Carrying handle

Abstract

A carry handle (33) for carrying a pizza box or cake box or other boxed food product is made of inexpensive disposable paper or cardboard and comprises a pair of strap portions which generally are parallel to each other and in a side-by-side relationship and are joined to each other by a fold line (17). The strap portions can be twisted about the fold line (17) into a cross like configuration. A pizza box can then be placed on the cross like configuration. The strap portions are longer than the width of the pizza box and can therefore be lifted up and over the pizza box and connected together to form a reliable carry handle.

Claims

1. A carry handle for a boxed food item, the handle comprising an elongate strap having: a first strap portion; a second strap portion; a first fold line attaching the strap portions together the first fold line being entirely on one of the strap portions and extending from one longitudinal edge of the strap portion and diagonally to a point spaced inwardly from the other longitudinal edge of the strap portion; wherein the strap portions are foldable about the first fold line between a non-use position where the strap portions are generally parallel to each other and a carrying position where the strap portions are angled to each other.

2. The handle of claim 1, wherein the handle is made of disposable paper or cardboard.

3. The handle of claim 1, wherein the strap portions adjacent the first fold line are at right angles relative to each other in the carrying position.

4. The handle of claim 1, wherein one said strap portion contains slots adjacent opposed end edges thereof, the slots being aligned when said opposed end edges are overlapped.

5. The handle of claim 1, wherein one strap portion contains cutouts adjacent opposed edges thereof and adapted to interconnect with each other to join the opposed edges together.

6. The handle of claim 4, wherein the ends of one strap portion are adapted to pass through the aligned slots of the other strap portion.

7. The handle of claim 1, wherein the point is approximately midway across the strap portion.

8. The handle of claim 1, wherein the first fold line extends from the one longitudinal edge of the strap portion diagonally to the point spaced inwardly from the other longitudinal edge of the strap portion at an obtuse angle of 135.

9. The handle of claim 1, wherein the fold line is located about midway between the opposed end edges of the strap member.

10. The handle of claim 1, wherein the first fold line communicates with a first cut line to facilitate the folding action, the cut line extending from adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strap portion and to the end of the fold line to together form a V configuration when viewed in plan.

11. The handle of claim 1, including a food product in a box supported by the handle, part of the first strap portion and part of the second strap portion passing underneath the box.

12. A method for carrying a boxed food product comprising: providing a handle as claimed in claim 1; folding the first strap portion and the second strap portion about the fold line to provide a cross shaped configuration when viewed in plan; positioning a boxed food product on the cross shaped handle; lifting the ends of one said strap portion to overlap each other over the box, the said ends having slots that align with each other; lifting the ends of the other said strap portion; pushing the ends through the aligned slots, and interconnecting cutouts in each end of the pushed through ends to form a loop, thereby enabling the base of the boxed food product to be supported and the boxed food product to be carried by one hand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1. Illustrates schematically a carry handle for a boxed food item and in the initial non-use position.

(3) FIG. 2. Illustrates the first step of converting the handle of FIG. 1 into the carrying use position by folding one strap portion at right angles over the other strap portions about a first fold line.

(4) FIG. 3. Illustrates a further step where the folded over strap portion is folded over itself to be midway across the first strap portion.

(5) FIG. 4. Illustrates the underside of the strap of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5. Illustrates a carry handle for a boxed food item and in the initial non-use position.

(7) FIG. 6. Illustrates the handle of FIG. 5 in the folded over position.

(8) FIGS. 7-9. Illustrate an assembled handle, the handle with a pizza box, and the handle with a pizza box and drink bottles.

(9) FIGS. 10-12. Illustrate the same handle of FIGS. 7-9 but now carrying two pizza boxes and two pizza boxes with drink bottles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Referring initially to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, there is illustrated a carry handle 33 for a boxed food item 24, the handle comprising an elongate strap having:

(11) a first strap portion 10/11;

(12) a second strap portion 12/13;

(13) a first fold line 17 attaching the strap portions together;

(14) wherein the strap portions are foldable about the first fold line between a non-use position where the strap portions are generally parallel to each other and a carrying position where the strap portions are angled to each other.

(15) The carry handle as illustrated in FIGS. 5-12 more accurately illustrates the commercial product, while the carry handle as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is schematic and is used to better illustrate the folding steps.

(16) Referring to FIG. 1, the carry handle 33 is made of a disposable relatively stiff paper or cardboard. Specifically, the carry handle 33 comprises an elongate strap like member which has a first strap portion and a second strap portion which are connected together. To better illustrate and understand the folding sequence of the carry handle from the flat non-use position of FIG. 1 (and FIG. 5) to the use position illustrated at least in FIG. 7, the various parts of the strap portions are given different reference numerals. Therefore, and referring at least to FIG. 1, the first strap portion is given reference numeral 10 for one half of the first strap portion, reference numeral 11 for the other half of the first strap portion. The other side (face) of the first strap is given reference numerals 10A and 11A as illustrated at least in FIG. 2, and part 10A is directly behind 10 and 11A is behind 11. Similarly, the second strap portion has a front face with reference numeral 12 on one half of the front face and reference numeral 13 on the other half of the front face, and also has reference numerals 12A and 13A on the other face of the strap.

(17) FIG. 1 also illustrates the first fold line 17 and a cut line 16.

(18) Strap portions 10/11 and 12/13 are connected together at least by fold line 17. However, initially, the portions may also be temporally connected along cut lines 14 and 15, for instance by frangible portions, so that the initial stiff planar configuration of FIG. 1 is maintained and the strap portions do not begin to sag relative to each other.

(19) The carry handle 33 can be mass produced from inexpensive paper or cardboard and used by the pizza or food outlet.

(20) When required, a carry handle 33 can be removed from a box or dispenser. Next, any temporary connections between the strap portions can be broken. This can be done by folding strap portion 10/11 onto a L shape relative to strap portion 12/13.

(21) Next, a person holds second strap portion 12/13 and twists first strap portion 10/11 about fold line 17 by about 90 such that portion 11 rotates above the plane and portion 10 rotates below the plane. Then the first strap portion is folded against the second strap portion as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this figure the rear face of the first strap portion is uppermost and therefore has reference numerals 10A and 11A.

(22) Finally, and as illustrated from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, the first strap portion is folder by 180 about fold line 18 to again have the front face visible 10/11. The first strap portion also is positioned midway along the (lower) second strap member.

(23) Although the above describes and illustrates a separate multistep process, in most cases the twisting about fold line 17 and folding about fold line 18 will happen simultaneously in a single smooth sequence.

(24) FIG. 4 illustrates the underneath view of FIG. 3.

(25) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the same process as described above.

(26) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate further features of the carry handle. Specifically, FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate that one of the strap portions (for instance 10-11) containing slots 19, 20 adjacent each longitudinal end of the strap portion, and the other of the strap portions (for instance 12-13) contain cutouts 21, 22. These slots 19, 20 and cutouts 21, 22 assist in holding the various strap portions into the final shape of the carry handle and this will be described hereinafter.

(27) Referring now to FIG. 7, the strap portions as illustrated in FIG. 6 (being substantially at right angles to each other) can now be further folded to the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7. Specifically, strap portion 10-11 is folded upwardly and looped together such that the slots 19, 20 overlie each other and the slots are aligned. It is envisaged that some form of press stick adhesive may be provided to assist in holding strap portion in the loop configuration illustrated in FIG. 7. The adhesive may be protected by a peel off cover layer.

(28) Once the slots 19, 20 are aligned, the other strap portion 12-13 can also be looped upward with each opposed end being pressed together and pushed through the aligned slots 19, 20. Once this occurs, the pushed through end parts of strap portion 12-13 can be connected together by engaging cutout 21 with cutout 22.

(29) The carry handle is now in the use position and can hold a pizza box 24 (see FIG. 8). The person can then grip the handle portion 27 of the carry handle in a convenient manner especially because of the inter-engagement of the end of strap portion 12-13 via a connection of the cutouts 21, 22.

(30) The pizza box 24 is firmly supported on its base by both straps being at right angles to each other. Furthermore, the top of the box can still be opened to inspect the pizza.

(31) The strap can be quite easily removed typically by tearing the strap away from the box, or with slightly more patience, by pushing the handle portion 27 back through the aligned openings 19, 20.

(32) Strap portion 12, 13 can be provided with additional fold lines 30, 31 (see for instance FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 11). The fold lines can be positioned to approximate the height of a pizza box to enable better gripping of the sides of the pizza box. Fold line 31 is a fold line should two pizza boxes (see FIG. 11) need to be held by the carry handle.

(33) Another advantage of the carry handle is illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 12. Drink bottles 25 can be laid on top of pizza box 24 and can be at least partially supported by the carry handle. The strap portions of the carry handle will at least prevent the drink bottles rolling off each side edge of the pizza box.

(34) Other additional purchases (such as garlic bread) can also be placed on the pizza box and the entire purchase can be carried with one hand in a safe manner with little or no likelihood of contact with the hot pizza box or inadvertent dropping of the pizza box or drink bottles.

(35) This can reduce possible liability against the pizza outlets.

(36) The other hand of the person carrying the pizza box/drink bottles etc. is free and can hold car keys, a mobile phone, a child hand and the like.

(37) The inexpensive nature of the carry handle will make it acceptable to pizza outlets.

(38) Advertising can be printed or otherwise applied to the various parts of the carry handle.

(39) The strap is assembled by the vendor based on the pre-cut stencil and folded along the embedded fold lines and placed around the boxes to enable to customer to carry the boxes securely in one hand. The four sides of the strap encase the box and are secured by interlocking the looped handle at the top for ease of transporting boxes with one hand.

(40) It is intended that vendors would have the option of placing advertising or printing menus or specials on the strap if desired.

USE FOR THE INVENTION

(41) The above description and illustrations demonstrate how the invention may be used as a disposable inexpensive carry handle for hot pizza boxes, additional drink containers, and also for other box food items that may be difficult to carry such as large (and possibly fragile) cakes and the like.

(42) In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term comprises and its variations, such as comprising and comprised of is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

(43) Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term substantially or about will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

(44) Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.