WO1991011368A1

WO1991011368A1 - Bag carrying handle

Info

Publication number: WO1991011368A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/000629
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric J. Stoft; William J. Cloonan
Original assignee: Stoft Eric J; Cloonan William J
Priority date: 1990-02-03
Filing date: 1990-02-03
Publication date: 1991-08-08

Abstract

A bag carrying handle (10) that is designed to allow a single shopping bag (70) or a plurality of bags (70), such as plastic bags that include bag straps, to be carried. The bags are placed on each end of the handle (10) to distribute and balance the load. A balanced load is easier to carry and the handle prevents the plastic straps from digging into the palms and/or fingers of the hand. The handle has an elongated body (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16). On each of these ends is integrally located a bag-strap retaining area (30) that includes a bag strap entrance gap (32). The gap (32) is designed to allow the bags (70) to be easily inserted, carried and removed.

Description

BAG CARRYING HANDLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention pertains to the general field of shopping bag carrying devices and more particularly to a bag carrying handle that allows one or more bags having straps to be easily inserted into, carried and removed from each side of the handle.

BACKGROUND ART

In many grocery, convenience and other retail stores, the purchased goods are placed into and carried in plastic bags that include a pair of thin, flimsy plastic carrying straps. When these bags are filled with goods, the thin straps tend to dig into the palm and fingers of the hand causing an uncomfortable carrying situation. If one such bag is being carried, the problem may not be bothersome. However, when two or more filled bags are carried, the additional weight does produce an uncomfortable carrying situation.

The plastic bag straps are oriented, relative to the bag opening, such that when held in the hand, they are normally carried sideways. in this carrying position, the bags have a tendency to interfere with normal walking. Additionally, because these plastic bags are so flimsy, they have a tendency to cause the carried goods to fall out the bag when the bag is laid on the ground or on the floorboard or trunk of an automobile. A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention however, the following U.S. patents were considered related:

PATENT NO. INVENTOR ISSUED

4,341,596 Fink 27 June 1989

4,772,059 Parry et al 20 September 1988

4,666,203 castro 19 May 1987

3,207,397 Wilson 21 September 1965

The Fink patent discloses a handle having on each end a recess that supports the flimsy straps of one or more plastic bags. The recesses are shaped so that once the bag straps are inserted into the recesses, they are effectively locked in place against accidental removal.

The Parry et al patent discloses a carrying member for carrying such items as grocery bags which have uncomfortable pressure producing handles. The member includes an upper gripping portion and a lower handle having an access opening for fitting the bag handles. The lower handle also includes a handle restraint for preventing the bag handles from rolling back through the access opening.

The Castro patent discloses a bag carrier having a tubular handle and hooks at each end of the handle for supporting the handles of a bag. Flexible straps are also provided in association with the hooks that restrain the bag handles positioned on the hooks.

The Wilson patent discloses a carrying handle for supporting the arched handle straps of shopping bags and the like. The handle includes an elongated shank formed with a pair of slots in its top end near the ends to receive the straps. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The bag carrying handle is designed to allow one or multiple shopping bags, such as plastic bags that include bag straps, to be carried. The invention allows these bags to be placed on both ends of the handle to distribute and balance the load. Such a balanced load is easier to carry and the handle prevents the problem of having the thin plastic straps dig into the palms and/or fingers of the hand. This problem is especially prevalent when heavy bags are being carried.

The bag carrying handle can be made with a square or an elliptically shaped elongated body. in either case, the body has integrally attached on each end a bag strap retaining area. The area is accessed through a bag-strap entrance gap that includes a lower segment and an enclosing segment.

The lower segment features a step-down protrusion that extends outwardly from the upper surface of the, body and into the bag-strap retaining area. The stepped portion of the protrusion tapers downwardly to facilitate the entry of the bag strap and the bottom surface of the protrusion tapers upwardly to allow the bag straps to be easily removed.

The enclosing segment commences at the lower surface of the body. The segment continues outwardly, curves upwardly from the body's lower surface, then curves inwardly, following the approximate contour of the stepped down protrusion and finally terminates as a resilient protrusion that forms the upper part of the bag strap gap. The sides of either the square or elliptical design can include a longitudinal recessed area. This area reduces material cost without sacrificing structural integrity and can be used to inscribe indicia such as advertising slogans and the like. If a recess is not provided, the sides may also be used for advertising.

in view of the above disclosure, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a bag carrying handle that allows a shopping bag to be easily inserted, comfortably carried and easily removed, in addition to the primary object, it is also an object of the invention to provide a bag carrying handle that:

o is simply constructed and easy to use, o can be used receive the strap of paper or plastic bags and any other similar bag that includes a carrying strap,

o is designed to fit the palm of the hand and the clinched finger of most persons, o allows the bags being carried not to be dislodged from the handle when the handle is moved in various positions or angles as occurs, when the shopping bag(s) are being carried,

o once the straps are inserted into the handles, they are effectively locked in place against accidental removal and until such time as they are deliberately removed, o in addition to holding the bags, the handle also retains the bag(s) in a partially closed position reducing the possibility of damage and/or spillage of the bag contents, and o allows a user of the handle to be more comfortable when carrying multiple bags since the weight of the bags can be evenly distributed to allow a more balanced load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the bag carrying handle having a body with a substantially square cross section, FIGURE 2 is a typical front and back view of the square shaped handle.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the square shaped handle.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2, showing a substantially square upper, lower, front and back surfaces.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2 showing a handle that includes a longitudinal recess on the front and back surfaces. FIGURE 6 is a top view of the bag carrying handle having a body with an elliptical cross-section.

FIGURE 7 is a typical front and back view of the elliptically shaped handle.

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the elliptically shaped handle.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 9-9 of FIGURE 7, showing a handle that includes a flat, narrow elongated surface centered on each of its upper, lower, front and back surfaces. FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 7, showing a handle that includes a longitudinal recess on the front and back surfaces.

FIGURE 11 is a partial side view of an elliptical shaped handle that has concave detents on its lower surface.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing a single shopping bag attached to the handle.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view showing a plurality of shopping bags attached to each end of the handle.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the bag carrying handle 10 is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment that is primarily designed to allow one or more shopping bags 70 that include bag straps 72 or the like to be easily carried.

The preferred embodiment of the bag carrying handle 10, as shown in FIGURES 1 through 13 consists of a single structure that integrally is comprised of two major integral divisions: an elongated body 12 that has on each end a bag strap retaining area 30.

The elongated body 12 may be designed with a body having a cross section that is substantially square and with an upper surface that is substantially horizontal as shown in FIGURES 1-5; or with a cross section that is substantially elliptical and with an upper surface that is substantially flat as. shown in FIGURES 6-11. In either design, the body has a first end 14, a second end 16, an upper surface 18, a lower surface 20, a front surface 22 and a back surface 24.

The bag-strap retaining area 30 is integrally located at the first end 14 and the second end 16. One of the areas is a mirror image of the other and therefore only one is described. The bag-strap retaining area 30 is accessed through a bag-strap entrance gap 32 that is shown best for the square body in FIGURE 2 and for the elliptical body in FIGURE 7. The lower segment of the gap 32 is formed by a stepped-down protrusion 34 that extends outwardly from the upper surface of the body 12 and into the bag-strap retaining area 30. The stepped-portion 36 of the step-down protrusion 34 tapers downwardly to ease the entry of the bag straps 72 into the bag-strap retaining area 30. Also, the bottom surface 38 of the protrusion

34 that extends into the bag-strap retaining area 30 tapers upwardly. This upper taper allows the bag straps 72 to be held captive while the bags 70 are being carried and also allows the straps of the bag or bags to be easily removed from the handle 10.

The enclosing segment 42 of the bag-strap entrance gap 32 commences at the end of the body's lower surface 20. The segment 42 extends outwardly, curves upwardly at 90-degrees, to define the outer wall 44 of the bag strap retaining area 30, and then extends inwardly. in its inward extension, the segment 42 follows the approximate contour of the stepped-down protrusion 34 and terminates as a resilient protrusion 46 which comprises the upper side of the bag strap entrance gap 32. The gap is sized to accommodate one shopping bag 70 on each side of the handle 10 as shown in FIGURE 12 or a plurality of shopping bags 70 as shown in FIGURE 13.

