WO2002087387A2

WO2002087387A2 - Gripper for bags

Info

Publication number: WO2002087387A2
Application number: PCT/CA2001/000544
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Jonathan O'sullivan
Original assignee: Brian Jonathan O'sullivan
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2001-04-20
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: WO2002087387A3; AU2001254543A1

Abstract

A hand-grip (10) is provided to facilitate carrying plastic bags of the kind having two arcuate, opposed handles. The hand-grip has a lower surface (14), an upper surface (16), and two side flanks (18) extending from the lower to the upper surface. The surfaces and flanks curve smoothly into each other, thus producing comfort for the hand. The body has an internal slot (24) opening upward through the upper surface (16) and the ends (20, 22) of the body (12). An enlarged or expanded portion (25) along the bottom of the slot (24) allows the slot to receive the handles of several bags at a time.

Description

GRIPPER FOR BAGS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to hand-held devices intended to distribute and equalize the forces applied to the hand of a shopper when carrying a substantial weight packed into plastic bags.

BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION

There has been a long-standing need for some modality or device which will alleviate the discomfort felt when carrying several plastic bags that are filled with heavy items. like bottled liquids, hardware, etc.

The aim of one aspect of this invention is to provide a hand-grip device adapted to receive the handles of several bags, and to evenly distribute to the various parts of the hand the forces arising due to gravity.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION

More particularly, this invention provides, for plastic bags of the kind having two opposed handles, a hand-grip comprising a body having a lower surface, an upper surface, two side flanks reaching from the lower to the upper surface, and opposed ends; the surfaces and flanks curving smoothly into each other to allow the hand-grip to be held comfortably in one hand; the body defining an internal slot commencing at a location adjacently above the lower surface and extending upward substantially equidistantly from the side flanks, the slot opening through the upper surface and the opposed ends, the slot having along its lower edge an enlarged portion which opens out through said opposed ends, whereby a user may employ the hand-grip by inserting the handles of at least one bag into the slot from the upper surface, whereupon the handles move downward to occupy said enlarged portion, thus causing the weight of materials in the bag to be transferred smoothly to the hand of the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Two embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings appended hereto, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the first embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken at the line 2-2 in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a side view of a device constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of this invention, to a smaller scale, illustrating the use of the device for carrying plastic bags;

Figure 4 is an end perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of this invention;

Figure 5 is a view of the Figure 4 embodiment, seen from slightly below and at a greater obliquity than Figure 4; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device in accordance with the second embodiment; and

Figure 7 is an oblique side view of the device constructed in accordance with the second embodiment, the angle of view being such as to show the whole length of the item.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Attention is first directed to Figure 1, which illustrates a hand-grip 10 comprising a body 12 having a lower surface 14, an upper surface 16, and two side flanks 18 reaching from the lower surface 14 to the upper surface 16. The hand- grip also has opposed ends 20 and 22.

It will be noted in Figure 2, which is a sectional view taken at the line 2-2 in Figure 1, that the surfaces 14, 16 curve smoothly into the side flanks 18, thus allowing the hand-grip to be handled comfortably in one hand.

As best seen in Figure 2, the body 12 has an internal slot 24 which commences at a location adjacently above the lower surface 14 and extends upward substantially equidistantly from the side flanks 18. The slot 22 opens through the upper surface 16, and also through the opposed ends 20, 22. The slot 24 has, along its lower edge, an enlarged portion 25 which opens out through the opposed ends 20, 22. With the structure just described, a user may employ the hand-grip 10 of this invention by inserting the handles 26 of at least one bag 27 into the slot 24 from the upper surface 16. Assuming there are weighty materials in the bag, the effect of gravity will pull the handles of the bag into the slot 24 from above, and preferentially into the enlarged portion 25 of the slot 24. Because of the configuration of the hand-grip 10, the weight of any materials in the bag or bags 27 will be transferred smoothly to the hand of the user.

