Abstract:
A handle device for a strap having a clip and a receiving element disposed within a grip. The clip lockingly engages the grip. The combined structure of the clip and grip forms a slightly curved handle adapted for a user to carry a container by comfortably clasping the handle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/775,410 filed Mar. 8, 2013; the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject disclosure relates to a handle having an integrated snap-lock fastening device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventionally, various straps have incorporated snap-lock buckles as a mechanism for opening and closing a strap on an object, such as a backpack. However, previously, these closure mechanisms were only devised as buckles and were not provided for any other purpose. These buckles typically have sharp edges and are intended for grabbing onto when carrying an object, such as a bag  140 . To the contrary, the center of the strap was grabbed onto by the user. 
         [0004]    For example,  FIG. 16  shows a conventional illustration of a bag  140  being carried by a user about the conventional strap  250 . Clearly, the weight of the items disposed in the heavy bag  140  causes the strap  250  to painfully cut into the user hand  105 . Likewise, the lack of rigidity in the straps  250  contributes to the straps  250  uncomfortably digging into the user&#39;s hand  105  over substantial periods of time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary handle for a container according to the subject disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the handle being comfortably held by a user. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the handle in an open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts the handle in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a partial cross section view of the handle. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of the handle in an open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates the handle in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 8-9  depict a front and rear view of the handle used with a container. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  shows the handle in use with a strap extension. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  depicts the strap extension added to the strap connected to the handle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  illustrates the handle for use with an insulated container. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  shows the handle for use with a bottle carrying container. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the handle in an open state permitting access to an opening in the container. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  illustrates the handle integrated for use with a strap extension and being adapted for use with an infant carrier. 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  shows a conventional bag and flexible strap painfully cutting into a user&#39;s hand. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1-6  show a handle  10  for a container  40  having an integrated fastening device disposed therein. In more detail, the handle  10  includes a male portion being a clip  20 , and a female receiving portion being a recessed compartment  34  in a grip  30 . The clip  20  is matingly engaged and secured within the recessed compartment  34 . 
         [0023]    As shown in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 4 , the clip  20  includes a first strap  50   a  receiving opening  26  in the base  21 . Likewise, the grip  30  includes a second strap  50   b  receiving opening  36  disposed at an opposite end in its base  31 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip  20  includes a pair of resilient snap-type hooks  22  that extend from a base  21  at a first end. A pair of locking elements  24  is disposed at a second end of the hooks  22 . In use, the pair of resilient snap-type hooks  22  acts as springs. 
         [0025]    As shown in partial cross section view in  FIG. 5 , the clip  20  is adapted to be inserted into the recessed compartment  34  in the grip  30 . The outermost edges  24   b  of the locking elements  24  are contoured with a curve to be pushed inward by the narrow internal wall  32  contour within the recessed compartment  34 . The outermost edges  24   b  of the locking elements  24  are curved and contoured to deflect the edges  24   b  of the locking elements  24  toward each other along the narrowed track  32  within the grip  30 . 
         [0026]    The resilient nature of the snap-type hooks  22  is such that they are biased to push back outward to return to their unbiased outward position as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once the inner edge  24   a  of the locking elements  24  travels past the edge of an undercut  34   a  in the internal wall  32 , the locking elements  24  will snap outward and lock into a pair of mating apertures  35 . The pair of mating apertures  35  is provided in the grip  30  and are sized and configured to receive the locking elements  24 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the recessed compartment  34  may have various inwardly guiding rib-like contours or inclined surfaces  37 ,  38  which are adapted to engage the various surfaces on the resilient snap-type hooks  22  and/or the surfaces on the projection  23  in order to align and guide the clip  20  into an opening  39  in the recessed compartment  34  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The inclined surfaces  37 ,  38  generates a force on the resilient snap-type hooks  22  and cause the resilient snap-type hooks  22  to deflect inward from its rest position to fit and slide within the internal walls  32  of the recessed compartment  34 . 
         [0028]    A center projection  23  extends outward from the base  21  of the clip  20 . The projection  23  may be constructed to extend central to the pair of resilient snap-type hooks  22 . The projection  23  is a guide that centers the clip  20  within the grip  30 . A mating opening  33  (see  FIG. 5 ) may be integrated within the recessed compartment  34  to receive the peripheral end of the projection  23 . The various surfaces  23   b  on the projection  23  can be dimensioned to substantially correspond to the mating opening  33  formed within the grip  30 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the handle  10  can be constructed to have a slight radius of curvature to its structure. The curvature is beneficial for various reason, such as to enhance the ergonomic comfort to a person who is carrying the container  40  by the handle  10 . Likewise, if the user decides to carry the handle over their shoulder, the curvature of the handle  10  and the adjacent straps  50   a,    50   b  provide comfortable use over the users shoulder. As shown, the internal structure of the clip  20  may also contain a similar radius of curvature to mate with the curvature of the grip  30 . 
         [0030]    Although embodied as a snap-type locking mechanism, it is to be understood that the handle can be constructed with various other types of study locking mechanisms. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , locking of the clip  20  in the recessed compartment  34  takes place by insertion. That is, the user guides the rounded ends  24   b  of the resilient snap-type hooks  22  of the clip  20  into the opening  39  of the recessed compartment  34 . When the clip  20  is inserted into the recessed compartment  34 , the hooks  22  slide along corresponding internal surfaces  38  along the opening of the recessed compartment  34 . The hooks  22  are briefly deflected inward toward each other by a wedge and lever action. The locking elements  24  of the hooks  22  slide until they pass the undercut  34   a  in the recessed compartment  34 , at which time the locking elements snap over the undercut  34   a  formed in the recessed compartment  34  and lock its end  24   a  into place within the aperture  35  in the grip  30 . 
         [0032]    When the locking elements  24  of the clip  20  are locked in the receiving apertures  35 , a secure connection is created that cannot simply be released by pulling the clip  20  back outward from the grip  30 . In order to release the connection, the locking elements  24  on the hooks  22  must be depressed by a user pressing both of the locking elements  24  simultaneously inward toward each other through the apertures  35 . Inward pressure is applied as the clip is pulled until the locking elements  24  compress inward enough for the end  24   a  of the locking elements  24  to clear the undercut  34   a  formed in the recessed compartment  34 . The clip  20  can then be pulled back out of the recessed compartment  34  in the grip  30 . As the clip  20  is pulled backward, the locking elements  24  and hooks  22  are held deflected inward by the inner wail  32  of the recessed compartment  34 . Likewise, the deflection is caused by a lever or wedge action exerted by the locking elements  24  sliding over the inclined surfaces  32  within the grip  30 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , when the clip  20  is released from the grip  30 , a user can access an opening  44  in the container  40 . The container  40  may use any type of closure mechanism, such as a zipper  42  used to secure the opening  44  of the container  40  closed. 
         [0034]    The edges  24   a  of the locking elements  24  of the resilient snap-type hooks  22  take up a secure engagement behind the undercut  34   a  arranged on both sides of the internal walls  32  in the recessed compartment  34 . The snap-type hooks  22  and the locking elements  24  may each have various inclined surfaces  24   b  to facilitate in the moving action of the hooks  22 . 
         [0035]    The projection  23  of the clip  20  may also have inclined surfaces  23   b  that cooperate with the guide surfaces  37  within the recessed compartment  34 . When the clip  20  releases its connection of the locking elements  24  at the undercut  34   a  in the recessed compartment  34 , the clip  20  can be removed out of and away from within the grip  30 . 
         [0036]    For assembling, the clip  20  is pushed into the opening  39  of the recessed compartment  34 . The hooks  22  and the projection  23  are guided over the inclined surfaces  37 ,  38  within the recessed compartment  34 . As the snap-type hooks  22  are guided and slide within the recessed compartment  34 , the snap-type hooks  22  are elastically deformed and urged slightly together. Once the edge  24   a  of the locking elements  24  pass the undercut  34   a  in the recessed compartment  34 , the locking elements  24  snap outward into the aperture  35  in the grip  30 . The clip  20  and the recessed compartment  34  may be constructed symmetrically so that the connection can be carried out with two different orientations in the receiving slide pocket  34 . 
         [0037]    Any widely used material can be used to construct the handle, such as but not limited to for example POM, PC or PA and/or other polymer, composite or other suitable material can be used. Likewise, other soft coatings can be applied to the outer surface of the handle, such as for example, a coating or haptic element as a soft component which completely or partially surrounds the outer surface of the handle  10 . It is to be understood that this handle  10  of this subject disclosure can be used in a variety of different ways and with various other components and/or fields. 
         [0038]    For example,  FIGS. 8-9  depict a front and rear view of the handle used with a container  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , the container  40  may be used to carry an insulated container adapted to receive a cold or hot pack  60  therein. In  FIG. 13 , the handle  10  may be used in combination with a container  40  adapted to store and carry various bottles  62 . 
         [0039]    Referring back to  FIGS. 10-11  and  15 , the handle  10  may adapted for use with various extension straps  150 . In  FIG. 11 , the strap extension  150  may be integrated for use with the handle  10 . That is, the clip  20  may be received by a female component  130  adapted in the strap extension  150  and the grip  30  of the handle  10  may be adapted to be received by a male component  120  on the strap extension  150 , In use, the strap  50   a,    50   b  on the handle  10  can be effectively extended for various other uses, such as to be carried as a purse or the like. In  FIG. 15 , the strap extension  150  is beneficial for securing the container  40  to an infant carrier  70 . 
         [0040]    The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.