A HANDLE DEVICEThis invention relates to a device for attaching to a pair of handles of a bag, for example the handles of carrier bags, such as the plastics carrier bags and paper carrier bags routinely provided by many supermarket chains.
Most people, at one time or another, will have been exposed to the discomfort and inconvenience associated with carrying large numbers of items of shopping away from a supermarket in a number of carrier bags of the plastics or paper variety. A major source of discomfort is the tendency of the handle of the bag, which is often of a relatively thin material, to cut into the fingers when the bag is heavily loaded. In addition to the discomfort aspect, another not inconsiderable source of annoyance and inconvenience is caused by the tendency of such bags, unless perfectly packed, to spill out their contents when placed down on a surface, for example on the floor, or in the boot of a car. These problems are exacerbated when the shopper attempts to carry more than one bag in each hand, as is often the case.
An object of the present invention is to provide a means of overcoming the aforesaid disadvantages, and in particular to reduce the discomfort associated with the use of carrier bags.
A further object is to provide a means of preventing carrier bags from spilling their contents when placed on a surface. A still further object is to provide a means of securing carrier bags together to enable a plurality of such bags to be carried simultaneously.
Accordingly, the invention provides a device for attaching to a pair of handles on a bag, auxh a the handles of a carrier bag, the device comprising a body arranged to fit around at least a portion of each of the handles of the bag so as to hold the handles together, the body having an outer surface for gripping by the hand of a user.
Preferably, the body has extending along an upper portion thereof, a channel for accommodating the said portions of the andles.
The channel conveniently is approximately U-shaped in cross section.
Preferably, the device comprises a central elongate portion which in use is generally parallel to the plane of the mouth of the bag, the central elongate portion having extending from the ends thereof generally downwardly depending portions around which the channel extends.
Preferably, the elongate central portion and the downwardly depending portions together are in the general form of an elongate "C" shape.
The underside of the body of the device preferably is provided with finger grips to prevent the handles from sliding in the user's hands.
In one embodiment, the channel is configured to define means for retaining the handles of the bag within the said channel. The retaining means can comprise, for example, a pair of confronting, inwardly projecting ridges along opposing side walls of the channel. The projecting ridges may extend along the entire length of the channel, but preferably they extend along only a portion of the channel.
The device is preferably formed from a suitable plastics material and preferably has sufficient resilience that the clearance between the confronting ridges can be temporarily increased to facilitate passage of the handles therebetween and into the channel. In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the confronting ridges are each provided with an inclined upper surface, such that the two said upper surfaces define a guide groove of "V" shaped cross section, which serves to guide the handles of the bag between the ridges and into the channel.
The invention will now be illustrated in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings of which:Figure 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the invention,Figure 2 shows a view in section along Line A-A ofFigure 1, and Figure 3 shows a sectional view along Line B-B inFigure 2.
Referring now to the Figures, it can be seen that the device comprises a body portion 1 which, in this embodiment, is formed of a plastics material of a type which can readily be injection-moulded. The body is approximately in the form of an elongate "C" and is shaped so as to fit beneath the handle portions or loops of a typical carrier bag, for example a plastics carrier bag of the type produced by many supermarket chains. Extending around the outer edge of the "C" shape is a deep-walled groove or channel 2, bounded by side walls 3. The groove or channel is designed to accommodate the handle portions or loops of the carrier bag.
For example, where the handle is defined by a cut-out portion in the side walls of a plastic carrier bag, the body will fit within the cut-out, such that the upper edge and adjoining parts of the side edges of the cut-out are accommodated within the channel. Along the central portion of the channel or groove, the side walls 3 are each provided with inwardly projecting ridges 4 which each have an outwardly inclined upper surface 5 and a corresponding inclined lower surface 6, surfaces 5 and 6 adjoining to define an edge 7. The parallel ridges 4 act as a means of releasably retaining the handle portions of the bags within the grooves. In order to fulfill their function of retaining the handle portions of the bag within the channel, the parallel ridges 4 may be formed such that in a rest position, they are in contact, or the clearance between them is relatively small.The body 1 will typically be made of a plastics material which is sufficiently resilient, that the clearance between the confronting edges 7 can be increased temporarily to facilitate passage of the handle portion therebetween and into the channel beneath, but will spring back subsequently to reduce the clearance. The passage of the handle portions or loops of the carrier bag through into the channel is facilitated by the inclined surfaces 5 which together form aV-shaped (in cross section) guide groove. Inclined surfaces beneath the edge 7 serve a similar function, in this case they serve to guide the handle portion or loops out of the channel between the confronting ridges, in order to remove the handle grips from the carrier bag.
The lower surface 8 of the body 1, ie the inner surface of the "C"-shape is formed so as to provide finger grooves 9 which make the handle more comfortable to hold and prevent it from slipping in the shopper's hand.
The handle grip illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 may conveniently be made from moulded plastics materials by a simple injection-moulding process. For example, the grip may be injection-moulded in two parts (eg halves) and then secured together to complete the handle grip, for example by means of complementary lugs and recesses on the two halves, or by means of adhesive or an appropriate welding technique.
The advantages of the handle grip of the invention are numerous. Thus, by providing a larger gripping area, the problem of discomfort arising from the tendency of carrier bags to cut into the fingers of the user, is eliminated.
Moreover, since both handles on a carrier bag may be inserted into a single handle grip, the handle grip provides a means of closing the bag and preventing the contents from spilling out when a bag is placed down on a surface. A further advantage is that the size of the channel can be designed to accommodate more than one pair of handles; for examples it can be be designed to accommodate the handles from two, three or even more carrier bags. Thus the user can carry a plurality of carrier bags in one hand in relative comfort, and moreover, when the plurality of bags are placed on to a surface, the bags are held together and the tendency for them to fall over and disgorge their contents is significantly reduced. A further advantage of the carrier groups of the present invention is that they can be fitted and removed very quickly and, when not in use, they are small enough to keep in the pocket or handbag of the user.
The foregoing description of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is by way of illustration only, and it will be apparent that one can modify the handle grip in numerous ways without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications are intended to be embraced by this application.