U.S. patent application number 14/447043 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for bag stand.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pratt Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to John Richard Muse.
Application Number | 20140339379 14/447043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45327797 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140339379 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muse; John Richard |
November 20, 2014 |
BAG STAND
Abstract
Disclosed is a bag stand including at least three side panels,
each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right
end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, each side panel having
two adjacent side panels, each right end of each side panel
connected to the left end of one of the adjacent side panels and
each left end of each side panel connected to the right end of the
other adjacent side panel, thereby forming a substantially
continuous bag stand having a top end and a bottom end and a
plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab hingedly connected to the
top end of the bag stand, each panel tab having at least one
interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the
plurality of panel tabs.
Inventors: |
Muse; John Richard;
(Douglasville, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pratt Industries, Inc. |
Conyers |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45327797 |
Appl. No.: |
14/447043 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13164464 |
Jun 20, 2011 |
8840072 |
|
|
14447043 |
|
|
|
|
61357526 |
Jun 22, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/99 ;
229/109 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 67/1205 20130101;
B31D 5/0086 20130101; B65F 2220/102 20130101; B65F 2220/101
20130101; B65B 67/1238 20130101; B65D 5/04 20130101; B65D 5/029
20130101; B65F 1/1415 20130101; B65F 2240/138 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/99 ;
229/109 |
International
Class: |
B65B 67/12 20060101
B65B067/12; B65D 5/04 20060101 B65D005/04; B65D 5/02 20060101
B65D005/02 |
Claims
1. A bag stand comprising: at least three side panels, each side
panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end, an
inner surface, and an outer surface, each side panel having two
adjacent side panels, the right end of each side panel connected to
the left end of one of the adjacent side panels and the left end of
each side panel connected to the right end of the other adjacent
side panel, thereby forming a bag stand having a top end and a
bottom end; and a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab connected
to the top end of a side panel, the panel tabs bending inward to
form a substantially interlocking interface defining an opening at
the top end of the bag stand.
2. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein the bag stand is made of
corrugated cardboard.
3. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein each panel tab is one of a
male panel tab and a female panel tab.
4. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panel tabs
includes a male panel tab and a female panel tab adjacent to the
male panel tab, the male panel tab bent inward such that a portion
of the male tab is positioned between the female panel tab and the
side panel to which the female panel tab is connected.
5. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein at least one side panel
includes at least one of a left side draft and a right side
draft.
6. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein at least one side panel
includes at least one handle cutout.
7. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein the bag stand includes eight
side panels.
8. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein each side panel is connected
to one panel tab.
9. The bag stand of claim 1, wherein each panel tab is connected to
one side panel.
10. A blank formable into a bag stand comprising: a left side panel
including a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end, an
inner surface, and an outer surface; a right side panel including a
top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end, an inner surface,
and an outer surface; at least one side panel, each at least one
side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end,
an inner surface, and an outer surface, the right end of each side
panel connected to one of the left end of one side panel and the
left end of the right side panel, the left end of each side panel
connected to one of the right end of one side panel and the right
end of the left side panel; at least one connection tab, each at
least one connection tab having a top end, a bottom end, a left
end, a right end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, each at
least one connection tab connected to at least one of the right
side panel and the left side panel, and the connection tab
connectable to at least one of the left side panel, the right side
panel, at least one side panel, and at least one connection tab,
the connection thereby forming a bag stand including a top end, a
bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; and a plurality
of panel tabs, each panel tab connected to the top end of a side
panel, the panel tabs adapted to bend inward to form a
substantially interlocking interface defining an opening at the top
end of the bag stand.
11. The blank of claim 10, wherein the blank is made of corrugated
cardboard.
12. The blank of claim 10, wherein each panel tab is one of a male
panel tab and a female panel tab.
13. The blank of claim 12, wherein each male panel tab includes at
least one lateral portion.
14. The blank of claim 12, wherein each male panel tab includes at
least one compressed portion.
15. The blank of claim 12, wherein each female panel tab includes
at least one draft portion.
16. The blank of claim 12, wherein each female panel tab includes
at least one flaring portion.
17. The blank of claim 10, wherein at least one side panel includes
at least one handle cutout.
18. The blank of claim 10, wherein the blank includes six side
panels.
19. The blank of claim 10, wherein each side panel is connected to
one panel tab.
20. The blank of claim 10, wherein each panel tab is connected to
one side panel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/164,464, filed Jun. 20, 2011, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/357,526 filed on Jun. 22, 2010, both
of which are hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to refuse disposal. More
specifically, this disclosure relates to apparatus for facilitating
holding open and filling a refuse bag.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To be discarded, refuse is typically bagged. However, refuse
bags tend to be non-rigid and quite flexible. Particularly with
lawn refuse, filling a refuse bag may become difficult when the
refuse itself is non-solid or requires two hands to place into the
bag. For example, leaves, needles, dirt, and sticks tend not to
hold together when a user attempts to place such items in a bag.
When attempting to place such items in the refuse bag, the refuse
bag is subject to collapsing.
SUMMARY
[0004] A bag stand is disclosed for supporting and holding open a
refuse bag to facilitate filling the refuse bag. The bag support is
oriented to allow the bag support and refuse bag together to stand
vertically with respect to the ground and allow a user to fill the
refuse bag without the need to hold the refuse bag open
manually.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] The features and components of the following figures are
illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present
disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding
features and components throughout the figures may be designated by
matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and
clarity.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag stand for use with a
refuse bag wherein male panel tabs and female panel tabs are shown
extending above the top end of the bag stand.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the inside of a blank formable
into the bag stand of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 1
showing the folding action of the male panel tabs.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 1,
wherein the male panel tabs have been folded, showing the folding
action of the female panel tabs.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 1 in a
final stand shape.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of the bag stand of FIG. 1 in a
flattened arrangement.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 6
while being unflattened.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 5 with
a refuse bag inserted inside.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 5 with
a refuse bag placed over the outside.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bag stand of FIG. 9 in
use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Disclosed is a bag stand to assist holding and filling
refuse bags. It should be emphasized that the embodiments described
herein are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set
forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present
disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the
described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the
spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope
of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all
combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and
aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are
intended to be included herein within the scope of the present
disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or
combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by
the present disclosure.
[0017] One should note that conditional language, such as, among
others, "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless specifically
stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as
used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments
include, while alternative embodiments do not include, certain
features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is
not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or
steps are in any way required for one or more particular
embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily
include logic for deciding, with or without user input or
prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are
included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Unless stated otherwise, it should not be assumed that multiple
features, embodiments, solutions, or elements address the same or
related problems or needs.
[0018] Various implementations described in the present disclosure
may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages,
which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of
the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is
intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages
be included within the present disclosure and protected by the
accompanying claims.
[0019] FIG. 1 displays a bag stand 100 having a plurality of side
panels 110(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) connected to each other and
arranged along the outside of the bag stand 100 to form a hollow
structure for holding a refuse bag.
[0020] The current embodiment of the bag stand 100 includes eight
side panels 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. Any number of side panels
110 may be used in alternative embodiments so long as the side
panels 110 are formable into the bag stand 100 from a flattened
position, as will be discussed further. In the current embodiment,
all side panels 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h are dimensioned about the
same size and are about rectangular in shape. However, in
alternative embodiments, the side panels 110 may be of different
sizes or shapes from each other and from the current
embodiment.
[0021] Each of the side panels 110 has a top end 112, a bottom end
114, a left end 116, and a right end 118. The side panels 110 are
connected to each other having the left end 116 of one side panel
110 connected to the right end 118 of an adjacent side panel
110.
[0022] All references to "left" and "right" in this disclosure are
intended to refer to the left and right directions when viewed from
the outside with the top end up and the bottom end down. All
connections to which this disclosure refers may be any connection
sufficient to hold together the elements to be connected, including
an integrated construction, glue, a notched end, or other types of
connecting means.
