A - Human Necessities – 45 – F
Patent
A - Human Necessities
45
F
A45F 5/10 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2598034
Most retail purchases are placed in plastic or reusable bags (by retailers) for their customers to carry away after a sale. This is a convenience for consumers and in many cases a branding opportunity for retailers to place logos or messaging on the sides of the bag. Although these bags vary in design, size and materials, the one thing that they have in common is a handle, or an opening for a hand to hold onto the bag. This opening is usually sized to fit an average hand and the width and thickness of the material is designed to withstand a certain amount of weight. When a purchase exceeds the strength of the bag, it is common for retail cashiers to reinforce the bag by placing it inside of another bag. By doubling the thickness, the strength of the bags is increased. Research however has shown that some consumers purposely request extra bags for their purchases even when one bag is sufficient enough to withstand the load. This is the consumer's attempt to make the plastic handles more comfortable by increasing the thickness. This is not only wasteful, it is unnecessary. Because of the nature of bag handles made from plastic, cotton, or other synthetic materials, the comfort is limited by the weight of the items in the bags. This is due to the fact that the flexible handles pull fingers together in an unnatural way. This causes pain and discomfort. It also reduces blood circulation to the fingers and puts unnecessary strain on the tendons in the fingers and forearms. When a consumer transports these bags filled with items from the store to their home, they tend to make several stops along the way that often require them to set their purchases down. Whether it is to open the trunk of a car, make a telephone call, or search for a wallet or a set of keys - the results are usually the same. Once a cluster of bags is set down, the weight, shape and number of items in the bag shift due to gravity, causing the bag handles to scatter in various directions. When the consumer is ready to pick up their bags and move again, they are forced to endure the annoying task of looping their hands through each bag handle one at a time. Sometimes this results in one or two handles being missed and can result in items falling out of open bags, rolling away or being left behind. Similarly, when bags are placed in a car trunk for transport, they are at the mercy of the motion of the car. Even at slow speeds, the most skilled driver is incapable of keeping the contents of plastic or reusable bags contained. Shoplifting is another common concern for both consumers and retailers. Open bags provide an ideal opportunity for thieves who can easily reach in and grab items from unsuspecting shoppers. While many plastic or reusable bags have some form of branding on them, the quality of the printing is usually limited. In addition, it is difficult for branding to stand out in a cluster of bags.
Jarvis Adam
Na
LandOfFree
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