WO2014064422A1

WO2014064422A1 - Carrying device

Info

Publication number: WO2014064422A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/052657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Perceval HUNLOKE
Original assignee: Hunloke Edward Perceval
Priority date: 2012-10-22
Filing date: 2013-10-11
Publication date: 2014-05-01
Also published as: GB201218907D0; GB2507121B; GB2507121A

Abstract

Carrier bag carrying device (2) comprising a load-spreading pad (4) having a support surface for supporting the device on a first side and a carrier bag handle engagement means (24) on an opposite second side(8), the handle engagement means (24) including first (28) and second (30) portions which are upstanding from the pad (4) and each define a U-shaped slot (38,40) configured for engagement by a carrier bag handle (44), the slots (38,40) defined by the first (28) and second (30) portions facing away from each other in substantially opposed directions.

Description

CARRYING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying device for enabling one or more bags such as carrier bags to be carried comfortably.

[0002] Carrier bags are often made of thin plastics material and include handles made of the same thin material. When heavily loaded, the handles of such bags tend to adopt a narrow configuration which concentrates the load being carried along a narrow line extending across a user's hand. Devices have been proposed which constitute a means for distributing the load of carrier bag handles over a wider area of a user's hand. A typical example of such a device is disclosed in patent GB 2308804, and comprises a short tube with a longitudinal slot which permits the handles of one or more bags to be inserted into the tube. One disadvantage of this device is that, in the event of the user wishing to carry one or more carrier bags in a manner which leaves the user's hands free this is not possible.

[0003] An object of the invention is to overcome the above problem. A further object is to provide a carrying device which facilitates the carrying of one or more carrier bags wherein the device is configured so as to be supported either by a user' s hand or by a user' s shoulder depending on how the device is used.

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a bag carrying device comprising a load-spreading pad having a support surface for supporting the device on a first side and a bag handle engagement means on an opposite second side, the handle engagement means including first and second portions which are upstanding from the pad and each define a slot configured for engagement by at least one bag handle, the slots defined by the first and second portions facing away from each other in substantially opposed directions. Such a device can support the handles of a single or two or more carrier bags and either be held in a user' s hand to spread the load or be positioned on a user' s shoulder to spread the load and also leave the user' s hands free. Each slot is closed at one end. Each slot is also preferably U-shaped.

[0005] Preferably the pad is plate-like.

[0006] The pad is preferably flexible so that it can flex in a first direction when supported on a shoulder and flex in a different second direction when supported by a hand.

[0007] The pad is preferably configured so as to selectively adopt one of a first and a second configuration.

[0008] More preferably in the first configuration the first side is concave and in the second configuration the second side is concave. With this arrangement, in the first configuration, the handle engagement means will be positioned so as to project upwardly from the second side of the load spreading pad when the device is positioned on a user's shoulder. In the second configuration the handle engagement means will also be positioned so as to project upwardly from the second side when the device is held in a user's hand.

[0009] Preferably in the first configuration, the pad curves about a first centre of curvature axis and in the second configuration the pad curves about a second centre of curvature axis. [0010] Preferably an angle between the first axis and the second axis is between 85^° and 105^°, and more preferably the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis. With this arrangement, the device can be designed so as to support carrier bags on opposite front and back sides of a user' s body when the device is in its first configuration and positioned on a user' s shoulder and support one or more carrier bags from a user' s hand when the device is in its second configuration.

[0011] The first axis is preferably substantially perpendicular to a line extending through both slots.

[0012] The second axis is substantially parallel to a line extending through both slots.

[0013] Preferably each slot is defined by one of the upstanding portions and a confronting portion of the second side of the pad. With this arrangement, by making the device from a flexible material such as plastics material, the upstanding portions can be made sufficiently flexible in order that flexing of each upstanding portions in a first direction can close or substantially close the associated slot. Preferably movement of the upstanding portion in an opposite second direction can open an entrance to the associated slot to permit one or more bag handles to be slid into the slot.