[0023] Connected to the top end 112 of each side panel 110 is one
of a female panel tab 120 or a male panel tab 121. Although panel
tabs 120,121 are connected to each side panel 110 in the current
embodiment, the panel tabs 120,121 need not be included on every
side panel 110. Moreover, the panel tabs need not be female panel
tabs 120 or male panel tabs 121 in all embodiments, and the
specific arrangement of female panel tabs 120 and male panel tabs
121 may change from one embodiment to another.
[0024] Each of the panel tabs 120,121 has a bottom end 124, a left
end 126, and a right end 128. The bottom ends 124 of the panel tabs
120,121 are connected to the top ends 112 of the side panels 110.
Although the panel tabs 120,121 are connected to the side panels
110, they are not connected to other panel tabs 120,121. This
connection allows each panel tab 120,121 to hinge with respect to
the side panel 110 to which it is connected. Female panel tabs 120
have top ends 122. Male panel tabs 121 have top ends 123.
[0025] Attached to the right end 118h of side panel 110h is a
connection panel 140. The connection panel 140 overlaps the side
panel 110a and provides an interface for the side panels 110a and
110h to form a connected hollow structure. In the current
embodiment, the connection panel 140 is glued to side panel 110a.
All other connections are integrated in the current embodiment.
Side panels 110a and 110h are connected so that the left end 116a
of side panel 110a is collinear with the right end 118h of side
panel 110h. Although the two side panels 110a and 110h are
connected through connection panel 140, they are still "connected"
as described in this disclosure. The left end 116a and right end
118h need not be collinear in order to be considered connected
within this disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 2 displays an inside view of the bag stand 100 in a
blank arrangement. The bag stand 100 is formable from a single
cardboard blank. Each side panel 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g has two
draft cutouts at its bottom end 114a, b, c, d, e, f, g--a left side
draft 212a, b, c, d, e, f, g and a right side draft 214a, b, c, d,
e, f, g. Side panel 110h has only a left side draft, 212h. The left
side drafts 212 and right side drafts 214 in the current embodiment
are about forty-five degree) (45.degree.) with respect to the
bottom ends 124, the left ends 126, and the right ends 128 of the
side panels 110, although other angular configurations are
considered within this embodiment. Moreover, other shapes besides
linear drafts are considered to be included as well. When
assembled, the drafts 212,214 provide an escape for air passing
from the inside to the outside of the bag stand 100.
[0027] At the intersection of each side panel 110 with an adjacent
side panel 110 is a bend line. Bend lines to which this disclosure
refers are designated as weakened regions and may include a crease,
a perforation, a series of perforations, or another arrangement to
weaken the area of the bend line to promote bending along the bend
line. In the current embodiment, bend lines are creased to provide
a hinged connection. Between right end 118a and left end 116b is
bend line 220a; between right end 118b and left end 116c is bend
line 220b; between right end 118c and left end 116d is bend line
220c; between right end 118d and left end 116e is bend line 220d;
between right end 118e and left end 116f is bend line 220e; between
right end 118f and left end 116g is bend line 220f; between right
end 118g and left end 116h is bend line 220g.
[0028] The connection panel 140 has a top end 222, a bottom end
224, a left end 226, and a right end 228. The top end 222 of the
connection panel 140 is formed at a downward angle with respect to
the top ends 112a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h of the side panels 110a, b,
c, d, e, f, g, h. Similarly, the bottom end 224 is formed with an
upward angle with respect to the bottom ends 114,a, b, c, d, e, f,
g, h of the side panels 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h. The angles of
the top end 222 and the bottom end 224 create a shorter right side
228 than left side 226 of the connection panel 140. At the
connection of the left end 226 of the connection panel 140 to the
right end 118h of the side panel 110h is a bend line 230.
[0029] At the intersection of each side panel 110 with each panel
tab 120,121 is a bend line 260. Each bend line 260a, b, c, d, e, f,
g, h is located between each top end 112a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h of
each side panel 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and each bottom end 124a,
b, c, d, e, f, g, h of each panel tab 120a, c, e, g;121b, d, f, h.
