U.S. patent application number 11/435548 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for bag holder and storage organizer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Simplehuman LLC. Invention is credited to Tzu-Hao Wei, Frank Yang.
Application Number | 20060254951 11/435548 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37418094 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060254951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Frank ; et
al. |
November 16, 2006 |
Bag holder and storage organizer
Abstract
An organizer for plastic bags, which stores, dispenses and
provides a stand to hold plastic bags for disposing trash. In one
aspect, the organizer includes a support structure that holds
plastic bags in an open manner to allow disposal of trash. In one
embodiment, a lid is provided to cover the opening of the plastic
bag. The support structure may extend from a base structure, which
may comprise a bag storage container or a support for sundry items.
In another aspect of the present invention, the organizer includes
the combination of a bag holder and a container that stores and
dispenses plastic bags. The storage container supports the bag
holder, and may include a structure that supports other items, such
as sundry items like cleaners. In a further aspect of the present
invention, the organizer includes the combination of a bag storage
and a dispensing container, without the bag holder.
Inventors: |
Yang; Frank; (Rancho Palos
Verdes, CA) ; Wei; Tzu-Hao; (Hacienda Heights,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LIU & LIU
444 S. FLOWER STREET SUITE 1750
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
US
|
Assignee: |
Simplehuman LLC
|
Family ID: |
37418094 |
Appl. No.: |
11/435548 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10623998 |
Jul 21, 2003 |
7044329 |
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11435548 |
May 16, 2006 |
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11084207 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
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11435548 |
May 16, 2006 |
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29253359 |
Feb 3, 2006 |
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11435548 |
May 16, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/554 ;
221/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 1/062 20130101;
B65F 1/1415 20130101; B65F 1/1646 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/554 ;
221/045 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/24 20060101
A47K010/24 |
Claims
1. An organizer for a plastic bag, comprising: a bag holder section
that comprises: a support frame comprising a bag support bracket
defining a space sized to receive a plastic bag; and two spaced
apart handles extending below and spaced apart from the bag support
bracket, each extending from a rear and terminating at a front,
each handle comprising an anchor by which a handle of the plastic
bag can be held to keep the plastic bag open for accepting
trash.
2. The organizer as in claim 1, further comprising a cover hingedly
supported by the bag support bracket, and adapted to substantially
cover the opening of the bag support bracket, thus covering opening
of the plastic bag when it is supported by the bag support
bracket.
3. The organizer as in claim 1, wherein the bag support bracket
comprises a closed loop frame.
4. The organizer as in claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a tab
extending to define a U-shaped channel along which the handle of
the plastic bag can be held.
5. The organizer as in claim 1, wherein the support frame further
comprises at least one cross frame section spaced apart and below
the bag support bracket, which cross frame section terminates at
each end with the handles.
6. The organizer as in claim 5, wherein the cross frame section are
coupled to the bag support bracket by at least one vertical frame
section.
7. The organizer as in claim 1, further comprising a bag storage
section supporting the bag holder section.
8. The organizer as in claim 7, wherein the bag storage section
comprises a storage container.
9. The organizer as in claim 8, wherein the storage container
comprises at least one funnel-shaped inlet.
10. The organizer as in claim 8, wherein the storage container
comprises a funnel-shaped inlet at each end of the storage
container.
11. The organizer as in claim 8, wherein the storage container
comprised an elongated body, which comprises an elongated opening
extending along the elongated body.
12. The organizer as in claim 8, wherein the storage container is
provided with a trough shaped surface at one side of the elongated
body which faces the bag supporting bracket.
13. An organizer for plastic bags, comprising: a bag storage
section structured to store plastic bags; a bag holder section
supported on the bag storage section, structured to hold a plastic
bag above the bag storage section and in an open position for
depositing trash.
14. The organizer as in claim 13, wherein the bag holder section
comprises: a support frame comprising a bag support bracket
defining a space sized to receive a plastic bag; and two spaced
apart handles extending below and spaced apart from the bag support
bracket, each extending from a rear and terminating at a front,
each handle comprising an anchor by which a handle of the plastic
bag can be held to keep the plastic bag open for depositing
trash.
15. The organizer as in claim 14, further comprising a cover
hingedly supported by the bag support bracket, and adapted to
substantially cover the opening of the bag support bracket, thus
covering opening of the plastic bag when it is supported by the bag
support bracket.
