HOLDING DEVICE FOR RUBBISH BAGS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: A device is described for securing a liner bag in a waste container, which device includes a pair of arms (3, 4; 108, 108') pivotally connected to a release (2; 105), which device can be moved from an open position wherein an opening is provided between the arms (3, 4; 108, 108') and the release (2; 105) for the insertion of a surplus portion of a liner bag between the arms (3, 4; 108, 108') and the release (2; 105), and a closed position wherein the surplus portion of the liner bag is secured by the arms (3, 4; 108, 108').

Description: HOLDING DEVICE FOR RUBBISH BAGS AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to a securing device for rubbish bags and the like in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. When placing rubbish bags and the like in a bucket or on a stand, there are often difficulties in keeping the bag secured to the rim of the bucket or stand because the circumference of the bag at its opening is often greater than the circumference of the bucket or stand at its opening, and so the bag tends to slide down in the bucket or stand. When the bag starts to be filled, the elasticity of the bag will also cause the circumference at the opening to be enlarged due to expansion and the result is the same. US 4,027,774 discloses a device for securing a bag in a rubbish container. This device, which is secured to the upper edge of the container, consists of a tab extending outwards from the container, which tab is provided with a notch. The bag is fastened by gathering and twisting the surplus part of the bag into an ear, and this ear is then pushed into the notch and held in place thereby. One of the problems with this solution is that the projecting tab may get stuck when the container, for example, is taken out of or put into a cupboard. US 5,695,088 discloses a device for securing a bag in a rubbish container. This device consists of a perforated membrane which extends from the rubbish bin. The same problem arises with this solution as with the solution according to US 4,027,774, namely that the projecting membrane can easily become stuck when the container, for example, is taken out of or put into a cupboard. US 5,735,495 discloses a device for securing a bag in a rubbish bin. This device consists of one or more U-shaped clips, which are fastened over the rim of the rubbish bin. On each of the clips there is a hinged push button that is snapped over the bag. The bag hangs down on the inside of the rubbish bin. The problem with this known solution is that the bag is folded over the rim of the bin, the rim thus easily becoming soiled. Furthermore, it is time-consuming to fasten and release the bag, as it must be snapped in place or released at each individual clip. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and easily manageable device for securing bags in rubbish containers and the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which to the greatest extent possible is flush with the outside of the container. This is achieved by means of a device for securing a liner bag in a waste container, which is characterised in that the device comprises a pair of arms pivotally connected to a release, which device can be moved from an open position wherein an opening is provided between the arms for the insertion of a surplus part of a liner bag between the arms, and closed position wherein the surplus part of the liner bag is retained by the arms. The release is preferably so disposed that the insertion of a surplus part of the liner bag between the arms causes movement of the release and thus movement of the arms into a closed position. The arms are preferably so disposed that in a closed position they hold the surplus part of the liner bag and can be moved into an open position by pulling the surplus part of the liner bag. The arms and the release, on opening and closing, preferably turn in separate directions. The arms and the release, when the device is in the closed position, lie preferably in essentially the same plane, parallel to the outer wall of the container. The arms are preferably so disposed that in the closed position they will meet either the main body or the release and retain the surplus part of the liner bag. The direction of motion of the arms is preferably approximately at right angles towards the side of the container, and the contact surface which the arms meet is at approximately the same angle, so that the surplus part of the bag is wedged in place between the arms and the contact face and does not become loose when the bag is filled, and the holding device can easily be opened by pulling the surplus part of the bag at right angles out from the side of the container. In accordance with one embodiment, the device is further characterised in that it includes a main body, that the arms are approximately mirror-symmetrical to one another and have a general J-shape, that in the curved section of each arm there is provided an extension on the side of the arms which face one another, in which extension there is provided a groove for pivotal interaction with a complementally designed pin on the release, that in the inner, curved part of each arm there are provided holes for interaction with complementally designed pins on each projecting arm on the main body and that on each projecting arm on the main body there is provided a hole for interaction with a complementally designed pin on each end of the release. According to this embodiment, the main body further includes a clip-like member for holding the device on the rim of a waste container. According to a second embodiment, wherein the device interacts with already existing ribs on the waste container, the ribs each being provided with two through-holes, the device is further characterised in that the arms are connected to one another by a generally elongate, laminar member, that each arm is provided with a pin for interaction with one of the holes in each rib, that the release on each side facing an arm is provided with two pins for interaction with respectively one of the holes in the ribs and a complementally designed slot in each of the arms. Common to both these embodiments is that along a portion of each arm there is provided an elongate groove on the side of the arms that face each other for the positioning of a packing of a friction-increasing material. The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a holding device according to the invention in a non-assembled state, seen from the front. Figure 2 shows the embodiment of the holding device shown in Figure 1 in a non- assembled state, seen from behind. Figure 3 shows the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 fitted on a rubbish bin Figure 4 shows the first embodiment according to Figures 1 - 3 in a fully open position. Figure 5 shows the first embodiment according to Figures 1 - 4 in a closed position. Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of a holding device according to the invention in a non-assembled state. Figure 7 shows the second embodiment of the holding device shown in Figure 6 in a closed position. Figure 8 is a sectional view through the holding device shown in Figures 6 and 7 in a closed position. Figure 9 shows the holding device according to Figures 6- 8 in an open position. Figure 10 is a sectional view through the holding device shown in Figure 9 in an open position. Figure 11 shows a third, preferred embodiment of the holding device in a non- assembled state, seen from the front; Figure 12 shows the holding device in Figure 11, seen from behind; Figure 13 shows the third embodiment fitted on a rubbish bin; Figure 14 shows the third embodiment when open; and Figure 15 shows the third embodiment in a closed, holding state. Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the holding device according to the present invention. In Figures 1 and 2 this first embodiment of the holding device is shown in a non- assembled state, seen respectively from in front and from behind. The term "from the front/from in front" is used when referring to the side of the device which in use will face out from the rubbish bin, whilst the term "from behind" is used when referring to the side of the device which faces the rubbish bin during use. According to the first embodiment, the holding device consists of a main body 1 , a release 2, a right arm 3 and a left arm 4. The arms 3 and 4 are mirror-symmetrical with one another. The main body 1 consists in it upper end of a clip member 5 which is intended to be placed over the rim of a rubbish container. The clip member therefore has a certain elasticity so that it can be adapted to rubbish containers of varying rim thickness and still hold the holding device in place on the rubbish container. In its lower end, the main body 1 consists of two projecting parts 6, 6'. On the inside of each of these parts 6, 6' holes 7, T are provided. There is also on the inside of each of the parts 6, 6' a projecting pin 8, 8', located below the holes 7, T in the illustrated embodiment. The inside of the parts 6, 6' in this connection means the side of the arms that face each other. On the outside of each of the parts 6, 6' there is also provided a projecting pin 9, 9'. The purpose of these pins 8, 8' and 9, 9' and the holes 7, T will be explained in more detail below. As previously mentioned, the holding device also comprises a release 2. This release 2 in the illustrated embodiment has a general laminar, rectangular shape. In the upper part of each of the short sides of the release 2 there is provided a projecting pin 10, 10'. On the back of the release 2, i.e., the side facing the rubbish container when the device is in use, are two pins 11, 11', which in the illustrated embodiment are fastened to the release 2 optionally with the aid of a block 12. The purpose of these pins 10, 10' and 11, 11 ' will be explained in more detail below. The holding device also consists of two arms 3 and 4 which are mirror- symmetrical with one another. These arms 3, 4 have a general J-shape. In the generally straight part of the J. there is in both arms 3, 4 a recessed groove 12. 12' on the side of the arm facing the other arm. A packing, e.g., of rubber, may be positioned in this groove 12, 12', if so desired. The purpose of this will be explained below. Two holes, 13, 13' and 14, 14' respectively, are provided in the inner, curved part of the arms 3, 4. These holes 13, 13', 14, 14' are designed so as to be complemental to the pins 8, 8', 9, 9' and together with the pins will form pivot points for the arms 3, 4 when the arms 3, 4 are mounted on the main body 1. These holes 13, 13' 14, 14' and the pins 8, 8' 9, 9' will at the same time pivotally secure the arms 3, 4 to the main body 1. In the lower end of each arm 3, 4 there is provided an extension 15, 15' with a groove 16, 16'. This groove 16, 16' will receive the pins respectively 11, 11 ' when the arms 3, 4 and the release plate 2 are mounted on the main body 1. The main body 1, the release 2 and the arms 3, 4 will be mounted together as follows. First the pins 10, 10' on the release 2 are positioned in the holes 7, T in the main body 1. The arms 3, 4 are then pressed onto the main body 1 so that the pins 8, 8', 9, 9' on the main body 1 pass into the holes 13, 13, 14, 14' in the arms. At the same time, the pins 11, 11 ' are passed into the grooves 16, 16' in the arms. If the release 2 is gripped by the user's hand and swung outwards, the pins 11, 11' will move in the groove 16, 16' and whilst the pins 11, 11 ' move to the end of the groove 16, 16', the arms will be pressed outwards so that the holding device opens. 0 When the holding device is to be used on a rubbish container, the device is placed on the rim of the container so that the clip 5 rests on the inside of the container, whilst the rest of the device remains in an open position on the outside of the container, as shown in Figure 3. A plastic bag is then placed inside the container, the edge of the plastic bag is folded over the rim of the container, and the folded-over part of the bag is tightened. s The surplus part of the bag is then placed over both arms 3, 4 and over the release, which are in the open position. The hand holding the surplus part of the bag is moved down and in towards the release. The arms 3, 4 will then rotate up into the closed position and retain the surplus part of the bag. o When the bag is to be removed from the container, the surplus part of the bag is pulled, thereby turning the release 2 and the arms 3, 4 into the open position to allow the bag to be removed. If the surplus part of the bag is small and therefore difficult to grip, it is also possible to loosen the bag by pulling the release. A new bag may then be secured as described above. 5 Figures 6-10 show a second embodiment of the holding device according to the invention. This holding device is intended for use on a type of rubbish container which is provided with ribs on one side thereof. In Figure 6 the device is shown in a non- assembled state. In this figure the reference numeral 100 denotes an outer wall of a 0 rubbish container having an upper edge 101 and two ribs 102 and 103 which are formed in one piece with the side wall 100 and the edge 101. The holding device includes an arm member 104 and a release 105. Each of the ribs 102 and 103, which initially are without holes, are provided with two 5 holes 106, 106' and 107, 107'. The purpose of these holes will be explained below. The arm member 104 consists of an elongate, laminar member, which at each end is provided with an upward facing arm 108, 108'. In the lower part of each of the arms 108, 108', which have a width, which in the illustrated embodiment is greater than the width of the upper part of the arms 108, 108', there is provided a slot 109, 109' and a pin 110, 110'. To improve the holding power of the arms 108, 108', a packing of a friction-increasing material, e.g., rubber, may be placed in a groove 114, 114' in each of the arms 108, 108'. The release 105 has a projecting part 111, 111 ' in approximately the centre of each short side. Two pins 112, 112' and 113, 113'are provided on each of these projecting parts 111, 111 '. The purpose of these pins 112, 112', 113, 113' will be explained below. When the device is assembled, each pin 110, 110' is pivotally arranged in respective holes 107, 107' in each of the ribs 102, 103. Each of the pins 113, 113' of the respective projecting parts 111, 111' is pivotally positioned in respective holes 106, 106' in the ribs 102, 103. At the same time, each of the pins 112, 112' is placed in respective slots 109, 109' in the laminar member. This is shown in more detail in Figures 8 and 10, each of which show a section through the device in the open and the closed position respectively. The arm member 104 is pivotally arranged relative to the ribs 102, 103 by means of the pins 1 10, 1 10' and respective holes 107, 107' in the ribs. The release 105 is pivotally arranged relative to the ribs 102, 103 with the aid of the pins 113, 113' and the holes 106, 106'. In addition, the pins 112, 112' engage with the slots 109, 109' in the arm member 104. When the release 105 is turned upwards as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the pins 112, 112' will engage with the edge of the slots 109, 109' so that the arm member 104 will turn downwards. The device is now in an open position and the surplus part of the plastic bag is subsequently placed over both arms and over the release 105, which are in the open position. The hand holding the surplus part of the bag is moved down and in towards the release plate 105. The arm members 104 will then rotate to the closed position as shown in Figures 7 and 8, so that the arms 108, 108' and the release means 105 lie in essentially the same plane and secure the plastic bag. When the bag is to be removed, the release means is turned upwards as shown in Figures 9 and 10, so that the arms 108. 108 * turn downwards and the bag is released. Alternatively, the surplus part of the bag which is secured between the arms and the release is pulled straight out so as to pull out the arm member and put the arm member and the release in an open position. This is done using the same simple movement as that employed to remove the bag. The holding device according to the present invention is preferably made of a plastic material. It should be noted that in the first embodiment the holes 13, 13' and 14, 14' may be replaced by corresponding pins whilst the pins 8, 8' and 9, 9' are replaced by holes. Similarly, in the second embodiment the pins 110, 110' and 113, 113' can be replaced by holes and the holes 106, 106', 107, 107' can be replaced by corresponding pins. The third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 11-15, has a main body 201 with a clip member 205 which is intended to be placed over the rim of a rubbish container. The clip member 205, like the clip member 5 in the first embodiment, has a certain elasticity for adaptation to different rims/wall thicknesses of the rubbish container. At the bottom, the main body 201 has an upper U-shaped part which forms a receiving opening 207, 207' at each end, and a lower U-shaped part which forms two receiving openings 208, 208' (Fig. 11). An arm member 209 consists of a substantially laminar body having two arms 203 and 204 extending out from a central portion 214. In the inner edge of each arm 203, 204, a groove 212 has been cut out. A flange or projecting edge 215 is formed on one side of the central portion. On each side of the flange 215 there is a shoulder which forms a respective receiving groove 216, 216'. In the central portion 214 there is a recess 217, at each end of which is formed a pin 213, 213'. The release 202 is laminar and has two pins 210, 210' and 211, 211'. When the three main parts of the holding device are assembled, the pins 21 1, 211 ' are inserted into the respective receiving openings 207, 207' in the main body 201. The other pins 211, 211' on the release lie in the receiving grooves 216, 216' in the arm member 209. When the release 202 is swung upwards as in Figure 14, the arm member 209 will be swung out as in Figure 14, with the arms 203, 204 oriented outwards. When the release 202 is swung down as in Figure 15, the arms 203, 204 will be swung up into clamping contact with the rubbish bag, as shown in Fig. 13.