Container with living hinge bag retainer

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a bin having an open end; a bag mounting ring mounted inside a perimeter of the bin adjacent to the open end and comprising living hinges to flexibly and movably join the bag mounting ring to the inside perimeter of the bin; a handle, having two ends that extend inside and are coupled by pivots to inside walls of the bin, and a top bar that fits inside the bin when the handle is closed; wherein the bag mounting ring comprises offset ring portions that are configured to clear the handle when the handle is closed. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a bin having a floor, side walls and an open end; a bag mounting ring mounted inside a perimeter of upper wall portions of the bin adjacent to the open end; a lid that is movable on pivots on the upper wall portions, wherein the lid fits over and at least partially covers the bag mounting ring when the lid is closed.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a bin having an open end;   a bag mounting ring mounted to an inside perimeter of the bin adjacent to the open end and comprising a pair of vertically movable living hinges configured to flexibly join the bag mounting ring to the inside perimeter of the bin;   a handle, having two ends that extend inside and are coupled by pivots to inside walls of the bin, and a top bar that fits inside the bin when the handle is closed;   wherein the bag mounting ring comprises offset ring portions that are configured to clear the handle when the handle is closed.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein the living hinges each comprise an upper living hinge joined to the bag mounting ring and to an upper hinge plate that is joined by a lower living hinge to a lower hinge plate that is configured to removably affix to the inside perimeter of the bin. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein two or more upper wall portions of the bin comprise an inwardly extending lip and wherein the bag mounting ring is seated on the lips. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  wherein the bag mounting ring comprises outwardly extending pins that are snugly engaged in the pivots on the inside walls of the bin. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4  wherein the pins are formed at midpoints of side ring portions of the bag mounting ring and are configured to permit the bag mounting ring to pivot upwardly or downwardly within the bin. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  further comprising a movable lid having pivot mouths that snugly engage pivot rods formed in an upper wall portion of the bin, wherein the lid is configured to fit inside the handle and over the bag mounting ring when the lid and the handle are closed. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 5  wherein the lid is formed having at least one perimeter dimension that is smaller than an inside dimension of the open end and defining a ventilation gap between the bin and the lid when the lid is closed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1  further comprising a non-movable grab handle formed integrally with and extending outwardly from an upper portion of a rear side wall of the bin. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  wherein the grab handle comprises end arms formed integrally with the upper portion and comprising pivot rods, the apparatus further comprising a pivoting lid having pivot mouths that snugly engage the pivot rods, wherein the lid is configured to fit inside the handle and over the bag mounting ring when the lid and the handle are closed. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 8  wherein the grab handle comprises a bottom edge defining an open region that is configured to hang. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a bin having a floor, side walls and an open end;   a bag mounting ring mounted to an inside perimeter of upper wall portions of the bin adjacent to the open end and comprising living hinges to flexibly and movably join the bag mounting ring to the inside perimeter of the bin;   a lid that is movable on pivots on the upper wall portions, wherein the lid fits over and at least partially covers the bag mounting ring when the lid is closed.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11  wherein the living hinges each comprise an upper living hinge joined to the bag mounting ring and to an upper hinge plate that is joined by a lower living hinge to a lower hinge plate that is configured to removably affix to the inside perimeter of the bin, and wherein the living hinges are vertically movable to raise the bag mounting ring to an upper position above the bin and to a lower position within the bin. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12  wherein each upper wall portion of the bin comprises one or more inwardly extending lips and wherein the bag mounting ring is seated on the lips. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12  wherein the bag mounting ring is mounted using outwardly extending pivot pins that are snugly engaged in pivots that are formed on the inside walls of the bin. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 14  wherein the pins are formed at midpoints of side ring portions of the bag mounting ring and are configured to permit the bag mounting ring to pivot upwardly or downwardly within the bin. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12  further comprising a pivoting lid having pivot mouths that snugly engage pivot rods formed in an upper wall portion of the bin, wherein the lid is configured to fit inside the handle and over the bag mounting ring when the lid and the handle are closed. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16  wherein the lid has at least one perimeter dimension that is smaller than an inside dimension of the open end and defining a ventilation gap between the bin and the lid when the lid is closed. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12  further comprising a non-pivoting grab handle formed integrally with and extending outwardly from an upper portion of a rear side wall of the bin. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 18  wherein the grab handle comprises end arms formed integrally with the upper portion and comprising pivot rods, the apparatus further comprising a pivoting lid having pivot mouths that snugly engage the pivot rods, wherein the lid is configured to fit inside the handle and over the bag mounting ring when the lid and the handle are closed. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 19  wherein the grab handle comprises a bottom edge defining an open region that is configured to hang. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a bin having an open end and having one or more inwardly protruding alignment tabs;   a bag mounting ring mounted to an inside perimeter of the bin adjacent to the open end and comprising pivots each having a plurality of detents arranged to engage the one or more alignment tabs in any of several tilted or straight positions, and comprising a pair of vertically movable living hinges configured to flexibly join the bag mounting ring to the inside perimeter of the bin;   wherein the living hinges each comprise an upper living hinge joined to the bag mounting ring and a lower living hinge that is configured to removably affix to the inside perimeter of the bin, and wherein the living hinges are vertically movable to raise the bag mounting ring to an upper position above the bin and to a lower position within the bin;   a handle, having two ends that extend inside and are coupled by pivots to inside walls of the bin, and a top bar that fits inside the bin when the handle is closed;   wherein the bag mounting ring comprises offset ring portions that are configured to clear the handle when the handle is closed;   a lid that is movable on pivots on upper wall portions of the bin, wherein the lid fits over and at least partially covers the bag mounting ring when the lid is closed.