Device for releasably securing a flexible bag about the rim of a supporting receptacle

A fastener for releasably securing a flexible trash bag type liner about the outer upper peripheral rim of a supporting receptacle has an elongated body with a first leg and an interconnected second leg defining a space there-between. An axially movable rotation handle carried at one end portion of the body facilitates rotating the body axially to wind an excess portion of an edge portion of the flexible trash bag type liner about the body and prevents the unwinding of the excess portion of the liner from the body.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to fasteners, and more particularly to a device for releasably securing a flexible bag-type liner about the upper outer circumference of a supporting receptacle.

2. Background and Description of Prior Art

It is a common practice in commercial and household locations to use one size of a waste receptacle in one location, and to use a different size waste receptacle in another location, for instance in a first case in a kitchen, and in a second case a bathroom. Flexible plastic bags are commonly used as replaceable liners inside such waste receptacles for easy and sanitary disposal of waste and trash deposited therein.

Because such bag type liners are replaced so frequently, they are commonly purchased in large quantities and the same size liner is used in a variety of receptacles regardless of the receptacle size.

It is not common for such liner bags to fit firmly and tightly in an installed position. Most of the time the liner bag is relatively large compared to the receptacle whereby some portion of the liner fits loosely within the receptacle and an upper end opening portion of the liner extends loosely outwardly and downwardly relative to upper rim of the receptacle.

When the trash bag liner has sufficient depth from top to bottom, the closed bottom portion rests directly upon the interior bottom of the receptacle. The result is that material deposited within the liner rests upon the interior bottom of the receptacle and trash bag liner will generally remain in position because the upper edge portions of the liner are not pulled downwardly into the receptacle.

However, when the trash bag liner and the receptacle have approximately the same vertical dimension, when the trash bag liner is not as deep as the receptacle, or when extreme loads are placed in the receptacle the upper edge portions of the liner will be pulled downwardly into the receptacle, when material is deposited therein. This may not be a significant issue for office type waste such as paper and envelopes, but can be a significant issue if the liner is being used in a kitchen waste receptacle where food waste, and the like, is deposited because fluids, and semi-fluids and the like may leak outside of the liner into the waste receptacle causing nuisances that may be indelicate as well as odoriferous.

Various apparatus are known for securing an upper edge portion of a flexible bag type liner around the rim of a waste receptacle. Known apparatus include stretchable elastic bands that extend about the receptacle holding the liner in place, tying a knot in an excess portion of the liner gathered about the receptacle, a serrated edge hole or serrated edge slot defined in the side of the receptacle through which twisted excess liner is pulled, spring-biased clamps spaced about the receptacle rim, a “U” shaped apparatus about which excess liner material is wound, an annulus shaped apparatus through which a portion of the excess liner is pulled and an annulus shaped apparatus that extends circumferentially about and engages with the receptacle rim.

Such known apparatus have proved to be ineffective or too expensive for widespread use and continue to suffer from drawbacks including the requirement that the apparatus be attached to a trash receptacle before use, the apparatus is difficult or complicated to operate, the apparatus is expensive to manufacture, the apparatus is integral with the trash receptacle, the apparatus prevents re-use of the liner, the apparatus prevents the receptacle top from fitting appropriately, the apparatus is difficult to remove, the apparatus is limited to use with a specific receptacle, the apparatus is not aesthetically appealing as well as other drawbacks and limitations.

My invention overcomes various of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a device for securing a flexible bag type liner about the rim of a supporting receptacle that is easy to use, cost effective to manufacture, is not integral with the receptacle, may be used with a plurality of trash receptacles and trash bag type liners, does not interfere with the receptacle top, allows re-use of a bag type liner, remains in place in extreme load conditions, and is easy to remove.

My invention uses the resiliency of the trash bag liner to supply a torquing force that causes one end portion of a rotation handle of my invention to frictionally engage with the receptacle. Engagement of the rotation handle with the receptacle prevents my invention from rotating axially which would allow the liner to unwind from around body portion of my invention.

My invention does not reside in any one of the identified features individually but rather in the synergistic combination of all of its structures, which give rise to the functions necessarily flowing therefrom as hereinafter specified and claimed.

SUMMARY

A fastener for releasably securing a flexible trash bag type liner about the outer upper peripheral rim of a supporting receptacle has an elongated body with a first leg and an interconnected second leg defining a space there-between. An axially movable rotation handle carried at one end portion of the body facilitates rotating the body axially to wind an excess portion of an edge portion of the flexible trash bag type liner about the body and prevents the unwinding of the excess portion of the liner from the body.

In providing such an apparatus it is:

a principal object to provide a fastener which stretches an edge portion of a flexible bag type liner about upper peripheral rim of a supporting receptacle;

a further object to provide a fastener that is easy to operate;

a further object to provide a fastener which may be used on a variety of supporting receptacles without regard to size or shape;

a further object to provide a fastener that may be used with a variety of flexible bag type liners without regard to size or shape;

a further object to provide a fastener that engages with the supporting receptacle below the receptacle's upper peripheral rim and so that operation of receptacle top is not inhibited;

a further object to provide a fastener that maintains the flexible bag type liner in place when the receptacle is being emptied allowing reuse of the liner;

a further object to provide a fastener to does not require modification of the receptacle;

a further object to provide a fastener which positionally maintains the flexible bag liner in a receptacle under extreme load conditions;

a further object to provide a fastener that is easy to use and cost effective to manufacture;

a still further object to provide a fastener that does not interfere with the receptacle axially “sliding” into a larger diameter receptacle sleeve;

a still further object to provide a fastener that does not subject the user's fingers to risk of injury.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of my invention it is to be understood that its structures and features are susceptible to change in design and arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment of the best known mode being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specified as is required.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A fastener for releasably securing a flexible bag about the rim of a supporting receptacle generally provides a body10and a rotation handle30.

The body10has first leg11and a spacedly adjacent second leg14. The first leg11has a first end portion12and an opposing second end portion13. The second leg14has a first end portion15and an opposing second end portion16. Portion of the body10proximal the first end portion12of the first leg11and first end portion15of the second leg14may hereafter be referred to as first end portion10aof the body10. Likewise, portion of the body10proximal the second end portion13of the first leg11and second end portion16of the second leg14may hereafter be referred to as second end portion10bof the body10.

Space17is defined between the first leg11and the second leg14and is elongate having a vertex18at interconnection of first leg11and second leg14proximal the second end portions13,16. Opening37is opposite the vertex18and proximate the first end portions12,15. As shown inFIGS. 1 through 8, in my preferred embodiment the first leg11is larger in diameter22and longer in length24than the second leg14.

Second end portion16of the second leg14is interconnected with the first leg11proximate the vertex18, and the first end portion15of the second leg14is spaced apart from the first portion12of the first leg11defining the opening37therebetween through which an edge portion45of the flexible bag type liner44may be inserted into the space17. Enlargement29on the first end portion15of the second leg14enhances frictional engagement with the edge portion45of the flexible bag type liner44.

Rotation handle30has a first end portion31and a spaced apart second end portion32and is carried in diametrically extending handle hole19defined in the body10proximal the second end portion10b. The first end portion31and second end portion32of the rotation handle30extend laterally outwardly from axis26of the body10and provide a lever arm for user to rotate the body10about axis26.

Rotation handle30extends generally radially perpendicularly from the body10and is axially movable within handle hole19. (SeeFIG. 6andFIG. 7). End caps33are carried at the first and second end portions31,32respectively to prevent the rotation handle30from being unintentionally withdrawn from handle hole19, and to facilitate gripping during use.

In a second embodiment, as shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the rotation handle30is carried within diametrically extending handle notch20defined in the second end portion13of the first leg11. The rotation handle30is maintained within the handle notch20by radially inwardly extending protuberances21that frictionally communicate with outer circumferential surface of rotation handle30between the first and second end portions31,32. Protuberances21positionally maintain the rotation handle30within the handle notch20, and allow axial movement of the rotation handle30, relative to the first leg11, between a first extended position (FIG. 6) and a second extended position (FIG. 7) as desired. The second embodiment of my invention, (FIGS. 9,10) is suited for single piece manufacture of the rotation handle30and the body10allowing the rotation handle30and body10to be “snapped” together for assembly.

As shown inFIGS. 11 through 14in a third embodiment my invention is more planar than cylindrical, and the first leg11and the spaced apart second leg14are approximately the same length24and have the same thickness23. The first leg11and the second leg14each have a first end portion12,15respectively and a second end portion13,16respectively communicating with a laterally extending rotation handle30communicating with the second end portions13,16.

Space17is defined between the first leg11and second leg14and is somewhat triangular in shape having a vertex18proximate the rotation handle30and medially between the first leg11and second leg14. Opening37is defined between the first leg11and second leg14opposite the rotation handle30.

First end portion31and second end portion32of rotation handle30extend laterally outwardly from lateral edges11a,14aof the first leg11and second leg14providing a lever arm for axial rotation of the body10.

Protuberances38extend laterally outwardly from lateral edges11a,14aof the first leg11and the second leg14proximate the first end portions12,15respectively opposite space17and opening37. Protuberances38enhance frictional engagement of the first leg11and second leg14with the flexible bag type liner44as the edge portion45of the liner44is wound about the first and second legs11,14.

Thickness23of the body10is between approximately 2.5 millimeters and 10 millimeters and is optimally approximately 5 millimeters so that the third embodiment of my invention may be used to secure a flexible bag type liner44about upper peripheral rim53of an inner member51of a sleeve-type trash receptacle50as shown inFIG. 13andFIG. 14. The minimal thickness23of the body10allows my invention to be placed in adjacency to upper outer peripheral rim53of inner member51and allows the inner member51slide axially into the chamber (not shown) defined by outer member52of the sleeve type trash receptacle50without interfering with the operation of any movable receptacle top (not shown).

My fastener is preferably formed of poly-carbonate which provides a durable, rigid and cost effective material that may be molded, extruded or stamped for ease of manufacture, is easy to clean and is not subject to bacterial contamination and the like. Other materials having similar desirable characteristics include but are not limited to metallic alloys, ceramics, Plexiglas, nylon, fiberglass, carbon fiber, polypropylene and the like.

Having described the structure of my device for releasably securing a flexible bag about the rim of a supporting receptacle its operation may be understood.

As shown inFIG. 8, a flexible bag type liner44is placed within a supporting receptacle40so that bottom portion (not shown) of the flexible bag type liner44is within receptacle chamber46and the upper edge portion45of the liner44is folded over and downwardly about the receptacle rim41. Edge portion45of liner44is inserted through opening37and into space17defined between the first leg11and the second leg14so that the edge portion45is in direct physical contact with the vertex18.

Body10is rotated about axis26using the rotation handle30by twisting in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. The axial rotation of the body10causes a portion of the edge portion45of the bag type liner44extending over and about the receptacle rim41to wind around the first leg11and second leg14. As the flexible bag type liner44is wound about the first and second legs11,14respectively, the edge portion45of the liner44is stretched about the outer circumference of the receptacle40spacedly below the receptacle rim41. Because the bag type liner44has inherent resiliency, the stretching of the edge portion45, as it is wound about the first and second legs11,14, creates a torquing force (not shown) in a direction opposite to which the body10has been rotated to wind the bag type liner44thereabout.

The winding of the flexible bag type liner44about the first and second legs11,14may cause the body10to bias to a somewhat horizontal orientation as shown inFIG. 8as the edge portion45of the liner44is stretched. Rotation handle30is then moved axially within handle hole19to the first extended position, or the second extended position so that one end cap33is in direct frictional contact with the body10and the opposing end cap33is in frictional contact with the receptacle40. The rotation handle30, in such extended position, acts as a lever arm which prevents the body10from rotating axially responsive to the torquing force (not shown) exerted by the stretched liner44. The extended rotation handle prevents rotation of the body10and positionally maintains the bag type liner44in engagement with the receptacle40even under extreme load conditions.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and