Bag Carrying Device

Abstract

A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of a person according to the present invention includes a primary support member having opposed first and second ends with a flexible pad situated therebetween. The bag carrying apparatus includes a pair of primary straps having primary strap first ends coupled to the primary support member first and second ends, respectively, and having primary strap second ends opposite the primary strap first ends, respectively. A pair of hook members is operatively coupled to the primary strap second ends, each hook member having a plurality of hooks configured to capture a bag handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims the priority of U.S. Application 61/744,348 filed on Oct. 16, 2012 titled Bag Grabber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for transporting various articles and, more particularly, to a bag carrying device configured to be worn about and hang from a person's neck and to which multiple bags, such as grocery sacks, may be suspended and carried.

Goods such as groceries or other newly purchased goods are typically packed into plastic bags that may be carried or transported in a cart by the consumer to her automobile for transport to the consumer's home. Once arriving at home, the consumer faces the undesirable task of transporting the multiple bags of goods from the automobile into the consumer's home. This is a particularly undesirable task when there may be many more bags than can be reasonably carried in a single trip into the house. Further, the weight of carrying even a single bag may be challenging to the consumer, especially for consumers who are elderly or otherwise physically challenged.

Although devices that may enable multiple bags to be transported in a single trip, such as a cart, wheelbarrow, or hand truck (a.k.a. dolly) may be assumably effective, they do not enable a person to carry multiple bags simultaneously by distributing the weight to the person's legs and torso. Further, the existing devices and proposals are not wearable about the consumer's neck and are not completely collapsible for easy storage in a vehicle glove box.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a bag carrying apparatus that is wearable about a user's neck and configured to secure multiple bags to be carried simultaneously by normal walking by the user. Further, it would be desirable to have a bag carrying apparatus that distributes the weight of the carried bags to the user's legs and torso.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of a person according to the present invention includes a primary support member having opposed first and second ends with a flexible pad situated therebetween. The bag carrying apparatus includes a pair of primary straps having primary strap first ends coupled to the primary support member first and second ends, respectively, and having primary strap second ends opposite the primary strap first ends, respectively. A pair of hook members is operatively coupled to the primary strap second ends, each hook member having a plurality of hooks configured to capture a bag handle.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus having a pair of straps and hooks that may be worn around and hang from a person's neck and configured to carry multiple bags of items such as groceries simultaneously.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus, as aforesaid, that causes the weight of multiple bags of items to be distributed broadly to the torso and legs of a user.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus, as aforesaid, having multiple hooks configured to capture the handles of bags to be carried.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus, as aforesaid, that is simple and quick to attach to and remove from a user's body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bag carrying apparatus, as aforesaid, that is collapsible for storage inside an automobile, such as under a seat or in the glove compartment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag carrying apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 1 illustrated in use on a person;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 2 illustrating the primary straps in an extended configuration; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the bag carrying apparatus as in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A bag carrying apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The bag carrying apparatus 10 includes a support member 20, a pair of primary straps 30, 40 and a pair of hook members 70, 72.

The primary support member 20 includes a flexible pad 22 having first 24 and second 26 ends. The primary support member 20 may have a flexible construction and a generally rectangular configuration although other shapes may also work. The support member 20 is configured to rest upon and conform to the shape of the back of a user's neck as will be described in more detail later.

The pair of primary straps includes first ends coupled to first 24 and second 26 ends of the support member 20, respectively. More particularly, the pair of primary straps includes a first primary strap 30 and a second primary strap 40. The first primary strap 30 includes a first end 32 coupled to the support member first end 24 and a first primary strap second end 34 opposite the first primary strap first end 26. The second primary strap 40 includes a first end 42 coupled to the support member second end 26 and a second primary strap second end 44 opposite the second primary strap first end 42. Each primary strap 30, 40 includes a flexible and elongate configuration. Further, each primary strap 30, 40 is length adjustable so as to accommodate being worn and used by persons of different heights.

The bag carrying apparatus 10 includes a pair of strap extension members coupled to respective second ends of the primary strap members. More particularly, a first extension member 50 includes opposed first 52 and second 54 ends. A second extension member 60 includes opposed first 62 and second 64 ends. The extension members may be coupled to the primary straps with quick-connect fasteners. Specifically, the first primary support strap second end 34 includes a first quick connect coupler 36. Similarly, the second primary support strap second end 44 includes a second quick connect coupler 46. The first extension member first end 52 includes a quick connect first receiver 56 that is configured to receive the first primary strap coupler 36. Similarly, the second extension member first end 62 includes a quick connect second receiver 66 that is configured to receive the second primary strap coupler 46. It is understood that respective couplers and receivers may be quickly coupled together and uncoupled by a user.

The pair of hook members 70, 72 may be coupled to second ends 54, 64 of the extension members 50, 60, respectively with fasteners, such a D-shaped fasteners or the like. In addition, each hook member 70, 72 may include a plurality of individual hooks, each having a generally U-shaped or otherwise upwardly directed configuration. Specifically, each hook is configured to be used like a hanger on which the handle of a grocery bag may be secured.

The bag carrying apparatus 10 may also include a pair of auxiliary straps 80, 90 attached to the pair of primary straps, respectively, that are situated to extend inwardly. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 may be length adjustable. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 are intended to extend across the chest or around the back of a person wearing the apparatus 10. Specifically, each auxiliary strap may have an inner end attached to a respective primary strap and a free end. The free end may include a quick connect fastener in a manner similar to the quick connect coupler and receive described previously. Each auxiliary strap 80, 90 is displaced downwardly from the support member 20 and is oriented generally perpendicular to the primary strap to which it is attached. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 enable a user to secure the apparatus 10 to her body so it does not inadvertently slide off the user's neck.

In use, a user may wear the bag carrying apparatus 10 in a manner similar to wearing a work or hunting vest. As shown in FIG. 2, the primary support member 20 may be positioned on the back of the user's neck and the primary straps 30, 40 positioned on the front of the user's torso. The auxiliary straps 80, 90 may be extended across the user's chest or behind the back so as to secure the apparatus 10 from unintentionally falling away from the user's body. Then, one or more bag handles (not shown) may be hung from respective hooks of the pair of hook members 70, 72 and carried between locations as the user walks in a normal manner.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A bag carrying apparatus to be selectively supported by the neck of a person, comprising:

a primary support member having opposed first and second ends;

a pair of primary straps having primary strap first ends coupled to said primary support member first and second ends, respectively, and having primary strap second ends opposite said primary strap first ends, respectively; and

a pair of hook members operatively coupled to said primary strap second ends.

2. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pair of primary support straps includes:

a first primary support strap having a first primary support strap first end coupled to said primary support member first end; and

a second primary support strap having a second primary support strap second coupled to said primary support member second end.

3. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

said first primary support strap includes a elongate flexible configuration;

said second primary support strap includes a elongate flexible configuration;

said first primary support strap is length adjustable; and

said second primary support strap is length adjustable.

4. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

said first primary support strap includes a second end opposite said first primary support strap first end;

said second primary support strap second end includes a second end opposite said second primary support strap;

said first primary support strap second end includes first primary support strap coupler; and

said second primary support strap second end includes a second primary support strap coupler.

5. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 5, comprising:

a first extension member that includes a first end having a first receiver configured to selectively receive said first primary support strap coupler and a second end coupled to a respective hook member; and

a second extension member having a second receiver configured to selectively receive said second primary support strap coupler and a second end coupled to another respective hook member.

6. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a pair of extension members releasably coupled to said primary strap second ends, respectively, said pair of hook members being coupled to terminal ends of said pair of extension members, respectively.

7. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said pair of hook members are coupled to said pair of extension members, respectively, with D-shaped fasteners.

8. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, comprising a pair of auxiliary straps attached to said pair of primary straps, respectively, said pair of auxiliary straps being displaced from said primary support member and extending inwardly from said pair of primary support straps, respectively.

9. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said pair of auxiliary support straps is length adjustable.

10. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said primary support member includes a neck pad situated between said primary support member first and second ends, said neck pad having a generally planar and flexible configuration.

11. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said neck pad includes a generally rectangular configuration having padding on an inner surface thereof.

12. The bag carrying apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each hook member of said pair of hook members includes a plurality of hooks having a generally U-shaped configuration capable of holding a grocery bag handle.