Detachable hand-grip for use with shopping bags and the like

Abstract

An attachable and detachable hand-grip for carrying one or more plastic bags typically used in grocery stores, or other handle-bearing objects having thin loop-type handles, the hand-grip comprising an elongate base member defining a longitudinal channel that spans the length of the base member and having longitudinal edge portions on each side of the channel, and a closure member hingedly connected longitudinally to the base member so that the closure member and base member are able to articulate relative to each other about a longitudinal axis between an open position in which the channel is exposed enabling the placement or removal of the handles within the channel and a closed position in which the closure member abuts the edge portions of the base member to interfere with the channel for confining the handles within the channel.

1 . A hand-grip for carrying the handles of one or more plastic shopping bags typically used in grocery stores or other handle-bearing objects having thin loop-type handles, the hand-grip comprising:
 an elongate base member defining a longitudinal channel that spans the length of the base member and having longitudinal edge portions on each side of said channel and a bottom wall that defines the bottom of the base channel and having end portions adjacent the ends of the base member wherein each end portion is angled downward relative to the remainder of the bottom wall toward the adjacent end of the base;   closure member hingedly connected longitudinally to the base member such that the closure member and base member are able to articulate relative to each other about a longitudinal axis between an open position in which the channel is exposed enabling the placement or removal of the handles within the channel and a closed position in which the closure member abuts said edge portions of the base member to interfere with the channel for confining the handles within the channel.   
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in claim  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall further includes longitudinal reinforcement ribs for strengthening the bottom wall. 
   
   
       3 . The device of claim  claim 2  further comprising a releasable latch mechanism that cooperates with the closure member and the base member for maintaining the device in the closed position wherein the latch mechanism comprises a flange extending upward from the base member and a corresponding and complimentary recess in the closure member that receives the flange as the device is articulated into the closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The device of claim  claim 3  wherein the latch mechanism further includes a protrusion on a face of the flange and a corresponding indentation on the recess that receives the protrusion when the flange is received in the recess to provide a releasable interlocking fit between the flange and the recess. 
   
   
       5 . The device of claim  claim 3  wherein the edges of the ends of the base member are beveled. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A hand-grip for carrying the handles of one or more plastic shopping bags typically used in grocery stores or other handle-bearing objects having thin loop-type handles, the hand-grip comprising:
 a semitubular base member defining a longitudinal semicylindrical base channel and having a first base edge on one side of the base channel and a second base edge on the other side of the base channel, and a bottom wall that defines the bottom of the base channel, wherein the bottom wall includes longitudinally oriented reinforcement ribs for structurally strengthening the bottom wall; and   a semitubular closure member defining a longitudinal semicylindrical closure channel and having a first closure edge on one side of the closure channel and a second closure edge on the other side of the closure channel, the first closure edge being hingedly connected to the first base edge such that the closure member and base member are able to articulate relative to each other about a longitudinal axis between an open position in which the base channel is exposed to enable the placement or removal of the handles within the base channel and a closed position in which the closure member interferes with the base channel for confining the handles within the base channel.   
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in claim  claim 7  wherein the base member and the closure member are dimensioned such that in the closed position the second closure edge and second base edge abut each other to enclose the base channel. 
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in claim  claim 8  further comprising a releasable latch mechanism that cooperates with the closure member and the base member for maintaining the device in the closed position. 
   
   
       10 . The device of claim  claim 9  wherein the latch mechanism comprises a flange extending upward from the base member along substantially the entire length of the second base edge and a corresponding and complimentary recess defined in the closure member along substantially the entire length of the second closure edge that receives the flange as the device is moved into the closed position. 
   
   
       11 . The device of claim  claim 10  wherein the latch mechanism further includes a medial protrusion on a face of the flange and a corresponding medial indentation on the recess that receives the protrusion when the flange is received in the recess to provide a releasable interlocking fit between the flange and the recess. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the base member and closure member are molded from thermoplastic material as one unit and the hinged connection between the base member and closure member comprises a pliable band of thermoplastic material that connects the base member and the closure member. 
   
   
       14 . A hand-grip for carrying the handles of one or more plastic shopping bags typically used in grocery stores or other handle-bearing objects having thin loop-type handles, the hand-grip comprising:
 a semitubular base member defining a longitudinal semicylindrical base channel and having a first base edge on one side of the base channel and a second base edge on the other side of the base channel, and a bottom wall that defines the bottom of the base channel and having end portions adjacent the ends of the base member wherein each end portion is angled downward relative to the remainder of the bottom wall toward the adjacent end of the base; and   a semitubular closure member defining a longitudinal semicylindrical closure channel and having a first closure edge on one side of the closure channel and a second closure edge on the other side of the closure channel, the first closure edge being hingedly connected to the first base edge such that the closure member and base member are able to articulate relative to each other about a longitudinal axis between an open position in which the base channel is exposed to enable the placement or removal of the handles within the base channel and a closed position in which the closure member interferes with the base channel for confining the handles within the base channel.   
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the base member and the closure member are dimensioned such that in the closed position the second closure edge and second base edge abut each other to enclose the base channel. 
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising a releasable latch mechanism that cooperates with the closure member and the base member for maintaining the device in the closed position. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the latch mechanism comprises a flange extending upward from the base member along substantially the entire length of the second base edge and a corresponding and complimentary recess defined in the closure member along substantially the entire length of the second closure edge that receives the flange as the device is moved into the closed position. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the latch mechanism further includes a medial protrusion on a face of the flange and a corresponding medial indentation on the recess that receives the protrusion when the flange is received in the recess to provide a releasable interlocking fit between the flange and the recess. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein an inside surface of the bottom wall further includes longitudinally oriented reinforcement ribs for strengthening the bottom wall. 
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the base member and  closure member are molded from thermoplastic material as one unit and the hinged  connection between the base member and closure member comprises a pliable band  of thermoplastic material that connects the base member and the closure member.