Patent Publication Number: US-11027915-B2

Title: Bag holder apparatus

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/480,366, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of household refuse collection. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known for households to use containers to receive refuse and for such households to use disposable bags to line such containers. It is also well known that, for sundry reasons, households often use disposable bags that are not appropriately sized [undersized] for the container, with the result that the bag cannot be suspended from the rim of the container in the conventional fashion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for use with a refuse container and a refuse bag, the container being of the type having a mouth which presents vertically upwardly in use and a rim which defines the entry to the mouth, the bag being of the type having an end portion which defines a mouth of the bag. This apparatus comprises a bag holder and securement apparatus. The bag holder, in use, is disposed at an operative position relative to the container and suspends the bag interiorly of the container such that the mouth of the bag is open, presents upwardly and is disposed adjacent the rim of the container. The securement apparatus, in use, holds the bag holder at the operative position. 
     According to another aspect, the bag holder can include: a frame about which the end portion is draped in use; and a clip adapted to grip around the frame and, in use, the bag. 
     According to another aspect, the bag holder can comprise a plurality of clips. 
     According to another aspect, the frame can have a plurality of portions, each portion including a pair of elongate members disposed in angular relation; and a clip can be provided for each of said plurality of portions, the clip being adapted to grip a substantial portion of the length of each of the members of said each portion. 
     According to another aspect, in each portion, the elongate members of the pair can be disposed in perpendicular relation to one another. 
     According to another aspect, the securement apparatus can be defined by a plurality of grips, each grip having a fixed end connected to the frame and a free end which, in use, is releasably coupled to the refuse container. 
     According to another aspect, the free end can be a hooked end which, in use, receives the rim in gripping relation. 
     According to another aspect, the frame can have a plurality of linear sections; and the fixed ends of the grips can be pivotally connected to the linear sections for movement around pivot axes defines by the linear sections. 
     According to another aspect, the frame can be bisected into two parts, hingedly connected to one another for relative movement about a hinge axis in the manner of the leaves of a book; and the linear sections can be orientated parallel to the hinge axis. 
     According to another aspect, the plurality of grips can be a pair of grips, the grips being relatively elongate in the direction of the linear section to resist pivotal movement of the bag holder in the container. 
     According to another aspect, when the parts are disposed in coplanar relation, the frame can be substantially rectangular. 
     According to another aspect, in use, the mouth of the bag can be disposed beneath the rim of the container. 
     Forming another aspect of the invention is apparatus for use with a refuse container, a refuse bag and a plurality of clips. The container is of the type having a mouth which presents vertically upwardly in use and a rim which defines the entry to the mouth. The bag being of the type having an end portion which defines a mouth of the bag. 
     This apparatus comprises a frame and securement apparatus. The frame, in use, is disposed at an operative position relative to the container and is engaged by the clips to suspend the bag interiorly of the container such that the mouth of the bag is open, presents upwardly and is disposed adjacent the rim of the container. The securement apparatus, in use, holds the frame at the operative position. 
     Advantages, features and characteristics of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and the appended drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of the structure of encircled area  1 A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  assembled for use; 
         FIG. 2A  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a folded position; 
         FIG. 3  shows a refuse container and refuse bag of the prior art with which the apparatus of  FIG. 1  can be used; 
         FIG. 4  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in use with the structure of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4A  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  in use with the structure of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of an alternate embodiment of the structure  5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows the structure of  FIG. 7  in use with a refuse container; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the structure of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the bracket  56  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 8  from another vantage point; 
         FIG. 9A  is a view of an alternative embodiment of the structure of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9B  is an exploded view of the structure of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view of a further alternate embodiment of the structure indicated by reference numeral  5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a view of a further alternate embodiment of the structure indicated by reference numeral  5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a view of an alternate embodiment of the structure indicated by reference numeral  5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a view of the structure of  FIG. 12  in use with a refuse container; 
         FIG. 14  is a view, similar to  FIG. 5 , of a yet further alternative embodiment; and 
         FIG. 15  is a view of an alternative embodiment of the structure of  FIG. 1A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows apparatus  20  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which apparatus will be seen to comprise a bag holder  22  and securement apparatus  25 . 
     The bag holder  22  includes a frame  24  and a plurality of clips  26 . 
     The frame  24  includes two substantially planar parts  28 , hingedly connected to one another for movement about a hinge axis X-X. Each part  28  includes a linear section  30  and a pair of portions  32 . Linear section  30  is orientated parallel to the hinge axis X-X. Each portion  32  includes a pair of elongate members  34 , 36  disposed in angular, more specifically, perpendicular relation, one  34  of the pair of elongate members forming a coaxial extension of the linear section  30  such that, when the parts are disposed in opposing relation, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the frame is substantially rectangular and planar. 
     The clips  26  are provided one for each of the plurality of portions, each clip being adapted to grip a substantial portion of the length of each of the members  34 , 36  of the portion for which it is provided, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The clips  26  will be seen to include hooks  27  which facilitate removal from the frame. 
     The securement apparatus  25  is defined by a plurality of grips  38 , specifically, a pair of grips, one being provided for each linear section  30 , each grip having a fixed end  40  and a free end  42 . The fixed end  40  is pivotally connected to the linear section  30  for which it is provided for movement around a pivot axis Z-Z defined by the linear section  30 . The free end  42  is a hooked end, the hooked end being relatively elongate in the direction of the linear section  30 . 
     The apparatus  20  is used with a refuse container  44  and a refuse bag  46 , the container being of the prior art type having a mouth  48  which presents vertically upwardly in use and a rim  50  which defines the entry to the mouth, the bag being of the prior art type having an end portion  52  which defines a mouth  54  of the bag, all as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In use, as shown in  FIG. 4 :
         the end portion  52  of the bag is draped around the frame  24 ;   each clip  26  is disposed in gripping relation to the members  34 ,  36  of the portion  32  for which it is provided and that portion of the bag disposed there between; and   each hooked end  42  receives the rim  50  in gripping relation, thereby to support the bag holder  20  in an operative position and configuration wherein the bag holder  20  suspends the bag  46  interiorly of the container such that the mouth of the bag is open, presents upwardly and is disposed beneath the rim of the container.       

