GB2383744A

GB2383744A - A Carrying strap

Info

Publication number: GB2383744A
Application number: GB0200271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Alexander Brittain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-08
Filing date: 2002-01-08
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-08
Also published as: GB2383744B; GB0200271D0

Abstract

A carrying aid comprises a hook 12 at one end of a strap, the strap having a fastener 13 at a mid-portion thereof which in use locates in the base of the hand, the distal end 14 of the strap spaced from the hook being engageable with the fastener to form an adjustable length strap which passes around the back of a user's wrist. That portion of the strap between the fastener and the distal end of the strap can be broadened to increase the load transmitting area to the back of a user's wrist wrist and the inner surface of the strap adjacent to the wrist may be padded 112. The fastener can comprise a stud on the mid-portion of the strap engageable with a plurality spaced holes 15 in the distal portion of the strap. The hook can comprise an elongate u-shaped channel having one side formed integrally with the strap and may be formed by the end of the strap being turned back of itself. The edges of the hook may be chamfered. The carrying aid may formed as a single moulding. In use, the carrying aid reduces the discomfort associated with carrying heavily-laden bags held by flexible handles such as shopping bags.

Description

A Carrying Aid Field This invention relates to carryings aids in particularly but not necessarily, a carrying aid which is utilised for carrying of bags.

Background of the Invention The carrying of loaded plastic carrier bags can give rise to difficulties due to the static loading exerted in the hand of the person carrying heavily laden bags by the flexible bag handles. A known method of preventing the handles from cutting into the hand and making the carrying operation more comfortable is shown in PCT/US91/01234, and in PCT/NZ93/00124, is for the bag handles to locate in a relatively rigid U shaped section holder. However, such devices do not avoid the static loading on the hand which causes the muscles to be held in tension for long periods of time which can cause pain and discomfort. This problem may be due to a build up of lactic acid in the hand muscles which is increased by a lack of circulation due to the hand being held in tension in a static position, and a reduced flow of de-oxygenated blood from the fingers due to the squeezing and constriction of the returning veins caused by static load. This complaint is more common amongst persons having weak circulation and particularly amongst the elderly who are one of the largest group of pedestrian

shoppers.

Another known carrying aid is shown in FR-A-2766679 in which a U shaped section support is mounted on wrist strap which is placed around the wrist. This allows the hand to be relieved of the carrying load occasionally and may allow the hand to flex to increase circulation. However such a device still constricts the wrist and blood flow through the main vein.

Object of the Present Invention The present invention provides a carrying aid which reduces the discomfort associated with carrying heavily laden bags held by flexible handles.

I Statements of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a carrying aid comprising an adjustable strap having a hook at one end thereof which in use is held in the hand, a fastening device at a mid-portion of the strap and which in use locates in the base of the hand, and a distal end portion away from the hook engagable with the fastening device to form an adjustable length strap which in use passes around the back of the wrist.

The above carrying aid distributes the load about the base of the hand and back of the wrist allowing for movement of the hand during carrying, and unimpeded blood flow between

the hand and wrist thereby reducing the build up of lactic acid in the muscles of the hand. This reduces discomfort and allows static loads to be carried further than they otherwise might have been.

The portion of strap between the fastening device and the distal end portion may be broadened to increase the load transmitting area on the back of the wrist. The inner surface in use adjacent the wrist may be padded for comfort, preferably by a layer of foam which could be moulded integrally with the strap.

The fastening device may be any suitable device such as a buckle, a stud on mid portion of the strap engagable in a

plurality of spaced holed in said distal portion, or may cet) comprise a hook member of a hook/loop (velcro attachment

system the loop member being on the distal end portion of the strap.

The hook comprises an elongate U shaped channel and may have one side formed integrally with the strap preferably by the end portion of the strap being turned back on itself to form the other side of the channel, the ends of the other side of the channel being chamfered.

The strap may be formed as a single moulding.

Preferably the strap is usable on both the left or right

hand of a wearer.

Description of the drawings The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a carrying aid according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view of the aid as fitted to the wearer, Fig. 4 is a view of the aid in use, Fig. 5 is a view of a hand clenched around the aid showing the principle veins, and Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a second carrying aid also according to the present invention.

