Abstract:
A trash bag retainer for maintaining a trash bag within a receptacle having a wall which defines a top rim and inner and outer surfaces. The retainer comprises of an elongate band which defines an axis. Attached to the band is at least one engagement member which extends outwardly from the axis of the band. The engagement member defines at least one engagement surface, and is sized relative to the band such that a portion of the trash bag may be captured between the engagement surface and the outer surface of the wall when the band is extended about the receptacle, with a gap being defined between at least a portion of the band and the outer surface of the wall.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   (Not Applicable) 
   STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
   (Not Applicable) 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to trash bag retainers, which prevent a trash bag from falling into a refuse container, and more particularly to a unique trash bag retainer capable of being positioned around the outer wall surface of the refuse container, wherein the trash bag retainer comprises at least one engagement member which inhibits the trash bag retainer from rolling down the refuse container, and which facilitates clearance between portions or segments of the trash bag retainer and the outer wall surface of the refuse container. The present invention also can be used on a wider variety of refuse container sizes and shapes, and it is also more aesthetically pleasing than trash bag retainers of the prior art. 
   Refuse containers are widely used to hold discarded trash. Typically, a trash or liner bag is placed in the refuse container, and the open, top portion of the trash bag is folded out and over the top lip or rim of the refuse container. Users place the trash bag inside the refuse container to inhibit stains from forming on the refuse container. Also, the trash bag provides a sanitary and convenient means for emptying the refuse container of trash. 
   Most trash bags are made of thin, light, and flexible material, such as plastic. As a result, the weight of the refuse itself often causes the trash bag to partially or completely fall inside the refuse container. Disadvantageously, a path opens for refuse to fall between the trash bag and the inner wall surface of the refuse container. Furthermore, since the inner wall surface of the refuse container is at least partially exposed, staining of the wall becomes possible. Also, when replacing a full trash bag which has fallen into the refuse container, users ordinarily have to reach into the refuse container to grab the trash bag, and thus risk contracting germs prevalent on the trash. 
   In order to inhibit the trash bag from falling into the refuse container, various trash bag retainers have been developed in the prior art. A typical trash bag retainer comprises an elastic band. The trash bag retainer is stretched over the outer wall surface of the refuse container, with the band being positioned over the lip of the refuse container, and about the trash bag. As such, the elasticity of the retainer holds the trash bag against the outer wall surface of the refuse container and inhibits the bag&#39;s ability to fall into the refuse container. 
   Current trash bag retainers possess inherent deficiencies which detract from their overall utility. For instance, refuse containers are often tapered, and since trash bag retainers typically have a circular cross sectional configuration, the trash bag retainer has a tendency to roll down the outer wall surface of the refuse container. Such roll-down also occurs even when the wall of the refuse container is not tapered. Unfortunately, the trash bag can fall into the refuse container once the trash bag retainer rolls down off of the trash bag. 
   Positioning conventional trash bag retainers on refuse containers can also be problematic. Many trash bag retainers are continuous bands, and positioning these types of retainers simply involves stretching the retainer around the outer wall surface of the refuse container. Although this process is simple, these continuous retainers often have relatively limited ranges of elasticity, and as a result, the retainer can fit over only a limited range of refuse container sizes. Other trash bag retainers are discontinuous lengths of elastic material, and are tied around the outer wall surface of the refuse container. Although these types of retainers initially might be used with a wider variety of container sizes, the assembly of these types of retainers is more time consuming. For instance, some non-continuous retainers are cut to length and then tied around the outer wall surface of the refuse container. Other non-continuous retainers are cut to length, with one end of the non-continuous retainer then being attached to the other end with a clip or other device. Again, this assembly process can be time consuming. 
   Moreover, conventional trash bag retainers often comprise a black, opaque rubber. This coloring causes the trash bag retainer to be aesthetically unpleasant, especially for users who leave the refuse container in open view. 
   Finally, when positioned about the wall of the refuse container, the elasticity of the trash bag retainer often results in the creation of a continuous seal between the trash bag and the outer wall surface of the refuse container. As such, air is often trapped between the inner wall surface of the refuse container and the trash bag. Disadvantageously, this trapped air takes up volume and thus limits the capacity of the trash bag. 
   Thus, it is appreciated that there is a need for a trash bag retainer that is a continuous band comprising an aesthetically pleasing material, wherein the retainer design has little tendency to roll down the wall of the refuse container or seal air between the inner wall surface of the refuse container and the trash bag. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a trash bag retainer for maintaining a trash bag within a receptacle having a wall which defines a top rim and inner and outer surfaces. The retainer comprises an elongate band which defines an axis and is a continuous, unitary structure. Integrally connected to the band are a plurality of identically configured engagement members. The engagement members each preferably have a triangular configuration defining three engagement surfaces which are each laterally offset (i.e., disposed outwardly of) the axis of the band. The engagement members are preferably positioned in equidistantly spaced intervals along the band, and are sized relative thereto such that portions of the trash bag may be captured between one engagement surface of each of the engagement members and the outer surface of the wall when the band is extended about the receptacle. Additionally, due to the extension of the engagement members outwardly relative to the axis of the band, gaps are defined between those portions of the band extending between any adjacent pair of the engagement members and the outer surface of the wall. 
   The band may optionally be formed to include pairs of reinforcement portions which are disposed at respective ones of the opposed sides of each of the engagement members. Each of the engagement portions is of a mean diameter which exceeds the diameter of the remainder of the band. Both the band and the integral engagement members are preferably fabricated from resilient material possessing a high level of elasticity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a trash bag retainer of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the trash bag retainer of  FIG. 1  as fit around an exemplary refuse container; 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of the band and one reinforced engagement member of one embodiment of the trash bag retainer; and 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a molded, pre-cut trash bag retainer used to manufacture the trash bag retainer shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIG. 1  illustrates a trash bag retainer  100 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the trash bag retainer  100  is a continuous band comprising an aesthetically pleasing material, wherein the retainer design has little tendency to roll down the outer wall surface of the refuse container or trap air between the inner wall surface of the refuse container and the trash bag. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the trash bag retainer  100  comprises an elongate band  102 . The band  102  has a small, solid, circular cross section. In one embodiment, the diameter of the band  102  is about 0.13 inches. The band  102  defines an axis  110  which runs along the band  102  through the center of its circular cross section. Also, the band  102  is continuous (i.e., the band  102  has no beginning or end point). The band  102  is fabricated from an elastic material, and in one embodiment, comprises a material able to elongate up to one hundred percent (100%) of its length. To this end, the band  102  may be fabricated from Versaflex™, manufactured by GLS Corporation. 
   As will be discussed in greater detail below, when positioning the trash bag retainer  100  about a refuse container, the band  102  is stretched around the outer wall surface of the refuse container, and the elasticity of the band  102  causes the trash bag retainer  100  to hold a trash bag in place. Advantageously, because of the continuous design of the band  102 , no cutting or assembling of the trash bag retainer  100  is necessary, making positioning of the trash bag retainer  100  very quick and simple. Additionally, because of the extreme elasticity of the band  102 , the trash bag retainer  100  can be used with a wide variety of refuse container sizes and shapes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the trash bag retainer  100  also comprises a plurality of engagement members  104 . The engagement members  104  are integrally attached to the band  102  in one embodiment, and are evenly or equidistantly spaced along the axis  110  of the band  102 . Each engagement member  104  extends laterally outward from the axis  110  of the band  102 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , each engagement member&#39;s  104  cross section resembles an equilateral triangle, so as to define three sides  120 , with the center point of each equilateral triangle being centered on the axis  110  of the band  102 . In one particular embodiment, each of the three sides  120  of the typical engagement member  104  has a length of about 0.5 inches. 
