Abstract:
A system for retaining at least one plastic grocery bag within a motor vehicle includes a handle and a rail assembly. The handle defines an opening for receiving the at least one plastic grocery bag. The handle includes first and second flanges compressible toward one another. The rail assembly is mountable within the motor vehicle and includes a rail defining a longitudinally extending cavity. A front surface of the rail defines a gap running along at least a portion of an axial length of the rail and includes an open end and a closed end.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/169,616 filed 2 Jun. 2015 and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/137,066 filed 25 Apr. 2016, which applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a handle for a plastic grocery bag or the like. The present disclosure additionally relates to a system for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to a handle. Further, the present disclosure relates to a system for securely mounting a handle and one or more associated plastic grocery bags within a motor vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Supermarkets and other stores commonly offer plastic bags for the transportation of purchased goods from the store to the consumers&#39; home. These plastic bags have many advantages to the stores, such a low cost and a small storage volume. 
         [0004]    While the plastic bags are generally convenient to the consumer there are associated disadvantages. For example, a single trip to a supermarket will often yield groceries filling many plastic bags. The weight of these filled plastic bags may frequently cause the consumer hand pain during transportation. Additionally, if the plastic bags are transported by vehicle, there is no practical way to keep the plastic bags upright and the purchased goods are often strewn about the vehicle before arriving home. 
         [0005]    A need for improvement in the pertinent art exists to address the above discussed and other drawbacks. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to one particular aspect, the present teachings are directed to a handle for one or more plastic grocery bags or the like. The handle includes a base and first and second arms. The base is generally planar base and extends along a longitudinal axis. The first and second arms extend from the base and each include an arcuate portion proximate the base and a flange extending from the arcuate portion. The arcuate portions of the first and second arms cooperatively define a generally circular opening for receiving at least one plastic bag handle and the flanges are spaced apart from one another proximate the first and second arms to define a gap for permitting the at least one plastic bag handle to enter the generally circular opening. 
         [0007]    According to another particular aspect, the present teachings are directed to a saddle for a handle for one or more plastic grocery bags. The handle includes a generally planar base extending along a longitudinal axis first and second arms extending from the base. The first and second arms each including an arcuate portion proximate the base and a flange extending from the arcuate portion. The saddle includes a pair of base elements. The pair of base elements cooperate to at least partially define a channel for receiving the handle. A length of the channel is limited to prevent translation of the handle and a width of the channel limited to prevent rotation of the handle within the channel. 
         [0008]    According to yet another particular aspect, the present teachings provide a system for carrying a plurality of plastic bags. The system includes first and second handles. Each handle includes a generally planar base extending along a longitudinal axis and first and second arms extending from the base. The first and second arms each include an arcuate portion proximate the base and a flange extending from the arcuate portion. The first and second tote strap clasp members each include a handle receiving portion and a coupling portion. The handle receiving portion receives an associated one of the first and second handles. The system further includes a strap received by the coupling portions of the first and second tote strap clasp members. 
         [0009]    According to still yet another particular aspect, the present teachings provide a chip clip arrangement including a receiving member and a retention member. The receiving member includes a generally planar base extending along a longitudinal axis first and second arms extending from the base. The first and second arms each include an arcuate portion proximate the base and a flange extending from the arcuate portion. The arcuate portions of the first and second arms cooperatively defines a generally circular opening for receiving retention member and the flanges are spaced apart from one another proximate the first and second arms to define a gap for permitting the retention member to enter the generally circular opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a handle in accordance with the present teachings, the handle shown operatively associated with a plastic grocery bag. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the handle of  FIG. 1  shown removed from the plastic grocery bag for purposes of illustration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the handle of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to a handle in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to a handle in accordance with the present teachings, the saddle shown operatively associated with a handle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to a handle in accordance with the present teachings, the saddle shown operatively associated with a handle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is perspective view of the saddle of  FIG. 6  shown the saddle operatively associated with a bin. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the saddle of  FIGS. 4-6  shown operatively associated with a bin. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rail assembly for a motor vehicle in accordance with the present teachings, the rail assembly shown operatively associated with a handle for receiving a plastic grocery bag or the like. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken through the rail assembly and handle of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11A-11C  is a series of views illustrating operation of the rail assembly of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an environmental perspective view illustrating a pair of tote strap clasp members in accordance with the present teachings, the pair of tote strap clasp members shown operatively associated with a pair of handles, a plurality of plastic grocery bags and a tote strap. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one of the tote strap clasp members and associated handle of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of the tote strap clasp member and associated handle of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a chip clip arrangement in accordance with the present teachings, the chip clip arrangement shown operatively associated with a bag of chips. 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the chip clip arrangement of  FIG. 15  shown removed from the bag of chips for purposes of illustration. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the chip clip arrangement of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a perspective environmental view illustrating a plurality of chip clip arrangements in accordance with the present teachings, the plurality of chip clip arrangements shown carried on a common rack and each associated with a bag of chips. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 18  shown with the chip clip arrangements and bags of chips removed for purposes of illustration. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a side view of the rack and chip clip arrangements of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is an environmental perspective view illustrating a pair of alternative tote strap clasp members in accordance with the present teachings, the pair of alternative tote strap clasp members shown operatively associated with a pair of alternative handles, a plurality of plastic grocery bags and a tote strap.  FIG. 22  is a cross sectional view taken through one of the tote strap clasp members of  FIG. 21  shown operatively associated with the respective handle  10 . 
           [0032]      FIGS. 23 and 24  illustrate an OEM version of a rail assembly for a motor vehicle in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  illustrating another handle in accordance with the present teachings. 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is a side view of the handle of  FIG. 25 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 27  is a side view of a plurality of the handles of  FIG. 25  shown clipped together. 
           [0036]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the handle of  FIG. 25  shown operatively associated with a rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0038]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a handle in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  10 .  FIG. 1  shows the handle operatively associated with one particular plastic grocery bag  12 . It will be understood that the present teachings may be utilized in connection with other plastic bags and bags constructed of alternative materials within the scope of the present teachings.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the handle  10  apart from the plastic bag  10  for purposes of illustration. 
         [0039]    In the embodiment illustrated, the handle  10  is illustrated to generally include a base  14  and a pair of arms  16 . The base  14  may be generally planar and extend along a longitudinal axis of the handle  10 . The arms  16  may extend from the base  14 , run along the length of the handle  10 , and be identical. As shown, the arms  16  may each include an arcuate portion  18  proximate the base  14  and a generally planar flange  20  extending from the arcuate portion  18 . The arms  16  may be oriented relative to one another such that each is a mirror image of the other about a plane extending perpendicular to the base  14 . The arcuate portions  18  of the arms  16  may cooperatively define a generally circular opening  22  for receiving and retaining the handle of one or more plastic bags. At proximal end adjacent the base  14 , the flanges  20  are spaced apart from one another to define a gap  24  for receiving the handle of one or more plastic bags into the opening  22 . The flanges  20  diverge from one another as they extend distally from the arcuate portions  18  of the arms  16 . This cooperative geometry provides a structure which readily receives the handles of one or more plastic bags without undue required accuracy and directs the handles of the plastic bags into the generally circular opening  22 . 
         [0040]    The arms  16  may be resiliently displaced from one another. In this regards, the arm  16  may be constructed of plastic or other suitable material that may be elastically deflected such that the lateral dimension of the gap  24  is temporarily increased. In one particular application, the handle  10  may uniformly constructed through an extrusion process. 
         [0041]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3  and additionally reference to  FIG. 4 , a saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags  12  to the handle  10  in accordance with the present teachings is shown and generally identified at reference character  26 . The saddle  26  is generally illustrated to include a pair of base elements  28  and a frame  30  coupling the pair of base elements  28 . The base elements  28  may be solid members constructed of any suitable material and may define openings  32 . The base elements  28  are secured relative to one another by the frame  30 . The frame  30  may be fixedly attached to the base elements  28  with fasteners or in any suitable manner known in the art. The openings  32  of the base elements  28  may be aligned to partially define a channel for receiving the handle  10 . Upper surfaces of the base elements  28  may be angled to define lead-in surfaces for directing the handle  10  into the channel. The channel may have a width suitable toleranced with the handle  10  to prevent rotation of the handle  10  within the channel. The channel may have a length suitably limited to prevent too much translation of the handle  10  along its axial length. As illustrated, the channel is limited by the frame  30 . The saddle  26  may be supported on a flat surface or mounted to a stationary structure in any well-known manner. 
         [0042]    Turning to  FIG. 5 , another saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to the handle  10  in accordance with the present teachings is shown and generally identified at reference character  26 A. Given the similarities between the saddle  26  and the saddle  26 A, the reference characters introduced with respect to saddle  26  are used to identify similar elements. The details not otherwise shown or described will be understood to be similar to corresponding details of the saddle  26 . The saddle  26 A generally differs from the saddle  26  in that the saddle  26 A incorporates a wire frame  30 A. The wire frame  30 A may engage a rear side of the saddle  26 A. The base elements  28  function to limit the axial length of the channel receiving the channel. 
         [0043]    Turning to  FIG. 6 , another saddle for coupling one or more plastic grocery bags to the handle  10  in accordance with the present teachings is shown and generally identified at reference character  26 B. Again, given the similarities between the saddle  26  and the saddle  26 B, the reference characters introduced with respect to saddle  26  are used to identify similar elements. The details not otherwise shown or described will be understood to be similar to corresponding details of the saddle  26 . The saddle  26 B generally differs from the saddle  26  in that the saddle  26 B incorporates a wire frame  30 A. The wire frame  30 A may engage lateral sides of the saddle  26 B. The frame  30 A functions to limit the axial length of the channel receiving the handle  10 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , the saddle  26 B of  FIG. 6  is shown operatively associated with a bin  34 . The bin  34  is associated with a pair of mounting brackets  36 . The saddle  26 B may be securely attached to a front side of the bin  34  in any suitable manner. 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , the saddle  26 B of  FIG. 4  is shown operatively associated with the bin  34  of  FIG. 7 . In this particular application, the bin  34  may be associated with a stand  38 . The stand  38  may include a pair of legs  40  and a self-supporting base  42 . 
         [0046]    Turning to  FIGS. 9, 10 and 11A-11C , a rail assembly for a motor vehicle in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  44 . The rail assembly shown  44  may be mounted within a vehicle, for example and adapted to receive one or more handles  10 . In this manner, the handles may be retained during transportation of the groceries such that the groceries are retained within the plastic bags. 
         [0047]    The rail assembly  44  may generally include a rail  46 . The rail  46  may have a generally rectangular cross section and may define a longitudinally extending cavity. A front surface of the rail  46  may define a gap  48 . The gap  48  may run completely or substantially the entire axial length of the rail  46  and may include an open end and a closed end. The gap includes a portion adjacent its open end which widens. In use, the flanges  20  of the handle  10  extend through the gap  48  such that distal ends of the flanges  20  are disposed in the cavity. The gap has a height along most of its length sufficiently tolerance relative to the dimensions of the handle  10  to compress the flanges  20  towards one another. As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10 , the flanges  20  may be compressed such that they are parallel and adjacent one another. Enlarged ends of the flanges  20  prevent the flanges from withdrawal from the cavity in a direction perpendicular to the axial length of the rail  46 . The diverging geometry of the gap  48  operates to compress the flanges  20  during introduction and direct the flanges  20 . 
         [0048]    The rail assembly  46  may further include a retention device  50 . The retention device  50  may be mounted to the rail  46  for pivoting about a vertically extending axis (e.g., perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis of the rail  46 ). The retention device  50  may be biased by a spring  52  to a closed position. The closed position is shown in  FIG. 11B . In this position, the open end of the gap  48  is sufficiently closed to prevent withdrawal of the handle  10 . A loading position of the retention device  50  is shown in  FIG. 11A . In this position, the spring  52  is sufficiently deflected to introduce the handle  10 . An unloading position is shown in  FIG. 11C . The unloading position is attained by manually depressing the retention device  50  and sliding it forward to a locked open position. The hinge pin is in a small slot. Once pushed in, the hinge pin allows the user to slide the retention device  50  into a notch to keep it open. 
         [0049]    With reference to  FIGS. 12 through 14 , a tote strap clasp member in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  54 . The tote strap clasp member  54  is shown operatively associated with the handle  10 .  FIG. 12  is an environmental view illustrating a pair of the tote strap clasp members  54  operatively associated with a pair of handles  10 , a plurality of plastic grocery bags  12  and a tote strap  56 . 
