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  Apparatus for holding a container at an angleRelated Patent Categories: Supports, Stand, , Movable Receptacle, TiltingThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070018059. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus to hold a container where the container encloses disposed of objects, such that the container, as held by the container holder, is safer and may be used more efficiently. More particularly this invention relates to a device that holds a container at an angle so that items placed into the container are compelled by gravity to move away from the area directly proximate to the input location or opening, thereby allowing for a more efficient and safer use of the container. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device is configured to hold a sharps container at an angle so that disposed of objects placed into the sharps container fall away from the sharps container opening. Because the sharps objects do not become tangled directly below the sharps container opening, the users will not be injured by a sharps object that may be extending out of the sharps container opening, and the sharps container will hold more disposed of sharps items, thereby increasing the safety, utility and efficiency of the sharps container. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Disposal containers are used in many varied settings, including offices, schools, and laboratories. These containers are often used to hold disposable medical waste, or disposable devices or instruments that themselves may contain disposable medical waste. For several reasons, including safety for the users, such containers are generally configured with a top or cover having an opening through which the objects or things to be disposed of are placed. The container cover may often times be sealed to the container to prevent users from having ready access to the disposed of objects and possibly become injured or infected by the disposed of device and/or medical waste. [0003] Because the entry point for the container (a) is often limited to one opening, (b) is often limited in size, and the container cover (c) is sealed to the container, all waste placed into the container, or objects placed into the container tend to fall into a position directly below or adjacent to the opening. As more objects are placed into the container, and each falls directly below the opening, the objects tend to fall into each and become tangled with each other similar to a pile of sticks. As the objects become tangled directly below the opening, they create a hazard by preventing future objects from being readily placed into the container opening. Moreover, because the objects tend to become tangled and clog the space directly proximate to the container opening, a substantial volume of the container remains unused. In the normal usage, the use of the container is potential unsafe, and is very inefficient. [0004] Certain prior art exists that could have application to use as a container holder. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,923, issued to Krentel teaches a knock down display rack having a top container support, a container and a base. Krentel is designed and configured for use as a retail display rack. Nothing in Krentel suggests usage of the rack to hold containers into which disposed of objects are to be placed. As such, Krentel does not address the needs for a laboratory environment container. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,735, issued to Clinton discloses a device for supporting a flexible bag into which objects may be placed. The Clinton device is configured out of a rigid wire-like material, but appears to be limited to holding a flexible bag. Moreover, there is no suggestion that the Clinton device has any capability of tilting a bag or container, which possibly could be placed within the wire cage device. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,246, issued to Chaffin et al., teaches a container drain support that includes a base with support to receive and position various shaped containers. Chaffin et al. does not, however, disclose that a container into which disposed of objects could be safely placed in the container support such that the container could be more safely and more efficiently use. Indeed, the only suggestion of Chaffin et al. is to provide a device to hold containers upside down so that gravity assists in getting out of the container all of the product which was in the container, which is the opposite of the problem identified for current containers holding disposed of objects. [0007] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,502, issued to Marsh shows a terrestrial wall mounted medical waste disposal container with a flexibly pivoted top closure lid. Marsh does not, however, disclose any means to hold the disposal container at any angle that would permit more efficient use of the volume within the container. [0008] Accordingly, none of the above prior art patents, nor any other device within the knowledge of the applicant, addresses the needs of a laboratory environment container holder to make use of such containers safer and more efficient. [0009] It would be desirable to have an apparatus to hold such containers which in turn hold objects to be disposed of, such that the objects fall into a position away from the entry point in the container and allow for a safer and more efficient use of the total container volume. Such improvements and results have not been seen or achieved in the relevant art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The above noted problems, which are inadequately or incompletely resolved by the prior art are completely addressed and resolved by the present invention. [0011] A preferred aspect of the invention is a device for holding a container that is used to hold objects to be disposed of, comprising a wire cage, a set of legs connected to the wire cage such that the wire cage is tiltable to one side thereby holding the container at an angle. [0012] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device for holding a container that is used to hold objects to be disposed of, is a wire cage, wherein the wire cage holds the container at an angle greater than approximately 15 degrees from a vertical orientation. [0013] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container holding device is designed to hold a sharps container, and the container holding device is held at a desired tilt angle by a rotatable element attached to a wall or other vertical element. [0014] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container holding device, further includes a motor to shake the container holding device and container held in the holding device. [0015] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device for holding a container at an angle, where the container is used to hold objects to be disposed of, comprising at least three ring elements, said ring elements shaped to encircle the perimeter of the container, at least two U-shaped reinforcing elements attached to the at least three ring elements whereby said at least two U-shaped reinforcing elements and the at least three ring elements form a cage device shaped to hold the container, a set of legs rotatably connected to the cage device whereby the cage device holding the container may be tilted to one side at a stable angle. [0016] The invention will be best understood by reading the following detailed description of the several disclosed embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings that briefly described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the attached drawings show several embodiments and aspects of several embodiments that are presently preferred. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and instrumentality shown in the accompanying drawings. [0018] FIG. 1: is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive container holder having two horizontal ring elements; [0019] FIG. 2: is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive container holder having three horizontal ring elements and two vertical band elements; [0020] FIG. 3: is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive container holder; Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus for holding a container at an angle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus for holding a container at an angle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus for holding a container at an angle or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Equipment support having rotatable bumpers and hooks Next Patent Application: Display device for a bottle Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus for holding a container at an angle patent info. 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