   As will be described in greater detail below, when the trash bag retainer  100  is stretched around a refuse container, one side  120  of each engagement member  104  engages or contacts the trash bag. The flatness of the sides  120  of each of the engagement members  104  inhibits the trash bag retainer  100  from rolling down the outer wall surface of the refuse container. Furthermore, since the sides  120  of the engagement members  104  are disposed outwardly from the axis  110  of the band  102 , clearance is created between the outer wall surface of the refuse container and those segments or sections of the band  102  extending between the engagement members  104 . This clearance inhibits air from being sealed in between the inner wall surface of the refuse container and the trash bag, to thereby maintain the full capacity of the refuse container. These aspects of the trash bag retainer  100  will be explored in greater detail below. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a refuse container  152  is illustrated. As shown, the refuse container  152  comprises a wall  158 , which forms a tapered, hollow cylinder, closed at a bottom end  156  and open at a top end  154 . The wall  158  of the refuse container  152  also defines an outer surface  150  and an inner surface  154 . The wall  158  also defines an inner cavity  162  into which refuse  199  can be deposited. 
   A trash bag  180  is positioned within the inner cavity  162  of the refuse container  152  such that the bag  180  rests substantially on the inner surface  160  of the wall  158  and the open top end  154  of the refuse container  152  remains open. The top portion of the trash bag  180  is folded over the top end  154  of the refuse container  152  and extended along an upper portion of the outer surface  150  of the wall  158 . 
   As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the trash bag retainer  100  is stretched around the outer surface  150  of the wall  158 , adjacent to the top end  154  of the refuse container  152 . As such, the trash bag  180  is captured between the trash bag retainer  100  and the outer surface  150  of the wall  158 . Specifically, when the trash bag retainer  100  is stretched around the outer surface  150 , the trash bag  180  is captured between one side  120  of each engagement member  104  and the outer surface  150  of the wall  158 . The elasticity of the band  102  rigidly holds the engagement members  104  up against the refuse container  152 , thereby anchoring the trash bag  180  against the refuse container  152  at each of the engagement member  104  locations. As a result, the trash bag  180  is unlikely to fall inside the refuse container  162 . 
   When the engagement members  104  abut the refuse container  152 , one flat side  120  of each engagement member  104  extends vertically along the outer surface  150 . As such, the trash bag retainer  100  is inhibited from rolling down the wall  158  of the refuse container  152 . Therefore, the trash bag retainer  100  is more likely to stay in position and retain the trash bag  180 , thereby advantageously keeping the trash bag  180  from falling into the inner cavity  162  of the refuse container  152 . 
   As stated previously, each engagement member  104  extends outward from the axis  110  of the band  102 . As a result, the axis  110  of the band  102  is separated from the outer surface  150  by a first distance  170 . The diameter of the band  102  is generally small enough to create clearance between the outer surface  150  of the refuse container  152  and those segments of the band  102  extending between the engagement members  104 . As such, the clearance provided by the first distance  170  creates a pathway for air that may otherwise be trapped between the inner surface  154  of the wall  158  and the trash bag  180 . Thus, when refuse  199  starts to accumulate inside the inner cavity  162  of the refuse container  152 , the refuse  199  is able to push air out from between the inner surface  154  and the trash bag  180 . As such, the capacity of the inner cavity  162  of the refuse container  152  is unlikely to be limited by air pockets located underneath the trash bag  180 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a detail view of a portion of the band  102  is shown along with a single engagement member  104 . In this embodiment, the engagement member  104  is integrally connected to the band  102 , and the junction between the engagement member  104  and the band  102  comprises opposing reinforcement portions  175   a ,  175   b . In the embodiment shown, the band  102  has a constant diameter over much of its length, but the diameter of the band  102  increases consistently at locations immediately adjacent to the engagement member  104  in order to form the reinforcement portions  175   a ,  175   b . The mean radius of each reinforcement portion  175   a ,  175   b  is about 0.46 inches. The reinforcement portions  175   a ,  175   b  provide added material strength to the trash bag retainer  100  in an area that might otherwise act as a failure point. Advantageously, the reinforcement portions  175   a ,  175   b  allow the trash bag retainer  100  to elongate to greater lengths without breaking, thereby allowing the trash bag retainer  100  to advantageously stretch around a wider variety of refuse containers  152 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  is illustrated. As will be described in greater detail below, the pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  represents the trash bag retainer  100  before its manufacturing process has been completed. 
   In this embodiment, the pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  comprises the trash bag retainer  100  as described above, but bent so as to define four inward radii  132   a ,  132   b ,  132   c ,  132   d . Each inward radii  132   a – 132   d  is a bend in the trash bag retainer  100  which has a constant radius such that each inward radii  132   a – 132   d  comprises an apex  133   a ,  133   b ,  133   c ,  133   d  closer to the center point  130  than any other point on the pre-cut trash bag retainer  190 . The inward radii  132   a – 132   d  are circumferentially spaced evenly around the center point  130 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  also comprises a central structure  135 . The central structure  135  comprises a central post  192 , a cylinder positioned at the center point  130 . The central structure  135  also comprises plurality of legs  194   a ,  194   b ,  194   c ,  194   d , wherein each leg  194   a – 194   d  is a cylinder extending out from the central post  192  toward a respective one of the apexes  133   a – 133   d  of the inward radii  132   a – 132   d . The legs  194   a – 194   d  are long enough to join the apexes  133   a – 133   d  to the central post  192 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the central structure  135  provides a flow path for an injection molding process. 
   The pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  is preferably formed by an injection molding process widely known in the art. Specifically, the injection molding process used to form the pre-cut trash bag retainer  190  involves preforming a mold with a cavity, wherein the walls of the cavity are formed in the shape of the band  102 , the engagement members  104  and the central structure  135 . Then, molten material is injected into such cavity. In a preferred embodiment, the injection of molten material occurs via the central structure  135 . Once the molten material cools and hardens, ejection fins are used to facilitate the ejection of the trash bag retainer  190  from within the mold. Finally, the central structure  135  is cut from the trash bag retainer  100  at each apex  133   a – 133   d  to complete the manufacture of the trash bag retainer  100 . Advantageously, this injection molding process is a cost-effective method of forming the trash bag retainer  100  in which the engagement members  104  are integrally joined to the band  102 . The reinforcement portions  175   a ,  175   b  can be formed by simply altering the shape of the cavity in the mold. 
   In one particular embodiment, Versaflex™ material, manufactured by GLS Corporation, is used during the injection molding process in order to form the trash bag retainer  100 . As indicated above, hardened Versaflex™ possesses desirable elastic qualities that allow the trash bag retainer  100  to elongate up to one hundred percent (100%) of its free length. Advantageously, this high degree of elasticity allows the trash bag retainer  100  to stretch around a wider variety of refuse container  152  sizes and shapes. Furthermore, Versaflex™ is normally transparent and can optionally be colored by adding dyes to the molten Versaflex™. As a result, the trash bag retainer  100  is likely to be more aesthetically pleasing to the user than the black trash bag retainers of the prior art. 
   Though not shown, it is contemplated that a second pre-cut trash bag retainer can be molded concurrently with the trash bag retainer  190  shown in  FIG. 4 . In this regard, the mold could be formed in a manner wherein such second trash bag retainer extends inwardly along, but in space relation to, the trash bag retainer  190 . The second trash bag retainer would be identically configured to, but slightly smaller than, the trash bag retainer  190 , with four of the engagement members of the second trash bag retainer being integrally connected to respective ones of the legs  194   a – 195   b . Thus, a single mold could be used to concurrently form two trash bag retainers, i.e., the trash bag retainer  190  and the slightly smaller second trash bag retainer arranged in the same pattern as but positioned inwardly of the trash bag retainer  190 . Following the same principal, the mold could optionally be formed to concurrently fabricate a third pre-cut trash bag retainer which is disposed outwardly of the trash bag retainer  190  in spaced relation thereto, yet extending in the same pattern and being integrally connected to the legs  194   a – 194   b . Such outermost, third trash bag retainer, if included, would be slightly larger than the trash bag retainer  190 . It will be recognized that virtually any number of trash bag retainers  190  could be concurrently formed through the use of a single mold, with trash bag retainers of progressively smaller size being nested within a larger trash bag retainer. 
   This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. For instance, the trash bag retainer  100  could comprise a single engagement member  104  and a band  102  without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the trash bag retainer  100  could comprise a non-continuous band  102  and not depart from the spirit of the invention. Still further, the trash bag retainer  100  could comprise engagement members  104  with a variety of non-triangular shapes without departing from the spirit of the invention. Numerous other variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.