DE20301978U1 - Hand protecting pad to be clipped to handle of plastic carrying bag or bucket, made of soft material - Google Patents

Abstract

Some containers, even when provided with some form of handle are hard to carry in particular for a longer period. A protection pad, made of a soft synthetic or rubber material, can be clipped onto the handle by the insertion of both upper areas into a slot (1) provided at the top of the device. The pad can be of any suitable size or design, like the shape of a fruit, an animal, or a company logo. It can be coated with a textile material like some computer mouse pads and printed with any kind of information or decorative pattern.

Description

Applicant: Weiss, Georg; Ha]Jn* JMcJrltzJ .'

Representative: Dr. Schoenen
07.02.2003

Utility model application

149-3

Hand-protecting handle

The invention relates to a hand-protecting handle made of compressible material as a carrying aid for bags, sacks, small containers such as buckets and the like, in particular for shopping bags made of plastic film.

Most commercially available plastic bags have the disadvantage that carrying heavy items can be uncomfortable and even painful. The handles cut into the inside of the hand or fingers. In many cases, this means that the shopping trip ends prematurely.

A hand-protecting handle of the type mentioned above is known from the Japanese application with the publication number 07 255 527 A. The disadvantages here are the very complex and costly production, an unpleasant feeling in the palm of the hand due to the looped handle and the unwieldy size of this carrying aid.

The handle for drinks crates according to DE 195 17 095 Al is relatively expensive to manufacture due to its special shape. This handle was specially developed for drinks crates. Therefore, no clamping function for holding bag handles, especially the handles of the well-known plastic and paper carrier bags, is possible.

In the carrying aid for bags according to the Japanese application 2000 106 948 A, the predetermined shape prevents an even distribution of force on the palm of the hand. Carrying the bags is only slightly

· t

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Halpi,· fioyritjz · ,·* · · \
149-3

If you carry bags with this carrying aid for a longer period of time, pressure points will appear on the palm of your hand. Here too, the special shape leads to increased production costs.

The special carrying aid for beverage crates according to DE 201 05 567 Ul is not intended, not planned and not possible to be used for carrying bags.

The carrying aid according to DE 197 31 888 Al is a hard shell base body that does not eliminate the problems when worn, namely the pressure points caused by point loads on the palm of the hand. The extremely complex manufacturing process leads to very high production costs.

The carrying aid according to AT 005 525 Ul is a part that is made of a hard and slightly deformable plastic. The desired effect of comfortable wearing is therefore not achieved, but rather pressure points occur here too due to point loading on the palm of the hand. Another disadvantage is the complex and costly production.

The invention is based on the task of developing a hand-protecting handle of the type mentioned at the beginning, which makes carrying the carrier bag much easier, provides a comfortable feeling and enables easy handling. The handle should be extremely simple in design in order to enable extremely low manufacturing costs. One or more handles of the carrier bag should be easy to connect to the handle so that the handle can remain on the carrier bag even when the hand is released from the handle. The handles should be able to be manufactured in a variety of shapes and colors. In addition, the handle should be easy to stow away when it is not needed. Neither the bag nor the contents, for example items of clothing, should be damaged by the handle. The bags in which the handle is placed should also be

Applicant: Weiss, Georg; Hah*a,{ jlojritjz j .·* · · ·. *·
149-3 '

The handle should not only be suitable for carrying carrier bags, but all types of shopping bags and small containers should be carried in a better and more comfortable way with the help of the handle.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the hand-protecting handle of the type mentioned at the beginning in that an incision is provided to accommodate the carrying handles of the bag. It is within the scope of the invention if the incision is formed in such a way that two foam sheets are partially, in particular half-surface, glued together. The non-glued area then forms the "incision". The word "incision" is to be understood here in the geometric sense, for example as a notch, and not as a manufacturing method.

The hand-protecting handle, which is made of a compressible material with sufficient strength, solves the above-mentioned problems. One or more handles of the carrier bag are clamped by the notch, particularly in the middle, so that the handle remains on the carrier bag when the hand is released from the handle. All shopping bags, small containers and other objects can be carried with the hand-protecting handle according to the invention, provided their handles fit into the notch in the handle.

Preferably, the incision is in the middle. It is also suggested that the material be foam based on natural or synthetic rubber. In particular, the material should also be dermatologically safe.

A so-called "foam rubber" could be used, namely a foam with closed microcells. This foam rubber is particularly preferred as a material for the hand-protecting handle according to the invention. Likewise, the so-called "cellular rubber" or "cellular caoutchouc", also known in the

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Haljn,· ;Mcjr€.|z · .·* · · ·, *·
149-3 * ** ** "·*" ** **

Designed as "foam rubber" or "sponge rubber" it is well suited.

But other types of foam can also be used. The use of so-called integral foams or structural foams is also preferred, namely foams with a solid outer skin and a cellular core, which are produced using molded foaming. The smoother outer skin has other advantages, as will be explained below.

Suitable foam materials for the hand-protecting handle according to the invention include polystyrene, styrene copolymers, soft PVC, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyisocyanurates, polycarbodiimides, polymethacrylimides, polyamides, ABS, polypropylene, polyester and many others.

In order to clamp the handles of the carrying bags, it is also advantageous if, in a further embodiment of the invention, the inner, opposing surfaces of the notch are so close to one another and preferably touch one another, whereby of course no carrying handle is in the notch, so that the hand-protecting handle is held by the carrying handle when the bag is put down.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the incision has a depth of 10 to 90% of the height of the hand grip.

In view of particularly low manufacturing costs and the possibility of easily producing a variety of different shapes, it is also proposed that the material is flat with parallel, flat side surfaces and that the incision runs parallel to the side surfaces.

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Hahn, Moritjzjj"j · · · .· · ; :. !
149-3

For printing on the side surfaces, for example with advertising, it is advantageous if the surfaces of the two side surfaces are smoother than the other outer surfaces.

The handle according to the invention can be made of a fine-pored, stable foam or another compressible material, which distributes the tensile forces of the bag evenly in the hand and thus creates a significantly better carrying experience. The handle can be manufactured in all conceivable shapes and colors. It is small and feels pleasant; you could call it a "hand flatterer." It is important that the handle distributes the pressure generated by the bag completely evenly across the irregular surface of the palm of the hand and the fingers. This achieves a complete adaptation of the handle surface to the surface of the hand or fingers. In contrast, with known carrying aids, the pressure is only transferred to the hand at certain points or in a linear manner.

The handle, which can be produced very inexpensively, is also particularly suitable as an advertising medium. In addition to printing on the sides, a fabric bag or other deformable bag with advertising printed on it can also be provided on the outside.

The handle makes it easier to carry not only shopping bags, but also containers with wire or plastic handles, such as buckets, and other objects with an "uncomfortable" handle.

The hand-protecting handle according to the invention can be used in all possible shapes, as long as the handle fits in the hand. The simplest shape is a cuboid with a cut in the surface towards the middle. The handles of the bags are clamped into the cut. The bag can then be carried comfortably.

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Hahn, MoritSz J ·**· · · · .· * : :. '.

149-3

To attach the hand-protecting handle to the handle of the bag to be carried, the sides can be detachably connected with a strap, for example with a Velcro fastener. This strap then holds the hand-protecting handle to the carrying handle, separately or in addition to the clamping function.

A wide variety of shapes can be cut out of the flat material from which the hand grip is preferably made, for example animals, characters from films and stories, shapes of products such as cigarette packets, shapes of fruit, vegetables, plants of all kinds, geometric figures, shapes of stones, company logos, letters, numbers and much more.

All materials that have the necessary strength and are harmless to health are suitable. All colors that are technically possible and harmless to health can also be used for printing.

In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

Figure 1 shows a hand-protecting handle according to the invention in perspective view with a notch, the handle having the shape of a cuboid,

Figure la the handle according to Figure 1 in the unfolded state to accommodate the carrying bag handle,

Figure 2 shows a hand-protecting handle according to the invention in the form of a banana,

Figure 3 shows a hand-guard according to the invention in the form of a stylized bear and

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Hahn, Moritz I .**; · j ·.·**: I. &Idigr;

149-3

Figure 4 shows the handle according to the invention in a further embodiment in the form of the letter "B".

In all drawings, the same reference symbols have the same meaning and are therefore explained only once if necessary.

The handle has the following dimensions, without imposing any restrictions. The length is 5 to 20 cm, in particular 9 cm, the height 2 to 10 cm, in particular 5 cm and the thickness 0.6 to 4 cm, in particular 2 cm. These dimensions relate in particular to a handle cut out of a sheet-like material, which preferably has a cuboid shape, but can of course also have other configurations.

Figure 1 shows a hand-protecting handle in its simplest form. This is a cuboid with a notch 1 on its top towards the middle of the cuboid. This notch 1 is so deep that it can accommodate both the handles of standard shopping bags made of plastic film and solid handles made of rigid plastic, which are preferably attached to large plastic shopping bags for clothing. It is also suitable for holding handles that are also uncomfortable to carry, such as carrying handles on 5 liter or 10 liter paint buckets or buckets of all kinds. The notch 1 closes again as far as possible after the 0 handles/carrying handles have been accommodated and thus clamps itself in place.

The handle is made of foam, e.g. foam rubber, natural or synthetic rubber, polyethylene foam, polyurethane, or similar, which is strong enough to evenly distribute the tensile forces of the handles/carrying handles of the above-mentioned containers in the hand. A material mix of different plastics or a

Applicant: Weiß, Georg; Hahn, Moritz· ·*";·· · .* * II . I

149-3

Application of substances on the surface of the foam, e.g. like a normal mouse pad.

The handles/bars must not be pressed onto the fingers, otherwise the desired effect will not be achieved.

The sides of the handle can be printed for advertising purposes. Relief-like designs of lettering, company logos or figures are also possible. The handle can be produced in all technically possible colors.

There are also only limited limits on the shape of the handle. The shape must be large enough to fit in the hand. Possible shapes include animals, fruit, company logos, etc. (Figures 2, 3 and 4).

Furthermore, the outer surface of the hand-protecting handle according to the invention, which is opposite the incision 1 and rests against the palm of the hand, can have the complementary contours or the negative shape of a human palm, particularly in the area of the finger joints, in order to be able to adapt particularly well to the hand. However, due to the compressible material of the handle according to the invention, such a shape is not absolutely necessary.

List of reference symbols

1 incision 2 Area 35 3 Side surface 4 Exterior surface

Claims (8)

1. Hand-protecting handle made of compressible material as a carrying aid for bags, sacks, small containers such as buckets and the like, in particular for shopping bags made of plastic film, characterized in that a notch ( 1 ) is provided for receiving the carrying handles of the bag. 2. Hand-protecting handle according to claim 1, characterized in that the incision ( 1 ) runs centrally. 3. Hand-protecting handle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material is foam. 4. Hand-protecting handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is dermatologically harmless. 5. Hand-protecting handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner, opposing surfaces ( 2 ) of the incision ( 1 ) are so close to one another and preferably touch one another that the hand-protecting handle is held by the carrying handle when the bag is put down. 6. Hand-protecting handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the incision ( 1 ) has a depth of 10 to 90% of the height of the hand-protecting handle. 7. Hand-protecting handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is flat with parallel, flat side surfaces ( 3 ) and the incision ( 1 ) runs parallel to the side surfaces ( 3 ). 8. Hand-protecting handle according to claim 7, characterized in that the surfaces of the two side surfaces ( 3 ) are smoother than the other outer surfaces ( 4 ).