Handle for adapting plastic shopping bags as trash containers

Abstract

An adaptive handle is used in connection with a plastic shopping bag to be adapted for reuse as a garbage container. First and front members each have a pair of support elements for engaging the loop handles of the shopping bag. The side members are spaced apart side-by-side, so as to support the shopping bag and hold the shopping bag open. Attaching means are provided for attaching the side members together to close the bag. A suspending element, such as a hook, is provided for hanging up the adaptive handle and shopping bag behind a sink cabinet door. Optional skirts connect the side members together, thereby forming a closed system.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An adaptive handle, for use in connection with a shopping bag having first and second loop handles, each of the first and second loop handles define an interior handle perimeter, the adaptive handle comprising: 
 at least a back member, the back member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the back member having a pair of support elements for engaging at least the first loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior perimeter, the back member having a suspending element.    
     
     
         2 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a hook for engaging the second loop handle.  
     
     
         3 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a front member, the front member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the front member having a pair of support elements for engaging the second loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior perimeter, the back and front members being spaced apart side-by-side, so as to support the shopping bag and hold the shopping bag open; and the front member having a suspending element.    
     
     
         4 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a front member, the front member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the front member having a pair of support elements for engaging the second loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior perimeter, the first and front members being spaced apart side-by-side, so as to support the shopping bag and hold the shopping bag open; and    attaching means for attaching the front member to the back member.    
     
     
         5 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the suspending element further comprises a hook for hanging up the adaptive handle with the shopping bag.  
     
     
         6 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of support elements further comprises a pair of fingers, each finger projecting upward from a proximal end at the top edge to a distal end, the distal end being broader than the proximal end.  
     
     
         7 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pair of support elements further comprises a pair of notches, each notch projecting downward from a proximal end at the top edge to a distal end, the support elements each having a waist intermediate the proximal and distal ends, the waist being more narrow than the distal end.  
     
     
         8 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the attaching means includes a first hook/loop fastener mounted on the back member and facing the front member, and a second hook/loop fastener mounted on the front member and facing the back member, so that upon closing the shopping bag, the first and front members will be brought together, the first and second hook/loop fasteners will engage, and the shopping bag will be securely closed.  
     
     
         9 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the attaching means includes a first ferromagnetic fastener mounted on the back member and facing the front member, and a second ferromagnetic fastener mounted on the front member and facing the back member.  
     
     
         10 . An adaptive handle, for use in connection with a shopping bag having first and second loop handles, each of the first and second loop handles define an interior handle perimeter, the adaptive handle comprising: 
 a back member, the back member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the back member having a pair of support elements for engaging the first loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance half the interior perimeter, the back member having a suspending element;    a front member, the front member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the front member having a pair of support elements for engaging the second loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior perimeter, the first and front members being spaced apart side-by-side, so as to support the shopping bag and hold the shopping bag open.    
     
     
         11 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the front member further comprises a suspending element.  
     
     
         12 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 10  further comprising attaching means for releasably attaching the front member to the back member.  
     
     
         13 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the front member includes a gripping handle adjacent the first end for picking up the adaptive handle.  
     
     
         14 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching means includes a first hook and loop fastener mounted on the back member and facing the front member, and a second hook and loop fastener mounted on the front member and facing the back member, so that upon closing the shopping bag, the first and front members will be brought together, the first and second hook and loop fasteners will engage, and the shopping bag will be securely closed.  
     
     
         15 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching means includes a first ferromagnetic fastener mounted on the back member and facing the front member, and a second ferromagnetic fastener mounted on the front member and facing the back member.  
     
     
         16 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the attaching means includes an elastic band connected between the back member the front member.  
     
     
         17 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the pair of support elements further comprises a pair of fingers, each finger projecting upward from a proximal end at the top edge to a distal end, the distal end being broader than the proximal end.  
     
     
         18 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the pair of support elements further comprises a pair of notches, each notch projecting downward from a proximal end at the top edge to a distal end, the support elements each having a waist intermediate the proximal and distal ends, the waist being more narrow than the distal end.  
     
     
         19 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 first and second elongated elements projecting from the bottom edge of the back member adjacent the first and second ends, respectively;    third and fourth elongated elements projecting from the bottom edge of the front member adjacent the first and second ends, respectively;    a first skirt having an end formed into a sleeve around the first elongated element, the first skirt extending flexibly to an opposite end formed into a sleeve around the third elongated element; and    a second skirt having an end formed into a sleeve around the second elongated element, the second skirt extending flexibly to an opposite end formed into a sleeve around the fourth elongated element, the first and front members and the first and second skirts thereby forming a closed system.    
     
     
         20 . An adaptive handle, for use in connection with a shopping bag having first and second loop handles, the first and second loop handles define an interior handle perimeter, the adaptive handle comprising: 
 a back member, the back member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the back member having a pair of support elements for engaging the first loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior handle perimeter, the back member having first and second elongated elements projecting upward from the bottom edge adjacent the first and second ends, respectively, the back member having a hook on the top edge for hanging up the shopping bag;    a front member, the front member having opposite top and bottom edges extending between opposite first and second ends, the front member having a pair of support elements for engaging the second loop handle, the support elements being spaced apart at a distance corresponding to the interior handle distance, the front member having third and fourth elongated elements projecting upward from the bottom edge adjacent the first and second ends, respectively, the first and front members being disposed side-by-side and spaced apart, so as to support the shopping bag and hold the shopping bag open;    a first skirt having an end formed into a sleeve around the first elongated element, the first skirt extending flexibly to an opposite end formed into a sleeve around the third elongated element;    a second skirt having an end formed into a sleeve around the second elongated element, the second skirt extending flexibly to an opposite end formed into a sleeve around the fourth elongated element, so that the first and front members and the first and second skirts will form an enclosed boundary to define and reinforce the opening of the shopping bag;    a first hook and loop fastener mounted on the back member and facing the front member; and    a second hook and loop fastener mounted on the front member and facing the back member, so that upon closing the shopping bag, the first and front members will be brought together, the first and second hook and loop fasteners will engage, and the shopping bag will be securely closed.    
     
     
         21 . A method of adapting a shopping bag having first and second loop handles, the first and second loop handles define an interior handle perimeter, for use as a hanging trash container comprising the following steps: 
 arranging the first and the second loop handles front to back;    engaging at least the first loop handle on a back member having support elements spaced apart at a distance corresponding to half the interior perimeter; and,    suspending the back member on a structure.    
     
     
         22 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the hook further comprises a stabilizing notch.  
     
     
         23 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the suspending element further comprises a stabilizing notch.  
     
     
         24 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the back member further comprises advertising indicia.  
     
     
         25 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the front member further comprises advertising indicia.  
     
     
         26 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the back member further comprises advertising indicia.  
     
     
         27 . The adaptive handle as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the front member further comprises advertising indicia.  
     
     
         28 . The method of adapting a shopping bag as recited in  claim 21  further comprising the step of providing advertising indicia visible when the back member is suspended on the structure.