Supporting Device For Open Topped Receptacle

Abstract

A device that may be assembled without the use of hand tools into a support to removably maintain an open topped receptacle in a fillable position. The receptacle is of the type that is formed from a pliable sheet material, and is supported from the device in a vertical dependent position. The receptacle due to the physical nature of the sheet material defining the same, tends to have the sidewalls bulge outwardly when filled with material such as trash, grass cuttings, laundry and the like, but due to the manner in which the receptacle is supported in the device, the bulging or expansion of the sidewalls does not prevent the receptacle from being easily separated from the device after the filling operation is completed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A supporting device for open topped receptacles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

During the past several years, a number of companies have devised and marketed folded receptacles formed of a pliable sheet plastic material, which receptacles are open at the top, and the receptacles when expanded allowing material to be deposited therein. Such receptacles are inexpensive and have been recommended by the manufacturers thereof as being particularly adapted for use as holders for trash, grass clippings and the like.

Although such receptacles are highly usable for this purpose, as well as numerous other purposes, they have the operational disadvantage that they are difficult to hold in an expanded depending position with the upper ends thereof open to the extent that material may be deposited therein.

Devices have been proposed for holding the receptacles in depending material receiving positions, but such devices have been found to have the operational disadvantage that as the receptacles are filled, the sides thereof bulge outwardly and it is extremely difficult to separate a filled receptacle from the holder thereof.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to supply a receptacle holding device that may be marketed in a dismantled compact configuration and the device capable of being easily assembled into a receptacle holding position without the use of hand tools.

Another object of the invention is to supply a receptacle holding device in which a receptacle having bulging sidewalls is easily separated therefrom, after the filling of the receptacle is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The receptacle holding device includes a pair of elongate base members together with first and second pairs of rigid uprights, and a generally rectangular rigid frame. The device includes first fastening means to secure the first pair of uprights in upwardly extending positions relative to the base members and second fastening means that permit the second upright to be supported in upwardly extending positions relative to the first pair of uprights and coaxially aligned therewith.

Third fastening means are provided that permit the frame to be removably secured to the upper ends of the second pair of uprights, with the frame when so secured being substantially horizontal. The frame is of such dimensions as to be removably engaged when portions of the receptacle are folded downwardly thereover, with the folded receptacle portions serving to support the receptacle in a depending position with the frame.

The frame not only serves as a support for the receptacle, but also provides the additional function of maintaining the pairs of base members and pairs of first and second uprights in laterally spaced relationship. The frame also serves a third purpose, that of removably supporting a cover that extends over the open end of the receptacle when the receptacle is supported in the device, and the cover minimizing flies and other insects being drawn to the contents of the supported receptacle. The frame is so supported from the second pair of uprights, that even if the receptacle has the sidewalls thereof bulging outwardly when the receptacle is filled with material, the receptacle may be easily disengaged from the supported position in the device and separated therefrom.

A major object of the present invention is to supply a dismantled supporting device for open topped receptacles that are formed from a pliable sheet material, such as plastic or the like, and the device being assembled into a receptacle holding configuration by a purchaser without the use of hand tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle supporting device that can be fabricated from standard commercially available materials, is inexpensive to produce, is simple and easy to use, and one that will encourage the widespread use of containers formed from pliable sheet material for such purposes as trash collecting, storage for soiled garments prior to the laundering thereof, as well as other purposes in which it is desired to place material in a confined space prior to the material being used or transported to another location.

A still further object of the invention is to supply a receptacle holding device which in a first form rests on the ground surface and in a second form is supported from a vertically extending surface, such as a wall, side of a house, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of the receptacle holder, prior to the receptacle being removably supported therein;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally extending cross sectional view of a portion of the device taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first form of the device with a receptacle removably mounted in a depending position thereon, and a first form of a cover disposed above the device that will normally cover the open end of the receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cover shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the cover, frame and fastening means associated with a second pair of the uprights;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second form of the receptacle holding device, which second form may be mounted on a vertical wall surface; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross sectional view of a second form of cover that may be used with either the first or second forms of the device to extend over the upper open end of the receptacle and frame supporting the latter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The first form A of the device that is used in removably supporting an open topped receptacle B that is formed from a pliable sheet material such as plastic or the like, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive. The receptacle B is normally retailed in a foldable condition, and when expanded to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 has a generally rectangular transverse cross section.

The first form of the device A includes a pair of base members C that are removably engaged by a first pair of uprights D. The second pair of uprights D are removably engaged by a second pair of uprights E that are coaxially aligned therewith. A rectangular frame F is removably supported in a substantially horizontal position from the upper end of the second pair of uprights E shown in FIG. 1. When the device is desired to be used to support a receptacle B the upper open end portion of the receptacle is disposed within the confines of the frame 10, and this portion then folded downwardly over the frame to define a continuous band 10 that contacts the exterior surface 12 of the frame as shown in FIG. 3. The frame F and the receptacle B must be so related dimension wise, that the upper portion of the receptacle adjacent the open end 14 thereof may be folded into an inverted U-shaped transverse cross section that engages the frame with the outer portion of the inverted U being the band 10.

Each of the base members C is preferably of substantially the same length as the cover G shown in FIG. 3, to permit the device to be retailed in a compact package prior to the components of the device being assembled into the configuration shown in FIG. 1. The frame F and uprights D and E are also preferably of the same length as the cover G. Each of the base members C may be a piece of angle iron that has a horizontal flange 16 that rests on the ground surface (not shown), and a second flange 18 that extends upwardly from the first flange.

The second pair of uprights D are preferably lengths of rigid tubing of square transverse cross section that have first ends 20 and second ends 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The first ends 20 slidably engage first pins 24 of square transverse cross section as shown in FIG. 2, which pins extend upwardly and rearwardly at a slight angle relative to the base members C. The first pins 24 are preferably secured to the base members C by welding beads 26 or the like. The first pair of uprights D have second pins 24 of square transverse cross section partially inserted within the interior of the second ends thereof, and the pins preferably secured to the first pair of uprights D by tack welding 28. The upper portions of the second pins 24 as may best be seen in FIG. 2 slidably engage the interior of first ends 30 of the second pair of uprights E. The second pair of uprights E like the first pair D are preferably formed from rigid tubing of square transverse cross section.

Although the first and second pairs D and E of the uprights are illustrated as being of square transverse cross section, they may be of cross sections other than square, but preferably not circular, for if the uprights D and E are of circular transverse cross section, the base members C would be free to pivot relative to the frame F, and to positions where the first form A of the device would not be stable and capable of supporting a receptacle B.

The frame F as may best be seen in FIG. 1 is formed from a rigid strip material of rectangular transverse cross section, and includes two laterally spaced end pieces 32 that are connected by side pieces 34. The end pieces 32 adjacent one of the side pieces 34 have two third pins 36 secured thereto, which pins preferably extend above and below the frame F. The pins 36 extend downwardly and forwardly at substantially the same angle as the pins 24 extend upwardly and rearwardly, to permit the frame F to be held in a horizontal position when the third pins are in slidable engagement with the interior of the second pair of uprights E as shown in FIG. 1. When the receptacle B is supported in the first form of the device A as shown in FIG. 3, the folded over portion of the receptacle extends around the portion 36a of the pins 36 that are located above the end pieces 32 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The first form of cover G is formed from a rigid sheet material and is of larger transverse area than that of the frame F. When the receptacle B is supported in the first form of the device, the cover G may be removably positioned thereon, to rest on the receptacle portions 38 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The ends 40 of the cover G have a pair of notches 42 which engage the upwardly projecting portions 36a of the third pins 36, when the cover G rests on the upper surface of the frame. The cover G is preferably provided with an upwardly extending handle 44 as shown in FIG. 3. Due to the upwardly and rearwardly angling of the uprights D and E relative to the base members C, the receptacle B when supported from the device has the major portion thereof positioned forwardly of the uprights. Thus, even if the sides of the receptacles bulge outwardly, the receptacle B may be easily separated from the device A.

A second form H of the receptacle supporting device is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and includes two L-shaped brackets 46 that are secured to a wall 48 by screws or other suitable fastening means 50. Each of the brackets includes an outwardly projecting leg 52 that is substantially horizontal. Each of the legs 52 on its outer end support an upwardly extending socket defining member 54 that preferably extends rearwardly and upwardly at the same angle as the pins 36 extend downwardly and forwardly.

The socket defining members 54 have interior transverse cross sections such as to snuggly and slidably engage the pins 36. When the pins 36 are in engagement with the socket defining member, the frame F can support the receptacle B as shown in FIG. 1. The brackets 44 are preferably positioned on the wall 48 at such elevation that the receptacle B when supported from the frame F is just in contact with the ground surface (not shown).

A second form of cover G' is shown in FIG. 6 that includes a flat sheet 56 that has a continuous flange 58 extending downwardly therefrom, and the flange being of sufficient depth as to extend downwardly over the frame F as shown in FIG. 7.

The second form of the device is used and operated in the same manner as the first form. Both the second and first forms of the device have previously been described in detail as well as the use and operation thereof, and this information need not be repeated.

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination with an open topped receptacle of generally rectangular transverse cross section formed from a pliable sheet material, a device that may be assembled without hand tools to removably support said receptacle in a substantially vertical depending position to permit said receptacle to be filled with material through said open top thereof, said device comprising:

a. a pair of base members;

b. first and second pairs of rigid uprights that each have first and second ends;

c. a pair of first pins that extend upwardly from said base members to slidably engage first ends of said first pair of uprights;

d. a pair of second pins that project from second ends of said first pair of uprights and slidably engage first ends of said second pair of uprights;

e. a generally rectangular rigid frame of such dimensions as to removably support said receptacle when portions of said receptacle adjacent said open top are formed into an inverted U-shaped configuration to engage said frame;

f. a pair of third pins that are secured to opposite ends of said frame and slidably engage second ends of said second pair of uprights, with portions of said third pins projecting upwardly from said frame; and

g. a cover of greater transverse area than that of said frame that removably rests on the latter, said cover having a pair of oppositely disposed notches therein that removably engage said upwardly extending portions of said third pins to prevent said cover being inadvertently displaced from said frame.