This invention relates generally to handles, and, more particularly, to a supplemental handle comprised of identical halves for assembly on a carrying strap.
Many bags for carrying items include one handle strap or a pair of handle straps. A user grabs the handle straps to carry the bag. Often, ends of the handle straps are permanently fastened (e.g., sewn) to the bag. If the contents of the bag are heavy, carrying the bag by grasping the straps can be uncomfortable. Additionally, over time, the unprotected handle straps may wear, especially when the handles straps are repeatedly engaged by a hook from a rolling luggage suitcase.
A nonlimiting example of such a bag is a pilot flight kit bag. Pilots may carry a headset, a tablet computer and charger, a kneeboard, a logbook, aeronautical charts, an E6B flight computer, an aviation airband transceiver with ILS and VOR navigation, flashlights, pens/pencils, and more. Bags designed for containing such equipment typically include one or two strap handles. The handle(s) of a bag containing such equipment may be hooked onto a J-hook of the pilot's suitcase. The weight of the contents may cause discomfort for a user carrying the bag by its strap(s). Over time, the unprotected strap handle(s) will wear due to engagement with the hook of a suitcase.
A supplemental handle for such bags is needed. The supplemental handle should be ergonomic, durable and easy to install on a handle strap without damaging the handle strap. Thus, the supplemental handle should be installable without cutting the handle strap or the stitching that connects the handle strap to the bag. The supplemental handle should be easy to install. When installed, the supplemental handle should remain secure, without appreciable risk of unintended separation from the handle. The supplemental handle should be comprised of identical halves to reduce manufacturing costs.
The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above.
To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a handle includes two identical halves. Each handle half includes a body, a pair of flanges, a pair of hooks and a pair of slots. The body is generally half of a hollow tube. Each flange extends inwardly from ends of the body. The pair of flanges extend towards each other in a common plane. A hook is provided adjacent to one end of each flange. A slot is provided adjacent to the opposite end of each flange. The hook extends outwardly, away from the body. The hook has a wedge-shaped head, which defines a wedge-shaped space between the head of the hook and the flange. The slot, which is formed on the same side of the flange, is configured (i.e., sized and shaped) to receive, engage and mate with a hook. The slot includes a wedge-shaped undercut configured to fit in the space between the head of the hook and the flange. Two halves are positioned on opposite sides of a handle strap. The two halves are assembled into a handle by pressing the hooks of one half into the slots of the other half, and then sliding one half relative to the other half until the wedge-shaped undercuts fill the wedge-shaped spaces between the heads of the hooks and the flanges. While sliding, the wedge shapes urge one half towards the other half, increasing frictional retention between the halves, and eliminating any space between the contacting surfaces of the halves. The handle strap is disposed between the two assembled halves. To prevent unintended withdrawal of a hook from a slot, a set screw may be threaded into a channel that leads to a slot, until the end of the set screw abuts an engaged hook.
In one exemplary embodiment, each handle half is an integrally formed injection molded plastic structure that includes a body, such as a half section of a tubular structure, including a first edge, a second edge apart from and parallel to the first edge, and a concave base extending from the first edge to the second edge. A first flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, extends from the first edge. The anterior surface of the first flange is planar, except for a first hook and a first slot formed on the anterior surface of the first flange. A second flange extends from the second edge towards the first flange. The first flange extends from the first edge of the body towards the second flange. The second side of the first flange is opposite the second side of the second flange. A gap (i.e., space devoid of structure) is between the second side of the first flange and the second side of the second flange. The second flange has an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side. The anterior surface of the second flange is planar except for a second hook and a second slot formed on the anterior surface of the second flange. The anterior surface of the first flange is aligned with the anterior surface of the second flange. The anterior surface of the first flange and the anterior surface of the second flange is perpendicular to a plane bisecting the body.
Each flange includes a hook and a slot. The hook extends outwardly from the anterior surface of the flange adjacent to the an end of the flange. The slot is a concave compartment through the anterior surface of the flange adjacent to the other end of the flange.
Each hook includes a hook bottom at an angle relative to the anterior surface of the flange. For mating engagement, each slot includes a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the first leading edge, and an overhang, which is a wedge-shaped structure with an outer surface and an inner surface. The wedge shaped structure extends from the leading edge towards the trailing edge. A wedge angle between the outer surface and the inner surface of the wedge-shaped structure of the overhang is about equal to the first angle. An opening between the trailing edge of each slot and the overhang is sized to receive a hook.
The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the specific components, configurations, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions as shown in the figures.
