Abstract:
A holder for flexible wall containers or bags for holding collapsible wall container or bag open and thus facilitates the filling of the containers or bags. The holder is formed of easy dissembled parts that may be compacted, thus facilitating its storing or transportation. It is highly versatile since its internal cavity that accommodates the flexible wall container may be assembled in different sizes, allowing the convenience of using it with container or bags of different sizes. The holder is assembled by inserting two arms of a supporting unit into two rotating units of a second supporting unit. The length of the arms inserted in the rotating unit dictates the predetermined housing size of the holder.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a holder for supporting a flexible wall container. More particularly, the invention is directed to a compactable holder for a flexible wall container or bag, which facilitates the filling of such container by maintaining the mouth of said container open and wherein the size of the housing or cavity supporting the flexible wall container is conveniently adjustable to the size of the container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cleaning areas from leaves, debris and other unwanted materials requires depositing such materials in flexible wall containers or bags; moving through the particular place containing the unwanted materials and transporting the containers or the bags with the unwanted materials to a final disposition place. The cleaning tasks are facilitated by maintaining such containers widely open, protecting the container or bag from puncturing or tearing and facilitating the movement or transportation of the container or bag during and after the cleaning process. Flexible wall containers or bags are commercially available in variable sizes, and thus, the required holder&#39;s size should correspond to the container size in order to be properly accommodated said container or bag. Thus, there is a need for a holder for supporting flexible wall containers such as trash bags that is easy to handle, portable, and easy to move through a given area. In addition, there is a need for a flexible wall container&#39;s holder that is also compactable, easy to store when not in use and having a housing or cavity adjustable to the size of the flexible wall container. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a holder for flexible wall containers, such as trash bags and the like, that is highly compactable and easy to assemble and disassemble in order to facilitate storing it when not in used or when such holder is transported. Another object of the invention is to provide a holder having an internal housing or cavity that may be releasable secured at predetermined different sizes increasing the utility of the holder when using bags of different sizes. It is another object of the invention to provide a holder for bags or any flexible wall containers capable of being used in vertical or horizontal position with respect to the user&#39;s position. Yet another object of the invention is to provide bag holder, which is portable and an easy to transport while in use as well as when compacted and it is not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a highly compactable holder for flexible wall containers such as trash bags; which facilitates the filling of the said container by maintaining the open end of the said container open and that is easy to use and manage. The invention comprises an internal housing or cavity that may be reduced or increased in size according with the width and size of the container or bag to be held, said holder further comprising:
         a) a left arm and a right arm, substantially parallel to each others, each one of said arms having an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal end and a distal end;   b) a connecting unit joining the proximal ends of said right and left parallel arms;   c) at least one support leg connected to said connecting unit   d) a rectangular frame having an internal surface, an external surface, a lower section and an upper section;   e) a curved platform mounted at the internal surface of the frame and substantially located at the center of the upper section of said rectangular frame;   f) a right hollow rotator member connected at the right upper section of said rectangular frame;   g) a left hollow rotator member connected at the left upper section of said rectangular frame;   h) means for fastening said parallel arms to said rotator members and wherein an internal housing is created by connecting and securing said right arm with said right hollow rotator member and said left arm with said left hollow rotator member.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The nature and objects of the present invention and its advantages will be more clearly and easily understood after reading the following non-restricted description of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of first main supporting unit of the instant holder. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the lower surface of the parallel arms joined by a connecting unit. 
         FIG. 3  shows a detailed perspective view of the inverted cross located in the lower surface of the connecting unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the exterior surface of second main supporting unit that, once combined with the first main supporting unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  forms the internal cavity or housing of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of internal surface of the second main supporting unit. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the device already assembled, wherein the first main supporting unit is connected to the second main supporting unit, thus creating an internal housing or cavity wherein the flexible wall container is inserted. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the compact and collapsible manner to disassemble, organize and store the invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the use of the invention in a vertical position. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the use of the invention horizontal position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The invention may, however, be embodied in very different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     The instant invention comprises two main supporting units identified with numerals  10  and  30 , that once combined, creates the flexible wall container support or holder  60 , having an internal housing or cavity capable of holding the container or bag in an open position and able to protect the surface of said flexible wall container such as a bag or the like in order to facilitates the use of such flexible wall container. As used in this application, a flexible wall container means any container having walls flexible and adaptable to its contains, such as trash bags, laundry bags and the like 
     In reference to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of first supporting unit  10  that may be used in different embodiments of the instant invention. The unit  10  may be made of a solid material, such as plastic or metal but preferable of any suitable metal. Even more preferable, it made be made of aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, iron, galvanized iron or any suitable alloy thereof. Said embodiment comprises a left arm  11  and a right arm  12 , such arms being positions substantially parallel to each other. Each one of said arms  11  and  12  has an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal end and a distal end. Said arms are joined by means of a connecting unit  14 , which is connected to the proximal ends of parallel arms. The connection between the parallel arms  11  and  12  and the connecting unit  14  creates a substantially squared U shape like frame. Said frame may be made as a single piece, wherein arms  11  and  12  are bent extensions of connecting unit  14 . Located at said U shape frame; preferable at substantially the middle of connecting unit  14 , there is an inverted cross unit  15 , having a left side  16 , a right side  17  and a center side  19 .  FIG. 3  is a detailed illustration of inverted cross  15 , wherein the area within numerals  7 ″ of  FIG. 2  has been expanded. 
     Main supporting unit  10  also comprises at least one supporting leg  18 , which is engaged to connecting unit  14  via inverted cross  15 . Preferably, the upper section or distal end of supporting leg  18  may be connected to center side  19  by any fastening or tightening means suitable in the art that allows the fastening and an easily detachment of the said supporting leg  18 , including any suitable fastening means or tightening mans already known in the art. For example, the distal end of supporting leg  18  as well as the internal lower section of the inverted cross  15 , identified with numeral  19  may be cooperatively threaded to allow the proper connection in order to secure supporting leg  18  to connecting unit  14 . Alternatively, an internal pressure pin may be inserted in the end section of the supporting leg  18  in such a way that, once said end section of supporting leg  18  is inserted in the interior side of center side  19 , said pin may comes out from an aperture on center side  19  in order to firmly fix or abut supporting leg  18  to the center side  19 ; while once said pin is pressed and the supporting leg  18  is pull out from center side  19 , the supporting leg is dissembled from the center side  19 . In an even preferred embodiment, the said connection may be achieved by inserting the end of support leg  18  into the lower section of the inverted cross  19  and then securing the said end of the said supporting leg  18  with any suitable means for fastening such as an screw  20  inserted via the center of the inverted cross  15 , as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     It should be noticed that, preferably, supporting leg  18  may be detachable in at last two sections,  21  and  22  that are hold together by any suitable fastening means or tightening element know in the art, identified generically with numeral  23 . The connected leg ends of  21  and  22  may be engage one inside the other by cooperative threading or both ends may be threaded to a double thread holding unit. Alternatively, both such ends may be inserted into a non-threaded external holding unit and further securing such ends with any suitable and known fastening means in the art, such as of screws and the like. Any of the mentioned fastening means are indicated as examples and any possible and known fastening means or tightening means in the art are considered within the scope of the invention. 
     In a different embodiment of the invention, supporting unit  10  may be an entire or whole unit with all its parts being integrated and physically connected as a single unit, in such case there will be no need for the fastening means indicated above. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment the left and right arms  11  and  12  contain in the lower surface a series of internal gaps or concavities, identified with numeral  24 . By gaps or concavities as used herein, it means any deep concave gap as well as a treaded apertures capable of cooperatively accommodate means for fastening. The number of gaps or concavities  24  is identical in the lower surface of both arms  11  and  12 ; and they are separated from each other in the same arm at the same determined distance. Each gap or concavity  24  in the right arm  12  is in substantially parallel position to another gap or concavity in the left arm  11 . Thus, the total number of gaps or concavities is identical in each one of the arms. 
     A second main supporting unit  30  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , wherein the external surface of said supporting unit  30  is illustrated. Said supporting unit  30  comprises a substantially rectangular frame  34  having an internal surface, an external surface, an upper section  35  and a lower section  36 . In a preferred embodiment, lower and upper sections  35  and  36  of main frame  34  may be individual sections, connected together in a detachable manner with any suitable fastening means, illustrated generically by connecting unit  37 . Said connecting unit  37  may be any of those connecting units already discussed in engaging or connecting leg  18  into sections  21  and  22  or any fastening means discussed above to fast units  21  and  22  in order to form supporting leg  18 . Said frame  30  may be made of any solid material such as plastic or metal as discussed previously for supporting unit  10 . 
