Abstract:
A bag keeper device to retain a trash bag against the side and bottom of a garbage can, shop vac unit, or similar component. The device includes a cylindrical frame structure having an opening to accommodate hoses and nozzles of a dust collection system.

Description:
[0001]     The present patent application claims priority from and is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/552,531 filed Mar. 12, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a system and components for preventing a trash bag from being sucked into a dust collection system.  
         [0003]     More particularly, the present invention relates to such a bag keeper system and components therefor which retain a trash bag against the side and bottom of a garbage can, shop vacuum, or similar component.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Heretofore, woodworkers would have to carry a heavy garbage can full of sawdust and other debris to the curb for collection, sometimes during inclement weather such as snow or rain. In such a situation, the can would get wet and the sawdust would stick to the can.  
         [0005]     The prior, but not necessarily relevant, art is exemplified by the following United States patents.  
         [0006]     Tanabe U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,656, entitled “SACKING DEVICE WITH OPEN-ENDED BODY HAVING SACK GRIPPING DEVICES THEREON, issued Apr. 28, 1953.  
         [0007]     Thurber, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 2,731,184 entitled “SUPPORT FOR DISPOSABLE REFUSE CONTAINERS AND COMBINATIONS THEREOF”, issued Jan. 17, 1956.  
         [0008]     Zaks U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,329, entitled “FILLING DEVICE FOR USE WITH PLASTIC TRASH BAGS,” issued Oct. 28, 1975.  
         [0009]     Spellman U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,895, entitled “REFUSE BAG FRAME FOR VACUUM CLEANERS”, issued Mar. 18, 1986.  
         [0010]     Yardas U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,518, entitled “TRASH BAG SUPPORT SYSTEM”, issued Jul. 26, 1988.  
         [0011]     Dauphinais U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,554, entitled “REMOVABLE, ADJUSTABLE PROTECTING-LINER FOR USE INSIDE OF TRASH BAGS”, issued Jul. 13, 1993.  
         [0012]     Seiler et al. U.S. Design Pat. No. 361,185, entitled “BAG SUPPORT INSERT WITH FUNNEL TOP”, issued Aug. 8, 1995.  
         [0013]     Clinton U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,735, entitled “DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A FLEXIBLE BAG”, issued Oct. 22, 2002.  
         [0014]     It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversions of the previous devices and techniques, and to provide a novel and unique bag keeper system and components therefor.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The present invention provides a bag keeper device for retaining a trash bag against the side and bottom of a garbage can, shop vacuum, or similar component, comprising: a frame structure including a plurality of vertical members interconnected with at least one first completely circular member and one or more partially circular members; said frame structure having an overall shape which is substantially cylindrical; said first completely circular member forming the uppermost member of said frame structure; said members forming said frame structure providing a plurality of first openings between said interconnected members; said interconnected members also forming a side-open structure having a second opening therein which is larger than said first opening; and said frame structure being shaped and dimensioned to fit within a trash bag to retain said trash bag against the side and bottom of a garbage can, shop vacuum or similar component, and to prevent said trash bag from being sucked into a hose of a collection system.  
         [0016]     The present invention provides a bag keeper device, which is especially helpful to woodworkers.  
         [0017]     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a bag keeper system which can be inserted into a garbage bag installed in a trash can, and thus prevent any dust collection system, such as a Woodstock Dust Separator No. 1049, coupled to the can from physically sucking the bag into the hose of the collection system.  
         [0018]     A further object is to provide a bag keeper device which can be furnished in more than one size, thus permitting it to be used with other sizes of bags and types of vacuum systems, such as shop vacuums. Optionally, the bag keeper device can be tapered instead of purely cylindrical.  
         [0019]     An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a bag keeper device which permits insertion of the bag keeper into a piece of equipment, while bypassing the hose connection for the system.  
         [0020]     Other objects, advantages, applications and features of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology, and to other persons, when the accompanying description of the present invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a complete system utilizing a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the assembly of components for the garbage can arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bag keeper device.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the components which may be used in conjunction with a large capacity shop vacuum unit.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the bag keeper device which may be used with a smaller capacity shop vacuum. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in connection with  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates the complete system  10  comprising a woodworker&#39;s saw  11 , a garbage can  12 , and a dust collection device such as a shop vacuum unit  13 .  
         [0028]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a thirty-gallon garbage can  12  in which is placed a plastic trash bag  14 , and within the trash bag  14  is placed a bag keeper  15  ( FIG. 2 ) in accordance with the present invention. The bag keeper  15  includes a cylindrical grid structure  16  having an upper continuous 360° member  17 , a lower completely continuous 360° member  18 , and a side-open structure  19  which permits the bag keeper  15  to pass nozzles when the bag keeper  15  is used with a system that has such nozzles.  
         [0029]     The assembled garbage can arrangement with bag keeper  15  is shown in  FIG. 1 , and is covered by a top cover  20  member which has two holes therein. Preferably, but not necessarily, the top cover member  20  can be the Woodstock Dust Separator No. WI 049.  
         [0030]     A first vacuum hose  21  is connected between any dust producing equipment, such as the woodworking saw  11 , and the garbage can  12  arrangement. A second vacuum hose  22  is connected between the garbage can  12  and the vacuum device  13 .  
         [0031]     In operation, the heavier particles removed from the saw device  11  settle in the trash bag  14  in the garbage can  12 , and the finer dust particles are removed by the second vacuum hose  22  and vacuum system  13 .  
         [0032]     The system  10  depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  provides a convenient, lightweight, time-saving and optimum sized arrangement for woodworkers. Professional woodworkers will find this assembly quite helpful because they would not have to carry a garbage can to the curb after it was filled with sawdust or chips. Because the bag keeper  15  would hold the trash bag  14  against the walls of the garbage can  12 , the worker can simply remove the bag keeper  15  from the trash bag  14 , remove the bag  14 , replace the bag  14 , and reinstall the bag keeper  15  to continue work. The garbage bag  14 , when it was full, could then be conveniently set aside until later, thus permitting the worker to continue his or her task.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bag keeper. In this embodiment, the bag keeper  30  may be fabricated from solid plastic or metal.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the invention which can be used for larger capacity shop vacuum units  43 .  FIG. 4  shows the bag keeper  40 , a square baffle  41  that fits over an orifice  42  in the shop vacuum component  43 , and the nozzle arrangement  44  that fits through the orifice  42  and the baffle  41 . It is noted that the open slot  44  of the bag keeper  40  permits passage over the square baffle  41  arrangement and nozzle  44 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention which is particularly useful for smaller size shop vacuums. This particular bag keeper  50  has an open slot  51  for passing over nozzles in a smaller capacity vacuum cleaner, and thus has discontinuous, uppermost and lowermost members  52 .  
         [0036]     Preferably, but not necessarily, the bag keeper devices  15 ,  30 ,  40  and/or  50  according to the present invention may be fabricated from wire, plastic, cardboard or metal.  
         [0037]     It should be noted that the bag keeper according to the present invention allows the use of a trash bag in the collection of sawdust so that the user can store it for later disposal. A salient advantage is enabling the user to keep working on wood without having to constantly bring a garbage can to the curb for collection.  
         [0038]     While the foregoing has described the features and advantages of several embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this particular area of technology, that changes in form, dimensions, materials and proportions, and minor details of construction can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.