Abstract:
A trash bag holder is described for suspending a plastic trash bag, especially drawstring-type trash bags, and holding open the top for filling, without utilizing a rigid container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NOT APPLICABLE. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to devices for holding plastic trash bags. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following discussion is provided solely to assist the understanding of the reader, and does not constitute an admission that any of the information discussed or references cited constitute prior art to the present invention. 
         [0004]    A variety of different trash bag holders have been described that are designed to hold plastic trash bags for filling. 
         [0005]    For example, Martinez, U.S. Design Patent D269,214 shows an invertible trash bag holder that has a wire frame with three outwardly directed curved ribs. 
         [0006]    Prader, U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,111 describes a wire holder for open mouth plastic bags having integral loop handles that have tabs integrally formed from the top wire pieces and extending downwardly to suspend the bags in an open position. “Base, longitudinal, vertical and top wire pieces form a substantially rectangular wire frame that can be collapsed into a flat condition prior to use and which can be easily assembled into a holder having good stability during use.” 
         [0007]    Kitchens, U.S. Design Patent D510,166 shows a trash bag holder that includes hooks on triangular frame pieces that are joined with horizontal connector rods. 
         [0008]    Ferreira et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,985 describes a “trash bag holder which moves from a generally planar collapsed storage position automatically to an open use position in which it can be used to support a flexible wall container such as a plastic trash bag.” 
         [0009]    Kent, U.S. Design Patent D418,653 shows a wire frame trash bag holder that has corner loops that hold a bag and provides a rectangular opening. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention concerns advantageous bag holders (e.g., trash bag holders) that can hold selected bags (e.g., plastic, paper, or other material) in an open configuration while requiring minimal floor space and bulk. Such holders are, for example, useful in a small office and kitchen environments to reduce the floor space requirements and otherwise reduce the number of bulky objects required around a worker&#39;s desk or other workspace. In some cases, the present trash bag holders are particularly adapted for use with “drawstring” trash bags. 
         [0011]    Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a trash bag holder that includes an opening frame that has two hooks or pegs at a height and spacing corresponding to the upper band of a selected drawstring plastic trash bag, and, in some cases, an opening extender that maintains a separation at the opening of the trash bag when the exposed drawstring is hooked on the hooks. The placement of the hooks is selected to correspond to the relative positions of the exposed drawstring portion on opposite sides of the bag opening rim. In order to position the hooks appropriately to hook the exposed portions of the drawstring, the frame can advantageously describe an arc of at least 165 degrees, more often about 180 degrees. In many cases, the hooks will be in the same horizontal plane, but may be positioned at an incline such that the opening of an attached bag will be inclined. 
         [0012]    In particular embodiments, the opening frame or the opening of a trash bag mounted on the opening frame is shaped as a circular curve, an ovoid curve, a rectangle, or a square. In certain embodiments, the opening frame is constructed principally or wholly of metal, plastic, wood, a wood with resin combination, or a combination of such components, e.g., metal and plastic, wood and plastic, wood and metal, wood with resin and metal, wood with resin and plastic. 
         [0013]    An opening extender may operate to maintain an opening generally perpendicular to the line between the drawstring hooks. An opening extender can be fixed or moveable, e.g., hinged. For example, the extender can be a fixed or hinged semi-circular, semi-ovoid, two-sided, or three-sided section which will retain the lip of the trash bag opening, e.g., by tension or in a clip. An opening extender may hold the opening generally horizontally, or may hold one edge lower so that the opening is inclined. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments, the trash bag holder also includes a vertical support and a horizontal base, wherein said vertical support is attached to both the opening frame and the base; the attachment between the opening frame and the vertical support is fixed or hinged; the attachment between the opening frame and the based is fixed or hinged; the attachments of the vertical support with the opening frame and the base are fixed or hinged; the opening extender comprises at least two spring clips that attach to the top of the drawstring trash bag; the opening frame is constructed of metal; the opening frame is constructed of plastic; the opening frame is constructed of wood or wood products; the opening frame is constructed of a combination of materials, such as metal and plastic, metal and wood, metal and wood products, plastic and wood, and plastic and wood products; the hooks are configured to hold the drawstring of a drawstring closure trash bag; the opening extender includes a hinged wire frame extending outwardly from said frame when in a lowered position. 
         [0015]    In certain embodiments, the holder includes a clamp that fastens to a vertical or horizontal furniture member edge; the clamp is a spring clamp; the clamp is a screw clamp; the holder includes at least one suction cup that adheres to a smooth vertical surface. 