[0014] Preferably each slot is normally closed and openable to permit insertion of a carrier-bag handle by resilient biasing of one of the upstanding portions. With such an arrangement, unintentional release of one or more carrier bag handles from the slot can be avoided while permitting one or more carrier bag handles to be easily released from the device when required. [0015] In order to facilitate moulding and/or manufacturing of the device, preferably the first and second portions of the handle engagement means constitute opposite ends of a single upstanding member.

[0016] Preferably the pad forms a flange extending outwardly from the handle engagement means. More preferably, one or more parts of the pad may taper towards a periphery of the pad .

[0017] Where the device has a central longitudinal axis extending through the two slots and between opposite ends of the pad, preferably at least over a central portion of a length of the pad, between the opposite ends, a thickness of the pad tapers away from the central axis towards a perimeter of the pad.

[0018] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a carrier bag carrying device according to the invention;

[0020] Fig. 2 is a side view on the line A-A of the device shown in Fig. 1 ;

[0021] Fig. 3 is an end view on the line B-B of the device shown in Fig. 1 ;

[0022] Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with a first carrier bag handle engaged in a first of the slots of the device; [0023] Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 except with a second carrier bag handle engaged in a second of the slots;

[0024] Fig. 6 is a side view of the device in a first configuration on a user' s shoulder with the carrier bag handles omitted for the sake of clarity;

[0025] Fig. 7 is an end view of the device in a second configuration grasped in a user' s hand with the carrier bag handles omitted for the sake of clarity;

[0026] Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of a user supporting the device in its first configuration as shown in Fig. 6; and,

[0027] Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of a user supporting the device in its second configuration as shown in Fig. 7.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a top-plan view of a carrying device 2 according to the invention. It is preferably made as a unitary member, possibly by a moulding technique such as injection moulding. It can be made from a suitable flexible and resilient material. Suitable materials include polyethylene, polypropylene and nylon.

[0029] The device 2 includes a load-spreading pad 4 having a first or lower side 6 and a second or upper side 8. The pad 4 is roughly oval in plan view but other shapes are possible. An edge of the pad 4 is defined by a perimeter 10. The pad 4 is symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis 12. The pad has a first end 14 and a second end 16. The pad has a first edge 18 and a second edge 20. Over a central portion 22 of the pad 4 a thickness of the pad tapers from a first thickness T at the longitudinal axis 12 to a smaller thickness t at the perimeter 10. This tapering of the pad 4 can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Opposed side areas of the pad 4 constitute wing portions 68 or flanges on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 12. Extending along the longitudinal axis 12 of the pad 4 is a rib 70 which is not tapered and provides some resistance against bending. The rib 70 may extend from the first end 14 to the second end 16 of the pad 4.

[0030] Extending along the longitudinal axis 12, on the second side 8 of the pad 4, is a carrier bag handle engagement means 24. This engagement means 24 includes a central upstanding member 26. The engagement means also includes a first upstanding portion or arm 28 which extends from the upstanding member 26 towards the first end 14 of the pad 4 and a second upstanding portion or arm 30 which extends from the upstanding member 26 towards the second end 16 of the pad 4. The end of each arm includes a nose 32. In a relaxed state, each nose 32 is biased by the associated arm so that a confronting nose portion 34 thereof contacts an adjacent confronting pad portion 36 as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2. A first slot 38 is defined between the first arm 28 and the pad 4 and a second slot 40 is defined between the second arm 30 and the pad 4. The slots may be substantially U-shaped. In order to permit a handle of a carrier bag to be inserted into one of the slots, the associated arm can be flexed away from the pad 4, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2 so as to form a gap 42. Both arms can flex in this manner.

