Portable, multi-configurational tools for handling bags with hand holes

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for carrying plastic bags, such as those used widely at grocery stores and other retail establishments. The apparatuses are tools used to engage handle openings of the plastic bag or bags using extensions with receivers therein. The apparatuses also have handle portions which are shaped to ease carrying in a human hand. The bags can be hung in a large number of configurations to help balance the load, improve easy use by disabled and other people, and improve comfort when the user must carry the tool and bags for long distances. The tool is also shaped and has features which help to prevent the tool from catching and causing damage to clothing or partitions within a user's purse when the tool is being carried in a pocket or purse and not being employed for use to carry plastic bags.

1 . An apparatus for use by a person to carry one or more bags, said bags having at least one hand hole and a bridge portion over the hand hole and at least one main bag opening through which contents are usually placed into said one or more bags, comprising:
 at least one hand grip portion adapted for being grasped by a person's hand, said at least one hand grip portion having a shape which distributes a load carried by said apparatus over the palm of a person's hand to allow more comfortable carrying;   plural bag support extensions connected to at least one hand grip and extending therefrom, said bag support extensions having outer shapes which are substantially convexly curved to help prevent the bag support extensions from catching upon clothing, purses, handbags, pockets or other storage receptacles in which the apparatus may be carried by a person until the apparatus is placed in use;   receivers formed in the bag support extensions for receiving said is bridge portions of the bags when bags are installed upon the apparatus; said receivers having receiver throats through which the bridge portions are installed into the receivers.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising receiver throat protection protrusions which extend inwardly along said receiver throats. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have outwardly extending arm portions which are tapered to converge extending outwardly from the at least one hand grip portion. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have receiver nooks inside said throats. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have receiver nooks inside said receiver throats which are concave. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have receiver nooks inside said receiver throats which are concave and larger across than a width of said receiver throats. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one hand grip portion has a generally curved underside cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions curve around to form the receiver throats. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have convex distal ends. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said bag support extensions have convex distal ends which at least partially form said receiver throats. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for use by a person to carry one or more bags, said bags having at least one hand hole and a bridge portion over the hand hole and at least one main bag opening through which contents are usually placed into said one or more bags, comprising:
 at least one hand grip portion adapted for being grasped by a person's hand, said at least one hand grip portion having a shape which distributes a load carried by said apparatus over the palm of a person's hand to allow more comfortable carrying;   plural bag support extensions connected to the at least one hand grip and extending therefrom, said bag support extensions have outwardly extending arm portions which are tapered to converge extending outwardly from the at least one hand grip portion, said bag support extensions having outer shapes which are substantially convexly curved to help prevent the bag support extensions from catching upon clothing, purses, handbags, pockets or other storage receptacles in which the apparatus may be carried by a person until the apparatus is placed in use;   receivers formed in the bag support extensions for receiving said bridge portions of the bags when bags are installed upon the apparatus; said receivers having receiver throats through which the bridge portions are installed into the receivers;   wherein said bag support extensions further have receiver nooks inside said receiver throats, said receiver nooks being concave.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said receiver nooks are concave and larger across than a minimum width of said receiver throats. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said at least one hand grip portion has a generally curved underside cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said bag support extensions curve around to form the receiver throats. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said bag support extensions have convex distal ends. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said bag support extensions have convex distal ends which form portions of said throats of the receivers. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  and further comprising throat protection protrusions which extend inwardly along said throats. 
   
   
       18 . A method for carrying a plurality of bags said bags having at least one hand hole and a bridge portion over the hand hole and at least one main bag opening through which contents are usually placed into said one or more bags, comprising:
 selecting an apparatus having at least one hand grip portion adapted for being grasped by a person's hand, said at least one hand grip portion having a shape which distributes a load carried by said apparatus over the palm of a person's hand to allow more comfortable carrying; plural bag support extensions connected to the at least one hand grip and extending therefrom, said bag support extensions having outer shapes which are substantially convexly curved to help prevent the bag support extensions from catching upon clothing, purses, handbags, pockets or other storage receptacles in which the apparatus may be carried by a person until the apparatus is placed in use; receivers formed in the bag support extensions for receiving said bridge portions of the bags when bags are installed upon the apparatus; said receivers having receiver throats through which the bridge portions are installed into the receivers;   placing at least one bag with bridge portions connected to bag support extensions within said receivers.   
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said placing includes a bag strung between opposing receivers. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said placing includes a bag strung between opposing receivers and at least one bag hung from each receiver.