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US-12616285-B2 - Carrying strap handle with identical halves

US12616285B2US 12616285 B2US12616285 B2US 12616285B2US-12616285-B2

Abstract

A handle includes two identical halves, each half including a body, a pair of flanges, a pair of hooks and a pair of slots. The pair of flanges extend towards each other in a common plane. A hook is provided adjacent to one end of each flange. A slot is provided adjacent to the opposite end of each flange. The hook has a head, which defines a wedge-shaped space between the head of the hook and the flange and configured to receive a wedge-shaped overhang of a slot. With two halves positioned on opposite sides of a handle strap, hooks of one half are pressed into slots of the other half, and then the halves are slid until the overhangs fill the wedge-shaped spaces. A set screw may be threaded into a channel that leads to a slot, until the end of the set screw abuts an engaged hook.

Inventors

  • Keith Yester

Assignees

  • Keith Yester

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20221219

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A handle half comprising: a body, the body comprising a half section of a tubular structure, including a first edge, a second edge apart from and parallel to the first edge, and a concave base extending from the first edge to the second edge; a first flange, the first flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the anterior surface of the first flange being planar except for a first hook and a first slot formed on the anterior surface of the first flange, the first hook extending outwardly from the anterior surface of the first flange adjacent to the first end of the first flange, and the first slot comprising a concave compartment through the anterior surface of the first flange adjacent to the second end of the first flange; and a second flange, the second flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the anterior surface of the second flange being planar except for a second hook and a second slot formed on the anterior surface of the second flange, the second hook extending outwardly from the anterior surface of the second flange adjacent to the first end of the second flange, and the second slot comprising a concave compartment through the anterior surface of the second flange adjacent to the second end of the second flange; and the second flange extending from the second edge of the body towards the first flange, and the first flange extending from the first edge of the body towards the second flange, and the second side of the first flange being opposite the second side of the second flange, and a gap being between the second side of the first flange and the second side of the second flange.
  2. 2 . The handle half of claim 1 , wherein the anterior surface of the first flange is aligned with the anterior surface of the second flange.
  3. 3 . The handle half of claim 2 , wherein the anterior surface of the first flange and the anterior surface of the second flange is perpendicular to a plane bisecting the body.
  4. 4 . The handle half of claim 2 , the first hook being identical in shape and size to the second hook and the first slot being identical in shape and size to the second slot.
  5. 5 . The handle half of claim 4 , the first hook being aligned with the second hook and the first slot being aligned with the second slot.
  6. 6 . The handle half of claim 2 wherein the first hook includes a first hook bottom at a first angle relative to the anterior surface of the first flange, and the second hook includes a second hook bottom at a second angle relative to the anterior surface of the first flange, and the first angle being equal to the second angle.
  7. 7 . The handle half of claim 6 wherein the first slot includes a first leading edge and a first trailing edge opposite the first leading edge, a first overhang, the first overhang comprising a wedge-shaped structure with a first outer surface and a first inner surface, and the wedge shaped structure extending from the first leading edge towards the first trailing edge, a first wedge angle between the first outer surface and the first inner surface of the wedge-shaped structure of the first overhang being about equal to the first angle.
  8. 8 . The handle half of claim 7 wherein the second slot includes a second leading edge and a second trailing edge opposite the second leading edge, a second overhang, the second overhang comprising a wedge-shaped structure with a second outer surface and a second inner surface, and the wedge shaped structure extending from the second leading edge towards the second trailing edge, a second wedge angle between the second outer surface and the second inner surface of the wedge-shaped structure of the second overhang being about equal to the second angle.
  9. 9 . The handle half of claim 8 , further comprising a first opening between the first trailing edge of the first slot and the first overhang, and a second opening between the second trailing edge of the second slot and the second overhang, the first opening being about equal in size to the second opening.
  10. 10 . The handle half of claim 8 , the first hook having a first length, and the second hook having a second length, the first length of the first hook being about equal to the second length of the second hook, and the first length not exceeding the first opening between the first trailing edge of the first slot and the first overhang.
  11. 11 . The handle of claim 10 wherein the handle half is an integrally formed injection molded plastic structure.
  12. 12 . The handle half of claim 1 wherein the handle half is an integrally formed injection molded plastic structure.
  13. 13 . A handle comprising two identical handle halves, each handle half comprising: a body, the body comprising a half section of a tubular structure, including a first edge, a second edge apart from and parallel to the first edge, and a concave base extending from the first edge to the second edge; a first flange, the first flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the anterior surface of the first flange being planar except for a first hook and a first slot formed on the anterior surface of the first flange, the first hook extending outwardly from the anterior surface of the first flange adjacent to the first end of the first flange, and the first slot comprising a concave compartment through the anterior surface of the first flange adjacent to the second end of the first flange; and a second flange, the second flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, the anterior surface of the second flange being planar except for a second hook and a second slot formed on the anterior surface of the second flange, the second hook extending outwardly from the anterior surface of the second flange adjacent to the first end of the second flange, and the second slot comprising a concave compartment through the anterior surface of the second flange adjacent to the second end of the second flange; and the second flange extending from the second edge of the body towards the first flange, and the first flange extending from the first edge of the body towards the second flange, and the second side of the first flange being opposite the second side of the second flange, and a gap being between the second side of the first flange and the second side of the second flange; and the two identical handle halves including a first handle half and a second handle half, the first and second hooks of the first handle half engaging the first and second slots of the second handle half, and the first and second hooks of the second handle half engaging the first and second slots of the first handle half.
  14. 14 . The handle of claim 13 , wherein the anterior surface of the first flange is aligned with the anterior surface of the second flange.
  15. 15 . The handle of claim 14 , wherein the anterior surface of the first flange and the anterior surface of the second flange is perpendicular to a plane bisecting the body.
  16. 16 . The handle of claim 14 , the first hook being identical in shape and size to the second hook and the first slot being identical in shape and size to the second slot.
  17. 17 . The handle of claim 16 , the first hook being aligned with the second hook and the first slot being aligned with the second slot.
  18. 18 . The handle of claim 13 wherein the first hook includes a first hook bottom at a first angle relative to the anterior surface of the first flange, and the second hook includes a second hook bottom at a second angle relative to the anterior surface of the first flange, and the first angle being equal to the second angle.
  19. 19 . The handle of claim 18 wherein the first slot includes a first leading edge and a first trailing edge opposite the first leading edge, a first overhang, the first overhang comprising a wedge-shaped structure with a first outer surface and a first inner surface, and the wedge shaped structure extending from the first leading edge towards the first trailing edge, a first wedge angle between the first outer surface and the first inner surface of the wedge-shaped structure of the first overhang being about equal to the first angle.
  20. 20 . The handle of claim 19 wherein the second slot includes a second leading edge and a second trailing edge opposite the second leading edge, a second overhang, the second overhang comprising a wedge-shaped structure with a second outer surface and a second inner surface, and the wedge shaped structure extending from the second leading edge towards the second trailing edge, a second wedge angle between the second outer surface and the second inner surface of the wedge-shaped structure of the second overhang being about equal to the second angle; a first opening between the first trailing edge of the first slot and the first overhang, and a second opening between the second trailing edge of the second slot and the second overhang, the first opening being about equal in size to the second opening; and the first hook having a first length, and the second hook having a second length, the first length of the first hook being about equal to the second length of the second hook, and the first length not exceeding the first opening between the first trailing edge of the first slot and the first overhang; and a channel extending into the first trailing edge of the first slot, and a screw threaded into the channel with a portion of the screw extending into the first slot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to handles, and, more particularly, to a supplemental handle comprised of identical halves for assembly on a carrying strap. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many bags for carrying items include one handle strap or a pair of handle straps. A user grabs the handle straps to carry the bag. Often, ends of the handle straps are permanently fastened (e.g., sewn) to the bag. If the contents of the bag are heavy, carrying the bag by grasping the straps can be uncomfortable. Additionally, over time, the unprotected handle straps may wear, especially when the handles straps are repeatedly engaged by a hook from a rolling luggage suitcase. A nonlimiting example of such a bag is a pilot flight kit bag. Pilots may carry a headset, a tablet computer and charger, a kneeboard, a logbook, aeronautical charts, an E6B flight computer, an aviation airband transceiver with ILS and VOR navigation, flashlights, pens/pencils, and more. Bags designed for containing such equipment typically include one or two strap handles. The handle(s) of a bag containing such equipment may be hooked onto a J-hook of the pilot's suitcase. The weight of the contents may cause discomfort for a user carrying the bag by its strap(s). Over time, the unprotected strap handle(s) will wear due to engagement with the hook of a suitcase. A supplemental handle for such bags is needed. The supplemental handle should be ergonomic, durable and easy to install on a handle strap without damaging the handle strap. Thus, the supplemental handle should be installable without cutting the handle strap or the stitching that connects the handle strap to the bag. The supplemental handle should be easy to install. When installed, the supplemental handle should remain secure, without appreciable risk of unintended separation from the handle. The supplemental handle should be comprised of identical halves to reduce manufacturing costs. The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a handle includes two identical halves. Each handle half includes a body, a pair of flanges, a pair of hooks and a pair of slots. The body is generally half of a hollow tube. Each flange extends inwardly from ends of the body. The pair of flanges extend towards each other in a common plane. A hook is provided adjacent to one end of each flange. A slot is provided adjacent to the opposite end of each flange. The hook extends outwardly, away from the body. The hook has a wedge-shaped head, which defines a wedge-shaped space between the head of the hook and the flange. The slot, which is formed on the same side of the flange, is configured (i.e., sized and shaped) to receive, engage and mate with a hook. The slot includes a wedge-shaped undercut configured to fit in the space between the head of the hook and the flange. Two halves are positioned on opposite sides of a handle strap. The two halves are assembled into a handle by pressing the hooks of one half into the slots of the other half, and then sliding one half relative to the other half until the wedge-shaped undercuts fill the wedge-shaped spaces between the heads of the hooks and the flanges. While sliding, the wedge shapes urge one half towards the other half, increasing frictional retention between the halves, and eliminating any space between the contacting surfaces of the halves. The handle strap is disposed between the two assembled halves. To prevent unintended withdrawal of a hook from a slot, a set screw may be threaded into a channel that leads to a slot, until the end of the set screw abuts an engaged hook. In one exemplary embodiment, each handle half is an integrally formed injection molded plastic structure that includes a body, such as a half section of a tubular structure, including a first edge, a second edge apart from and parallel to the first edge, and a concave base extending from the first edge to the second edge. A first flange having an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side, extends from the first edge. The anterior surface of the first flange is planar, except for a first hook and a first slot formed on the anterior surface of the first flange. A second flange extends from the second edge towards the first flange. The first flange extends from the first edge of the body towards the second flange. The second side of the first flange is opposite the second side of the second flange. A gap (i.e., space devoid of structure) is between the second side of the first flange and the second side of the second flange. The second flange has an anterior surface, a first end and a second end, a first side and a second side. The anterior surface of the second flange is planar except for a second hook and a second slot formed on the anterio