US3737945A

US3737945A - Handle means

Info

Publication number: US3737945A
Application number: US00201774A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Gould
Original assignee: DURO PAPER BAG Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: DURO PAPER BAG Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1971-11-24
Filing date: 1971-11-24
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12

Abstract

Handle means affixable to articles to be carried such as paper and plastic bags and the like. Each handle means comprises an elongated body of resilient material terminating in enlarged bifurcated ends. A first bifurcation of each end has a perforation therethrough. The second bifurcation of each end has a headed pin thereon adapted to pass through a portion of the article to be carried and the perforation in the first bifurcation, engaging the first bifurcation with a snap fit, whereby the ends of the handle means are affixed to the article. Each headed pin has a breakaway point thereon by which the pin may perforate the portion of the article through which it passes and which may be readily removed when the handle means has been affixed to the article. When the handle means is used in pairs, additional means may be provided whereby the bodies of the handles may be joined together for convenience in carrying.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Gould v June 12, 1973 HANDLE MEANS Inventor: James J. Gould, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: Duro Paper Bag Manufacturing Company, Ludlow, Ky.

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 201,774

.[52] U.S. Cl 16/125, 229/54, 24/150 [51] Int. Cl A471) /02 [58] Field of Search 16/111,125,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,508,303 4/1970 -Miyasaka .Q .24/ 3,566,452 3/1971 Hocker 24/90 W 3,495,763 2/1970 Schmidt et al.. 229/54 R 3,353,741 11/1967 Kamins et al. 229/54 R Prim ary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney-John W. Melville, Albert E. Strasser and Gibson R. Yungblut et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Handle means affixable to articles to be carried such as paper and plastic bags and the like. Each handle means comprises an elongated body of resilient material terminating in enlarged bifurcated ends. A first bifurcation of each end has a perforation therethrough. The second bifurcation of each end has a headed pin thereon adapted to pass through a portion of the article to be carried and the perforation in the first bifurcation, engaging the first bifurcation with a snap fit, whereby the ends of the handle means are affixed to the article. Each headed pin has a breakaway point thereon by which the pin may perforate the portion of the article through which it passes and which may be readily removed when the handle means has been affixed to the article. When the handle means is used in pairs, additional means may be provided whereby the bodies of the handles may be joined together for convenience in carrying.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUIH 2197a SHEET 1 OF 2 lNVENTOR/S MAME? J 6004.0

M an/ ATTORNEYS PATENTE JUN 1 2197s sum 2 m 2 lNVENTOR/S JAMES J. 60040 WI, and Wu,

ATTORNEYS HANDLE MEANS" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art As will be evident upon the reading of this specification, the handle means of the present invention may be used singly and in pairs and may be affixed to substantially any article to be carried. For purposes of an exemplary showing, however, the handle means of the present invention will be described in its application to bags of flexible material such as plasticor paper and of the type generally known as shopping bags.

I-Ieretofore, the prior workers have devised a number of types of flexible handle means for use with shopping bags and the like. For example, there have been handles made of heavy cord, or similar material, the ends ,of which are affixed to the bag edges by staples or the like. More recently, molded handle means of plastic or other resilient, moldable material have been developed. The ends of some of these handle means are affixed to plastic shopping'bags or the like by heat sealing. An example of this is shown is United States Letters Patent No. 3,373,925. In other variations, headed pin means are provided so that the handle ends are affixed to the bag edges by the pin means passing through the handle ends and preformed perforations in the bag edges. United States Design Letters Patent No. 218,962 illustrates such handle means wherein the pins are separate elements. More recently, molded plastic handle means have been devised having bifurcated ends. One bifurcation of each end having a pair of holes therein, the other bifurcation of'each end having apair of headed pins adapted to pass through preformed perforations in the bag edges and through the perforations in the adjacent bifurcation with a snap fit.

With all of the above mentioned types of prior art handlesQspecial steps must be taken in fastening the handles to the bag edges. These steps include stapling, heat sealing, or providing preformed perforations in the bag edges to accommodate-separate or intregral pin means. Furthermore, such handle means are characterized by a rigid attachment to the bag edges, causing considerable strain on the bag edges in the areas of attachment. This frequently leads to failure of the attachment primarily due to wear and tearing of the bag at the points of attachment.

' The present invention is directed to a handle means having a elongated resilient body portion terminating in bifurcated ends. One bifurcation of each end is provided with a single, relatively large diameter, headed pin. The other bifurcation of each end is provided with a single perforation. The headed pins are adapted to pass through the bag edges and the perforations in the adjacent bifurcations with a snap fit. In addition, each pin has a breakaway point which will perforate the bag edge during the assembly of the handle to the bag. In instances where the bag is provided along its upper edges with elongated plastic or paperboard reinforcing members, such reinforcing members will require preformed perforations therein. However, whether such reinforcing members are provided or not, the handle means of the present invention obviates the necessity of providing a separate-production;stepEwhe-reinperfo' I rations must be preformed in the upper edges of the plastic or paper bag itself. This results in both a cost and time savings. In addition, once the handle has been assemblied to the bag, the points may be readily removed so that no sharp points will be present to snag the material of the bag, or to catch the contents of the bag or the users hand.

Since the handle means of the present invention utilizes single, relatively large diameter pins at each end, the handle ends are capable of a pivoting action relative to the bag edges which decreases the strain on and wear of the bag edges at the point of handle attachment.

Finally, since the bifurcated ends of the handle means are provided with single pins and single perforations, they lend themselves will to unique and decorative design configurations. Furthermore, means may be provided to join together the body portions of a pair of handle means for convenience in carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The handle means of the present invention may be used singly or in pairs. Each handle means comprises an elongated body of resilient material terminating in enlarged, bifurcated ends. The central portion of the elongated body maybe of greater width than the remainder of the body, so as to form a comfortable hand grip.

Each end of the handle means has a first bifurcation I provided with a single perforation and a second bifurtively large diameter and is headed so that when it is forced through the perforation in the adjacent bifurcation it engages the bifurcation with a snap fit.

Each pin is provided with a breakaway point. When the handle means of the present invention is to be used with. an article to be carried such as a paper, plastic or fabric bag, a pair of handle means will be affixed to opposite edges of the bag. This is accomplished by locating each edge portion of the bag between the bifurcations of its respective handle means. The breakaway points on the pins will cause the pins to perforate and pass through the material of the bag prior to their snap v action with the adjacent bifurcation. Once the handle means have been affixed to the bag, the breakaway points may be removed by hand, or with a simple tool, as will be described hereinafter.

The bifurcations of each handle means, and the pins and perforations thereof, are so configured and dimensioned theeach end of a handle means will be capable of a pivoting action with respect to the bag edge it engages to minimize the strain and wear of the bag edge at the point of attachment.

When the handle means of the present invention is used in pairs, as on shopping bags or the like, the body portion of each handle means maybe provided with a perforation and a pin in spaced relationship. When both handle means are properly affixed to opposite edges of the bag, the body portion of one may be affixed to the body portion of the other by engagement of their respective pins in their respective perforations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plain view of the handle means of the present invention.

FIG. is a perspective viewofja'conventional shop ping bag to which the handle means of the presenti n vention may be affixed.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary views, partly in cross section, illustrating the attachment of the handle means of the present invention to a bag of the type illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the bag of FIG. 5 provided with the handle means of the present invention.

FIG. is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 9, but with the body portions of the handle means being joined.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the section line 1111 ofFIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning first to FIGS. 1 through 4, the handle means of the present invention is generally indicated at 1 and comprises an elongated body portion (generally indicated at 2) terminating in bifurcated ends (generally indicated at 3 and 4). The handle means may be made of any suitable resilient material including rubber, plastic or the like, and may be produced in any suitable manner, as by injection molding.

While the precise configuration of the elongated body portion does not constitute a limitation on the present invention, for purposes of an exemplary showing the body portion 2 is illustrated as being made up of two cylindrical portions 5 and 6 with a flattened portion 7 therebetween The side edges of the flattened portion 7 may have decorative and reinforcing ribs 8 and 9 there along. The flattened portion 7 provides a convenient and comfortable hand grip and further provides sufficient surface area for decorative or informative indicia, if desired.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the bifurcated end 3 of FIG. 1, and like parts have been given like index numerals. The end 3 has a first bifurcation 10. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the bifurcation 10 has a substantially rectangular portion 10a and a substantially circular portion 10b. A perforation 11 is located centrally of the circular portion 10b.

The end 3 has a second bifurcation 12 which may be indentical in peripheral configuration to the bifurcation 10. Thus, as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bifurcation 12 has a substantially rectangular portion 12a and a substantially circular portion 12b. The bifurcation 12 is provided on its inside surface with a pin 13 located centrally of the circular portion 12b. The pin 13 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter ofthe perforation II in the bifurcation 10. The pin has a head. 14 with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of. the perforation II. The head 14 is adapted to be forced through the perforation 11 so that the pin 13 will engage the bifurcation 10 with a snap fit. To this end, the peripheral edge of the head l4'may slope rearwardly and outwardly to assist in forcing the head through the perforation l1..ln addition, the edge of the perforation 11 may be provided with a complimentary slope.

Located centrally of the head 14 there is a conical point 15 joined to the head by a very short, small diameter neck 16.. The neck 16 is sosi'z-ed asjtobereadily severed,- sothat the conical point 15 constitutes a breakaway point.

It will be understood'fby onp skille'd in'the-art'jthat the pin 13, its head '14, the neck l6 arrdltheibreakaway :point 15' are all part of the one-piece, integral molding of the handle means. It will further be noted that the rearwardly and outwardly sloped peripheral surface of the pin head 14 may constitute substantially a continuation of the conical exterior surface of the breakaway point 15.

The

rectangular portions

10a and 12a of the

bifurcations

10 and 12 are integral with each other and with the end of the body portion 5. At the juncture of the bifurcations l0 and 12 there is an integral, rib 17 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) tostrengthen the juncture of the bifurcations and the handle portion 5.

It will be understood that the bifurcated end 4 is identical to the bifurcated end 3. Thus, the end 4 has a first bifurcation 18 having a substantially rectangular portion 18a and a substantially circular portion 18b. The portion 18b has a perforation 19 therein, equivalent to the perforation ll of bifurcation 10.

The end 4 has a second bifurcation 20 having a substantially rectangular portion 20a and a substantially.

circular portion 20b. The bifurcation 20 is provided with a pin 21 equivalent to the pin 13 of bifurcation 12. The pin 21 has a head 22 and a concial point 23 connected to the head by a neck 24. The pin head 22, conical point 23 and neck 24 are indentical to the pin head 14 conical point 15 and neck 16. The end 4 also has an integral rib 17a equivalent to they rib 17 of the end 3.

It will be understood that the peripheral configuration of the bifurcations l0, l2, l8 and 20 does not constitute a limitation on the present invention, Each of the bifurcations are illustrated as having a substantially rectangular portion and a substantially circular portion so as to have a unique button-like appearance. They also offer sufficient surface area so that they may bear suitable decorative indicia or the like (not shown), which indicia may be applied to the bifurcation by printing or the like or may be applied during the molding process'as an integral part of the bifurcations. However, so long as the

perforations l

1 and 19 are properly sized and located in their respective bifurcations l0 and l8, and so long as the pins 13 and 21 are properly configured and located on their respective bifurcations l2 and 20, the bifurcations themselves may take any desired peripheral configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates a typical andexemplary shopping bag to which the handle means of the present invention may be affixed. The shopping bag, generally indicated at 25, comprises a tubular plastic body having four longitudinal folds 26 through 29 forming the corners of the bags. As a result, the bag has

sides

30 and 31 and ends 32 and 33. Two additional

longitudinal folds

34 and 35 are located centrally of the

ends

32 and 33, respectively, so that the bag may be folded flat when not in use and so that the bottom end of the bag maybe closed by a simple weld seam 36 or the like.

The upper edge of the bag body is folded over and inwardly so as to form a double thickness edge at the upper end of the bag body. The folded over portions of the bag body along the sides and ends thereof are indicated by the index numerals 30a through 33a. Between the bag side 30 and the folded over edge portion 30a there may be located a-reinforcing insert 37 of paperboard or the like. The insert 37 extends longitudinally of the top edge of the side 30 from the corner fold 26 to the corner fold 28. The insert 37 is provided with preformed perforations 38 and 39. The adjacent portions of the bag body, however, are not perforated.

In similar fashion, an insert 40 (identical to the insert 37) may be located between the side 31 of bag body and the folded over portion 31a. Again, the insert 40 has preformed perforations 41 and 42 therein, but the adjacent portions of the bag body are not perforated.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the manner in which the handle means of the present invention are affixed to the upper edges of the bag 25. Specifically, these Figures illustrate the attachment of the bifurcated end 3 to the upper edge of the side 31 of the bag. It will be understood that the attachment of the bifurcated end 4 to the same bag edge and the attachment of the bifurcated ends of a second handle means to the upper edge of side 30 will be accomplished in an identical manner.

, Turning first to FIG. 6, the reinforcing insert 40 is illustrated as being located between the upper edge of the bag side 31 and the folded over portion 31a thereof. While it is not absolutely necessary, frequently the insert 40'is glued to the bag side 31 and the portion 31a to maintain it in proper position during the assembly process. This also insures that the folded over portion 31a remains neatly in its folded condition. For purposes of clarity, the glue or adhesive material is not shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

In FIG. 6 the bifurcated end 3 is illustrated in its proper position immediately prior to attachment to the bag. While 'it is not necessary, it may be perferred to locate bifurcation 12 adjacent the exterior surface of bag side 31 and bifurcation 10 adjacent the folded over portion 31a since the outside surface of bifurcation 12 presents a nicer appearance, having no perforation therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the next step is simply to shove the pin 13 through the perforation 41 in the insert 40 and the perforation 11 in the bifurcation 10. The breakaway point will perforate the bag side 31 and the folded over portion 31a, thereby avoiding the necessity of pre-punching these elements. The perforation 41 in the insert 40 will have a diameter substantially equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the head 14 of pin 13 so that it will offer no resistance to the passage of the pin. The head 14 of the pin will engage the bifurcation 10 with a snap fit, as is evident from FIG. 7.

The assembly just described can be accomplished manually, without the aid of tools or the like. On the other hand, if the bifurcation 12 is resting on a suitable surface, a simple tool such as is shown at 43 may be used. The tool 43 is simply a hollow tube-like member having an internal diameter large enough to receive the head 14 of the pin 13. The tool 43 may be mechanically or manually actuated. The tool is placed against the bifurcation 10 and about the perforation 11 and is moved in the direction of arrow a. This will easily and quickly force the pin 13 and its headed portion through the bag side 31, the insert perforation 41, the folded over bag portion 31a the the perforation 11 in the bifurcation 10, the break away point 15 rupturing the bag side and the folded portion thereof. If, thereafter, the tool is raised to the position shown in FIG. 7 and moved laterally (as for example in the direction of arrow B) it will remove the point 15 since the neck 16 is readily severable. Again it will be understood that removal of the point 15 can be easily accomplished manually.

FIG. 8 illustrates the end 3 in its final form, affixed to the bag edge. It will be noted that the handle is locked to the bag edge by the snap fit of the pin 13 and its head 14 through the perforation 11 in the bifurcation 10. The head 14 no longer has the sharp point 15 to snag the users hand, the bag itself or the contents therein. It will further be noted that the rib 17 is spaced slightly from the uppermost edge of the bag. This, together with the fact that there is only a single pin on the bifurcation 12, permits a slight pivoting or rocking of the handle end 13 relative to that portion of the bag 25 to which it is affixed. This rocking or pivoting enables a slight shifting of the handle end so that the resultant forces are more nearly in line with the point at which the handle means is grasped by the user. This, in turn, minimizes wear and stress on the bag edge by the handle means.

FIG. 9 illustrates the bag 25 of FIG. 5 with the handle means 1 affixed to the upper edge of side 31. It further illustrates an identical handle means affixed to the upper edge of side 30. Like parts of the second handle means are designated by like index numerals, with the exception that the second handle means is generally indicated at 1a. While the second handle means may be affixed to the upper edge of the bag side 30 with the

bifurcations

10 and 18 facing the inside of the bag, itis illustrated with these bifurcations facing the outside of the bag for reasons which will be evident hereinafter.

Frequently, it would be desirable to have the hand grip portions 7 of the handles 1 and 1a of FIG. 9 joined together. This not only makes the assembly easier to carry, but causes the upper portion of the bag 25 to be partially closed, thereby protecting the contents and tending to prevent their loss. To this end, means may be provided on the hand grip portion' 7 of the handle means to enable it to be joined to the hand grip portion of an adjacent handle means.

Reference is again made to FIG. 1 wherein it will be noted that the hand grip portion 7 is provided at one end with a perforation 44 and at the other end with a pin 45.

Returning to FIG. 9, the handle 1 is shown with its perforation 44 to the left of the Figure and its pin 45 to the right of the Figure and downwardly depending. The handle means 1a is identical to the handle 1, but it will be noted that its pin 45 is located to the left of the Figure and extends upwardly, while its perforation 44 is located to the right of the Figure. This is accom plished simply by turning the handle means over and reversing it end-for-end.

With the handle means 1 and la located on the bag 25 in the manner shown in FIG. 9, they may have their grip portions 7 joined as indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11. It will be noted in these Figures that the pin 45 of each of the handles 1 and 1a is located in the perforation 44 of the other handle. While it is within the scope of the invention to provide heads on the pins 45, similar to the

heads

14 and 22 on the pins 13 and 21, the pins 45 in FIS. 1, 9 and 10 are illustrated as being headless so that the grip portions 7 of the handles 1 and .la may be readily joined and separated, as desired. While, for purposes of clarity the pins 45 and perforation 44 are exaggerated in size in FIGS. 9 and 10, it will be understood from FIGS. land 11 that the pins need not be large and will offer no obstruction or discomfort to the user when the handles 1 and 1a are not joined.

Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of it. For example, it will be understood that if the bag 25 were not provided with

inserts

37 and 40, no preformed perforations would be required by virtue of the breakaway points and 23.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

' 1. A resilient handle means for attachment to an article to be carried, said handle means comprising an 7 elongated body terminating in bifurcated ends, each of said ends having a first bifurcation with a perforation therethrough, each of said ends having a second bifurcation with a pin on that surface thereof facing said first bifurcation, said pin having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said perforation in said first bifurcation, said pin having a head thereon with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said perforation, said head being surmounted by a breakaway point, said perforation in said first bifurcation and said pin on said second bifurcation of each of said ends being so located with respect to each other that when a portion of said article to be carried is placed between said first and second bifurcations and said first and second bifurcations are moved toward each other said breakaway point will perforate said portion of said article and said headed pin will enter said perforation in said first bifurcation and engage said first bifurcation with a snap fit, whereupon saidbreakaway point may be removed from said pin head.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said body of said handle means has an elongated portion of increased width intermediate said bifurcated ends, said portion comprising a hand grip.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said breakaway point comprises a conical point affixed to said head of said pin by a short, small diameter, readily severable neck.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said handle means is a unitary, one-piece structure molded of resilient material.

5. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said article to be carried comprises a bag having first and second sides and a pairof ends, said sides and ends having upper edges forming an open top for said bag and bottom edges joined together to form a closed bottom for said bag, said bag being made ofa material chosen from the class consisting of paper, plastic and fabric, said handle means being affixed to said upper edge of said first side with said first and second bifurcations of each end thereof straddling said upper edge of said first side,

a second identical handle means being similarly affixed to the upper edge of said second side of said bag and being located substantially opposite said first handle means.

6. The structure claimed in claim 2 including an integral pin on said hand grip near one end thereof, said hand grip having a perforation near the other end thereof, whereby when a pair of said handle means is used the hand grips of said pair may be joined by insertion of said hand grip pin of each into said hand grip perforation of the other.

7. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said material of said sides and ends is folded inwardly of said bag along said upper edges so that said upper edges have two plies of said material, elongated reinforcing members being located between said plies of said upper edges of said first and second sides, said reinforcing members having performed perforations to receive said bifurcation pins of said handle means, said material of said bag adjacent said reinforcing member perforations being initially imperforate, perforations being formed therein by said breakaway points on said bifurcation pins during attachment of said handle means to said upper edges of said bag sides.

8. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said bifurcated ends of said handle-means is rockable about its respective bifurcation pin with respect to said upper edge of said bag to which it is affixed, whereby to relieve strain and wear on said last mentioned upper bag edge.

9. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein the body portion of each of said handle means has an integral pin thereon, each of said body portions having a perforation therethrough, said pin-and said perforation of each of said body portions being spaced from each other longitudinally of that body portion, said second handle means being inverted and reversed end-for-end with respect to said other handle means whereby said body' portions of said handle means may be joined by insertion of said body portion pin of each into said body portion perforation of the other.

10. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said handle means is a unitary, one-piece structure molded of resilient material.

Claims

1. A resilient handle means for attachment to an article to be carried, said handle means comprising an elongated body terminating in bifurcated ends, each of said ends having a first bifurcation with a perforation therethrough, each of said ends having a second bifurcation with a pin on that surface thereof facing said first bifurcation, said pin having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said perforation in said first bifurcation, said pin having a head thereon with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said perforation, said head being surmounted by a breakaway point, said perforation in said first bifurcation and said pin on said second bifurcation of each of said ends being so located with respect to each other that when a portion of said article to be carried is placed between said first and second bifurcations and said first and second bifurcations are moved toward each other said breakaway point will perforate said portion of said article and said headed pin will enter said perforation in said first bifurcation and engage said first bifurcation with a snap fit, whereupon said breakaway point may be removed from said pin head.

5. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said article to be carried comprises a bag having first and second sides and a pair of ends, said sides and ends having upper edges forming an open top for said bag and bottom edges joined together to form a closed bottom for said bag, said bag being made of a material chosen from the class consisting of paper, plastic and fabric, said handle means being affixed to said upper edge of said first side with said first and second bifurcations of each end thereof straddling said upper edge of said first side, a second identical handle means being similarly affixed to the upper edge of said second side of said bag and being located substantially opposite said first handle means.

8. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said bifurcated ends of said handle means is rockable about its respective bifurcation pin with respect to said upper edge of said bag to which it is affixed, whereby to relieve strain and wear on said last mentioned upper bag edge.

9. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein the body portion of each of said handle means has an integral pin thereon, each of said body portions having a perforation therethrough, said pin and said perforation of each of said body portions being spaced from each other longitudinally of that body portion, said second handle means being inverted and reversed end-for-end with respect to said other handle means whereby said body portions of said handle means may be joined by insertion of said body portion pin of each into said body portion perforation of the other.