Abstract:
The present application is directed to a bag carrying device. In particular, the present application is directed to a plastic bag carrying device having a plastic bag handle holder designed to hold several plastic bag handles attached to an ergonomic handle designed for easy carrying. The bag carrying device can be used to carry groceries packed in a plastic bag without cutting in to the flesh of the person carrying the bags or cutting off the circulation to the same. The bag carrying device is designed to allow for easy plastic bag handle attachment and at the same time prevent the plastic handles from slipping off of the bag carrying device. The bag carrying device can be used to keep the grocery bags together during transportation so as to not allow the groceries to spill all over the back seat or trunk of the car.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of carrying devices used to assist a person in carrying more than one plastic bag at one time without injury. In particular, the carrying device is designed to be small enough to fit into a pocket or purse that can be taken out and used when picking up plastic shopping bags full of groceries when making a trip to the store. The carrying bag device does not only make the carrying of several shopping bags easier than without the device but it reduces the chances that the person carrying the bags will injure his or her hands when carrying several plastic bags full of groceries from the car to the house. The invention also relates to a carrying device structurally adapted to be used in the medical field to carry bags of plasma, blood, saline solutions or any other type of fluid containing bags.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     One task that almost every person in the civilized world performs on weekly and sometimes daily bases is making a trip to the store to purchase groceries. Many of the stores provide plastic shopping bags to pack the purchased items in so that the customer can transport the items home. Even when paper bags are used to pack the groceries, the clerk often places the paper bags into plastic bags so as to allow the customer to carry more than one bag in each hand.  
         [0003]     Plastic bags are usually stronger than paper bags and allow the customer to bunch several plastic bag handles onto his/her fingers allowing the person to carry multiple bags out of the store. Since most people want to get this choir over with as soon as possible, many shoppers bunch six or seven handles onto their fingers in an effort to get all of the bags where they belong in as few as trips as possible. Many times the weight of the bags cut off the circulation to the fingers, cut into the fingers of the holder and/or cause cartilage damage. Even though it hurts and is detrimental to the shopper&#39;s well being, the shopping community repeats this act over and over again causing more and more damage to their hands/fingers.  
         [0004]     The bag carrying device available on the market today does not lock the plastic bag handles in place once attached so that when the bags are placed in the trunk or backseat of a car for transportation the bags slip out of the carrying device allowing the bags to spill all over the car as they are transported home. Also if a person using the carrying devices available on the market today is walking home from the store with groceries and puts the bags down to rest, most if not all of the bags will become undone from the handle, possible spilling groceries onto the street but at the very least the person would have to place the bags back onto the device.  
         [0005]     What is needed is a bag carrying device that 1) allows a shopper to easily attach the handles of plastic bags filled with heavy items such as groceries 2) has an ergonomic handle for easy carrying of the attached bags without the risk of injury and 3) once the bags are attached the bags stay attached until released by the shopper preventing any unwanted spills. The handle should be designed so as to allow for the even distribution of weight which will prevent finger/hand strain as well as the loss of circulation and/or skin contusions to the hands/fingers of the shopper.  
         [0006]     The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the carrying devices available on the market today as well as providing additional benefits.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention is directed to a carrying handle for articles such as plastic shopping bags, and/or medical solution bags such as intravenous bags containing sucrose, saline, plasma, whole blood and/or medicine infused solutions. The carrying handle can also be used to carry any other bag or item that could be carried in quantity.  
         [0008]     The carrying handle comprises a handgrip portion, hook portion, and a locking means for preventing bag handles from coming dislodged from the handle before it is desired that they become dislodged. The handgrip, at the simplest level, comprises a closed loop having a hand passage therethrough. In another embodiment of the invention, the handgrip may have an ergonomic shape defined by an upper edge and a lower edge that can either be covered by a removable or permanent padded covering.  
         [0009]     The hook portion of the carrying handle can be designed so as to have an upwardly turned distal end and a wide article support area in direct communication with the handgrip portion. In other words, the handgrip portion and the hook portion are designed so as to act as one unit whereby when the handgrip portion of the carrying handle is lifted; the hook portion of the carrying handle is also lifted.  
         [0010]     The carrying handle is also fitted with a locking means for preventing articles placed into the wide article support area from accidentally falling out during transportation of the items from one place to the other.  
         [0011]     The carrying handle of the present invention can be of either have a unitary solid construction or constructed from several welded components. Regardless of whether the carrying handle of the present invention is made from several components or is poured as one unit the carrying handle should be made from sturdy material selected from the group consisting essentially of plastic, metal, alloy material, composite material, resin and man-made material.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment of the present invention the handgrip of the carrying handle for articles comprising a surface area for placing indicia such as the logo or trade name of a supermarket or business. The carrying handle may also have a handgrip that is engravable so that the logo or trade name of the supermarket or business can be engraved. In still another embodiment of the invention the handgrip of the carrying handle for articles comprises a surface area for placing indicia that further comprises a means for attaching a nameplate.  
         [0013]     In still another embodiment of the invention, the carrying handle for articles further comprises a ring for attaching keys. The carrying handle for articles may also comprise a store identification tag and/or a shopper identification store card that stores frequently provide so as to earn additional savings. The store/shopper identification can be a UPC identification tag that can be scanned to indicate the shopper&#39;s identification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0014]      FIG. 1 :  
         [0015]     ( 10 ) Carrying Handle Device  
         [0016]     ( 15 ) Article Support Area  
         [0017]     ( 20 ) Hook Portion  
         [0018]     ( 25 ) Passage Through  
         [0019]     ( 30 ) Handgrip  
         [0020]     ( 35 ) Locking Means  
         [0021]     ( 40 ) Release for Locking Means  
         [0022]     ( 45 ) Upwardly Turned Distal End  
         [0023]     ( 50 ) Upper Edge  
         [0024]     ( 55 ) Lower Edge  
         [0025]      FIG. 2 :  
         [0026]     ( 100 ) Carrying Handle Device  
         [0027]     ( 105 ) Hook Portion  
         [0028]     ( 110 ) Article Support Area  
         [0029]     ( 115 ) Ergonormic Handgrip  
         [0030]     ( 120 ) Name Plate  
         [0031]     ( 125 ) Upwardly Turned Distal End  
         [0032]     ( 130 ) Locking Means  
         [0033]     ( 135 ) Release for Locking Means  
         [0034]     ( 140 ) Handgrip  
         [0035]     ( 145 ) Clips for Attaching Name Plate  
         [0036]      FIG. 3 :  
         [0037]     ( 200 ) Carrying Handle Device  
         [0038]     ( 205 ) Clips for Attaching Name Plate  
         [0039]     ( 210 ) Name Plate  
         [0040]     ( 215 ) Locking Means  
         [0041]     ( 220 ) Release for Locking Means  
         [0042]     ( 225 ) Upwardly Turned Distal End  
         [0043]     ( 230 ) Store/Shopper Identification Plate  
         [0044]     ( 235 ) Article Support Area  
         [0045]     ( 240 ) Hook Portion  
         [0046]     ( 245 ) Key Ring/Belt Loop Attachment  
         [0047]     ( 250 ) Ergonomic Handgrip  
         [0048]     ( 255 ) Engravable Area 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0049]     The invention described herein is directed to a carrying handle device that can be used to carry articles that can either cause injury to the bare hand when carried as a bunch or articles that are usually carried in numbers. For example, shopping bags are usually carried in numbers. Carrying several shopping bags at one time is made easier with the carrying handle device than without the device. Not only does the carrying device make it easier than without the device, using the device reduces the chances that the person carrying the bags will injure his or her hands when carrying several plastic bags full of groceries from the car to the house. The invention also relates to a carrying device structurally adapted to be used in the medical field to carry bags of plasma, blood, saline solutions or any other type of fluid containing bags.  FIG. 1-3  illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention,  
         [0050]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the carrying handle of the present invention. The carrying device ( 10 ) of the present invention comprises a handgrip ( 30 ), a hook portion ( 20 ) and a locking means ( 35 ). The handgrip ( 30 ) has a passage through ( 25 ) that the user can position his/her hand in to lift the device. The passage through ( 25 ) should be large enough so as to fit both large and small hands so that the device is one size fits all. The passage through ( 25 ) has an upper edge ( 50 ) that may or may not be padded and a lower edge ( 55 ) that must be smooth so as not to be abrasive to the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0051]     The second main portion of the device is the hook portion ( 20 ). The hook portion ( 20 ) has an article support area ( 15 ) where the items to be carried rest when being carried. For this reason alone, it is very important that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tare any of the articles being carried. The hook portion ( 20 ) of the device has a locking means ( 35 ) that spans across the space where the items to be carried are placed between the hand grip ( 30 ) and the upwardly turned distal end ( 45 ) of the hook portion ( 20 ). The locking means ( 35 ) is designed so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slip through the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip pass the locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action is taken. For example, attached to the locking means ( 35 ) is a release for locking means ( 40 ) that when pressed opens the locking means ( 35 ) and allows the items being held in this portion of the carrying handle to be released. Alternative locking mechanisms can be used that will achieve the same desired effect clearly fall within the scope of the present invention and are anticipated to be part of the present invention.  
         [0052]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention having a nameplate area. The carrying device ( 100 ) of the present invention comprises a handgrip ( 140 ), a hook portion ( 105 ) and a locking means ( 130 ). Unlike the handgrip of the embodiment illustrated in the  FIG. 1  the handgrip ( 140 ) does not have a passage through. Instead, the handgrip ( 140 ) is a solid piece that the user can position his/her hand around to grip the handle and lift the device. The solid piece should be small enough that a small hand can fit around but large enough for structural integrity. The handgrip ( 140 ) may or may not be padded so as not to be abrasive to the user&#39;s hand. The handgrip ( 140 ) can also be designed to have an area that ergonomically fits the contour of the user&#39;s hand ( 115 ).  
         [0053]     The second main portion of the device is the hook portion ( 105 ). The hook portion ( 105 ) has an article support area ( 110 ) where the items to be carried rest when being carried. For this reason alone, it is very important that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tare any of the articles being carried. The hook portion ( 105 ) of the device has a locking means ( 130 ) that spans across the space where the items to be carried are placed between the handgrip ( 140 ) and the upwardly turned distal end ( 125 ) of the hook portion ( 105 ). The locking means ( 135 ) is designed so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slip through the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip pass the locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action is taken.  
         [0054]     The major difference between the embodiment described by  FIG. 1  and the embodiment described by  FIG. 2  is the reconfiguration of the handgrip ( 140 ) to include an area for a nameplate ( 120 ). The nameplate ( 120 ) could either be a corporate name or more likely a supermarket name that sold or gave away the carrying handle device ( 100 ). The nameplate area of the carrying handle device ( 100 ) there can be fitted with a series of clips for attaching different nameplates so that the same mold can be used to produce the device and a particular nameplate ( 120 ) snapped into the nameplate area via the clips. The alternative way of producing the carrying handle device ( 100 ) is to manufacture the device without the nameplate and once the nameplate is produced glue the nameplate in place to make the personalized carrying handle device ( 100 ). It is well understood that one skilled in the art of manufacturing devices of this type would use available techniques in manufacturing to produce the devices efficiently. It is anticipated that these techniques can and will be used to manufacture the carrying handle devices of the present invention.  
         [0055]      FIG. 3  illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  has all of the features of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  with an additional inscribable/printable area ( 230 ) and a key ring/belt loop attachment ( 245 ).  
         [0056]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention having an additional inscribable/printable area ( 230 ) and a key ring/belt loop attachment ( 245 ). The carrying device ( 200 ) of the present invention comprises a handgrip ( 260 ), a hook portion ( 240 ) and a locking means ( 215 ). Like the handgrip of the embodiment illustrated in the  FIG. 2  the handgrip ( 260 ) does not have a passage through. The handgrip ( 260 ) is a solid piece that the user can position his/her hand around to grip the handle and lift the device. The solid piece should be small enough that a small hand can fit around but large enough for structural integrity. The handgrip ( 260 ) may or may not be padded so as not to be abrasive to the user&#39;s hand. The handgrip ( 260 ) can also be designed to have an area that ergonomically fits the contour of the user&#39;s hand ( 250 ).  
         [0057]     The second main portion of the device is the hook portion ( 240 ). The hook portion ( 240 ) has an article support area ( 235 ) where the items to be carried rest when being carried. As stated above, it is very important that this portion of the device be smooth so as not to tare any of the articles being carried. The hook portion ( 240 ) of the device has a locking means ( 215 ) that spans across the space where the items to be carried are placed between the handgrip ( 260 ) and the upwardly turned distal end ( 225 ) of the hook portion ( 240 ). The locking means ( 215 ) is designed so that items to be carried like plastic bags can easily slip through the locking means in the “in” direction but can not slip pass the locking means in the “out” direction unless some specific action is taken.  
         [0058]     The handgrip ( 260 ) of  FIG. 3  includes an area for a nameplate ( 210 ). The nameplate ( 210 ) could either be a corporate name or more likely a supermarket name that sold or gave away the carrying handle device ( 200 ). The nameplate area of the carrying handle device ( 200 ) there can be fitted with a series of clips for attaching different nameplates so that the same mold can be used to produce the device and a particular nameplate ( 205 ) snapped into the nameplate area via the clips. The alternative way of producing the carrying handle device ( 200 ) is to manufacture the device without the nameplate and once the nameplate is produced glue the nameplate in place to make the personalized carrying handle device ( 200 ). It is well understood that one skilled in the art of manufacturing devices of this type would use available techniques in manufacturing to produce the devices efficiently. It is anticipated that these techniques can and will be used to manufacture the carrying handle devices of the present invention.  
         [0059]     For example, attached to the locking means ( 135 ) is a release for locking means ( 40 ) that when pressed opens the locking means ( 35 ) and allows the items being held in this portion of the carrying handle to be released. Alternative locking mechanisms can be used that will achieve the same desired effect clearly fall within the scope of the present invention and are anticipated to be part of the present invention.  
         [0060]     As stated above, the carrying handle device ( 200 ) would have an additional inscribable area that can be used to display a shopper identification code such as a UCP code. This way a shopper would have additional reasons to use the carrying handle device ( 200 ) other than carrying shopping bags out of the store. In other words, a shopper would always have their shopper code handy so that they can take advantage of any programs the store may have associated with such a code by having the device with them. Having a key ring/belt loop would also permit additional uses of the device and would help assure that the shopper would return to the same store since they have their shopper codes at hand at all times.  
         [0061]     While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to specific illustrative embodiments and modes of practice, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrative embodiments and modes of practice.