A handle according to principles of the invention includes two identical halves. Each handle half includes a body, a pair of flanges, a pair of hooks and a pair of slots. The body is generally half of a hollow tube. Each flange extends inwardly from ends of the body. The pair of flanges extend towards each other in a common plane. A hook is provided adjacent to one end of each flange. A slot is provided adjacent to the opposite end of each flange. The hook extends outwardly, away from the body. The hook has a wedge-shaped head, which defines a wedge-shaped space between the head of the hook and the flange. The slot, which is formed on the same side of the flange, is configured (i.e., sized and shaped) to receive, engage and mate with a hook. The slot includes a wedge-shaped undercut configured to fit in the space between the head of the hook and the flange. Two halves are positioned on opposite sides of a handle strap. The two halves are assembled into a handle by pressing the hooks of one half into the slots of the other half, and then sliding one half relative to the other half until the wedge-shaped undercuts fill the wedge-shaped spaces between the heads of the hooks and the flanges. While sliding, the wedge shapes urge one half towards the other half, increasing frictional retention between the halves, and eliminating any space between the contacting surfaces of the halves. The handle strap is disposed between the two assembled halves. To prevent unintended withdrawal of a hook from a slot, a set screw may be threaded into a channel that leads to a slot, until the end of the set screw abuts an engaged hook. As used herein, carrying strap and handle strap are synonymous. Handle straps broadly include nylon webbing straps; such straps comprised of other materials; and flexible cord, rope and string handles comprised of synthetic or natural fibers, filaments, or yarns.
The body 105 includes interior and exterior surfaces. Exterior surfaces may be gripped by a user's hand, when the handle is in use. Interior surfaces are opposite to the exterior surfaces. Interior surfaces may abut a handle strap, when the handle is in use.
The exterior surface of the exemplary body 105 may include one or more recesses 110, 115 for aesthetics and ergonomics. Other features, such as cushioning may be applied to the exterior surface.
The interior of the body 105 defines a C-shaped compartment in which an engaged portion of a handle strap is received. The interior of the body 105 may be smooth, textured, or marked with recesses and/or protrusions. If the body 105 is molded with a consistent wall thickness, then the interior surface will be the negative of the exterior surface, with exterior recesses providing interior protrusions.
A flange 120, 125 extends inwardly from each side of the body 105, i.e., from each leg of the C. The flanges 120, 125 are opposed. The flanges 120, 125 are aligned. The flanges 120, 125 are spaced apart. A gap 135 (empty space) is disposed between the opposed free ends of the flanges 120, 125. The upper and lower surfaces of the flanges 120, 125 are generally planar, excepting the hooks 140, 145 and slots 150, 155 formed on the upper surfaces of the flanges 120, 125. A plane bisecting one flange will bisect the other flange. The widths, w1 and w2, of the flanges 120, 125 are equal; i.e., w1=w2. The sum of the widths, w1+w2, of the flanges 120, 125 is less than the diameter, d, of the cross-section of the handle half 105. The sum of the gap width, g, and the widths, w1+w2, of the flanges 120, 125 equals the diameter, d; i.e., g+w1+w2=d. The flanges 120, 125 are coextensive with the body 105, meaning they extend from end to end, as shown in
A C-shaped concave compartment 130 is formed beneath the gap 135 and flanges 120, 125. The compartment 130 is sized to receive an engaged portion of a handle strap. The compartment 130 is coextensive with the body 105, meaning it extends from end to end, as shown in
Referring now to
The opening 225 of the slot 150 is sized to receive the hook 140. The overhang 235 is a wedge shaped structure with a top surface that is level and co-planar with outer surface 220 of the flange 120. The overhang 235 extends from the leading edge 240 of the slot 150 towards the trailing edge 250 of the slot 150. The total length, L3, of the slot 150 is greater than the length, L1, of the hook 140, by about the length, L5, of the bottom 230 of the overhang 235.
The dimensions discussed above allow each hook of one handle half to releasably engage a slot of another handle half. By way of example, as conceptually illustrated in
While
Handle halves 100, 102 may be positioned on opposite sides of one or more handle straps 300, 305, with hooks and slots of one half aligned for engagement with slots and hooks of the other half, as conceptually illustrated in
In
In
The handle halves 100, 102 may be locked together, to avoid unintended separation. Any locking mechanism suitable for use to resist sliding motion may be used. By way of example and not limitation, as shown in
A bisector plane 131 (i.e., an imaginary plane) divides the handle half 100 into two symmetrical parts, as conceptually illustrated in
Handle halves according to principles of the invention may be comprised of metals, alloys, composites and/or any of various plastics. While many other materials may be used alone or in combination with the aforementioned materials and/or other materials, without departing from the scope of the present invention, preferably the material is relatively inexpensive, easy to use in manufacturing operations and results in an aesthetically acceptable, durable, high compression and tensile strength product. By way of example, handle halves according to principles of the invention may be produced using any suitable plastic manufacturing techniques known in the art for the chosen material, such as (for example) injection, compression, structural foam, blow, or transfer molding; polyurethane foam processing techniques; vacuum forming; and casting. The material may further include additives to provide desired properties such as structurally reinforcing additives (e.g., glass or carbon fibers), desired colors, structural characteristics, glow-in-the dark properties and thermal reactivity (e.g., color changes according to heat).
Any dimensions are provided as approximate dimensions for an embodiment. Dimensions may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. Varied dimensions that do not substantially impair utility of the invention come within the spirit and scope of the invention. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified herein, dimensions may be varied by ±5% without departing from the scope of the invention.
While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, including variations in order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The above description and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.