U.S. patent application number 12/045854 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for device for carrying bags without the use of hands.
Invention is credited to John Chris Fragale.
Application Number | 20090033110 12/045854 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40337408 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090033110 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fragale; John Chris |
February 5, 2009 |
DEVICE FOR CARRYING BAGS WITHOUT THE USE OF HANDS
Abstract
A bag carrying device that allows an individual to carry
multiple retail store style plastic bags and/or any other type of
bags with handles so the bags can be carried hands-free to allow a
person to use keys or carry other items with their hands without
dropping the bags. It is preferably made of light weight plastic
and comfortably fits over the individual's shoulder. The "U" shape
conforms to or rests on the shoulder with each side running down to
form a generally V-shaped or J-shaped hook where the bags are
seated. The bags are secured with a button extending from each leg
that engages a slotted aperture within the end of the V-shaped or
J-shaped hook. The part that drapes over the shoulder can include a
cushion portion attached to it for comfort.
Inventors: |
Fragale; John Chris; (Palm
Harbor, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNIS G. LAPOINTE;LAPOINTE LAW GROUP, PL
PO BOX 1294
TARPON SPRINGS
FL
34688-1294
US
|
Family ID: |
40337408 |
Appl. No.: |
12/045854 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11830094 |
Jul 30, 2007 |
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12045854 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
294/26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20130101; A45F
2003/142 20130101; A45F 2005/1033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
294/26 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/00 20060101
A45C013/00 |
Claims
1. A bag carrying device comprising: a generally U-shaped elongate
member having its generally U-shaped portion located near a center
thereof and being formed to rest on a person's shoulder; each lower
end of each leg of said U-shaped elongate member having an upwardly
directed hook portion formed to insert handles of bags to be
carried by said device, said hook portions being sufficiently
flexible so as to bend an end portion of said hook portion toward
said leg; and means for securing said end portion of said hook
portion with said leg portion of said device, wherein said means
for securing said end portion of said hook portion with said leg
portion comprises a formed button or clip extending from a surface
of said leg portion, said formed button or clip being located so as
to be engageable with a corresponding aperture in said end portion
of said hook portion, said aperture being configured to facilitate
an easy entry of said button or clip through said aperture and said
aperture further being configured to interlock with said button or
clip by a sliding engagement of a narrow portion of said aperture
behind said button or clip.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said generally U-shaped
elongate member and said hook portions are made from a polymeric
based material.
3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising: cushion
means for providing a cushioning effect between a person's shoulder
and said U-shaped portion of said elongate member.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/830,094 filed Jul. 30, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a bag carrying device that allows
an individual to carry multiple retail store bags or any other
types of bags with handles from a store to a car or from a car to a
residence or any instance where multiple bags need to be carried
from one location to another, and in particular, this invention
relates to a carrying device used to carry and contain multiple
bags without the use of hands.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In North America and much of the world, plastic bags have
become one of the most popular types of bag used to carry
merchandise. For example, when groceries are packed into the bags,
there are usually more than one bag to carry, and they become
difficult and awkward to handle. A light weight comfortable device
that can be draped over the shoulder will allow a customer to carry
multiple plastic bags comfortably without the use of their hands.
This will save the customer time from repeated trips when carrying,
loading, transporting and unloading one or more bags.
[0004] The following are prior art devices that address the issue
of carrying and transporting multiple plastic bags.
[0005] The plastic grocery carrying device disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,824,182 to Graham, is a bag carrying device that will allow
an individual to carry and contain multiple plastic grocery bags
with the use of one hand comfortably. The bag carrying device is
lightweight, compact and can be stored in a handbag or pant pocket.
The bag carrying device is comprised of a horizontal tubular shaped
handle. The horizontal handle will be covered with a soft foam hand
grip. The inside of the tubular shaped handle is hollow allowing a
flexible connecting member to be inserted directly through the
center of the tubular handle extending and tapering downward and
adjoining to a fastening device with a safety gate. The fastening
device with a safety gate will allow the user to attach and remove
multiple plastic grocery bags with ease preventing the user from
having to attach one bag at a time or balance bags on separate
hooks.
