Garbage Bag Holder

Abstract

A holder, for bags made of plastic films and other suitable sheet materials, that will normally maintain the bag closed under its own weight, but that can be easily operated to open when items are to be placed therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to holders for flexible bags such that they are suitable for receiving garbage and the like.

2. Prior Art

Flexible bags have long been popular as liners for garbage containers and the like and with the fairly recent development of low cost plastic film bags their use as disposable garbage containers has increased. Generally, the bags have been used in the same manner as flexible paper bags have been used in the past. Thus, they are inserted into formed containers and serve strictly as liners. If the containers have lids the bags may be effectively closed, but it is usually difficult to place bags into such containers and it is usually a difficult and an unpleasant task to remove them when full.

There have also been some proposals for garbage bag holders wherein the bag is suspended from a framework and generally the framework carries a lid that can be opened to provide access to the interior of the bag. These are also frequently cumbersome to operate, requiring one hand to open the lid while articles are placed therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,976 shows a garbage support bag wherein a flexible bag is suspended from a support and the framework of the support is connected such that pivoting of a portion thereof will open and close the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

So far as I am aware, however, there has not heretofore been developed a bag holder with a frame that will support an easily installed and removed suspended bag and that has a means for normally sealing the bag at its upper end while providing for easy opening of the bag, merely by pivoting a portion of the framework. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a bag holder. Other objects are to provide a bag holder that is easily produced, low in cost, readily shipped and transported in a collapsed or disassembled condition and that can thereafter be easily set up or assembled for use.

Principal features of the invention include a first relatively rigid frame having clamp means on a cross piece for securing one side of a flexible bag thereto, a second frame pivotally mounted with respect to the first frame and arranged to have a cross piece with a bag securing clamp thereon adapted to pass beneath the cross piece on the first frame and to engage the side of the bag suspended from the first frame, and a base support for the frames arranged to support them such that the bag supported thereby hangs freely below the cross pieces.

A foot actuator bar may be provided and in at least one embodiment wheels are provided on the base support to facilitate movement of the unit and the bag, with its contents from place to place.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustration only, presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the invention, with the typical bag clamp shown by dotted lines in its raised or release position;

FIG. 2, a side elevation view with a bag shown in dotted lines and in its closed position;

FIG. 3, a similar view with the bag shown open;

FIG. 4, a vertical section view, but with the bag in its fully sealed position taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the cross pieces and bag holders of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7, a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9, a fragmentary top view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, showing the bag clamping means used;

FIG. 10, an enlarged and exploded fragmentary perspective view taken within the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11, an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment with a base support shown positioned to receive a framework bag support and a sleeve clamp ready to be positioned on the framework bag support;

FIG. 12, an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 11--ll of FIG. 10, but showing the sleeve clamps both in place; and

FIG. 13, a view like FIG. 10, with the bag open and both sleeve clamps in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the invention comprises a relatively rigid frame 15, FIG. 3, made up of side supports 16 and 17, and an upper cross piece or web 18. An elongate clamp 19 is pivotally connected at 20 to the upper cross piece 18 and the clamp extends along the greater portion of the length of cross piece 18 and is U-shaped to have legs closely straddling the cross piece. The wall of a bag 21, when clamped between clamp 19 and cross piece 18 is thus securely gripped therebetween.

Another frame 22, FIG. 3, has legs 23 and 24 that are respectively connected by pivots 25 and 26 to the side supports 16 and 17. Frame 22 also includes an upper cross piece or web 27 having a clamp 28 pivotally connected thereto at 29. Clamp 28 is also U-shaped and fits tightly over cross piece 27 to securely hold another wall of bag 21 in place.

A foot press bar 30 extends between legs 23 and 24, at their lower ends such that pushing on the foot press bar will pivot the frame 22 with respect to frame 15 and thereby open the top of bag when opposite walls of the bag are clamped to the respective frames.

A base, including side members 31 and 32 that are fixed at one end to side supports 16 and 17 and a rear support 33 that interconnects the other ends of side members 31 and 32 provides a stable support platform for the frames 15 and 22. Frame 22 extends angularly upwardly from the base to a height sufficient to allow for clearance of the bag to be used and the base extends rearwardly from the frame 15 to a point beyond the suspended bag so that the holder will not tip even when the bag is fully loaded.

A cross bar 34 extends between legs 31 and 32 adjacent the front thereof and a stop 35 projects upwardly therefrom to be engaged by foot press bar 30 and to limit travel of frame 22 so that the bag will not be stretched so far that it tears.

Foot press bar 30 includes one or more ears 36 extending therefrom and beyond at least one of the side supports 16 and 17 such that pivoting movement of the frame 22 is limited and the cross piece 27 will just move into tight engagement with the wall of the sack suspended from cross piece 18.

