Holder for refuse bags

Abstract

A refuse bag holder comprising a pair of relatively moveable bag-supporting members that expand to spread the open end of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and retract toward each other to release the filled bag. The bag holder a frame has a pair of tubular members of inverted U-shape in the upright position of the frame. The bight portions of the U-shaped frame members can be moved toward and away from each other, and serve as bag-top supporting members for the material surrounding the open end of a plastic refuse bag. The open end of an empty refuse bag is pulled upwardly between the bight portions, and then draped loosely over them while they are close enough together so that the plastic bag material is slack. The bight portions can then be expanded to spread the bag top and hold it open for receiving refuse. In the case of paper bags, the bag-supporting members also include removable tension members, in the form of flat, elongated blades of resilient material, that project from the bight portions. The tension members engage the inner surface of the material at the open top of the bag, and spread it wide open and taut. When the bag top is held wide open and taut, the space between the bight portions (and the tension members, in the case of paper bags) is determined by the size of the bag. The U-shaped frame members are pivotally connected together to move scissor-like with respect to each other. When the bight portions, (or the tension members, in the case of paper bags) expand to reach a bag-top-open position corresponding to the size of the plastic or paper bag, respectively, they are locked against retraction by a positioning device. The positioning device locks the frame members against movement until it is selectively actuated to release the frame members and permit the bight portions to retract and release the bag. The positioning device is operable to lock the frame members in one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to each other that corresponds to the size of the bag.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising: 
 A pair of relatively moveable bags supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ); 
 said bag supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) being selectively expandable to engage the material near the open top of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and thereafter selectively retractable toward each other to permit the bag material to be released from engagement with said members ( 2 ,  3 );  
   and positioning mechanism ( 52 ,  152 ) interconnecting said bag supporting members, ( 2 ,  3 ), said positioning mechanism ( 52 ,  152 ) being operable to selectively secure said bag-supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) in: 
 (1) a closed condition in which said bag supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) are collapsed together for storage; and  
 (2) any one of a plurality of bag-supporting conditions in which said bag-supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) are spaced apart a distance, as determined by the size of the bag, sufficient to hold a bag top in a wide open condition.  
   
     
     
         2 . A holder as claimed in  claim 1  which said pair of bag holding members ( 2 ,  3 ) comprises a pair of parallel bars ( 18 ,  24 :  118 ,  124 ) connected together to remain in parallel relationship as they move toward and away from each other.  
     
     
         3 . A holder as claimed in  claim 2  further including a pair of U-shaped frame members ( 14 ,  16 ;  114 ,  116 ), each comprising one of said parallel bars ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) and a pair of leg members ( 20 ,  22 ;  24 ,  26 ;  120 ,  122 ;  124 ,  126 ) with proximate ends joined to opposite ends of the respective parallel bar, and distal ends located remotely from said respective parallel bar.  
     
     
         4 . A holder as claimed in  claim 3  in which the leg members ( 20 ,  22 ;  24 ,  26 ;  120 ,  122 ;  124 ,  126 ) of each pair of leg members are substantially parallel to each other.  
     
     
         5 . A holder as claimed in  claim 4  in which each leg member ( 20 ,  22 ;  120 ,  122 ) of one frame member ( 14 ;  114 ) is pivotally connected to a respective one of the leg members ( 26 ,  28 ;  126 ,  128 ) of the other frame member ( 16 ;  116 ) to join the frame members together scissors-like about an axis that is parallel to said parallel bars, and is located between the proximate and distal ends of said leg members.  
     
     
         6 . A holder as claimed in  claim 1  in which a connector ( 34 ;  134 ) connects said positioner ( 52 ;  152 ) with one of said frame members ( 14 ;  114 ); and further comprising co-operable securing elements ( 58 ,  158 ;  48 ,  158 ) on said positioner ( 52 ;  152 ) and the other of said frame members ( 16 ;  116 ) that are selectively engageable to secure the frame members ( 14 ,  16 :  114 ,  116 ) in said selected one of a plurality of relative positions about the axis of said pivot means.  
     
     
         7 . A holder as claimed in  claim 6  in which said positioner ( 52 ;  152 ) comprises an elongated bar ( 56 ;  156 ); said co-operable securing elements comprise a series of grooves ( 58 ;  158 ) along at least a portion of the length of said bar ( 56 ;  156 ); and a groove-engaging element ( 48 ;  148 ) on said frame ( 16 ;  116 ) selectively engageable with one of said grooves ( 58 ;  158 ).  
     
     
         8 . A holder as claimed in  claim 7  in which each of said grooves ( 58 ;  158 ) has a wall ( 58   d ;  158   d ) that is transverse to the length of said locking bar ( 56 ;  156 ) and a wall ( 58   a;   158   a ) that is inclined outwardly in the direction of movement of said groove-engaging element ( 48 ;  148 ) to increase the distance between said bag supporting members ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ).  
     
     
         9 . A holder as claimed in  claim 8  in which said securing element ( 48 ;  148 ) comprises a shaft mounted on the distal ends of the leg members ( 20 ,  22 ;  120 ,  122 ) of said frame member ( 14 ;  114 ).  
     
     
         10 . A holder as claimed in  claim 9  further including a platform ( 36 ;  136 ) that overlies and is secured to said positioner ( 52 ;  152 ), said platform ( 36 ;  136 ) being pivotally connected to the distal ends of the leg members ( 26 ,  28 ;  126 ,  128 ) of said frame member ( 16 ;  116 ).  
     
     
         11 . A holder as claimed in  claim 10  in which said positioner ( 52 ) further comprises a strap ( 54 ) secured to said platform ( 36 ) in spaced, parallel relationship with said elongated bar ( 56 ) to define a slot ( 61 ) therewith for slideably receiving said securing element ( 48 ) on said frame member ( 16 ).  
     
     
         12 . A holder as claimed in  claim 11  further including a pair of wheels ( 50 ) mounted on opposite ends of said shaft ( 48 ).  
     
     
         13 . A holder as claimed in  claim 12  further including a pair of resilient latch members ( 46 ) engageable between the leg members ( 26 ,  28 ) of said frame members ( 16 ) in the collapsed, stored condition to resiliently hold said platform in said collapsed and stored condition.  
     
     
         14 . A holder as claimed in  claim 1  in which each of said bag supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) comprises at least one tension member ( 19 ;  119 ) adapted to apply outward pressure on the bag material adjacent the open top of the refuse bag.  
     
     
         15 . A holder as claimed in  claim 14  in which each of said tension members ( 19 ;  119 ) includes at least one flat blade ( 21 ;  121 ) of resilient material adapted to project into the open top of the bag.  
     
     
         16 . A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising, in combination: 
 first means for engaging the material of a flexible bag near the open end thereof while the material is in a slack condition and thereafter expanding it in accordance with the size of the bag until the open end is wide open with the surrounding material in a taut condition; and    second means for releasably locking said first means against retraction to maintain the bag in the wide open and taut condition until selectively released to permit the material to return to a slack condition for disengagement from said first means.    
     
     
         17 . A holder as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said first means further comprises: 
 means for applying continuos resilient pressure on the bag material against relaxation of the taut condition.  
 
     
     
         18 . A holder as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said first means further comprises: 
 means for engaging the material of a flexible bag near the open end thereof while the material is in a slack condition by engaging an inside-out fold of the flexible material surrounding the open end of the bag as opposite sides of the bag, and thereafter expanding the material of the fold and at the perimeter of the open end until the bag is wide open and in a taut condition.  
 
     
     
         19 . A holder as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said first means further comprises: 
 means for applying continuous outward pressure to the inner surface of said fold while the bag is in said wide open and taut condition.  
 
     
     
         20 . A holder as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said second means further comprises: 
 third means for moving in response to the expansion of the open end of the bag by said first means to a position corresponding to the size of the bag in its wide open and taut condition; and  
 fourth means for releasably engaging said third means and releasably locking it against retraction from said position corresponding to the size of the bag in its wide open and taut condition.  
 
     
     
         21 . A holder as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said first means further comprises: 
 means for engaging and applying continuous outward pressure to the inner surface of the material while the bag is in said wide-open and taut condition.  
 
     
     
         22 . A holder as claimed in  claim 1  further including, in combination therewith: 
 a refuse bag (B) of flexible plastic material having its upper end portion received between and draped over said pair of bag supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) such that an inside-out fold (F) thereof depends from said bag supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ).  
 
     
     
         23 . A holder as claimed in  claim 1  further including, in combination therewith: 
 a paper refuse bag (B- 1 ), and in which each of said bag-supporting members ( 2 ,  3 ) comprises at least one tension member ( 19 ;  119 ) having at least one blade ( 21 ,  121 ) projecting downwardly into the open top of said bag (B- 1 ) engageable with the inner surface of the paper bag material.  
 
     
     
         24 . A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising: 
 a frame ( 10 ,  110 ) including a pair of U-shaped frame members ( 14 ,  16 ;  114 ,  116 ) each having a bight portion ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) with a pair of leg members ( 20 ,  22 ;  26 ,  28 ;  120 ,  122 ;  126 ,  128  ) having proximate ends joined to opposite ends of the respective bight portions ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) and extending therefrom to distal ends spaced remotely from said bight portions ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 );    pivot means ( 30 ,  32 ;  130 ,  132 ) connecting each leg member ( 20 ,  22 ;  120 ,  122 ) of one frame member ( 14 ,  114 ) with one leg member ( 26 ,  28 ;  126 ,  128 ) of the other frame member ( 16 : 116 ) so that the frame members ( 14 ,  16 ;  114 ,  116 ) pivot scissors-like about the axis of said pivot means ( 30 ,  32 ;  130 ,  132 ) to cause the respective bight portions ( 18 - 24 ;  118 ,  124 ) and distal ends to move toward and away from each other;    and a positioner ( 52 ;  152 ) interconnecting said frame members ( 14 ,  16 ;  114 ,  116 ),said positioner ( 52 ,  152 ) being operable to selectively secure said frame members ( 14 ,  16 ;  114 ,  116 ) in a selected one of a plurality of relative positions about the axis of said pivot means ( 30 ,  32 ;  130 ,  132 ) in which the bight portions ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) thereof are spaced different distances from each other to accommodate refuse bags of different sizes.    
     
     
         25 . A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising: 
 a pair of relatively moveable bag-top supporting members ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 );    said pair of members ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) having at least one bag-top attaching and release position spaced from each other a sufficient distance such that a flexible bag top is adapted to be received in the space between, and draped over said members in a slack condition for easy removal;    said pair of members  18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ) then being moveable apart from each other a distance, determined by the size of the bag, to a bag-top open position in which the bag top is pulled taut and held wide open by said pair of members for receiving refuse; and    a positioner ( 52 ;  152 ) interconnecting said pair of members ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ), said positioner being operable to secure said members in the bag-top open position; and to selectively release said members and permit their return to a bag-top attaching and release position for removal from said bag-supporting members.    
     
     
         26 . A holder as claimed in  claim 2  in which each of said bag holding members ( 2 ,  3 ) further comprises at least one tension member ( 19 ;  119 ) detachably mounted on each of the parallel bars ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ).  
     
     
         27 . A holder as claimed in  claim 26  in which each of said tension members ( 19 ;  119 ) comprises at least one flat blade ( 21 ;  121 ) projecting downwardly from its associated parallel bar ( 18 ,  24 ;  118 ,  124 ).  
     
     
         28 . A holder as claimed in  claim 27  further including, in combination therewith, an open-topped paper refuse bag B- 1  supported upright thereon; said flat blades ( 21 ;  121 ) each projecting into the open top of said paper bag B- 1  to engage with the inner surface of the paper bag material.