U.S. patent number 3,632,029 [Application Number 04/888,426] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-04 for litter bag.
Invention is credited to May B. Sonner.
United States Patent |
3,632,029 |
Sonner |
January 4, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
LITTER BAG
Abstract
This invention is a litter container structure including a bag
assembly for receiving and holding litter, and having a pocket
means to receive a support member. More particularly, this
invention is a litter container having a closeable bag assembly
mountable within a vehicle and easily removable therefrom.
Inventors: |
Sonner; May B. (Winfield,
KS) |
Family
ID: |
25393156 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/888,426 |
Filed: |
December 29, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/275; 248/95;
383/22; 383/95; 224/928; 224/543; 224/926; 224/547 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N
3/08 (20130101); B65F 1/0006 (20130101); B65F
1/0013 (20130101); B65F 1/002 (20130101); Y10S
224/928 (20130101); Y10S 224/926 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60N
3/08 (20060101); B60r 003/08 (); B65d 033/16 ();
A45c 013/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/19.5R,DIG.8 ;150/3
;224/26K,29A,29D,29R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Summer; Leonard
Claims
I claim:
1. A litter container structure, comprising:
a. a bag assembly defining a closeable housing having a cavity
therein to receive and hold litter,
a support member for holding said container structure having means
to mount same on the inside of a vehicle,
c. a pocket means on said bag assembly to receive said support
member to mount said bag assembly for use,
d. said bag assembly has generally vertically disposed sidewalls
joining and closing said cavity at the normally bottom portion,
e. two of said sidewalls being generally more flexible than the
other less flexible sidewalls,
f. one of said less flexible sidewalls having said pocket means and
said pocket means substantially covering same, said pocket means
having a stiffener therein to cooperate with said support member to
support said bag assembly, and
g. said less flexible sidewalls have a securing means to retain
same together upon closure of said cavity by flexure of said more
flexible sidewalls, and said securing means being easily
operable.
2. A litter container structure as described in claim 1,
wherein:
a. said support member is a generally rectangular stringer member
open on one long side and
b. said support member has the open ends of said stringer member
provided with looped sections which are secured to said vehicle by
insertion of bolts or like devices through holes in said looped
sections and attachment of said bolts or like devices to said
vehicle.
3. A litter container structure as described in claim 2,
wherein:
a. said stringer member extends the width and length of said pocket
means,
b. said pocket means has an outer wall forming a covering over said
stiffener and cooperating with an adjacent one of said less
flexible sidewalls to receive said support member, and
c. the other one of said less flexible sidewalls has a stiffener
member attached to an upper portion and said securing means
attached thereto.
Description
Numerous types of container structures are known to the prior art
to serve as litter bags or the like. These prior art devices are
often very flexible in nature of construction and materials and
when in use are hung from some structure, thus tend to collapse and
droop as well as swing and twist, which presents a difficulty to
overcome when placing something in the container. Also, the prior
art devices, if they are not restrained in their motion, may spill
their contents if tipped sufficiently or as they are swinging about
they can rattle against surrounding structure providing an annoying
noise to nearby persons. In addition some of the prior art devices
with the above-described use are firmly attached in their
installation. These devices are generally difficult to remove for
cleaning purposes and are generally made of inflexible material and
a fixed volume. If these devices are closed and generally conform
to the nature of the surroundings, they may go unnoticed and
unused.
The container structure of this invention provides a structure
which is generally attractive in appearance and easily securely
attachable to a mounting structure, yet is easily removable for
cleaning purposes. The container can be constructed of a durable
material suitable for easy cleaning and flexibility. In addition to
its easy removability, the container closes and opens easily, thus
providing the user an easy means to insert and retain material
within the container. The container provided can be easily adapted
to installation in an automobile or other vehicle, and easily
mounted in places out of the way of the occupants yet easily
accessible. Also, the container can be constructed of material the
colors of which or the pattern of which is complimentary to the
surroundings.
One object of the container structure of this invention is to
overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art
devices.
Another object of the container structure is to provide a structure
to easily receive and retain material therein.
Another object of the container structure of this invention is to
provide a structure which is easily openable and closeable and has
an attractive appearance.
Another object of the container structure of this invention is to
provide a container structure which is easily attachable to some
type of support structure and which is easily removable
therefrom.
Another object of the container structure of this invention is to
provide a structure which is easy to manufacture, economical and
generally long lasting.
An additional object of the container structure of this invention
is to provide a container structure which is easily adaptable as a
litter bag for an automobile or other vehicle.
Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention
will become apparent from the following discussion taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a bench-type front
automobile seat having the container structure of this invention
attached to the front lower left-hand portion thereof and the
support member attached to the front lower right-hand portion of
the seat.
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the invention attached and in
the open portion.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken on line
3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a removed portion of a
seat with the support member of this invention attached.
The following is a discussion and description of the preferred
specific embodiments of the new litter bag structure of this
invention, such being made with reference to the drawings,
whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same
or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such
description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.
Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a
litter bag structure of this invention, indicated generally at 10,
is shown attached to the lower front portion of a bench type
automobile seat 12 on the operator's side. The litter bag structure
includes a bag assembly 14, and a support member 16.
The bag assembly 14 includes a bag 18 with more flexible sidewalls
20, and less flexible sidewalls 22 which join at the normally lower
portion of the main bag 18 to form the bottom 24 thereof and extend
upward therefrom. The less flexible sidewalls 22 are generally
rectangular in shape and are substantially formed from one piece of
material, comprising substantially the major portion of the
sidewalls 22 and forming the bottom 24. One of the less flexible
sidewalls 25 is fitted with a pocket 26 to accept and retain the
support member 16. The pocket 26 extends substantially laterally
across the sidewall 25, and partially covers the sidewall 25 in the
normally vertically disposed direction, and is attached to the top
28 and sides 30 of the sidewall 25. The pocket 26 has an outer wall
32 formed by a covering of the material over a rectangular
stiffener 34, and joining the top 28 and sides 30 of the sidewall
25.
The other sidewall 36 of the less flexible sidewalls 22 has a
stiffener 38 attached to its upper portion by a covering of the
material. The stiffener 38 extends substantially laterally across
the sidewall 36 and extends along a portion of its uppermost
portion. The material covering the stiffener 38 joins the top 40
and upper side portions 42 of the sidewall 36 and is joined with
the sidewall 36 in a seam 44 generally below the stiffener 38.
The upper inside portion of both of the less flexible sidewalls 22
has a sealing member 46, a fastener, attached thereto, preferably
strips of Velcro. The fastener is preferably rectangular in shape
and easily openable and closeable by finger pressure.
The more flexible sidewalls 20 attach the less flexible sidewalls
22 and have generally a V shape. The more flexible sidewalls 20
extend substantially from the bottom 24 to the top portion of the
less flexible sidewalls 22 and are comprised of two portions 48 and
50 joined by a seam 52 in the generally vertical center portion of
the sidewalls 20.
The support member 16 attaches to a supporting structure, like the
seat 12 or similar structure and holds the litter bag structure 10
by virtue of its being inverted in the pocket 26. The support
member 16 has a stringer member 53 of a generally one open-sided
rectangular loop shape, made preferably from metal wire like
material and has looped sections or eyes 54 on the lower portion of
the sides to accept screws 56 or the like to attach same to a
supporting structure like the seat 12. The attaching looped
sections 54 of the support member 16 have a U-shaped end portion of
the stringer member 53 connected with washer members 58 to add
structural support. The stringer member 53 extends upward from the
looped sections 54 and outward from the supporting structure
sufficient to accommodate the outer wall of the pocket 32 against
the supporting structure.
The support member 16 is placed partially within the pocket 26 when
the litter bag 10 is held in position for use. The more flexible
sidewalls 20 normally fall inward for appearance purposes but can
extend outward to accommodate a greater bulk of material within the
litter bag 10. It is seen the litter bag assembly 14 is preferably
substantially constructed of a nonpervious flexible and durable
material, preferably a relatively smooth sheet plastic-type
substance so it may easily be cleaned. Also, the bag assembly 14
must attach the support member 16 with sufficient resistance to be
returned relatively fixed while being opened, filled and closed.
Yet the bag assembly 14 must be easily removable from the support
member 16 for emptying.
In the manufacture of the litter bag structure 10 of this
invention, it is obvious that the bag 18, preferably of polyvinyl
plastic materials, can be easily formed over the stiffeners 34 and
38, preferably of a relatively stiff fibrous paperlike material,
and can have seams formed by heat forming the material. Also, the
bag 18 can be easily produced in a number of colors or combinations
thereof and can easily be fitted with an insignia, advertisement or
the like. The support member 16 can be easily formed, preferably
from metallic wire and washers by conventional metal forming and
welding methods.
In use and operation of the litter bag structure 10 of this
invention, it is seen that same provides a structure which is
easily attachable to an automobile or similar vehicle and usable
for containing litter that one might otherwise toss out the window
or any other material that one might desire not to be strown about
the vehicle. Also, it is seen the litter bag structure 10 is easily
openable and closeable by finger pressure on the upper portion to
separate the resealable contact.
As will become apparent from the foregoing description of the
applicant's litter bag structure, a relatively inexpensive means
has been provided to readily receive and retain material therein.
The litter bag structure is economical to manufacture, easy to
install, simple to use, easily removable for cleaning and emptying,
attractive in appearance, and can be used to conveniently retain
litter or other material like several cans of beverage.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with
preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that
this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope
of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.
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