Apparatus and method for carrying shopping bags

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed providing a top portion and a bottom portion having a channel. The top portion can be rotated into an open position with respect to the bottom portion to allow a handle of a shopping bag to be placed into the channel. After the handle of the shopping bag has been placed into the channel, the top portion can be rotated into a closed position with respect to the bottom portion to prevent the handle of the shopping bag from being removed from the channel.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a top portion;    a bottom portion having a channel, the channel having a first end and a second end; and    a hinge, wherein the top portion is connected to the bottom portion by the hinge so that the top portion can rotate with respect to the bottom portion; and    wherein the top portion can be rotated into an open position with respect to the bottom portion to allow a handle of a shopping bag to be placed into the channel, wherein the shopping bag is comprised of the handle, a left arm and a right arm extending from first and second ends of the handle, the left arm and the right arm connected to a body portion able to carry store items;    and wherein the handle can be placed into the channel so that the left arm of the shopping bag extends downward from a first end of the channel while the right arm of the shopping bag extends downward from a second end of the channel, the second end of the channel opposite the first end.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 after the handle of the shopping bag has been placed into the channel, the top portion can be rotated into a closed position with respect to the bottom portion to prevent the handle of the shopping bag from being removed from the channel.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the bottom portion has a U-shaped cross section.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein 
 the top portion has a U-shaped cross section.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the bottom portion is an elongated member.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the top portion has a first attachment device;    the bottom portion has a second attachment device; and    wherein the first attachment device and the second attachment device can be used to hold the top portion in a closed state with respect to the bottom portion.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein 
 when the top portion is placed in a closed position with respect to the bottom portion, a closed curve cross section is formed by a combination of the U-shaped cross section of the top portion and the U-shaped cross section of the bottom portion.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 the top portion and the bottom portion are made of a rigid material.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising 
 the shopping bag.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein 
 the shopping bag is made of a lightweight flexible plastic.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
 a plurality of handles of a corresponding to a plurality of shopping bags can be placed into the channel of the bottom portion;    wherein each shopping bag is comprised of a respective handle, a respective left arm and a right arm extending from respective first and second ends of each respective handle, the respective left arm and the respective right arm connected to a respective body portion able to carry store items;    and wherein each respective handle can be placed into the channel so that the respective left arm of each shopping bag extends downward from the first end of the channel while the respective right arm of each shopping bag extends downward from the second end of the channel.    
   
   
       12 . A method comprising the steps of 
 placing a handle of a shopping bag into a channel of a bottom portion of an apparatus so that a left arm of the shopping bag extends downward from a first end of the channel while a right arm of the shopping bag extends downward from a second end of the channel, the second end of the channel opposite the first end;    wherein the handle has a first end connected to the left arm of the shopping bag and a second end, opposite the first end, connected to the left arm of the shopping bag;    wherein the left arm and the right arm are connected to a body portion of the shopping bag;    and wherein the apparatus includes a top portion, which can be placed in a closed position with respect to the bottom portion to hold the handle of the shopping bag onto the apparatus.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12   wherein the top portion is connected to the bottom portion by a hinge, so that the top portion can rotate with respect to the bottom portion.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising 
 rotating the top portion with respect to the bottom portion to prevent the handle of the shopping bag from being removed from the channel.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the bottom portion has a U-shaped cross section.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the top portion has a U-shaped cross section.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the bottom portion is an elongated member.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the top portion has a first attachment device;    the bottom portion has a second attachment device; and    wherein the first attachment device and the second attachment device can be used to hold the top portion in a closed state with respect to the bottom portion.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein 
 when the top portion is placed in a closed position with respect to the bottom portion, a closed curve cross section is formed by a combination of the U-shaped cross section of the top portion and the U-shaped cross section of the bottom portion.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein 
 the top portion and the bottom portion are made of a rigid material.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising 
 placing a plurality of handles of a corresponding plurality of shopping bags into the channel of the bottom portion;    wherein each shopping bag is comprised of a respective handle, a respective left arm and a right arm extending from respective first and second ends of each respective handle, the respective left arm and the respective right arm connected to a respective body portion able to carry store items;    and wherein each respective handle can be placed into the channel so that the respective left arm of each shopping bag extends downward from the first end of the channel while the respective right arm of each shopping bag extends downward from the second end of the channel.