Abstract:
A bag for installation on a mobile cleaning cart features an open top end at which the bag is arranged for hanging support on the mobile cleaning cart and an openable and closable bottom end facilitating removal of contents from the bag through said bottom end with the top end hanging from the cart. Installed on a cart of known types commonly used in custodial, janitorial, maid or housecleaning services, the bag can be emptied through the selectively openable bottom end of the bag to avoid lifting of the bags contents through the open top end.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,637,176, filed Jul. 4, 2008. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to bags used on mobile cleaning carts, and more particularly to such a bag that is openable at a bottom end thereof to facilitate removal of its contents without lifting thereof through the bag&#39;s open top. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Mobile cleaning or utility carts commonly used in custodial, janitorial, housekeeping or maid services are typically arranged to support a bag at one or more ends of the cart for collection of garbage, recyclables, laundry or other materials therein. For example, a commonly used conventional cart features top and bottom horizontal rectangular platforms interconnected at their corners by vertically extending legs, the bottom platform having four corresponding wheel carriers depending downward therefrom beneath the platforms to facilitate rolling motion of the cart. At one or both ends of the platforms, a pair of horizontal arms aligned with opposite side edges of the top platform project therefrom in an orientation parallel thereto to support a horizontal handle extending parallel to the respective end edge of the top platform at a distance therefrom such that the handle, arms and respective platform end edge delimit a rectangular area when viewed in plan. Sets of hooks respectively project into this space at opposite sides thereof from the end edge of the top platform and the side of the handle facing this end edge of the platform to support a collection bag by means of grommeted or eyelet-equipped holes on opposite sides of the bag&#39;s open top end. 
         [0004]    Conventionally, these bags are either only open at the top thereof, thus requiring manual lifting of the bag&#39;s contents by the user for removal from the bag, or have been additionally provided with a zipper-openable side to allow for easier lateral emptying of the bag&#39;s contents. A problem with the latter arrangement however has been that as the bag becomes more full, the contents of the bag may tend to force open the zipper fastener used to secure the openable side of the bag shut until emptying of the bag is desired. Another problem with conventional cleaning cart bags has been the ease with which some of the bags rip, particularly at the holes near the top of the bag from which the bag is hung during use. 
         [0005]    It is therefore desirable to provide an improved cleaning cart bag. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bag for installation on a mobile cleaning cart, the bag having an open top end at which the bag is arranged for hanging support on the mobile cleaning cart and an openable and closable bottom end facilitating removal of contents from the bag through said bottom end with the top end hanging from the cart. 
         [0007]    Preferably there is provided a bottom flap movable between open and closed positions respectively spanning over and exposing an opening in the bag at the bottom end thereof. 
         [0008]    Preferably there are provided fasteners operable to selectively close off and open the bottom end of the bag. 
         [0009]    Preferably there are provided cooperative fastener elements supported on opposite ones of the bottom flap and a portion of the bag distinct from the bottom flap and adjacent a bottom perimeter of the bag defining the opening therein, the cooperate fastener elements being selectively engageable to secure the bottom flap in the closed position. 
         [0010]    Preferably the cooperative fastener elements comprise mating male and female components of a quick release clip. 
         [0011]    Preferably there is provided a plurality of holes formed in the bag proximate, and at spaced positions along, an upper perimeter of the bag defining the open top end thereof for passage of corresponding hooks on the cleaning cart through the holes to hang the bag on the cart. 
         [0012]    Preferably each of the holes formed proximate the upper perimeter of the bag is fitted with an eyelet or grommet. 
         [0013]    Preferably there is provided a plurality of pockets defined on an exterior of the bag. 
         [0014]    Preferably the plurality of pockets is defined on a single side of the bag. 
         [0015]    Preferably the plurality of pockets is arranged in parallel columns of pockets. 
         [0016]    Preferably different ones of the parallel columns of pockets feature different numbers of pockets. 
         [0017]    Preferably the plurality of pockets comprising differently sized pockets. 
         [0018]    The bag may comprise canvas. 
         [0019]    Preferably there are provided straps supported proximate the open top end of the bag for wrapping about respective portions of the cart for hanging of the bag therefrom. 
