1991-10-29 | Phillips Pamela S | Shopping aid |
US5242349A (en) * | 1992-07-29 | 1993-09-07 | Reiff Meredith G | Arm exercise apparatus |
US5368393A (en) * | 1993-06-22 | 1994-11-29 | Normann; J. Brian | Handle for plastic bags |
US6309000B1 (en) * | 1999-11-24 | 2001-10-30 | Arlen Sturm | Article carrier |
-
2006
- 2006-01-24 US US11/338,492 patent/US20070170738A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2007
- 2007-01-22 WO PCT/US2007/001783 patent/WO2007087308A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1655744A (en) * | 1928-01-10 | Batteby gabbier | ||
US728004A (en) * | 1902-06-23 | 1903-05-12 | John B Phillips | Parcel-carrier. |
US2454908A (en) * | 1945-07-14 | 1948-11-30 | Frederick L Buxton | Hanger |
US3866257A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-02-18 | Sr William H Cansdale | Swivel top paint roller with adjustable handle |
US3904197A (en) * | 1974-07-12 | 1975-09-09 | S I Dev Co | Rhythmic dancing poles |
US5060998A (en) * | 1989-08-21 | 1991-10-29 | Phillips Pamela S | Shopping aid |
US5242349A (en) * | 1992-07-29 | 1993-09-07 | Reiff Meredith G | Arm exercise apparatus |
US5368393A (en) * | 1993-06-22 | 1994-11-29 | Normann; J. Brian | Handle for plastic bags |
US6309000B1 (en) * | 1999-11-24 | 2001-10-30 | Arlen Sturm | Article carrier |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070252398A1 (en) * | 2003-12-09 | 2007-11-01 | Wulf Schormair | Device for Storage Tanks Producing Combined Packages |
US20220270066A1 (en) * | 2019-07-11 | 2022-08-25 | LAKRA Invest GmbH | Shopping and purchasing system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007087308A2 (en) | 2007-08-02 |
WO2007087308A3 (en) | 2008-11-06 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |