Patent ID: 8182008

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an upper portion having at least one terminal end cantileverly extending from a first point in the upper portion; a lower portion comprising at least one terminal end having a receiving area formed on a first side of the lower portion, facing the upper portion, on which at least a looped handle of a carrying item may rest and a handling area formed on a second side of the lower portion opposite the first side forming a grip to lift the apparatus; and a connection mechanism for connecting the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the connection mechanism allows the upper portion to swivel in relation to the lower portion, such that in an open position the looped handle may be placed on the receiving area, and in a closed position the upper portion swivels to cover the terminal end of the lower portion and the receiving area in a closed loop to secure the looped handle, eliminating possibility of the looped handle sliding off the receiving area and the terminal end of the lower portion, wherein the grip area is monolithic with respect to the lower portion and located below the connection mechanism that allows the upper portion to swivel in relation to the lower portion, and wherein the at least one terminal end of the upper portion engages in an interlocking operational relationship with the at least one terminal end of the lower portion when in the closed position such that any downwardly force exerted on the receiving area of the lower portion as the result of the weight of a carrying item is directly transferred to the terminal end of the upper portion, wherein the interlocking operational relationship results in the terminal end of the upper portion react by pulling upwardly on the terminal end of the lower portion engaged thereto, increasing an interlocking force between the two terminal ends of the upper portion and the lower portion in proportion to the downwardly force applied to the receiving area as the result of the weight of the carrying items.