PORTE-SAC A PROVISIONS MAINS LIBRES

HANDS FREE SHOPPING BAG CARRIER

Description

CA 02419410 2003-02-19
a
HANDS FREE SHOPPING BAG CARRIER
The present invention relates a hands free shopping bag carrier.
The prevalent method of bagging groceries is the use of plastic bags equipped
with
a pair of handles. These plastic bags. are both inexpensive and the handles
provide a
gripping area compared to paper bags which must be supported from underneath.
For many years, there have been proposals to help people in the transport of
relatively heavy loads. Many devices have been described in the art.
Originally, humans
used a stick holding a bag over the shoulder although there have been
proposals for more
sophisticated devices. At the present time, it is common for people to carry
their grocery
bags and the like by hand. This puts a burden on the forgers, strains the
muscles of the
wrists and arms; and ties up both hands making it difficult to hold a
banister, use stairs, or
open or close doors. Furthermore, a large segment of the population usually
already has a
hand tied up such a~s a business person holding an attache-case, a student
carrying books,
or an elderly person employing a cane.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which allows for
the easy
transportation of many grocery bags of the plastic type having handles.
It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a shopping bag
carrier
which is easily stored when not in use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shopping bag
carrier
which does not require assembly and is light weight.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shopping bag
carrier
which may be easily manufactured and which is comfortable to carry.
According to the present invention; there is provided a hands free shopping
bag
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Garner which includes a strap; the strap having a flexible shoulder pad and
having a
pair of swivel snap hooks, one located at each end.
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the use of the hands free shopping
bag
carrier of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 6 is a view of one end thereof when in use;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the p .resent
invention; and
Figure 8 is a detail view of the fastening means employed therein.
As shown in Figures I and 2; there is provided a shopping bag Garner which is
generally designated by reference numeral lU.
Shopping bag carrier 10 includes a strap member 12 which, in the illustrated
embodiment, is of a rectangular configuration. Strap 12 is preferably formed
of a webbed
material as is known in the art. The particular material employed may be
selected from
many such materials which are suitable for the purpose.
A shoulder pad I4 is provided in the central portion of strap 12 and extends
thereabout in a conventional manner. Shoulder pad 14 may be formed of a molded
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flexible rubber material.
'The dimensions of the strap and shoulder pad may vary although preferably,
the
strap has a length of between 10 and I4 inches and a width of between 1 and 2
inches.
Located at either end of strap 12 are hook assemblies 16. Each hook assembly
16,
as may be seen in Figure 1, comprises a frame portion 18 having a slot through
which the
end of strap 12 extends and is secured, usually by means of a line of
stitching. A hook 12
is secured to the other end of frame 18 and which hook is of the snap lock
variety.
As shown in Figure 3, the shopping bag earner may be placed over the shoulder
of
the user and grocery bags 22 having handles 24 may be secured thereto.
An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 4. In this arrangement, a D-ring
26
is secured at each end of strap 12 intermediate hook assembly 16 and the
respective end of
shoulder pad 14. D-rings 26 are spaced and sized such that hooks 20 may be
secured
thereto as indicated by arrow 28. The hooks may be secured to D-ring 26 both
when in use
and when not in use.
In the various embodiments illustrated herein, similar reference numerals are
employed for similar components. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, at one end of
strap 12
there may be provided a hook and loop type of fastener having a hook portion
32 and a
loop portion 30: As shown in Figure 6; they may be folded upon each other and
hold a
grocery bag 22 therebetween.
In the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, at each end of strap 12 there is
provided a
member 36 having a key shaped slot 38 formed therein. A further member 40 is
mounted
to the strap 12 and includes a raised button portion 42 designed to fit within
keyhole
aperture 38 and be retained thereby. The secured grocery bag 22.is illustrated
in Figure 7.
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It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of
illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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