         [0020]    Preferably a first fastener component is carried on each strap and is removably engagable with a second corresponding fastener component supported proximate the open top end of the bag to form a closed loop around the respective portion of the cart. 
         [0021]    Preferably the fastener components comprise quick release clip elements. 
         [0022]    The bag may be used in combination with a removable liner situated within the bag. In this instance, the removable liner may comprise a garbage bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a rear elevational view of a cleaning cart bag with a bottom flap thereof hanging in an open position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the cleaning cart bag during movement of the bottom flap from the open position of  FIG. 1  into a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the cleaning cart bag installed on a conventional cleaning cart with the bottom flap in the closed position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the bag and cleaning cart of  FIG. 3  as taken along line IV-IV thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The figures provided herewith illustrate a cleaning cart bag  10  arranged for installation on a conventional cleaning cart  100 . The cart illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is of the prior art type briefly described herein above, featuring a top horizontal rectangular platform  102  aligned with and positioned over an equally sized bottom horizontal rectangular platform  104  by four vertically extending legs  106  interconnecting the two platforms at their aligned corners. The bottom platform  104  has four wheel carriers  108  depending downward from the corners thereof beneath the platforms  102 ,  104  to facilitate rolling motion of the cart  100 . At the illustrated end of the platforms, a pair of horizontal arms  110  aligned with opposite side edges of the top platform  102  project therefrom in an orientation parallel to these side platform edges to support a horizontal handle  112  extending parallel to the respective end edge  102   a  of the top platform  102  at a distance therefrom such that the handle  112 , arms  110  and respective platform end edge  102   a  delimit a rectangular area when viewed in plan. Sets of hooks  114 ,  116  respectively project into this space at opposite sides thereof from the end edge  102   a  of the top platform  102  and the side of the handle  112  facing this end edge  102   a  to support the cleaning cart collection bag  10  by means of grommeted or eyelet-equipped holes on opposite sides of the bag&#39;s open top end. 
         [0029]    When unfolded and hung for use on the cart, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 , and  4 , the bag  10  features a front wall  12 , opposite rear wall  14  and opposing side walls  16  delimiting, and depending downward from, an open top end  18  of the bag. The front wall  12  and rear wall  14  feature respective sets of holes  20  extending therethrough just below the perimeter of the open top end  18 , where as illustrated in the figures the bag  10  may be folded or doubled over to form a hemmed edge  18   a.  Each hole  20  is fitted with a respective grommet or eyelet  20   a  for reinforcement of the bag  18  at these holes to better resist tearing when hung on the cart  100 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , the holes  20  of the bag&#39;s front wall  12  fit over the cart handle&#39;s L-shaped hooks  116 , which project from the cart handle  112 , first horizontally toward the cart&#39;s top platform  102 , parallel to the arms  110  supporting the handle  112 , and then vertically upward. Similarly, the holes of the bag&#39;s rear wall  14  fit over the cart platform&#39;s L-shaped hooks  114 , which project from the end edge  102   a  of the cart&#39;s top platform, first horizontally toward the cart&#39;s handle  112 , parallel to the arms  110  supporting the handle  112 , and then vertically upward. Each hook  114 ,  116  thus extends horizontally through a respective hole  20  in the bag  10  from the respective part of the cart  100  and then projects upward to form a stop that prevents sliding of the bag  18  off the hook, the hooks thus hangingly supporting the bag  10  on the cart  100 . 
         [0030]    At the bottom end of the bag opposite the open top end  18 , the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the bag  10  delimit a bottom opening  24  of the bag communicating with the interior thereof. Connected to the rear wall  14  of the bag  10  proximate a bottom end of the rear wall a short distance past the perimeter of the bottom opening  24  is a rectangular bottom flap  26 . This flap  26  is sewn, along one edge  26   a  thereof, to and across the rear wall  14  of the bag  10  just outward from a respective perimeter edge of the bottom opening  24  so that the flap can be pivoted or folded along this relatively permanent fastening of the flap to the bag  10 .  FIG. 1  shows the flap  26  in an open position hanging downward from its connection to the rest of the bag  10  so that the bottom opening  24  is left unobstructed, while  FIG. 2  illustrates how the flap  26  can be bent or folded over the bottom opening  24  to span thereover from the rear wall  14  to the front wall  12  and also fully, or substantially fully, between the side walls  16  so as to conceal the bottom opening  24  and thus close off the bottom of the bag  10 . 
         [0031]    Proximate an end edge  26   b  of the bottom flap  26  opposite its connection to the rear wall  14  of the bag  10 , female halves  28  of a series of quick release clip connectors are carried on an exterior side of the flap, which faces away from the bottom opening  24  when closed thereover, by respective flexible straps  30  spaced along this edge  26   b  of the flap. Respective male halves  32  of the quick release clip connectors are similarly carried by short flexible straps  34  on the exterior side of the bag&#39;s front wall  12  a short distance upward therealong from the respective perimeter edge of the bottom opening  24  defined by the front wall  12 . Each flexible strap is sewn to the respective portion of the bag proximate one end of the strap with the other free end having the respective clip connector component pivotally connected thereto in a known manner by threading the strap through an eye in the connector component and sewing it back onto itself, the flexibility of the strap allowing movement of the connector component relative to the bag. The spacing of the male halves  32  across the front wall  12  of the bag  10  matches that of the female halves  28  so that when the flap  26  is folded over the bottom opening  24  for closing thereof, each male half  32  aligns with a respective female half so that these mating halves can be engaged together. Each of the so-engaged quick release clips thus defines an easily releasable fastener connecting the flap  26  and the front wall  12  of the bag  10  so that engagement of all these clips secures the flap  26  in the closed position. It will be appreciated that releasable fasteners other than the illustrated quick release clip connectors, commonly used for backpacks and fanny packs, may alternatively be applied for selective and reversible fastening of the bottom flap  26  into the closed position. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom platform  104  of the illustrated conventional cart  100  features an extension  118  projecting from the bottom platform  104  beneath the arms  110  and handle  112  of the handle structure projecting from the top platform  102 . The extension  118  is rectangular in plan and has its perimeter in general alignment with the perimeter of the handle structure defined by the edge surfaces of the arms  110  and handle  112  that face outwardly away from the rectangular area bound thereby. The extension  118  thus provides a support surface beneath the bag  10  so that resting of the bag atop this surface avoids bearing of a full bag&#39;s entire weight by the cooperating hooks  114 ,  116  and grommeted holes  20  near the open top end  18  of the bag. During filling of the hanging bag  10 , the mating halves of the quick release connectors are engaged between the flap  26  and the front wall  12  of the bag  10  to keep the bottom end of the bag closed. The locking action of the clips and the positioning of the openable flap  26  at the bottom of the bag so that its opening motion is against the bottom platform extension  118  separately and together oppose unwanted opening of the bag  10  under the weight of its contents. 
         [0033]    At a short distance below the open top end  18  of the bag  10 , each side wall  16  of the bag features a first flexible strap  36  sewn to it near a first end of the strap, an opposite free end of the strap having a male half  38  of another quick release clip connector, of the same type used for securing of the flap  26 , pivotally connected thereto in the aforementioned known manner. A second flexible strap  40 , near one end thereof is fixed to the same side wall  16  just beneath where the respective first strap  36  is fixed thereto, the opposite free end of the second strap  40  pivotally carrying a respective female half  42  of the quick release clip connector. With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , once the empty bag  10  is hung on the cart  100  by cooperation of the cart&#39;s hooks  114 ,  116  with the corresponding holes  20  near the upper end of the bag  10 , the first strap  36  near the bag&#39;s upper end on each side is passed upward over the respective one of the handle-supporting arms  110  of the cart  100  to the outer side thereof opposite the rectangular space, delimited by the cart&#39;s handle structure, in which the bag is hung. Here, the female half  38  of the connector engages with the male half  42  carried at the free end of the second strap  40 , which extends laterally outward from the bag  10  to this outer side of the cart arm  110  therebeneath. On each side of the bag  10 , with the connector halves so coupled, the first and second straps  36 ,  40  cooperate therewith to form a closed loop fastened about the respective one of the cart&#39;s handle-supporting arms  110  so that the bag is not hung solely by the cart hooks  114 ,  116  and corresponding grommeted holes  20 . 
         [0034]    Just as for the securing of the bottom flap  26 , it will be appreciated that releasable fasteners other than the illustrated quick release clip connectors, commonly used for backpacks and fanny packs, may alternatively be applied for selective and reversible fastening of the first and second straps  36 ,  40  around the handle-supporting arms  110  of the cart  100 . Straps, ties or bands could alternatively be tied around the arms of the cart without requiring additional fastener elements, but the locking action of the click-together quick release clips or other releasable locking fasteners prevent inadvertent opening of the loops from around the cart arms that may be more likely to occur when relying on user-tied knots. It will also be appreciated that depending on the features and structure of a particular cart, the loops may be closed around other portions of the cart for securing of the bag thereto. 
         [0035]    The bag also features a series of pockets formed on the exterior side of the bag&#39;s front wall  12 . In the illustrated embodiment the pockets are arranged in two parallel columns extending nearly the full height of the bag&#39;s front wall  12  and each spanning approximately half the width thereof. A relatively large first pocket  50  spans the full height of its respective column, forming a single pocket having a depth equaling a substantial portion of the front wall&#39;s height. The other column features a bottom second pocket  52  having its bottom aligned with that of the first pocket  50  near the bottom end of the front wall  12  and a top third pocket  54  situated over the bottom second pocket  52  a short height thereabove and extending up the front wall  12  to the same height therealong as the first pocket  50 . The open top of each of the large first pocket  50  and the top third pocket  54  is not horizontally oriented, the upper edge of each of these two pockets instead sloping obliquely and generally linearly downward, outwardly away from a vertical centerline of the front wall  12  such that the open top of each of these two pockets faces not only upwardly, but also laterally outwardly away from the bag&#39;s midplane passing through the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  between the side walls  16 . The sloping of the upper edges of these two pockets acts to provide a wider opening to the pocket than in a rectangular pocket configuration for better access to pocket contents. 
         [0036]    In the illustrated embodiment, all the pockets are disposed on the front side of the bag, which herein refers to the side of the bag facing away cart platforms  102 ,  104  toward the handle  112 . This way, all the pockets are easily accessible from where a user would typically be maneuvering the cart. It will be appreciated that additional pockets could be added on the bag&#39;s side walls and that the number, layout or relative sizing of the pockets could be varied. The use of multiple pockets allows for organized storage of different types of items by dedicating contents of a particular pocket to a series of the same or related object types. For example, using the bag in the context of hotel housekeeping, each of the three pockets could be dedicated to a single one of pamphlets, coffee bags and linens. Carrying cleaning supplies, room supplies or other materials in the pockets frees up room on the cart&#39;s platforms. Some carts are adapted to carry bags at both ends, in which case the number of bag-defined pockets can be further increased to increase the carrying capacity of the cart or offer improved organization or reduced clutter. The pockets may also be useful when sorting recyclable materials being collected and sorted for subsequent transportation on the cart, for example by dedicating one pocket to aluminum cans, another to plastic bottles or containers and a third to glass products. 
         [0037]    The novel bag described herein above may be used with or without an interior liner, for example depending on the objects or materials being collected within the bag. For example, when using the bag and cart combination to collect garbage, a conventional plastic garbage bag may be inserted into the collection bag to form an interior liner. When the garbage bag is full or needs to be removed for other reason, the user can open the bottom flap  26  and slide or shimmy the bottom of the collection bag up over the garbage bag for release thereof from the collection bag&#39;s interior without lifting the potentially heavy garbage bag. When collecting laundry or other materials not necessarily requiring an interior liner, the openable flap allows removal from the collection bag without repeatedly reaching over the cart handle down into collection bag  10  from above, thereby potentially reducing awkwardness, strain or fatigue. As an example, using a cart capable of supporting two collection bags, one could be used with a liner for garbage collection with the other used without a liner for laundry collection. 
         [0038]    As an example, the bag may be made of polyurethane coated 1000 Denier heavy Cordura nylon with 100% nylon face and polyurethane backing to produce a bag that is high in strength, density and hydrostatic performance; water repellant; UV resistant; rot and mildew resistant; and abrasion resistant. Exemplary dimensions of the cleaning cart collection bag are 18 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 35 inches high. However, it will of course be appreciated that the dimensions may be varied, for example to suit use with a particular cart, and that the bag may be made of any of a known variety of materials. 
         [0039]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.