[0006] The carrying member disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,059 to
Parry et al., is constructed of an injection molded polypropylene
material. The carrying member is comprised of an upper gripping
portion, the ends of which continue into outside portions,
extending downward to a lower bag handle receiving region. The
lower receiving region is used to carry one or more plastic bags by
slipping them up through a gap and fitting them onto two support
arms. A problem associated with this prior art is having to balance
an equal number of bags on each support arm to insure proper
balance. When carrying only one bag you must separate the
individual handle portions of the bag and fit them individually on
the two support arms balancing the load at the middle of the
carrying member.
[0007] The bag carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,052 to Van
Davelaar, is a flat design comprised of a horizontal upper handle
section, connected to a horizontal lower hook support section by
connecting vertical members. Multiple hooks on the bag carrier
allow for bags to be attached or removed from the carrier. A
problem associated with this prior art device is the time consuming
task of attaching each bag to a separate hook and then removing
each bag from a separate hook when using this device. The device is
also constructed of a rigid material, which does not completely
eliminate the stress put directly on the fingers.
[0008] No device is known however, that can be used to carry
multiple plastic grocery store bags comfortably, using a cushioned
covered handle and a single fastening device with a quick release
safety gate that allows the user to attach multiple bags quickly
and easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is provides for a carrying device that
facilitates the carrying of multiple bags commonly found in
supermarkets, discount stores, drug stores, or any other industry
using plastic bags or bags with handles. The invention allows a
customer to carry multiple bags without using their hands
eliminating the awkwardness of using the fingers, hands, and
forearms. The device drapes over the shoulder leaving the hands
free for other functions like manipulating a set of keys, carrying
children, leading pets, etc. The inventive device will keep the
bags grouped together and organized, allowing the customer to
easily carry them, load them into the automobile, transport them in
the automobile, and unload the bags when leaving the automobile. It
is lightweight and can be easily stored in the car or elsewhere
when not in use. The foregoing can be accomplished by providing a
carrying device that is lightweight with an optional comfortable
cushion for comfortable draping over the shoulder. The device also
contains generally V-shaped or J-shaped hooks and fastening devices
such as slider clips or buttons extending from the strap portion,
which engage with a keyhole shaped slot or aperture, to secure
commonly used plastic bags and other types of bags with handles. In
the context of the invention, generally "V-shaped" or generally
"J-shaped" are synonymous in that the lower ends of the side legs
of the U-shaped device have appendages that turn or bend and extend
upwardly to form a hook portion to capture and hold the bag
handles. The bend should not be so sharp as to create a stress
point that will cause the device to fail at the turn point. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the device is
made of light weight plastic. It drapes over the shoulder and
optionally has a thin cushion attached to it for comfort. The hook
portions are then secured to the body of the device with light
weight slider clips that slide down to lock the hooks in place,
thereby securing the bags within the upwardly directed hook
portions. As mentioned above, a button that is configured to engage
a slot or aperture at the end of the generally V-shaped or J-shaped
portion of the invention can also be used as a preferred securement
method for the bags. In this case, the means for securing the end
portion of the hook portion with the leg portion comprises a formed
button or clip extending from a surface of the leg portion. The
formed button is located so as to be engageable with a
corresponding aperture in the end portion of the hook portion. The
aperture is also configured to facilitate an easy entry of the
button through the aperture (an aperture portion that is slightly
larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the button). The
aperture is also configured to interlock with the button or clip by
a sliding engagement of a narrower portion of the aperture behind
the button. As mentioned above, the button may also be in the form
of a clip that enters through the aperture and engages with the
upper end of the aperture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the accompanying drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of one embodiment of
the present invention in use;
[0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1 with the bag carrying hook area in an open position;
[0013] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1 with the bag carrying hook area in a closed position ready
for securement with the slidable clip;
[0014] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1 with the bag carrying hook area in a closed position and
secured with the slidable clip;
[0015] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3B is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
3A;
[0017] FIG. 3C is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A;
and
[0018] FIG. 3D is a cross-section view of the U-shaped portion with
a longitudinal rib along a generally central line of the upper
surface of the U-shaped portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C, which
conceptually disclose an example of the present invention, which is
a bag carrying device comprising a generally U-shaped elongate
member 10 having its generally U-shaped portion 12 located near a
center thereof and being formed to rest on a person's shoulder.
