Patent Publication Number: US-2007102430-A1

Title: Self closing bag hanger

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to frames for holding bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to a frame for hanging a bag, for example of the shopping variety, which is opened by applying foot pressure and is self-closing.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are many designs and constructions known for making foot-operated receptacles for receiving plastic bags for the purpose of receiving refuse. Of the ones which are designed to close automatically, most are of the simple, conventional type with a relatively flat lid on a rectangular bag holder, requiring complicated lever systems for opening and/or reclosing the lid once the refuse has been deposited into the bag suspended therein. In most cases, a front floor-level lever is attached to a lever which runs straight back and under the main receptacle, up the back inside or outside of the receptacle and hingedly contacts the lid which is also hingedly attached at a second location to the receptacle body at its back end. Depressing the foot lever, causes the back end of the lever to pivot upward, forcing the lid up and back, rotating on the back hinge. Often, such complex lever systems are difficult to render in a sturdy way when using thermoplastic molding for forming the receptacles. They can be fragile, breaking after relatively low numbers of uses, are expensive to ship, and may require some assembly, and often repeated re-assembly, by the end-user.  
      Moreover, in the plastic housewares industry, where a large percentage of such receptacles are marketed, profit margins are extremely low and such factors as having fewer pieces to mold, and finding configurations which reduce the shipping cost per item, can make the difference between a company thriving and going out of business. The receptacle described above is only nestable on another similar unit with some components being shipped in a disassembled state, to be assembled by the consumer. This increases the burden on the consumer and increases the chances that receptacles will wind up on store shelves without the corresponding number of lids unless more complicated, often more expensive packaging methods are employed.  
      An additional concern is that of plastic bag positioning and retention which is addressed in fairly cumbersome ways by designs such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,367 to Miller, et al., 4,620,683 to Claydon et al., 5,704,511 to Kellams, and many others.  
      Thus far, existing constructions for self-opening or self-closing trash receptacles designed to hold plastic bags have remained fairly uniform and have done little to address the concerns mentioned hereinabove. Moreover, very few indeed have addressed the aesthetic needs of today&#39;s designer kitchen.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The specification teaches exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept wherein a receptacle comprises a frame which can be easily opened without using one&#39;s hands, is formed from only two nearly symmetrical L-shaped halves, each having a somewhat U-shaped cross-section, and joined together by two opposing pivot hinges located at the edges of each half near the lower and wider end thereof. A step projects upward and outwards away from near the bottom of at least one of the faces of the halves. Each half is shaped with a cross-section progressively diminishing from bottom to top to permit nested stacking of one assembled receptacle atop another, for compact shipping.  
      Bag retaining tabs or clips, usually a pair for each half, are provided near the upper edge of each half. The bag retaining tabs or clips are positioned preferably above the pivot hinges so that the weight of the bags, suspended thereon and subsequently filled with refuse, is directed downward on the hinges. The shape of each half along a main floor contact surface is such that downward force exerted at the side hinge pushes the main floor contact surfaces flat onto the supporting and levers the upper ends of the receptacle together. Pressing down with one&#39;s foot on the outermost edge of the step causes a pivoting motion at the pivot point formed by the obtuse angle where the step meets the main contact floor surface, which pivot motion is transferred to the hinges and causes outward pivoting of the upper ends of the halves, causing them to move away from one another.  
      A plastic shopping bag suspended by its handle loops on the bag retaining tabs or clips is thus opened wide and refuse may be deposited. Releasing pressure on the foot step permits the weight of the portion of the halves above the pivot hinges to reexert its downwards pressure. The main floor contact surfaces regain full contact with the floor as the upper ends of the halves come back together. The receptacle is closed by the force of its own weight downward on the hinges. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which may be taken together with the Detailed Description which follows:  
       FIG. 1  shows an individual frame for holding bags, seen open in perspective view from above and the left side, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  shows a pair of nested assembled frames for holding bags, in perspective view from above and the left side, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  shows a pair of nested assembled frames for holding bags, in perspective view from below and the left side, in accordance with a variant exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a frame, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows a side elevational view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a detail perspective view of the exemplary embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4-7  with bag retaining wing tabs in the open position;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9  above shown in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is provided a two piece frame  2  comprising two opposing, substantially L-shaped U-panels  10 , made from thermoplastic resin, positioned like back-to-back Ls, each having a longer vertical back portion  12  and having a substantially shorter and substantially horizontal floor contacting portion  14  extending outwardly from the lower end of each vertical portion  12 . A sloped outer surface  17  is further provided opposite each vertical portion  12 . The end of at least one of the horizontal portions having a step member  16  comprising lower surface  13  that extends upwardly at an angle of at least 5 degrees, and preferably at least 10 degrees, and even more preferably at least 15 degrees of horizontal, providing a depressible lever on the face of U-panel  10  that causes rotation around pivot point  19 . At or near an upper end of each panel, for example on the inner opposing surfaces thereof, there may be provided one or more bag retention mechanisms such as tabs  18  from which a plastic bag, such as a grocery shopping bag, may be suspended between the inner surfaces of the upper ends of the two opposing panels. The opposing panels are joined together at their backs at axle points  20  on both back edges near their lower ends, at about the angles, by a flexing mechanism such as hinge  22 .  
      In an exemplary embodiment, a cutout  24  is provided in one or both of the vertical portions. The purpose of the cutout is to allow the expansion of a bag suspended between the panels as it is filled with trash or any other contents. Instead of a cutout, other exemplary embodiments could incorporate a hinged flap, flexible mesh, accordion panel or the like, which would permit desired expansion as a suspended bag is filled. A second cutout  26  may be provided just below the top of each vertical portion to serve as a handle, although other forms of handles, such as protrusions, can be utilized. In use, the frame is placed upright on a surface, such as a floor, and the user applies downward pressure on the step lever  16 . The downward torsional pressure causes the panels  10  to rock forward rotating around pivot point  19  (pivoting around the flexing mechanism  22 ) pushing upwards on hinges  22  and causing the opposing ends of horizontal floor portions  14  to swing together and the top ends  28  of the vertical portions  12  to swing away from each other to an opened position. The mouth of any bag suspended between bag retention mechanisms  18  is held open while an object is dropped into the bag. Releasing the downward pressure permits the top ends  28  of the vertical portions  12  to swing back together.  
      The L-shaped panels  10  may be substantially symmetrical, joined by a flexing mechanism. The flexing mechanism can be a two-part ball-and-socket type hinge, or it may be a “living” hinge, i.e. a thinned portion of flexible material, which is an integral part of one or both panels. These non-limiting examples of flexing mechanisms are just two among the several which may possibly be used to practice the invention will be described further hereinbelow.  
      In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of symmetrical panels are provided, joined at the elbows by separate joint members. For example each panel has a ball at axle point  20 , over which a socket piece having receiving and retaining holes for each of the balls is rotatably fixed.  
      Although, the downward force exerted by the panels themselves and any contents placed within a suspended bag should be sufficient to cause the top ends  28  to swing back together, it may be desirable to provide means for attaching a spring or other elastic device (even a rubber band) between the vertical portions  12 . The method and points of attachment for providing such a closing assist mechanism is well within the ken of one of ordinary skill in the art of plastic housewares design and will not be further elaborated upon here.  
      It is particularly advantageous for purposes of shipping the frames of the invention in quantity to construct a frame  2 , having inner surfaces and outer surfaces which are complementary to permit the nesting of one frame  2  on top of another frame  2 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . For example providing the frames with a substantial slope on their outer aspect, a second frame placed above a first frame, can slide down over the first, and a third can similarly be slid down over the second, etc. This permits an economy in shipping which can be crucial to achieving profitability in the plastic housewares market to which this invention relates.  
      With reference to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that rather than hooks  18 , tab cutouts  118  are provided near top ends  28 . A plastic liner bag is thus secured by pushing the upper edge of the plastic of the bag or liner down and over the tab cutouts  118 . As the bag is filled, it is drawn down tighter onto the tab or tongue  120  portion of the tab cutout.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 4-8 , an exemplary embodiment having a more outwardly curved or convex shaped outer walls  30  is shown having only one perforation for a handle  26  near the top end  28 . For a bag retaining mechanism, wing tabs  32  are hingedly attached. Each wing tab  32  displaceably covers prongs  34  formed in top end  28 , upon which an upper edge of a plastic bag or liner can be draped when wing tab  32  is in an upper position, thereby uncovering or exposing prongs  34 . Wing tabs  32  are then lowered to a lower covering position, providing some insurance that a plastic bag or liner placed therein is maintained in place until purposely removed by the end-user.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an exemplary embodiment having a narrower frontal aspect is shown. Additionally, the bag retaining mechanism comprises tab cutouts  218  and tongues  220  similar to that of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . However, in the instant embodiment, the tab cutouts  218  and tab tongues  220 , are located in the upper regions of the back edges  60  of the vertical portions  212  and directly above the hinges  222 .