Detachable shopping bag handle

A detachable shopping bag handle comprising: a flexible member having a padded portion, and a fastening mechanism for fastening the flexible member about a handle of a shopping bag. The flexible member includes a first and second surface and is preferably constructed from a woven fabric material such as cotton. The padded portion is preferably enclosed between layers of the woven fabric and stitched into place in a quilted fashion. The fastening mechanism includes a first and second section of hook and pile type fastener. The first section is attached to the first surface of the flexible member. The second section is attached to the second surface. The first and second sections are located at opposite ends of the flexible member. The flexible member may also include an eyelet member and/or a pocket member attached to the second surface of the flexible member.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to devices for carrying shopping bags having 
flexible handles and more particularly to devices for carrying shopping 
bags having flexible handles that include a cushioned surface for 
supporting the flexible handles. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Shopping for large numbers of items can be a tiring experience. In addition 
to long lines and slow service, carrying the already purchased items in 
the shopping bag provided can be difficult and often impossible for people 
with hand disorders such as arthritis. The flexible handles provided on 
most flexible shopping bags can dig into unprotected hands leaving painful 
and unsightly marks. It would be a benefit, therefore, to have a personal 
handle, which could be carried with the shopper and detachably affixed to 
the existing handles of a shopping bag, that would eliminate the 
occurrence of these painful unsightly marks. 
The following patents are illustrative of various attempts made to solve 
this problem. 
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U.S. Pat. No. Inventor 
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5,257,845 McConnell 
5,199,758 Hewell 
5,005,891 Lunsford 
3,913,172 Richards 
Des. 329,973 Schuttings 
Des. 314,150 Preciutti 
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McConnell discloses a detachable hand grip for carrying bags and the like 
that includes a flexible flat body having a slit extending from each end 
for receiving the flexible handles of a shopping bag. 
Hewell discloses a rigid carrier apparatus for carrying packages formed in 
the configuration of a tubular body having opposite ends and a slot 
spiraling through the body between the opposite ends. 
Lunsford discloses a bag handle apparatus comprising a thin sheet of 
semi-rigid flexible material having a locking tab formed on one end, and a 
locking slot formed in a second end of the sheet. The locking tab 
lockingly engages the locking slot to hold the bag handle apparatus in a 
generally arcuate shape about one or more bag handles. 
Richards discloses an elongated block including a longitudinal channel 
therein opening outwardly of one longitudinal side of the block as well as 
its opposite ends. The channel may receive rope or equivalent shopping bag 
handles therein and a closure panel extending longitudinally of the block 
is provided for closing channel. 
Schuttings discloses a handle for shopping bags having a contoured finger 
grip. Preciutti discloses a carrying handle for grocery bags having a 
slotted section for receiving individual bag handles and an elastic band 
for securing the handles within each slot. 
All of the above mentioned devices include rigid or semi-rigid elements 
which may come into contact with the bag handle and cause the bag handle 
to break. In addition, because of the rigid nature of these devices they 
can be uncomfortable to store and carry when not in use. It would be 
desirable, therefore, to have a detachable shopping bag handle which did 
not include any rigid parts in contact with the shopping bag handle and 
which was comfortably stored and carried within a pocket when not in use. 
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION 
It is thus an object of the invention to provide a detachable shopping bag 
handle that will not add greater stress to the handle of the shopping bag. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a detachable shopping 
bag handle that has a thick cushioned pad to protect the hands and fingers 
of the user. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a detachable 
shopping bag handle that has a mechanism for attaching keys and the like 
to facilitate entry into a locked building. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a detachable 
shopping bag handle that may be easily and thoroughly cleaned. 
Accordingly, a detachable shopping bag handle is provided. The detachable 
shopping bag handle composes: a flexible member having a padded portion, 
and a fastening mechanism for fastening the flexible member about a handle 
of a shopping bag. The flexible member includes a first and second surface 
and is preferably constructed from a woven fabric material such as cotton. 
The flexible member is preferably substantially rectangular or oblong in 
shape having a length between six and ten inches and a width between four 
and eight inches. 
The padded portion is preferably enclosed between layers of the woven 
fabric and stitched into place in a quilted fashion. The padded portion 
must cover a central portion of the flexible member but may be of 
substantially the same size as the flexible member. The padded portion is 
preferably constructed from about 1/2" thick fiberfill. 
The fastening mechanism includes a first and second section of hook and 
pile type fastener. The first section is attached to the first surface of 
the flexible member. The second section is attached to the second surface. 
The first and second sections are located at opposite ends of the flexible 
member. It is preferred that the first and second sections extend 
substantially the entire width of the flexible member and that each 
section be located between one-half and one and one-half inches from the 
perimeter of the flexible member. 
In a preferred embodiment, the flexible member further includes an eyelet 
member having an aperture therethrough of sufficient dimensions to allow a 
ring member to pass therethrough. When the flexible member includes an 
eyelet member, a ring member may also be provided and installed through 
the aperture. The ring member should be of the type adapted to pass 
through a hole formed in a base portion of a key. 
In another preferred embodiment, the flexible member further includes a 
pocket member attached to the second surface of the flexible member. The 
pocket member may be a patch type pocket and may include a flap section 
for retaining items within the pocket.

EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the detachable shopping bag 
handle of the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10. In 
this embodiment, handle 10 includes a flexible member 12, a fastening 
mechanism 14, an eyelet member 16, and a pocket member 18. 
Flexible member 12 is constructed from two, 6".times.8" sections of denim 
cloth which are rounded at the corners. One of the 6".times.8" sections 
forms a first surface 28 (shown in FIG. 3), the other section forms a 
second surface 20. The first and second surfaces are connected along their 
perimeters by a perimeter binding 26 therearound. Second surface 20 has a 
3".times.6" section of denim cloth stitched to its center which forms 
pocket member 18. Pocket member 18 is suitable for storing credit cards, 
cash, coupons, etc. 
Eyelet member 16 is a metal grommet having an internal aperture 22 of about 
three-eighths of an inch. Aperture 22 passes completely through flexible 
member 12 and is suitable for receiving a key ring therethrough. A first 
strip 24 of hook and pile type fastener is attached along one of the 
shorter sides of flexible member 12. 
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional detail view showing the construction details of 
flexible member 12. Shown in the figure are first surface 28, second 
surface 20, perimeter binding 26 and a section of 1/2" inch thick, 
fiberfill padding material 30. Padding material 30 is substantially the 
same size and shape as first surface 28 and second surface 20. Padding 
material 30 is sandwiched between first and second surfaces 28,20. 
Perimeter binding 26 is then positioned about the perimeter and stitched 
in place. First surface 28, padding material 30, and second surface 20 are 
then stitched in a quilting pattern to secure the padding material 30 in 
place. 
FIG. 3 is a top view of first surface 28 showing a second strip 32 of hook 
and pile type fastener is attached along the shorter side of flexible 
member 12 at the end opposite first strip 24. Also shown is a preferred 
quilting pattern 31 used to secure padding material 30 into place. As 
shown in FIG. 4, first and second strips 24,32 connect with each other to 
form a tubular shaped handle 10. FIG. 5 shows handle 10 in position about 
the existing handles 36 of a typical shopping bag 38. 
FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of detachable shopping bag handle 
10. In this embodiment, pocket member 18 is provided with a flap member 40 
which is stitched adjacent to the opening of pocket member 18. Flap member 
40 is constructed from the same fabric as pocket member 18. The use of a 
flap member 40 helps keeps items placed within pocket men, her 18 within 
pocket 18. Also included in this embodiment is a key ring 42 which is 
installed through aperture 22 of eyelet 16. Key ring 42 allows a user to 
conveniently attach a house key to handle 10, and eliminates fumbling for 
the key when carrying heavy packages. FIG. 7 shows the first surface 28 of 
the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The flexible construction materials and 
padding provides cushioning for the hand while eliminating extra stress on 
the shopping bag handles by eliminating contact with any rigid materials. 
It can be seen from the preceding description that a device for carrying 
shopping bags and the like having flexible handles which will not add 
greater stress to the handle of the shopping bag, has a thick cushioned 
pad to protect the hands and fingers of the user, has a mechanism for 
attaching keys and the like to facilitate entry into a locked building, 
and may be easily and thoroughly cleaned has been provided. 
It is noted that the embodiment of the detachable shopping bag handle 
described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to 
many different variations in structure, design, application and 
methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made 
within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because 
many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in 
accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be 
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative 
and not in a limiting sense.