The lower surface 20 of either the square or elliptical design of the elongated body 12 may be substantially flat as shown in FIGURE 4 and 7; or it may be designed with concave detents 50 as shown in FIGURE 2 for the square shopping handle and in FIGURE 11 for the elliptically shaped handle. The detents 50 are spaced to correspond to the fingers of a typical hand. The detents provide additional grasping power to allow the handle to be held firmly.

The square handle can be made with front and back surfaces 22, 24 that have a substantially flat surface 54 as shown in FIGURE 4. Alternatively, the sides may be made with a longitudinal recess 56 that has a flat inner surface 58 as shown in FIGURE 5. The flat inner surface 58 reduces the weight and the material required to manufacture the handle, while not affecting the handle's strength. in either case, the flat surface 54 or the flat inner surface 58 can be used to add indicia for advertising or a writing surface 60 may be added to either flat surface 54, 58 to allow a shopping list or other reminding notes to be written. Likewise, the elliptical body design can be made with upper or lower surfaces 10, 20 or front and back surfaces 22, 24 that have a flat, narrow elongated surface 62, as shown in FIGURE 9. Alternatively, a longitudinal recess 56 as shown in FIGURE 10 may also be included on the sides of the elliptical body as described supra.

in the preferred embodiment, the bag carrying handle 10 may be molded in metal, composites or a plastic with a hard thermoplastic preferred. The preferred maximum lengths of the handle from the outer wall 44 to the opposite outer wall 44 is 5.9 inches (15.1 cm), its width is 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) and its maximum height, which occurs at the bag strap retaining area 30, is 1.15 inches (3.0 cm)

While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A bag carrying handle comprising:

a) an elongated body having:

1 ) a first end,

2) a second end,

3) an upper surface,

4) a lower surface,

5) a front surface, and

6) a back surface,

b) a bag strap retaining area integrally located at the first end and second end of said body where one of said areas is a mirror image of the other and where said area is accessed through a bag strap entrance gap formed by:

1) a lower stepped-down protrusion that extends outwardly from the upper surface of said body and into the bag strap retaining area, and

2) an enclosing segment that commences at the end of the lower surface of said body, extends outwardly, curves upwardly, to define the outer wall of said bag strap retaining area, then extends inwardly following the approximate contour of the stepped-down protrusion and terminates as a resilient protrusion which forms the upper side of the bag strap entrance gap.

2. The handle as specified in claim 1 wherein the stepped portion of the step-down protrusion tapers downwardly to ease the entry of the bag straps into the bag-strap retaining area.

3. The handle as specified in claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the stepped-down protrusion that extends into the bag-strap retaining area tapers upwardly at an angle that allows the bag straps to be held captive and yet allow the bags to be easily removed from said handle.

4. The handle as specified in claim 1 wherein said bag retaining area is sized to accommodate one or more bag strap handles.

5. The handle as specified in claim 1 wherein said elongated body has a cross-section that is substantially square.

6. The handle as specified in claim 5 wherein the upper surface of said elongated body is substantially horizontal.

7. The handle as specified in claim 5 wherein the lower surface of said elongated body having concave detents that are spaced to correspond to the fingers of a clasped hand.

8. The handle as specified in claim 5 wherein the front surface of said elongated body having a longitudinal recess that has a flat' inner surface.

9. The handle as specified in claim 5 wherein the back surface of said elongated body having a longitudinal recess that has a flat inner surface.

10. The handle as specified in claim 1 wherein said elongated body has a cross-section that is substantially elliptical.

11. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the upper surface of said elongated body is substantially horizontal.

12. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the upper surface of said elongated body has a flat, narrow elongated surface.

13. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the front and back sides of said elongated body have a flat, narrow elongated surface.

14. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the front surface of said elongated body having a longitudinal recess that has a flat inner surface.

15. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the back surface of said elongated body having a longitudinal recess that has a flat inner surface.

16. The handle as specified in claim 14 further comprising a writing surface attached to the surface of said longitudinal recess.

17. The handle as specified in claim 10 wherein the lower surface of said elongated body having concave detents that are spaced to correspond to the fingers of a clasped hand.