GB2304552A

GB2304552A - Carrier bag handle

Info

Publication number: GB2304552A
Application number: GB9618915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Arthur Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-08
Filing date: 1996-09-09
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Also published as: GB9618915D0

Abstract

A handle, for use with plastic carrier bags and the like, comprises a tube 10 with a slot 11 along its length. The ends of the tube may have indentations opposite the slot, and the lips at the ends of the slot are preferably rounded. The ends of the slot may also be provided with outwardly extending wings. In use, a bag has its two handle portions inserted into the tube 10 through the slot 11. The handle is then held with the slot 11 upwards, and the bag therefore hangs from the tube. Several bags can be attached to the same tube.

Description

Han1e The present invention relates to handles, and more specifically to handles intended to give additional support to carrier bags made of thin plastics material.

Carrier bags made of thin plastics material are commonplace, and are normally provided free of charge in shops, stalls, supermarkets, and so on. A typical bag may have load-holding dimensions of say 400 x 400 mm when expanded. Some bags are made with a pair of oval cut-outs to form handles; others have a pair of broad strap-like extensions forming loops at the top corners of the bag. These handles readily become compressed in use. The material of which they are made is extremely thin, and the handle portion crunches up to a thin rope with a diameter in the region of 1 mm. This becomes uncomfortable or even painful to carry. particularly if the bag is heavily loaded (a bag can carry a load approaching 10 kg) and/or several bags are being carried.

It is possible to use sd hoc methods of spreading the load, such as using a folded handkerchief. However, this is inconvenient, and in practice it is found that it is not particularly effective. A carrying element has also been proposed consisting of a handle carrying a hook. However, this results in the bags being supported at an inconveniently low height, and so tending to drag on the ground.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved handle for use with such carrier bags.

Accordingly the present invention provides a handle, for use with plastic carrier bags and the like, comprising a tube with a slot along its length.

Preferably the ends of the tube have indentations opposite the slot, and preferably the lips at the ends of the slot are rounded. The ends of the slot may also be provided with outwardly extending wings.

Two handles embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figs. 1A and 1B are top and side views of a simple form of handle; Figs. 2A and 2B are similar views of a modified form of handle; and Figs. 3A and 3B are similar views of a further modified form of handle.

Referring to Figs. lA and lB, the handle consists of a tube 10 having a slot ii running along its length. The tube is preferably made of plastics material strong enough to maintain its shape without substantial distortion when loaded with say 20-30 kg (ie something above the maximum weight which a person can comfortably carry in one hand). In use, a bag has its two handle portions inserted into the tube 10 through the slot 11. The handle is then held with the slot 11 upwards, and the bag therefore hangs from the tube. Several bags can be attached to the same tube.

The tube should be long enough to be held comfortably, distributing its load over all fingers of a hand, but should be short enough to accommodate most standard sizes of plastic bag; a length of around 600 mm will usually be suitable.

Its diameter should be such that the tube can be held comfortably; a diameter of around 15-20 mm will usually be suitable. This diameter is also adequate for the tube to accommodate the handles of several bags. The slot 11 should be large enough for the handles of a bag to be inserted easily; a width of around 5 mm will usually be suitable.

The ends of the tube 10 are tapered, as shown, to allow easier insertion of the bag handles. The lips at either end are rounded, to minimize snagging of the handles on insertion or removal.

Figs. 2A and 2B show a modified form of tube in which each end of the tube has an indentation 12 opposite the slot 11. In use, the handles of the carrier bags engage in these indentations. This prevents the tube from twisting, and ensures thet the handles cannot become accidentally disengaged from the tube.

Figs. 3A and 3B show a further modified form of tube in which the slot 11 is provided with outwardly directed wings 13 at each end. These make it eesier to insert the carrier bag handles.

The tube may be further modified by providing speced indentations along its bottom region, to fit the fingers of the hand of a user. Since the user is unlikely to distinguish between the ends of the tube, these indentations should preferably be pleced symmetrically.

The handles may conveniently be formed of plastics material, either by extrusion or by injection moulding. With extrusion, a continuous length of tube with a slot is produced, which must then be cut into suitable lengths, with the ends of the cut lengths being suitably shaped as shown in Figs. 1A and 1B or 2A and 2B; the Figs. 3A and 3B form of tube is obviously not easy to produce by this method. With injection moulding, it is relatively easy to produce any of the shapes of Figs. 1A and IB, 2A and 2B, or 3A and 3B (with or without fingers matching indentations).

Claims

Gleime

1 A handle, for use with plastic carrier bags and the like, comprising a tube with a slot along its length.

2 A handle according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the tube have indentations opposite the slot.

3 A handle according to either previous claim wherein the lips at the ends of the slot are rounded.

4 A handle according to any previous claim wherein the ends of the slot are provided with outwardly extending wings.

5 A handle substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1A and IB, 2A and 2B, or 3A and 3B of the drawings.

6 Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).