Patent Publication Number: US-6983572-B2

Title: Organizer for bundling and recycling newspapers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/554,943, filed Mar. 22, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to an apparatus for securing newspapers and magazines for recycling, and in particular, for an apparatus which allows for the bundling of newspapers and magazines in a facile manner. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Recycling laws require papers and magazines to be secured in bundles for collection and recycle. Cord, twine or string is the securing means of choice in bundling newspapers and magazines. 
     In performing a typical bundling operation, the individual must determine an appropriate quantity of newspapers or magazines per bundle. The individual must then unwind cord, string or twine and wrap the bundle of papers in a latitudinal orientation or a longitudinal orientation and then repeat the winding in the opposite direction. The cord, string or twine must then be tied off and the bundles secured by a knot. This procedure oftentimes requires flipping of the bundle several times in order to wrap the string, cord or twine about the bundle. This procedure is cumbersome and time consuming and is particularly cumbersome for individuals such as the elderly who suffer from arthritic afflictions to the hands. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel organizer for bundling newspapers and magazines for recycle in which the apparatus is dimensioned to the planar dimensions of the newspaper and magazines for the production of uniform bundles of magazines or newspapers for recycling. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel apparatus for bundling newspapers and magazines for recycle wherein the apparatus elevates the bundles of newspapers and magazines allowing access to the underside of the bundle. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel apparatus for bundling newspapers and magazines for recycle in which the apparatus incorporates a securing means in the form of string, cord or twine on a spindle which is pivotal on the apparatus from a latitudinal side to a longitudinal side. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel apparatus for bundling newspapers or magazines for recycle which provides a storage means for a cutting means for severing the cord, twine or string. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel apparatus for the bundling of newspapers and magazines for recycle in which the apparatus permits the securing of the bundle without the need for flipping the bundle in order to wrap the securing means thereabout. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel apparatus for the bundling of newspapers or magazines for recycling which allows access to the bottom and top side of the bundle without the requirement of flipping the bundle in order to secure same. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel organizer for bundling newspapers and magazines that is sized for convenient storage. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel organizer for bundling newspapers and magazines which also allows for smaller pieces of paper, such as junk mail or the like, to be included in the bundle and to be secured. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel organizer for bundling newspapers and magazines which allows for the use of all types of twine and string, in either balls, spools or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus for the bundling of newspapers and magazines for recycling comprising a stand having a base, four upstanding legs positioned on said base proximate said corners, each of said legs supporting a separate segmented tray member, each segmented tray member having a planar base secured to a leg member, and two adjacent upstanding edges on the outer periphery forming a “L”, the upstanding edges defining a collection area for the placement of support of papers and magazines to be recycled, the base member having an upstanding spindle mounted on a pivot mount for the rotatable positioning of a source of twine, cord or string, the pivot mount allowing for the disbursal of twine beneath the bundle in a lateral direction and in a longitudinal direction when pivoted from the lateral position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention with the papers and magazines positioned therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of the organizer  10  of the present invention,  FIG. 2  a side view, and  FIG. 3  a top view. The organizer  10  comprises a base member  12  which in the embodiment illustrated is generally rectangular in configuration. The base member  12  has upstanding from points proximate the corners  14  thereof, four leg members  16 . Each of the leg members  16  supports segmented tray members  18 , the segmented tray portion  18  comprising a planar tray base member  20  and two abutting side walls  22  and  24 . 
     In this configuration as best can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the four segmented tray members  18  are separated from each other by a latitudinal gap  26  and a longitudinal gap  28 . The side walls  22  and  24  of each segmented tray member  18  form the corners of a tray and the height of the abutting side walls  22  and  24  are such that they allow for the accumulation of papers and magazines between the segmented tray members  18  to a height so as to provide for a bundle of newspapers or magazines that is easily wrapped and transported. The purpose of latitudinal and longitudinal gaps  26  and  28  between the segmented tray members  18  will become apparent upon consideration of the manner in which the newspapers or magazine are secured. 
     Positioned in one corner of the base member  12  is a horizontal pivot arm  30  pivotally secured to the base member at first end  32  and secured at second end  34 , to a twine support platform  36  and spindle  38 . Pivot arm  30  is secured to base member  12  in a manner of such that it allows for the pivot arm  30  to swing in one direction to allow the alignment of the twine support platform  36 , spindle  38  and twine  40  to align with the longitudinal gap  28  between the segmented tray members and to swing in an opposing direction to align the twine support platform  36 , spindle  38  and twine  40  with the latitudinal gap  26  between segmented tray members.  FIG. 4  illustrates this positioning with respect to the longitudinal gap  28  and  FIG. 5  represents this positioning with respect to the latitudinal gap  26 . This configuration allows the user to easily extract twine  40  from the spindle  38  and to encircle the bundle of newspapers and magazines  42  about its latitudinal axis and then to reposition the twine and spindle to extract twine to wrap about the longitudinal axis and secure same. This design allows for an individual to easily determine when a bundle needs to be secured because the bundle  42  will necessarily proximate the height of the side walls of the segmented tray members  18 . The individual can easily extract twine  40  from the spindle  38  to wrap the papers and magazines  42  in a longitudinal orientation and then in a latitudinal orientation or vice versa. The bundle can then be removed for recycling. The organizer  10  can also incorporate a slot  44  beneath one of the segmented tray members  18  for the receipt and storage of a pair of scissors  46  utilized to sever the used twine from that twine  40  remaining on the spindle. 
     The present invention can be fabricated from a variety of different materials. It could be fabricated decoratively and functionally in solid wood or it could be fabricated both functionally and less expensively in plastic, such as ABS or from metal. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.