Patent Abstract:
A device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle. The device and bag or receptacle are used horizontally. The device comprises a funneled receiver, channel, stakes, and optionally four legs. The receiver is a scoop-like device having semi-frusto-conical cross-sections. The channel is a non-funneled extension of the receiver, having trapezoidal cross-sections. If a bag is used, the device facilitates filling the bag and it also holds open the bag. The optional four legs also hold open the body of the bag and, by contributing to the stability of the device, they allow the device to be smaller and lighter than otherwise. The device is normally placed on the ground, and inserted into either the bag or the receptacle. Leaves, grass clippings and other debris are raked or otherwise projected through the front of the receiver. The front of the receiver has a turned-over lip that facilitates filling the bag and that also acts as a handle.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention satisfies the need of an improved device to facilitate fitting a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle. 
     Information relevant to attempts to address this problem can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,731,184; 3,997,169; 4,671,708; 5,593,117; 5,655,739; 5,879,039; 6,166,548; 6,116,549; 6,135,518; 6,450,461; 6,554,810; 6,708,742; 6,974,167; 7,066,432; 7,281,690; 7,302,904; 7,302,978; 4,776,478; D289,577; D389,634; D440,729; D502,582; D513,352; and U.S. Patent Application No.&#39;s 20020100844; 20020100845; 20030173471; 20030218104; and 20050087657; which are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by its mention in this Background Section. However, it is desirable to have better apparatuses and/or methods than what is disclosed in the identified references. Relevant fields of art include 52/155; 141/391; 248/99, 146, 156; and D34/5, 6. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,117 is a lawn and garden debris collecting apparatus comprising a two-component funneled receiver and a bag. The front of the receiver has an funnel-shaped mouth with a tapering rectangular cross-section followed by a much shorter portion tapering in the reverse direction. All four sides of the funnel taper in three dimensions, in contrast to the present invention in which only three sides of the funnel taper in three dimensions and the fourth side tapers in two dimensions. The rear of the receiver has a non-tapering rectangular cross section. These front and the rear portions are separate from one another, and are connected only by a strap on both sides, in contrast to the present invention in which the receiver and channel are integrally formed. The receiver lies on the ground, but unlike the present invention it has no stake or anchor. It has a cut-out hand-hold, unlike the present invention which has a handhold integrally formed from the receiver front terminal edge. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,739 is a tubular receiver having a sigmoidal tapered front, a baseboard, and a rear locking ring for holding a bag in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,039 is an elongated tube with two handles on the sides. The device is made for vertical use, for fitting sandbags. 
     In contrast to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,116,548 and 6,116,549, the legs of the present invention are not a support stand, in the sense that they do not support the receiver. The receiver lies on the ground. Two of the legs lie lengthwise on the ground. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,518 has a funneled receiver and channel. All four walls of the receiver taper away from the plane of the channel. The device is made for vertical use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,461 is simply a hollow four-sided rectangular frame, with holes with longitudinal slits for receiving bolts connected to a bag to hold the bag. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,742 has a funneled receiver and channel with parallel sides, but only the channel has a top wall. The handle is attached onto the top wall of the channel. The device is made to insert into a custom receptacle. Optionally the channel is removable and the funnel placed into a bag; such as configuration has no handle. It has no stakes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,167 has a receiver with parallel side walls and a funneled channel, the reverse of the present invention. It has no top wall or optional legs. It is not made to lie flush on the ground. It works only with receptacles, not with bags. It has a bracket for attaching to the mouth of the receptacle. It has no stakes. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments of the present invention comprise an apparatus and a method for manufacturing that apparatus. 
     The apparatus comprises a funneled receiver, channel, a stake or stakes, and optionally four legs. A stake is a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the soil. I refer to the point of the stake as the tine. The tine is used here to puncture the soil and it facilitates subsequently pushing the stake into the soil. 
     The receiver is adapted to receive a bag on the exterior of the back end of the channel. It is also adapted to rest, along with the channel, in the mouth of a trash receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is sized to accommodate from 32 to 50 gallon bags. Such embodiment has channel dimensions of approximately 12 inches long, 14 inches high and 12 inches wide. 
     The receiver is shaped like a scoop. The receiver has a semi-frusto-conical shape, “semi-” in the sense that the bottom wall tapers only laterally and remains flush with the ground, “frusto-conical” in the sense that it is a frustum with a trapezoidal base, with rounded edges like a cone. 
     The front of the receiver is an inlet to the device, and the back of the channel is an outlet from the device into the bag. 
     The front terminal edges of the top and side walls of the receiver taper continuously in a sigmoidal shape. They also fold back, forming an integral handle. The fold also helps funnel the debris into the receiver. 
     The geometry of the device contributes to its stability. The receiver bottom wall front terminal edge length is longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge. The receiver bottom wall back terminal edge length is longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge. The receiver side wall front terminal edge length is longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall front terminal edge. The receiver side wall back terminal edge length is longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall back terminal edge. The receiver is generally as long as the channel. The bottom wall does not taper from the horizontal. 
     If legs are added to the device, they may be formed monolithically and integrally with the channel and receiver, or they may be slidably insertable into recesses formed in the channel. 
     The device also has two compression plates on either side, through which run stakes for anchoring the device. The compression plates can also be used to hold the bag onto a surface such as a tile or wooden or concrete floor, by taping the compression plates to the surface. 
     A clip is attached or formed on the sides of the channel. The clip holds a drawstring of a bag, securing the bag to the channel. The clip can take many forms, such as a jaw forced on to the channel by a spring, or two jaws forced together by a spring, or a carabiner. 
     In an alternate embodiment the channel and receiver are formed in two separate pieces, the rear of the receiver nests inside the channel interior, the receiver is pivotably connected to the channel by two pivot pins with each pivot pin running through one side of the channel and the adjacent side of the receiver. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus and/or methods will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows an perspective view of an embodiment with legs; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment without legs; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of an embodiment without legs; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of an embodiment without legs; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of an embodiment without legs, with the front pivoted upwards; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of an embodiment without legs, with the front pivoted downwards. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR DRAWINGS 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 receiver 
               
               
                 11 
                 receiver top 
               
               
                 12 
                 receiver bottom 
               
               
                 13 
                 receiver first side 
               
               
                 14 
                 receiver second side 
               
               
                 15 
                 receiver top wall 
               
               
                 20 
                 receiver bottom wall 
               
               
                 30 
                 receiver side wall 
               
               
                 35 
                 receiver front 
               
               
                 40 
                 receiver rear 
               
               
                 41 
                 receiver front terminal edge 
               
               
                 42 
                 receiver rear terminal edge 
               
               
                 45 
                 first lateral edge 
               
               
                 46 
                 second lateral edge 
               
               
                 50 
                 top wall lateral edge 
               
               
                 51 
                 bottom wall lateral edge 
               
               
                 55 
                 handle 
               
               
                 60 
                 compression plate 
               
               
                 65 
                 compression plate opening 
               
               
                 70 
                 tine 
               
               
                 71 
                 top of tine 
               
               
                 72 
                 bottom of tine 
               
               
                 73 
                 tip of tine 
               
               
                 75 
                 stake 
               
               
                 76 
                 stake handle 
               
               
                 80 
                 compression plate upper surface 
               
               
                 85 
                 compression plate lower surface 
               
               
                 90 
                 fastener 
               
               
                 95 
                 fastener opening 
               
               
                 100 
                 channel 
               
               
                 101 
                 channel front 
               
               
                 102 
                 channel rear 
               
               
                 103 
                 top 
               
               
                 104 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 110 
                 top wall 
               
               
                 115 
                 bottom wall 
               
               
                 120 
                 side wall 
               
               
                 125 
                 channel front terminal edge 
               
               
                 130 
                 channel rear terminal edge 
               
               
                 135 
                 front of channel 
               
               
                 140 
                 rear of channel 
               
               
                 145 
                 leg 
               
               
                 146 
                 first end of leg 
               
               
                 147 
                 second end of leg 
               
               
                 150 
                 recess 
               
               
                 155 
                 raised ring 
               
               
                 160 
                 clip 
               
               
                 170 
                 pivot pin 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the Figures, the embodiments of the present invention comprises a device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises: 
     A. i. a scoop-like semi-frusto-conical receiver  10  having a front  35  and a rear  40 , a top  11  and a bottom  12 , a first side  13  and a second side  14 , a length, a longitudinal axis, a top wall  15 , a bottom wall  20 , two side watts  30 , an interior and an exterior, one or more cross-sections as viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each of the watts  15 ,  20 ,  30  having receiver front and rear terminal edges  41 ,  42  respectively comprising the front  35  and rear  40  of the receiver  10 , the receiver front terminal edge  41  specifically comprising the bottom wall front terminal edge  41  and the top wall front terminal edge  41  and the two side wall front terminal edges  41 , the receiver back terminal edge  42  specifically comprising the bottom wall back terminal edge  42  and the top wall back terminal edge  42  and the two side wall back terminal edges  42 , each of the receiver front and rear terminal edges  41 ,  42  having receiver front and rear terminal edge lengths respectively, the receiver bottom wall front terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge, the receiver bottom wall back terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge, the receiver side wall front terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall front terminal edge, the receiver side wall back terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall back terminal edge, each of the walls  15 ,  20 ,  30  having a first lateral edge  45  and a second lateral edge  46 , the first lateral edge  45  of each side wall  30  terminating at a top wall lateral edge  50  and the second lateral edge  46  of each side wall  30  terminating at a bottom wall lateral edge  51 , the side wall lateral edges  45 ,  46  terminating in the top and bottom wall lateral edges  50 ,  51  to form a semi-frusto-conical shape, the receiver  10  tapering from a trapezoidal cross-section at its front  35  to a relatively smaller trapezoidal cross-section at its rear  40 , the side walls  30  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  and towards the receiver rear  40 , the top wall  15  tapering towards the bottom wall  20  as viewed from the receiver front  35  and towards the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of each of the side walls  30  respectively tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of the top wall  15  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of the bottom wall  20  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the bottom wall  20  flush with the ground, the receiver front  35  being an entry end of the device, the two side walls  30  and top wall  15  each having a turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41 , the turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41  tapering continuously in a sigmoidal shape across the two side wall terminal edges  41  and top wall receiver front terminal edge  41 , the turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41  on the top wall  15  functioning as a handle  55 ; 
     ii. at least two compression plates  60 , with at least one plate  60  on each of the two sides  13 ,  14  of the front  35  bottom  12  of the receiver  10 , the compression plates  60  monolithically extending from the receiver bottom wall  20  along a plane formed by the receiver bottom wall  20 , the compression plates  60  each having a compression plate opening  65  adapted for receiving a tine  70  of a stake  75 , the compression plates  60  each having an upper surface  80  and a lower surface  85 , at least one fastener  90  attached on the receiver side wall  30  above and adjacent the upper surface  80  of each compression plate  60 , the fastener  90  having a fastener opening  95  adapted for slidably receiving a tine  70  of a stake  75 ; 
     B. a channel  100  having a front  101  and a rear  102 , a top  103  and a bottom  104 , a length and a width and a height, a longitudinal axis  105 , a top wall  110 , a bottom wall  115 , two side walls  120 , an interior and an exterior, one or more cross-sections as viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each of the walls  110 ,  115 ,  120  having channel front  125  and rear  130  terminal edges respectively comprising the front  135  and rear  140  of the channel  100 , the length of the channel  100  longer than the length of the receiver  10 , the length of the channel  100  approximately equal to the width of the channel  100 , the height of the channel  100  longer than the length of the channel  100 , the front  101  of the channel  100  monolithically extending from the rear  40  of the receiver  10  such that the channel  100  and receiver  10  are formed in one piece, the rear  140  of the channel  100  being an exit end of the device, the channel cross-sections having trapezoidal shapes; and 
     C. at least two stakes  75 , each stake  75  having at least one elongated tine  70 , the tines  70  having top  71  and bottom  72  ends, the bottom end  72  having a tip  73 , the top end  71  having a stake handle  76 , the tines  70  of the stakes  75  slidably insertable through the compression plate openings  65  and through the fastener openings  95 . 
     In an alternate embodiment the channel  100  and receiver  10  are formed in two separate pieces, the rear  40  of the receiver  10  nests inside the channel  100  interior, the receiver  10  is pivotably connected to the channel  100  by two pivot pins  170  with each pivot pin  170  running through one side wall  120  of the channel  100  and the adjacent side wall  120  of the receiver  10 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises: 
     A. four legs  145 , each leg  145  having a first end  146  and a second end  147  and a longitudinal axis and a perimeter; 
     B. four recesses  150  in the channel  100 , the recesses  150  each aligned along the longitudinal axis for insertably receiving the first end  146  of each of said legs  145 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the second end  147  of the leg  145  has a raised ring  155  extending around the leg perimeter. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises: 
     A. four legs  145 , each leg  145  having a first end  146  and a second end  147  and a longitudinal axis  148  and a perimeter, the legs  145  monolithically extending from the channel  100 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the second end  147  of the leg  145  has a raised ring  155  extending around the leg perimeter. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the receiver  10 , the channel  100  and the detachable legs  145  are made of plastic. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the device further comprises a clip  160  extending from each of the side walls  30  of the channel  100 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the clip  160  monolithically extends from each of the side walls  30  of the channel  100 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the handles  76  of the stakes  75  are each formed into an elliptical shape. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the stakes  75  are made of material selected from the group consisting of metal, steel, and aluminum. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the perimeters of the compression plates  60  have parabolic shapes. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the fastener  90  is an eyelet screw. 
     The embodiments of the invention further comprise a method for manufacturing a device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle, comprising providing: 
     A. a semi-frusto-conical receiver  10  comprising a scoop-like device having a front  35  and a rear  40 , a top  11  and a bottom  12 , a length, a longitudinal axis, a first side  13  and a second side  14 , a top wall  15 , a bottom wall  20 , two side walls  30 , an interior and an exterior, one or more cross-sections as viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each of the walls  15 ,  20 ,  30  having receiver front and rear terminal edges  41 ,  42  respectively comprising the front  35  and rear  40  of the receiver  10 , the receiver front terminal edge  41  specifically comprising the bottom wall front terminal edge  41  and the top wall front terminal edge  41  and the two side wall front terminal edges  41 , the receiver back terminal edge  42  specifically comprising the bottom wall back terminal edge  42  and the top wall back terminal edge  42  and the two side wall back terminal edges  42 , each of the receiver front and rear terminal edges  41 ,  42  having receiver front and rear terminal edge lengths respectively, the receiver bottom wall front terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge, the receiver bottom wall back terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge, the receiver side wall front terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall front terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall front terminal edge, the receiver side wall back terminal edge length being longer than the receiver top wall back terminal edge but shorter than the receiver bottom wall back terminal edge, each of the walls  15 ,  20 ,  30  having a first lateral edge  45  and a second lateral edge  46 , the first lateral edge  45  of each side wall  30  terminating at a top wall lateral edge  50  and the second lateral edge  46  of each side wall  30  terminating at a bottom wall lateral edge  51 , the side wall lateral edges  45 ,  46  terminating in the top and bottom wall lateral edges  50 ,  51  to form a semi-frusto-conical shape, the receiver  10  tapering from a trapezoidal cross-section at its front  35  to a relatively smaller trapezoidal cross-section at its rear  40 , the side walls  30  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  and towards the receiver rear  40 , the top wall  15  tapering towards the bottom wall  20  as viewed from the receiver front  35  and towards the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of each of the side walls  30  respectively tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of the top wall  15  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the two lateral edges  45 ,  46  of the bottom wall  20  tapering towards one another as viewed from the receiver front  35  to the receiver rear  40 , the bottom wall  20  flush with the ground, the front  35  of the receiver  10  being an entry end of the device, the two side walls  30  and top wall  15  each having a turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41 , the turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41  tapering continuously in a sigmoidal shape across the two side wall terminal edges  41  and top wall receiver front terminal edge  41 , the turned-over receiver front terminal edge  41  on the top wall  15  functioning as a handle  55 ; 
     B. at least two compression plates  60 , with at least one plate  60  on each of the two sides  13 ,  14  of the front  35  bottom  12  of the receiver  10 , the compression plates  60  monolithically extending from the receiver bottom wall  20  along a plane formed by the receiver bottom wall  20 , the compression plates  60  each having a compression plate opening  65  adapted for receiving a tine  70  of a stake  75 , the compression plates  60  each having an upper surface  80  and a lower surface  85 , at least one fastener  90  attached on the receiver side wall  30  above and adjacent the upper surface  80  of each compression plate  60 , the fastener  90  having a fastener opening  95  adapted for slidably receiving a tine  70  of a stake  75 ; 
     C. a channel  100  having a front  101  and a rear  102 , a top  103  and a bottom  104 , a length and width and height, a longitudinal axis, a top wall  110 , a bottom wall  115 , two side walls  120 , an interior and an exterior, one or more cross-sections as viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each of the walls  110 ,  115 ,  120  having channel front and rear terminal edges  125 ,  130  respectively comprising the front  101  and rear  102  of the channel  100 , the length of the channel  100  longer than the length of the receiver  10 , the length of the channel  100  approximately equal to the width of the channel  100 , the height of the channel  100  longer than the length of the channel  100 , the front  101  of the channel  100  monolithically extending from the rear  40  of the receiver  10  such that the channel  100  and receiver  10  are formed in one piece, the rear  102  of the channel  100  being an exit end of the device, the channel cross-sections having trapezoidal shapes; and 
     D. at least two stakes  75 , each stake  75  having at least one elongated tine  70 , the tines  70  having top  71  and bottom  72  ends, the bottom end  72  having a tip  73 , the top end  71  having a stake handle  76 , the tines  70  of the stakes  75  slidably insertable through the compression plate openings  65  and through the fastener openings  95 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the method further comprises providing four legs  145 , each leg  145  having a first end  146  and a second end  147  and a longitudinal axis and a perimeter, providing four recesses  150  in the channel  100 , the recesses  150  each aligned along the longitudinal axis for insertably receiving the first end  146  of each of said legs  145 , and inserting the legs  145  into the recesses  150 ; and 
     B. the inserting the-channel-into-the-bag step further comprises inserting the legs  145  into the bag. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the method further comprises providing legs  145  that monolithically extend from the channel  100 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the method further comprises providing a clip  160  extending from each of the side walls  120  of the channel  100 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the method further comprises providing a clip  160  that monolithically extends from each of the side walls  120  of the channel  100 . 
     Some advantages of the embodiments of the apparatus were previously enumerated in the Summary section. Every advantageous feature does not need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the apparatus and/or methods. 
     Although these versions of the invention have been described in considerable detail, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the versions contained therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1