Patent Publication Number: US-2009218341-A1

Title: Holding device for garbage bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a holding device for supporting a replaceable garbage bag, and more particularly to a holding device including a foldable structure that may be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure for facilitating the storing and transportation purposes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical holding devices for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags normally comprise a housing receptacle having a hollow interior for receiving and supporting a replaceable bag or a garbage bag. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,037 to Bass, U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,046 to Schneider, U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,604 to Popper, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,363 to Cortesi disclose four of the typical holding devices for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags each also comprising a box-shaped cabinet or a housing receptacle having a hollow interior for receiving a replaceable bag or a garbage bag and for supporting the replaceable bag or garbage bag with an attaching or supporting mechanism. 
     However, the box-shaped cabinet or housing receptacle includes a great volume that may not be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure such that the typical holding devices for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags are not good storing and transportation purposes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,179 to Ting discloses another typical holding device for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags comprising an inner can removably disposed within an outer can for receiving a replaceable bag or a garbage bag and for supporting the replaceable bag or garbage bag with an automatic attaching or holding mechanism. 
     However, the inner can and the outer can both include a great volume that may not be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure such that the typical holding devices for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags are not good storing and transportation purposes. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional holding devices for supporting replaceable bags or garbage bags. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a holding device including a foldable structure that may be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure for facilitating the storing and transportation purposes. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a holding device comprising a receptacle including a base having a groove formed in each of four side portions of the base, and having four socket openings formed in each of four corner areas of the base, and having four anchor members extended upwardly from the corner areas of the base, an upper frame including a groove formed in each of four side portions of the upper frame, and including four socket openings formed in each of four corner areas of the upper frame, and including four anchor members extended downwardly from the corner areas of the upper frame, and the upper frame being provided for engaging with and for attaching a garbage bag, four posts each including a lower end for engaging into the socket openings of the base respectively, and each including an upper end for engaging into the socket openings of the upper frame respectively, and each including two side slots formed in each of the posts, two latch devices attached to the lower end and the upper end of each of the posts for engaging with the anchor members of the base and the upper frame respectively, and for latching and securing the posts between the base and the upper frame, and four boards each including a lower portion for engaging into the grooves of the base respectively, and each including two side portions for engaging into the side slots of the posts respectively, and each including an upper portion for engaging into the grooves of the upper frame respectively and for allowing the boards to be secured and retained between the base and the posts and the upper frame. 
     The posts each include a backup panel and two beams secured together. The posts each include two extensions provided on the lower end and the upper end of the posts respectively for attaching the latch devices. 
     The extensions are secured to the panels of the posts respectively. The posts each include two passages formed in the beams for receiving the extensions. 
     The latch devices each include a handle pivotally coupled to the posts with a pivot axle, and a catch pivotally coupled to the handle with a pivot shaft which is separated from the pivot axle for allowing the catch to be moved up and down relative to the post with the handle and for allowing the catch to be caused to engage with the anchor members of the base respectively. 
     The base includes at least one anchor opening formed in each of the anchor members of the base, and the latch devices each include at least one tongue for engaging with the anchor opening of the anchor members of the base and for latching the posts to the base. 
     The upper frame includes at least one hook extended from the upper frame for engaging with and for attaching the garbage bag. The upper frame includes a peripheral fence extended upwardly therefrom for engaging with and for attaching a cover. 
     An inner casing may further be provided and disposed in the receptacle for supporting the garbage bag. The inner casing includes two casing members detachably secured and coupled together with at least one catch. 
     The catch is extended from a first casing member of the casing members, and a second casing member of the casing members includes at least one latch opening formed therein for engaging with the catch and for securing and coupling the casing members together. 
     The inner casing includes a hand grip attached to one of the casing members. The base includes a hollow chamber formed in a bottom portion and a number of ribs provided in the base for reinforcing the base. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a holding device for supporting a replaceable garbage bag in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating the application of the holding device; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the holding device; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view illustrating an upper frame for the holding device; 
         FIG. 5  is another exploded view of the holding device; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the holding device taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7 ,  8  are cross sectional views of the holding device taken along lines  7 - 7 , and  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6  respectively; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial exploded view illustrating the assembling operation of the holding device; 
         FIGS. 10 ,  11  are partial perspective illustrating the assembling operation of the holding device; 
         FIG. 12  is a further exploded view illustrating an inner casing of the holding device; and 
         FIG. 13  is a still further partial exploded view illustrating the securing or latching device for the inner casing of the holding device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 , a holding device  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer receptacle  10 , an inner casing  60  removably disposed within the outer receptacle  10  for supporting a replaceable garbage bag  80  ( FIG. 6 ), and a cover  90  attached or disposed on top of the outer receptacle  10  for covering or closing the outer receptacle  10  and the inner casing  60 , and for protecting or shielding the inner casing  60  and the replaceable garbage bag  80 , best shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , two or more holding devices  1  in accordance with the present invention may be disposed side by side or disposed together for collecting garbage refuse, trash, cans, bottles (not shown), or other objects that may be recycled. 
     The receptacle  10  includes a base  11  having a hollow chamber  12  formed in the bottom portion thereof ( FIG. 6 ) and having a number of ribs  13  provided therein for reinforcing purposes, the base  11  includes a substantially square or rectangular or parallelogrammic structure having a groove  14  formed in each of the four side portions  15  thereof ( FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  9 - 11 ), and includes four corner areas  16  each having a socket opening  17  formed therein, and includes an anchor member  18  provided or extended upwardly from each of the four corner areas  16  and arranged or located beside the socket opening  17  respectively best shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , and the anchor members  18  each include one or more (such as two) anchor openings  19  formed therein ( FIGS. 3 , and  9 ). 
     Four posts  20  each include a lower end  21  for engaging into the socket opening  17  of the base  11  respectively, and each include an upper end  22 , and each include two side slots  23  formed therein ( FIGS. 3 ,  7 , and  9 - 11 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , The posts  20  each may include a backup panel  24  and two beams  25  secured together with such as fasteners  26 , one or more (such as two) studs or extensions  27  secured to the panel  24 , and one or more (such as two) passages  28  formed in the beams  25  for receiving the extensions  27  and for allowing the extensions  27  to be extended outwardly through the passages  28  of the beams  25 . One or more (such as two) hook or latch devices  30  are attached to each of the posts  20 , such as attached to the lower end  21  and the upper end  22  of the post  20  and/or coupled to the extensions  27  respectively. 
     The quick-release latch devices  30  each include a handle  31  rotatably or pivotally coupled to the extension  27  of the posts  20  with a pivot axle  32  respectively, and a catch  33  rotatably or pivotally coupled to the handle  31  with a pivot shaft  34  which is separated from or offset from the pivot axle  32  for allowing the catch  33  to be moved up and down relative to the post  20  with the handle  31 , and the catches  33  each include one or more (such as two) tongues  35  provided thereon or extended therefrom ( FIG. 5 ) for engaging with the anchor openings  19  of the anchor members  18  of the base  11  respectively ( FIGS. 9-11 ), and for easily and readily and quickly hooking and latching or securing the posts  20  to the base  11  and thus for allowing the posts  20  to be secured the base  11  and to be detached from the base  11  when required. 
     The receptacle  10  further includes four outer boards  40  each having a lower portion  41  ( FIGS. 3 , and  6 ) for engaging into the grooves  14  of the base  11  respectively, and each having two side portions  42  for engaging into the side slots  23  of the posts  20  respectively, and each having an upper portion  43  for engaging with an upper frame  50  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 ) and for allowing the outer boards  40  to be stably and solidly secured and retained between the base  11  and the posts  20  and the upper frame  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper frame  50  also includes a substantially square or rectangular or parallelogrammic structure having a groove  51  formed in each of the four side portions  52  thereof for engaging with the upper portions  43  of the outer boards  40  and for anchoring the outer boards  40  between the base  11  and the posts  20  and the upper frame  50 . 
     The upper frame  50  also includes four corner areas  53  each having a socket opening  54  formed therein for receiving the upper ends  22  of the posts  20  respectively, and includes an anchor member  55  provided or extended downwardly from each of the four corner areas  53  and arranged or located beside the socket opening  54  respectively, and the anchor members  55  each also include one or more (such as two) anchor openings  56  formed therein ( FIG. 4 ) for receiving or engaging with the tongues  35  of the catches  33  of the latch devices  30  and for solidly securing the outer boards  40  between the base  11  and the posts  20  and the upper frame  50 . The upper frame  50  further includes a peripheral fence  57  extended upwardly therefrom for engaging with or for attaching the cover  90 , and includes four hooks  58  extended upwardly from the corner areas  53  for engaging with or for detachably attaching the replaceable garbage bag  80 . 
     The inner casing  60  includes two casing members  61 ,  62  to be detachably attached or secured or coupled together with fasteners or catches  63  ( FIGS. 8 ,  12 ,  13 ). For example, the catches  63  may be provided or extended from one of the casing members  61 , and the other casing member  62  may include one or more latch openings  64  for engaging with the catches  63  and for detachably attaching or securing or coupling the casing members  61 ,  62  together. The inner casing  60  further includes a hand grip  65  attached or secured or coupled to one of the casing members  61  for carrying the inner casing  60  and for allowing the inner casing  60  to be easily carried with the user and to be easily moved to any required place or position. 
     In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  9 - 11 , the lower ends  21  of the posts  20  may first be engaged into the socket opening  17  of the base  11  respectively, and the tongues  35  of the catches  33  of the latch devices  30  may then be hooked or engaged with the anchor openings  19  of the anchor members  18  of the base  11  respectively for easily and quickly securing the posts  20  to the base  11 . The outer boards  40  may then be engaged through the side slots  23  of the posts  20  and may have the lower portions  41  engaged with the grooves  14  of the base  11  respectively, and the upper frame  50  may then be engaged onto or on top of the posts  20  and the outer boards  40  for forming a detachable and solid structure for the receptacle  10 . The cover  90  may be simply disposed on top of the upper frame  50 , or alternatively, may be rotatably or pivotally coupled to the upper frame  50 . 
     It is to be noted that the cover  90  and the upper frame  50  and the posts  20  and the outer boards  40  may be disassembled or detached from the base  11 , and the casing members  61  of the inner casing  60  may also be disassembled or detached from each other, and the backup panels  24  and the beams  25  of the posts  20  may also be disassembled or detached from each other such that the holding device  1  in accordance with the present invention may be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure that is excellent for the storing and the transportation purposes. The inner casing  60  may be optionally provided and disposed within the outer receptacle  10  for supporting the replaceable garbage bag  80 . 
     Accordingly, the holding device in accordance with the present invention includes a foldable structure that may be disassembled or folded to a compact folding structure for facilitating the storing and transportation purposes. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.