US2705987A - Bag with attached handle - Google Patents

Description

April 1955 c. E. SCHULTE BAG WITH ATTACHED HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 16 44 64 Filed May 27, 1952 April 1955 c. E. SCHULTE 2,705,987

BAG WITH ATTACHED HANDLE Filed May 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent BAG WITH ATTACHED HANDLE Charles E. Schulte, Chicago, Ill. Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,186

8 Claims. (Cl. 150-12) This invention relates to containers of the type which are used in transporting or carrying packages and the like, and more particularly the present invention relates to improvements in shopping bags. Specifically the improvements are concerned with providing attached carrying handles for such shopping bags.

Heretofore shopping bags have ordinarily been provided with cord or fabric handles comprising a pair of loops attached to opposite sides of the top of the bag. Customarily the carrier grasped both of the loops in the hand and thereby supported the weight of the bag and its contents. Obviously the disadvantages of such construction are readily apparent in view of the fact that the hands of the carrier were often cut and bruised by the localization of the force vectors of the weight supported in the palm of the hand.

Additional disadvantages resulted from the tendency of the handles to separate one from the other, especially when the bag was excessively filled, as is so often the case.

Attempts to overcome the disadvantages set forth above have been made from time to time by providing separate handles which could be attached to the bag or to the handles of the bag for the purpose of relieving excessive cutting and bruising of the hands. Such a handle is disclosed in my co-pending application entitled Combination Package and Shopping Bag Handle, Serial No. 248,970, filed September 29, 1951, now Patent No. 2,684,797, issued July 27, 1954. Some of these auxiliary handles included wooden cylinders and the like, but none of these improvements have proved to be entirely successful primarily for the reason that since the handles were not permanently affixed to the bag, they often became separated therefrom or were lost or misplaced and hence were of little benefit to the users.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a shopping bag which will overcome all of the disadvantages hereinabove set forth.

Another object is to afford a shopping bag with an attached handle but with a handle so attached that it does not interfere with the opening of the bag for the purpose of loading the same. An object relating thereto is to so construct and attach the handle to the bag that one side of the bag may be entirely separated from the other side especially at the top opening thereof.

A further object is to provide an attached handle for a shopping bag so mounted that the handle will assume the natural position which will most evenly divide the weight of the bag contents between the handle members.

Yet another object is to afford a handle attached to at least one side of a shopping bag and which may be readily associated to or disassociated from the other side of the shopping bag.

Yet a further object is to provide a shopping bag with an attached handle in which the handle will not be too easily separated or torn away from the bag.

Still another object is to afford a shopping bag handle attached to one side of the shopping bag and having means for readily associating the handle to the other side. Such means comprising cooperating hooks and loops so constructed that once they are attached they do not readily become separated one from the other, especially when the bag is merely set down or deposited for a brief interval.

Still a further object is to provide a handle which will tend to retain the handle members of the loaded shopping bag in close proximity to each other, thereby relieving the strain to the carriers fingers or hands, which otherwise would be used for this purpose.

Yet another object is to afford a shopping bag with attached handle which will eliminate the disintegration of the handles especially those of the cord type heretofore occasioned by the corrosive effects of perspiration thereon.

And a final object is to provide a shopping bag with attached handle of simple, inexpensive, lightweight construction yet durable and effective.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shopping bag embodymg my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the handle construction in perspective;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the handle construction taken on the plane of line 33 in Fig. 5 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is also a fragmentary sectional view of the other side of the handle construction taken on the plane of the same line in Fig. 5 of the drawings but viewed in the reverse direction as indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the handle construction and top portion of the bag taken on the plane of line 55 in Fig. 4 of the drawings;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating in perspective another embodiment of a handle construction;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the new handle embodiment taken on the plane of line 77 in Fig. 9 and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 8 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of the other side of the top portion of the bag and handle taken on the plane of the same line but viewed in the opposite direction as indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the handle construction and top portion of the bag embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 taken on the plane of line 9-9 in Fig. 8 of the drawings; and

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the upper portion of a bag illustrating yet another embodiment of the handle construction.

Referring now to Figs. 2 through 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that the bag 14 is formed with the upper marginal edge folded over to afford a hem 18 within which may be positioned a pair of handle mounting members indicated generally by reference numbers 20 and 22. These mounting members may be constructed from a number of materials, but I prefer to use metallic wire. Portions of these wires 24, 26, 28 and 30 are disposed in a horizontal plane within the hem. The central portion of the wire 20, disposed between the horizontal segments 24 and 26, are bent to afford ver tical upstanding segments 32 and 34 integrally connected by a horizontal segment 36 spaced above the upper edge of the bag 14. The other mounting member 22 has its central portion bent to afford a pair of upstanding loops 38 and 40 and a central horizontally disposed seg ment 42 positioned in the same plane as the segments 28 and 30 and likewise retained within the hem 18.

The hand contacting member of the handle may comprise a cylinder 44 constructed from some relatively hard material, such as Wood, plastic, metal and the like, having a pair of passages 46 and 48 formed longitudinally therethrough. The passage 46 accommodates loosely therein the wire segment 36 thereby mounting the handle 44 on the supporting member 26.

Threaded through the passage 48 is a length of wire 50 bent to afford a horizontal segment 52 disposed within the passage 48 and vertically disposed end segments 54 and 56 depending therefrom. The ends of these vertical segments 54 and 56 are bent to afford hook members 58 and (if), each of which is adapted to accommodate therein one of the loops 53 and 40. The hooks 58 and 60 are formed with a narrowed passageway such as 62 whose width is less than the diameter of the wire forming the loops 38 and 40. The wire of the hooks may also be of the spring type so that when it is desired to connect the hook with the loop, the loop such as 38 must be forced through the narrow passage 62 thereby spreading apart the segments 58 and 60 an amount sufficient to admit the loop therein. However, the resilience of the wire tends to return the hook to its natural position, thereby insuring the retention of the loops 38 and 40 Within the hooks or clamps 58 and 60 respectively.

It will be noted that the segments 24, 26, 28 and 30 in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings are illustrated as bent in zigzag formation. This has been done for the purpose of more evenly distributing the Weight and also for the purpose of minimizing the possibility of the wire being torn out of the hem 18. To further insure against the separation of the mounting members 20 and 22 from the hem 18 fastening means such as stitching 64 may be applied at all the openings in the hem through which the various segments of the handle mounting members protrude.

Although the wire segments which are contained in the hem 1% are shown as bent in zigzag formation, it should readily be understood that these may be constructed in the more conventional straight form. It should also be noted that although the wire mounting members 29 and 22 are shown as two separate members they could be integrally formed and thereby encircle the entire top marginal hem of the bag 14. Further it should be noted that the hem 18 may be formed by securing the fold by any conventional means but I prefer to use means such as the stitching 66 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In operation, the loops 38 and 40 are separated from the hooks 58 and 60, leaving the mouth of the bag 14 free and unobstructed. The bag is then filled with the articles desired to be carried therein and the loops 38 and 40 are then forced into the hook members 58 and 60 as heretofore described. The operator then grasps the cylindrical member 44 thereby raising the bag. In so doing the mounting members 20 and 22 which are free to rotate within the passages 46 and 48 rotate to the position determined by the distance between the two sides of the bag 14 which in turn is determined by the degree to which the bag 14 is filled. Furthermore the positioning of the mounting members 20 and 22 is affected by the Weight and the distribution of the weight of the contents of the bag. Thus it can readily be understood that the weight of the contents or at least the force vectors of this weight will be evenly distributed within the hand of the carrier.

in Figs. 6 through 9 inclusive another embodiment of a handle construction is illustrated. Similar parts are designated by like numerals with the added sufiix a.

In this embodiment the handle supporting members 2641 and 220 are looped so as to provide a construction which will afford additional resilience to the handle itself, thereby materially reducing the strain which would ordinarily be encountered by the carrier transporting a filled bag of this character. Furthermore this construction reduces the tendency of these mounting members 20:: and 22a to be torn out of the hem 13a. Turning now to a more detailed consideration of the construction of this embodiment. it will be noted that the segments 24a and 261:, instead of being integrally formed at their inner ends with vertically positioned segments, are extended in horizontal planes to afford horizontal segments 70 and 72 respectively. The wires, after they have formed segments 70 and 72, are then vertically bent to afford segments 32a and 34a connected by horizontal segment 36a disposed within the handle passageway 46a. The horizontal segments 70 and 72 are positioned within the hem 18a.

The opposite loop-providing member 22a is similarly formed with a horizontally disposed straight wire segment '74 which is an extension of segment 30a. Thereafter the wire is bent to form loop 38a. The wire after forming loop 38a is again horizontally positioned to form segment 76, after which it is bent to afford loop 40a and finally again horizontally to form segment 78. This segment 78 is integrally formed with segment 28a. Again the openings in the hem through which the various mounting members protrude may be joined together by means of stitching such as 64a.

In Fig. 10 still another embodiment of the handle construction is illustrated. Again similar parts are designated by like numerals but with the added suffix b.

In this embodiment the handle mounting member may be constructed from a more pliable material such as plastic or leather thong as well as from the same metallic wire material as was used in the previously described embodiments.

The shopping bag 14b has provided therein in spaced relationship entirely encircling the hem portion 1812, a plurality of openings such as 80. Threaded through these openings may be a unitary mounting member or wire 82. This unitary mounting member provides the loops 33b and 4%, as well as the means by which the cylindrical handle 44b may be attached to the bag. Thus it will be noted that a segment of the mounting member 82 is threaded thru the passageway 46]; in the handle 44b.

A hook member or wire 5% is provided, similarly to the hook member illustrated in the previous embodiments, affording a pair of hooks 58b and 60b adapted to cooperate with the loops 38b and 49b in the same manner as described in the first two embodiments.

From the drawings and the description presented above it will readily be perceived that I have provided useful improvements in shopping bags. The improvements include a handle permanently affixed to the shopping bag in such a manner that it does not interfere in any way with the usual and ordinary functions of the bag and specifically does not obstruct the opening through which the bag is ordinarily filled. My invention further insures more even distribution of the weight of the contents of the bag; eliminates the strain resulting from the tendency of the handles of the filled bag to separate one from the other, and an embodiment of the invention increases the resilience of the handle mounting thereby cushioning and materially reducing the strain encountered in carrying a loaded bag. The handle construction furthermore is such that once the handle is placed in operational position, it does not readily detach itself even though the carrier may remove his hand from the handle.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shopping bag of the character described, handle mounting devices afiixed to opposite sides of said bag and a carrying handle affixed to at least one of said handle mounting devices and joining the same together, said mounting devices comprising a wire member having an integrally-formed off-set segment upon which said carrying handle is rotatably mounted, a second wire member affixed to the other side of the bag, said latter-mentioned wire member having a pair of upstanding loops formed therein and spaced below said handle, and a pair of cooperating hooks rotatably mounted on and depending from said carrying handle and adapted to cooperate with said loops to join together the mounting devices.

2. The shopping bag of claim 1 in which said mounting devices have segments formed in a zig-zag pattern, and said segments being attached to the top portions of the bag.

3. The shopping bag of claim 1 in which the wire forming each member of said mounting device has a central portion formed in at least one complete loop, the carrying handle mounted on the top segment of one of said loops and the first-mentioned upstanding loops formed in the wire member comprising the other of said complete oops.

4. A shopping bag with attached handle comprising; a bag with a hem encircling the upper marginal edge thereof, a wire mounting member affixed within said hem on one side of the bag, said wire mounting member having a central otf-set segment affording a horizontal segment spaced above the top edge of the bag, a cylindrical wooden handle formed with a pair of spaced apart passages there through, said horizontal segment threaded through one of said passages, a spring wire member rotatably threaded through the other passage, depending hooks formed at the ends of said spring wire member, a second wire mounting member affixed within the hem on the other side of the bag, a pair of upstanding loops formed in said second Wire mounting member, said loops positioned for being hooked by said hooks.

5. A portable receptacle with attached handle comprising; a flexible container, a wire mounting member affixed to one side of the container, said wire mounting member having a central off-set portion affording a horizontal segment spaced above the top edge of the container, a cylindrical handle formed with a pair of spaced apart passages therethrough, said horizontal segment threaded through one of said passages, a wire hook member having a horizontal segment rotatably threaded through the other passage, depending hooks formed at the ends of said latter-mentioned horizontal segment, a second wire mounting member afiixed to the other side of the container, a pair of upstanding loops formed in said second wire mounting member, said upstanding loops positioned opposite said depending hooks for association therewith.

6. A portable shopping bag with attached handle comprising; a flexible bag, a wire mounting member afiixed to one side of the bag, said wire mounting member having a central off-set portion afiording a horizontal segment spaced above the top edge of the bag, a cylindrical handle formed with a pair of spaced apart passages therethrough, said horizontal segment threaded through one of said passages, a wire hook member having a horizontal segment rotatably threaded through the other of said passages, depending hooks formed at the ends of said latter-mentioned horizontal segment, a second wire mounting member affixed to the other side of the bag, a pair of upstanding loops formed in said second wire mounting member, said upstanding loops positioned opposite said depending hooks for association therewith.

7. A portable shopping bag with attached handle comprising; a flexible bag, a wire mounting member affixed to one side of the bag, said wire mounting member having a central off-set portion affording a horizontal segment spaced above the top edge of the bag, a cylindrical handle formed with a pair of spaced apart passages therethrough, said horizontal segment threaded through one of said passages, a wire hook member having a horizontal segment rotatably threaded through the other passage, depending hooks formed at the ends of said latter-mentioned horizontal segment, a pair of loops protruding from the other side of said bag, said protruding loops positioned opposite said depending hooks for association therewith.

8. A portable shopping bag with attached handle comprising; a flexible bag, a wire mounting member afiixed to one side of the bag, said wire mounting member having a central off-set portion affording a horizontal segment spaced above the top edge of the bag, a cylindrical handle formed with a pair of spaced apart passages therethrough, said horizontal segment threaded through one of said passages, a wire hook member having a horizontal segment rotatably threaded through the other passage, depending hooks formed at the ends of said latter-mentioned horizontal segment, a plurality of loops protruding from the other side of said bag, said protruding loop positioned opposite said depending hooks for association therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,562 Royer Nov. 30, 1897 833,101 Wighard Oct. 9, 1906 887,411 Miller May 12, 1908 1,359,461 Luce Nov. 16, 1920 1,564,101 Nakamura Dec. 1, 1925 2,041,691 Becklin May 26, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 111,470 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1918 216,360 Great Britain May 29, 1924

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