Shopping bag handle

Abstract

An handle for carrying grocery bags and the like comprising a rod round cross section with a central portion adapted to be gripped by a human hand. On either side of the gripping portion are knobs with deep annular slots adapted to receive the handles of a grocery bag. Each bag loop handle is secured by one of the slots. The handle is attached to the bag transversely to the bag opening. The handle supports the bag in a balanced configuration without a tendency to rotate in the hand. Alternatively, one or more bags may be mounted in each slot and carried by the handle between them.

Description

U.S. GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN THE INVENTION

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Handle means for carrying one or more bags having loop handles. In particular, a handle comprising a rod with knobs having annular grooves at each end for receiving grocery bag loop handles.

2. Description of Related Art

Grocery bag handles are members of a very crowded art. Many varieties are to be found in the US patent collection going back to 1948, long before the introduction of the modern plastic bag. Those closest to the present invention in that they may hold a bag crossways, or hold two or more bags on each end, have a pair of hooks flanking a central gripping portion, but the present invention does not use hooks. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,651,941 and 6,499,781 by David Kinsel and Norman Flynn, respectively, are representative of this type of bag holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,393, FIG. 1 by J. B. Norman appears to have superficial resemblance to the present invention, but upon inspection it, it is found that it too, is merely a hooks-on-the-end type, only that the hooks are fabricated integrally with the handle bar instead of being separate and attached to the tip ends of the bar.

Many other types of handles having a groove or similar along the length of the handle were found. The bag handles are laid in a longitudinal groove and the handle gripping portion passes under the bag handles. The grip orientation is similar to gripping the bag without an aid. Unless this type is carefully designed to have the handle load close to the hand contacting surface, the handle will have a tendency to rotate axially and drop the bag off the handle. The present invention cannot drop the bag handle even if the handle is rolled axially. This type of handle cannot hold a bag crossways, that is, one bag loop handle on each end of the handle bar.

Many other patents are of the wrap around type in which a sheet of material is wrapped around the handles to provide a larger surface to support the weight of a filled bag against the hand. These are mechanically similar to the longitudinally grooved handle just described, and have most of the same limitations.

Both of these embodiments hold the handle loops in the plane of the loops.

The present invention is a dumb bell configuration with an annular groove adapted to receive a bag handle on each end. The present invention is designed for use transversely across the bag. None of this type were found in the US Patent files.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,175 by Arthur Christiansen is the only prior art found that has an annular ring to hold the bag handles. This embodiment has a single annular ring in the center of the handle. The fingers of the gripping hand straddle the mounted bag handles. Both bag handles must be fitted into the single ring. Such an arrangement could produce non-symmetrical loads which would fatigue the hand and wrist. Furthermore the full load is always born near the middle joint of the fingers. In the present invention, the grip may be placed at the proximal end of the fingers or even in the anterior portion of the palm, next the fingers. Both of these positions should be far less fatiguing than Christiansen's version.

3. Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a rigid or semirigid gripping device as an intermediary between a carrier person's hand and the very flexible (hand binding) loop handles of a common thin disposable plastic grocery bag or the loops of a durable reusable fabric bag.

It is another object of the invention that the handle not tend to rotate axially.

It is another object of the invention that if the handle is rotated axially, it will not disengage from the loop handles of a grocery bag.

It is another object of the invention that if the grocery bag is set down, and the tension of the bag's loop handles on the auxiliary handle is released, the bag will not disengage from the auxiliary handle.

It is another object of the invention that the auxiliary handle be capable of carrying either a single grocery bag or at least two grocery bags,

It is another object of the invention, that during use, the bottom of a loaded grocery bag not be lowered significantly from the “normal” position to where it could drag on the ground when carried by a woman of average stature.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the presently disclosed shopping bag carrying handle is basically a round gripping bar with annular grooves at each end adapted to receive the loops of a common plastic grocery bag or the loops of a cloth carrying bag. In one embodiment, a bar of wood, plastic, metal, etc is turned to have a central portion adapted to be gripped by the hand of a person and support the load of one or more filled grocery bags. On each end, just outboard of the handle gripping portion are two knobs each of which have an annular groove for receiving the loop handles of a shopping bag. When used to support a single bag, the handle is placed transversely across the bag, with one bag loop handle in each of the annular grooves. When used to support two or more bags, both loop handles of each bag are placed in one of the annular grooves.

Alternatively to turning, the invention may be cast in plastic or metal either in the turned shape or modified to have improved handling characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the handle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the handle.

FIG. 3 is a view of the handle with a bag attached.

FIG. 4 is a view of the handle with a bag attached.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the handle showing an optional non-circular bag hanging post.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the handle showing the shape and position of the non-circular bag hanging post.

TABLE OF IDENTIFIED DETAILS

• 1. The cylindrical embodiment of the invention
• 2. An embodiment with an offset handle.
• 3. The gripping zone or gripping bar of the handle
• 4. Inner knob portion of the bag holding means.
• 5. Outer knob portion of the bag holding means.
• 6. Annular groove for holding bag handle loops.
• 7. Central post, bottom of the groove.
• 8. Shopping bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the handle 1 has a central gripping portion 3 adapted to be held in a human hand. The preferred size of the gripping portion grip bar) is 3½ inches which is adequate for most adult hands. A longer gripping portion permits the hand to be moved longitudinally along the gripping portion to balance unsymmetrical weight of two or more bags suspended from the ends of the handle. The gripping portion may or may not have surface patterning to improve grippability

The key feature of the present invention is a large knob on each end of the gripping bar 3. Each knob having an annular groove 6 dividing the knob into separated portions 4 and 5 and adapted to receive the loop handles of a grocery bag. It has been found that the preferred width of the groove is ⅛ to 3/16 inch. At this width, the loops fit easily within the groove and because of bunching, are locked into the groove, and are retained when the tension is released. The locking takes place because of the adaptation of the grooves to the bulk of the bag handles pulled into the grooves. Locking the bag loops into the grooves when the bag is set down is particularly useful when the bags are loaded into an automobile, or when the bags are set down while the carrier person unlocks a house or automobile door. The handles remain in position to be readily available when the bag is retrieved. This retention is accomplished by friction alone, without mousing, clips, compression closures, or any other devices to prevent disengagement of the bag handles from the carrying handle.

Another feature of the present invention not found in the prior art, especially hook variants, is that when the load is lifted, the round handle may roll slightly which balances the tension on the bag handle bands depending from each side of the groove and post 7. This reduces the likelihood of one band being over stressed and breaking.

The central bag hanging posts 7 are generally cylindrical having a minimum diameter of approximately ½ inch. This is sufficient to provide adequate strength to join the two knob segments and to spread the load on the bag handles so they do not break.

The overall length of the preferred embodiment is approximately 7 inches.

Many people like the feel, warmth, appearance, and uniqueness of wood grain. The cylindrical embodiment may be manually turned on a lathe, which, when hand turned, may have the added appeal that each article is shaped slightly uniquely differently.

However, the preferred embodiment may be mass produced by molding in plastic. An optional central bore may be included to reduce the amount of material used.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS AND VARIATIONS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 2 is an alternative embodiment of the basic invention. The handle is offset from the holding grooves by a small amount, where the upper edge of the central post 7 at the bottom of the upper inside end of the groove 6 is approximately in line with the lower edge gripping surface) of the handle bar. This lowers the center of gravity of the attachment and stabilizes the handle against rolling in the hand. It also lowers the attachment of the bag's loop handles, which may present problems to carrier persons of small stature, where the bag may drag or bounce on the ground. In both embodiments, the bag handles may be wound around the groove to take up slack and raise the bottom of the bag.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative groove shape and bag hanging post applicable to the basic embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Since the underside of the post 7 does not carry load of the bag loop handles, the lower part of the groove side may be filled providing additional strength of the post 7.

The embodiments of FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 may be mass produced easily in plastic by any casting process using a simple two part mold.

How to Use the Invention

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the handle holding a grocery bag.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the bag hanging from the post 7 within the grooves 6, and the handle oriented across the bag.

The loop handles of a loaded grocery bag are passed into the annular groove as previously described, and the assembly of bag and handle grasped in the hand and lifted, to be carried away. However, to improve the ability to prevent disengagement and also to provide slightly more bearing circumference, the loop handles may be twisted 180 degrees before being inserted into the grooves.

To release the handle, the loops are simply lifted out of the annular grooves.

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 may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A handle for lifting and carrying a grocery bag comprising: a. an elongated bar adapted for being gripped by a human hand, andb. first and second knobs each being radially larger than said bar, andeach knob having first and second portions attached together by a rod proximate the centers of the knob portions and extending from the first portion to the second portion, said rod having a diameter less than said bar, and each knob assembly axially attached to an end of said bar,c. whereby, said rod separates said first and second portions of the knob thus forming an annular slot for receiving therein at least one loop handle of a bag, andd. thereby, said knobs, in cooperation with said gripping bar, comprise a handle adapted for lifting and carrying a shopping bag by a human hand.

15. The handle of claim 14 where the gripping bar is generally cylindrical in shape and where the bar's central portion has a larger diameter than the bar's end portions.

16. The handle of claim 14 where the gripping bar, knobs, annular slots, and joining means are symmetrical about a common axis.

17. The handle of claim 14 where the annular slots are adapted to retain said loop handles of a bag within said slot by friction.

18. The handle of claim 14 where the annular slots between the knob portions have essentially parallel sides.

19. The handle of claim 14 where the width of the annular slots between the knob portions are 1/8 to 3/16 inch.

20. The handle of claim 14 where the annular slots between knob portions have essentially parallel sides and terminating in an enlarged slot portion at the bottom of the slot adjacent to said attaching rod.

21. A handle for lilting and carrying a bag comprising: a. first and second knobs attached to the ends of an elongated round bar, said bar being adapted for gripping by a human hand, andb. each knob further comprising inner and outer portions, said inner portion being attached to said elongated bar, and said outer portion connected by an axial rod extending between spaced apart said inner and outer portions, thereby creating an annular slot for receiving the handle of a bag, and.c. each knob is radially larger than said gripping bar.d. wherein each slot is adapted to receive the loop handle of a shopping bag.

22. The handle of claim 21 where said gripping bar, said knobs, and said rod are circular in cross section and in axial alignment.

23. The handle of claim 14 where the annular slots between knob portions have essentially parallel sides and terminating in an enlarged slot portion at the bottom of the slot adjacent to said attaching rod.

24. A handle for lifting and carrying a grocery bag comprising: a. a round, elongated bar adapted to be received by a human hand, where said bar has an a longitudinal axis of symmetry, andb. first and second knobs are attached to said bar in axial alignment with said longitudinal axis, andc. each of first and second knobs being a larger diameter than said bar and each knob having a annular slot therein dividing each knob into two parts connected by a cylindrical rod, andd. wherein each slot is adapted to receive and enclose at least one handles of a bag for lifting and carrying said bag.