Abstract:
A device for the easy and comfortable carrying of goods, comprising a connecting handle, to which a user can add or change a padding by forcing its edges in grooves ( 8 ) by use of stoppers ( 19 ), shown in different embodiments ( 1 A, 1 B, 1 C), able to connect every type of hookable object with the use of some accessories, cable shaped ( 32,32   a   ,32   b   ,4 ) able keep tight a plurality of not hookable objects and to permit their connection to the handle in a proper position. The handle is also built so as to permit easy and lasting printing of messages. All parts of the device are shaped so as to permit their manufacture in plastic material, and so as to create new fastening methods.

Description:
[0001]    This is a Continuation-in-part Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/947,701, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/729,374, which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/973,350, now abandoned. This patent application claims priority of International Application No. PCT:IT96/00115, filed Nov. 27, 1995 which is in turn claimed priority of Italian Patent Application No. NA95A000055, file Nov. 27, 1995, which in turn claimed priority of Italian Patent Application No. NA95A000029, filed Jun. 5, 1995.  
       CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0002]    This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/947,701, filed on Sep. 7, 2001, now abandoned. This patent application claims priority of International Application No. PCT/1T96/00115, filed Jun. 4, 1996, which, in turn claimed priority of Italian Patent Application No. NA95A000055, filed Nov. 27, 1995, which in turn claimed priority of Italian Patent Application No. NA95A000029, filed Jun. 5, 1995. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
         [0004]    Not Applicable  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This invention relates to a device for carrying objects.  
           [0006]    In general goods are carried by means of containers, some of which are encumbering and troublesome to handle and this may be tiring for people. Moreover, for some objects a suitable carrier is often difficult to find. For this reason people going shopping carry bags, sacks, and boxes. Unfortunately, the handles of plastic bags and the strings of packages often “cut” the hands.  
           [0007]    This is an improvement patent over Stoft (WO091111368), and contains a an accessory for said device: a cable set able to increase the power of a carrying device.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0008]    Some hand carrying tools are known having a central handle and a connecting apparatus at each end for carrying plastic shopping containers.  
           [0009]    In some of these carrying tools the handles are made lighter by means of lateral grooves. The grooves create empty zones, which are not comfortable for the hands. Such a tool is disclosed in Stoft (W 0 9111 1368), wherein a surface  60  is described as “writing surface” which can be attached either on the flat inner surface of a longitudinal shallow recess, either on the external surface of an other embodiment of said handle, having no recess. Pointing attention upon the embodiment without recesses, if said “writing surface” should be a surface supported by a thick body, if attached to such a handle without recesses, should cause serious trouble to the hand of a user. That means that said “writing surface” is an attached surface supported by a very thin body, as a sheet, useful only to being written upon. The same “writing surface”, if attached to the embodiment having recesses, should keep the same features, and cannot be intended as a stopper filling said recess and having enough mechanical resistance for performing the further feature of keeping in place a padding, (which instead is a feature of the present invention).  
           [0010]    Handles having generally hook-shaped connecting apparatus at each end are also known, and are provided with thin passages which prevent the shopping containers from being freed when put down.  
           [0011]    This means that:  
           [0012]    the user must pay attention to place the shopping container handles in the thin passage.  
           [0013]    at the moment of disconnection the user must extract the shopping container handles from the thin passage using both hands. In this cases the user, if in a hurry, can lose time in connecting or disconnecting.  
           [0014]    said handles can carry only objects having a very thin hookable portion, as plastic shoppers.  
           [0015]    In some known handles (Clark, GB2218901A) there is a recess at each end which opens upwardly, provided with only one horizontal resilient retainer which, when removed, leaves only a thin passage. This has the drawback that the unraveling of thin strings cannot be prevented by this type of hooking apparatus.  
           [0016]    In some other cases the thin passage is completely closed (Ducruox, FR 201950561 A), but a two-hands maneuver is necessary for disengaging the load.  
           [0017]    In some other handles mechanical parts are present which require a double “two-hands” maneuver.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    Accordingly, it is an object: of the present invention to provide a handle for carrying objects which is comfortable, in which the engagement and disengagement with the objects is easy and able to connect also ropes or not-thin parts of an object.  
           [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a handle for carrying objects in which a padding can be easily added, replaced or removed.  
           [0020]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handle for carrying objects in which a removable surface is provided, which can be written or printed on.  
           [0021]    These and further objects are achieved by the handle according to the attached claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    Further characteristics and advantages of the equipment according to the present invention will be made clearer in the description which follows of one of its possible embodiments, given as an example, but not limitative, with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows a single-elasticity connecting handle  1 A having a closure formed by two opposite members;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a front view of lateral stopper element  19 ;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a rear view of lateral stopper element  19 ;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a double-elasticity connecting handle  1 B, which is the preferred embodiment of the connecting handle.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6, illustrate how stopper  19  holds padding  28  in place on the connecting handle;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 and shows the detail of how padding  28  is kept in place over the lower zone  7  of handle  1 B  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 shows how stoppers  19  can be disposed all together for the printing because external face  5  is parallel to the opposite side  22  of stopper  19   
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 illustrates the connecting handle of the invention being used to carry a shopping bag by hand;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 shows the rapid insertion maneuver of the handle of a plastic shopper into the double-elasticity connecting apparatus of handle  1 B  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 shows the rapid extraction maneuver of the handle of a plastic shopper from the double-elasticity connecting apparatus of handle  1 B  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 is a front view of a connecting hookable handle  1 C which is a third embodiment of the connecting handle of the invention, comprising closed rings  84  and  84 ′ on each end of the handle;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 13 and 14 show a cable set  32   c , intended for use as an accessory to the connecting handle  1 C embodiment shown in FIG. 12;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 16 showing how the use of cable set  32   c  can be used to wrap and hold skis;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 16 is a view showing how the skis shown in FIG. 15 are carried by the connecting handle embodiment  1 C shown in FIG. 12;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 17 illustrates an additional cable set  32  intended to be used as an accessory to the connecting handle of the invention for the carrying of objects having no hooking zone or else of a plurality of objects;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 18 shows a group of encumbering object carried by use of one only carrying handle  1 B in cooperation with two cable sets  32   
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 19 shows an electric wire  56  kept tight by a cable set  32 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 20 shows an additional ring cable set  32   a  wherein a ring  40  has been inserted, to prevent an undesired removal of the stopper  35 , when maneuvered in releasing direction.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 21 shows an additional cable set  32   b  wherein a simple cable  44  has a snap-hook  41  at an end FIG. 22 illustrates a means of connecting cable  44  to snap-hook  41 ;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 22 shows the connection  45  between cable  44  and snap-hook  41 ,  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 23 shows two users  57 , 58  moving a sofa  59  by using two connecting handles  1 B connected by ropes  60 , 61  passed under sofa  59 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 24 shows a handle  1 D having additional hooks  97  connected to lower double-ended protrusion  97 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0046]    The present invention broadly comprises a handle for carrying objects (or connecting handle or carrying handle or hooking handle) which is operatively arranged to be connectable to objects by connecting apparatuses at each end of the handle, as shown in the embodiments  1 A,  1 B,  1 C of FIGS. 1, 5,  6 ,  12 .  
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment  1 B (shown in FIGS. 5, 6,  7 ,  9 ,  18 ,  23 ) each connecting apparatus has the closure performance performed by two elastic opposite members (flexible tongue  4  and lower elastic protrusion  15   a ) wherein the hooking and holding strength is performed by a hook-shaped upper rigid protrusion  29 , internal to said closure. This double elastic closure has two effects:  
         [0048]    a) permits to reduce or eliminate the distance or little space or passage  11 , which is a to wide passage in other handles which have a closure based on one only elastic member, when the inserted objects are thin; which is a to thin passage when objects to be inserted are wide, such as ropes.  
         [0049]    b) permits a relevant opening space of said closure when opened, in which can be introduced wide objects, such as ropes, (FIG. 23)  
         [0050]    c) gives a very easy maneuver for insertion of the parts of objects to be hooked and carried: it can be done by simply pulling upwards the handle against the part to be inserted (FIG. 10)  
         [0051]    d) gives a very easy maneuver for the extraction of the hooked parts of the carried objects: it can be done by simply pulling away the handle in the releasing direction (FIG. 11).  
         [0052]    The handle is made padding able (FIGS. 6, 7) by the existence of a front and rear groove  8 , in which a complementary-shaped element or elongated lateral element or stopper  19  can be forced. The stopper keeps flat padding  28  in place by simply forcing its lateral edges  47  between lateral part  9  of stopper  19  and lower internal face  30  of each groove  8 , as shown in FIGS. 6, 7. The performances of the connecting handle can be powered by the use of an accessory, a hookable sliding cable set  32 , shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 13, 17,  20 ,  21 , which permits the connecting to the handle:  
         [0053]    a) of objects having no hooking zone;  
         [0054]    b) of a plurality of objects.  
         [0055]    Adverting Now to the Drawings:  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 1 shows, indicated as IA, a single-elasticity connecting handle having a closure formed by two opposite members: a) flexible tongue  4 ; b) vertical rigid hook-shaped element  15 . In detail, the central portion  1  of the handle has at each end  17 , 18  a connecting hooking apparatus  2 ,  2   a ., or hooking apparatus. With reference to end  17 , the hooking apparatus  2  is formed by two protrusions (Upper protrusion or flexible tongue  4 , lower protrusion  13 ) protruding from the substantially vertical face  17   c  of end  17 . Upper protrusion or flexible tongue  4  extends from the upper part  17   b  of vertical face  17   c ; it is thin and elastic, and slightly curved downward for helping insertions. Lower protrusion  13  extends from the lower part  17   a  of vertical face  17   c  and comprises a substantially horizontal corbel  10  ending in a vertical rigid hook-shaped element  15 , ending in a upper thickened ending  12 , having a downwards inclined surface  6 , for the helping of insertions. A distance or little passage  11  is left between element  4  and surface  6 . Lower zone  7  of central portion  1  is hand-shaped; central zone  16  is a zone formed between parts  7 ,  14 , so as to form, at each lateral side, a groove  8  in which an elongated lateral element or stopper  19  is forced in a position that locates its external surface or external side  5  slightly deeper than the edges  26  and  27  of lower zone  7  and of upper zone  14 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 2 shows front view of lateral element or stopper  19 , showing a detail of its lateral part  9  and of its external side  5 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 3 shows the rear view of stopper  19 , in which rear protrusions  21  have groove joints  20 , to be connected to tongue joints  24 , shown in FIGS. 4, 5,  7 . Obviously this type of joint is an example, as any known type of joint could be used to hold the stopper in place.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of handle  1 A, and shows insertion of stoppers  19  in groove  8 , in a position for which face  5  is slightly deeper than edges  26  and  27 . FIGS. 6, 7 further illustrate how padding  28  is held in place: each edge  47  of padding  28  is forced between the inferior part of lateral part  9  of stopper  19  and lower internal face  30  of groove  8 . FIG. 8 illustrates that stoppers  19  can be disposed all together for printing, since external side  5  is parallel to the opposite internal side  22  of stopper  19 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 5 shows a double-elasticity connecting handle IB, which is identical to handle IA except in the hooking apparatus  3 ,  3   a  located at each end of handle  1 B. Hooking apparatus  3  eliminates or strongly reduces distance  11  between surface  6  and flexible tongue  4 , since lower elastic protrusion  15   a  is thin and very elastic. The thin part gains in length because it protrudes from the inferior part  31  of double-ended corbel  10   a . Therefore there is an empty supplemental space  23  between lower thin portion  28   a  of element  15   a  and hook shaped upper rigid protrusion  29  of double-ended corbel  10   a , which is a part of lower double-ended protrusion  13   a    
         [0061]    Space  23  permits elastic movement of lower elastic protrusion  15   a  against flexible tongue  4  as to obtain the approximately complete closure of passage  11 , due to the elasticity of both elements  4  and  15   a . Passage  11  can easily be opened by the pushing or extracting of an object, as the handle of a plastic bag. Once inserted the load, the handle remains connected to it even when not hold by the user,. if left on a chair or in his car ready to be used again. Space  23  can also be used as a supplemental hooking space. FIG. 5 shows handle  1 B with its stoppers  19  out of place, for ease understanding. Lower zone  7  of the handle is hand shaped,  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 6 shows double-elasticity connecting handle  1 B having a flat padding  28  kept in place: each edge  47  of padding  28  is forced between inferior part of lateral part  9  of stopper  19  and lower internal face  30  of groove  8 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 and shows the detail of how padding  28  is kept in place over the lower zone  7  of handle  1 B:.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 8 shows how stoppers  19  can be disposed all together for the printing because external face  5  is parallel to the opposite side  22  of stopper  19   
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 9 shows the hand  52  of a user holding a connecting handle  1 B connected to the handles  51  of a plastic shopper  50   
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 10 shows that the handle  51  of plastic shopper  50  can be inserted in the connecting apparatus  3  of connecting handle  1 B by simply pulling upwards-connecting handle  1 B in hooking position.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 11 shows that the handle  51  of plastic shopper  50  can be disconnected by in the connecting apparatus  3  of connecting handle  1 B by simply pulling upwards-connecting handle  1 B in disconnecting position.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 12 In the carrying of objects by a hooking handle as shown above, the upper part of hooking apparatus is weak for transportation, and it may happen that the handle could be wrongly held, causing the load to release from the upper part. This can be a problem for particular objects to be carried, and when the user has one hand inaccessible, and cannot easily repeat the hooking operation. Therefore, FIG. 12 illustrates a connecting hookable handle  1 C, which differs from handles  1 A and  1 B because it has ring-shaped bodies  84 ,  84   a  at each side of central portion  1 . By this way handle  1 C cannot hook but can be hooked by snap hooks similar to snap hook  86 , being part of additional cable set  32   c    
         [0069]    [0069]FIGS. 13, 14 shows additional cable set  32   c , particularly useful for the carrying of a ski pair  96  (as shown in FIG. 16). It comprises a set  32 , as shown above, further comprising snap hook  86  and flat element  94 . The flat element has a hole  95  in its inferior side  88  through which is threaded cable  39 . For the carrying of ski pair  96  flat element  94  is inserted with upper part  87  between skis  92  and  93  (FIGS. 15, 16), while skis  92 , 93  are wrapped by cable  39 . Thus: a) skis  92 , 93  are not pressed in a straight position, risking to lose their slightly curved shape; b) set  32   c  cannot slide on skis in an undesired position, by cause that flat element  94  is compressed and blocked by the wrapped skis, such as in a sandwich. Element  94  can have any shape, because it is only meant to being compressed and blocked.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 16 showing the position of skis  92 , 93  and of flat body  94  when skis wrapped in cable set  32   c.    
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 16 shows the position of handle  1 C when holding a ski pair  96   
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 17 shows a n additional hookable sliding cable set  32  which permits to connect to the handle objects having no hooking zone or else a plurality of objects, which are kept tightened all together also before and after the carrying. Cable set  32  comprises a loop shaped cable  39  threaded through a sliding stopper  35 .; two loops are so formed:  
         [0073]    a) an upper loop  37 , above stopper  35 , useful to be connected to the handle;  
         [0074]    b) a lower loop  33 , under stopper  35 , which can give way to a sliding loop  34  if the end  33   a  of lower loop  33  (or sliding end  33 ) is inserted into the beginning  33   b  of loop  33  beginning which is the portion immediately under stopper  35 .  
         [0075]    Stopper  35  works as an obstacle against the sliding of end  33   a  in a loosing direction. This generates a method for easily wrapping objects and keeps them tight, having the possibility of hooking them  
         [0076]    By wrapping the inserted load  62  in sliding loop  34 , the user can keep it tight by pushing stopper  35  against end  33   a . This action makes larger the upper loop  37 , which can be hooked by a hooking tool  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 18 shows a group of encumbering objects (a chair  54 , first  53  and second  55  piece of a big shore umbrella) kept tight by two cable sets  32  and hooked to connecting handle  1 B.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 19 shows an electric wire  56  kept tight by a cable set  32 .  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 20 shows a ring cable set  32   a  wherein in loop  37  a ring  40  has been inserted, performing the additional function to prevent an undesired removal of the stopper  35 , when maneuvered in releasing direction.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 21 shows an additional cable set  32   b  wherein a simple cable  44  has a snap-hook  41  at an end, a stopper  35  slid able on said cable and a loop  42  or a ring at the other end. The pulling upwards of loop  42  causes sliding loop  43  to close upon it and draws snap hook  41  against stopper  35 .  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 22 shows the connection  45  between cable  44  and snap-hook  41 , which is performed because a fixed loop  36  obtained by melting with heat the end  46  of cable  44  (made of plastic melt able material or fibers). End  46  is melted so as to become hard and thick, so as to prevent removal from stopping collar  38 .  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 23 shows two users  57 , 58  moving a sofa  59  by using two connecting handles  1 B connected by ropes  60 , 61  passed under sofa  59 .  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 24 shows a handle  1 D having additional hooks  97  connected to lower double-ended corbel  13   a.    
         [0084]    All tools shown can be built in plastic material, such as Nylon and the like, permitting the production of a very inexpensive tool having great utility.  
         [0085]    Having described the invention and its advantages, one can see that it is based on the use of several parts and that each part can have different embodiments and be used in different combinations. This gives to this new carrying equipment a great extent of uses, of which the devices described in the figures are only some examples. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not only by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents