Abstract:
A bag holder is capable of holding a bag in an upright position with the use of expanding arms and a unique two stage hinge and clamp mechanism, which allows the expanding arm apparatus to enter and clamp a refuse bag quickly and efficiently. The operation utilizes a hook mechanism and a clamp, which allows the operator to use one hand to manipulate the expanding arm apparatus and the other hand to position the refuse bag. In addition, the bag holder functions as transport cart for refuse bags. Also, the unique cart structure, allows storing of two garden tools and multiple refuse bags. The bag holder is able to fold onto itself and be stored on a hook, by the unique handle. The bag expander and clamp mechanism is detachable which can be adapted to existing dolly&#39;s or hand truck.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/244,807 entitled “BAG HOLDER AND TRANSPORT CART” filed on Oct. 22, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a device and method for holding a bag, such as a refuse bag, in an open and upright position and transportation of such bag. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Bags, such as lawn waste or refuse bags, are commonly used to hold various types of waste or refuse, such as lawn waste, garbage, or other types of trash or recyclable materials. Such bags are commonly made of a paper or plastic material. One challenge that users of such bags face is keeping the bag open, specifically when the bag is first used. Further, users face challenges in both keeping such bags open and upright, as well as transporting bags that are filled. 
         [0004]    Various solutions have been proposed for use of refuse bags, however these solutions all have shortcomings. Some solutions use multiple movements required to secure the refuse bag with various types of clamps. Some products clamp the refuse bag with an inner and outer ring. This limits the size of refuse bags that can be used, and is both cumbersome to secure and takes much longer to attach a refuse bag. Other devises can&#39;t adapt to existing hand trucks, dollies or hand carts making transportation difficult. Some product use large rubber band to hold the bags, which is cumbersome. Other products hold from inside with spring like mechanism to hold open, however it does not have a latch mechanism to keep it closed for ease of insertion and do not adjust to different diameter bags. 
         [0005]    Various other proposed designs also suffer from deficiencies, such as failing to open the refuse bag fully, lacking self-standing capabilities, lacking portability, and failing to be compatible with a broad range of bags. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, an improved refuse bag holder and transportation device and method are needed in the industry. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A bag holder assembly is generally presented. The bag holder assembly includes a clamp plate and a hinge arm pivotally connected to the clamp plate. An expanding arm apparatus is connected to the rotatable hinge arm. The expanding arm apparatus is expandable and contractible between an expanded position, forming a larger opening, and a contracted position, forming a smaller opening. The expanding arm apparatus includes a first spring arm connected to a first end of the hinge arm and a second spring arm connected to a second end of the hinge arm. The spring arms are arranged to generally form and opening on the interior of the expanding arm apparatus and configured to apply a biasing force to bias the expanding arm apparatus toward expanded position and. A strap is positioned to interconnect the ends of the first and second spring arms and form a closed loop between the hinge arm, the first and second spring arms, and the strap. A latch is provided to connect the first spring arm directly to the second spring arm. The latch may comprise a hook arm and a striker arm. In contracted position, the latch may be connected to directly connect the first and second spring arms. In expanded position, the latch may be open to allow the strap to fully expand. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the bag holder assembly includes a pre-clamp connected to the clamp plate. The pivot clamp may be pivotable with respect to the clamp plate and may be biased toward the clamp plate. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the bag holder may be connected to a cart to form a bag holder cart assembly. The cart may comprise a frame to which the bag holder may be connected, such as clamped there to by clamp arms. The cart may include wheels to allow for portability. The cart may further include a base plate connected near the bottom of the frame. The base plate may be rotatable between a down and up position to allow for storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an elevated side view of an embodiment of a refuse bag holder. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric front view of an embodiment of a refuse bag holder. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates an isometric rear view of an embodiment of a refuse bag holder. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a zoomed in side view of an embodiment of a bag expander mechanism. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a zoomed in isometric view of an embodiment of a bag expander mechanism. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view showing the open and close conditions of an embodiment of a bag expander. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view showing an embodiment of a refuse bag in work position, ready to receive lawn clippings, leafs or disposable yard debris. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view and an isometric view showing an embodiment of a refuse bag device in the storage position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0020]    A refuse bag holder  10  is generally presented. The refuse bag holder  10  is configured to hold a refuse bag there in, in an open and upright position. As described in further detail below, the refuse bag holder  10  may be capable of easily transporting the refuse bag to a given location without spilling or damaging the bag or contents. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates the major components of the refuse bag holder  10 , as well as how a refuse bag  16  may be used and stored with the bag holder  10 . The refuse bag holder  10  may generally include a bag holder apparatus  12  and a cart portion  14 , connected or integrated together. The cart  12  may comprise a frame, such as a custom built frame, that is uniquely shaped and manufactured by connecting or welding components, such as steel components, together. The bag holding  12  apparatus is positioned at or near the top of the cart, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The bag holding apparatus  12  is configured to hold a refuse bag  16  therein, as described in further detail below. The cart  14  may include a handle  18  that is ergonomically designed and shaped to allow the bag holder apparatus  12  to pivot up during use. Specifically, the handle  18  may extend away from the bag holder apparatus  12  to allow room for the bag holder apparatus  12  to pivot upwards, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the bag holder apparatus  12  may be removable from the cart  14  or reconnectable to the cart  14 . 
         [0022]    The cart frame  14  may include an axle  20  positioned near the bottom of the frame. The axle  20  may extend across the span of the frame and house wheels  22 , located on either side of the cart frame. The wheels  22  allow easy transportation of the cart. 
         [0023]    A folding base  24  may be located at or near the bottom of the cart frame  14 . The base  24  may extend away from the cart frame  14  at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the frame  14 . The base  24  may be positioned near to the ground that is supporting the wheels  22 . The base  24  may include two side plates  26  positioned on either end of the base  24 . The side plates  26  may be arranged perpendicular to the base  24  and may help to prevent refuse bags  16  or other carried items from sliding side-to-slide when positioned on the base  24 . The base plate  24  may pivot with respect to the cart frame  14  between a stow position when up and a use position when down. The side plates  26  may include one or more lock-out pin holes to lock the base  24  in the use position and/or in the storage position. 
         [0024]    The cart may include a basket  28 , such as a wire mesh basket, to store unused and folded refuse bags. The basket  28  may be welded or otherwise connected to the cart frame  14 . 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the bag holder apparatus  12  may comprise various components to hold the bag in an open and upright position. To that end, the bag holder apparatus  12  may include a hinge arm  30 . The hinge arm  30  may be configured to serve multiple functions, including pivoting up with respect to the cart frame  14  to an up position, and pivoting down with respect to the cart frame  14  to a closed position. When in up position, a refuse bag  16  may be positioned under the bag holder apparatus  12 , then the apparatus  12  may be lowered back down into the bag by pivoting the hinge arm  30  back down. 
         [0026]    The holder apparatus  12  may further include a clamp plate  32  connected to an upper portion of the cart frame  14 . The clamp plate  32  may house a pre-clamp  34 , connected thereto. The pre-clamp  34  may comprise a spring loaded or biased clamping device configured to apply a force to the clamp plate  32  to hold a bag in position before it is locked in place. The pre-clamp  34  may be configured as one or more prongs, such as the two-prong design shown in  FIG. 2 , or as a plate or other geometric design capable of applying a pressure onto the bag. When the hinge arm  30  is pivoted, it may act to push or move the pre-clamp  34  to an up position. For example, a tab may extend from the pre-clamp  34  and be positioned to catch the hinge arm  30  as it pivots up. When the hinge arm  30  is moved to the up position, it may catch the tap and move the pre-clamp  34  to the up position as well. When the hinge arm  30  is returned to the down position, the pre-clamp  34  returns down to clamping position, as described in further detail below. 
         [0027]    An expanding arm apparatus  36  is connected to the hinge arm  30 . The expanding arm apparatus  36  may be made of an appropriate material, such as a spring-like material, that is able to collapse to fit inside of a bag and also able to expand to hold the bag open. The expanding arm apparatus  36  may be any appropriate shape, such as generally circular or ovular to fit inside a similarly shaped bag opening. The expanding arm apparatus  36  may comprise one or more arm portions, such as two arm portions, each made of the spring-like material. The arm portions may be pulled inward to give the expanding arm apparatus  36  a smaller perimeter or circumference, or may be released or expanded out to give the expanding arm apparatus  36  a greater perimeter or circumference. 
         [0028]    A striker handle  38  and hook handle  40  may be positioned on an outer side of the expanding arm apparatus  36 , near the end of the arms. The striker handle  38  and hook handle  40  may connect together to hold the expanding arm apparatus  36  in collapsed position. The striker handle  38  may include a looped portion and the striker handle  40  may include a hooked portion configured to connect to the looped portion. The spring arms of the expanding arm apparatus  36  may consistently apply a force pushing the apparatus  36  open towards an expanded position. However, when connected together, the striker handle  38  and hook handle  40  may hold the apparatus  36  in collapsed position. When the hook handle  40  is released from the striker handle  38 , the expanding arm apparatus  36  will spring open into expanded position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    A strap  42  may interconnect the outer ends of the spring arms of the expanding arm apparatus  36 . The strap  42  may be formed of a flexible material. The length of the strap  42  may determine how far the apparatus  36  is able to open. The length of the strap  42  may be adjustable using the strap slide  44  to adjust the size of the apparatus in expanded position, based on the bag opening size. The strap  42  may be configured to always fold inward when the expanding arm apparatus  36  is in collapsed position. 
         [0030]    In use, The striker handle  38  may be connected to the hook handle  40  to hold the expanding arm apparatus in collapsed position. A bag may be placed under the apparatus  12  and the collapsed expanding arm apparatus  36  may be pivoted and placed in the bag opening. The bag may be held in the pre-clamp. The hook handle  40  may then be released from the striker handle  38  to allow the expanding arm apparatus to expand and hold the bag opening open. The described design may provide a functional benefit over other devices by allowing simultaneous clamping of the bag by the pre-clamp  34  and hinge arm  30  and expanding of the expanding arm apparatus  36  to hold the bag in place. 
         [0031]    The cart frame  14  may comprise the main structure and may hold the main sub-assemblies and components described herein. The cart frame  14  may be made of welded construction using metal components. As described above, the base plate  24  is the bottom support for the bag in the vertical direction, mainly for transportation. The side plates  26  that retain the bag also act as the latch mechanism for securing the base plate  24  into the work and stored position. Pull pins  46  may extend through openings in the side plates  26  to fix the base plate  24  into the desired position with respect to the frame  14 . The pull pins  46  have an expanding ball to retain the pin and the side plates  26  in the work or stored position. 
         [0032]    The axle  20  may be held in position with end caps at each end. The wheels  22  may be connected to the axle  20  on the side of the frame opposite the base plate  24  and may allow the cart to roll smoothly. 
         [0033]    The frame  14  may include tubes  48  positioned near the bottom of the frame  14 . The tubes  48  may be designed specifically with openings  14  to allow storage of tools, such as garden tools, and the like. 
         [0034]    The clamp plate  32  positioned near the top of the frame  14  provides a base for both clamping the bag and attaching components thereto. One or more carriage bolts  50  extend through horizontal slots in the clamp plate  32  and connect to knobs  56  on the opposite side of the clamp plate  32 . The knobs  56  may tighten or loosen the clamp plate  32  connection and allow the clamp plate  32  to be moved or adjusted on the frame  14 . The clamp plate  32  engages a portion of the frame  14 , to attach to and swivel. The pre-clamp  34  connected to the clamp plate  32  may comprise a custom torsion spring with a tab that produces force onto the bag, in order to provide a pre-clamp preliminary force and allow a user to have one hand free during operation of the expanding arm apparatus  12 . A hinge rod  52  may provide a pivot axis for the hinge arm  30 . 
         [0035]    A rear view of the refuse bag holder is shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown, a clamp arm  54  attached to the clamp plate  32  is configured to clamp onto the frame  14 . The knobs  56  fasten to the carriage bolts  50 , as described above, and produce a clamping force from the clamp arm  54  onto the vertical tube of the cart frame  14 . The knobs  56  may be loosened to allow the entire assembly (expanding arm apparatus  36 , clamp plate  32 , clamp arm  54 ) to be adjusted up, down, or removed from the cart or may be tightened when in the appropriate position. This unique design allows the assembly to adapt to existing hand trucks or dollies for the operators that do not desire a another cart. 
         [0036]    The handle  18  is connected to a crossbar of the frame  14  and is a uniquely shaped to provides a means for an operator to maneuver the cart while also allowing the expanding arms apparatus  36  to rotate with respect to the frame  14 . For example, in an embodiment, the handle  18  may be positioned a distance away from the frame  14  to allow the expanding arm apparatus  36  to be rotated approximately 270 degrees, where the expanding arms  36  pass over and around the handle  18  as rotated back. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a zoomed in side view of the top of the bag holder, showing the portion of the set-up process for attaching the refuse bag to the expanding arm apparatus  36 . The pre-clamp  34  provides preliminary clamping against the clamp plate  32  to hold the bag in an upright position. This frees up one operator hand for bag manipulation. The expanding arm apparatus  36  can then pivot back down into position. As the expanding arm apparatus  36  pivots down into the refuse bag  58 , the bag is clamped between the expanding arm apparatus  36  and the clamp plate  32 . Clamp pads  60  on the expanding arm apparatus  36  firmly hold the refuse bag in working position and prevent slippage. The clamp pads  60  may be positioned between the clamp plate  32  and the pre-clamp  34  where the refuse bag may be clamped, such as on the outside of the clamp plate  32  and in the interior of the pre-clamp  34 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view of the bag holder prior to the expanding arm apparatus  36  entering the refuse bag. The expanding arm apparatus  36  may include an arm plate  62  to interconnect the spring arms at the ends opposite the strap  42  connection. The arm plate  62  may stiffen and stabilize the expanding arm apparatus  36  for ease of use and movement. At the stage shown in  FIG. 5 , the pre-clamp  34  may be holding the refuse bag  58  in an upright position. The hook handle  40  is shown engage to the striker handle  38  which hold the expanding arm apparatus  36  in a retracted or collapsed position to allow it to fit into the bag opening. This allows the operator to use one hand to maneuver the pivot action of the expanding arm apparatus  36  and use the other hand to manipulate the refuse bag  58  in position. 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the bag holder, which shows the expanding arm apparatus  36  both positions, namely both in collapsed position in open position. The two states of the expanding arm apparatus  36  are superimposed over the bag  58  opening to show the size relationship between the expanding arm apparatus  36  in each state and the bag opening in its normal state. The expanding arm apparatus  36  in collapsed position is small enough to be able to fit inside of the refuse bag. The expanding arm apparatus  36  in open position is much larger, such as larger than the bag opening, and able to hold the refuse bag  58  open by creating an outward force and friction between the expanding arms  36  and the refuse bag  58 . 
         [0040]    The strap is shown both as a strap  42  in collapsed and folded position, and a strap  42  in open and expanded position. The strap  42  is designed to fold inward when in collapsed position. This inward fold prevents any impediment of the insertion process to the refuse bag  58 . In the open position, the strap  42  retains the expanding arms apparatus  36  from opening too far. 
         [0041]    To move the expanding arm apparatus  36  from collapsed position into expanded position, the hook handle  40  may be released from the striker handle  38 . This allows the expanding arm apparatus  36  to spring open into expanded position. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates an elevation view of the bag holder, where the refuse bag  58  is held in the vertical, upright position and expanded by the bag opening apparatus  36 , ready for deposit with lawn clipping, leafs or disposable yard debris. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  provides two views of the bag holder in storage position. The expanding arm apparatus  36  is pivotable with respect the frame, as described above, and may fold over and to the back side of the cart, where it lies vertical and parallel to the cart. Gravity holds the expanding arm apparatus  36  in this position. The base plate  24  folds vertically and is held in position by the pins  46 , on both sides. The entire assembly then can be can stored or can be hung by the handle  18  on a wall, with a hook. 
         [0044]    Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.