Technical Field

This invention relates to individual carriers and hooking handles.

In the field of hand and shoulder carriers the carrying of goods is generally performed by use of containers, some of which are troublesome to hand. Moreover, containers are often encumbering, and have a dimension proportioned to the goods to be carried.

For this reason many persons to which suddenly happens to need to carry things are obliged to tire their hands and arms.

Further, there are some objects for which a satisfying carrier has not been found. For this reason women make purchases and food-shopping having hands filled with bags, sacks, boxes, which are tiring for fingers, as the handles of plastic bags and the strings of packages "cut" hands of users.

Backeround A r t

The present application is a continuation of my earlier application PCT/IT94/00100, having found some improvements. In prior art exist some hand carrying tools having central handle built in one only piece. That prenvents from the possibility of having different colours and materials, makes long and difficult the printing of a logo or of a message, causes the problem that either one uses a resistant material difficult to be printed, such as Nylon, either a material easy to be printed but less resistant; printing lays on an external surface and soon is rubbed out by hand friction. Further, as said tools are often built in plastic material, die thickness of the tool cannot be to great, for the necessity of a good cooling. Therefore the shape of the tool is generally tubular or irregular.(Clark, GB 2218901a; Samson PCT/GB92/01069; Fink US 4,841,596). Therefore said tools cannot be easily used as advertising and promotional objects. Further, any easy-connecting equipment have been provided for the case of transportation of several objects together.

Further, the hooking apparatuses either leave a space from which thin strings can come out, either (as in case of my cited PCT application) have mechanical parts which, after a certain sliding, slide too easily and do not keep their position open/closed.

Objects and advantages

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: a) to provide an equipment comprising a connecting handle able to be connected to objects to be carried, particularly to plastic shoppers, and b) to include in the equipment a set of additional connecting elements able to keep tight a load and to permit the use of said handle in different carrying situations. c) to provide a blocking apparatus for said additional connecting elements d) to provide a tool for shoulder transportation of objects having handles. e) to provide the fastening, padding and print-protection methods necessary for the features of said apparatuses.

All parts of the equipment are shaped so as to permit their manufacture in plastic material.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

The invention consists in an equipment for the easy and comfortable carrying of goods, comprising a connecting handle, shown in different embodiments, able to be connected with the major part of objects that are usually to be carried during the day, such as plastic shoppers, big boxes, sets of bottles, cleansing containers, pictures, sport gear and the like. Said objects either are provided with handles which are fatiguing and not practical, either simply provided with strings, either completely loose.

Said handle is built in matchable parts, so as to permit different colours and materials, and therefore to permit advertising printing. Further, it permits to avoid strong friction on printed messages and permits a very strong connection with a padding.

Power of connecting handle is increased by additional connecting accessories, able to permit connection also with objects not directly connectable to said handle. Some of said accessories are able to be used alone for the keeping tight of objects.

Connecting handles can also be comfortably connected to the shoulder of user by a shoulder carrier for handles, included in the equipment.

Brief description of Drawing figures

Figures 1,4,9,17 relate to connecting handles. Figures 2,3,10,11 relate to details of connecting handles. Figures 13,14 relate to strap-shaped accessories Figures 12,15 relates to fasteners

Figures 5,6,7,16,18,19 relate to cable-shaped accessories Figure 8 relates to a detail of cable-shaped accessories Figure .22 relates to use of a connecting handle.

Figures 20,21 relates to use of accessories of a connecting handle- Figures 23,24 relate to use of tool for the shoulder carrying of handles.

Disclosure of Invention

Fig. 1 shows , indicated as 1A, a hand carrying tool or hooking handle having a central portion or handle 1 and at each end 17,18 a hooking apparatus 2 ,2 ' which is formed by two protrusions 4,13 protruding from the vertical face of end 17. Protrusion 4 extends from the end of upper part (17") of end 17, it i s thin and elastic , slightly curved downwards for helping insertions. Protrusion 13 extends from the lower part 17' of end 17 and comprises a horizontal and resistant corbel 10 ending in a vertical element 15 hook-shaped, the ending in a thickened ending 12, having a surface 6 , inclined downwards for helping of insertions. A little passage 11 is left between element 4 and surface 6. Lower zone 7 of central portion 1 is hand-shaped; central zone 16 is a zone thinner than inferior and superior zone 7,14, so as to obtain ,at each lateral side, a

groove 8 in which an elongated lateral element 19 is forced as a stopper in a position that locates external surface 5 slightly deeper than the edges 27,26 of parts 14,7. Fig. 2 shows front and rear view of lateral element or stopper 19. In rear view are shown protrusions 21 having groove joints 20 to be connected to tongue joints 24, shown in fig. 3. Obviously this type of joint is an example, as could be used any known type of joint Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of tool 1A, and shows insertion of stoppers 19 in groove 8, in a position for which face 5 is deeper than edges 26,27. In Figs . 9,10 is further shown the way for keeping in place padding 28 : each edge 2 9 of padding 28 is forced between inferior part 9 of stopper 19 and lower internal face 30 of groove 8; connection can be improved with glue. In Fig. 11 is shown that stoppers 19 can be disposed all to gether for the printing, thanks to the fact that external face 5 is parallel to the opposite side 22 of stopper 19.

Fig. 4 shows a hand carrying tool IB which is identical to tool 1A except that :a) in the hooking apparatuses ,3,3' located at each side of handle 1 b) in die shape of inferior part 7. Hooking apparatus 3 permits to eliminate space 11 between surface 6 and elastic element 4, thanks to the fact that vertical element 15 is thin and very elastic thanks to the fact that the thin part gains in length because protruding from the inferior part 31 of corbel 10. Therefore there is an empty supplemental space 23 between thin portion 28' of element 15 and hook- shaped upper end 29 of corbel 10. Space 23 permits elastic movement of element 15 against element 4, so as to obtain the complete closure of passage 11, thanks to the double elasticity of elements 15,4. Passage 11 can easily be opened by simply intentional pushing or extracting of an object, e.g. the handle of a plastic bag. Once inserted, said handle remains in place even when tool IB abandoned by user in his car, ready to be used again without loosing connection with the load. Space 23 can also be used as a supplemental hooking space. Fig. 4 shows tool IB with its lateral elements 19 out of place, for major clarity. Hand-shape on inferior part 7 is characterised in that it can fit on differently dimensioned hands, thanks to the fact that there are only tiiree finger-fitting protrusions 7',7",7'", generating only two central finger-shapes of standard dimensions, being space at their side much more wide than a finger

Figs. 5,6,7,12,13,14,16,18,19 show accessories for the increasing the carrying power of tool like IB. Said accessories are really necessary in some carrying situations, that is when : a) the load has no zone where it can be hooked, and must be wrapped in something (as shown in Fig. 20); b) the load can be hooked, but in a direction which is not directly hookable by tools 1A, IB (case shown in Fig. 22). For the case a) are provided some accessories, such as additional cable set 32, (Fig. 5) able to keep thigh one or plus objects, and to be hooked by tool IB. Cable set 32 comprises a close curve shaped cable such as to form a loop 39 used as a double cable threaded through a stopper 35. Loop 39 is so divided in two loops: an upper loop 37 and a lower loop 33. Loop 33 can give way to a sliding loop 34 if in end 33' of loop 33 is inserted the beginning 33" of loop 33 itself, that is the portion under stopper 35, which works as an obstacle against the sliding of end 33' in loosing direction. This generates a method for easily wrap objects and keep them tight.

By wrapping the load in sliding loop 34 user can keep it tight by pushing stopper 35 against end 33'. This action makes larger the upper loop 37 , which can be hooked by a tool such as IB .

Fig. 6) shows that in loop 37 a ring 40 can be inserted, performing the additional function to prevent a not desired coming out of stopper 35.

Same effect can be obtained by using (Fig. 7) a simple cable 44 having a snap- hook 41 at an end , a stopper 35 slidable on said cable and a loop 42 or a ring at the other end: sliding loop 43 in so obtained by hooking cable 44 on itself and can be kept tight by pushing stopper 35 against said snap-hook 41. Connection 45 between cable 44 and snap-hook 41 is performed by a very simple system (Fig. 8) , that is by a fixed loop 36 obtained by melting with heat the end 46 of cable 44 (supposed to be built in plastic meltable material or fibres). By cause of heat, end 46 is melted so as to become hard and thick , so as to prevent sliding out from stopping collar 38. In case of big boxes, they can rapidly be tied and hooked by handle 1A thanks to no-knot-tier 79 shown in Fig. 16 .

A cable 80 has first end 92 forming a loop 81', which can be connected to a snap hook 81 . Second end 91 is threaded two times in a stopper 82 , so as to obtain a sliding loop 83, which can be tightened by simply pulling end 91 of cable 80. This operation causes the sliding of all cable 80 towards stopper 82, so as to permit to tie tight a box, and to block it without knots, but simply by fastening stopper 82. By this way boxes can fastly be tied and hooked witii a tool 1A,1B. For case b) are provided accessories able to change the hooking direction of shown tools 1A,1B. In Fig. 12 are shown two types of connecting rings, , able to be hooked by the tool, and then to hook a load in a direction perpendicular to the hooking apparatuses of said tool. Said devices must have the possibility of being opened and fastened , as they could lose the load or die connection with the tool. Elastic ring 48 has fist end 50 joinable to second end and is openable thanks to die elasticity of the material (such as plastic or Nylon or the like). The closure is made strong by cause of cylinder 51 , slidable on said ring (witii a certain friction able to keep its position) , which can be positioned over the joint and be stopped by protrusion 49 . Use of elastic ring 48 is shown in Fig . 22: paper shopper 109 has its handle disposed so as to generate a hole 108, the upper edge 107 of which lays parallel to tool IB and could not be hooked directly by tool IB. In effect, in commerce there are two types of shoppers: : a) plastic shoppers (having generally handles disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the movement of user. For said bags is comfortable direct connection witii tools 1A or IB, which permit to carry the shopper in a longitudinal position, with the less wide side located frontwards (see FIG. 21) . b) paper shoppers have handles disposed in a direction parallel to the direction of the movement of user, and if they should be directly connected with a tool

1A,1B, user should be obliged to turn them in a position having the wider side frontwards, which should encumber his movements. Therefore , by using elastic rings 48, hooking direction is changed.

Shuttable elastic hook 52 can be fastened thanks to fastening element 56, which is kept with cylindrical element 54 positioned in turning joint 53 (located at inferior end 62 of hook 52) . By pulling upwards flat element 58 it is possible to user to insert it in joint 59 , located at upper end 60 of hook 52. This

movement shuts passage 61, the load keeps tense parallel elements 5 5 _β preventing the coming out of rectangular element 56 from joints 53,59. whereby said passage (61) can be opened when flat side 58 disconnected by joint 59 by finger manoeuvre; and turned outwards by a rotation on its axis 54 in joint 53; (element 54 and joint 53 could be also built in a way not permitting rotation, or be one only piece, and in this cases the opening of passage 61 should be permitted by the elasticity of elements 55).

For the same function can be used , at each end of tool IB, a flexible connecting element 63 (shown in Fig. 13 in two positions, straight and folded in use position), comprising a flat central portion 64 , such as a strap or a plastic band, having at each end a ring 65,66 located in a plan perpendicular to the plan of flat portion 64. It so is possible to hook first ring 65 to tool IB , to wrap a load, and to hook second ring 66 close to first ring . If it is needed to carry plus long objects together, as a ski pair, can be used a couple of flexible connecting & looping elements , such as element 67 ( Fig. 14), wherein there is a flexible band 76 having two ends , having a ring at first end , wherein at second end there is a hooking and stopping connector or fastener 68. Fig. 15) shows (in frontal and in lateral view) fastener 68, which comprises a body 69 (including first jaw 70), and a protrusion 71 , having a vertical (in figure) portion 74 and an horizontal portion 75 (including second jaw 72. Passage 73 between the two jaws can be fastened , for it has a type of closure similar to the one shown for hook 52 : there is an elastic and substantially elliptic fastening element 56' having first (circle-sectioned) side or axis 54 ' jointed to the groove joint 53' on side 89 of body 69 of fastener 68 , at one side of passage 73; having second (flat) side 58' connectable with joint 59' located at the end of protrusion 71, by finger manoeuvre. Said manoeuvre is made easy by the elasticity of lateral curve-shaped elements 55' (which get straight when side 58' pulled by user , and return curved when relieved).

Passage 73 permits introduction of band 76 between jaws 70,72. Jaw 70 is sharp shaped and is a part of body 69, and protrudes out of the plan of body 69 . From a side of said body 69 there is an elongated protrusion 71 having a vertical portion 74 (of a length necessary for its easy elastic manoeuvre) and an horizontal portion 75 (upper in figure) which includes a second jaw 72 , an elongated sharp zone protruding from its lower face and protruding out of the plan of body 69, towards the same side of first jaw 70.

Therefore it is possible to introduce a band 76 or a strap through passage 73 (when fastening element 56' not connected by both sides ) and to fasten it, so as to obtain an adjustable loop 77 for the wrapping of a load. First and second jaw are therefore positioned so as to permit the sliding of band 76 in one only direction. Inclination of the edge 78 of upper jaw 72 permits it to stay parallel to first jaw 70 when fastener 68 is closed. It so is possible to obtain sliding loops which keep tight (by inserting band 76 from a side); its also possible to obtain not sliding loops if band 76 inserted from opposite side. Band 76 can have linear slight protrusions 90 to better permit the blocking action of said jaws. Fastener 68 can either be connected to a strap (and in this case is provided with a passage in body 69), either can be built at the same time with band 76 with a shell for plastic production.

In the carrying of objects by a hooking handle as shown, the upper part of hooking apparatus is weak for transportation, and it may happen that the handle could be wrongly hold, causing the coming out of the load from said

upper part. This can be a problem for particular objects to be carried, or in cases on has die other hand blocked, and one cannot easily repeat hooking operation. Therefore is here provided (Fig. 17) a hand carrying tool IC , which differs from tool 1A,1B because of has a ring 84,84' at each side of handle 1. In this way tool IC cannot hook but can be hooked by snap hooks similar to snap hook 86, being part of additional cable set 32" (Fig.18). Set 32 is particularly useful for the carrying of a ski pair (in the way shown in Fig.20). It comprises a set 32, as shown above, further comprising snap hook 86 and flat element 94 . Said flat element has a hole 95 in its inferior side 88 through which is threaded cable 39. For the carrying of a ski pair 96 flat element 94 is inserted with upper part 87 between skis 97,93 (Fig.19) , while skis wrapped by cable 39. Therefore is obtained that : a) skis are not kept in straight position, loosing their slightly curved shape; b) set 32" cannot slide on skis in a not desired position, by cause that element 94 is compressed and blocked by the wrapped skis, such as in a sandwich. Said method can be used also if skis are wrapped by band element 67 (shown above, Fig.14), if provided with flat element 94. Hand carrying for long time tires hand; also shoulder carrying , after a certain time, fatigues one's shoulder. The best thing is to have the possibility to alternate one's carrying way. The equipment therefore includes a tool Tl ( Fig . 23) for shoulder carrying of objects connected to a handle. Said tool comprises a wide shoulder strap 99 having each end 100,100' tapering inwardly, in a thin flexible element. First element 101 ends in a ring 102 connected to a snap hook 103. Second element 104 ends in a wide flat and flexible body 105 ending in a ring 106. One can so wrap a handle IB in flat body 105 and connect ring 106 to snap hook 103, to be able to pass from hand transportation to shoulder carrying. By matching two shoulder tools Tl'.Tl" by means of a front and a rear cross- piece 110, 111, a two-shoulder tool T2 is obtained (Fig. 24). All shown tools can be built in plastic material, such as Nylon and the like, permitting the production of a very cheap equipment having great utility.

Having described the invention and its advantages, one can see that it is based on die use of several parts and that each part can have different embodiments and be used in different combinations. This gives to this new carrying equipment a great extent of uses, of which the devices described in the figures are only some examples. Accordingly, d e scope of die invention should be determined not only by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.