GB2296653A

GB2296653A - Carrier-bag linking and gripping device

Info

Publication number: GB2296653A
Application number: GB9500304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Laurence Wray; Elizabeth Rolfe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-01-07
Filing date: 1995-01-07
Publication date: 1996-07-10
Also published as: GB9500304D0

Abstract

In a device which hooks through one or more carrier-bags' handles, D, linking them together, closing the bag or bags and providing a more comfortable single handle to grip the bag or bags, the handle is either comprised as one with the hook or an independent part connected to the hook. In the example of the comprised hook/handle, Fig 3, a rectangular piece of flexible but strong material, A (e.g. foam rubber or similar) hooks through the carrier bag or bags' handles, D, and is then sealed closed using a releasable fastener (e.g. Velcro(RTM) strips B and c). This then forms a single handle-grip. In the example of the independent hook/handle, Fig 4 shows a hook part, F, connected to the handle, E, by a hinge, H, and releasable lock, I. The hook part is threaded through the carrier-bag or bags' handles, D, closed, and gripped using the padded grip, G. <IMAGE>

Description

CARRIER- BAG LINKING AND GRIPPING DEVICE This invention relates to a carrier-bag linking and gripping device.

Carrying carrier-bags loaded with heavy shopping from supermarkets and other shops can be tiresome and painful on the fingers. In addition, putting down and picking up of multiple carrier-bags involves the fiddly and time-consuming process of threading one's fingers through all the bags' separate handles. Also, when placing carrier-bags down in storage areas on buses, etc. they are liable to open, possibly spilling their contents and offering little security to the goods inside.

According to the present invention, there is provided a solution to the above-mentioned problems. This is in the form of a carrier-bag linking and gripping device, which hooks through one or more of the carrier-bags' handles, linking them together, closing the bag or bags and, in addition, providing a more comfortable single handle to grip the bag or bags; the handle being either comprised as one with the hook or an independent part connected to the hook.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a top view of the link-grip device drawn to approximately actual size.

Figure 2 shows a side-view of the link-grip device.

Figure 3 shows a side-view of the link-grip device in operation.

Figure 4 shows an alternative example of the link-grip device.

Referring to the drawing in Fig 1, A illustrates a top view of a rectangular piece of flexible, but strong, material (possibly foam-rubber of msmilar) comprising the link-grip.

B shows a strip of VelcMo 'hook" connected to the link-grip and C shows a strip of Velcro "loop" (shown in broken line as it is on the underside of the link-grip).

Fig 2 shows the link-grip from a side view.

Fig 3 shows the link-grip in operation.

It is being gripped by hand, the carrier-bag handles, D, are jointly hooked wi 9 the link-grip A, which is sealed, closed by the VelcroAstrips B and C.

Fig 4 shows an alternative example of the link-grip, this time possibly made of a more rigid material (e.g. plastic or metal). This consists of a handle, E, with a padded grip, G, and hook, F. The handle and hook are two independent parts connected by a hinge, H, and releasable lock, I. The carrier-bag handles, D, are hooked to the device by releasing the lock, I, threading the hook, F, through the carrier-bag handles, D, and re-closing the lock, I, which could operate on a self-locking catch mechanism or similar (not shown).

Claims

1. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device which hooks through one or more carrier-bags' handles, linking them together, closing the bag or bags and, in addition, providing a more comfortable single handle to grip the bag or bags; the handle being either comprised as one with the hook, or an independent part connected to the hook.

2. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device as claimed in Claim 1, which is constructed from a rectangular piece of flexible but strong material (e.g. foam rubber or similar).

3. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device, as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which can be sealed closed by means of a releasable fastener (e.g. Velcrog, ,)J

4. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device as claimed in Claim 1 but differing in construction from Claim 2 or Claim 3 in that it consists of independent, but joined, handle and hook parts.

5. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device as claimed in Claim 4, constructed of a rigid material (e.g. plastic or metal), with a padded hand-grip.

6. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, where the hook part is hinged to open and re-closed by a releasable lock.

7. A carrier-bag linking and gripping device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing.