Patent Application
20130105504
This invention relates to an improvement in handles for grasping boxes, cartons, bags, and other like containers, and more particularly to a handle having a flat base and wall-engaging means on terminal ends thereof for securing the handle to a container.
Boxes, cartons, bags, and the like provide a means for storing and transporting articles of varying shapes and sizes. In addition, decorative boxes provide a quick and easy means for wrapping and presenting a gift to a recipient. However, it is often difficult to grasp or hold a box when the box is full, the contents of the box are heavy, and/or when the size of the box makes holding the box cumbersome. Regardless of whether a box is bulky or small, it may also be difficult to hold multiple box at the same time.
Therefore, handles are often attached to or integrally formed with boxes to facilitate the ease of grasping, holding, and carrying. Although boxes are available in a variety of shapes and styles, boxes and box handles are often formed from inexpensive, light-weight materials. A problem commonly associated with boxes is the tearing or separation of the handle from the box. For example, when a box having heavy contents is lifted by the handles, the box or handle can tear due to inadequate reinforcement at the handle connection points.
The invention relates to a box and handle combination having a novel structure.
It is an object of the invention to provide a box for storing articles therein and for transporting articles.
It is another object of the invention to provide a decorative box for packaging merchandise for a consumer.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a decorative box for wrapping and presenting a gift to a recipient.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a handle for grasping/holding the box.
It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a base and wall-engaging means for preventing separation of the handle from the box by engaging the surface of the box at apertures in the sidewalls of the box.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a unique configuration of bases, wall-engaging means, and a handgrip that present a means for carrying the box.
Certain of these and other objects are satisfied by a device comprising a handgrip having a first end and a second end. The device includes a first base proximate the first end of the handgrip, and a first wall-engaging means extending from the first base. The first wall-engaging means includes a first trunk having a bottom end and a top end, wherein the bottom end is connected to the first base. The first wall-engaging means further includes a first pair of elongated barbs connected to the top end of the first trunk, wherein the first barbs extend from the top end of the first trunk and towards the first base.
The device also includes a second base proximate the second end of the handgrip, and a second wall-engaging means extending from the second base. The second wall-engaging means includes a second trunk having a bottom end and a top end, wherein the bottom end is connected to the second base. The second wall-engaging means further includes a second pair of elongated barbs connected to the top end of the second trunk, wherein the second barbs extend from the top end of the second trunk and towards the second base. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the trunk and barbs form an arrowhead-shape configuration, wherein an angle between the trunk and each of the barbs is between 1-89 degrees. In another embodiment, the handgrip, first base, first wall-engaging means, second base, and second wall-engaging means are integrally formed.
The device further comprises a container including a first sidewall having a first aperture and a second sidewall having a second aperture. The trunks are positioned within the apertures such that the barbs are proximate inner surfaces of the sidewalls. Thus, the barbs contact the inner surfaces of the sidewalls when the handgrip is pulled and prevent the wall-engaging means from being pulled out of the container. The bases contact the sidewalls proximate the apertures. In one embodiment, the diameters of the bases are greater than the diameters of the apertures. In another embodiment, the widths of the bases are greater than the widths of the apertures.
For definitional purposes and as applicable, the term “container” as used herein is intended to mean a vessel for storing contents therein, and may be in the form of a box, carton, bag, and the like.
As used herein, the term “handgrip” is intended to mean a flexible elongated member having a length substantially greater than its cross-sectional dimension, and may be in the form of a rod, shaft, dowel, stick, handle, and the like.
As used herein, the term “barb” is intended to mean an elongated tab-like structure, and may be in the form of a flap, strip, bar, rod, dowel, shaft, and the like.
As used herein, “aperture” is intended to mean a feed-through dimensioned to retain portions of the associated handle therein, and may be in the form of an eye, eyelet, hole, opening, orifice, pass-through, passage, perforation, slit, slot, and the like.
As used herein, “proximate” is intended to mean near, adjacent, contiguous, next to, close to, by, on, in contact with, and the like.
As used herein, “connected” is intended to mean attached, engaged, coupled, contacts, linked, affixed, attached, and the like.
As used herein “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which is shown by way of illustration to the specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The following illustrated embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes based on presently known structural and/or functional equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numbers denote like components, elements, or features through the various illustrated embodiments discussed in detail below, the invention is a device including a container and a strap. While specific implementations of the disclosed technology are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the bottom 111, front wall 112, rear wall 114, first sidewall 116, second sidewall 118, and top 120 are quadrilateral-shaped, wherein the front wall 112 and rear wall 114 are equal in size and shape, and wherein the first sidewall 116 and second sidewall 118 are equal in size and shape. In another embodiment, the bottom 111, front wall 112, rear wall 114, first sidewall 116, second sidewall 118, and top 120 have different sizes and shapes, for example, circles, ovals, squares, and/or triangles of varying sizes. In yet another embodiment, the container 110 lacks the bottom 111, front wall 112, rear wall 114, and top 120, wherein the container 110 resembles a pouch, satchel, sack, purse, or the like. The container 110 is formed from semi-rigid organic material, such as, for example, paper, cardboard, fabric and/or leather. In an another embodiment, the container 110 is formed from other materials of varying stiffness/flexibility, for example, plastic, wood, metal, ceramic, and/or glass.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the first sidewall 116 and second sidewall 118 include circular apertures 117 and 119, respectively, on upper portions thereof. In another embodiment, the apertures 117 and 119 have other shapes, such as, for example, ovals, squares, rectangles, and/or triangles. As illustrated in
The unitary device 100 includes at least one flexible, elongated, plastic handle 130. In another embodiment, the handle 130 is formed from other materials of varying flexibility, such as, for example, metal, nylon, braided cotton fiber, and/or other types of fabric. The handle 130 includes a handgrip 140, a first base 150, a first wall-engaging means 152, a second base 160, and a second wall-engaging means 162. The first base 150 is connected to a first terminal end of the handgrip 140; and, the second base 150 is connected to a second terminal end of the handgrip 140. In at least one embodiment, the handgrip 140, first base 150, first wall-engaging means 152, second base 160, and second wall-engaging means 162 are integrally formed. In another embodiment, the handgrip 140, first base 150, first wall-engaging means 152, second base 160, and second wall-engaging means 162 are separate components that are connected to each other via adhesive, snaps, clips, clasps, ties, and other like fasteners.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the bases 150 and 160 are flat disks having a circular cross-section. In another embodiment, the bases 150 and 160 have a different cross-sectional shape, for example, ovular, rectangular, or triangular. In yet another embodiment, the bases 150 and 160 are spherical, cylindrical, cubical, or pyramidal. The bases 150 and 160 are dimensioned such that they cannot be pulled through the apertures 117 and 119. Thus, in one embodiment, the diameters of the bases 150 and 160 are greater than the diameters of the apertures 117 and 119. In another embodiment, the widths and/or lengths of the bases 150 and 160 are greater than the widths and/or lengths of the apertures 117 and 119. As used herein, the term “diameter” is meant to include the horizontal dimension, vertical dimension, and diagonal dimension of the base and/or aperture. As used herein, the term “width” is meant to include the horizontal dimension, vertical dimension, and diagonal dimension of a cross-section of the base and/or aperture. When the handle 130 is connected to the container 110, the bases 150 and 160 rest on the outer surfaces of the first sidewall 116 and second sidewall 118, respectively.
As illustrated in
The trunk 154 and barbs 156 and 158 are elongated bar-like structures having rectangular cross-sections. In another embodiment, the trunk 154 and barbs 156 and 158 each have a different shape, such as a cylinder. As illustrated in
The trunks 154 and 164 are positioned within the apertures 117 and 119, respectively, such that the first barbs 156 and 158 are proximate an inner surface of the first sidewall 116, and such that the second barbs 166 and 168 are proximate an inner surface of the second sidewall 118. When the handgrip 140 is pulled, the first barbs 156 and 158 contact the inner surface of the first wall 116; and, the second barbs 166 and 168 contact the inner surface of the second wall 118.
In another embodiment, the container lacks a top 120, wherein the trunks 154 and 164 are positioned within the apertures 117 and 119, respectively, such that the first barbs 156 and 158 are proximate an outer surface of the first sidewall 116, and such that the second barbs 166 and 168 are proximate an outer surface of the second sidewall 118. When the handgrip 140 is pulled, the first barbs 156 and 158 contact the outer surface of the first wall 116; and, the second barbs 166 and 168 contact the outer surface of the second wall 118. The first base 150 and second base 160 contact inner surfaces of the first sidewall 116 and second sidewall 118, respectively.
Therefore, the barbs prevent dislodgement of the handgrip 140 from the container 110, thereby securing the handle 130 to the container 110. Specifically, the first barbs 156 and 158 prevent the first end of the handgrip 140 from being pulled away from the container 110 through the first aperture 117; and, the second barbs 166 and 168 prevent the second end of the handgrip 140 from being pulled away from the container 110 through the second aperture 119.
The width of the wall-engaging means (i.e., the distance between the tips of two barbs connected at the top end of a trunk) is greater than the diameter/width of the aperture. However, the swept back orientation (i.e., the arrow-head shaped configuration of the wall engaging means) and semi-rigid properties of the barbs allow a wall-engaging means to be inserted into an aperture while also preventing the wall-engaging means from being pulled out through the aperture.
A second base is formed proximate the second end of the handgrip 540; and, a second wall-engaging means extending from the second base is formed 550. This includes forming a second trunk having a bottom end and a top end such that the bottom end is connected to the second base. The forming of the second wall-engaging means further includes forming a second pair of elongated barbs connected to the top end of the second trunk such that the second barbs extend from the top end of the second trunk and towards the second base.
A container is formed 560 which includes forming a first sidewall having a first aperture, and forming a second sidewall having a second aperture. The first trunk is positioned within the first aperture 570 such that the first barbs are proximate an inner surface of the first sidewall, and such that the first base is positioned proximate an outer surface of the first sidewall. The second trunk is positioned within the second aperture 580 such that the second barbs are proximate an inner surface of the second sidewall, and such that the second base is positioned proximate an outer surface of the second sidewall.
Although specific example embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that other variations, aspects, or embodiments may be contemplated, and/or practiced without departing from the scope or the spirit of the appended claims.
