HANDLE WRAP ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A handle wrap assembly decorates a handle. The handle wrap assembly includes a wrap adapted to be secured around the handle. A decorative item is fixedly secured to the wrap to cover a portion of the wrap and a portion of the handle.

Description

BACKGROUND ART

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to decorating handles for items such as luggage. More specifically, the invention relates to a handle wrap designed to decoratively cover a handle while maintaining the usefulness thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many luggage items, including backpacks and toy cases, have handles to facilitate the carrying thereof. In the case of backpacks, most backpacks have handles at the top thereof. This allows a user of a backpack to grab the handle and carry the backpack as a bag or a case. This handle eliminates the need for the user to grab the shoulder straps in order to carry the backpack.

Many toys and games come in cases that have a handle attached thereto. Personalizing or decorating the backpacks and/or cases is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A handle wrap assembly decorates a handle. The handle wrap assembly includes a wrap adapted to be secured around the handle. A decorative item is fixedly secured to the wrap to cover a portion of the wrap and a portion of the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention secured to a backpack;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention secured to a backpack; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention secured to a backpack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a handle wrap assembly is generally indicated at 10. The handle wrap assembly 10 is used to decorate a handle 12 of an item 14. In the Figures, the item 14 is a backpack. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the item may be anything that requires the use of a handle. A non-exhaustive list of items that would include a handle to which the handle wrap assembly 10 may be used include backpacks, luggage, duffle bags, hard cases, toy cases, doll cases, and the like.

The handle wrap assembly 10 includes a wrap 16 adapted to be secured around the handle 12. The wrap 16 defines a first 18 and second 20 sides that extend between a first 22 and second 24 ends. The length of the first 18 and second 20 sides extending between the first 22 and second 24 ends is not as long as the length of the handle 12.

The wrap 16 includes a support strap 26 that extends along the wrap 16 between the first 22 and second 24 ends. The support strap 26 provides additional support to the wraps 16 and inhibits the wraps 16 from bunching up along the handle 12. The support strap 26 may be sewn within the wrap 16 or it may be fixedly secured to the outside of the wrap 16. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the wrap 16 includes first 28 and second 30 faces of pliable material between which the support strap 26 extends. The first 28 and second 30 faces are sewn together along their respective peripheries 32 by a peripheral stitch 34 (only shown in FIG. 4). The support strap 26 is held in place using portions of the peripheral stitch 34.

The handle wrap assembly 10 also includes a decorative item 36 that is fixedly secured to the wrap 16 to cover a portion of the wrap 16 and a portion of the handle 12. The decorative item 36 is shown to be a face of a cartoon depiction of a monkey. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the decorative item 36 may depict anything desired by the user to cover the wrap 16 and the handle 12. A non-exhaustive list of items that might be used as decorative items 36 include, but are not limited to, animals, cartoon characters, corporate entire wrap 16 and handle 12, depending on the actual design of the decorative item 36. In the preferred embodiment, the decorative item 36 extends generally through a single plane, but is fabricated from a flexible material allowing the decorative item 36 to transform that plane from a flat plane to a curved plane, as is desired or required with the use of the handle wrap assembly 10 in conjunction with the item 14.

In the alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5 wherein like prime numerals represent similar reference numbers in the preferred embodiment, the decorative item 36′ is a three dimensional object. In this embodiment, the decorative item 36′ is a baseball. The handle wrap assembly 10′ includes a securement, generally indicated at 38. The securement 38 fixedly secures the decorative item 36′ to the wrap 16′ in a manner which allows a person to grasp the handle 12′ unencumbered by the decorative item 36′ and the handle wrap assembly 10′. The securement 38 extends along a portion of the first 22′ and second 24′ ends. In the preferred embodiment, the securement 38 includes first and second stitchings (not shown), which are sewn between the securement 38 and the wrap 16′ along the first 22′ and second 24′ ends. In the embodiment shown, the securement 38 is a knuckle strap that allows and hand to grasp the handle 12′ between the wrap 16′ and the decorative item 36′. The knuckle strap 38 is fabricated from a pliable material. The pliable material used to create the knuckle strap 38 may be the same material as that used to create the wrap 16′. It is also appreciated that the knuckle strap 38 may be fabricated from a transparent material.

In both embodiments, the handle wrap assembly 10 includes fasteners 44, 46 that extend along the first 18 and second 20 sides. While it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the fasteners 44, 46 may be any type of fastener suitable to be used with the flexible materials that create the wrap 16, the fasteners 44, 46 shown in the embodiment include strips of loops and strips of hooks, commonly referred to via a trademark Velcro®.

In operation, the handle wrap assembly 10 is opened such that the wrap 16 is flat without having the fasteners 44, 46 secured to each other. The wrap 16 is then wrapped around the handle 12 allowing the fasteners 44, 46 to engage each other and secure the wrap 16 to the handle 12. The person's hand is then inserted into an opening 52 between the wrap 16, secured to the handle 12, and the decorative item 36 (in the alternative embodiment, the opening 52′ is between the wrap 16′ and the knuckle strap 38.) The person grasping the handle 12 may grasp it unencumbered by the decorative item 36. The hand of the person holding the handle 12 of the item 14 may not be visible as the decorative item 36 may cover the hand.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A handle wrap assembly for decorating a handle, said handle wrap assembly comprising: a wrap adapted to be secured around the handle; anda decorative item fixedly secured to said wrap to cover a portion of said wrap and a portion of the handle.

2. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a securement for fixedly securing said decorative item to said wrap in a manner allowing a person to grasp the handle unencumbered by said handle wrap assembly.

3. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wrap defines a first side and a second side extending between a first end and a second end.

4. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 3 including a securement extending along a portion of said first end and a portion of said second end for securing said decorative item thereto.

5. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said securement includes first and second stitchings sewn between said decorative item and said wrap along said portions of said first and second ends.

6. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wrap includes a support strap extending along said wrap between said first and second stitchings.

7. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said support strap extends through said wrap.

8. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said wrap includes fasteners along said first and second sides thereof to fasten said handle wrap assembly to the handle.

9. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said fasteners include a strip of loops and a strip of hooks.

10. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said wrap is fabricated from a pliable material.

11. A handle wrap assembly for decorating a handle, said handle wrap assembly comprising: a wrap adapted to be secured around the handle, said wrap extending between a first end and a second end;a knuckle strap fixedly secured to said first and second ends of said wrap allowing fingers of a hand to extend therebetween; anda decorative item fixedly secured to said knuckle strap to cover a portion of said wrap and a portion of said handle.

12. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said wrap defines a first side and a second side extending between a first end and a second end.

13. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 12 including first and second stitchings sewn between said knuckle strap and said wrap along portions of said first and second sides.

14. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said support strap extends through said wrap.

15. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wrap includes fasteners along said first and second sides thereof to fasten said handle wrap assembly to the handle.

16. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said fasteners include a strip of loops and a strip of hooks.

17. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said wrap is fabricated from a pliable material.

18. A handle wrap assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said knuckle strap is fabricated from a pliable material.