Collapsible Support For A Receptacle

Abstract

A collapsible support such as for instance, a disposable refuse container, is constructed of oppositely disposed upper and lower frame members pivotally hinged to both ends of a pair of spacer bars one of which is stationary with respect to said frame members and the other one is movable along said frame members to thereby permit said frame members to collapse in a flat position relative to said spacer bars for storage and transport of the receptacle support.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to supports for containers, receptacles and the like and more in particular to a collapsible support for a refuse receptacle, such as for instance, a disposable garbage bag.

Refuse receptacles commonly consist of solid containers made of sheet metal or plastic and generally stored outside a building for deposit of refuse therein. These containers, when emptied, become dented and otherwise damaged to the point that their use is limited to a short period of time. In addition, if these containers are not protected against atmospheric surroundings, particularly in regard to metal containers, they will rust and their usefulness will be cut short, requiring more frequent replacement.

In order to eliminate or reduce the above disadvantages of conventional refuse containers, the present invention contemplates the provision of a collapsible support for disposable refuse containers, such as plastic garbage or refuse bags.

The proposed receptacle support, according to the present invention, comprises an open frame work composed of an upper frame member and a lower frame member separated and connected together by a pair of spacer bars adapted to retain the frame members in a position to receive a receptacle, such as a bag, which upper edge can be draped around the upper frame member to support the receptacle within the frame work.

Selectively, a solid bottom can be provided for the lower frame member and a solid cover for the removable attachment to the upper frame member to protect the receptacle against atmospheric surroundings. The solid bottom, if provided, can be equipped with caster wheels so as to enable the receptacle support to be rolled around a ground surface. Likewise, the cover, is provided, can be hingely attached to the framework of the receptacle support to permit easy opening and access to the receptacle retained by the support.

The primary feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a frame work for a receptacle support which is constructed such as to be collapsible into a flat position when not in use for storage or transport to another location.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent or be particularly pointed out by reference to the following detailed description in connection with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawing illustrates several preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the present novel receptacle support shown in operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the receptacle support shown in FIG. 1 having a cover added thereto;

FIG. 3 is another side view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1 having a cover and a solid bottom provided with caster wheels added thereto;

FIG. 4 to a top view of the receptacle support shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section through the top section of the receptacle support shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the construction and arrangement of the frame work of the basic receptacle support illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 6, the collapsible receptacle support of the present invention is comprised of a frame work generally indicated at 10 composed of a lower frame member 12 and an identical upper frame member 14 spaced apart by a pair of spacer bars or rods 16 and 18, respectively.

The spacer bars 16 and 18 when in a position as shown in FIG. 1, retain the lower frame member 12 and upper frame member 14 in parallel horizontal relationship relative to each other when the lower frame member 12 is supported on a surface, to permit the insertion and support of a receptacle, such as a disposable garbage bag 20, indicated in dot-and-dash lines, which extends through the upper frame member 14 downwardly towards the lower frame member 12 and which upper edge may be crimped over around the upper frame member 14 for support of the receptacle within the frame work.

Both upper and lower frame members 12 and 14 are preferrably of ring like structure fabricated from a length of steel or plastic rod and welded together to form a ring. The spacer bar 16 is preferrably fabricated from the same rod like material as the frame members 12 and 14 and is provided at both its ends with eyes 15 and 17 respectively which slidingly engage the frame members 12 and 14 for circumferential movement of the spacer bar 16 around the frame members 12 and 14 and for pivotal movement of the frame members 12 and 14 relative to the spacer bar 16.

The opposite spacer bar 18 is of substantially identical structure, comprising eyes 19 and 21 at the ends thereof which pivotally engage the frame members 12 and 14. The spacer bar 18, however, is restrained against circumferential movement around the frame members 12 and 14 by means of braces 22 and 24, respectively, welded or otherwise secured to the frame members 12 and 14 to clamp the eyes of the spacer bar 18 in between them.

Thus, the spacer bar 18 is prevented against circumferential movement along the frame members 12 and 14 but does not prevent pivotal movement of the frame members 12 and 14 relative thereto.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, in order to collapse the receptacle support 10 into a flat inoperative position, the movable spacer bar 16 is circumferentially moved in either direction along the frame members 12 and 14 towards the stationary spacer bar 18 and positioned adjacent thereto, which permits the frame members 12 and 14 to be swung in opposite directions due to the pivotal connection of the spacer bars into substantial parallel alignment with the spacer bars so as to provide a substantially flat structure which can be easily stored or hung on the wall, requiring a minimum of space.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the collapsible receptacle support 10 of FIG. 1 can be selectively provided with a cover 26 which may have a handle 28 to facilitate removal of the cover from the receptacle support. The cover 26 is supported on top of the upper frame member 14 and has a shape such as to conform with the upper frame member 14 and which placed in position, protects the refuse receptacle 20 from above. If desired, the cover 26 could be hinged, as shown at 30, to the frame work of the receptacle support 10 preferrably at the upper brace 22 which is welded to the upper frame member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, in this embodiment a cover 32 is provided consisting of a flat disc adapted to be placed upon the upper frame member 14 for securement thereto by means of a plurality of spring clips 34, as shown in FIG. 5. The spring clips 34 are easily detachable to permit easy removal of the cover 32.

As likewise shown in FIG. 3, a bottom 36 can be provided for the receptacle support 10 to be placed upon the lower frame member 12 for securement thereto by similar spring clips 34 as shown in the attachment for the cover 32. Selectively, the bottom 36 may be provided with caster wheels 38 to facilitate movement of the receptacle support from one location to another.

From the foregoing description it will be evident, that the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive collapsible support for a receptacle, particularly for refuse receptacles, such as disposable garbage bags and the like, which is not subject to damage when being emptied. Damage by corrosion due to exposure to the atmosphere will be minimal and can be neglected if it occurs. Wear and corrosion resistance will be considerably increased if the frame work for the receptacle support is being fabricated from plastic rods.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to the men skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, that structural changes and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and essential characteristic of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A collapsible support for a disposable receptacle comprising: a pair of identical frame members; a pair of parallel spaced spacer bars pivotally connecting said frame members to maintain said frame members in spaced parallel relationship; one of said pair of spacer bars being locked to both of said frame members against movement circumferentially thereof, the other of said spacer bars being movable circumferentially around said frame members towards or away from said locked spacer bar; said collapsible support, in operative position, being adapted to receive and support a disposable receptacle when said pair of spacer bars are separated from each other a distance sufficient to maintain said pair of frame members in a horizontally aligned parallel relationship; said pair of frame members in operative position of said collapsible support designating an upper frame member and a lower frame member for support on a surface; a bottom plate substantially corresponding in shape to the shape of said lower frame member and mounted thereon; a plurality of spring clips on said bottom plate removably attached to said lower frame member; caster wheels on said bottom plate for rolling movement of said collapsible support along said surface; and a cover mounted on said upper frame member for closing said receptacle; and a plurality of spring clips on said cover and removably attached to said upper frame member; said collapsible support being adapted to be collapsed into a flat position for storage when said movable spacer bar is moved into position adjacent said locked spacer bar to thereby permit said frame members to swing away from each other into substantial longitudinal alignment with said spacer bars.