G-SHAPE ERGONOMIC T-SHIRT BAG HANDLE

Abstract

This invention is an ergonomic hand held, tubular object which provides an improved means of gripping shopping bag handles.

Claims

1) A tubular object comprising: a. a rounded wall section defining the exterior surface of the invention; b. a wall section projecting inwardly from the rounded wall of the invention dividing the interior of the invention in two elongated, open-ended hollow sections; c. an outside slit opening in the rounded wall section, extending length wise, along one side of the inwardly projecting wall section; and d. an interior slit opening between the rounded wall section of the invention and the inside end of the inwardly projecting wall section, extending length wise, alongside the interior surface of the rounded wall section of the invention, interconnecting the two adjacent, elongated, open-ended, hollow sections; wherein the T-Shirt bag handles can be inserted in one of the two elongated, open-ended hollow sections of the invention through the outside slit opening and forced to slide into the other hollow section of the invention through the interior slit opening by a partial rotation of the hand, thereby becoming trapped until un-trapped and released from the invention by an inverse partial rotation of the hand while pulling upward.

2) A method of trapping the handles of one or more T-Shirt bags inside the invention comprising the steps of: a. holding the invention in hand with the outside slit opening facing up and away from inside the hand; b. inserting T-Shirt bag handles in one of the invention's elongated, open-ended hollow section through the outside slit opening; c. sliding T-Shirt bag handles through the interior slit opening into the adjacent and interconnected, elongated, open-ended, hollow section; and d. performing a partial rotation of the invention, counter clockwise if the invention is held with the left hand, or clockwise if the invention is held with the right hand, while pulling upward, such as to force all the T-Shirt bag handles against the inside wall of the invention at the innermost point of this elongated, open-ended hollow section where they become trapped-in.

3) A method of un-trapping and releasing the handles of one or more T-Shirt bags from inside the invention, comprising the steps of: a. holding the invention in hand with the outside slit opening facing up and away from inside the hand; and b. performing a partial rotation of the invention, clockwise if the invention is held with the left hand or counter clockwise if the invention is held with the right hand, while pulling upward, such as to force all the T-Shirt bag handles away and out from the inside of the invention.

Description

[0022] In the drawings which form a part of this specification of the invention,

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front view of the invention profile.

[0024] FIG. 1a is a back view of the invention profile shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a top-side view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] This invention relates to a hand-held object to grip T-Shirt bag handles with.

[0028] This invention builds on the opportunities for improvement of prior art and inventions with regards to comfort and convenience such that; it is compact enough to be commonly, comfortably and easily carried around in a purse or in various garment pockets, its ergonomic features provide comfortable and efficient deflection of the sometime sharp and cutting T-Shirt bag handle pressure, and finally, that it allows to simply, quickly and easily trap together into the invention the T-Shirt bags handles or just as easily un-trap the T-Shirt bags handles out of the invention.

[0029] I have found that the drawbacks or inconveniences, of previous inventions could be overcome by creating an ergonomic hand held, hollow, open ended, elongated G-shape profiled object with narrow slits extending lengthwise that provides an improved means of gripping T-Shirt bags handles.

[0030] The invention is made by injection molding of rigid polymeric material with a two mirror-part, multiple cavity injection tool, although a variety of rigid or semi-rigid injectable material could be used to attain the functionality goals of the invention.

[0031] The following is a comprehensive description of the invention with details about how it meets the characteristics and functionality desired by shoppers:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a profile view of the invention ergonomic tubular structure, a wall section 9 projecting inwardly from a point 3 on the invention exterior surface, dividing the invention in two elongated, open-ended hollow sections. One hollow section 7 with an outside slit opening 1 between 2 and 3, and the other hollow section 8 with an interior slit opening 4 between 5 and 6, interconnecting the two sections 7 and 8.

[0033] FIG. 1a shows the profile view of FIG. 1 pivoted 180 degrees on the horizontal axis. Everything stays the same but now the profile that generally looked like G-shape in FIG. 1 now generally looks like an e-shape in FIG. 1a. This is the same invention seen from a different view.

[0034] This profile structure allows for T-Shirt bag handles to be easily and quickly inserted deep into the invention by sliding them through the outside slit opening 1 of hollow section 7 and then through the interior slit opening 4 of hollow section 8, this with a natural slide along the smooth inside surfaces of the invention. Once deep inside hollow section 8, bag handles are trapped together inside the invention until un-trapped and released out of the invention by a quick and easy quarter turn rotation of the invention while pulling on it upwardly.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an ergonomic hand held, tubular object with two narrow slits extending lengthwise. The outside slit opening 1 is visible in its entirety. The shoulder 10 of the top hollow section is slightly recessed from the shoulder 11 of the bottom hollow section. All features of the invention are symmetrical on both side of middle line 13. Thickness of the material is at maximum in the middle at line 13 and decreasing imperceptibly toward both extremities at 15 and 11 with a 1% tapering to accommodate requirements of injection molding. The surface 14 of the invention is smooth and all edges as shown in 15, 10 and 11 are smooth fileted. The notches 12 created on both extremities of the invention add effectiveness to the trap by catching bag handles when a t-shirt bag bundle is temporarily placed on a surface.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a top-side view of the invention. In this perspective, it is clearly visible that on the side of the outside slit opening 17, both ends of the invention are modified 18, 19 and 16, 20 as if one side of the invention was constrained by two concentric and, invisible, overlapping elliptical shapes, one larger limiting the bottom hollow section ends 18 and 16 and a concentric, smaller, second invisible elliptical shape limiting the top hollow section ends 19 and 20 in a recessed fashion from the bottom hollow section.

[0037] This feature adds to the functionality of the invention as it facilitates the insertion of T-shirt bag handles inside it through the outside slit opening. When one holds the invention while attempting to insert T-Shirt bag handles into it, they will tend to naturally fall onto the inward middle section ledge created by the recessed top side extremities.

[0038] This feature also adds to the ergonomic sensation of the invention that makes it intrinsically comfortable for carrying T-Shirt bags. Rounded extremities 18, 19 and 16, 20 provide comfortable rest area and support for the hand palm and thumb.