Patent Publication Number: US-6901635-B1

Title: Shopping bag carrier

Description:
DESCRIPTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates generally to a shopping bag carrier, and more particularly, to a carrying handle for supporting and carrying bags, such as plastic shopping bags. 
   2. Background of Related Art 
   It is common for grocery stores, department stores, and the like to pack their products in plastic shopping bags. These plastic bags generally include a pair of loops which form handles for the consumers to carry the bags. While convenient, the looped handles tend to cut into the hand of consumers, making the bags uncomfortable to carry. This is especially true when carrying multiple bags or bags which are particularly heavy. It is therefore desirable to provide a device capably of carrying one or more bags, and heavy bags in a more comfortable manner. Over the years several devices have been developed in an attempt to achieve the goal of providing a comfortable handle for carrying plastic shopping bags, or the like. 
   One such device is disclosed in UK Patent Application GB 2,230,940. This application discloses a device for carrying bags which has a handle portion (1) that can be grasped by the hand of a user, and a hook portion (2) on which the shopping bags can be hung. While generally effective, the UK &#39;940 patent fails to disclose a locking member for securing the handles of the bag within the hook portion. As such, the bags may rest on the hook in an unstable and insecure fashion. 
   Another device for carrying cartons, bags or the like is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 268,815 to Schwalbach. This design patent discloses a handle which snaps shut in order to secure the handle in a closed position. However, because of the faces of the handle are parallel planes and snap together, this handle does not appear to leave sufficient room for carrying multiple bags in a comfortable manner. 
   Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,722 to Oliver also discloses a handle device for carrying packages or the flexible straps of shopping bags. This handle, like UK &#39;940, does not include any locking mechanism in which to secure the bags within the handle. 
   Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,896 to Farnsworth discloses a handle for carrying loads that includes a grip and a strap extending from the grip. The strap is lockable within the grip in order to form a loop that can be used to hold a load. However, the Farnsworth device appears to be made of a flexible plastic material which may also become uncomfortable to grip due to twisting which may occur when holding heavy loads. 
   All of the above-described devices provide a degree of comfort and support for carrying shopping bags, or other articles such as packages. However, there is continued need in the art for a device which can comfortably aid in carrying shopping bags and the like, and which is capable of carrying multiple bags and/or bags filled with heavy loads. 
   SUMMARY 
   One object of the present invention is to provide a shopping bag carrier which can comfortably and reliably support multiple bags, or a single heavily loaded bag, without producing undue strain on a user&#39;s hand. The shopping bag carrier preferably includes a carrying handle adapted to be gripped by a user, a hook extending from the handle, and a locking member supported on the hook and engageable with a locking surface of the handle so as to secure the one or more bags within the hook. In one embodiment, the carrier is preferably rigid in construction, and is made as a single, unitary member. In another embodiment, the locking member is preferably locked and unlocked by a release member using a simple action so that a user can perform the operation with one hand. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the shopping bag carrier in use with multiple bags; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the shopping bag carrier of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked position; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the shopping bag carrier of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked position; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the loading of bags onto the shopping bag carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the shopping bag carrier in the locked position holding multiple bags; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 — 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
   A shopping bag carrier  10  for supporting one or more shopping bags to be carried by a consumer is illustrated in  FIGS. 1–7 . The carrier  10  includes a handle  12  constructed and arranged to be grasped by a user, a hook  14  extending from the handle, and a locking member  16  which is engageable with a locking lip  18  of the handle  12  in order to lock the hook into a closed position during use. The handle, hook and locking member are preferably formed as a unitary member. The hook  14  is supported by the handle  12 , and the locking member  16  extends from the hook and is releasably engageable with the locking lip  18  of the handle, as described in greater detail below. 
   The handle  12  preferably includes a gripping member  20  which is designed to be grasped by a consumer and a body portion  23  for supporting hook  14 . The gripping member  20  is preferably cylindrical in shape and may include multiple curvatures on underside  20   a  sized to receive the individual fingers of the consumer&#39;s hand (not shown). The gripping member may further include a hollow portion  24 , in order to decrease the overall weight of the carrier. An opening  22  is disposed through the handle between the gripping member  20  and body portion  23 . The opening  22  is preferably sized to receive the fingers of an average consumer as well as locking member  16 , such that the fingers do not engage the locking member while the carrier is in use. A locking lip  18  is preferably supported adjacent and below the opening along an outer surface  21  of body portion  23  of the handle. The locking lip  18  is engaged by the locking member during use in order to secure the hook in a closed position, as described in greater detail below. In the present embodiment, the handle preferably has a unitary, one-piece construction, i.e. it does not open, so that the handle is secure when grasped by the user. 
   Hook  14  preferably extends from the body portion  23  and has a generally “J” shaped configuration in the open position ( FIG. 3 ) defined by outer leg  28  and a curved base  30  which is positioned between body portion  23  and outer leg  28 . The hook is sized to receive two or more plastic shopping bag handles  32  which rest at the base  30  of the “J” during use. Because of the locking and unlocking motion during use, the base  30  is preferably constructed to withstand repetitive opening and closing of the hook. In particular, the base is preferably curved as illustrated to withstand the repetitive opening and closing. Supported on an upper end  34  of leg  28  is locking member  16 . Outer leg  28  is generally rigid in order to support the weight of the one or more bags in the locked position. 
   Locking member  16  is supported at a first end  16   a  by the second end  28   b  of the leg  28  of hook  14 , and is engageable at a second end  16   b  with locking lip  18  in order to lock the hook in a closed position during use. The locking member  16  further includes an inner surface  36 , an outer surface  38  and a curvature  40  defined by the inner and outer surfaces. In the present embodiment, the curvature of the locking member is preferably inverted with respect to the curvature of the base of the hook, as illustrated. The inverted curvature allows the inner surface of the locking member to extend over the locking lip  18  and engage the locking lip  18  at the second end  16   b  of the locking member  16 . To engage the locking lip  18 , the locking member  16  is moved in the direction of arrow “B” by the consumer. Once engaged, the hook will remain in the closed position until released by the consumer. 
   Extending from and supported by the second end  16   b  of the locking member  16  is release member  42 . Release member  42  is constructed to be engaged by the user in order to unlock the hook from the handle so that the bags may be removed therefrom. In the present embodiment, the release member  42  extends upward from the second end of the locking member, toward the grip, and may further include a textured surface  44  to prevent slipping when engaged. In order to disengage the locking member, the user engages the locking member, for example with their thumb, and forces the locking member outward, in the direction of arrow “A” ( FIG. 4 ). As the locking member is forced in the direction of arrow “A”, the inner surface of the locking member is disengaged from the locking lip  18 . A gap is then formed between the hook and the handle so that the bags can be removed from the handle. The design of the locking member allows the user to unlock the hook, while holding the handle, all with a single hand. 
   In the present embodiment, handle, hook, locking member, and the release member are all preferably formed as a unitary member. It is also preferred that the handle, hook and locking member are made of a generally rigid plastic material so that the carrier can support heavily weighted bags without twisting uncomfortably in the user&#39;s hand. 
   It will be appreciated that the shopping bag carrier disclosed herein can comfortably and reliably support multiple bags, or a single heavily loaded bag, without producing undue strain on a user&#39;s hand. In addition, because it is lockable, the bags supported therein will not inadvertently slip out of the handle. 
   It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiment disclosed herein. For example, the shape and size of the handle may be varied, as would be known to those of skill in the art. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of a preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope spirit of the invention.