     Whereas a specific embodiment is shown and described, it will be evident that variations are possible. 
     For example, whereas the illustrated frame is hinged and rectangular, this is not necessary; a solid frame  24 A is shown in  FIG. 5 . Other shapes, such as circular frames, could also of course be used; this could be of particular use in the context of round refuse containers. 
     As well, whereas the illustrated securement apparatus includes hooks for engaging the rim of the refuse container, the apparatus could utilize other mechanisms for releasably engaging a refuse container. For example,  FIGS. 6-9  show an embodiment wherein brackets  56  are mounted to the walls of the container and closed hooks  58  releasably engage the brackets in use. In the context of containers that terminate in rims with thick, planar, horizontal surfaces, brackets could also be mounted upon such surfaces, as indicated by  FIGS. 9A, 9B , which show brackets  56 ′ so mounted; such brackets  56 ′, for example, could conveniently receive the structure of  FIG. 2 . 
     Further, whereas the grips in the exemplary embodiment are pivotally connected, this is not necessary;  FIGS. 10 and 11  show embodiment having grips  60  rigidly mounted to the frame. Although structures showing two and four grips are shown, it will be evident that any number of grips could be utilized. 
     Further, whereas a specific refuse container and refuse bag are illustrated, it will be appreciated that the illustrated apparatus could be used with refuse containers and refuse bags of various sizes by virtue of, inter alia, the hinged connection between the parts and the pivotal connections of the grips. 
     Moreover, the apparatus could also be varied in size and shape, to accommodate even broader ranges of containers and bags. 
     As well, whereas the illustrated embodiment shows a refuse container with a hinged lid, it will be appreciated that a lid is not necessary, let alone a hinged lid. 
     Additionally, whereas in the exemplary embodiment, the frame is fully releasable, this is not strictly necessary;  FIG. 12  shows an embodiment of the frame and securement means which includes brackets  62 ,  64  intended for permanent affixation to the container and a frame  66  pivotally mounted to one of the brackets  62  and adapted for snap fit engagement with the other bracket  66 , shown mounted for use in  FIG. 13 . 
     Yet further, whereas in the exemplary embodiment, the mouth is suspended beneath the rim of the container, this is not strictly necessary. For example,  FIG. 14  shows a version of the frame which is substantially planar, having a plurality of slots  68  defined in the underside of projecting posts, which slots engage the rim of the refuse container in use (not shown). 
     Further, whereas the illustrated clips are provided one for each corner and grip the angularly extending members thereof, the clips could equally grip only a single linear part of the frame; such a clip is shown in  FIG. 15 . Of course, the clips could have various shapes and need not be resiliently-deformed snap-type clips; for example, spring clips (such as clothespins) could be utilized, as could clips that use turnscrews (such as C-clamps). 
     Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.