Between two lengthy flights in 2005, I had just taken a break at a café at a busy intersection of connecting flights. My lower back was aching, and at 6’2” tall, this was becoming a common theme when it came to travel. The extended handle of the bag was too short, and I had to bend my lower back to the side to keep from clipping my heels.
I had my sandwich and coffee, and while seated at the table, notice another gent in the ‘intersection’ with a similar bag and a bit taller- but he was carrying his like a brief case. ‘Oh,’ I thought, ‘he has the same problem I do with short handles.’
I turned to my left and there was a shorter woman (maybe 5’6” or so) with her bag handle extended. While she waited for her food, she massaged the wrist and forearm of the arm she pulled with- and then the idea hit me.
I thought- ‘this is stupid. All someone needs to do is….’ And the TBone was pictured in my mind. I grabbed a napkin and drew my first design. ‘This can’t be that easy’ I thought, so I put the napkin in my pocket and drew it again.
When I finally got home, my curiosity got the best of me. I grabbed a pair of pliers, a coat hanger, tinfoil and some plastic bags and created a ‘MacGuyver’d-up’ prototype of what would eventually become the TBone.
The TBone prototype did exactly what I needed- it put the bag further behind me when I walked. I could stand tall with my bag. No more scuffed shoes! The woman at the café could pull her bag more easily now that there was an option for an ergonomic positioning of the hand to pull the bag.
As the design process ensued, the toggle became the ideal perfect fix for resting the TBone to get to a wallet or pocketbook for a ticket, passport or cash. The grip is designed for comfort and minimal fuss. Special attention to the open handle and the underside of the TBone makes it lightweight. The apex of the ‘T’ expanded to allow for private labeling. Tedious measurements of many different manufacturers made for the correct span between the prongs of the T. And the finished product was stylish, sleek and contemporary.
Made in the USA
Black color is over 90% recycled material