         [0050]    The tote strap clasp member  54  is illustrated to generally include a handle receiving portion  58  and a coupling portion  60  for coupling to the strap  56 . The handle receiving portion  58  may have a generally circular cross section and may define a longitudinally extending cavity. The handle receiving portion  58  may define a gap  62 . The gap  62  may run completely or substantially the entire axial length of the handle receiving portion  58  and may include an open end and a closed end. The gap  62  includes a portion adjacent its open end which widens. In use, the flanges  20  of the handle  10  extend through the gap  48  such that distal ends of the flanges  20  are disposed in the cavity. The enlarged ends of the flanges  20  prevent the flanges from withdrawal from the cavity in a direction perpendicular to the axial length of the handle receiving portion  58 . The diverging geometry of the gap  62  operates to compress the flanges  20  during introduction and direct the flanges  20 . 
         [0051]    The handle receiving portion  60  may be formed with the handle receiving portion  58  through an injection molding process, for example. The handle receiving portion  60  may radially extend from the handle receiving portion  58  and may define a slot  64  for receiving the strap  56 . 
         [0052]    Turning to  FIGS. 15-17 , a chip clip arrangement in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  66 . In  FIG. 15 , the chip clip arrangement  66  is shown operatively associated with a bag of chips  68 . The chip clip arrangement  66  is generally shown to include a receiving member  70  and a retention member  72 . The receiving member  70  generally includes a base  74  and a pair of arms  76 . The base  74  may be generally planar and extend along a longitudinal axis of the receiving member  70 . The arms  76  may extend from the base  74 , run along the length of the receiving member  70 , and be identical. As shown, the arms  76  may each include an arcuate portion  78  proximate the base  74  and a generally planar flange  80  extending from the arcuate portion  78 . The arms  76  may be oriented relative to one another such that each is a mirror image of the other about a plane extending perpendicular to the base  74 . The arcuate portions  78  of the arms  76  may cooperatively define a generally circular opening  82  for receiving and retaining the retention member  72 . At proximal end adjacent the base  74 , the flanges  80  are spaced apart from one another to define a gap  84  for receiving the receiving member  70  into the opening  82 . The flanges  80  diverge from one another as they extend distally from the arcuate portions  78  of the arms  76 . 
         [0053]    The arms  76  may be resiliently displaced from one another. In this regards, the arms  76  may be constructed of plastic or other suitable material that may be elastically deflected such that the lateral dimension of the gap  84  is temporarily increased to receive the retention member. In one particular application, the receiving member  70  may uniformly constructed through an extrusion process. 
         [0054]    As shown in the drawings, retention member  72  may be a hollow tube. The open end of the chip bag  68  may be wrapped around the retention member  82  prior to introduction into the opening  82 . Upon introduction into the opening  82 , the chip bag  68  is captured and sealed. 
         [0055]    Turning to  FIGS. 18-20 , a plurality of the chip clip arrangement of  FIGS. 15-17  are shown carried on a common rack  90  and each associated with a bag of chips  68 . As illustrated, the receiving members  70  may be permanently attached to the rack  90 . The rack  90  may be associated with conventional mounting brackets  92 . 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , a pair of alternative tote strap members in accordance with the present teachings are illustrated and generally identified at reference character  70 . As compared to the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the tote strap members  70  provide an alternative way for closing off the slot. As compared use of the cylinder with the slot in  FIG. 14 , the embodiment of  FIGS. 21 and 22  may possible result in reduced clothing snags. 
         [0057]    Turning to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , an OEM version of a rail assembly for a motor vehicle in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  80 . The rail assembly  10  may be molded into side panels or seatbacks of a motor vehicle, for example. The rail assembly  80  may use a locking spring button that can be pushed once to open a slot, and pushed again to close the slot. 
         [0058]    Turning to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , another handle in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character  10 ′. It will be understood that the handle  10 ′ is similar to the handle  10 . For this reason, similar reference characters are used to identify similar elements. The handle  10 ′ differs from the handle  10  by having a uniform wall thickness. As shown in  FIG. 28 , a groove  80  proximate the base  14  is adapted to slide into a slot  82  of a rack  84 . The rack  84  may be secured to an underside of a shelf, for example, with conventional fasteners. The groove  80  also enables better organization through clipping together of a plurality of handles  10 ′, as shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         [0059]    The foregoing description of the embodiment(s) has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. One or more example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.