         [0016]    In another related aspect, the invention concerns a trash bag holder that includes at least two bag attachment points (bag edge retainers) at a height and spacing corresponding to the upper edge of a selected plastic trash bag, optionally an opening extender that maintains a separation at the opening of the trash bag when the trash bag is attached to the attachment points, and a mount which attaches the holder to an article of office furniture at an elevated position. In many cases, the holder includes an opening frame to which the bag retainers are attached or form a part. 
         [0017]    In particular embodiments, the mount includes a clamp, e.g., a spring clamp or a screw clamp; the mount includes at least one suction cup; the opening frame is constructed as described for the above aspects or otherwise described herein. In certain embodiments, the holder includes a swivel or pivot point in a vertical plane (for normal mounting) or in two generally perpendicular vertical planes. Such swivels or pivot points allow the holder to be adjusted for differing orientations of mounting surfaces or edges. 
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, the opening frame and mount(s) are configured such that the trash bag opening is generally straight or flat against a mounting surface or other mounting point. In particular embodiments this is provided by using two hooks, pegs, clips, or other bag edge retainers that define a straight line between them, spaced such that an installed bag essentially follows that straight line between the bag retainers on one side but has extra edge length or slack on the other side such that an opening for insertion of trash or other materials is provided. The opening can be created merely by the bag gaping open or can be created and maintained using an opening frame and/or opening extender. The straight line and the separation of the retainers can be established by independent placement of separate mounts (e.g., separate suction or vacuum cups) with attached bag retainers, or by having a spacing bar as part of the opening frame, i.e., a generally straight opening frame member that defines the straight portion of the opening. When a spacing bar is used, it may essentially constitue the opening frame, or may have additional opening frame structure attached, e.g., arms or curved members that assist in holding an installed bag open. 
         [0019]    In another related aspect, the invention concerns a method for utilizing a trash bag by hooking exposed drawstring sections on a pair of hooks of a trash bag holder as described for the first aspect above, or otherwise described herein. 
         [0020]    Yet another aspect concerns a method for utilizing a selected bag (e.g., a trash bag) by hooking or clipping a trash bag on a trash bag holder as described for any of the bag holder embodiments described herein, e.g., a holder than includes a clamp-type or suction cup-type mount. 
         [0021]    As used herein, a description of a bag holder or bag holder component using any of the terms “hook”, “peg”, and “clips” shall include description of like holders or components using each of the other terms unless such inclusion is inconsistent or incompatible with the holder being described. 
         [0022]    Additional embodiments will be apparent from the Detailed Description and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a trash bag holder for drawstring trash bags that includes a base and vertical support. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a trash bag holder that uses clips to hold trash bags and includes a base and vertical support. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a trash bag holder that uses a clamp or suction cup to retain the holder in a desired position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a trash bag holder that includes two suction cup mounts and an opening extender that creates a generally rectangular opening. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a trash bag holder as in  FIG. 4 , except that the opening extender forms an angle of about  30  degrees below the horizontal. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The present bag holders (e.g., trash bag holders) are advantageous for certain applications, including in small offices where it is desirable to minimize the floor space dedicated to items such as trash cans and other containers. In many cases, the holders are configured to fit bags that have a 3-40 gallon capacity, e.g., 3-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, or 30-40 gallon capacity. 
         [0029]    These trash bag holders can be configured in a number of different ways. 
       Opening Frame 
       [0030]    In order to hold a bag such as a trash bag in a generally vertical orientation and to maintain an opening to insert objects of trash or other material, the holders can include an opening frame. Such an opening frame defines at least part of an opening and includes hooks, pegs, or clips for holding the upper edge of a trash bag. In many embodiments, the frame will be a curved shape, e.g., a portion of a circle or ovoid shape, but may also have other shapes, e.g. one side of an opening, or 2, 3, or 4 sides of a square or rectangle, or two sides of a triangle. 
         [0031]    The opening frame may be constructed of any of a variety of materials that will provide relatively stiff members, e.g., metal (e.g., stiff wire or stamped sheet metal), plastic (e.g., thermoset or thermoplastic) which may be fiber reinforced or may be joined to metal and/or wood or wood product sections, wood, and wood products (e.g., plywood, wood fiber reinforced resin, and the like), and combinations of such materials. 
         [0032]    The clips are located and designed to hold the opening edge of a selected trash bag (or other type of bag). In advantageous embodiments, two clips are located at opposite sides relative to a normally installed trash bag and are configured to hook or clip the exposed portions of a drawstring trash bag. Advantageously, the clips are configured to hold either drawstring bags or trash bags without such drawstrings. For example, such clips can include spring clips or pinch clips. The clips may be at the same or different heights when the holder is placed for normal use. However, the present holders can also be configured for holding bags that do not have such drawstrings. 
         [0033]    The clips may be located on either the inside or outside of the opening frame, and may have the clip opening directed in any desired direction, e.g., up or down. 
         [0034]    In addition to the basic frame, in the case of opening frames that describe only about ½ or less of an arc or one side of an opening, the opening can advantageously be maintained using an opening extender. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, as described below, bag holders can be provided that do not have an opening frame, but rather include a mount (e.g., 1, 2, or 3 mounts) and an opening extender, and can also include a spacer bar that fixes the distance between multiple mounts. 
       Support 
       [0036]    In some cases, the opening frame is attached to a floor support or stand. Such stand includes a vertical support or vertical support member and a base. The vertical support is typically a relatively stiff material, e.g., as described for the opening frame above. The support will often be essentially vertically oriented, but may be angled or curved or may include more than one member. 
       Mounts 
       [0037]    Certain holders will include a mount. For holders that include a vertical support, such a mount can stabilize the holder against being tipped over. Alternatively, such a mount is useful in the absence of a stand or support to retain the holder at an elevated position. In most cases (but not necessarily), the elevated position will be such that when the bag is attached to the opening frame, the bottom of the bag will rest on the floor surface. The mount is adapted for attaching to an edge of a piece of office furniture, another exposed edge, or to a smooth surface. 
         [0038]    Examples of exposed edges include, for example, an edge of a desk or table top; the front edge of a leg well panel of a desk; a desk leg; and a table leg. Mounts for attaching to such edges can suitably include clamps. Appropriate clamps should be sufficiently strong to hold the opening frame, the trash bag, reasonable trash contents, and any additional components of the holder. 
         [0039]    Such a clamp can utilize a spring clamp that opens up sufficiently to allow the mouth of the clamp to fit over usual legs or edges available on office furniture, e.g., about 1-4 inches, more often about 1-2 or 1-3 inches. Another type of clamp that can be used is a screw clamp, e.g., with a size range as indicated for a spring clamp. The connection between the clamp portion and the remainder of the holder can be a swivel (or pair of swivels) or ball joint, allowing the holder to be mounted to any orientation of attachment point. For greater stability, two clamp points can be used instead of just one. 
         [0040]    Another type of mount that can advantageously be used is a mount that uses at least one suction cup (placed by pushing the cup against the wall) or vacuum cup (placed by creating a vacuum between the cup and a mounting surface) (e.g., 1, 2, or 3) for attachment to a surface. Such suction cups or vacuum cups are readily available and used for a variety of applications. Desirably, the suction cup or vacuum cup has sufficient holding power to retain a trash bag holder and filled trash bag consistently. Such mounts can be adhered to any smooth surface, e.g., the side of a desk, file cabinet, wall, or other such surface. 
         [0041]    The present bag holders can be configured and/or installed such that the opening of an installed bag is generally horizontal, or may be angled. For. example, in a holder that includes a vertical support, an opening frame and/or an opening extender can be at an angle different from the horizontal (e.g., different from perpendicular to a vertically oriented vertical support), e.g., 5-45, 10-45, 15-30 degrees below the horizontal. 
         [0042]    An exemplary trash bag holder that includes a vertical support and a base is shown in  FIG. 1 . The holder  100  includes an opening frame  110  that is shaped generally as a semicircular or semi-ovoid structure, or other such curved shape. At the ends of this structure are clips  112  that will hook the exposed drawstring portions of a drawstring-type trash bag or the handle of a bag with handles. Preferably the clips are also designed or supplemented in a manner that will allow use of non-drawstring trash bags. For example, the clips may have a tapering spacing between two portions allowing either the drawstring or the top edge of a trash bag to be compressively slid between them (a pinch clip), or for a drawstring to be hooked under the clip. The opening frame is connected in its middle with connection  116  to a vertical support member or section  120  that holds the frame in an elevated position. Usually the support member will itself be vertically oriented, but can be angled or curved so long as suitable balance is maintained. At its lower end, the support member is attached via connection  132  to a base that provides support and stability. Such base can be any of various shapes, including circular, square, three legged, two legged, and the like. In use, a suitably-sized trash bag is suspended from the opening frame hooks. In order to maintain an opening, it may be useful to include at least one additional fastener for retaining a trash bag opening edge. For example, a spring clip(s)  114  may be located along the opening frame (e.g., approximately at the connection between the opening frame and the support member. Optionally an extender  118  is provided which will hold the opposite side of the trash bag opening. The extender can include a clip  114  or other structure that holds the bag edge. For example, the extender can be a shape that mirrors the shape of the opening frame. The extender can be continuous with the opening frame, or can be an attached separate piece, e.g., attached with a snap coupling or hinged. The connection between the support member and the base can also be continuous (e.g., rigid) or join separate pieces (e.g., snap coupling or hinged). Snap coupling or a hinged connection allows the holder to be packed compactly and then assembled into a functional unit when needed. For example, when hinged connections are used, the opening frame and the base may rotate behind the support member, providing a flat configuration. Such flat configuration may also be achieved with separate components that can be snapped or otherwise linked together by the user to provide a holder sufficiently strong to hold the trash bag. 
         [0043]    Another exemplary trash bag holder is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the holder  200  includes an opening frame  210  that describes at least ½ of a circle, ovoid, rectangle, or other closed shape e.g.,  180 - 195 ,  195 - 210 ,  210 - 225 ,  225 - 240 ,  240 - 255 ,  255 - 270 , or  270 - 360  around such shape. Along the opening frame are at least 3 trash bag retainers  212 , e.g., spring clips or pinch clips. The opening holder is attached to a support member  220  which is attached to a base  230  generally as described for the holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]    Another exemplary trash bag holder is described in  FIG. 3  which does not include a vertical support and base, but instead uses a clamp for locating and retaining the holder. As shown, the holder  300  includes an opening frame  310  having bag retainers  312 . The opening frame can be as described for the holders of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 . The bag retainers can, for example, be spring clips or pinch clips. The opening frame is rotatably connected at connection  326  with a screw clamp  320  in which screw  322  will clamp on a mounting edge in clamp throat  324 . The rotatable connection  326  can be fixed in a desired position, erg., with a set screw or cam clamp. 
         [0045]    Instead of a screw clamp and rotatable connection, the holder may use a suction or vacuum cup for attachment to smooth surfaces. 
         [0046]    A related exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4  which is adapted for mounting to relatively smooth and flat vertical surface. In this embodiment, the holder  400  includes an opening extender  410 , attached to two suction or vacuum cups  412  and  414  respectively. Two hooks or clips  416  and  418  are mounted at or near the attachment of the opening extender Optionally there can be a spacing bar  420  (shown in dashed lines) between the suction cups that fixes the distance between the cups; when present the opening extender may attach to the spacing bar or the suction cups, and/or hooks or clips may be attached to the bar in addition to or instead of the hooks or clips mounted at or near the attachment points of the opening extender with the suction or vacuum cups. The opening extender can be a number of different shapes, including, for example, one or two straight or curved bars, two straight or curved bars joined at an apex, three bars joined to form three sides of a quadrilateral, three bars joined to form three sides of quadrilateral where the bars projecting from the suction cups are different lengths. In similar embodiments, one or both suction cups are replaced with clamps. 
         [0047]    Another embodiment is illustrated in side view in  FIG. 5 . The holder of  FIG. 5  is constructed in the manner of the holder of  FIG. 4 , except that the opening extender is angled down from the horizontal. Thus, the holder  500  includes the opening extender  510  attached to suction cup  512  (second suction cup not visible) which is attached to wall  513 . On the opening extender are clips  516  and  518 . 
         [0048]    While the present invention is presented with emphasis on holders for trash bags, these holders may be applied for other uses where bag holders are useful, e.g., as laundry bags, recycling bags, and the like. For such other applications, it can be beneficial to use more durable bags that the thin film bags normally used for trash bags. The more durable bags may be constructed in various ways, e.g., using heavier and/or multi-layer plastic film or sheeting, incorporating strengthening fibers or lines in the plastic, and using cloth or canvas construction. 
         [0049]    All patents and other references cited in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and are incorporated by reference in their entireties, including any tables and figures, to the same extent as if each reference had been incorporated by reference in its entirety individually. 
         [0050]    One skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The methods, variances, and compositions described herein as presently representative of preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art, which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention, are defined by the scope of the claims. 
         [0051]    It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, variations can be made to the construction materials and the type of attachment used to retain the trash bag. Thus, such additional embodiments are within the scope of the present invention and the following claims. 
         [0052]    The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising”, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0053]    In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group or other group. 
         [0054]    Also, unless indicated to the contrary, where various numerical values or value range endpoints are provided for embodiments, additional embodiments are described by taking any 2 different values as the endpoints of a range or by taking two different range endpoints from specified ranges as the endpoints of an additional range. Such ranges are also within the scope of the described invention. 
         [0055]    Thus, additional embodiments are within the scope of the invention and within the following claims.