US20070187967A1

US20070187967A1 - Bag holder

Info

Publication number: US20070187967A1
Application number: US11/355,838
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-16
Filing date: 2006-02-16
Publication date: 2007-08-16

Abstract

This invention provides a simple means to allow a user to carry a bag without injuring his hands. This apparatus provides a safe means to carry a bag because it has a flexible portion for human fingers to grasp and it has secured ends to keep the bag in place while it is being carried.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a bag holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, when people shop and buy groceries, clothing or other items they carry their bought items in shopping bags. When they carry these items in the shopping bags sometimes the bag may be heavy and may be cumbersome to carry. In addition, when the person carries the bags he may injure his hands.
Some devices were developed to assist the person with holding shopping bags such as a plastic suspension device, but these devices were also cumbersome to use because they did not allow a person to comfortably hold the device and carry the bag. Also, other devices were developed to assist the person with carrying shopping bags, but these devices did not allow a person to comfortably carry the device and the bag.
Therefore, there is a need for a simple device that allows a user to comfortably transport items in a bag from one place to another.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned technical background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bag holder that enables the user to simply and easily hold a bag.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention an apparatus for holding a bag is disclosed. The apparatus includes a handle member having a bottom portion, a hollow portion, a base and a top curved surface. An opening is formed in between the top curved surface and the base, where the opening is configured to receive a handle of a bag. The opening defines a hollow portion, where the handle of the bag is retained in the hollow portion. The bottom portion is disposed below the hollow portion, wherein the bottom portion is configured to be grasped by human fingers.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for a bag holder is disclosed. A handle member has a bottom portion, a hollow portion, a base and a top curved surface. The top curved surface is configured to encompass the base. An opening is formed in between the top curved surface and the base, where the opening is configured to receive a handle of a bag. The opening defines a hollow portion, where the handle of the bag is retained in the hollow portion. The bottom portion is disposed below the hollow portion, where the bottom portion is configured to be grasped by human fingers.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method for holding a bag is disclosed. A handle member is provided. The handle of a bag is inserted into an opening in between a base and a top curved surface of a handle member. The handle of the bag is secured in the opening and the handle of the bag is retained in the handle member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1A illustrates a bag holder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1B depicts another bag holder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 depicts the bag holder of FIG. 1 with a bag attached to the bag holder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a flow chart that shows how the bag holder is utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The presently preferred embodiments of the invention are described with references to the drawings, where like components are identified with the same numerals. The descriptions of the preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
FIG. 1A shows a bag holder. This bag holder 101 includes: a top portion 103, bottom portion 105, a hollow portion 107 and a base 109. Bag holder 101 may be made of any durable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as plastic, aluminum, copper or stainless steel. For this embodiment, bag holder 101 has a cylindrical or tube-like shape, or it may have a rectangular shape. The bag holder 101 may have any shape and the bag holder 101 may be referred to as a handle member. Also, the top portion 103 has a curved top portion, which turns inward towards the hollow portion 107 and inward towards the base 109. Referring to FIG. 1B, the top curved surface portion 103 encompasses the base 109, where the top curved surface portion 103 overlaps the base 109. For this handle member 101, the bag 201 (FIG. 2) is inserted under the top curved surface portion 103 into an opening 107 a and into the hollow portion 107. Referring to FIG. 1B, the bag 201 (FIG. 2) may be inserted under the top curved surface portion 103 into the opening 107 a into the hollow portion 107. At FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, hollow portion 107 includes the opening 107 a with slits or ends 107 b and 107 c for the carrying loops for a bag 201 (FIG. 2) to be inserted into through the opening 107 a into the hollow portion 107 of the bag holder 101. Ends 107 b and 107 c are indentations or slits located on side portions of a bottom portion of base 109, which secures the bag 201 in the hollow portion 107 of the handle member 101. The term bag referred to in this invention refers to a plastic bag (used in a supermarket), shopping bag or any type of bag capable of being inserted into the opening 107 a of the hollow portion 107 of the bag holder 101. Also carrying loop 201 a for bag 201 may be referred to as a handle.
Referring to FIG. 2, when the carrying loops 201 a and 201 b of the bag 201 is inserted into the opening 107 a (FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B) and hollow portion 107, then the base 109 or the top curved surface 103 may be utilized to secure the bag 201 to the hollow portion 107. At FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the base 109 has a flexible first end 109 a and a flexible second end 109 b that may be turned inward or outward to secure the bag 201 in the hollow portion 107 so it does not move while a person is utilizing the handle member 101 to carry the bag 201. Also, the top curved surface 103 includes a flexible first end 103 a and a flexible second end 103 b that may be turned inward or outward to secure the bag 201 in the hollow portion 107 so it does not move while a person is utilizing the handle member 101 to carry bag 201. Next to the hollow portion 107 is the bottom portion 105. This bottom portion 105 includes finger undulations 105 a, which are spaced for the fingers of an average human adult. The finger undulations 105 a of the bottom portion 105 allow a person to easily grasp the bag holder 101 by the fingers of a human hand. Finger undulations 105 a may be made of any flexible material known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene, foamed polymer or non-foamed polymer.
FIG. 2 depicts a bag being held by the bag holder of FIG. 1A This embodiment includes the same components as described in FIG. 1A so a description of these components will not be disclosed herein. In this embodiment, a typical bag 201 is being held in the opening 107 a and retained in the hollow portion 107 of the handle member 101. When carrying loop 201 a of the bag 201 is inserted into the opening 107 a of the handle member 101 the bag 201 will be held in the hollow portion 107 of the bag holder 101. Carrying loop 201 a is a typical shopping bag end, loop or handle associated with a typical shopping bag where the carrying loop is utilized to hold and carry the shopping bag from one place to another. In another embodiment, carrying loop 201 a may also be 2 or more carrying loops associated with a typical shopping bag. The bag 201 is secured in the bag holder 101 by the flexible first end 109 a and/or the flexible second end 109 b of base 109 when first end 109 a and/or second end 109 b is turned inward or outward. Also, the bag 201 may be secured in the hollow portion 107 when the first end 103 a and/or the second end 103 b of top curved surface portion 103 are turned inward or outward.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart that shows how the bag holder is utilized. At block 301, a bag holder 101 (FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B) is provided. Next, at block 303 a person inserts the carrying loops 201 a and 201 b of the bag 201 into the opening 107 a of the hollow portion 107 of the bag holder 101 (FIG. 2). When the bag is inserted inside the opening 107 a, then a person secures the carrying loops 201 a and 201 b of the bag 201, at block 305. The bag 201 is retained by the hollow portion 107 and secured to the bag holder 101 by ends 107 b and 107 c. In another embodiment, the bag 201 is secured in the hollow portion 107 by bending the flexible first end 109 a and/or flexible second end 109 b of the base 109 inward or outward. In yet another embodiment, the person may bend the flexible first end 103 a and/or flexible second end 103 b of the top curved surface portion 103 inward or outward to secure the carrying loops 201 a and 201 b of the bag 201 to the hollow portion 107. The person is able to securely carry the bag 201 from one place to another.
After the person has finished carrying the bag 201 (FIG. 2) to a designated area, then at block 307 he may release the bag by physically removing the carrying handles of the bag 201. The carrying loops 201 a and 201 b is released from ends 101 a and 101 b to release the bag 201. In another embodiment, the bag is released from the bag holder 101 by straightening the flexible first end 109 and/or flexible second end 109 inward and/or outward. If at anytime the person releases the bag holder 101, then the bag 201 will be remained secured in the hollow portion 107 of the bag holder 201 until the person physically removes the bag 201 from the bag holder 101. In yet another embodiment, the person may remove the carrying loops 201 a and 201 b of the bag 201 by straightening the flexible first end 103 a and/or flexible second end 103 b inward and/or outward. Next, the person must decide if he wants to continue using the bag holder 101 (FIG. 2) at block 309, if he wants to continue using the bag holder 101 then the process goes to block 303. If the person decides to stop using the bag holder 101, then he simply puts the bag holder 101 down and the process ends until he decides to use it again.
This invention provides a simple means to allow a user to carry a bag without injuring his hands. This apparatus provides a safe means to carry a bag because it has a flexible portion for human fingers to grasp and it has secured ends to keep the bag in place while it is being carried.
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, which are intended to define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handle member having a bottom portion, a hollow portion, a base and a top curved surface;

an opening is located in between the top curved surface and the base, wherein the opening is configured to receive a handle of a bag;

the opening defines a hollow portion, wherein the handle of the bag is retained in the hollow portion; and

the bottom portion is disposed below the hollow portion, wherein the bottom portion is configured to be grasped by human fingers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the handle member is made of a flexible rubber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bag is a plastic bag.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a first end and a second end.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second end of the base is turned inward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first end of the base is turned inward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second end of the base is turned outward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first end of the base is turned outward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top curved surface has a first end and a second end.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second end of the top curved surface is turned inward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end of the top curved surface is turned inward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second end of the top curved surface is turned outward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first end of the top curved surface is turned outward to secure the bag in the hollow portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle member has a cylindrical shape.

15. An apparatus comprising:

wherein the top curved surface is configured to encompass the base;

an opening is formed in between the top curved surface and the base, wherein the opening is configured to receive a handle of a bag;

16. A method for carrying bags comprising:

providing a handle member;

inserting a handle of a bag into an opening in between a base and a top curved surface of a handle member;

securing the handle of the bag in the opening; and

retaining the handle of the bag in the handle member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the opening defines a hollow portion.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hollow portion holds the handle of the bag.