Abstract:
A newspaper storage and bundler device having a box shaped container, two pairs of opposing tie studs, each tie stud extending vertically in a stud inset, the stud inset being recessed from the top of a side panel or an end panel with an opposing tie stud extending vertically in a stud inset recessed from the top of the opposing side panel or end panel, each tie stud being anchored to the respective side panel or end panel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to newspaper storage and bundling devices and in particular to bundler containers for storing newspapers as they are discarded and for bundling the newspapers when a desired quantity is accumulated in the container. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The ever increasing interest in and need for recycling has resulted in a need for household storage containers for discarded newspaper. Storage containers are needed that also assist in the bundling of the discarded newspaper, preferably with tie material which is recyclable with the newspaper, and thereby facilitate removal of the discarded newspapers from the container and transport to a recycle depository. 
   A number of devices have been developed to attempt to address these needs. U.S. Pat. No. 2,321,802 to Deubner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,032 to McDermott, U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,262 to Turi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,318 to Bollinger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,576 to Evans, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,506 to Vargas, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,318 to Murat disclose devices for the storage and bundling of discarded newspapers. The present invention provides a new device for storage and bundling of discarded newspapers. 
   One objective of the present invention is to provide a discarded newspaper storage container and bundler which is simple and economical to construct. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a discarded newspaper storage container and bundler which is simple to use. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a discarded newspaper storage container and bundler which can be constructed entirely of recyclable materials. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a discarded newspaper storage container and bundler which can be constructed entirely of renewable resources. 
   A further objective of the present invention is to provide a discarded newspaper storage container and bundler which can be constructed of common cardboard and common wooden materials. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A preferred embodiment of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention is comprised of an open top, box-shaped receiving chamber with a tie stud anchored in a stud inset in each side panel and each end panel of the receiving chamber. Each stud inset extends from the inside surface of the side panel or end panel partially through the panel toward the outside surface a desired stud inset depth and extending from the top of the panel downward a desired stud inset height, the tie stud and the tie stud inset comprising a tie retainer. The tie retainer will generally be centered in panel. The exposed stud length is less than the stud inset height thereby providing for the stud top to be below the top of the left side panel. This allows a lid to be placed on the container bundler without the lid contacting the top of the tie stud. 
   The inventor prefers embodiments constructed of recyclable materials from renewable resources, particularly favoring paper or wood or combinations thereof, but other types of common box materials, such as plastic or metal, can be used, which are also recyclable. The side panels, the end panels and the bottom panel can be made of one or more layers of cardboard or other common box material. A removal assist member is preferably integral with the bottom panel. For layered alternatives, unitary construction of the panels of each layer can provide additional strength and durability. 
   A preferred embodiment of the tie retainer provides for tapering of the retainer interior wall, thereby providing for a progressively smaller pinch dimension between the retainer interior wall and the tie stud, thereby providing for securing of ties of various diameters and materials. For preferred embodiments the tie stud is constructed of wood and the anchor end of the tie stud is bonded between layers of the respective side panels and layers of respective end panels. The inventor has found that a tie stud of the general form and dimensions of a coffee stirrer or popsicle stick work well for a tie stud. 
   The combination of a bottom removal assist member, a bottom panel top layer and bottom layer, and bottom filler layers provide for sufficient strength and durability of the bottom of the container for lifting of the container with or without newspaper containe therein. A simple wood board, preferably hard wood, works well for the removal assist member. The respective ends of the removal assist member are extended beyond the end panel outside surface so that the ends of the removal assist member can be placed under the feet of the user while the user is in a standing position, to hold the container in place while the bundled newspaper is lifted out of the container. 
   An optional tie feeder may be attached to the underside of the lid. The tie feeder can be square, circular or any other shape. The tie material is extracted by the user through a feed orifice from a spool of the tie material which is preferably wound for extraction from the inside of the spool. For embodiments of the present invention constructed entirely of wood, plastic or other rigid materials, the removal assist member can be integral with the bottom of the container or alternatively can consist of a pair of removal extension members, a respective removal extension member attached to and extending beyond the end panel outside surface of a respective end panel or side panel. The tie retainer is preferably the same for preferred embodiments constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid material as for preferred embodiments constructed of cardboard, but, alternatively, the tie stud can be connected to the inside surface of the side or end panels by fasteners. For embodiments constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid materials, the lid can be connected to the top of a side panel or an end panel with hinges. For embodiments molded, cast or extruded from plastic or other rigid materials, the tie studs can be of unitary construction with the side panels and end panels. For embodiments constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid materials, the tie studs can be connected below the stud inset to the interior surface of the side panels and the end panels with fasteners or other means. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention with the lid removed. 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention with the lid removed. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view perspective detail of a preferred embodiment of a tie retainer of the present invention with tapered interior wall and decreasing pinch dimension. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section detail of a preferred embodiment of the bottom panel with removal assist member and filler layers. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded side perspective detail of a preferred embodiment of a unitary interior layer with interconnected bottom panel layer, side panel layers and end panel layers for use in layered construction of certain embodiments of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded side perspective detail of a preferred embodiment of a unitary inner layer with interconnected bottom filler layers, side panel layers and end panel layers for use in layered construction of certain embodiments of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded side perspective detail of a preferred embodiment of a unitary exterior layer with interconnected bottom panel layer, side panel layers and end panel layers for use in layered construction of certain embodiments of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded side perspective detail of an alternative preferred embodiment of a unitary inner layer with interconnected bottom filler layers and side panel layers and interconnected side panel layers and end panel layers for use in layered construction of certain embodiments of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded side perspective detail of an alternative preferred embodiment of a unitary inner layer with interconnected bottom filler layers, side panel layers and end panel layers for use in layered construction of certain embodiments of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view cross-section of a preferred embodiment of the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention with removal assist member. 
       FIG. 11  is a front view perspective detail of an alternative preferred embodiment of a tie retainer of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view perspective of a preferred embodiment of a lid and an attached tie dispenser for the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded cross-section detail of a preferred embodiment of a tie dispenser for the newspaper storage container and bundler of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a preferred embodiment of the newspaper storage container and bundler  1  is shown. This embodiment is comprised of an open top, box-shaped receiving chamber  3 , the receiving chamber being comprised of a pair of rectangular shaped opposing side panels  5 , namely a right side panel  7  and a left side panel  9 , a pair of rectangular shaped opposing end panels  11 , namely a front end panel  13  and a rear end panel  15 , and a rectangular shaped bottom panel  17 , edges  19  of the respective panels being connected to form the box-shaped receiving chamber. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 3 , a tie stud  21  is anchored in a stud inset  23  in the left side panel  9 , the stud inset extending from the left side wall inside surface  25  partially through the left side wall toward the left side wall outside surface  27  a desired stud inset depth  29  and extending from the top of the left side panel  31  downward a desired stud inset height  33 , the tie stud and the tie stud inset comprising a left side wall tie retainer  35 . The left side wall tie retainer will generally be centered between the left side wall front edge  37  and the left side wall rear edge  39 . The exposed stud length  41  is less than the stud inset height  33  thereby providing for the stud top  43  to be below the top of the left side panel  31 . This allows a lid  45 , an embodiment of which is shown in  FIG. 12 , to be placed on the container bundler without the lid contacting the top of the tie stud. A right tie retainer  47  is similarly situated in the right side panel, thereby being situated on the opposing side of the receiving chamber. Similarly a front tie retainer  49  and a rear tie retainer  51  will be installed in the front end panel and the rear end panel respectively. The left tie retainer, the right tie retainer, the front tie retainer and the rear tie retainer will generally be identically constructed. The present invention was developed for use in storing and bundling old newspapers with ideological, economical, and durability objectives. The inventor prefers embodiments constructed of recyclable materials from renewable resources. Hence the inventor prefers embodiments constructed of paper or wood or combinations thereof. The embodiment shown in FIG.  1  and  FIG. 2  can be constructed entirely of wood or of a combination of cardboard and wood, but other materials, such as plastic or metal, can be used, which are also recyclable. For the preferred embodiment shown, the side panels and the end panels can be made of one or more layers of cardboard or other material. If more than one layer is used the respective layers are bonded together. 
   Similarly the bottom panel  17  may also be constructed of a plurality of layers of cardboard or other material. For the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a bottom panel top layer  55  covers the top  56  of a removal assist member  57  thereby producing a uniform top surface  58  for the bottom panel. A bottom panel bottom layer  59  also covers the bottom  60  of the removal assist member thereby producing a uniform bottom panel bottom surface  61 . A sufficient number of bottom panel filler layers  63  are used between the bottom panel top layer  55  and the bottom panel bottom layer  59  so that the total filler layer thickness  65  matches the removal assist member thickness  67 . The removal assist member is integral with the bottom panel. 
   For preferred embodiments the bottom panel top layer  55  may be of unitary construction with the side panels interior layer  69  and the end panels interior layer  71 , by construction from a unitary interior panel  73  of cardboard or other material as shown in FIG.  5 . Similarly, the bottom panel bottom layer  75 , the side panel exterior layer  77  and the end panel exterior layer  79  may also be constructed of a unitary exterior panel  81  of cardboard or other material as is shown in FIG.  7 . 
   For such preferred embodiments one or more unitary inner panels  83  may be used, forming one or more inner layers  85  as shown in  FIG. 6 , to provide greater strength and durability. For the embodiment shown, the unitary inner panel layer  83  consists of inner side panel layers  86  connected to inner end panel layers  87 . By abutting the inner panel ends  88  mid-span  89  in an end panel or a side panel, rather than at a corner  90  the container the container will be strengthened. One or more side panel layers  86  may also be continuous with a bottom panel filler layer  63  as shown in  FIG. 6 , thereby providing additional strength and durability. Alternatively, for simplicity of construction, the abutting panel ends  88  may be located at a corner  90  as shown in FIG.  8 . 
   An alternative unitary inner panel  83  may be constructed as shown in  FIG. 9  providing for the bottom filler layers  63  to be unitary with the inner side panels  86  and the inner end panels  87 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a preferred embodiment of the tie retainer  35  provides for tapering  95  of the retainer interior wall  97 , thereby providing for a tapered and progressively smaller pinch space  99  between the retainer interior wall and the tie stud  21 , thereby providing for securing of ties  102  of various diameters and materials. For preferred embodiments the tie stud can be constructed of wood, plastic, metal or other durable material and the anchor end  103  of the tie stud is bonded in the respective side panels or end panels in a tie stud receptacle  105 . For embodiments incorporating layered materials for the side panels, end panels and bottom panels, the anchor end of the tie stud can be bonded between layers of the respective side panels and layers of respective end panels. The inventor has found that a tie stud of the general form and dimensions of a coffee stirrer or popsicle stick work well for a tie stud. Embodiments constructed of plastic or other molded, cast or extruded materials can have a tie stud of unitary construction with the side panel or end panel. 
   A simple wood board, preferably hard wood, works well for the removal assist member, particularly for embodiments constructed of cardboard or wood. The respective extension ends  107  of the removal assist member extend beyond the end panel outside surfaces  109  and shown in FIG.  1  and FIG.  10 . Alternatively, the removal assist member can extend from side panel to side panel across the short dimension of the container. The respective ends of the removal assist member can be placed under the feet of the user with the user in a standing or sitting position to assist the user in removing bundled newspaper. Referring now to  FIG. 11 , an alternative embodiment of a tie retainer is shown which works particularly well for embodiments of the present invention constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid materials. For this embodiment of the tie retainers  35 , the tie studs  21  are connected to the respective side panel inside surfaces  25  and the respective end panel inside surfaces by stud fasteners  111  or other attachment means known in the art. The tie stud will preferably be constructed of metal or other strong and durable material for these embodiments. 
   Referring now to FIG.  12  and  FIG. 13 , an optional tie feeder  112  may be attached to the underside  113  of the lid  45 . The tie feeder will preferably be removably attached to the underside of the lid by attachment means  125  known in the art. Hook and eye fastener material is particularly suited for this application. For the embodiment shown, the tie material  117  is extracted by the user through a feed orifice  119  from a spool  121  of the tie material which is preferably wound for extraction from the inside  123  of the spool. The tie feeder can be square, circular or other shapes which accommodate the spool of tie material. 
   Referring again to FIG.  1  and  FIG. 2 , for embodiments of the present invention constructed entirely of wood, plastic or other rigid materials, the removal assist member can be integral with the bottom of the container or alternatively can consist of a pair of removal extension members  114 , a respective removal extension member attached to and extending beyond the outside surface of each end panel or side panel. 
   The tie retainer is preferably the same for preferred embodiments constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid materials as it is for preferred embodiments constructed of cardboard, but, alternatively, the tie stud can be connected to the inside surface of the side or end panels by fasteners as shown in FIG.  11 . For embodiments constructed of wood, plastic or other rigid materials, the lid can be connected to the top of an end panel or the top of a side panel by hinges.