Liner holder for trash receptacle

A trash bag securing device has a rotatable member and a stationary member. The stationary member is attached to the trash receptacle. The rotatable member has a first bag securing means which may include a bag containment area. The stationary member includes a second bag securing means which may include a point.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for attaching trash liners, also known as trash bags, to a trash receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trash receptacles are well known, as is the use of plastic trash bags within the trash receptacles. A trash bag is conventionally placed within the trash receptacle, and then affixed around the opening of the trash receptacle.

Trash bags are convenient in that they allow quick and easy removal of the contents of the trash receptacles. The problem with the trash bags is that they tend to become dislodged from their position on the trash receptacle as refuse is placed within the trash bag. The weight of the refuse may pull a portion of the trash bag from the trash receptacle, or may pull the entire trash bag from the trash receptacle.

Different devices have been employed in an attempt to stop the trash bag from being partially or completely dislodged from the opening of the trash receptacle. For example, a knot could be placed in the trash bag. U.S. Pat. No. 8,061,546 shows a trash receptacle provided with a plurality of openings around the exterior of the trash receptacle so that a portion of the trash bag might be inserted through the openings. Similarly, the trash receptacle shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,694,838 is provided with a single large opening for insertion of a portion of the trash bag. And, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,835 another variation is shown where an opening is provided in the trash receptacle for insertion of a portion of the trash bag.

The devices, however, fail to either fully secure the bag or complicate the removal of the bag from the trash receptacle. Thus, an improved mechanism for securing a trash bag within a trash receptacle is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A trash bag securing device has a rotatable member and a stationary member. The stationary member is attachable to a trash receptacle. The stationary member is capable of receiving the rotatable member. The stationary member also includes a platform for securing the trash bag to the trash bag securing device. The platform has a generally W-shaped notch located in the center of the platform. The notch includes a reinforced point.

The trash bag securing device of also may have an upper support structure and a lower support structure. The upper support structure could include a first horizontal support beam. The upper support structure could further include a second horizontal support beam. A first leg and a second leg, could be attached to the first horizontal support beam and the second horizontal support beam respectively. A bridge could connect the first leg to the second leg.

The trash bag securing device may further include a horizontal support beam. The trash bag securing device may have a back wall where the platform is attached to the back wall by way of an anchor.

The rotatable member could include a front panel. A bag containment area could be present in the front panel. The bag containment area could have a clover-leaf shape. A channel in the front panel could assist in the placement of a portion of a trash bag into the bag containment area.

The stationary member might include a hinge rod such that the rotatable member is removably secured to the stationary member by a rod housing which attaches around the hinge rod.

The rotatable member may be provided with a stop so as to prohibit rotation of the rotatable member beyond a desired position.

The rod housing has a rod housing upper surface and a rod housing lower surface. The lower surface is at least partially in contact with the hinge rod when the rotatable member is attached to the stationary member. A guide post is positioned on the rod housing lower surface, the guide post at least partially contained within a guide slot on the hinge rod when the rotatable member is attached to the stationary member.

The rotatable member also includes a tab. The tab fits within a horizontal slot in the stationary member, the tab being at least partially contained within the horizontal slot when the rotatable member is attached to the stationary member.

In another aspect, a trash bag securing device has a rotatable member and a stationary member. The stationary member is attachable to a trash receptacle. The rotatable member has a first bag securing means and the stationary member has a second bag securing means.

The first bag securing means could have a bag containment area for securing a first portion of a trash bag. The second bag securing means could have a point for securing a second portion of the trash bag.

The rotatable member could have a front panel. The front panel of the rotatable member could be used to engage the point of the stationary member with the second portion of the trash bag.

The trash bag securing device of could include a platform. The point would be contained at least partially within the platform. A platform support means could be provided so as to stabilize the platform.

In another aspect of the invention, the stationary member includes a hinge rod and the rotatable member includes a rod housing. The rotatable member is releasably attached to the stationary member by placement of the rod housing at least partially around the hinge rod.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following specification and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1shows an isometric view of a trash bag securing device10, whileFIG. 2shows a front view of the trash bag securing device10.FIG. 3shows the trash bag securing device10from the side.FIG. 4shows the trash bag securing device10from the rear. InFIG. 1,FIG. 2,FIG. 3andFIG. 4, the trash bag securing device is shown open, without a trash bag.

The trash bag securing device10is shown as open without a trash bag installed. The trash bag securing device includes a rotatable member12. The rotatable member12sits within the stationary member14.

FIG. 5an isometric view of the trash bag securing device10, this time with the rotatable member12in the closed position.FIG. 6is a view of the rear of the trash bag securing device10with the rotatable member12in the closed position.FIG. 7is a bottom view of the trash bag securing device10with the rotatable member12in the closed position.

FIG. 8shows an exploded view of the trash bag securing device10. The rotatable member12has been removed from the stationary member14.

FIG. 9shows a bottom view of the rotatable member12.FIG. 10shows a side view of the rotatable member12.FIG. 11shows a front view of the rotatable member12.

The rotatable member12includes a pair of tabs16,18. The tabs16,18assist in holding the rotatable member12in the closed position with relation to stationary member14. When the rotatable member12is closed, the tabs16,18reside within a pair of horizontal slots20,22.

The semicircular orifice24within the rotatable member12connects to the hinge rod26of the stationary member14. The semicircular orifice24is contained within a plastic rod housing28. Thus, as the rotatable member12is pressed onto the hinge rod26, the rod housing28spreads, allowing the semicircular orifice24to expand, thereby allowing the rod housing28to attach to the hinge rod26. When the rotatable member12in secured to the stationary member14, the plastic orifice housing28returns to its original shape, thereby capturing the hinge rod26.

If the rotatable member12is removed from the stationary housing14, the plastic orifice housing28again will be spread apart as the rotatable member12is removed, thereby releasing the hinge rod26.

A guide post30sits on the lower surface of the plastic rod housing28. The guide post30of the rotatable member12fits within the guide slot31of the stationary member14. The guide post30and the tabs16,18assist in maintaining the smooth rotation of the rotatable member12when affixed to the stationary member14.

A stop32is affixed to the exterior of the rotatable member12. The stop32interacts with the stop slot34of the stationary member14. The stop32along with the stop slot34of the stationary member14prohibits rotational movement of the rotatable member12beyond a desired amount. In most cases, the rotatable member12is rotatable over a range of motion of about 180 degrees.

The rotatable member12also includes a front panel40. The front panel40contains a bag containment area42. The bag containment area42contains a portion of a trash bag. As shown, the bag containment area42could be configured in a generally clover-leaf shape. Any suitable geometric configuration could be used. The front panel also includes a channel44. Channel44is used to guide a portion of a trash bag into the bag containment area42.

FIG. 12shows a top view of the stationary member14, whileFIG. 13shows a back view of the stationary member14. As stated previously, when the rotatable member12is affixed to the stationary member14, the plastic orifice housing28contains the hinge bar26, allowing the rotatable member12to rotate. The guide post30resides within the guide slot31. The stop slot34interacts with the stop32to prohibit excessive rotational movement of the rotatable member12.

The hinge bar26is affixed to a first shoulder50and a second shoulder52. The first shoulder50and the second shoulder52are on opposite sides of the stationary member14. The first shoulder50and the second shoulder52are positioned generally vertically, while the hinge bar26is positioned generally horizontally between the first shoulder50and the second shoulder52.

A platform assembly53extends from the back wall56of the stationary member14. The platform assembly53includes a platform54. The platform54includes a notch58. The notch58in the shown embodiment is generally W-shaped. Any suitable notch arrange may be workable within the system as shown in the drawings.

Extending into the center of the notch58is a point60. The point60has been reinforced by a reinforcement portion62. The reinforcement portion62is, in this embodiment, an extra-heavy area of plastic.

FIG. 14shows a closer view of the platform assembly53. Platform54includes a point58. The point58is somewhat larger than platform54in that it extends both above and below the platform54. This configuration makes the point58somewhat more resistant to movement than the platform54, and therefore the platform54is less flexible than the platform54. The forward edge62of the platform54is tapered and somewhat rounded.

The platform assembly53includes an upper support structure64. As can be seen, the upper support structure includes a pair of horizontal reinforcement beams66,68extending horizontally across the top of the platform54. The horizontal reinforcement beams66,68are attached to legs70,72. The legs70,72are affixed to the back wall56of the stationary member14. A bridge74connects the legs70,72. The bridge74is also affixed to the back wall56of the stationary member14.

Beneath the platform54are a pair of horizontal support beams76,78, forming a lower support structure. The platform54is further affixed to the back wall56by an anchor80. The anchor80is generally flared, with a larger portion affixed to the ball wall56that gradually narrows until the anchor80becomes approximately the same width as that of the platform54.

In use, the trash bag securing device10operates as follows. The rotatable member12is affixed to the stationary member14. The rotatable member12is in the open position, as shown inFIG. 1. A portion of the trash bag is inserted into the bag containment area42. The channel44assists in guiding the trash bag into the bag containment area. Additionally, a portion of the bag may extend into the channel44. When a portion of the bag is inserted into the bag containment area42, the bag gathers in and around the bag containment area42.

The rotatable member12is then rotated into the closed position, as shown inFIG. 5. The tabs18lock into the slots20. The front panel40pushes the bag into contact with the front portion of the platform54of the platform assembly53. The notch58receives a portion the bag. The leading edge of the platform54is pressed into the bag by the operation of the front panel40. The point60is pressed into the bag.

When the bag is to be removed, a person pulls on the front panel40, and the tabs18are removed from the slots20. The rotatable member12can be rotated into the full open position, and the bag easily removed from the trash receptacle.

The upper support structure64helps stabilize the movement of the platform54in case the bag is pulled upward. The more elaborate design of the upper support structure64is necessary because a bag may be pulled from the trash bag securing device10without properly unlocking the rotatable member12from the stationary member14.

The trash bag securing device10can be affixed to a trash receptacle by way of a double-sided adhesive strip. The double sided adhesive strip can be placed on the rear of the back wall56, and then affixed to a side of the trash receptacle.

Alternatively, a trash receptacle could be designed for use with the trash bag securing device10.

FIG. 15shows a trash receptacle90. The trash receptacle90includes receiving areas96,98for the placements of the trash bag securing device92,94.FIG. 16shows one of the receiving areas96,98in greater detail.

The receiving area includes a slot100for receiving the trash bag securing device10. Additionally, locking tabs102,104are located with the receiving area. The locking tabs102,104insert into the openings15,17(shown inFIG. 6) of the stationary member14of the trash bag securing device10.

Trash receptacle, as used herein, refers to any size of shape of trash receptacle, and includes objects such as shredders, recycling bins, or other devices where there is an enclosed compartment for receiving refuse.

It should be noted that reference to the prior art herein is not to be taken as an acknowledgement that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art.

The terms “comprising” or “comprises” as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

While the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiments, all such variations and modification thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.