U.S. patent application number 10/118995 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for hanging bag with a resiliently adjustable opening.
Invention is credited to Hajianpour, Mohammed A..
Application Number | 20030190097 10/118995 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28674529 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030190097 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hajianpour, Mohammed A. |
October 9, 2003 |
Hanging bag with a resiliently adjustable opening
Abstract
A trash bag includes a flexible receptacle having an open top
and a closed bottom, a resilient stiffener attached to extend
around the open top, and an attachment tab extending from the
resilient stiffener for fastening the trash bag to hang from a
structure within a vehicle. For example, both the flexible
receptacle and the resilient stiffener are composed of a
thermoplastic resin, being attached by heat sealing. Alternately,
the flexible receptacle may be composed of paper, being adhesively
attached to a cardboard or plastic stiffener.
Inventors: |
Hajianpour, Mohammed A.;
(Coral Springs, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RONALD V. DAVIDGE
SUITE 514
3300 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
CORAL SPRINGS
FL
33065
US
|
Family ID: |
28674529 |
Appl. No.: |
10/118995 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/9 ;
383/34.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/007 20130101;
B65F 1/0006 20130101; B65F 1/1415 20130101; B65D 33/14
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/9 ;
383/34.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/14; B65D
033/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bag comprising: a flexible receptacle having an open top and a
closed bottom; and a resilient stiffener including a plurality of
flexibly connected segments extending end to end along said
resilient stiffener, wherein said segments are fastened to said
receptacle to extend essentially around a periphery of said open
top, wherein said segments are substantially thicker than an
adjacent wall of said flexible receptacle, wherein said segments
are moved by flexure between adjacent segments between a closed
position holding opposite sides of said open top close to one
another and an open position holding said opposite sides of said
open top separated from one another.
2. The bag of claim 1, wherein said flexible receptacle is folded
into a plurality of sections, and each section in said plurality of
sections extends downward from a segment in said plurality of
segments.
3. The bag of claim 2, wherein an adjacent pair of segments in said
plurality of segments extends inward with said segments in said
closed position.
4. The bag of claim 3, wherein said plurality of segments include:
front and rear segments, extending along front and rear sections of
said flexible receptacle forming said opposite sides of said open
top; a first pair of end segments extending inward with said
segments in said closed position from a first end of said front
section to an end of said rear section adjacent said first end of
said front section with said segments in said closed position; and
a second pair of end segments extending inward with said segments
in said closed position from a second end of said front section to
an end of said rear section adjacent said end of said front section
with said segments in said closed position.
5. The bag of claim 3, wherein said flexible receptacle and said
resilient stiffener are each composed of a thermoplastic resin, and
each section of said flexible receptacle is attached to a segment
of said resilient stiffener by heat sealing.
6. The bag of claim 5, wherein adjacent segments within said
resilient stiffener are joined by flexible sections of said
resilient stiffener, and said segments of said resilient stiffener
are substantially thicker than said flexible sections thereof.
7. The bag of claim 6, wherein said plurality of segments include:
front and rear segments, extending along front and rear sections of
said flexible receptacle forming said opposite sides of said open
top; a first pair of end segments extending inward with said
segments in said closed position from a first end of said front
section to an end of said rear section adjacent said first end of
said front section with said segments in said closed position; and
a second pair of end segments extending inward with said segments
in said closed position from a second end of said front section to
an end of said rear section adjacent said end of said front section
with said segments in said closed position.
8. The bag of claim 7, wherein said bottom of said flexible
receptacle is closed by heat sealing said front and rear sections
to one another and to sections extending inward between said front
and rear sections.
9. The bag of claim 8, wherein said flexible receptacle is composed
of a fibrous sheet of material adhesively fastened to form said
flexible receptacle, and each section in said plurality of sections
in said flexible receptacle is adhesively attached to a segment in
said plurality of segments in said resilient stiffener.
10. The bag of claim 9, wherein said resilient stiffener is
composed of a thermoplastic resin, adjacent segments within said
resilient stiffener are joined by flexible sections of said
resilient stiffener, and said segments of said resilient stiffener
are substantially thicker than said flexible sections thereof.
11. The bag of claim 9, wherein said resilient stiffener is
composed of a fibrous material, adjacent segments within said
resilient stiffener are joined by flexible sections of said
resilient stiffener, and said segments of said resilient stiffener
are substantially thicker than said flexible sections thereof.
12. The bag of claim 9, wherein said plurality of segments include:
front and rear segments, extending along front and rear sections of
said flexible receptacle forming said opposite sides of said open
top; a first pair of end segments extending inward with said
segments in said closed position from a first end of said front
section to an end of said rear section adjacent said first end of
said front section with said segments in said closed position; and
a second pair of end segments extending inward with said segments
in said closed position from a second end of said front section to
an end of said rear section adjacent said end of said front section
with said segments in said closed position.
13. The bag of claim 1, additionally comprising an attachment tab
extending from said resilient stiffener.
14. The bag of claim 13, wherein said attachment tab is pivotally
mounted to said resilient stiffener; and said attachment tab
includes an aperture.
15. The bag of claim 13, wherein said attachment tab extends
downward as an integral portion of said resilient stiffener.
16. The bag of claim 13, wherein said flexible receptacle is folded
into a plurality of sections, and each section in said plurality of
sections extends downward from a segment in said plurality of
segments.
17. The bag of claim 16, wherein said flexible receptacle and said
resilient stiffener are each composed of a thermoplastic resin,
each section of said flexible receptacle is attached to a segment
of said resilient stiffener by heat sealing, adjacent segments
within said resilient stiffener are joined by flexible sections of
said resilient stiffener, and said segments of said resilient
stiffener are substantially thicker than said flexible sections
thereof.
18. The bag of claim 17, wherein said plurality of segments
include: front and rear segments, extending along front and rear
sections of said flexible receptacle forming said opposite sides of
said open top; a first pair of end segments extending inward with
said segments in said closed position from a first end of said
front section to an end of said rear section adjacent said first
end of said front section with said segments in said closed
position; and a second pair of end segments extending inward with
said segments in said closed position from a second end of said
front section to an end of said rear section adjacent said end of
said front section with said segments in said closed position.
19. The bag of claim 16, wherein said flexible receptacle is
composed of a fibrous sheet of material adhesively fastened to form
said flexible receptacle, and each section in said plurality of
sections in said flexible receptacle is adhesively attached to a
segment in said plurality of segments in said resilient
stiffener.
20. The bag of claim 19, wherein said plurality of segments
include: front and rear segments, extending along front and rear
sections of said flexible receptacle forming said opposite sides of
said open top; a first pair of end segments extending inward with
said segments in said closed position from a first end of said
front section to an end of said rear section adjacent said first
end of said front section with said segments in said closed
position; and a second pair of end segments extending inward with
said segments in said closed position from a second end of said
front section to an end of said rear section adjacent said end of
said front section with said segments in said closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a disposable, flexible bag having
features for adjusting and an opening at the top of the bag, and,
more particularly, to such a bag additionally having a feature
allowing the bag to be conveniently hung from a number of surfaces
within an area such as the passenger compartment of an
automobile.
[0003] 2. Summary of the Background Art
[0004] The accumulation of litter and other forms of trash within
an automobile passenger compartment often poses a significant
nuisance that becomes worse with each stop at a fast food
restaurant to purchase food to be eaten in the car. What is needed
is a low-cost and convenient disposable receptacle that can be
easily mounted at various places within the passenger
compartment.
[0005] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,897,208 and 3,817,434 describe trash
receptacles that are particularly configured for use within the
passenger compartment of a vehicle, with U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,208
describing an L-shaped receptacle having a forward-extending leg
fitting under a vehicle seat and an upward-extending leg fitting
behind the seat. The upward-extending leg includes a slot which is
pivoted open by means of a V-shaped interior frame member to expose
a disposable, flexible garbage liner to be filled with trash. U.S.
Pat. No. 3,817,434 describes a litter receptacle to be placed
between two opposing surfaces in an automobile such as between the
lower edge of the front seat and the floor area below the seat. The
receptacle includes an oval loop to which the open end of a
flexible, bag-like container is connected. The flexible bag-like
container is one of a series of separable bag-like containers
coiled in a roll rotatably supported by a bracket attached within
the space between the two opposing surfaces. Still, what is needed
is a disposable trash bag that can be conveniently supported in a
number of locations within the passenger compartment. As the size
of the passenger compartment has been reduced in a number of
vehicles, the space for permanently storing a trash receptacle
mechanism as described in these prior art patents has been
substantially reduced. In particular, the space under the front
seats of many automobiles is now filled with rails, wheels, shafts,
motors, and wiring harnesses associated with the movement of the
seat in various directions.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,623 describes a utility bag for
placement within an automobile for dispensing facial tissues and
for temporarily storing used tissues and other litter. The utility
bag has a number of flexible walls defining a first receptacle
having an opening for the insertion of trash and a second
receptacle having an opening, facing a direction opposite the
opening of the first receptacle, through which tissues are
dispensed. When the second receptacle is empty, it can be held in a
collapsed condition by hook and loop fasteners. A strap, extending
around the opening of the first receptacle, is placed around the
headrest of a front seat within an automobile, so that the utility
bag extends downward along the back of the seat. What is needed is
a trash receptacle that is very low in cost, which is therefore
disposable, having a small size and means to hang from a number of
structures, which can therefore be placed in a wide variety of
locations within a passenger compartment.
[0007] Another type of vehicular trash bag holder is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,709, in the form of a support and retention
device for attachment to a top perimeter of a plastic trans bag at
its opening, with the bag being positioned at the bumper of a
recreational vehicle. What is needed is a device for facilitating
the collection and storage of trash within the passenger
compartment of a vehicle.
[0008] While plastic bags are used pervasively in modern society,
opening them and holding them open often presents problems. Many
stores have specialized frames installed at each point of sale for
receiving the handle loops of plastic bags and for holding the bags
open while they are loaded with purchases. An example of such a
frame is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,408.
[0009] A number of patents describe flexible receptacles, such as
bags, carry-alls, and boxes, having features causing the top of the
receptacle to remain wide open while the receptacle is lying on a
flat surface such as a counter or the floor.
[0010] For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,138 and 4,848,938 describe
bags in which upper flaps are turned downward to form cuffs which
stiffen the top edges to help hold the bag open to facilitate
loading. In the bag of U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,136, the upper flaps are
adapted to be folded inwardly by the user to form one or more cuffs
within the opening for maintaining the bag in a maximally open
position. The cuffs hold the bag open by applying outward pressure
on gusseted sidewalls of two opposing width panels and/or by
applying pressure on the corners of the bag. The bag is formed from
a blank that is preferably composed of a fibrous substrate having a
degree of stiffness, such as paper or spun-bonded HDPE. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,848,938 describes a plastic bag with gusseted ends, in which
the flaps are folded outwardly to form cuffs along the sides that
are not gusseted and around the comers. After the bag is filled,
the cuff portions may be unfolded and used in carrying handles,
with cutout openings serving as hand holds. What is needed is a bag
made out of a very thin and flexible material, with a stiffening
member substantially thicker than the bag material extending around
the opening at the top of the bag.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,774 describes a plastic bag having a
flexible top, with a stiff strip around the mouth of the bag. When
the strip is rolled outward, the top of the bag bends to hold the
bag open. What is needed is a flexible bag having a stiffening
strip that can be more easily deflected, without a need for
rolling, between open and closed positions.
[0012] A number of other patents describe flexible storage bags
having relatively expensive closure mechanisms suitable for long
term and repeated use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,821
describes such a bag having a sealable hinged-flange closure
mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,674 describes such a bag having
closure mechanism including a substantially rigid member with a
pair of pivotable seats receiving a substantially flexible member
that is flipped from a closed position resting against the
substantially rigid member to an open position extending away from
the substantially rigid member. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,990 describes
such a bag having an opening with a closure flap extending from one
side of the opening to form a continuation of the body that is
pivotable to close and open the body. A first stiffened portion is
disposed around a peripheral portion of the opening opposite one
side of the opening, and a second stiffened portion is disposed
around a peripheral portion of the flap. These stiffened portions
are hinged at opposite ends of the one side of the opening. Still,
for disposal of trash, what is needed is a very low cost disposable
container having a feature for hanging attachment.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,873 describes a carry-all in the form of
a soft-sided fabric container, which in an open position is
parallelepiped-shaped, and which has opposed side walls, opposed
end walls mounted to the end walls at opposed longitudinal ends of
the of the side walls, and a bottom wall opposite an open top of
the container. The upper sidewall edges are sewn to form sleeves in
which dowels extend as elongate rigid members. Handle apertures are
formed in the side walls adjacent these rigid members. Resilient
stiffeners are mounted along longitudinally opposite edges of the
sidewalls from the bottom wall to the rigid members for resiliently
urging the sidewalls each into a generally planar shape.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,289 describes a reclosable, stackable,
standable package for food products, such as baked goods, which
easily converts from a parallelepiped form to a widened shape on
top for easy access to a snack within an inner liner bag. The outer
carton of the package has score lines on the front and the back
panels of the carton extending from the lower corners of the front
and back panels to the center of the upper edge of the front and
back panels. Score lines also extend across the center of the top
front and back flaps. The score lines in combination with the
disconnected top flaps design not only allows the top of the
package to form a wide oval-shaped opening, but also allows the
package to stay opened while snacking.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,489 describes a disposable bag mouth
opener that can be attached to a bag after it is filled. The opener
can be manipulated to adjust its degree of opening and closed by
clamping a holding device over the mouth end. U.S. Pat. No.
5,184,896 describes a self-expanding flexible pouch that can be
used as the measuring device for reconstituting a concentrated
product contained therein. The pouch includes a one-piece
extensible stay located in the throat area of the pouch that is
biased toward a relaxed, expanded, circular configuration, but that
is initially held substantially flat in a stressed condition by the
sealed top portion of the pouch. The stay expands when this top
portion is removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] According to a first aspect of the invention a bag is
provided, including a flexible receptacle and a resilient
stiffener. The flexible receptacle has an open top and a closed
bottom. The resilient stiffener includes a number of flexibly
connected segments extending end to end along the resilient
stiffener. The segments are fastened to the receptacle to extend
essentially around a periphery of the open top, The segments are
substantially thicker than an adjacent wall of the flexible
receptacle. The segments are moved by flexure between adjacent
segments between a closed position holding opposite sides of the
open top close to one another and an open position holding the
opposite sides of the open top separated from one another.
[0017] Preferably, the flexible receptacle is folded into a number
of sections, and each section in the number of sections extends
downward from a segment in the number of segments.
[0018] The flexible receptacle and the resilient stiffener may each
be composed of a thermoplastic resin, with each section of the
flexible receptacle being attached to a segment of the resilient
stiffener by heat sealing, with adjacent segments within the
resilient stiffener being joined by flexible sections of the
resilient stiffener, and with the segments of the resilient
stiffener being substantially thicker than the flexible segments
thereof. Alternately, the flexible receptacle may be composed of a
fibrous sheet of material, such as paper, adhesively fastened to
form the receptacle, with a cardboard or plastic resilient
stiffener being adhesively fastened to the receptacle.
[0019] Preferably, the bag also includes an attachment tab for
hanging the bag from a surface within the passenger compartment of
an automobile. The attachment tab may be pivotally mounted on the
resilient stiffener, or it may extend downward as a portion of the
resilient stiffener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag made in accordance
with a first embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bag of FIG. 1 in a closed
configuration;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bag of FIG. 2 in an open
configuration;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of a bag made in accordance with
a second embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a right side elevation of the bag of FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of a bag made in accordance with
a third embodiment of the invention; and
[0026] FIG. 7 is a right side elevation of the bag of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag 10 made in accordance
with a first embodiment of the invention. The bag 10 includes a
flexible receptacle 12, a resilient stiffener 14, and an attachment
tab 16. The flexible receptacle 12 is composed of a thermoplastic
film material, such as a polyethylene film having a thickness of
0.08 mm (0.003 inch), with a bottom edge 16 closed by heat sealing
and with an open upper edge 20. Before the application of heat to
seal the bottom edge 16, side surfaces 22 of the material for the
flexible receptacle 12 are folded to extend inward between flat
front and rear surfaces 24. Preferably, the thermoplastic film
material is formed as an extruded sleeve that is cut into sections
of suitable length, so that a receptacle open at one end and closed
at the other can be formed by heat sealing only the bottom edge
18.
[0028] The resilient stiffener 14 is attached to the flexible
receptacle 12 to extend downward from its upper edge 20. The
resilient stiffener 14 is preferably composed of a thermoplastic
resin strip that is substantially thicker than the film material of
the flexible receptacle 12. For example, the resilient stiffener 14
is composed to a 0.8 mm (0.030 inch) thick polyethylene strap,
which is attached to the flexible receptacle 12 by means of heat
sealing. Preferably, the flexible receptacle 12 and the resilient
stiffener 14 are thus composed of a similar material, so that heat
sealing can be used in this way. Additionally, the resilient
stiffener 14 is preferably disposed inside, rather than outside,
the flexible receptacle 12, simplifying the application of heat for
sealing through the relatively thin material of the receptacle 12
from the outside. The resilient stiffener 14 is formed with a
number of edges 26 aligned with corresponding edges 28 of the
flexible receptacle 12.