[0031] The engagement of the handles of two carrier bags with the device 2 will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Handles 44 of a first carrier bag 46, at a second end 16 of the pad 4, are passed over a top 48 of the device 2 then between the confronting nose portion 34 and the confronting pad portion 36 associated with the first slot 38 and then into the first slot 38 where they come to rest against a first side 50 of the upstanding member 26 as shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter, in a like manner, handles 54 of a second carrier bag 56, at a first end 14 of the pad 4, are passed over the top 48 of the device 2, then between the confronting nose portion 34 and the confronting pad portion 36 associated with the second slot 40 and then into the second slot 40 where they come to rest against a second side 52 of the upstanding member 26, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0032] If the device is to be held in a user's hand and only one carrier bag is to be carried, then two handles of the carrier bag could be passed in opposite directions over the top 48 of the device and respectively engaged in the first and second slots 38 and 40. Alternatively, if more than one carrier bag is to be supported at one end of the device, then the handles of these carrier bags can be engaged in the slot at the opposite end of the device. Provided the combined carrier bag weight at one end of the device approximately balances that at the opposite end of the device then the device can be supported comfortably.

[0033] Having engaged one or more carrier bags with the device as described above, the device can be supported for transit in one of two ways.

[0034] If the device is to be supported on a user's shoulder 58, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the pad 4 will be placed on the shoulder 58, with its first or lower side 6 downwards and so that the longitudinal axis 12 is disposed in a front-to- back direction of the user with the carrier bag 46 or bags at the second end 16 of the device hanging down the front of the user and the carrier bag 56 or bags at a second end 14 of the device hanging down the back of the user. As the device is so positioned, the pad 4 adopts a curved configuration as shown in Fig. 6 with the first or lower side 6 being concave. Curvature is about a notional first centre of curvature axis 64 which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12 and on the side of and spaced from the first side 6 of the pad 4.

[0035] Alternatively, the device can be supported by a user's hand 60, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. In this configuration, the device will be disposed so that its longitudinal axis 12 crosses the hand 60 with the first or lower side 6 downwards and supported by fingers 62 of the hand 60. The pad 4 flexes and adopts a curved configuration with the second or upper side 8 being concave. Curvature is about a notional second centre of curvature axis 66 on the side of and spaced from the second side 8 of the pad 4. Tapering of the wing portions 68 of the pad 4 facilitates the upward curving of the pad so that it fits comfortably in a user's hand 60. The carrier bag or bags at each end of the device hang down from opposite sides of the user' s hand 60 as shown in Fig. 9.

[0036] The device can be used to support only one carrier bag by engaging the two handles thereof respectively with the first and second slots of the handle engagement means 24 substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

[0037] The carrying device described above permits one or more carrier bags to be carried conveniently and comfortably either in a hand or on a shoulder and when carried on a shoulder will leave a user's hands free for other functions.

[0038] While a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that modifications may be made which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Bag carrying device comprising a load-spreading pad having a support surface for supporting the device on a first side and a bag handle engagement means on an opposite second side, the handle engagement means including first and second portions which are upstanding from the pad and each define a slot configured for engagement by a bag handle, the slots defined by the first and second portions facing away from each other in substantially opposed directions and wherein the pad is configured so as to selectively adopt one of a first and a second configuration.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the pad is plate-like.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2 wherein the pad is flexible.

4. The device of any preceding claim wherein in the first configuration the first side is concave and in the second configuration the second side is concave.

5. The device of any preceding claim wherein, in the first configuration, the pad curves about a first centre of curvature axis and in the second configuration the pad curves about a second centre of curvature axis.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein an angle between the first axis and the second axis is between 85^° and 105^°.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

8. The device of claim 5 or any claim depending thereon wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to a line extending through both slots.

9. The device of claim 5 or any claim depending thereon wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to a line extending through both slots.

10. The device of any preceding claim wherein each slot is defined by one of the upstanding portions and a confronting portion of the second side of the pad.

11. The device of any preceding claim wherein each slot is normally closed and openable to permit insertion of a bag handle by resilient biasing of one of the upstanding portions .

12. The device of any preceding claim wherein the first and second portions of the handle engagement means constitute opposite ends of a single upstanding member.

13. The device of any preceding claim wherein the pad forms a flange extending outwardly from the handle engagement means .

14. The device of any preceding claim having a central longitudinal axis extending through the two slots and between opposite ends of the pad, wherein at least over a central portion of a length of the pad, between opposite ends, a thickness of the pad tapers away from the central axis towards a perimeter of the pad. The device of any preceding claim wherein the bag handle engagement means comprises carrier bag handle engagement means .