The panel tabs 120a, c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h are connected only
by the bend lines 260a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and otherwise are not
connected in the current embodiment, although other configurations
are possible and considered within this disclosure. The single
connection line of each panel tab 120a, c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h
allows each panel tab 120a, c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h to be bent
along its bend line 260a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h.
[0030] Located on side panels 110b and 110f proximate the top ends
112b and 112f are handle cutouts 240b and 240f, respectively. The
handle cutouts 240b, f are generally ovular cutouts of material
from the side panels 110b, f sized to accommodate the hands of a
user. The handle cutouts 240b, f may be supplied as holes on the
side panels 110b, f. In another embodiment, the handle cutouts
240b, f may be punchout regions supplied with weakened perforations
to allow a user to punch through and remove material thereby
forming a hole or cutout.
[0031] In alternative embodiments, the handle cutouts 240b and 240f
may be in different places on the bag stand. For example, in some
embodiments, the handle cutouts 240b and 240f may be placed closer
to the top ends 112b and 112f; in some embodiments, the location of
the handle cutouts 240b and 240f will necessitate corresponding
cutouts in the panel tabs 121b and 121f. Moreover, in alternative
embodiments, the handle cutouts 240b and 240f may be placed on
other side panels 110a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h.
[0032] For each panel tab 120a, c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h, the
width distance between each of the left end 126a, b, c, d, e, f, g,
h and right end 128a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h of the panel tabs 120a,
c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h is the same width as the side panel 110a,
b, c, d, e, f, g, h to which each panel tab 120a, c, e, g and 121b,
d, f, h is connected proximate the bottom end 124a, b, c, d, e, f,
g, h of each panel tab 120a, c, e, g and 121b, d, f, h.
[0033] For the female panel tabs 120a, c, e, g, each left end 126a,
c, e, g has a standard portion 272a, c, e, g, a flaring portion
276a, c, e, g, and a draft portion 286a, c, e, g. Likewise, each
right end 128a, c, e, g of each female panel tab 120a, c, e, g has
a standard portion 274a, c, e, g, a flaring portion 278a, c, e, g,
and a draft portion 288a, c, e, g. The flaring portions 276,278 of
the female panel tabs 120 are connected to the draft portions
286,288 which are further connected to the standard portions
272,274, respectively. The draft portions 286,288 are angled with
respect to the other portions of the left end 126 and right end
128. The connections create a wider length top end 122 than bottom
end 124 for each female panel tab 120a, c, e, g.
[0034] For the male panel tabs 121b, d, f, h, each left end 126b,
d, f, h has a standard portion 272b, d, f, h, a compressed portion
277b, d, f, h, and a lateral portion 287b, d, f, h. Likewise, each
right end 128b, d, f, h has a standard portion 274b, d, f, h, a
compressed portion 279b, d, f, h, and a lateral portion 289b, d, f,
h. Each standard portion 272,274 is connected to each compressed
portion 277,279 by each lateral portion 287,289, respectively. The
lateral portions 287,289 are parallel to the top ends 123 and
bottom ends 124 of the male panel tabs 121. The connections create
a narrower length top end 123 than bottom end 124 for each male
panel tab 121b, d, f, h. Both the left ends 126 and the right ends
128 of each male panel tab 121 and female panel tab 120 are
interfacing ends in the current embodiment, although they need not
be in alternative embodiments. The interfacing ends in the current
embodiment allow the panel tabs 120,121 to connect together,
keeping the bag stand 100 in an open arrangement.
[0035] In alternative embodiments, features of the panel tabs
120,121 may be different or removed. For example, in one
alternative embodiment, the left end 126a does not include draft
portion 286a or flaring portion 276a. Likewise, in one alternative
embodiment, right end 128h does not include lateral portion 289h or
compressed portion 279h.
[0036] The bag stand 100 is formed by folding the side panels 110a,
b, c, d, e, f, g, h and connection panel 140 by their bend lines
220a, b, c, d, e, f, g and 230 until the connection panel 140
contacts the side panel 110a. In the current embodiment, shown in
FIG. 1, the connection panel 140 overlaps the side panel 110a so
that an inner surface 227 of the connection panel 140 contacts an
outer surface 119a of the side panel 110a. The connection panel 140
is affixed to the side panel 110a by gluing. Other configurations
are contemplated within this disclosure, including the connection
panel 140 overlapping an inner surface 117a of the side panel 110a,
connections by connecting tabs or key fit arrangements between the
panels, and integrated connection, among others. When the
connection is established, the left end 116a of the side panel 110a
is about aligned with the right end 118h of the side panel 110h,
although it need not be aligned in every embodiment.
