Carrier for Carrying a Bulky Article

Abstract

A carrier for carrying a bulky article is disclosed. The carrier comprises an elongate body in the form of a webbing assembly having first and second opposing end portions, in which the webbing assembly is adapted to extend along at least a base and at least partly along opposing side wall portions of the bulky article, a handle member disposed at the first end portion of the webbing assembly, and a retaining member disposed at the second end portion of the webbing assembly. The carrier further comprises an aperture located adjacent the retaining member, wherein at least a portion of the handle member is received through the aperture in use to provide a handle for carrying the bulky article.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A carrier apparatus for carrying a packing carton, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate substantially non-flexible handle member having a first end and a second end;   an elongate substantially non-flexible retaining member having a first end and a second end; and   a first webbing portion and a second webbing portion; the first webbing portion having ends respectively coupled proximal to the first end of the handle member and proximal to the first end of the retaining member; the second webbing portion having ends respectively coupled proximal to the second end of the handle member and proximal to the second end of the retaining member; such that the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are laterally spaced apart; the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are substantially of equal length;   wherein, the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are coupled to the retaining member to define a gap for receiving the handle member there through, such that the retaining member abuts both the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion proximal the handle member to define a closed carrier configuration.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein a length of the retaining member is greater than a length of the handle member. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the retaining member defines a first recess and a second recess, each located in a gap defined by the respective coupling of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; the first recess being adjacent the first webbing portion; and the second recess being adjacent the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , the apparatus including one or more support straps coupled between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are spaced wider apart where coupled to the retaining member than where coupled to the handle member. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the retaining member defines a first recess and a second recess located in a gap defined by the respective coupling of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; the first recess being adjacent the first webbing portion; and the second recess being adjacent the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein spacing of the first recess and the second recess substantially confirms to the spacing of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion proximal the handle member. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the handle member, the first webbing portion, the retaining member and the second webbing portion define an isosceles trapezoid when in an open planar configuration. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein in the closed carrier configuration, the first webbing portion is received by the first recess and the second webbing portion is received by the second recess. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , the apparatus including one or more support straps coupled between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the handle member, the first webbing portion, the retaining member define an isosceles trapezoid when in an open planar configuration. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the handle member and the retaining member are substantially parallel when in an open planar configuration. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , the apparatus including one or more support straps coupled between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; wherein the one or more support straps limit lateral spacing between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion when in the closed carrier configuration. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , the apparatus including one or more support straps coupled between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; wherein the one or more support straps are located about a respective midpoint of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the handle member is generally U-shaped for defining a handle when used in the closed carrier configuration. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the handle member has a first through aperture for enabling coupling of the first webbing portion and a second through aperture for enabling coupling of the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the retaining member has a first through aperture for enabling coupling of the first webbing portion and a second through aperture for enabling coupling of the second webbing portion. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein with the apparatus in the closed carrier configuration around the packing carton, tension can be applied to the handle to tighten the apparatus around the packing carton, and then lift the packing carton with the retaining element bearing against the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion proximal the handle member. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the handle member and the retaining member are formed from plastics. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion may include nylon webbing material or polypropylene webbing material. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are formed from a material selected from leather, bamboo fibre, hemp fibre, jute fibre, cotton fibre. 
     
     
         56 . A carrier apparatus for carrying a packing carton, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate substantially non-flexible handle member having a first end and a second end;   an elongate substantially non-flexible retaining member having a first end and a second end;   a first flexible webbing portion and a second flexible webbing portion; the first webbing portion having ends respectively coupled proximal to the first end of the handle member and proximal to the first end of the retaining member; the second webbing portion having ends respectively coupled proximal to the second end of the handle member and proximal to the second end of the retaining member; such that the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are laterally spaced apart; the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are substantially of equal length; wherein the handle member and the retaining member are substantially parallel when in an open planar configuration; wherein the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are spaced wider apart where coupled to the retaining member than where coupled to the handle member; such that the handle member, the first webbing portion, the retaining member and the second webbing portion define an isosceles trapezoid when in the open planar configuration; and   one or more cross support straps coupled between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; wherein the one or more support straps limit lateral spacing between the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion;   wherein, the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion are coupled to the retaining member to define a gap for receiving the handle member there through, such that the retaining member abuts both the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion proximal the handle member to define a closed carrier configuration;   wherein the retaining member defines a first recess and a second recess located in the gap defined by the respective coupling of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion; the first recess being adjacent the first webbing portion;   and the second recess being adjacent the second webbing portion; and wherein spacing of the first recess and the second recess substantially confirms to the spacing of the first webbing portion and the second webbing portion where coupled to the retaining member; such that, in the closed carrier configuration, the first webbing portion is received by the first recess and the second webbing portion is received by the second recess.