Abstract:
The proposed invention is a clip for fastening a trash bag around the rim of a trash can and securing excess bag or drawstring closely and neatly against the can.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to devices used to secure trash bags tightly around the rim of trash cans. 
         [0002]    There are two common types of trash cans on the market. The first and most common trash can is a cylindrical or rectangular shaped can that may or may not contain a lid. The edge around the top of the container usually contains a lip. To fasten the trash bag around the lip the individual must tie a knot with the excess bag or drawstring otherwise the bag will slip back into the can when trash is placed in the can. The excess bag or drawstring tends to protrude outward from the knot and is unsightly. Also, if the excess bag or drawstring is tied too tightly around the lip, the bag may be difficult to remove, requiring the individual to untie the knot. Untying the knot can be difficult or even cause a rip the bag. 
         [0003]    The second type of trash can has an interior receptacle that keeps the trash bag hidden from view. The outer container is often made of stainless steel and has a lid. The inner receptacle or can fits snugly inside the outer container. The liner must be secured tightly before placing the inner can inside the outer container to avoid the trash bag from getting pushed off the can by the outer container. Most of these trash cans require specially sized and shaped liners made specifically for the inner can, however these liners still are not tight enough around the rim to prevent them from sliding off. 
         [0004]    One possible solution to securing the bag on the can is to use a large rubber band to secure the trash bag to the inner can. However, this technique does not work well because the excess liner is still too loose and tends to get caught on the outer container. This is especially true when using drawstring liners. To get the liner fastened properly it may take several adjustments of the rubber band. 
         [0005]    Many inventors have designed clips or fasteners to solve the problem of preventing the bag from slipping into the trash can, but they all contain drawbacks. 
         [0006]    Two such clips are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,304 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,808. These clips can be used fasten bags around the rim of trash cans, but leave excess bag protruding outward from the can. Not only is this unsightly, but this causes problems for trash cans where there is an inner can that is inserted into an outer container to hide the trash bag. The excess bag and the clip will get caught on the outer container when placing the inner can inside. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,088 has similar design to the proposed invention in that the clip is fastened to the side of the container. However, the bag catching portion of this clip protrudes outward and will undoubtedly prevent an inner can from fitting inside an outer container. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,686 describes a device to tightly secure liners around trash cans, but the device is not intended to be fastened to the can. Because it is not fastened to the can and because of the shape of the device, it will likely protrude outward enough to get snagged on the outer container. These particular devices may also be more expensive to manufacture due to their multiple parts or sophisticated shapes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is a clip for fastening a standard or drawstring trash bag liner securely and neatly into a trash can. The clip has a unitary, flat body with a central opening containing two slots extending horizontally from the opening to near the edges. The clip uses self-adhesive hook and loop fasteners, the most common brand being Velcro, to secure itself and the excess drawstring or liner to the can. 
         [0010]    A clip, according to the invention, will be constructed of durable, flexible material such as plastic, so that the clip can be secured flush to the side of a round or oval container as well as the flat side of a rectangular can. The clip may come in several shapes, colors and sizes to match the trash can or bag size, or to visually please the consumer. 
         [0011]    The clip contains an opening that is diamond shaped with two horizontal slots. The opening of the clip must be large enough to allow an individual to easily push a drawstring or excess liner through and pull it out the other side until tight. The diamond shape guides the excess drawstring or liner into the slots. 
         [0012]    When using the clip the first time, the individual must attach the hook side of the self-adhesive hook and loop fasteners to the side of the trash can. The clip will be sold with the hook and loop fasteners attached to each other and the loop side fastened to the clip with the adhesive. To attach the fasteners to the can the individual will simply insert a trash bag into the can, remove the protective paper from the hook side fasteners, pull the excess drawstring or bag through the clip, and finally secure the hook side fasteners to the can in the desired location using the clip. 
         [0013]    To use the clip with a drawstring trash bag, the individual will first insert the bag into the trash can and lightly tighten the drawstring. With the clip in hand, the individual will simply insert the excess drawstring through the front opening of the clip and pull the drawstring out the back side until tight, wedging the drawstring through the two slots. The front of the clip will now be facing the can. The next step is to flip the clip downward to match up the self-adhesive fasteners and secure the clip against the can. The remaining drawstring is pinned closely behind the clip against the receptacle. The pinning of the drawstring prevents it from getting caught on the outer container for a trash can with an inner can. Once the clip is fastened in place, the individual can easily pull the drawstring tighter as needed. In a similar fashion, the clip may also be used with a non-drawstring trash bag. The excess bag is pulled through the clip and the bag becomes tightened around the rim of the can. The excess bag remains closely pressed against the can. 
         [0014]    To remove the clip, the individual will separate the hook and loop fasteners and pull the excess drawstring or bag back through the clip. The drawstring can then be loosened and the bag is easily removed from the can. 
         [0015]    The proposed clip design provides many advantages over other previously designed clips, as follows:
   1. The clip has a very simple design made of a flat piece of material and four self-adhesive fasteners, is easy to manufacture and will be very inexpensive.   2. The clip is easy to use and will prevent the individual from having to tie a knot with excess bag or drawstring.   3. The clip will keep itself and the excess bag or drawstring fastened closely and neatly against the container, allowing an inner can to be inserted in an outer container.   4. The clip provides a simple solution for an individual to secure many brands, sizes and types of bags into their trash cans.   5. The flexibility of the clip will allow it to be used on round or oval trash cans as well as flat surfaced cans.   
 
         [0021]    While the invention is described with the preferred characteristics, slight variations in the design of the opening, slots, material, overall shape and type or number of self-adhesive fasteners may be made while preserving the intended function of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0022]    FIG. I is a front plan view of a clip (A), according to the invention, having a diamond shaped opening (C) with two slots (B) extending horizontally from the opening. 
           [0023]    FIG. II is a back plan view of a clip, according to the invention, showing the location of the loop side of a hook and loop fasteners (D) for securing the clip to the receptacle. 
           [0024]    FIG. III is a side view of the clip (E) illustrating the respective thickness of the clip and the loop side of the hook and loop fasteners (F). 
           [0025]    FIG. IV is a front view of a trash can (G) with the hook side of the hook and loop fasteners (H) secured to the container. 
           [0026]    FIG. V is a front view of the clip (L) secured to a trash can (M). The drawstring liner (K) is shown secured tightly to the can. The excess drawstring (J) is pulled through the clip slots and pressed neatly against the trash can. 
           [0027]    FIG. VI is a front view of the clip (P) secured to a trash can (Q). The standard liner (O) is shown secured tightly to the can. The excess liner (N) is shown secured through the clip and pressed neatly against the trash can. 
           [0028]    FIG. VII illustrates a side view of the can with the clip (R) and excess drawstring or liner (S) secured closely to the trash can. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring to FIG. I, a clip (A) for securing liners to a trash can is formed by a unitary, generally flat body. The body includes a diamond shaped opening (C) centered horizontally and vertically. The opening includes two horizontal slots (B) on opposite sides of the opening. The opening must be large enough and the material flexible enough to allow an adult human finger to easily press excess drawstring or plastic bag through and to pull it out the other side. 
         [0030]    FIG. II illustrates the back side of the clip that contains the loop side of self-adhesive hook and loop fasteners (D). The hook sides of the fasteners are sold with the clip and are secured to the container by the individual during first use of the clip. They are shown attached to the trash can in FIG. IV. 
         [0031]    FIG. III is a side view of the clip (E) illustrating the respective thickness of the clip and the loop side (F) of the self-adhesive hook and loop fastener. The respective thinness of the clip allows it and a trash bag to be secured neatly and closely to the can. This is visually pleasing and will also allow an inner can to be inserted into an outer container without the excess bag or drawstring getting caught on the side. 
         [0032]    FIG. IV illustrates the location on the trash can (G) of the hook sides (H) of the hook and loop fasteners. The height of the fasteners on the can may vary depending on the amount of excess liner needed around the trash can. However, the distance between the fasteners secured to the can must match the distance between the fasteners on the clip. The individual can easily secure the hook side of the fasteners in correct position by removing the protective paper from the adhesive on the hook side fasteners (while still attached to the loop side fasteners on the clip) and pressing the adhesive onto the can in the desired location using the clip. This can be done using while using a liner to assure that the proper height of the clip is chosen. 
         [0033]    To use the clip, the individual places the trash bag into the can and folds the bag over the top of the can. While the clip is held by the individual with the hook and loop fasteners facing away from the can, the individual will then push the excess bag or drawstring into the front of the clip and pulls it out the back until the bag is tight around the can. The clip is then flipped down and the hook and loop fasteners secured together. If needed, the individual can pull the excess drawstring or bag farther through the clip to tighten it more securely onto the can. 
         [0034]    FIG. V illustrates the clip (L) securing drawstring (I) liner (K) tightly to a trash can (M). The excess drawstring (J) is shown pulled through the clip and secured between the slots. The hook and loop fasteners are hidden from view and secure the clip to the trash can. The top part of the clip remains secured beneath the liner during rotation and fastening of the clip. This is beneficial because when the clip is used with a receptacle containing an inner can, the liner will help protect the clip from getting caught on the outer container when removing the inner can. The excess drawstring is held closely to the receptacle by the clip. 
         [0035]    FIG. VI illustrates the clip (P) securing a standard liner (O) tightly to a trash can (Q). The excess liner (N) is shown pulled through the clip and secured between the slots. The hook and loop fasteners are hidden from view and secure the clip to the receptacle. The excess liner is also held closely to the can by the clip. 
         [0036]    FIG. VII illustrates a side view of the can with the clip (R) and liner fastened to the can. The excess liner or drawstring (S) remains pressed closely to the container by the clip.