Each lower end of each leg 14 of the U-shaped elongate member 10
has an upwardly directed hook portion 16 formed to insert handles
of bags to be carried by the device. The hook portions 16 are
sufficiently flexible so as to bend an end portion 16a of the hook
portion 16 toward the adjoining leg 14.
[0020] The device includes means 18 for securing the end portion
16a of the hook portion 16 with the leg portion 14 of the device.
Although there are several methods known in the art on how to
provide such securement means 18, one preferred method is to
provide for a sliding fastening clip member 18a sized and
configured to slide along the leg 14 and engage the end portion 16a
of the hook portion 16 for preventing bags 22 being carried from
falling out of the hook portion 16.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, cushioning 20 may be applied to
an inside surface of or around the U-shaped portion 12 of the
elongate member 10. This feature will provide a cushioning effect
between a person's shoulder and the U-shaped portion 12.
[0022] The device, including the generally U-shaped elongate member
12 and the hook portions 16 are preferably made from a light weight
polymeric based material, also common referred to as plastic
material. Other materials including combination of cloth, leather
and plastic and metal materials can be used. For example, the
elongate member could be cloth or leather material with an attached
hook portion that is made from plastic or metal materials.
[0023] As an example, a bag carrying device according to the
present invention could include a 15 inch high by 8 inch wide
frame, made from a relatively durable molded PVC or poly-plastic
material. The U-shaped portion 12 of the shoulder formed resting
area would have a generally soft cushion 20 that could be made of
foam material. The cushion 20 could be an adhesively applied strip
for comfort or a cushion that is around the U-shaped portion 12 but
encapsulated with a sewn vinyl or cloth material. On each leg 14,
there is a 2 inch wide plastic slider clip serving as a fastening
device, which allows a safety gate that opens and closes the hooked
ends to secure the plastic bags. Of course, the dimensional sizes
and forms can be varied according to the desires of the
manufacturer.
[0024] A shown in FIGS. 3A-3D, another embodiment of the invention
10 includes a suggested different method or means 18 of securing
the ends of the V-shaped or J-shaped portions to the corresponding
legs 14 of the U-shaped portion 12. In this case, a button like
portion 18b extending from the leg surface 14 is configured to
engage a mating aperture 18c in the hook portion end 16a. Aperture
18c may be made in the form of a keyhole to facilitate the button
18b entry through the aperture 18c at which point the aperture 18c
has a narrower slotted portion that engages behind the button 18b
when the hook portion 16 is pulled slightly downward. Equivalent
structure for the button 18b may be the incorporation of a clip
form where the clip form engages with the narrower slotted portion
of the aperture 18c.
[0025] Further, the generally U-shaped portion 12 may also include
an integrated rib portion 24 running longitudinally along a
generally central line of the upper surface of the U-shaped portion
12.
[0026] In use, the bag carrying device will allow for an individual
to carry multiple plastic grocery type bags 22 comfortably without
hands leaving the hand or hands available to open and close doors,
carry children, hold umbrellas, manipulate keys, hold pets, and
carry other objects.
[0027] When transporting the bags 22 in an automobile, the device
can contain all the bags in one area and prevent the bags from
sliding and shifting. This makes it faster and easier to gather
bags upon departure of the automobile.
[0028] Finally, the bag carrying device can also carry other types
of bags like handbags, briefcases, and any other bags with
handles.
[0029] It should be understood that the preceding is merely a
detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention
and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made
in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description,
therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *