US3692218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article carrier with lockable carrying handles
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-10-07
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1990-10-07
Abstract
Abstract Two molded plastic handle bails having a pair of spaced generally upright legs joined by a horizontal reach are utilized to hand carry articles with the user''s hand being placed between the legs and his fingers grasping the reaches. The bails are locked in adjacent juxtaposed position to prevent inadvertent removal of articles. To lock the bails, a snap flange extends transversely from the lower edges of one reach toward and beyond the other reach. The flange terminates with an upwardly extending bead which snappingly engages the exterior face of the other reach adjacent the lower edge thereof. In one embodiment, the bails are secured at their lower ends to the side panels of a plastic tote bag. In another embodiment, two bails are molded in one piece with their lower ends secured to a channel adapted to captively retain garment hanger hooks to thereby carry articles on garment hangers. A pair of spaced ribs extend upwardly from the channel base and transversely between side walls of the channel. A pair of cantilever flanges extend inwardly toward one another from opposed faces of the bails adjacent the lower end of the bail legs. The wire hook portions of garment hangers are forced against the ribs by the cantilever flanges when the reaches are brought together. A further embodiment includes a garment hanger hook receiving sling molded between the bases of each bail. Vertical ribs projecting from the side walls of the sling engage the wire hook portions of the garment hangers to prevent disengagement of the hook portions of the hangers from the sling.
Inventors
- 👤 Ira J Friedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:10
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D33/00; B65D33/16; B65D33/1683; A; A45; A45F; A45F5/00; A45F5/10; A45F5/102; A47; A47G; A47G25/00; A47G25/14; A47G25/1442; A47G25/145; A47G25/1457; A45F5/1026; A45F2005/1033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A unitary carrier suitable for the hand carrying of either a single or A plurality of garments on hangers having planar hooks, the carrier comprising a pair of bails, each bail including a reach, a base, means interconnecting the reach and the base, the carrier further including garment hanger hook engaging means, pivotal means interconnecting the base of each bail and the hook engaging means, the carrier being formed of one piece molded thermoplastic construction with the pivotal means including a living hinge having a pivotal axis substantially parallel to the length of the respective base, each bail being operably pivotable about its respective living hinge from a first position wherein the reaches are spaced apart for insertion or removal of garment hanger hooks in the hook engaging means to a second position wherein the reaches are substantially juxtaposed, means for the selective securement of the bails to inhibit the removal of hooks, the securement means including a stiff yet resilient flange, the flange extending from one reach laterally beyond and beneath the other reach when the bails are in their second position, the securement means further including a locking member, the locking member projecting from the flange and engaging the other reach when the bails are pivoted to said second position, the flange providing a substantially broad weight load distributing surface whereby garments may be easily and securely carried by grasping the juxtaposed reaches and lifting the bails when in their second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A unitary carrier suitable for the hand carrying of either a single or A plurality of garments on hangers having planar hooks, the carrier comprising a pair of bails, each bail including a reach, a base, means interconnecting the reach and the base, the carrier further including garment hanger hook engaging means, pivotal means interconnecting the base of each bail and the hook engaging means, the carrier being formed of one piece molded thermoplastic construction with the pivotal means including a living hinge having a pivotal axis substantially parallel to the length of the respective base, each bail being operably pivotable about its respective living hinge from a first position wherein the reaches are spaced apart for insertion or removal of garment hanger hooks in the hook engaging means to a second position wherein the reaches are substantially juxtaposed, means for the selective securement of the bails to inhibit the removal of hooks, the securement means including a stiff yet resilient flange, the flange extending from one reach laterally beyond and beneath the other reach when the bails are in their second position, the securement means further including a locking member, the locking member projecting from the flange and engaging the other reach when the bails are pivoted to said second position, the flange providing a substantially broad weight load distributing surface whereby garments may be easily and securely carried by grasping the juxtaposed reaches and lifting the bails when in their second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hook engaging means includes means restraining free movement of the hangers relative to the carrier, the restraining means including a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the hook engaging means and abutting the hanger hook.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein means to inhibit dislodgement of the hangers from the carrier is provided, the inhibiting means including a cantilever flange projecting from one of the bases toward the other base and providing an upper closure for the hook engaging means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein a pair of cantilever flanges are provided, each cantilever flange projecting from the base of one bail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein means restraining free movement of hangers relative to the carrier is provided, the restraining means including a plurality of spaced ribs projecting from the hook engaging means and abutting the hanger hook.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the garment hanger hook engaging means includes a channel, the channel having a bottom wall and two upright substantially parallel side walls projecting therefrom, the living hinge joining each of the side walls and a base of a corresponding bail, the bottom wall being of a length receivable within the concave undersurface of a garment hanger hook whereby the garment hanger hook may be confined between the side walls of the channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein a pair of spaced ribs are provided, each of said ribs projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the channel and extending generally transversely of the length of the bottom wall, the ribs engaging the hooks at the undersurfaces thereof, the weight of garments carried by the garment hangers causing the ribs to resiliently deflect around the hooks whereby one or more garment hangers may be carried by the carrier with the hook of each hanger being received within a deflected portion of each rib.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein means to inhibit dislodgement of the hangers from the carrier is provided, the inhibiting means including a cantilever flange projecting from one of the bases toward the other base and providing an upper closure for the channel whereby the hanger hooks are confined within the channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein two Cantilever flanges are provided, one of the cantilever flanges projecting from each of the bails.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hook engaging means comprises a sling, the sling having a pair of side panels, means hingedly securing the side panels at their lower ends, each of the side panels being joined to one of the bails by the pivotal means whereby garments on hangers may be carried with the hooks of the hangers seated in the sling between the side panels thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein ribs are provided, the ribs extending substantially in vertical planes, at least one rib projecting from one side panel toward the other side panel and at least one rib projecting from the other side panel toward the one side panel, the ribs captively retaining the hooks when the bails are in juxtaposition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A unitary carrier constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the base of each bail extends substantially parallel to and is spaced below the reach, and the means interconnecting the reach and the base at least one leg extending downwardly from the reach of the base of each.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
203 words
A carrier suitable for the hand carrying of either a single or a plurality of garments on hangers, said carrier comprising a pair of bails, each bail including a hand engageable reach, a base, garment hanger hook engaging means adapted to support garment hangers having planar hooks, pivotal means joining each bail and the hook engaging means, the hook engaging means interconnecting the bails, the two pivotal means being joined to each bail adjacent the base thereof, means for the selective securement of the bails to inhibit removal of hooks from the hook engaging means, each bail being operably pivotable about its respective pivotal means from a first position wherein the reaches are spaced apart for insertion or removal of garment hanger hooks in the hook engaging means to a second position wherein the reaches are substantially juxtaposed, the securement means including means interlocking the bails when in said second position, the hook engaging means including means restraining free movement of the hangers relative to the carrier, the restraining means comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs engaging a hanger hook with the plane of each hook lying substantially between the bails whereby a garment on a hanger may be securely hand carried.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
203 words
A carrier suitable for the hand carrying of either a single or a plurality of garments on hangers, said carrier comprising a pair of bails, each bail including a hand engageable reach, a base, garment hanger hook engaging means adapted to support garment hangers having planar hooks, pivotal means joining each bail and the hook engaging means, the hook engaging means interconnecting the bails, the two pivotal means being joined to each bail adjacent the base thereof, means for the selective securement of the bails to inhibit removal of hooks from the hook engaging means, each bail being operably pivotable about its respective pivotal means from a first position wherein the reaches are spaced apart for insertion or removal of garment hanger hooks in the hook engaging means to a second position wherein the reaches are substantially juxtaposed, the securement means including means interlocking the bails when in said second position, the hook engaging means including means restraining free movement of the hangers relative to the carrier, the restraining means comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs engaging a hanger hook with the plane of each hook lying substantially between the bails whereby a garment on a hanger may be securely hand carried.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the hook engaging means comprises a channel, the channel including a bottom wall and two upright substantially parallel side walls projecting therefrom, each of the side walls being joined to one of the bails, the bottom wall being of a length receivable within the undersurface of a hook whereby the garment hanger hooks may be engaged between the side walls of the channel with the plane of each hook lying substantially parallel to the planes of the side walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 14 wherein the ribs project upwardly from the bottom wall of the channel and extends generally transversely the length of the bottom wall and between the side walls, the ribs engaging the hooks at the undersurfaces thereof, the weight of the garments carried by the garment hangers causing the ribs to resiliently deflect around the hooks whereby one or more garment hangers may be carried by the carrier with the hook of each hanger being received within a downwardly deflected portion of each rib.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 15 wherein a cantilever flange is provided, the cantilever flange projecting from the base of one of the bails toward the base of the other bail, the cantilever flange lying substantially within a plane perpendicular to the side walls when the bails are in juxtaposition to provide an upper closure for the channel, whereby the hanger hooks are confined within the channel when the bails are in juxtaposition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A carrier constructed in accordance With claim 13 wherein the hanger supporting means comprises a sling, the sling having a pair of side panels, means hingedly securing the side panels at their lower ends, each of the side panels being joined to one of the bails, whereby garment hangers may be carried by the carrying device with the hook portions of the hangers seated in the sling between the side panels thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 17 wherein, the ribs extend substantially in vertical planes, at least one rib projecting from one side panel toward the other side panel and at least one rib projecting from the other side panel toward the one side panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
85 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 17 wherein the base of each bail extends substantially parallel to and is spaced below the reach and the means interconnecting the reach and the bail includes, at least one leg extending downwardly from the reach to the base of each bail, a flange, the flange extending from one base laterally beyond and above the other base and a locking member projecting from the one base flange and engaging the other base when the bails are in juxtaposition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
94 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 19 wherein the one base flange includes a pair of spaced locking members, one of the locking members engaging the other base when the bases are in abutting contact to thereby tightly constrict the sling for accommodating the hooks of one or a few hangers, the other locking member engaging the other base when the bases are spaced apart to thereby provide a sling closure such that the sling is capable of accommodating the hooks of several hangers whereby one or many garment hangers may be carried.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A carrier constructed in accordance with claim 16 wherein two cantilever flanges are provided, one of the cantilever flanges projecting from each of the bails.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |