CARABINER

1 . A carabiner comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a friction producing surface on at least said apex portion of said C-shaped member for precluding side-to-side movement of said C-shaped member on said supporting surface.

2 . The carabiner of claim 1 wherein said friction producing surface is provided by a rubber sleeve received on said apex portion of said C-shaped member.

3 . The carabiner of claim 2 wherein said rubber sleeve extends from said apex portion to substantially the opposed end of said C-shaped member.

4 . The carabiner of claim 3 wherein said rubber sleeve has a number of finger grips formed therein whereby said C-shaped member may be rotated relative to said apex portion and used as a carrying handle.

5 . The carabiner of claim 2 wherein said rubber sleeve has a number of finger grips formed therein whereby said C-shaped member may be rotated relative to said apex portion and used as a carrying handle.

6 . The carabiner of claim 2 wherein the opposed ends of said C-shaped member has a latch mechanism for retaining said gate member in closed position across said opening.

7 . The carabiner of claim 6 wherein said latch mechanism includes a leaf spring between one end of said C-shaped member adjacent said apex portion and said gate member for biasing said gate member to a closure position across said opening in said C-shaped member, and a hook on the other end of said C-shaped member open in the direction of the interior of said C-shaped member for receiving a pin on the other end of said gate member under the bias of said gate member by said leaf spring.

8 . The method enabling the use of a carabiner to hang items from a device with a rounded handle comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carabiner with a load bearing, rounded, apex portion; and

(b) forming a non-slip surface on said apex portion to preclude side-to-side movement of the carabiner when said rounded apex portion is hung on the rounded handle of the device.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein said non-slip surface is formed by a rubber sleeve on said apex portion of the carabiner.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the rubber sleeve on said apex portion of the carabiner includes a finger grip to cup the apex portion to provide additional preclusion of side-to-side movement.

11 . A carabiner according to claim 1 , wherein the friction producing surface extends substantially to a pivot structure of the gate member, for extended engagement thereof with a support surface on which the carabiner reposes in use.

12 . A carabiner comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a friction producing surface extending around the apex portion of the C-shaped member and substantially to the gate member, for precluding side-to-side movement of said C-shaped member on said supporting surface.

13 . The carabiner of claim 12 , wherein the friction producing surface is provided by a rubber sleeve.

14 . The carabiner of claim 13 , wherein the rubber sleeve extends substantially around the full extent of the C-shaped member.

15 . An attachment system comprising:

a substantially C-shaped member having an opening between the opposed ends of said C-shaped member defining a gate opening across the opening;

a gate member pivotally attached at one end thereof to one end portion of said C-shaped member to open and close said opening for access to the interior of said C-shaped member, whereby one or more articles may be hung from an interior surface of said C-shaped member;

said C-shaped member having a rounded, shortened apex portion adjacent one end thereof for mounting said C-shaped member on a supporting surface; and

a positional retention element arranged at the apex portion of said C-shaped member along the supporting surface and adapted to prevent side-to-side movement of the carabiner relative to the supporting surface.

16 . The attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the positional retention element comprises a friction producing surface.

17 . The attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the positional retention element is fitted over or around the apex portion.

18 . The attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the positional retention element comprises a sleeve adapted to engage the apex portion.

19 . The attachment system of claim 15 , wherein the supporting surface is along or associated with a cylindrical or tubular handle of a baby stroller or shopping cart.

20 . A method enabling the use of a carabiner to hang items from a device with a rounded handle having an associated supporting surface, wherein the carabiner has a load bearing, rounded apex portion, the method comprising providing a positional retention element between the apex portion and the supporting surface, wherein the positional retention element is adapted to prevent side-to-side movement of the carabiner relative to the supporting surface.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the positional retention element comprises a friction producing surface.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the positional retention element is fitted over or around the apex portion.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the positional retention element comprises a sleeve adapted to engage the apex portion.