In use, the clamps 19 and 28 are raised and opposite walls of a flexible bag are placed over the cross pieces 18 and 27 respectively. The clamps are lowered to secure the bag and the unit is ready for use. The weight of the frame 22 above the pivots 23 and 24 moves the cross piece 27 into engagement with the wall of the bag secured to cross piece 18 and effectively seals the bag. A user will merely push on foot press bar 30 to pivot frame 22 until it engages stop 35 and the bag 21 is opened. He can then drop in such waste material as he may have, remove his foot and allow the frame 22 to pivot under its own weight and the weight of the bag and its contents until it is sealed. The base supports the holder upright on a floor surface and a user need not have a hand free for operation of the holder.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown another embodiment of the invention, wherein the bag holder, shown generally at 37 is adapted to be mounted on a wall.

In this embodiment, a generally U-shaped frame has a pair of legs 38 and 39 interconnected by a cross piece 40 that is adapted to be secured to a wall by screws 41, passed therethrough. A web 42 extends between the legs 38 and 39, intermediate their lengths, and arms 43 and 44 are respectively pivotally connected to the free ends of legs 38 and 39. Flanges 43a and 44a on the arms 43 and 44, respectively, have holes therethrough, through which screws 45 are passed to be anchored to the wall.

The arms 43 and 44 are each journaled on a rod 46, extending between the legs 38 and 39 and another U-shaped frame has its legs 47 and 48 journaled on the rod adjacent to the arms 43 and 44. The web 49, rigidly interconnecting the legs 47 and 48 has a bag clamping means thereon. Similarly the web 42 interconnecting the legs 38 and 39 has a bag clamping means thereon so that one wall of a flexible bag can be gripped by the bag clamping means of web 49 and an opposite wall can be gripped by the bag clamping means of web 42.

A stop 50, fixed to each of the legs 47 and 48, projects from its leg beyond the adjacent leg 38 or 39 to limit travel of the web 49 so that it will not move further than a point just beyond a plumb line beneath the bag clamping means on web 42.

A handle 51 extending between the legs 47 and 48 provides a gripping means whereby the U-shaped frame containing web 49 can be pivoted to open a bag clamped at the webs 42 and 49.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the bag clamping means on webs 42 and 49 are identical and each comprise a spring clamp 52, pivotally connected at one of its ends by a bolt and nut assembly 53 to its respective web, a handle 54 on the spring clamp, and an upstanding ear 55 on each of the webs and in which the clamp 52 is adapted to be held. The clamp is normally bowed so that when secured between the web and its ear 55, the clamp fits tightly against the web and will then securely grip even a thin walled bag.

In FIG. 7, there is shown still another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a generally U-shaped frame, made up of legs 60 and 61, interconnected by a web 62 is supported by a generally U-shaped base made up of legs 63 and 64 that are interconnected by a web 65 and a cross bar 66.

The legs 63 and 64 are preferably inturned slightly at their ends and have rubber tips 67 thereon, to prevent skidding, as will be apparent. Castor wheels 68 are mounted for free rotation beneath the legs 63 and 64 adjacent to the web 65.

The free ends of legs 60 and 61 are respectively pivotally connected at 69 and 70 to the free ends of legs 63 and 64 and a strut 71 is pivotally connected to each leg 60 and 61 at 72, intermediate the length of the leg. The other end of each strut has a neck portion 73, FIG. 10, of reduced diameter adapted to fit into and to be held in a T-slot 74, formed in a plate 75 fixed to the leg 63 or 64.

When the struts are released from their T-slots, the frame including legs 60 and 61 will drop onto the frame containing legs 63 and 64 to provide a compacted unit.

A rectangular frame having side rails 76 interconnected by upper and lower rails and a handle 77, 78, and 79, respectively, fits inside the legs 60 and 61 and web 62 and is pivotally connected to the legs by rivets 80, below the balance point of the frame.

Web 62 and upper rail 77 each have a bag clamping means, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 thereon. As shown, the bag clamping means includes a spring rod 81, pivotally connected at one end by a bolt 81a passed through a loop in the rod and through the web or the upper rail and with a loop handle 81b formed in the other end.

The rods 81 fit into catches 82 provided therefor on the web and upper rail, at a point adjacent to their handles and grooves 83, FIG. 8, in the web and upper rail receive the rods when they are in their locked positions, securely clamping the opposite walls of a bag.

Stops 84 and 85, fixed to leg 60 and to leg 61 respectively, engage or are engaged by legs 76, respectively, to limit travel of the rectangular frame. Stop 84 thus limits closing movement of the frame such that upper rail 77 moves to a point just beyond a plumb line dropped from web 62 and stop 85 limits opening movement of the rectangular frame to prevent tearing of the bag.

Handle 78 provides means whereby the rectangular frame can be pivoted to its open position by hand, and the lower rail provides means whereby it can alternatively be rotated by foot pressure, without the use of hands. In either event, the weight of the rectangular frame above the pivot, together with the weight of the bag and its contents, if any, will pivot the rectangular frame to its closed position.

This embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 is preferred in many instances especially for large size garbage bags. It provides full mobility and easy transporting of even heavy bags, merely by tilting it on its wheels and using web 62 as a handle, but when it is lowered and the tips 67 are in ground engagement it does not readily move even when a foot is used to open the attached bag.

FIG. 11-13 show yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a generally U-shaped base is made up of legs 86 and 87, interconnected by a web 88 and with the free ends of the legs turned up and reversely angled as at 86a and 87a.

A generally U-shaped frame having legs 89 and 90 interconnected by a web 91 is arranged such that the legs 89 and 90 are respectively releasably coupled by adapters 92 and 93 to the upturned portions 86a and 87a of legs 86 and 87. The adapters telescope over the upturned portions and receive the legs 89 and 90.

As with the previous embodiment, a rectangular frame, including side rails 94, web 95 and a bottom rail 96 is pivotally mounted within the U-shaped frame formed by legs 89 and 90 and web 91. The side rails are pivotally connected to the legs 89 and 90 by rivets 97 and S-shaped stops 98 arranged to limit travel of the rectangular frame with respect to the U-shaped frame, in the same manner as the stops previously described, are also held in place by the rivets.

Bag holding means are provided for the webs 91 and 95, both of which are made of round tubular or bar material. As shown, the bag holding means comprise tubular sleeve clamps 99, with cut-out slots 99a therein, such that the sleeve clamps can clear the legs 89 and 90 and be closely telescoped onto the webs 91 and 94 to be telescoped onto upper rail 95. The edges of the clamps are beaded so that they will not tear the bags and fit into grooves provided therefor in the sides of the webs. The clamps are preferably of laminated construction, as shown, to insure continued elasticity and tight clamping.

A stop 99b at one end of each sleeve clamp serves as a handle for removal of the sleeve clamp and as a stop to properly position the sleeve clamp on either the web 91 or the upper rail 95.

In use a flexible wall bag, such as the polyethylene bag 100, shown fragmentarily in FIG. 12 has one side wall 100a draped over web 91 and a sleeve clamp 99 telescoped thereover. The sleeve clamp extends fully beyond the legs 89 and 90 so that weight on the bag does not start pulling the bag from the sleeve clamp at one end thereof. Similarly, the opposite wall of the bag is draped over the upper rail 95 and another sleeve clamp 99 is telescoped thereon to hold it in place. The sleeve clamp extends beyond the side rails to prevent slippage, as previously described.

This embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 is preferred for many uses, especially with smaller bags and polyethylene bags because of its lower cost to build and its superior holding power for such plastic bags.

Although preferred forms of my invention have been herein disclosed, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter of the following claims, which subject matter I regard as my invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A garbage bag holder comprising

a first frame having a base and a generally U-shaped portion with legs extending upwardly from and angularly above the base and a web interconnecting the legs over the base;

a second frame having legs and an interconnecting web fitting closely within the upwardly extending portion of the first frame and pivotally connected thereto along a pivot axis at a location beneath the balance of the second frame;

bag clamping means on each of said webs; and

means to limit pivoting of said second frame such that the web thereof is movable between a point just beyond a plumb line beneath the web of the first frame and a position such that a bag having opposite sidewalls respectively secured by each of said bag clamping means is fully opened but is not stretched to such an extent that it will tear and does not pass over the said pivot axis.

2. A garbage bag holder as in claim 1, wherein the second frame has a foot bar extending thereacross at the bottom thereof.

3. A garbage bag holder as in claim 1, wherein

the base of the first frame is ground engaging and is held rigid with respect to the upwardly extending portion of the first frame.

4. A garbage bag holder as in claim 3, wherein

the base has wheels thereon substantially beneath the bag clamping means; and

anti-friction, ground engaging means on the base substantially at the junction of the base and the upwardly extending portion of the first frame.

5. A garbage bag holder as in claim 4, wherein

releasable means are provided for holding the base rigid with respect to the upwardly extending portion of the first frame.

6. A garbage bag holder as in claim 3, wherein tubular connectors are provided to releasably connect the base to the upwardly extending portion.

7. A garbage bag holder as in claim 1, wherein

the base of the first frame is wall engaging and is pivotally connected with respect to the upwardly extending portion and includes means for attaching it to a wall.

8. A garbage bag holder as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bag clamping means comprises

a spring bar pivoted at one end to a web; and

means for releasably clamping the other end of the spring bar to the web such that the bar fits tightly against the web.

9. A garbage bag holder as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the bag clamping means comprises

grooves in the opposite sides of a web; and

a semi-cylindrical member adapted to slide onto the web and to fit tightly thereon with its edges extending into the grooves.

10. A garbage bag holder as in claim 9, wherein the semi-cylindrical member is made of laminated layers of material to insure its continued resiliency.

11. A garbage bag holder as in claim 5, wherein at least one of the bag clamping means comprises

a spring bar pivoted at one end to a web; and

means for releasably clamping the other end of the spring bar to the web such that the bar fits tightly against the web.

12. A garbage bag holder as in claim 5, wherein at least one of the bag clamping means comprises

grooves in the opposite sides of a web; and

a semi-cylindrical member adapted to slide onto the web and to fit tightly thereon with its edges extending into the grooves.

13. A garbage bag holder as in claim 12, wherein the semi-cylindrical member is made of laminated layers of material to insure its continued resiliency.