CA3075126A1 - Shopping cart handle cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The shopping cart handle cover, when extended, is used to protect hands from transferable germs, viruses and food related bacteria found on grocery, department and other related shopping cart handles. A two-layered design, that can be made from repurposed, washable fabric or cloth material making the cover an eco-friendly, reusable shopping cart handle cover. The shopping cart handle cover wraps around the handle and is secured together by attachment devices.
Additional features are a coin pocket and an external pocket to fold the cover into for minimizing the size of the shopping cart handle cover.

Description

2 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a personal protective cover that wraps around the handle of the shopping cart to prevent the passage of germs, viruses, microorganisms and/or food related bacteria by protecting the hands of the shopping cart handlers.
Background of Invention Germs from unwashed hands can get onto foods, into drinks, and into the human body by touching eyes, nose or mouth which will cause illness. A single gram of feces can contain one trillion germs.
People who don't wash their hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper can transfer infectious bacteria like Salmonella and Escherichia coil 0157 and the highly contagious, norovirus. The effects of these will cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and with the norovirus, vomiting. Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred onto other objects like shopping cart handles. Such handles are almost never cleaned regularly and are used by many people during the normal business day. The shopper's hands may have been clean prior to holding onto a contaminated shopping cart handle.
Continual hand holding onto the handle could put this shopper at risk by transferring the germs from the handle onto their hands and then onto other parts of their body.
To disinfect a hard surface, quaternary ammonium chloride wipes, require the surface to remain visibly wet for at least four minutes and then air dried. Viruses and bacteria can live on most surfaces for 48 hours. Some stores offer disposable sanitizing cloths to wipe down the shopping cart handle and though they may contain quaternary ammonium chloride, the four-minute wait time for the viruses and bacteria to be eliminated may be inconvenient for the shopper.
The most cautious shopper can wash their hands, use hand gels and wipe down the shopping cart handle with sanitized cloths. However, as soon as they pick up an item that is contaminated with a virus, and hold onto their shopping cart handle, the cycle can begin again.
This invention is a product that offers a protection from contamination of germs, bacteria and viruses found on shopping cart handles.

3 Description of the Prior Art US 5215319 Judy M. Farris, June 1, 1993 CA 2121079 Sandra Dee Duer, April 12, 1994 US 9676406 B1 Mistie Kocurek, Sharon Robinson, June 13, 2017 Previous covers for shopping cart handles have been designed in the means of disposable tubular plastic coverings made from a petroleum product or plastic wrap such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5215319.
Both products are not eco friendly and noted to be disposable thereby causing more consumer waste.
When applying Patent numbers CA 2121079 and US 9676406 B I the user may spend more time applying and removing the cover to and from the handles while attaching and removing the Velcro or hook and loop fasteners. It is highly likely that the user may touch the handle while trying to retract these three patents from the shopping cart handle.
The use of Velcro or hook and loop fasteners has been mentioned in all 3:
patent application number CA 5429377, US patent number 5215319 and US patent 9676406 BI. Velcro or hook and loop fasteners tends to trap other fabrics, dirt, and debris into its mesh which will keep if from sticking.
Overtime from continued use, the little loops in the Velcro or hook and loop fasteners become broken or flatten down which will inhibit from further adhesiveness. Patent number 9676406 B1 pocket design hangs below the handle and in front of the opening where a seated child's legs would be positioned.
These disadvantages can be overcome, in this invention, the use of magnets enables the user to effectively attach and remove the shopping cart handle cover in a quick expedient manner without touching the shopping cart handles. The simple interior pocket design in this invention does not extend or hang below the shopping cart handles causing an intrusion on a seated child's legs and/or feet. The embodiment of this invention is made from fabric and/or cloth material that can be machine washed repeatedly.

4 Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a cover made from fabric and/or cloth material designed for shopping cart handles to help prevent the transfer of infectious agents from one individual to another. The included illustrations will provide a further understanding, by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art to practice, that the invention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being preferred is part of the best method envisioned for carrying out the invention.
Brief Description of Drawings One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals.
Figure 1 is an in-use view of the shopping cart handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure IA is an in-use view of a shortened version of the shopping cart handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a view of the open sanitary handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a view of the bottom portion of the sanitary handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a view of the top portion that shows the folded over sewn section for the pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4A is a view of the second top portion of the sanitary handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a view of fabric pieces used for magnets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a view of the fabric piece used for the coin pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a view of the magnet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 Figure 8 is a view of interfacing used for the magnet fabric pieces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8A is a view of interfacing ironed onto a magnet fabric piece in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8B is a view of the magnet sewn onto interfaced fabric pieces in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a view of the inside bottom piece with interfaced, magnets fabric pieces attached in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a view of the inside bottom piece with the coin pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a view of the outside bottom piece with the coin pocket and magnets stitched in, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a view of the outside bottom piece with shading in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a view of the sanitary handle cover folded in half in the shape of a rectangle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13A is a view of the sanitary handle cover folded into a square shape from the rectangle shape in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 is a top detailed view of the second fold of the sanitary handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14A is a front view of the second fold on the sanitary handle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 15 is a view of the sanitary handle cover folded into the inner pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of Embodiment(s) of the Invention One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in full detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals, and wherein. Any embodiment discussed and described below are part of a best technique contemplated for carrying out the invention.

6 In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention Figure 1, is a top view of shopping cart handle 20 cover 30, when attached onto a shopping cart 10 handle 20. It fits both small and large handled 20 shopping carts 10. To attach cover 30 onto the shopping cart 10 handle 20, hold the left and right end of the cover 30 in the vertical position as shown in Figure 2, and place the cover 30 onto the handle 20. Seal the handle 20 cover 30 together by connecting the three locations where the magnets 120 are placed; on each end and in the middle. The magnetic pull from the magnets 120, seal the cover 30 together with minimal assistance. The sealed cover 30 will provide protection and act as a barrier for hands from any potentially dirty, infectious, contaminated shopping cart 10 handles 20.
Figure 1A, is a top view of this embodiment when attached onto smaller handled 20 shopping carts 10. The cover 30 is positioned onto the handles 20 as in Figure 1. Fold the corners overtop of the sealed cover 30 on the left side up to the first seam of the north and south magnets 120 on the bottom 40 cover 30. Fold the corners overtop of the cover 30 on the right side up to the first seam of the north and south magnets 120 on the bottom 40 cover 30. When all three sets of magnets 120 are sealed, the minimized cover 30 will act as a protective covering from any potentially dirty, infectious, contaminated shopping cart 10 handles 20.
Detailed Sewing Instructions of Embodiment(s) of the Invention Finish open edges of the two top pieces, Figure 4, 50 and Figure 4A, 60. Top piece 50, press down and edge stitch along the fold. Top piece 60, press down on short edge, turn under into fold, and edge stitch along the fold. Iron 6 pieces of interfacing 100 onto 6 pieces of fabric 70. The 6 interfaced fabric pieces 110 are used for the 6 magnets 90. Ensure the magnets 90 are positioned so they attract to each other. Sew each magnet 90, onto a piece of the interfaced fabric 110, see Figure 8B 120. Sew 2 sets of magnet pieces 120 onto bottom piece 40, on the short edges and on the long edge. The 3' set is sewn on the right outside edge onto bottom piece 40 and down from long edge, see Figure 9.
Coin Pocket 80: fold the fabric coin pocket 80 in half place folded side down from raw edge, see Figure 9. Zigzag stitch coin pocket 80 onto the wrong side of the bottom piece 40, around the three sides, leaving the folded side open, as shown on Figure 10.

7 Seam the two top pieces 50 and 60 onto bottom piece 40 see Figure 11 & 12.
Ensure edges are trimmed even to each other. Sew wrong sides together, clip corners. Lay right sides together, flatten seam, sew remainder seam allowance. To close the opening on top piece 60 top stitch the edge shown in Figure 2. Top stitch the other top piece 50, below the pocket opening to create bottom of pocket 130 shown in Figure 2.
Pocket Folding Instructions of the Embodiment To minimize the shopping cart 10 handle 20 cover 30 into the pocket: matching the magnets 120, fold in half width ways as in Figure 13, fold in half width ways again, shown in Figure 13A, folded pieces on top, pocket 130 on the bottom, pocket 130 opening facing you. Place both little fingers inside the pocket 130 shown in Figure 14A; the left little finger touching left inner seam and the right little finger touching the right inner seam. Place the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands, on top of the folded cover 30 Figure 14, and both thumbs inside the pocket 130 near the little fingers. Pinch both sets of fingers from the top of the cover 30 together with the two thumbs inside the pocket 130. Turn it inside out by pulling the top folded outer cover 30 into the inner pocket 130, inside itself shown in Figure 15. As the pocket 130 is being pushed inside itself, the two thumbs and little fingers will be on the outside of the pocket 130 and the two sets of fmgers will be on the inside of the pocket 130. Adjust inner cover 30 to allow cover 30 to lay flat inside the pocket 130.

8 The designs of this invention have been described in the context of embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modification, additions and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
Claims 1. A shopping cart handle cover of fabric material is sufficiently sized to cover and provide protection from potentially dirty, infectious and/or contaminated shopping cart handles. Two top panels are affixed onto a bottom panel. The first top panel edging is attached onto the bottom panel around all four sides. The second top panel is attached around all three outside edges and across the middle section, leaving an opening in the front of the panel to overlap onto the first top panel and to form a pocket. Magnets are attached to the bottom panel for closure purposes, the bottom panel lays overtop of a shopping cart handle and magnets are sealed together. An appropriately sized pocket for a coin is attached to the back panel.
2. The top and bottom panels on a shopping cart handle cover as recited in claim 1 will affix onto smaller shopping cart handles. When placed onto the smaller handle the two ends of the bottom cover are folded over top of the shopping cart handle cover and are magnetically held together.
3. A shopping cart cover as recited in claims 1 and 2 are made from fabric or cloth material that is designed to be portable, reusable, and washable.
4. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1, 2 and 3 can be made of natural or synthetic fabric, cloth, wool, hemp, woven or nonwoven, containing plastic properties or any other type of material, whether natural, manufactured or fabricated, not mentioned herein.
5. A shopping cart handle cover as mentioned in claim 1 and 2 contains a pocket for the shopping cart handle cover to be folded into itself for easy storage and transportation to and from each destination.

Claims (12)

The designs of this invention have been described in the context of embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modification, additions and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
Claims

1. A shopping cart handle cover of fabric material is sufficiently sized to cover and provide protection from potentially dirty, infectious and/or contaminated shopping cart handles. Two top panels are affixed onto a bottom panel. The first top panel edging is attached onto the bottom panel around all four sides. The second top panel is attached around all three outside edges and across the middle section, leaving an opening in the front of the panel to overlap onto the first top panel and to form a pocket. Magnets are attached to the bottom panel for closure purposes, the bottom panel lays overtop of a shopping cart handle and magnets are sealed together. An appropriately sized pocket for a coin is attached to the back panel.

2. The top and bottom panels on a shopping cart handle cover as recited in claim 1 will affix onto smaller shopping cart handles. When placed onto the smaller handle the two ends of the bottom cover are folded over top of the shopping cart handle cover and are magnetically held together.

3. A shopping cart cover as recited in claims 1 and 2 are made from fabric or cloth material that is designed to be portable, reusable, and washable.

4. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1, 2 and 3 can be made of natural or synthetic fabric, cloth, wool, hemp, woven or nonwoven, containing plastic properties or any other type of material, whether natural, manufactured or fabricated, not mentioned herein.

5. A shopping cart handle cover as mentioned in claim 1 and 2 contains a pocket for the shopping cart handle cover to be folded into itself for easy storage and transportation to and from each destination.

6. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1, 2 and 5 can be made without a pocket that would fold into itself.

7. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1 and 2 has an outer pocket that will magnetically hold a coin consisting of magnetic metal properties.

8. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1, 2 and 7 can be made without a pocket for coins with or without magnetic metal properties.

9. A shopping cart handle cover as recited in claims 1 and 2 can be attached together with the use of magnets after being placed onto the shopping cart handles. The use of magnets allows for easy attachment and removal by the shopper without having to touch the shopping cart handle.

10. The unique placement of magnets allows the inside cover that touches the shopping cart handles to seal itself once it's removed from the shopping cart. This avoids cross contamination from potential viruses and germs associated with shopping cart handles. This invention could then be folded into its inner pocket and transported without further contamination to the shopper.

11. This invention as recited in claims 1, 2, 9 and 10 can be attached together for closure purposes with the use of Velcro and/or hook and loop fasteners, snaps and other types of fasteners not mentioned herein.

12. This invention as recited in claims 1 and 2 can be washed by hand or machine to enable multiple uses over an undetermined amount of time.