Abstract:
A molded luggage handle wrap comprises an elastomeric plate which folds in one-third increments over the luggage straps of a duffle and includes molded finger depressions in the middle third of the plate as well as a peripheral recessed edge for receipt of a stitched binding.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a luggage handle wrap especially adapted for use in combination with double carry handles for duffels and other luggage.  
           [0002]    Duffle bags and other luggage often utilize a pair of carry handles or straps made from fabric or similar flexible material. Each handle is attached separately to a side of the duffle, for example. The handles are separate in order to permit access to a zipper opening in the top of the duffle or luggage item. To transport the duffle, one grips the two handles or straps simultaneously.  
           [0003]    Such a handle construction often also includes a luggage handle wrap which is attached to one of the handles or straps and is designed to wrap around the second handle or strap in order to form a convenient means to grip the handles together for ease of carrying. The wrap may be detached from engagement with at least one the handle so as to enable the handles to be separated thereby permitting ease of access to the duffle or luggage item. Though such constructions have been available, there has remained the need for an improved luggage handle wrap having improved comfort and ease of assembly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly the present invention comprises a luggage handle wrap attached to a first luggage strap cooperative with a second luggage strap. The handle wrap is formed from a molded, elastomeric, rectangular shaped, flexible plate having a topside with a peripheral recessed edge and a series of transverse parallel formed spaced depressions in the center of the plate. The plate is fastened along its center or medial portion to the first one of two luggage straps and may be flexibly fitted around the second luggage strap. The plate includes fasteners so that when the sides of the plate overlap they will bond one to the other to thereby secure the first luggage straps to the second strap.  
           [0005]    Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved luggage handle wrap.  
           [0006]    It is a further of the invention to provide a luggage handle wrap formed from a thin plate of elastomeric material having a rectangular shape and including a recessed edge about its periphery on the top side thereof and further including a series of depressions in the topside to facilitate manual gripping.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a rectangular luggage handle wrap which may be attached on its underside to a first strap and which may be folded about a second strap to thereby secure the second strap to provide a handle.  
           [0008]    These and other advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In the detailed description that follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the luggage handle wrap;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the luggage handle wrap of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the luggage handle wrap of FIG. 1 in combination with a luggage strap;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the luggage handle wrap and strap or webbing of FIG. 3; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the luggage handle wrap of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the manner of use of the wrap to hold and maintain first and second luggage straps. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    Referring to the figures, the luggage handle wrap of the invention comprises a thin, electrometric plate  10  having a width dimension  12  and a length dimension  14 . The width dimension  12  is in the range of 3 to 5 inches typically. The length dimension  14  is typically in the range of 3 to 6 inches.  
         [0016]    The electrometric plate  10  is made from molded rubber having a thickness in the range of ⅛ to ¼ inch. The plate  10  includes a top side  16  and an underside or bottom side  18 . The plate  10  further includes a recessed peripheral edge or land  20  having a width dimension in the range of ⅛ to ⅜ inches. Further the plate  10  includes a one-third middle or transverse medial section or strip  22  extending from one lateral side  24  to the second lateral side  26 . The medial section  22  comprises approximately the middle one-third of the plate  10  and further includes at least three equally sized, spaced recesses or digit depressions  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . The depressions,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  are for receipt of the fingers of a person and thus are generally concave depressions formed in the topside  16  of the plate  10 . Depressions  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  are elliptically shaped having parallel, equally spaced major axes transverse to a longitudinal axis  45  of section  22 .  
         [0017]    The plate  10  further includes a name plate or logo section or panel  36  defined on the top side  16  comprising about one-third of top side section  16  in FIG. 1. Instructions or a logo are positioned in this panel  36 . Additionally referring to FIG. 1, the bottom one-third section  37  of the top side  16  includes a fastener material such as a Velcro fastener material  38 . The fastener material  38  extends generally between the recesses associated with the lateral sides  24  and  26 .  
         [0018]    As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom side  18  of the plate  10  includes a fastener material  40  extending between the sides  24  and  26  on the side opposite panel  36 . The underside  18  of medial center strip  22  is adapted for attachment to a luggage strap  42  by stitching, adhesive or other means. Thus handle webbing or strap  42  is attached to the underside  18  of the plate  10 . A binding material  44  may be stitched or adhered to the plate  10  more particularly to the peripheral recess  20  for example by being top stitched. The top stitching binding  44  may also simultaneously effect retention of a lining material  46  on underside  38  such as a fabric lining material.  
         [0019]    The strap or webbing  42  extends from the sides  24  and  26  of the plate  10  along a longitudinal axis  45  of the plate  10 . As shown in FIG. 5, the plate  10  may then be folded approximately in one-third sections so that the outer ⅓ sections overlie each other and a second strap  46  thereby enabling the straps  42 ,  46  to be wrapped together. Thus the plate fastener material  40  will fold over and engage with the plate fastener material  38  to effectively couple the straps  42  and  46 . Importantly the plate  10  is attached to the strap  42  to what would be typically referred to as the underside  43  of the strap  42  so that the depressions  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  are positioned to interact with the fingers when the folded plate  10  is fashioned about the webbing or straps  42 ,  46 . This facilitates comfort when carrying the luggage item and further facilitates gripping.  
         [0020]    It is possible to vary the features of the described invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Alternative shapes of the depressions for the fingers, alternative dimensions of the plate  10 , alternative fasteners  38 ,  40 , and other alternative elements may be provided or added to the subject matter of the invention. Thus the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.