It will be noted that there are no sharp corners on the hand-grip device 10 illustrated in the drawings.

It will be further noted that the illustrated hand-grip is smoothly rounded at all exterior locations. This further ensures that all forces transmitted to the hand arrive in the most balanced way possible.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the lower surface 14 has three gently sloping protuberances 30 which define a series of four finger recesses 32, which provide a more comfortable grip. It will also be noted that the upper surface 16 when seen from the side is convex upward, while the lower surface 14 when seen from the side is concave downward. As will be noted, the upper surface 16 has a smaller radius of curvature (seen from the side) than does the lower surface 14. These contours aid the removal of all sharp corners or edges that might interfere with the smooth transfer of the carrying forces to the hand of the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the location of the expanded portion 28 of the slot 24 is, as seen in Figure 2, below the centre of curvature of the bottom wall 14 when seen endwise. By locating the expanded portion 28 below the centre of curvature (indicated by a dot and the numeral 33), there will be no tendency for the hand-grip to "roll" when held by the user. Attention is now directed to Figures 4-7, which illustrate the second embodiment of this invention.

As seen in Figure 7, the outer configuration of the hand-grip 40 is very similar to that of the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. However, by comparing the perspective views of Figures 4 and 5 , it will be noted that the (lower) expanded portion 45 of the slot 48 is considerably larger than the enlarged portion 25 of the slot 24. This construction allows an increase in the number of bags which can be conveniently carried by the hand-grip herein disclosed.

In a . preferred form of the invention, the lower central part 50 of the expanded portion 45 of the slot 48 is configured so that both ends curve gradually outward and downward, in order to avoid any sharp corners which could initiate tearing or ripping of the bag handles. This is best illustrated in Figures 5 and 7, where the floor 51 of the expanded portion 45 has a roundedness similar to the bell of a trumpet or bugle. Attention is now directed to Figure 6, which shows the second embodiment in plan view. Visible in Figure 6 (and also in Figure 4) are two diverging inner surfaces 58. The surfaces 58 each adjoin a substantially rectangular portion 60, the two portions 60 being substantially parallel but spaced apart to define the lower portion of the slot 48. The shape and position of the portion 60 is clearly seen in Figure 4.

Attention is directed again to Figure 6, which shows that the slot 48 itself, when seen from above, opens into a diverging funnel configuration (63), which again facilitates the handing and the removal of plastic bag handles.

The hand-grip device disclosed herein may be molded from foamed polyethylene, or extruded. It also may be injection-molded using semi-rigid PNC, with a durometer of 75-80.

While two embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. For plastic bags of the kind having two opposed handles, a hand-grip comprising a body having a lower surface, an upper surface, two side flanks reaching from the lower to the upper surface, and opposed ends; the surfaces and flanks curving smoothly into each other to allow the hand-grip to be held comfortably in one hand; the body defining an internal slot commencing at a location adjacently above the lower surface and extending upward substantially equidistantly from the side flanks, the slot opening through the upper surface and the opposed ends, the slot having along its lower edge an enlarged portion which opens out through said opposed ends, whereby a user may employ the hand-grip by inserting the handles of at least one bag into the slot from the upper surface, whereupon the handles move downward to occupy said enlarged portion, thus causing the weight of materials in the bag to be transferred smoothly to the hand of the user.

2. The hand-grip claimed in claim 1 , in which the upper surface when seen from the side is convex upward, while the lower surface when seen from the side is concave downward, the upper surface having a shorter radius of curvature than does the lower surface.

3. The hand-grip claimed in claim 2, in which said enlarged portion of the slot follows a curve substantially parallel with the contour of the lower surface.

4. The hand-grip claimed in claim 3, in which the slot is substantially planar, and in which said body defines, superimposed upon the lower surface, a series of shorter, concave-downward scallops adapted to receive individual fingers of the user.

5. The hand grip claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, in which said enlarged portion lies below the centre of curvature of the lower surface.