Portable handle apparatus and method

An apparatus including a first strap configured to be placed in a straight or a curled state; and a handle attached to the first strap; and wherein the first strap in the curled state is configured attached to a subway ceiling rail. The first strap may be attached to the handle through a carabiner, a ring, and a second strap. The second strap may have a triangular section and a base of the triangular section may be attached to the handle by passing through an opening of a hollow cylindrical tube of the handle. The first strap may have first and second layers of material and a first attachment device between the layers, and a second attachment device attached to the outside of the first strap; wherein in the curled state, the first attachment device is attached to the second attachment device to hold the apparatus onto the rail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for holding onto railings which are attached to the ceilings of subway cars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the art for holding onto railings of ceilings of subway cars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided comprising: a first strap which is configured to be placed in a straight state or a curled state; and a handle attached to the first strap; and wherein the first strap in the curled state is configured to be curled around a rail. The rail may be a cylindrical rail fixed to a ceiling of a subway car.

The apparatus may further include a ring, such as a hard metal ring, which is between the first strap and the handle, and wherein the first strap is attached to the handle through the ring.

The apparatus may include a carabiner which is between the first strap and the ring; and wherein the first strap is attached to the handle through the carabiner and through the ring.

The first strap may be attached to the handle through a second strap. The second strap may have a triangular section and a base of the triangular section may be attached to the handle by passing through an opening of a hollow cylindrical tube of the handle.

In at least one embodiment, the first strap may have a first layer of material and a second layer of material; wherein the first strap has a first attachment device between the first layer of material and the second layer of material; and wherein a second attachment device is attached to the outside of the first layer of material of the first strap; and wherein in the curled state, the first attachment device is attached to the second attachment device to hold the apparatus onto the rail.

The first attachment device may be attached to the second attachment device by magnetic attraction. The first attachment device may be a magnet; and the second attachment device may be flexible metal which is attracted by magnetism to the first attachment device, and which snaps to change the apparatus from the straight state to the curled state. In at least one embodiment, it is critical that the flexible metal is provided which can be snapped of flexed into the curled state from straight state to easily, and quickly snap attach or flexibly attach the first strap and the apparatus onto a rail, such as a cylindrical rail of a subway car.

In at least one embodiment, a method is provided which may include attaching an apparatus onto a rail by placing a first strap of the apparatus into a curled state; wherein the first strap which is configured to be placed in a straight state or the curled state; and wherein the apparatus includes a handle attached to the first strap. The method may further include detaching the apparatus from the rail. The apparatus may have a structure as previously described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1is a front, top, and right perspective view of a portable handle apparatus1, including a strap2, wherein the strap2is in a curled state in which the strap2is attached to a rail or bar100, which is typically attached to a ceiling of a subway car, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2is a front, top, and right perspective view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in a straight state.

FIG.3is a rear elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.4is a front elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.5is a right side elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.6is a left side elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.7is a top elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.8is a bottom elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state.

FIG.9is a left side elevational view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state, and showing a line A-A where a cross section is taken forFIG.10.

FIG.10is a cross section view of the portable handle apparatus1ofFIG.1, wherein the strap2is in the straight state, taken along the line A-A shown inFIG.9.

Referring toFIGS.1-10, the portable handle apparatus1includes the strap2, a carabiner or connector4, a ring or loop6, a strap apparatus8, and a handle10.

The strap2may have an opening2afor insertion of the carabiner4. The strap2may have an attachment device3attached nearer a top end of the strap2than a bottom end of the strap2, wherein the bottom end is connected to the carabiner4. The attachment device3may be a magnet.

The carabiner4may be a metal loop with a spring loaded gate or section4a. The carabiner4may be made substantially or entirely of a hard metal.

The ring or loop6may be made of a hard metal.

The strap apparatus8may have a section8aformed into a tube or loop having an opening9through which the ring6is connected. The strap apparatus may also have a section8bwhich is triangular shaped. The handle10may be substantially cylindrical, and may have an inner opening10a, through which a portion of the strap apparatus8is inserted to connect strap apparatus8to the handle10. Referring toFIG.2, the handle10may include outer rings or flanges10band10cwhich are larger in diameter than inner body section10dshown inFIG.2, so that a hand200shown inFIG.1can grip the handle10with fingers202,204,206,208, and thumb210surrounding inner body section10dof the handle10, without the hand200slipping off of the section10d.

As shown inFIG.10, the strap2includes a first layer2cand a second layer2b. In between the first layer2cand the second layer2bis a spring, springy material, or flexing material5which may run a substantial portion of a length of the elongated strap2, and which is used to cause the strap2to spring or flex from the straight state ofFIG.2to the curled or rolled state ofFIG.1.

In operation, a user may hold the apparatus1in the straight state ofFIG.2, by holding the bottom of strap2, near opening2a, and then the user may flex or flick the strap2, such as by quickly flicking or snapping a wrist of the user of the hand holding the bottom of strap2, which causes the strap2to change from the state ofFIG.2to the state ofFIG.1, wrapped tightly around the bar or rail100. In at least one embodiment, the attachment device3is a magnet, and aids to keep the apparatus1in the state ofFIG.1, because of a magnetic attraction between device3and inner metal piece5, shown inFIG.10.

The strap2may be elongated having a length substantially larger than its width. The lengthy of the strap2may be about eight inches and the width about one inch. It is critical in at least one embodiment, that the metal piece5be made of a metal material used for a known metal tape of a known spring return tape measure. In at least one embodiment, metal piece5has a length which runs for substantially all of the length of the strap2, from the top end of the strap2to just prior or next to the opening2aof the strap2.

The device3may be a magnet which is magnetically attracted to the metal piece5, to hold the apparatus1in the curled state ofFIG.1attached to the rail100. The device3may have a length of two inches and a width of one inch.

The ring6is a preferably smooth hard metal ring, providing a strong, smooth connection to the second strap8through tube section8a, so that strap8is not torn, ripped or damaged, at the connection to ring6. The carabiner4is configured to have its piece or latch4aopened to allow the ring6to be removed from carabiner4along with the attached second strap8, and handle10. In at least one embodiment, this allows a plurality of ring6, second strap8, and handle10combinations to be attached to one carabiner4, strap2, rail100combination for a plurality of hands of a plurality of users on a subway car.