Carrier Removably Attachable To An Object For More Easily And Ergonomically Carrying The Object
A carrier is provided which is removably attachable to at least a portion of a handle of an object for more easily and ergonomically carrying the object. The carrier includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis. The second housing is attached to the base of the first housing and is pivotable relative to first housing about a second axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first axis between an open position in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing and a closed position forming a grip having a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the second axis and defining with the second axis a plane perpendicular to the first axis. The grip is configured to releasably receive and retain a portion of the handle of the object.
The present application is a continuation of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/917,248 filed Jun. 13, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/781,645, filed on Mar. 14, 2013 and entitled “Carrier Removably Attachable To An Object For More Easily And Ergonomically Carrying The Object,” which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a carrier removably attachable to an object and, more particularly, to a carrier removably attachable to a portion of a handle of a children's car seat or other seat or carrier.
Conventional car or other seats or carriers are well known for safely and conveniently transporting a relatively young or small child, such as a baby or infant. Referring to
For example, the orientation of the handle 12 often requires that the palm 13a (see
It has yet to be discovered how to more easily, ergonomically and comfortably carry a children's car seat or other seat or object. In particular, it has yet to be discovered how to create an attachment removably mountable to a handle of a children's seat or another carrier object, wherein at least a portion of the attachment conveniently rotates with respect to the handle to allow an individual to more easily, naturally and/or comfortably carry the seat or the object. The present invention accomplishes the above and other objectives.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly stated, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a carrier removably attachable to at least a portion of a handle of an object. The carrier includes a first housing having a handle and a base. The handle of the first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis. A second housing is pivotally attached to the base of the first housing about a second axis. The second axis extends generally perpendicularly to the first axis. The carrier is pivotable between an open configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing to receive at least a portion of a handle of an object therebetween and a closed configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing and the second housing combine to surround the handle of the object therebetween.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a combination including an object and a carrier. The object includes a handle and the carrier is removably attachable to at least a portion of the handle of the object. The carrier includes a first housing having a handle and a base. The handle of the first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis. A second housing is pivotally attached to the base of the first housing about a second axis. The second axis extends generally perpendicularly to the first axis. The carrier is pivotable between an open configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing to receive at least a portion of the handle of the object therebetween and a closed configuration in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing and the second housing combine to surround of the handle of the object.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “frontward” and “rearward” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “upwardly,” “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present invention. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views,
The carrier 14 is preferably conveniently separable from and removably attachable to at least a portion of the car seat 10, such as a handle 12 thereof, without the use of tools. The handle 12 may be at least partially arcuate and/or in the shape of a generally inverted U, and assists the user 13 in lifting or transporting the car seat 10, generally by one hand. The handle 12 preferably defines a passageway 15 with a remainder of the car seat 10, and the handle 12 is preferably pivotably attached to a reminder of the car seat 10. However, the combination is not limited to the inclusion of the car seat 10, as the carrier 14 may be removably attachable to almost any object, such as a basket, a shopping or grocery bag, luggage, one or more skis, a ladder, a shovel, a toolbox or the like, which is often carried or transported by an individual 13.
Referring to
The carrier 14 also preferably includes a second or lower housing 18 that is pivotably attached to at least a portion of the first housing 16. More particularly, the second housing 18 is preferably pivotably attached to the base 24 of the first housing 16 about a second or horizontal axis A2 (see
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
However, the fastener 23 is not limited to the size, shape and/or configuration shown and described herein. For example, the fastener 23 may be a C-shaped or other clamp (not shown) that extends around at least a portion of the second housing 18 and the base 24 of the first housing 16 to generally lock the carrier 14 in the closed configuration. Alternatively, the fastener 23 may not be completely removable from both the second housing 18 and the base 24 of the first housing 16, which would reduce the possibility that the fastener 23 is inadvertently misplaced by the user 13 when not in use. For example, the fastener 23 may be a clip (not shown) that is pivotably and/or slidably attached to one of the second housing 18 and the base 24 of the first housing 16, and is removably attached to the other of the second housing 18 and the base 24 of the first housing 16 to generally lock the carrier 14 in the closed configuration.
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
An interior portion of the handle 22 of the first housing 16 preferably includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart teeth or projections 26 that extend radially inwardly toward a geometric center of the carrier 14. The latch 28 and at least one of the teeth 26 preferably prevents, or at least discourages or hinders, the handle 22 of the first housing 16 from rotating with respect to the base 24 of the first housing 16 in a first rotational direction (e.g., counterclockwise when viewed from above). In particular, if the user 13 attempts to rotate the handle 22 of the first housing 16 in the first rotational direction, at least a portion of the free end 28a of the latch 28 preferably engages or contacts one of the teeth 26, thereby at least making it more difficult to rotate the first housing 16 in the first rotational direction.
However, the latch 28 and teeth 26 permit the handle 22 of the first housing 16 to freely rotate with respect to the base 24 of the first housing 16 in a second rotational direction (e.g., clockwise when viewed from above). In particular, as the user 13 rotates the handle 22 of the first housing 16 in the second rotational direction, at least a portion of the free end 28a of the latch 28 slides over at least a portion of one or more of the teeth or projections 26 on the interior of the handle 22 of the first housing 16, such as a sloped sidewall thereof, to permit the handle 22 of the first housing 16 to rotate with respect to the base 24 of the first housing 16 in the second rotational direction. In other words, as the handle 22 of the first housing 16 rotates with respect to the base 24 of the first housing 16 in the second rotational direction, at least the free end 28a of the latch 28 is intermittently moved at least slightly radially inwardly against the sloped sidewall of at least one or more of the teeth 26.
In use, the adult or other user 13 preferably opens the carrier 14 to the configuration shown in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. For example, the location and/or orientation of the latch 28 and the teeth 26 may be reversed. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A carrier removably attachable to at least a portion of a handle of an object for more easily and ergonomically carrying the object, the carrier comprising:
- the first housing being rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis; and
- a second housing attached to the base of the first housing and pivotable relative to first housing about a second axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first axis between an open position in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing and a closed position forming a grip having a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the second axis and defining with the second axis a plane perpendicular to the first axis,
- wherein the grip is configured to releasably receive and retain a portion of the handle of the object.
2. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising:
- resilient material within at least a portion of the grip to accommodate a variety of differently sized handles of various objects.
3. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the handle of the first housing defines an opening configured to receive at least a portion of a user's hand therein.
4. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the handle of the first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing over a span of up to 360°.
5. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a latch pivotally attached to the base of the first housing, at least a portion of the latch being positioned within the handle of the first housing, the latch engaging at least a portion of an interior of the handle of the first housing to prevent the handle of the first housing from rotating with respect to the base of the first housing in a first rotational direction and to permit the handle of the first housing to rotate with respect to the base of the first housing in a second rotational direction.
6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein a hinge pivotally attaches the second housing to the base of the first housing, and wherein a fastener positioned on one of the base of the first housing and the second housing generally opposite the hinge permits the base of the first housing to be locked to the second housing in the closed configuration.
7. A combination comprising:
- an object including a handle; and
- a carrier removably attachable to at least a portion of the handle of the object, the carrier comprising:
- the first housing being rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing about a first axis; and
- a second housing attached to the base of the first housing and pivotable relative to first housing about a second axis extending generally perpendicularly to the first axis between an open position in which at least a portion of the base of the first housing is at least partially separated from the second housing and a closed position forming a grip having a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the second axis and defining with the second axis a plane perpendicular to the first axis,
- wherein the grip is configured to releasably receive and retain a portion of the handle of the object.
8. The combination according to claim 7, further comprising:
- resilient material within at least a portion of the grip to accommodate different sized handles of various objects.
9. The combination according to claim 7, wherein the handle of the first housing defines an opening configured to receive at least a portion of a user's hand therein.
10. The combination according to claim 7, wherein the handle of the first housing is rotatable with respect to the base of the first housing over a span of up to 360°.
11. The combination according to claim 7, further comprising:
- a latch pivotally attached to the base of the first housing, at least a portion of the latch being positioned within the handle of the first housing, the latch engaging at least a portion of an interior of the handle of the first housing to permit the handle of the first housing to rotate with respect to the base of the first housing in a first rotational direction and prevent the handle of the first housing from rotating with respect to the base of the first housing in a second rotational direction.
12. The combination according to claim 7, wherein a hinge pivotally attaches the second housing to the base of the first housing, and wherein a fastener positioned on one of the base of the first housing and the second housing generally opposite the hinge permits the base of the first housing to be locked to the second housing in the closed configuration.
13. The combination according to claim 7, wherein the handle of the object is at least partially arcuate, is pivotable and defines a passageway with a remainder of the object.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2014
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventor: Nathaniel R. DAY (Gilbert, AZ)
Application Number: 14/183,922
International Classification: A45F 5/10 (20060101);