16. The organizer as in claim 13, wherein the bag holder section
comprises a bag storage container having an inlet opening and an
outlet opening.
17. The organizer as in claim 16, wherein the bag storage container
comprises: an elongated body having two ends; and a funnel-shaped
inlet opening defined in at least one of the ends.
18. The organizer as in claim 17, wherein the bag storage container
further comprises an elongated opening extending along the
elongated body.
19. The organizer as in claim 16, further comprising a trough
shaped surface on one side of the elongated body facing the bag
holder section.
20. An organizer for plastic bags, comprising: a bag storage
container, which comprises an elongated body having two ends; a
funnel-shaped inlet defined in at least one of the ends; and an
elongated opening extending along the elongated body.
21. The organizer as in claim 20, further comprising a trough
shaped surface on one side of the elongated body.
22. The organizer as in claim 21, further comprising a bag holder
section supported by the bag storage container.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims priority and is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/623,998, filed on Jul. 21, 2003, U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/084,207, filed on Mar. 18, 2005, and U.S. Design Patent
Application No. 29/253,359, filed on Feb. 3, 2006. These
applications are fully incorporated by reference as if fully set
forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an organizer for bags, and
more particularly to plastic bags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Plastic bags are commonly used to package various types of
consumer goods, such as food and related products, for ease in
transporting the goods. Consumers then often save their plastic
bags for reuse as trash bags, for example. However, storage of used
plastic bags is often cumbersome. Also, it is difficult to maintain
plastic bags in a compact form due to its resilient nature. As
such, used plastic bags require more storage space than paper
bags.
[0004] Storage containers have been developed to facilitate storage
of used plastic bags. Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/623,998, commonly assigned to the assignee of the present
invention, discloses a container that is of a compact space-saving
profile that is aesthetically appealing. The container is
configured to facilitate storage of the plastic bags in an
organized fashion and to minimize entanglement of the plastic bags
with each other. In one embodiment, the container includes a
funnel-shaped aperture. The wider end of the aperture confronts the
outer side of the container, and the narrower end is disposed
within the container. The funnel-shaped aperture facilitates
collapsing the plastic bags into a compact form for insertion of
the plastic bags into the container. The container is designed to
be mounted to a vertical surface, such as underneath or inside a
cabinet. The low profile of the container minimizes the space
occupied by the container when mounted underneath or inside the
cabinet. Copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/084,207,
commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention,
discloses a free-standing version of the bag storage container. The
storage container stores and dispenses plastic bags for future
reuse. The plastic bags may be retrieved from the storage container
to be reused for various purposes, including lining trashcans.
However, this would require separate trashcans, taking up
additional space in kitchens, for example.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,416 to McAllister discloses a bag
storage and holding apparatus for recyclable or disposable bags.
According to McAllister, the apparatus has a receptacle for storing
handle bags for future use. The receptacle has a wide open top, and
a bottom opening. On each end of the storage receptacle is a
rotatably mounted side arm, which can swing up or down. When the
arms are in a horizontal position, the apparatus is positioned for
receiving a handle bag and maintaining it in an open position. Each
side arm has handle-engaging means for retaining the bag in an open
position for receipt of refuse. This apparatus eliminates the need
for a separate trashcan. However, due to the open configuration,
the apparatus is not suitable to hold waste such as food scraps in
the kitchen. There is no means to prevent odor from emanating into
the environment, or pests from visiting the waste held in the bag,
which therefore places hygiene in question. Further, the McAllister
apparatus is not configured to facilitate storage of plastic bags
in an organized fashion and to minimize entanglement of the plastic
bags with each other. Further, it does not provide a structure for
additional organizer functions. For example, there is no provision
for supporting sundry items.
[0006] It is therefore desirable to have a bag storage and holder
that is of a compact space-saving, hygienic design, which provides
for organized bag storage and other items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to an organizer for
plastic bags.
[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes a support structure that holds plastic bags in an open
manner to allow disposal of trash. In one embodiment, a lid is
provided to cover the opening of the plastic bag. The support
structure may extend from a base structure, which may comprise a
bag storage container or a support for sundry items.
[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes a bag holder and a container that stores and dispenses
plastic bags. The storage container supports the bag holder, and
may include a structure that supports other items, such as sundry
items like cleaners.
[0010] In a further aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes a bag storage and a dispensing container, without the bag
holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of
the invention, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference
should be made to the following detailed description read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following
drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts
throughout the drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an organizer in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is another perspective view thereof;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view thereof, the opposite side being a
mirror image thereof;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view thereof, showing the lid
thereof in an opened position from a closed position; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is another perspective view thereof showing support
of a plastic bag by the organizer.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an organizer in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] This invention is described below in reference to various
embodiments with reference to the figures. While this invention is
described in terms of the best mode for achieving this invention's
objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without
deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention.
[0022] The present invention is directed to an organizer for
various types of bags. The organizer is particularly suited for
organizing the use, storage and/or dispensing of plastic bags,
including, but not limited to, new or used bags made from
polyethylene, such as those used in the grocery industry for
packaging products for ease in carrying. For purposes of
illustrating the principles of the present invention and not by
limitation, the present invention is described by reference to
embodiments directed to an organizer for storing and dispensing
used grocery type plastic bags. Other types of bags may be used to
take advantage of the inventive organizer, as is apparent from the
disclosure below.
[0023] In one aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes a bag holder having a support structure that hold plastic
bags in an open manner to allow disposal of trash. FIG. 1 is a
perspective view of an organizer 10 in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is another perspective
view thereof; FIG. 3 is a front view thereof; FIG. 4 is a rear view
thereof; FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof; and FIG. 6 is a side
view thereof (the opposite side being a mirror image thereof). In
this illustrated embodiment, the organizer 10 includes a bag holder
section 12 and a bag storage section 14. As will be noted below,
the bag holder section 12 and the bag storage section 14 are
separate aspects of the organizer in accordance with present
invention. They may be integrated in an organizer, or implemented
separately. However, for ease of disclosure, the bag holder section
12 and the bag storage section 14 are illustrated together in the
figures.
[0024] In one aspect of the invention, the bag storage section 14
is omitted, as it is not essential to the function of the bag
holder function. The bag storage section 14 will be described
separately below. The bag holder section 12 includes a support
frame 11, including a pair of vertical frame sections 16 and 17 and
a pair of cross frame sections 18 and 19, which may be welded or
otherwise rigidly attached to form the support frame 11. While the
pair of vertical frame sections 16 and 17 and the pair of cross
frame sections 18 and 19 are respectively shown as parallel
structures, it is understood that the number of vertical and/or
cross frame sections may be different, to form a rigid support
frame 11 of the bag holder section 12. The support frame 11 also
includes a bag support bracket 15, which is in the shape of a
closed loop, oriented horizontally at the top end of the support
frame 11. The orientation of the bag support bracket 15 may be at
an angle to the horizon, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the present invention. The bag support bracket 15 is
sized and shaped to receive a plastic bag (e.g., a standard grocery
bag) through the central space or opening 13 defined by the bag
support bracket 15. Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 8, the outline of
the plastic bag 22 is shown in dotted lines, showing the placement
of the plastic bag 22 in the bag holder section 12, with the
plastic bag 22 received through the opening 13, and the top section
near the opening of the plastic bag 22 supported by the bag support
bracket 15. It is understood that the bag support bracket 15 does
not need to take the shape of a close loop. It can be an open loop,
or simply a pair of bracket members extending from the back of the
bag holder section 12 (not shown).
[0025] The ends of the top cross frame section 18 are bent (e.g.,
at 90 degrees, or a smaller angle), to extend to a handle 20 at
each end. Referring also to FIG. 3, each handle 20 includes an
"ear" or tab, which acts as an anchor 21 around which a part (e.g.,
a closed loop shaped handle) of a plastic bag may be strapped to
securely hold the plastic bag in the bag holder section 12. The
anchor 21 may have a generally a half-round shaped flap extending
downwardly, creating an inverted U-shaped section having a channel
23 when view from the front of the bag holder section 12, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 8, the handles
24 of the plastic bag 22 are secured around the anchors 21 on both
sides of the bag holder section 12. The anchors 21 act as hooks, to
which the looped handles 24 of the plastic bag 22 are securely
anchored along the channel 23 formed by the U-shaped section of the
handle.
[0026] The vertical distance between the cross frame section 18 and
the bag support bracket 15 may be chosen in relation to the
dimension of the plastic bag 22, such that when the handles 24 of
the plastic bag 22 are anchored by the anchors 21, the plastic bag
22 is supported in a hanging fashion by the bag support bracket 15,
with its handles 24 pulled over the bag support bracket 15. When
content is added to the plastic bag 22, under the weight of such
content, the plastic bag 22 would hang over the bag support bracket
15, with the handles 24 maintained taut by the anchors 21 as the
plastic bag sags under the weight of its content (and/or if
sufficient clearance is provided at the bottom end of the bag
holder section 12). Alternatively, the vertical distance may be
chosen such that under the weight of the content, the handles 24 of
the plastic bag 22 are not maintained taut by the anchors 21, and
the plastic bag 22 rests on a support surface if such is provided
and is high enough at the bottom end of the bag holder section 12.
If a support surface is provided, a bag without handles (e.g., a
paper bag) may be used with the bag support section 12, by resting
the bag on such support surface, within the confines of the opening
of the bag support bracket 15. The opening of such bag may be
folded over the bag support bracket 15, to allow closure of the lid
disclosed below.
[0027] Holes 26 are provided in the cross frame sections 18 and 19,
to facilitate attaching the organizer to a vertical surface, such
as a wall, furniture, or the outside or inside of a cabinet, using
screws or bolts. Other types of attachment may be deployed, such as
gluing or bonding the back of the cross frame sections to the
attachment surface, such as using double-sided tape.
[0028] To provide a closure to the opening of the plastic bag 22 as
supported by the bag support bracket 15, a lid 30 is provided to
cover the opening 13 of the plastic bag 22. Referring to FIGS. 4, 7
and 8, the lid 30 may be supported by a hinge 32. The hinge 32 may
include a bar 33, which is part of the bag support bracket 24,
about which the lid 30 rotates. Alternatively, the hinge 32 may
include a bar 33 attached to the lid 30 at its edge as shown, and
the bar is support by the bag support bracket 24 to pivot. FIG. 7
shows the lid 30 in its opened position, from its closed position
indicated by the dotted outline in FIG. 7, or as shown in FIG. 1.
The lid 30 may be sized and shaped with a lip 33, which covers over
the portion of the plastic bag 22 support at the bag support
bracket 15, to provide a decent closure to prevent or reduce odor
from escaping from the content of the plastic bag, or pests from
getting to the contents.
[0029] The basic organizer described above, could be adapted for
use with only the bag holder section 12 without the bag storage
section 14 shown in the figures. For example, the bag holder
section 12, without the bag storage section 14, could be attached
to the side of an office desk to provide a space-saving, aesthetic,
convenient trash collection stand, as compared to a more bulky, or
blocky, conventional trashcan. Ordinary, everyday, plastic grocery
bags may be reused for collecting trash.
[0030] In another aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes integrated bag holder and bag storage container. As shown
by the illustrated embodiment, the bag storage section 14 supports
the bag holder section 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the bag
holder section extends upward from the rear side of the bag storage
section 14. The bag storage section 14 includes a bag storage
container 40 that is structured to facilitate storage of the
plastic bags in an organized fashion and to minimize entanglement
of the plastic bags with each other. Referring to FIG. 4, the
bottom ends 48 of the vertical frame sections 16 and 17 of the bag
holder section 12 are attached to the rear of the container 40, by
a suitable detachable joint (e.g., interference fit joint, dovetail
joint, etc.) or a permanent fastening means, such as gluing,
welding, bonding, bolts, screws, etc.
[0031] The structure of such a plastic bag storage container is
based on certain inventive aspects of the bag storage container
concepts earlier disclosed in copending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/623,998 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/084,207, which have been fully incorporated by reference herein.
However, the bag storage container of the present invention
improves on the earlier disclosed structures in several aspects, as
will be noted below.
[0032] Unlike the embodiments earlier disclosed in the copending
patent applications, the bag storage container 40 includes a
generally elongated or cylindrical, horizontally oriented body,
which has two funnel-shaped apertures 42 that facilitate insertion
of plastic bags, each having a wider end 43 and a narrower end 44
(also shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3). The container 40 further
includes an elongated slot shaped opening 46 in the front of the
organizer, which forms a wide opening that facilitates dispensing
plastic bags stored in the container 40. By providing mirrored
apertures 42 on both ends of the container 42, the organizer 10 may
be installed in more orientations. For example, if the organizer 10
is to be installed in an undersink cabinet, it may be attached to
the left or right interior wall, with one of the apertures 42
facing towards the front of the cabinet. Similarly, if the
organizer 10 is to be installed on the outside of a kitchen
cabinet, it may be attached to a "left" or "right" wall.
[0033] The purposes of the funnel-shaped apertures 42 and the
elongated opening 46 are similar to the corresponding structures in
the previous embodiment. As in the embodiments earlier disclosed in
the copending patent applications, the wider end 43 of the aperture
42 confronts the outer side of the container 40, and the narrower
end 44 is disposed within the container 40. The funnel-shaped
aperture 42 facilitates collapsing the plastic bags into a compact
form (e.g., into a ball or clump) as they are being inserted into
the container 40. Specifically, in operation, the user inserts bags
into the container 40 via either one of the funnel-shaped apertures
42. As the bags pass from the wider end 43 of the aperture 42
through the narrower end 44, the funnel shape of the aperture 42
manipulates and collapses the bags into a compact form (e.g., a
ball or clump) that allows the bags to fit compactly within the
container 40. The user is not required to first manipulate the bags
into a compact form (e.g., roll the bag into a ball or clump)
before insertion into the container 40. As more bags are inserted
into the container 40 through the funnel-shaped aperture 42, the
walls of the container 40 facilitate stacking the bags in their
collapsed form in an organized manner so that there is reduced
entanglement of the bags with each other upon dispensing. As such,
entanglement of the bags is minimized. The wide dispensing opening
46 allows for easy access to the bags. The user can dispense bags
individually from the container 40 by accessing the bags from the
front access opening 46 at the front panel 40. The bags can be
individually dispensed from the container 20 since the bags are
stored in a stacked and organized fashion. Further elaboration of
the structures may be referenced in the copending patent
applications noted above.
[0034] As noted before, the organizer 10 may be structured with a
desired height of the bag holder section 12 in relation to the
particular dimensions of the bags designed to be used with the
organizer 10. The bag storage container 40 may function as a base
that supports the plastic bag 22 held by the bag holder section 12,
as shown in FIG. 8. It may also function in addition or in the
alternative, as a structure that supports other items, such as
sundry items like kitchen cleaners, when the bag is not installed.
To facilitate these functions, the container 40 is provided with a
shallow pan or trough 48 at the top of the container 40, facing the
bag storage section 12. The trough 48 has a raised periphery rim
49, which provides a boundary to facilitate confining the plastic
bag or items such as detergent bottles or cans within the
trough.
[0035] In a further aspect of the present invention, the organizer
includes only the bag storage section 14 shown in the figures,
without the bag holder section 12. The bag storage container 40 may
be attached to a surface by suitable fastening means, such as
screws, glue or tape. The bag storage container 40 may have a flat
bottom to facilitate resting on a top surface, e.g., the inside
bottom panel of an undersink cabinet.
[0036] The organizer can include sections and components made from
metal and/or plastic, depending on factors such as designed load,
desired aesthetic appeal, and easy of maintenance (e.g. easy
cleaning surfaces). The sections and components in the bag holder
section 12 and the bag storage section 14 may be made of metal
(e.g., stainless steel, aluminium, etc.), appropriate rigid,
semi-rigid or pliable plastics or rubber (e.g., PVC, polyeurathane,
etc.), or other synthetic or natural materials. Further, their
surfaces may be appropriately finished, e.g., painted, chromed,
coated, plated, polished, textured, etc. The selection of the
material and finish can provide an aesthetic structure in addition
to the functional aspects. Generally, it is desirable to provide a
structure and finish that is generally smooth, i.e., without
structural seams, joints or sharp bents across its surface.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an organizer in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention, showing a
contrast in the materials for various parts. The sections shown by
stippling may correspond to plastic material, and the remaining
sections may be metal material. For example, the side cylindrical
wall of the bag storage container may include a polished stainless
steel wall or finish.
[0038] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made without departing from the spirit, scope,
and teaching of the invention. A person skilled in the art will
recognize that the organizer incorporating the essence of this
invention can also be used for storage of other types of
collapsible items made from plastic or paper. Accordingly, the
disclosed invention is to be considered merely as illustrative and
limited in scope only as specified in the appended claims.
* * * * *