Carrying handle for shopping bags

Abstract

A handle grip for supporting and carrying one or more shopping bags has a tubular handle structure with a longitudinal slot for receiving shopping bag handles and two transverse slots, one near either end, for securing the bag handles and for attaching a shoulder strap.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 61/270,231, filed Jul. 6, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carrying handle system capable of carrying one or more bags or articles by their handle portion. This invention comprises a tubular handle structure having a longitudinal slot for receiving shopping bag handles and two transverse slots, one near either end, for securing the bag handles and for attaching a shoulder strap.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

The commonplace use of plastic grocery bags in supermarkets has presented many concerns for customers. The relatively narrow strips of plastic that comprise the integral handles of such bags can cut into the bearer's hand if a heavy load is contained therein, causing numbness and discomfort to the holder's palm and fingers. This strain on the hand is only exacerbated when the holder is attempting to carry several heavy grocery bags at once. Another concern caused by these plastic shopping bags is that users cannot have their hands available for paying for purchases, unlocking and opening doors, shopping for other items, etc. without the need to set the bags down first. Similar problems arise in the use of twine-handled paper shopping bags and cloth shopping bags

Various bag-carrying handle grips are known which are structurally similar to the present invention, including those disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Franges (3,083,366), Enersen (4,590,640), Leonard (4,846,519), Stewart (4,923,235), Nobakht (4,902,060), Dieterich (5,029,926), Tipp (5,775,757), and Scholes (7,024,730). Of the foregoing patents, only those of Franges and Leonard have a tubular structure. The patents of both Franges and Leonard specify a longitudinal access slot, but neither has a transverse locking slot or attachable shoulder straps. Various types of transverse locking slots are disclosed in the patents of Stewart, Nobakht, Dieterich, and Tipp.

Many of the other handgrips that have been heretofore proposed will not remain securely attached to the bag handles once the bag is placed on a support surface, resulting in misplacement of the hand-gripping device. This may result in spillage of the contents of the bags or parcels when the bags are being transported in a motorized vehicle. For example, the bag grip disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,640 to Enersen is readily removable and does not lock the bag loops together. This device must therefore be reattached each time the bag or article is set down, leaving the bag contents vulnerable to spillage.

Another disadvantage of many of the handgrips of the prior art is that they can only be fitted to carry a single bag or article.

The handgrips of the prior art also suffer another shortcoming in that they do little to reduce the strain caused on the hand by carrying one or several heavy bags or parcels. None of the handgrip devices of the prior art provide for attachment of the handle to a shoulder strap, as does the present invention. The use of a shoulder strap significantly increases the amount of weight that can be carried with ease by the customer. It also saves the user multiple trips to and from the store or car by enabling him to carry up to ten full shopping bags at one time with ease. While the U.S. Pat. No. to Jenkins (7,625,029) discloses a bag gripper with a shoulder strap, the Jenkins gripper is quite a complex device that has little structural similarity to the carrying handle system of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The four key features of the present invention are a tubular hand-held grip structure, a longitudinal access slot for receiving shopping bag handles, two transverse locking slots on either end of the handle structure, and an attachable shoulder strap.

The tubular handle structure, composed of a rigid plastic material, provides relief for the hands and fingers of the user from the strain caused by grocery bag handles. The tubular handle evenly distributes the bag load over the gripping fingers and palm of the hand and provides a sufficient gripping surface area so as not to hurt the holder's fingers.

The gripping device's longitudinal access slot can accommodate a single bag or multiple bags. Thus, it allows the user to carry multiple bags at one time, saving the user from making multiple trips to and from the car or store.

The two parallel transverse slots, one near either end of the tubular handle structure, act to secure the bag handles together. As a result, when the bags are set down, the tubular gripping structure does not become misplaced and the user does not have to fumble to gather the handles back together in order to pick the bags back up. The transverse slots also prevent spillage of the bags' contents when the bags are set down. This feature is particularly important when the bags are being transported in a motorized vehicle because it keeps groceries and other items secure inside the bags, rather than spilling and moving around inside the trunk. The transverse locking slots also allow for the attachment of a shoulder strap.

The attachable shoulder strap assembly of the carrying handle system significantly increases the amount of weight and number of shopping bags that can be comfortably carried by the user at one time. Because it enables the user to carry up to ten full shopping bags at once, the shoulder strap allows him to carry home a week's worth of groceries in a single trip. The shoulder strap also allows for “hands-free” shopping and eliminates the need for the holder to repeatedly put the bags down and pick them back up in order to perform tasks such as unlocking and opening doors.

Optimally, the tubular grip structure can include notches inwardly contiguous to the transverse slots, which further serve to secure the bag handles. Another optimal feature is an access slot which is outwardly flared at both ends, which allows the device to accommodate more bags and also allows the bag handles to more fully engage the transverse slot, thereby enabling more secure carrying and storage. When the shoulder strap is not in use, it can be folded up and slipped into the access slot of the handle structure for compact storage and transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with an attached shopping bag.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with an attached shoulder strap.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a handle grip according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with multiple attached shopping bags and with an attached shoulder strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention 10 comprises a handle grip for supporting and carrying one or more shopping bags 26 having bag handles 27, the handle grip comprising an elongated tubular grip structure 11 and an attachable shoulder strap 25.

The grip structure 11 is preferably 5-6″ in length and 1-1.25″ in outer diameter and is molded from a rigid plastics material. The grip structure 11 transversely defines an upper structure 12 and a lower structure 13, and longitudinally defines a medial region 14 and two opposed end regions 15.

The grip structure 11 further defines an interior, axially-extending, substantially cylindrical, longitudinal bore 16, preferably having a diameter of 0.75-1″. Within the bore 16 is an arcuate bag handle support trough 17 extending longitudinally through the lower structure 13 within the medial region 14. The support trough 17 is adapted to be comfortably held and supported in a person's hand.

The grip structure 11 further defines two arcuate side walls 18, longitudinally extending along the entire length of the grip structure 11, and radially extending from the support trough 17 into the upper structure 12, wherein the side walls 18 taper within the upper structure 12 so as to define two non-contiguous, radially-flared slot margins 19.

The grip structure 11 further defines a bag access slot 20 for receiving shopping bag handles, preferably 0.25-0.5″ wide. The bag access slot 20 extends longitudinally between the slot margins 19 and substantially opposite to the support trough 17, wherein the slot margins 19 are oriented parallel to one another within the medial region 14, and wherein the slot margins 19 flare radially outward within the end regions 15.

The grip structure 11 further defines two longitudinally arcuate handle notches 21, each notch preferably having a radius of 0.25-0.5″. Each handle notch 21 comprises an open notch side 22 and a closed notch side 23, wherein the two open notch sides 22 define two longitudinal termini of the medial region 14 and the two closed notch sides 23 define two longitudinal termini of the support trough 17.

The grip structure 11 further defines four arcuate transverse locking slots 24 preferably 0.125-0.25″ wide extending radially through the side walls 18 within the end regions 15 of the lower structure 13 contiguous with the open notch sides 22. The transverse locking slots 24 are formed by four arcuate, upwardly curving apertures that preferably lie about 0.388″ from the end of each side wall 18.

The transverse locking slots 24 are capable of accommodating therethrough one or more of the bag handles 27 of one or more shopping bags 26. The user inserts the bag handles 27 of one or more shopping bags 26 longitudinally into the access slot 20 and then pulls both ends of the handles 27 vertically downwards, catching them through the handle notches 21. Once assembled in this manner, the transverse locking slots 24 serve to secure the bag handles together, which prevents opening of the bags and spillage of the bag contents when the bags are set down on a surface.

Optimally, the tubular grip structure 11 includes notches inwardly contiguous to the transverse slot 24, which further serve to secure the bag handles 27. Another optimal feature is an access slot 20 which is outwardly flared at both ends, which allows the device to accommodate more bags and also allows the bag handles 27 to more fully engage the transverse slot 24, thereby enabling more secure carrying and storage.

The shoulder strap 25 comprises a medial elongated strap portion having at either end a means 28 for removably attaching the shoulder strap 25 to the grip structure 11, the strap attachment means 28 preferably comprising a rectangular metal ring. The shoulder strap 25 can be attached to the tubular grip structure 11 by means of interlocking the rectangular metal rings of the strap attachment means 28 up through the transverse locking slots 24 of the tubular handle structure 11. The medial elongated strap portion of the shoulder strap 25 can then be placed on the user's shoulder to enable the user to carry up to ten fully-loaded grocery bags at one time with ease. The use of the attachable shoulder strap 25 also allows the user to have his hands free for shopping, unlocking and opening doors, hailing cabs and other activities while carrying a full load of groceries.

When not in use, the shoulder strap can be folded up and slipped into the bag access slot 20 for convenient storage and transport.

While this invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description is not to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the description will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A handle grip for supporting and carrying one or more bags having bag handles, the handle grip comprising:

an elongated tubular grip structure and an attachable shoulder strap;

the grip structure, transversely defining an upper structure and a lower structure, and longitudinally defining a medial region and two opposed end regions;

the grip structure further defining an interior, axially-extending, substantially cylindrical, longitudinal bore, and within the bore further defining an arcuate bag handle support trough extending longitudinally through the lower structure within the medial region;

the grip structure further defining two arcuate side walls, longitudinally extending along the entire length of the grip structure, and radially extending from the support trough into the upper structure, wherein the side walls terminate within the upper structure so as to define two non-contiguous slot margins;

the grip structure further defining a bag access slot extending longitudinally between the slot margins and substantially opposite to the support trough, wherein the slot margins are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

the grip structure further defining two arcuate transverse locking slots extending radially through the side walls within the end regions of the lower structure contiguous with the ends of the support trough; and

the shoulder strap comprising a medial elongated strap portion having at either end a means for removably attaching the shoulder strap to the grip structure through the transverse locking slots.

2. The handle grip according to claim 1, wherein the slot margins are oriented substantially parallel to one another within the medial region, and wherein the slot margins flare radically outward within the end regions.

3. A handle grip for supporting and carrying one or more bags having bag handles, the handle grip comprising:

an elongated tubular grip structure and an attachable shoulder strap;

the grip structure, transversely defining an upper structure and a lower structure, and longitudinally defining a medial region and two opposed end regions;

the grip structure further defining an interior, axially-extending, substantially cylindrical, longitudinal bore, and within the bore further defining an arcuate bag handle support trough extending longitudinally through the lower structure within the medial region;

the grip structure further defining two arcuate side walls, longitudinally extending along the entire length of the grip structure, and radially extending from the support trough into the upper structure, wherein the side walls terminate within the upper structure so as to define two non-contiguous slot margins;

the grip structure further defining a bag access slot extending longitudinally between the slot margins and substantially opposite to the support trough, wherein the slot margins are oriented substantially parallel to one another;

the grip structure further defining two longitudinally arcuate handle notches, each handle notch comprising an open notch side and a closed notch side, wherein the two open notch sides define two longitudinal termini of the medial region and the two closed notch sides define two longitudinal termini of the support trough;

the grip structure further defining four arcuate transverse locking slots extending radially through the side walls within the end regions of the lower structure contiguous with the open notch sides; and

the shoulder strap comprising a medial elongated strap portion having at either end a means for removably attaching the shoulder strap to the grip structure through the transverse locking slots.

4. The handle grip according to claim 3, wherein the slot margins are oriented substantially parallel to one another within the medial region, and wherein the slot margins flare radially outward within the end regions.

5. A handle grip for supporting and carrying one or more bags having bag handles, the handle grip comprising:

an elongated tubular grip structure transversely defining an upper structure and a lower structure, and longitudinally defining a medial region and two opposed end regions;

the grip structure further defining an interior, axially-extending, substantially cylindrical, longitudinal bore, and within the bore further defining an arcuate bag handle support trough extending longitudinally through the lower structure within the medial region;

the grip structure further defining two arcuate side walls, longitudinally extending along the entire length of the grip structure, and radially extending from the support trough into the upper structure, wherein the side walls taper within the upper structure so as to define two non-contiguous, radially-flared wall margins;

the grip structure further defining a bag access slot extending longitudinally between the slot margins and substantially opposite to the support trough, wherein the slot margins are oriented parallel to one another within the medial region, and wherein the slot margins flare radially outward within the end regions;

the grip structure further defining two longitudinally arcuate handle notches, each handle notch comprising an open notch side and a closed notch side, wherein the two open notch sides define two longitudinal termini of the medial region and the two closed notch sides define two longitudinal termini of the support trough; and

the grip structure further defining four arcuate transverse locking slots extending radially through the side walls within the end regions of the lower structure contiguous with the open notch sides.