Abstract:
A unitary support and trash bag bin device for use with conventional trash receptacle includes an open top support member for receiving the lower end portion of a trash receptacle therein. A trash bag bin is integral with the support member and projects forwardly therefrom. The bin is sized and dimensioned to contain a supply of trash bags which are used to line a trash receptacle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a support and trash bag bin device for use with a conventional trash receptacle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,675, I provided a conventional trash receptacle with a smaller bin for containing trash bags. Typically, household trash receptacles are provided with trash bag liners for facilitating the removal of the contents of the receptacle. In my U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,675, a conventional trash receptacle was modified to provide the container for the trash bags. 
         [0003]    The present invention obviates the need for such modification of a conventional trash receptacle. The instant device is designed for supporting a conventional trash receptacle while providing a trash bag bin for containing trash bags. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is an object of this invention to provide a novel support device for use with conventional household trash receptacles which provides trash bag bins for such receptacles. 
         [0005]    Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary support and bin device, of essentially unitary construction, for accommodating a conventional trash receptacle. 
         [0006]    The support and bin device is preferably a one-piece molded structure in which the support is shaped and configured to receive the lower portion of a conventional trash receptacle therein. The receptacle cooperates with the bin to form a container for the trash bags to enable a user to have a supply of trash bag liners readily available for use. Removable dividers for the trash bin are provided to allow the bin to be compartmentalized. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the auxiliary support and bin device illustrated in cooperating relation with a conventional trash receptacle; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary support and bin device taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  and looking in the direction of the arrows with a conventional trash receptacle shown in phantom line configuration; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the auxiliary support and bin device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the auxiliary support and bin device illustrating a roll of trash bags and a spray bottle in the bin; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the auxiliary support and bin device illustrating the bin with removable dividers; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded perspective view of the auxiliary support device illustrating a single and double divider for optional use in the bin. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that the novel support and trash bag bin device  10  is illustrated in cooperating relation with a conventional open top household trash receptacle  31 . The trash receptacle  31  is a conventional commercially available receptacle and includes opposed side walls  32 , a front wall  33  and a rear wall  34 . 
         [0014]    The opposed side walls  32 , front wall  33  and rear wall  34  converge slightly downwardly to a bottom wall  35 . The upper edge of the receptacle  31  has a conventional rolled flange  36  characteristic of commercial receptacles  31 . 
         [0015]    The support and trash bag bin device includes an open top support member  11  and a trash bag bin  12 . The support and bin device is of molded one piece construction from a suitable rigid plastic material. The support member  11  includes opposed side walls  13 , a rear wall  14  and a front wall  15  which converge slightly downwardly to a flat bottom wall  16 . 
         [0016]    The convergent angle of the vertical walls of the support member  11  correspond to convergent angle of the walls of the trash receptacle  31  thereby enabling the trash receptacle to be snugly positioned within the support member  11 . The front wall  15  of the support member  11  has a generally rectangular shaped opening  17  therein. The bin  12  projects forwardly from the periphery of the opening  17  and is positioned inwardly of the side walls  13 . 
         [0017]    The bin  12  has opposed side walls  18 , a front wall  19  and a bottom wall  20 . It will be noted that the bottom wall  20  is coplanar and continuous with the bottom wall  16  of the support member. It will also be noted that while the front wall  19  converges downwardly and inwardly, the side walls  18  are disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other. The bin  12  is provided with a lid  26  having a molded in hinge  27 . Although a hinged lid is preferred, the lid may be omitted. 
         [0018]    It will be noted that the upper edges  21  of the side walls  13 , the upper edge  22  of the rear wall  14  and the upper edge  23  of the front wall of the support member are disposed in a single plane disposed substantially parallel with the bottom wall  16 . However, the upper edges  24  of the side walls  18  of the bin  12  are declined downwardly and forwardly to the upper edge of the front wall  19 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it will be seen that the bin defines a single compartment for accommodating a roll of bags B and a spray bottle S. However, a divider or dividers may be provided for compartmentalizing the interior of the bin  12 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , it will be seen that a flat horizontal support element  29  is provided and shaped to fit snugly into the bin upon the bottom wall  20 . A vertical substantially flat divider element  30  is secured to the horizontal element  29  and projects upwardly therefrom. The divider  30  is centrally located with respect to the horizontal element  29  and has a vertical dimension corresponding generally to the vertical dimension of the vertical side walls  15  of the bin  12 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  also shows a two divider arrangement including a flat horizontal element  29  having a pair of substantially identical dividers secured thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom. The dividers  30  are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing from a side edge of the horizontal element  29  to the adjacent divider  30 . When this divider structure is positioned within the bin  12 , the interior of the bin is divided into three equal compartments as shown in  FIG. 5 . The upper edges of the divider or dividers may be disposed in plane parallel to the bottom wall  20  and the divider edge(s) may be positioned slightly below the upper edges of the side walls  18  of the bin. Alternatively the upper edge(s) of the divider may be inclined and coextensive with the inclined upper edges of the side walls  18 . 
         [0021]    Use of the dividers is optional, but use of the divider or dividers does effectively compartmentalize the interior of the bin. It will be noted that the bin  12  does not have a rear wall. However, when a conventional trash receptacle is placed into the support member, the front wall  33  of the trash receptacle defines the rear wall of the bin. 
         [0022]    A user will remove a bag from the bin and line the interior of the trash receptacle  31  with a bag. The upper edge portions of the bag will be folded over the flange  36  of the receptacle. When bag liner is full, the user may remove the filled bag and replace it with another bag conveniently located within the bin. 
         [0023]    A user need not remove the receptacle from the support member even though this may be accomplished easily. The support and trash bag bin devices may be stacked since the units readily nest within each other. 
         [0024]    From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel support and trash bag device which cooperates with conventional trash receptacles for providing trash bag liners for the receptacles.