[0029] FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of the bag 10, with FIG. 2
showing the bag 10 in a closed configuration, and with FIG. 3
showing the bag 10 in an open configuration. In the closed
configuration of FIG. 2, the front and rear segments of the
resilient stiffener 14 are folded together to take up a minimum
space. In the open configuration of FIG. 3, the front and rear
segments 30 of the resilient stiffener 14 are held apart to open
the top of the flexible receptacle 12. The adjacent side segments
32 are flexed together, extending inward in the closed
configuration and pulled apart in the open configuration. When the
bag 10 is fully open, the segments 30, 32 of the resilient
stiffener 14 are held in a rectangular pattern. Preferably, a
number of these bags 10 are packaged together and supplied in the
closed position of FIG. 2, with the overall size of the package
being further reduced by folding the flexible bag portions 12 one
or more times. An individual bag is opened to insert trash and is
then either left open or shut until more trash is to be
deposited.
[0030] The resilient stiffener 14 may have indentions or score
marks, formed as a part of a molding process or by cutting into the
material of the stiffener 14 in line with the edges 26 to
facilitate forming the stiffener 14 into the shape of the top edge
20 of the flexible receptacle 12. These indentions or score marks
may reduce the local thickness of the resilient stiffener 14 from
the inside of the stiffener 14, from the outside, or from both
sides. The resilient stiffener 14 may be formed from a flat sheet
of material, having ends 34 that are joined only through mutual
attachment to the flexible receptacle 12. While such an arrangement
may result in unsymmetrical deflection of the resilient stiffener
14 as it is opened or closed, the function of the stiffener 14 is
retained.
[0031] Referring again to FIG. 1, the attachment tab 16 is
pivotally mounted on the resilient stiffener 14 by means of a snap
rivet 36. Alternately, the attachment tab 16 may be pivotally
mounted on the resilient stiffener by means of an eyelet (not
shown. The attachment tab 16 includes a hole 38 and a slit or slot
40 extending from the hole 38 to an adjacent exterior edge of the
tab 16.
[0032] FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevations of a bag 46 built in accordance
with a second embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 4 being a rear
elevation, and with FIG. 5 being a right side elevation. The bag 46
includes a flexible receptacle 12, built as described above in
reference to FIG. 1, and an alternative stiffening member 48, which
is generally similar to the stiffening member 14 described above in
reference to FIGS. 1-3, except that a downward-extending attachment
tab 50 is provided as a portion of the alternative stiffening
member 48 in place of the previously-described pivotally-mounted
attachment tab 16. The stiffening member 48 preferably extends
outside the flexible receptacle
[0033] The downward-extending attachment tab 50 is particularly
suited for hanging the bag 46 from a surface presenting a
horizontal edge within the passenger compartment of a vehicle, such
as a horizontally extending strap or door handle or the edge of a
pocket in a door or in the dashboard. Referring again to FIG. 1,
the pivotally-mounted attachment tab 16 can also be pivoted to
extend downward for use in the same manner, or may extend upward
for attachment to a post, such as the post often provided for
locking a door or a hook generally provided for hanging garments
within the vehicle. The slit 40 can be used to place the hole 38
over an elongated structure that cannot otherwise pass into the
hole 38. FIGS. 6 and 7 elevations of a bag 56 built in accordance
with a third embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 6 being a rear
elevation, and with FIG. 7 being a right side elevation. The bag 56
includes a flexible receptacle 58, formed from a blank composed of
a fibrous material, such as paper. The blank is closed by adhesive
attachment along a rear side 60 and along a flat bottom surface 62
to provide a flat front side 64, and gusseted left and right sides
66. The top edge 68 of the flexible receptacle 58 remains open. The
process of manufacturing the flexible receptacle 58 is well
understood by those skilled in the art of making paper bags. The
bag 56 additionally includes a resilient stiffener 70, which may be
composed of a fibrous material, such as cardboard, or of a
thermoplastic material. In either case, the resilient stiffener 70
is preferably adhesively attached to flexible receptacle 58 to
extend downward from its top edge 68. The resilient stiffener 70 is
composed of sections 72, 74, which flex relative to one another as
the bag is opened and closed, in the manner generally described
above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The resilient stiffener 70
may be disposed outside the flexible receptacle 58, as shown in the
example of FIGS. 6 and 7, or inside the flexible receptacle 58, is
shown in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3. The bag 56 further includes
an attachment tab, which may be pivotally attached to the resilient
stiffener 70, in the manner of the attachment tab 76 shown in FIGS.
6 and 7, or which may extend downward as a portion of the resilient
stiffener, in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0034] While the invention has been described in terms of its
preferred embodiments with some degree of particularity, it is
understood that this description has been given only by way of
example, and that many variations in the configuration and
arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *