Carrying handle

Abstract

A carrying handle for bags provided with handles includes a body part having a surface portion adapted as a hand grip, additional lateral surface means to support the handles of a bag so that the bag is oriented transversely relative to the body part, and locating means for the bag on the carrier handle. The locating means includes retaining means whereby the bag can be releasably retained on the carrying handle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carrying handle for bags provided with handles, said carrying handle comprising a body part having a surface portion adapted as a hand grip, additional lateral surface means to support the handles of a bag so that the bag is orientated transversely relative to the body part, locating means for the bag on the carrying handle, said locating means including retaining means whereby the bag can be releasably retained on the carrying handle, the body part including two indented longitudinally extending spaced walls, said lateral surface means extending between facing indents in the longitudinally extending walls, the walls comprising a pair of parallel walls disposed longitudinally along a top of the carrying handle, the carrying handle having a plurality of finger grips on a bottom side of the body part, and the hand grip being of scalloped form to facilitate secure bag carrying, with shoulders of scallops of the hand grip aligning with the indents in said longitudinally extending walls.  
     
     
         2 . A handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the lateral surface means are arranged such that a plurality of bags can be carried transversely by the carrying handle, a plurality of individual locating means being provided for the handles of respective bags being carried transversely, in a line parallel to a direction of travel, thus providing lifting and carrying of the handle in a natural and ergonomic position, with elimination of transverse bulking of the bags causing discomfort by rubbing against the legs.  
     
     
         3 . A handle according to  claim 1 , said locating means comprising facing wall surfaces of individual indents while the retaining means is provided by an upper throating or necking in the indent.  
     
     
         4 . A handle according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of retaining means are provided.  
     
     
         5 . A handle according to  claim 4 , wherein the retaining means are designed to hold captive or retain the handles of plastic shopping bags and the like.  
     
     
         6 . A handle according to  claim 4 , wherein adjacent retaining means are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the handle, thus enabling several bags to be carried simultaneously, ranged in a direction parallel to a direction of travel.  
     
     
         7 . A handle according to  claim 4 , wherein each retaining means comprises a matched pair of indents facing each other and formed in the walls of the handle.  
     
     
         8 . A handle according to  claim 7 , wherein each indent has a narrow throating or neck portion above a wider body portion, in order to hold captive or retain the handles of the shopping bags while accepting a number of handles in each recess, if necessary.  
     
     
         9 . A handle according to  claim 7 , wherein each indent has smooth radiused edges in order to avoid cutting or wearing away of the shopping bag handles, and, also to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the shopping bags into and from the handle.  
     
     
         10 . A handle according to  claim 1  wherein a central longitudinal recess is formed between the longitudinally extending walls.  
     
     
         11 . A handle according to  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal recess is dimensioned to accommodate handles.  
     
     
         12 . A handle according to  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal recess is dimensioned to retain a pair of rigid handles such as are found in supermarket shopping baskets.  
     
     
         14 . A handle according to  claim 1  wherein four finger grips are provided.  
     
     
         13 . A handle according to  claim 10 , wherein the handle incorporates lettering along a base of the longitudinal recess, which may be embossed, recessed or otherwise applied, and which may be varied to provide a number of different logos or the like.  
     
     
         15 . A handle according to  claim 7  wherein the handle has four finger recesses formed along the bottom side and aligned so that each finger recess is located to one side of a corresponding matched pair of indents in the walls.  
     
     
         16 . A handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the body part is made of plastics material.