Patent Publication Number: US-2009230258-A1

Title: Portable tree or pole/post mounted recreational trash bag holder with lid

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,386, issued Nov. 18, 2003, for REFUSE BAG HOLDER, by Rheinhardt, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,732, issued Oct. 23, 2007, for NON LIFT BAG HOLDER FRAME, by Lopa, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,717, issued Aug. 12, 2003, for BAG HOLDER, by Stanfield, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,241, issued Dec. 3, 2002, for CABINET MOUNTED TRASH BAG HOLDER, by Kyte, et al., included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. D458,131, issued Jun. 4, 2002, for CLOSED RING TRASH BAG HOLDER, by Weber, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,802, issued Mar. 13, 2001, for COLLAPSIBLE TRASH BAG HOLDER, by Scheibe, Sr., included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,022, issued Jul. 11, 2000, for SHOULDER-MOUNTED TRASH BAG HOLDER, by Dalton, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,820, issued Dec. 21, 1999, for PLASTIC BAG HOLDER, by Baldonado, et al., included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,595, issued Dec. 1, 1998, for MOBILE TRASH/GARBAGE BAG HOLDER WITH OPEN BOTTOM, by Williams, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,838, issued Oct. 27, 1998, for TRASH BAG STAND, by Forbes, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,495, issued Apr. 7, 1998, for TRASH BAG HOLDING DEVICE, by Kubota, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,494, issued Apr. 7, 1998, for BAG HOLDER, by Kurk, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,400, issued Feb. 17, 1998, for TRASH BAG HOLDER WITH HANDLE, by Dwy, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,431, issued Oct. 10, 1995, for APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A TRASH BAG, by Ilnisky, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,219, issued Aug. 18, 1992, for BAG HOLDER, by Navarro, included by reference herein. 
     The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,751, issued Jun. 4, 1991, for GARBAGE BAG AND UTILITY HOLDER, by Larkin, included by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to outdoor recreation and, more particularly, to camping 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When going camping outdoors, there is often quite a distance from a campsite to the nearest garbage can. Because of this distance, campers will generally store up their trash in a plastic trash bag and once or twice a day take it to a more suitable disposal unit when they walk out before the day&#39;s activities. This situation maintains a closed trash bag that is inconvenient to open and close constantly every time it is needed for use to make a deposit to. My trash bag holder not only holds the bag open for convenience in depositing trash and provides an easy way to mount it on a nearby tree trunk, but also has a closable lid which keeps out pests such as yellow-jackets, wasps, and other irritating insects. 
     There are a number of various other trash bag holders available. 
     Prior art trash bag holders may hold the bag open constantly for convenience, but in a wildlife, camping environment, the refuse remains exposed to the air which attracts irritating, flying insects such as yellow-jackets, wasps, and bees. Since prior art applications do not contain a lid, the exposure of the trash becomes a strong attractant to flying, stinging insects and other wildlife. 
     It would be advantageous to provide a method to hold open a trash bag for easy deposits of trash items when camping 
     It would also be advantageous to provide a method to secure a trash bag holder to a tree since trees are abundant in a camping setting. 
     It would further be advantageous to provide a method to cover the exposed trash with a lid to keep from attracting stinging and biting insects and other wildlife. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device to hold open a trash bag for easy deposit of garbage in a camping or outdoor picnicking environment while securing said device to a tree or pole/post while also providing a closable lid to cover the opening and keep out insects. A geometrically shaped frame or bracket is secured to a backing frame in which said frame may be mounted to a tree by a strap or mounted by brackets onto a pole or post. The trash bag support frame/bracket is encircled by two tension closed arms which hold the trash bag firmly in place so it does not slip out when loaded with trash. The preferred embodiment of the tensioning device element would be what is commonly called a spring, and provides tension to the pressure arms to hold them closed against the trash bag support frame. Alternative embodiments of the tensioning device might include, but is not limited to, a rubber, elastic, or bungee type strap, a hook, latch, or catch, or any other type device which would maintain the pressure arms closed tightly enough to secure the trash bag against the trash bag support frame. A lid connected by a pivoting swing connector device(s), commonly called a hinge(s), is positioned in a manner so it may be lifted up to open position to deposit trash and closed to seal off bag opening from intruding insects and minimize odors from wild animals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top elevation view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention with the lip up in the open position at 90 degree angle to viewer and pressure arms closed; 
         FIG. 2  is a top elevation view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid up in the open position and the pressure arms open; 
         FIG. 3  is a top elevation view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention with the lid closed in the down position and pressure arms closed; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention with the lid up in the open position and the pressure arms closed; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention with the lid down in the closed position and the pressure arms closed; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention with the lid down in the closed position and the pressure arms closed with a trash bag in place for use; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a trash bag holder in accordance with the invention showing a trash bag attached by dotted line and whole assembly attached to a tree or post by dashed line; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top sectional view of the trash bag holder assembly strapped onto a tree. 
     
    
    
     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a trash-bag holder. Within this context the present invention relates to plastic garbage or trash bags; but, the invention is also useful for other types of flexible bags. 
     Within the preferred embodiment, the invention uses a central body  7  which is adapted to be strapped to a tree trunk. The central body  7  is connected to a trash bag support frame  3  in the form of a rigid ring. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses metal; those of ordinary skill in the art readily recognize other materials which will serve in this capacity, such as but not limited to, high strength plastic, fiberglass, or composite material. 
     When the trash bag support frame  3  is attached to the central body  7 , it creates a framework through which the plastic garbage/trash bag  9  is inserted. With the trash bag  9  is folded over the trash bag support frame  3 , two opposing pressure arms  4  close together to encircle and hold the trash bag  9  between the trash bag support frame  3  and the pressure arms  4 . Spring action tension is created to firmly secure the pressure arms  4  closed so as to prevent slippage during the loading of the bag with refuse. The tension of the pressure arms  4  is maintained by a tensioning device  5  such as but is not limited to, a spring connector. Once so installed, the mouth of the plastic bag is kept open; and when the central body  7  is strapped to a tree, the bag&#39;s mouth is properly positioned to serve as a portable garbage receptacle. To keep from attracting outdoor pests such as flying insects, a hinged lid cover  2  seals the opening to the mouth of the trash receptacle. The cover  2  is lifted up to deposit trash and closed once a deposit is made. 
     When the bag is full, it is easily removed from the trash bag support frame  3 . 
     The invention, together with various embodiments thereof, will be more fully explained by the accompanying drawings and the following explanation. 
       FIG. 1  is a top elevation view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention with the cover  2  up in the open position at 90 degree angle to viewer and pressure arms  4  closed and the mounting strap  1  and mounting strap locking mechanism  8  being unattached to a tree/post/pole  13  on one end but attached to the body  7  on the other ends. The pressure arms  4  are slightly flexible and may be made of any material which will provide a firm hold of the trash-bag enclosed between the pressure arms  4  and trash bag support frame  3 . The preferred embodiment utilizes pressure arms  4  made of any common metal such as, but not limited to aluminum. Any non-metal material which would provide the same function would be acceptable as well. The pressure arms  4  are held closed by a tensioning device  5  commonly called, but not limited to a spring which is hooked into an eyelet  6  to provide closure of the pressure arms  4 . The mounting strap  1  may consist of any flexible material such as nylon, leather, plastic, fabric, canvas, cloth, rope, cord, or any composite material which will provide the ability to mount the invention to a tree/post/pole  13  by acting as a mounting strap  1 . The mounting strap locking mechanism  8  may be provided in the form of such devices as a buckle, latch, snap, Velcro, catch, button, or any similar device which will allow the mounting strap  1  to be cinched tightly around a tree/post/pole  13  and locked firmly in place. For alternative embodiments, instead of using the mounting strap  1 , the invention may be mounted to a pole, post, bench, table, rail, or wall using common fasteners such as bolts, screws, nails or similar type fastening devices which may or may not be used in combination with a mounting bracket. 
       FIG. 2  is a top elevation view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  with the cover  2  up in the open position and the pressure arms  4  open. The tensioning device  5 , or spring in the preferred embodiment, is unhooked to the eyelet  6 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top elevation view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention in  FIG. 1  with the cover  2  closed in the down position and pressure arms  4  closed. A hinge  11  or hinges attach to the cover mounting flange  12  and are swingably connected to the body  7 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention with the cover  2  up with the pressure arms  4  closed around the trash bag support frame  3 . The mounting strap anchor  10  is visible being connected within the body  7  and a trash bag  9  inserted in the invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention with the cover  2  up in the open position and the pressure arms  4  closed around the trash bag support frame  3  and tensioning device  5  connected to the eyelet  6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention in  FIG. 5  but with the cover  2  down in the closed position. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention in  FIG. 5  with the cover  2  down in the closed position and the pressure arms  4  closed but with a trash bag  9  in place for use. 
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of trash-bag holder in accordance with the invention showing a trash bag  9  attached by dotted line and whole assembly attached to tree/post/pole  13  by dashed line. The pressure arms  4  are closed around the trash bag support frame  3 , the tensioning device  5  in hooked into the eyelet  6  with the cover  2  is in the up position to receive trash. The mounting strap  1  anchors the body  7  around the tree/post/pole  13 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top sectional view of the trash-bag holder assembly viewed looking downward with the pressure arms  4  closed, the cover  2  down in the closed position and the whole assembly secured to a tree/post/pole  13  by the mounting strap which cinches tight by the mounting strap locking mechanism  8 . 
     Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
     Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.