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. A device for securing a liner bag in a refuse container, characterised in that the device includes a pair of arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) pivotally connected to a release (2; 105; 202), which device can be moved from an open position wherein an opening is provided between the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) for the insertion of a surplus portion of a liner bag between the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204), and a closed position wherein the surplus portion of the liner bag is secured by the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204). 2. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the release (2, 105; 202) is so disposed that insertion of a surplus portion of a liner bag between the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) causes movement of the release (2; 105; 202) and thus movement of the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) into a closed position. 3. A device according to claims 1-2, characterised in that the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) are so disposed that in a closed position they hold the surplus portion of the liner bag and can be moved into an open position by pulling the surplus portion of the liner bag. 4. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) and the release (2; 105; 202) on opening and closing turn in separate directions. 5. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) and the release (2; 105; 202), when the device is in a closed position, lie in essentially the same plane, parallel to the outer wall of the container. 6. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) are so disposed that in the closed position they will either meet the main body (1; 201) or the release (105; 202) and secure the surplus portion of the liner bag. 7. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the direction of motion of the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) is approximately at right angles towards the side of the container and that the contact face which the arms (3, 4; 108, 108'; 203, 204) meet is at approximately the same angle, so that the surplus portion of the bag is wedged in place between the arms and the contact face and does not loosen when the bag is filled, and that the holding device can easily be opened by pulling the surplus portion of the bag at right angles out from the side of the container. 5 8. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device further comprises a main body (1), that the arms (3, 4) are approximately mirror-symmetrical with each other and have a general J-shape, that in the curved part of each arm (3, 4) there is provided an extension (15, 15') on the side o of the arms (3, 4) that face each other, in which extension (15, 15') there is provided a groove (16, 16') for pivotal interaction with a complementally designed pin (11, 11') on the release (2), that in the inner, curved portion of each arm (3, 4) holes (13, 13'; 14, 14') are provided for interaction with complementally designed pins (8, 8'; 9, 9') on each projecting arm (6, 6') on the main body (1), and that on each projecting arm (6, 6') 5 on the main body (1) there is provided a hole (7, 7') for interaction with a complementally designed pin (10, 10') on each end of the release (2). 9. A device according to one or more of claims 1 - 8, 0 characterised in that it includes a main body (201), that the arms (203, 204) are approximately mirror-symmetrical with each other, have a general curved shape and are connected to each other by a general, elongate laminar member (214), that in the laminar member (214) are arranged first pins (213, 213') for interaction with complementally designed holes (208, 208') on the main body (201), that at each arm 5 there is made a groove (216, 216') for pivotal interaction with complementally designed second pins (211, 211') on the release (202), and that the release (202) has pins (210, 210') for interaction with complementally designed holes (207, 207') on the main body (201). 10. A device according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the main body (1) further comprises a clip-like body (5) for securing the device to the rim of a waste container. 11. A device according to one or more of claims 1-3, wherein the device interacts with already existing ribs (102, 103) on the waste container, the ribs (102, 103) each being provided with two through-holes (106, 107; 106', 107'), characterised in that the arms (108, 108') are connected to one another by a generally elongate laminar member (104), that each arm (108, 108') is provided with a pin (110, 110') for interaction with one of the holes (107, 107') in each rib (102, 103), that the release (105) on each side which faces an arm (108, 108') is provided with two pins (111, 112; 111', 112') for interaction with respectively one of the holes (106, 106') in the ribs (102, 103) and a complementally designed slot (109, 109') in each of the arms (108, 108'). 12. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that along a part of each arm (3, 4; 108. 108'; 203, 204) there is provided an elongate groove (12, 12'; 114, 114'; 212) on the side of the arms which face each other for insertion of a packing of a friction-increasing material.

Inventors: HATLE TRULS, HATLE, TRULS
Applicants: HATLE TRULS, HATLE, TRULS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65B67, B65F1