GB2501543A

GB2501543A - A cover for the handle of a shopping trolley, basket or bag

Info

Publication number: GB2501543A
Application number: GB1208171.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Peter Dunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-28
Filing date: 2012-05-09
Publication date: 2013-10-30
Also published as: GB201208171D0; GB201207563D0

Abstract

A cover for the handle(s) of a shopping trolley, basket or bag is disclosed, said cover being intended to prevent dirt or germs on the handle being transferred to the hand of the user. The cover comprises an elongate flexible enclosure with an opening 3 along one side, said opening being passed over the handle 6 in use so that the circumference of the handle is substantially enclosed. The opening may be located on the underside of a trolley handle, or on the upper side of the handles of a basket or bag (figures 17 and 21) so that the cover is used to grip the handles. The cover may be cleanable, and may contain an anti-bacterial agent. One or more covers may be used together, and the outer surface may contain an area 2 for advertising information and ribs 4 to aid gripping.

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE DEVICE TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER OF GERMS AND GRIME

ON SHOPPING TROLLEY HANDLES AND SHOPPING BASKET HANDLES.

The present invention relates to an endosure for use by a person using a shopping trolley ( U.S. cart) and or shopping basket provided in store by retailers, to prevent the transfer of germs, bacteria, viruses, grime for example, from the hands of one person to another.

A person using a shopping trolley or shopping basket in a supermarket or other retail premises may have dirty or germ ridden hands or gloves and these can be transferred to the handles of the shopping trolley or shopping basket. Until the handle is deanS, impurities, disease and infection may be passed on to the hands or gloves of later users A sticky and grimy shopping trolley handle or shopping basket handle may also be unpleasant to use.

AdditionalEy when a shopping trolley is taken out of the store to a motor vehicle in wet conditions, the trolley handle may become wet and unpleasant to use, the enclosure will protect the hands from the wet handle.

The present invention seeks to improve the hygiene of a hand-propelled vehicle such as a shopping trolley or a hand-held shopping basket, by making available to the shopper an enclosure which can be purchased at low cost or may be provided free of charge by the retailer, or produce manufacturer, during sales promotions.

Thus viewed from one aspect the present invention provides one or more enclosures mountable in a mounted position on an elongate handle of a hand-propelled vehicle for preventing the transfer of germs and other impurities from one user to another. (1)

in usee it would be beneficial to mount the enclosure5 at or near each end of the elongate handle or in the middle of the handle to suit the requirements of the user.

Thus viewed from another aspect. the present invention provides one or more enclosures mountable in a mounted position gripping one or more handles of a hand-held shopping basket.

Where a basket has two handles it may be beneficial to grip both handles together with one or more enclosures for ease of use. In this aspect, the added benefit Is that the user's hand or hands are protected from hardness of the basket handles.

Viewed from a further aspect, the enclosure may be mounted on one or more shopping bags to take the purchased goods from the store to a waiting vehicle or to the users destination.

According to the present invention, the enclosure preferably comprises a length of flexible plastics, rubber compound, textile fabric or other mateilal, preferably a recycled material and may contain an anti-bacterial agent. The diameter of the inside of the enclosure being of optimum size to loosely encircie a shopping trolley handle, a shopping basket handle or handles, and shopping bag handles.

The outside surface of the enclosure may incorporate grip ribs and an area to accept a company logo, advertising slogan or information. The enclosure may incorporate grip ribs to prevent the enclosure rotating and thickened walls to provide strength to otherwise flexible surfaces. (2)

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in a non-limitative sense by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings In which:-Figure 1. is a side view of the enclosure of the invention.

Figure 2. is a top view of the enclosure of the invention.

Figure 3. is a view from undemeath of the enclosure of the invention.

Figure 4. is an end view of the enclosure of the invention.

Figure 5. as Figure 1, showing the enclosed shopping trolley handle.

Figure 6. as Figure 2, showing the enclosed shopping trolley handle.

Figure 7. as Figure 3, showing the shopping trolley handle Figure 8. is an end view of the enclosure of the invention being inserted over a shopping trolley handle, the arrows indicating the insertion direction Figure 9. as in Figure 8 with the insertion process completed.

Figure 10. is a side view of the inverted enclosure of the invention.

Figure 11. is a view from underneath of the inverted endosure of the invention.

Figure 12. is a top view of the inverted enclosure of the invention.

Figure 13. is an end view of the inverted enclosure of the invention.

Figure 14. as in flgure 10 showing the shopping basket handle.

Figure 15. as in Figure 11 showing the shopping basket handles.

Figure 16. as in Figure 12 showing the shopping basket handles.

Figure 17. as in Figure 13 showing a cross-section of the shopping basket handles.

Figure 18. as in Figure 10 showing the shopping bag handles.

Figure 19. as in Figure 11, showing the shopping bag handles.

Figure 20 as in figure 12, showing the shopping bag handles.

Figure 21 as in Figure 13, showing the shopping bag handles. (3)

Refening to Figures 1 to 21 of the enclosure of the present invention:-Figures ito 4 Endosure -1, Area for corporate logo and advertising -2, Gap in the enclosure -3, Grip ribs 4. Strengthened wall -5.

Figures 5 to 9 As in Figures 1 to 4. Shopping trolley handle -6.

Direction of enclosure insertion on shopping trolley handle -9.

Figures 10 to 13 As in Figures 1 to 4.

Figures 14 to 17 As in Figures 10 to 13. Shopping basket handles -7.

Figures 18 to 21 As in Figures 10 to 13. Shopping bag handles -8. (4)

Claims

CLAIMS.1. A flexible multi purpose enclosure with a longitudinal gap to enable it to be inserted over a shopping trolley handle, in use it would be preferable for the gap to be underneath the shopping trolley handle.
2. A flexible multi-purpose enclosure with a longitudinal gap to enable it to be inserted over one or more shopping basket handles, in use it would be preferable Thr the gap to be above the shopping basket handles.
3. A flexible multi-purpose enclosure with a longitudinal gap to enable it to be inserted over shopping bag handles, in use it would be preferable for the gap to be above the shopping bag handles.
4. When used as described in Claims 1 and 2, the enclosure will prevent the transfer of germs and grime from the hands or gloves of one user of the shopping trolley handle to the following users.
5. When used as described in aaim 3, the enclosure will protect the users hand or hands against the harshness of the shopping bag handles.
6. The enclosure may be used on many occasions and is capable of being washed or otherwise cleaned by the owner between shopping visits.
7. When used as described in Claim 1, the enclosure will distort to enable it to be inserted over the shopping trolley handle and then retain its' shape.
8. When used as described in Claims 2 and 3, the enclosure may distort to provide improved grip to the shopping basket handles and the shopping bag handles and retain its' shape after use..
9. An anti-bacterial agent may be added In the manufacturing materials to provide additional protection against the transfer of germs from one person to another. (5)