[0037] In the configuration of FIG. 1, the side panels 110 are all
connected so that their top ends 112 together form a top end of the
bag stand 100. The panel tabs 120,121 are shown raised from the top
end of the bag stand 100. To form a completed bag stand, a user
first folds the male panel tabs 121 in so that inner surfaces 127
of the male panel tabs 121 approach, and potentially contact, inner
surfaces 117 of the side panels 110, as seen in FIG. 3. The user
then folds the female panel tabs 120 so that the inner surfaces 127
of the female panel tabs 120 approach, and potentially contact, the
inner surfaces 117 of the side panels 110, as seen in FIG. 4. For
each male panel tab 121, the left ends 126 of the male panel tabs
121 interface with the right ends 128 of adjacent female panel tabs
120, and the right ends 128 of the male panel tabs 121 interface
with the left ends 126 of adjacent female panel tabs 120. The
flaring portions 276,278 of the female panel tabs 120 interface
with the compressed portions 277,279 of the male panel tabs 121,
forming a substantially interlocking interface, as seen in FIG. 5.
Because the panel tabs 120,121 are substantially rigid, the
substantially interlocking interface prevents collapse of the bag
stand 100. Although a substantially interlocking interface is
described, other arrangements sufficient to hold the bag stand 100
in an upright and uncollapsed position should be considered
included within this disclosure.
[0038] As seen in FIG. 6, in some embodiments the bag stand 100
will be provided to the user in a flattened arrangement. The bag
stand 100 is flattened by having bend lines 220a and 220e bent with
all other bend lines unbent. The connection panel 140 is attached
to the side panel 110a. In this arrangement, the bag stand 100 is
easily shipped and is easily stored. Moreover, connection panel 140
is glued to side panel 110a such that a user of the bag stand 100
need only unbend somewhat along bend lines 220a and 220e while
bending along bend lines 220b, c, d, f, g and 230 to form the bag
stand 100 of FIG. 1. The unbending and bending process is shown in
perspective view in FIG. 7. The user then need follow the steps
described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to form the completed
bag stand 100 of FIG. 5.
[0039] Once the bag stand 100 is configured in the arrangement of
FIG. 5, a refuse bag 800 may be inserted into the bag stand 100, as
seen in FIG. 8, or placed over the outside of the bag stand 100, as
seen in FIG. 9. In the current embodiment, the refuse bag 800 is a
plastic refuse bag, although other refuse bags may be implemented
in alternative embodiments. The bag stand 100 is sized to
accommodate a specific sized refuse bag 800, and other sizes of bag
stands 100 may be used with other sizes of refuse bags 800.
[0040] Once the bag stand 100 and refuse bag 800 are configured
together, a user may fill the refuse bag with refuse, as seen in
FIG. 10. The refuse may include any type of refuse, including lawn
refuse, trash, and biodegradable waste, among others. When the
refuse bag 800 is appropriately filled with refuse, the user may
discard the refuse bag 800, the refuse, and the bag stand 100
together. The user may optionally remove the bag stand 100 from the
refuse bag 800, discarding the refuse bag 800 and refuse while
retaining the bag stand 100 for later use. A user may also
disassemble the bag stand 100, reversing the assembly steps shown
in FIGS. 3-7 and described above with reference to those
figures.
[0041] Where materials are chosen for the elements of this
assembly--particularly, corrugated cardboard--similar generally
rigid material choices may also be used and would be obvious to one
in the art, including corrugated cardboard or paper, linerboard,
polymer, plastic, metal, alloy, wood, mesh, laminate, reinforced
woven or nonwoven fabric, cellulose, composite, and combinations or
mixtures of the foregoing, among others.
* * * * *