Description of the Invention With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a carrying aid 10 which comprises an adjustable strap 11 having a hook member 12 at one end, a fastening device 13 at a midportion of the strap, and a distal end portion 14. The strap 11 in use has an inner side 20 which in use lies adjacent the skin of the wearer and an upper side 21 which faces away from the skin. The fastening device 13 is in the form of a stud on the upper side 21 having a detent 16 thereon and distal end portion 14 has a plurality of spaced holes 15 therein, each of which can be forced over the detent to engage the stud 13. The spaced apart holes form

a strap the length of which is adjustable in discrete steps. other suitable fastening devices may be used if desired.

The hook member 12 comprises a"U"shaped section elongate channel formed from a portion of said one end being turned back on itself preferably towards the upper side 21 of the strap. The hook member 12 is preferably integral with the strap 11 which forms one side of the"U"shaped channel and the strap narrows in width towards the stud 13 forming a triangular portion 22 which fits into the palm of the hand (see Fig. 3) with the stud 13 at the apex. The outer or upper side 23 of the hook member 12 has chamfered end portions 25 which in use facilitate the placement of flexible bag handles onto the hook.

A narrow mid-portion 18 of the strap 11, extends away from the apex of the triangular portion 22 at a bias angle to the"U"shaped channel so that in use it passes from the palm at a bias to the back of the wrist of the wearer. A suitable bias angle may be between 40-60 degrees, and preferably about 45-50 degrees. The strap then broadens into a wider mid portion 19 which in use passes behind the wrist. In use, the mid-portion 19 transmits the loads on the hook member 12 to the back of the wrist and may comprise a continuous broad portion of the strap or alternatively, as shown, may comprise marginal continuous portions 24 with a hollow centre 25. The hollow centre 25

may be filled with a padded section for comfort. The padded section could carry some decoration, information, advertising, etc on its upper surface.

The broad mid section then extends into the narrower distal end portion 14 of the strap which in use extends at a bias across the base of the hand to fasten with the stud 13.

As is shown in Fig. 3, the carrying aid is worn with the hook member 12 in the palm of the hand and the strap passing around the back of the wrist to fasten on the stud 13. As shown in Fig. 4 the handles of a plastic type carrier bag 30 are located in the hook member 12 and the hand then clenched in the normal manner.

The bag load is transmitted to the back of the wrist and the base of the hand. The device allows the hand to be free to flex to relieve muscles and improve circulation. As can be seen in Fig. 5 the bias angle of the crossing straps avoids constricting the veins V passing from the hand to the wrist.

The hook member 12, fastening device 13 and strap 11 may be moulded in a suitable plastics material for example a polyolefin such as polypropylene, nylon etc. , as a single component. Any padding on the inner surface may be added as a separate component or alteratively moulded onto the strap eg. a polypropylene foam padding could be moulded in situ

against a previously formed strap in the same mould.

Fig 6. shows a modified carrying aid 100 in which the strap 111 is biased on the opposite angle to that in Fig. 1, and is a continuously narrow strap having a broad central padded portion 112 added to the inner side of the narrow strap.

The devices 10 or 100 may be used with either hand.

Claims

Claims 1. A carrying aid comprising an adjustable strap having a hook at one end thereof which in use is held in the hand, a fastening device at a mid portion of the strap and which in use locates in the base of the hand, and a distal end portion away from the hook engagable with the fastening device to form an adjustable length strap which in use passes around the back of the wrist.
2. A carrying aid as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the portion of strap between the fastening device and the distal end portion may be broadened to increase the load transmitting area on the back of the wrist.

1
3. A carrying device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the inner surface of the strap in use adjacent the wrist is padded.
4. A carrying device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the strap has a foam layer formed integrally with its inner surface.
5. A carrying device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the fastening device comprises a stud on mid portion of the strap engagable in a plurality of spaced holes in said distal portion.

<Desc/Clms Page number 9>
6. A carrying device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the hook comprises an elongate U shaped channel having one side formed integrally with the strap.
7. A carrying device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the hook is formed by the end portion of the strap being turned back on itself.
8. A carrying device as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the other side of the hook is chamfered.
9. A carrying device as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the strap may be formed as a single moulding.

I
10. A strap as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 which is usable on both the left or right hand of a wearer.