     Main supporting unit  30  also comprises at its the upper section, a curved platform  33 , which is mounted or located substantially at the center of the upper section of said rectangular frame  34 . Platform  33  facilitates sweeping trash or any waste into the bag inside the cavity of the holder  60 , when it is use in horizontal position as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     At the right upper section of supporting unit  30 , a right hollow rotator member  32  is connected at the right upper section of said rectangular frame  34 . Similarly, a left hollow rotator member  31  is connected at the left upper section of said rectangular frame  34 . In a preferred embodiment, the said hollow rotator members  31  and  32  are located parallel to each other. A preferred manner to connect each of the said rotator members  31  and  32  to the rectangular frame  34  is by passing the frame  34  through an aperture at one of the ends of each one of the rotator members  31  and  32 , thus allowing the circular movement of such members along the axis of the frame  34  and thus allowing positioning of the said rotator members  31  and  32  in multiple positions in respect to the main frame  34 . 
     Once the said rotator members  31  and  32  are positioned substantially perpendicular to main frame  34  and after connecting and securing or tightening right arm  12  with said right hollow rotator member  32  and left arm  11  with left hollow rotator member  31  respectively, an internal housing or cavity is formed. The size of said internal housing or cavity is variable; since its size depends on how far the arms  11  and  12  are inserted and tightened in the interior rotator members  31  and  32 , respectively. Thus, by adjusting the length of arms  11  and  12  inserted into rotator members  31  and  32 , a predetermined, desirable or convenient size&#39;s housing or cavity is formed. Once arms  11  and  12  are inserted to a predetermined distance within the rotator members  31  and  32 , clockwise turning of screws  49  and  50  provides a housing or cavity to accommodate a container having the corresponding size. 
     The invention also comprises any suitable fastening means intended to secure the arm-rotator member connection in a manner easy to disconnect. For instance, screws  49  and  50 , located at the proximal end of rotator members  31  and  32  may be conveniently used to secure the arm-rotator connection. The said screws are in a cooperative relationship with gaps or cavities  24 , located at the lower surface of arms  11  and  12 , meaning that by turning the said screws clockwise until impacting the corresponding gap  24 , creates an internal housing by joining main supporting units  10  and  30 . On the other hand, unscrewing the said screws and pulling the arms outside the rotator units  31  and  32  allows an easy dissemble of said main supporting units  10  and  30 . The instant invention also comprises any other possible fastening means capable of holding together arms  11  and  12  with rotator members  31  and  32 , respectively. 
     In a preferred embodiment, main supporting unit  30  may include at least one wheel  45  located at substantially the center of the lower end of the supporting unit  30 , while in another embodiment, the invention may have two wheels  45 , located at substantially the extremes point of the lower section of main rectangular frame  34 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     Similarly, the invention may include a flat rotatable panel  42  connected to the lower side of said rectangular frame by mean of a hinge  46  or any other suitable means. Said rotatable panel is intended to form the bottom like protection in the housing created once the main supporting units  10  and  30  are assembled and it is intended to protect the bottom of the flexible wall container or bag inserted in the holder  60 . Main supporting unit  30  may comprise lattice sections  39  and  40  connected to the peripheral sides of said rectangular frame  34  to add strength to said frame and lattice section  42 , which add strength to rotatable panel  42  and further protects the wall flexible container from tearing or puncturing. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , supporting unit  30  also includes two concave units  43  and  44 , located under curved platform  33 , in order to provide storing place of units  21  and  22  that forms the supporting leg  18 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the reverse internal side of supporting unit  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , once the main units  10  and  30  are connected and secured as explained above, the holder  60  is assembled and ready to use by inserting a flexible wall container or bag in the interior of the housing or cavity of  60 , while folding the mouth of said flexible wall container or bag over the top of the holder  60 . The assembled holder  60  may be use vertically to the floor or alternatively, it may be used while positioned horizontally to the floor as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , respectively. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is collapsible since it may be dissembled and conveniently store in a very compactable manner, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Disconnecting the arm-rotator member connection, results in two supporting units  10 , and  30 . A compacted, organized storing of the holder is achieved by (1) unfastening the means for fastening supporting leg  18  and thus providing two units  21  and  22 , and further snapping units  21  and  22  in concave spaces  43  and  44 ; (2) unfastening means for fastening  37 , thus provides the lower section  36  and the upper section  35  of the rectangular frame as two individual units; (3) inserting the upper section  35  of the rectangular frame between the flat rotatable surface  42  and the lower unit  36  of rectangular frame; (4) moving rotator members  31  and  32  until they are in contact with the surface of curved platform  33  while the proximal ends of each one of the inverted cross  16  and  17  are inserted in proximal ends of the rotator member  31  and  32  and (5) further securing the collapsed parts using a fastening means, such as screw  53  in order to hold on all the section together.