1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to tote bags and more particularly to a tote bag that is adapted to secure to the handle of a cart or similar object.
2. Overview of Prior Art
A problem that has plagued all of us at one time or another is going to a market and being tasked with the juggling act of hanging onto your wallet, keys and coupons. This is only compounded if you have small children that accompany the shopper. Not only does the task of keeping track of the children increase shopping stress experience but small children commonly sit in the child's seat where many of these items are temporarily stored by the shopper. In an attempt to assist the shopper many shopping bags have been developed, but all fall short of the critical shortfalls presented.
One such attempt is disclosed by Posner in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,100. Here a foldable shopping bag that fits in a shopping cart is shown. Items are placed directly into the bag which is located in the cart. Since the items have to be removed from the cart to be checked and then bagged anyway, the practical function of the invention is limited at best. No disclosure is made to store the shopper's personal items, only the purchased items. To do so is clearly not anticipated and as disclosed does not address the problem as stated.
A similar theme is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,366 to Strom. Instead of a foldable bag, a collapsible caddie is disclosed that can be folded into a backpack. The function is similar to Posner in that the apparatus fits in the cart and is supported by the upper rim of the basket. Another shortcoming of the disclosed is that the individual compartments minimize the functional capacity of the cart. One of the compartment could be used to store personal effects but the device does not allow for a child to sit in the child's seat while the device is in use. Also the physical size of the carts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This device does not appear to anticipate this variance in carts which contributes to the limited function of the device.
A shopping bag that can be secured to a shopping cart is disclosed by Geeck in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,516. This is a collapsible bag comprising a large storage bag and a smaller second bag. The combination also has a snap to secure the user's vehicle keys and can be fastened to the inside of a shopping cart. As before, the device is intended to primarily hold purchased items, not personal effects the shopper brings into the store. The device as disclosed, does not present an easily accessible storage for those items to the shopper or a child sitting in the child's seat.
A shopping bag and tote therefore was disclosed by Caligiuri in U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,872. The disclosure is of a reusable shopping bag, again for purchased items, and a tote bag for storage of the bag when it is not in use. It does not disclose nor anticipate storage of personal items nor any attachment to a shopping cart. In light of this the disclosure does not address the shortcomings as expressed herein.
In terms of storage items for the children, Sonders, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,300 disclosed a carrying device that is in the form of a child's toy. The toy, such as a teddy bear, includes an internal pocket, suitable for storage of children's items such as a bottle and diapers. The device is clearly not intended to be adapted to a shopping cart nor to the function of serving the shopper and/or a child passenger with storage and transport of personal effects. In that sense it also does not satisfy the need as disclosed.
Another child's transport bag was disclosed by Smallwood in U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,340. Here, as previously disclosed, the intended function of the device is to transport items suitable for a child. Toys, books and the like can be stored inside with a toy animal outside to make the device pleasing to young children. The device also includes a pair of straps to enable the device to be used as a backpack. The shortcomings here include that of the device disclosed by Sonders. The device is not intended to be adapted to a shopping cart nor to the function of serving the shopper and/or a child passenger.
A product from Right Start called the Shopping Cart Friend is also disclosed. This consists of a single flap that attaches to the handle of the cart and is suitable only for that specific child in that toys include rings and such that the child would put into his or her mouth. It would not be desirable to have another child contact this after another just handled it. This necessitates the device be removable and go with the shopper, not allowing a product to stay on the cart permanently. There are also no pockets provided to store items for the child and more importantly the item is intended for use only for the child, there is not another side for use by the shopper.
A utility bag was disclosed by L,each in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,514 where the device is comprised of a flexible, rectangular fabric tube with a resilient, flexible material inside. The tube can be folded into a U-shape for transport and carried with the straps which extend outwardly from the sides of the tube. The device is clearly not intended to be associated with a shopping cart nor to the easy, simultaneous accessibility of shopper's personal affects and children's items and as such does not address the disclosed shortcomings in the art.
Other foldable or collapsible travel pouches are disclosed by Robitille and Franco in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,278 and 4,991,245 respectively. Both disclose a foldable outer case with compartments located therein. Neither shows an anticipated use in conjunction with a shopping cart nor duel simultaneous use for the shopper and a child in the child's seat of the cart.
A duel cupped coupon holder is disclosed by Anatra in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,736 with the intended use on a shopping cart handle. The limitations of such a device are far reaching in that the molded one piece container is intended to support only coupons or other light objects. This disclosure does not take into account a child in the seat of the cart. A colorful grouping of individual pieces of paper would greatly attract a small child's attention. The disclosure does not provide for security for valuables such as money or other personal items from a child in the seat nor from a thief posing as a shopper.
A bicycle brief case is disclosed by Tiffany in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,807 in which a saddle bag construction of a briefcase is fastened to the frame of a bicycle. This would be less than adequate for use on a shopping cart because of the intended function of the fasteners being at the bottom of the flaps and as before the pockets open at the top of the device. This allows access to anyone who can get their hand into the opening of the bag, even a child in the seat of the cart.