Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of manual carrying devices. More specifically, the present invention is related to a device for allowing the comfortable carrying of several bags with loaded consumer goods.

Background of the Invention

Many people buy in stores or markets without bringing baskets or shopping trolleys with them, due to forgetfulness, spontaneous shopping or due to the fact that they arrive to shopping places directly from work or on their way to take care of other arrangements.

In most cases, the shopping ends with a load of 5-15 Kg that the buyer has to carry with him to his car. In other cases, the buyer does not have a private car and has to carry the load using public transportation. Upon arriving home, he has to carry the load home.

Stores, department stores and markets provide a variety of bags, normally nylon bags, for packing and carrying goods. These nylon bags are disposable and include two loop-shaped handles. When the buyer leaves the store, he has to carry to his car several bags in each hand, while the loops of each bag are threaded on the hand fingers, except for the thumb, and the buyer bends them upwardly to get a strong grasp. Since the handles are made of slim nylon, the relatively high weight causes the loops to contract and become a type of a nylon rope that applies pressure on a relatively small area of the finger. This results in high pressure on an area unit, which implies inconvenience, pain and blocking of the normal blood circulation to the fingers' surface that carries the weight. As a result, the buyer has to rest from time to time and release this high pressure from his fingers. Such a release forces him to re-thread his fingers into the loops and so forth.

Another problem is the imbalance of goods inside the bags. As a result of such imbalance, the bag shakes and sometimes even rotates around its axis and causes the loop to be tightened around the fingers, resulting in further pain and discomfort.

All these drawbacks lead to a continuous demand for a device that will allow a buyer to carry the bags more easily and comfortably.

USP 6247739 discloses a carrying and gripping device for bags, which includes 4 perpendicular hooks that are welded to each other for threading the handles, and is connected to a grasping member by a joint. The drawback of this device is that while threading the bags, the centralization is lost and the carrying hand becomes tired. In addition, using a joint increases the cost of the device and causes faster physical deterioration while carrying loads.

USP 5441323 discloses a carrying handle with a downwardly directed bend and an additional upwardly directed bend, for creating a lower anchoring point. The additional bend ends with a hook that includes an indentation, into which a securing ring, connected to the carrying handle, is threaded for avoiding sliding of the bags out. Here also, when loading the bags, the center of gravity inclines forward and tires the hand. The ring increases the production costs and requires involving the other hand.

WO 99/45818 discloses a similar gripping device with bilateral extension to avoid sliding of the handles after being threaded. In this device, as well, there is no weight centralization, its production cost is high and the required threading and removal is cumbersome. USP 6511114 discloses a carrying device consisting of a rectangular frame, the upper portion of which is used as a gripping handle, and including several U-shaped hooks on which the handles are threaded. However, in this device, as well, there is no weight centralization during weight leading, and the required threading and removal is cumbersome.

USP 5026105 discloses a carrying device consisting of a carrier, both sides of which there are attached two snail-shaped hooks, on which handles are to be threaded. In this device, as well, there is no weight centralization, its production cost is high and the required threading and removal is cumbersome.

WO 99/29583 discloses a carrying device with a loop, the upper portion of which is a carrying handle and to the lower portion of which there is attached a pole with several carrying hooks. In this device, as well, there is no weight centralization, its production cost is high and the required threading and removal is cumbersome.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a carrying device that does not lose weight centralization, that has a low production cost and an easy bag threading and removal process.

Other objects advantages of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a device for carrying bags, which comprises: a) a carrying handle with an essentially symmetric structure. The thickness of the handle allows a carrying person to wind his fingers around the handle, for ensuring grasp; and

b) a carrying hook having a vertical linear portion and that is connected to the handle in a point that essentially coincides with the vertical symmetry axis of the handle, and has an arched portion with a rounded cross- sectional area. The arched portion has a lowest point that coincides with the symmetry axis, continues in an arched path and ends in an edge above the lowest point, such that the vertical distance between the edge and the lowest point is approximately a quarter of the length of the arched portion.

The carrying handle may include in its lower portion, indentations that correspond to the fingers that are wrapped around the handle while the load is carried. The device may be made of a polymeric material, metal, wood or plastic.

The hook may be an integral part of the handle and may be nailed, glued or screwed to the handle.

The upper portion of the carrying handle may be arched. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates the carrying device, proposed by the present invention; and

Fig.2 is a bottom view of the carrying device, proposed by the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

The bag carrying device proposed by the present invention is simple for production, easy to use and keeps a symmetrical balance of the loaded weight, regardless the number of carried bags.

Fig.l illustrates the proposed carrying device. The device 1 includes a carrying handle 2, which is symmetrical with respect to the axis A, which is perpendicular. The thickness of the handle allows a carrying person to wind his fingers around it, for ensuring grasp. The handle is made of a rigid material such as plastic, wood or metal and includes four indentations 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d in its lower portion, for the four carrying fingers, which are wrapped around it while the load is carried. The upper portion of the carrying handle is arched, to ensure good and comfortable grasp. The length L of the carrying handle is slightly larger than the width of an average hand in its wrapped position, such that edges 3a and 3b slightly extend beyond the width of the hand in its wrapped position, so as to provide positive and stable grasp. The thickness T of the carrying handle is adapted to an average length of the fingers, for allowing full wrapping around it.

The carrying hook 4 is also made from a rigid material and has a rounded cross- sectional area. The hook 4 is connected to the lower portion 5 of the carrying handle in the center and along its symmetry axis A, so as to ensure maximal proximity of the load's center of gravity to the symmetry axis A.

The carrying hook 4 comprises a (vertical) linear segment 4a which allows adjusting the height of the bag above ground while being carried, so as to avoid dragging. The lowest point of the arched segment coincides with the symmetry axis. The arched segment continues in an arched path and ends in an edge above the lowest point, such that the vertical distance between said edge and the lowest point is approximately a quarter of the length of the arched segment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the remaining portion of carrying hook 4 is a circular arched segment 4b, where the center of the circle B coincides with the symmetry axis A. The arched segment ends at an angle of 270° in point C, in order to ensure easy threading and removal of the bag's handles on the hook 4 and that no bags will fall down from the hook 4 as a result of shaking.

The gravity force, as well as the rounded cross-sectional area of the hook, causes the threaded bags to be symmetrically arranged in the lower arched portion D of the hook, such that the center of gravity of the entire load will be as close as possible to the symmetry axis A. This state of the center of gravity assures good balance and similar load distribution on the buyer's fingers, such that carrying the load is comfortable, not exhausting and not painful.

This situation of maximum balance is maintained due to the ability of the handles to slide on the arched portion of the hook, by the gravity force. When the first bag is threaded, its handle will be positioned at the lower point of the hook. Threading an additional bag will cause both bag loads to touch each other and all handles to slide, until symmetrically rearranging along the segment D. This process is repeated upon threading each additional bag and hence, balance in maintained.

Hook 4 may be an integral part of the handle 2 or be connected to it by screwing, nailing or by adhesion. The hook may be made of plastic, polymer or metal, so as to ensure the required rigidity to carry the load. Fig.2 is a bottom view of the carrying device, proposed by the present invention.

The above examples and description have of course been provided only for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the invention can be carried out in a great variety of ways, employing more than one technique from those described above, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.