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Trash bag holderTrash bag holder description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070181753, Trash bag holder. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]NOT APPLICABLE. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to devices for holding plastic trash bags. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]The following discussion is provided solely to assist the understanding of the reader, and does not constitute an admission that any of the information discussed or references cited constitute prior art to the present invention. [0004]A variety of different trash bag holders have been described that are designed to hold plastic trash bags for filling. [0005]For example, Martinez, U.S. Design Patent D269,214 shows an invertible trash bag holder that has a wire frame with three outwardly directed curved ribs. [0006]Prader, U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,111 describes a wire holder for open mouth plastic bags having integral loop handles that have tabs integrally formed from the top wire pieces and extending downwardly to suspend the bags in an open position. "Base, longitudinal, vertical and top wire pieces form a substantially rectangular wire frame that can be collapsed into a flat condition prior to use and which can be easily assembled into a holder having good stability during use." [0007]Kitchens, U.S. Design Patent D510,166 shows a trash bag holder that includes hooks on triangular frame pieces that are joined with horizontal connector rods. [0008]Ferreira et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,985 describes a "trash bag holder which moves from a generally planar collapsed storage position automatically to an open use position in which it can be used to support a flexible wall container such as a plastic trash bag." [0009]Kent, U.S. Design Patent D418,653 shows a wire frame trash bag holder that has corner loops that hold a bag and provides a rectangular opening. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]The present invention concerns advantageous bag holders (e.g., trash bag holders) that can hold selected bags (e.g., plastic, paper, or other material) in an open configuration while requiring minimal floor space and bulk. Such holders are, for example, useful in a small office and kitchen environments to reduce the floor space requirements and otherwise reduce the number of bulky objects required around a worker's desk or other workspace. In some cases, the present trash bag holders are particularly adapted for use with "drawstring" trash bags. [0011]Thus, in a first aspect, the invention provides a trash bag holder that includes an opening frame that has two hooks or pegs at a height and spacing corresponding to the upper band of a selected drawstring plastic trash bag, and, in some cases, an opening extender that maintains a separation at the opening of the trash bag when the exposed drawstring is hooked on the hooks. The placement of the hooks is selected to correspond to the relative positions of the exposed drawstring portion on opposite sides of the bag opening rim. In order to position the hooks appropriately to hook the exposed portions of the drawstring, the frame can advantageously describe an arc of at least 165 degrees, more often about 180 degrees. In many cases, the hooks will be in the same horizontal plane, but may be positioned at an incline such that the opening of an attached bag will be inclined. [0012]In particular embodiments, the opening frame or the opening of a trash bag mounted on the opening frame is shaped as a circular curve, an ovoid curve, a rectangle, or a square. In certain embodiments, the opening frame is constructed principally or wholly of metal, plastic, wood, a wood with resin combination, or a combination of such components, e.g., metal and plastic, wood and plastic, wood and metal, wood with resin and metal, wood with resin and plastic. [0013]An opening extender may operate to maintain an opening generally perpendicular to the line between the drawstring hooks. An opening extender can be fixed or moveable, e.g., hinged. For example, the extender can be a fixed or hinged semi-circular, semi-ovoid, two-sided, or three-sided section which will retain the lip of the trash bag opening, e.g., by tension or in a clip. An opening extender may hold the opening generally horizontally, or may hold one edge lower so that the opening is inclined. [0014]In certain embodiments, the trash bag holder also includes a vertical support and a horizontal base, wherein said vertical support is attached to both the opening frame and the base; the attachment between the opening frame and the vertical support is fixed or hinged; the attachment between the opening frame and the based is fixed or hinged; the attachments of the vertical support with the opening frame and the base are fixed or hinged; the opening extender comprises at least two spring clips that attach to the top of the drawstring trash bag; the opening frame is constructed of metal; the opening frame is constructed of plastic; the opening frame is constructed of wood or wood products; the opening frame is constructed of a combination of materials, such as metal and plastic, metal and wood, metal and wood products, plastic and wood, and plastic and wood products; the hooks are configured to hold the drawstring of a drawstring closure trash bag; the opening extender includes a hinged wire frame extending outwardly from said frame when in a lowered position. [0015]In certain embodiments, the holder includes a clamp that fastens to a vertical or horizontal furniture member edge; the clamp is a spring clamp; the clamp is a screw clamp; the holder includes at least one suction cup that adheres to a smooth vertical surface. [0016]In another related aspect, the invention concerns a trash bag holder that includes at least two bag attachment points (bag edge retainers) at a height and spacing corresponding to the upper edge of a selected plastic trash bag, optionally an opening extender that maintains a separation at the opening of the trash bag when the trash bag is attached to the attachment points, and a mount which attaches the holder to an article of office furniture at an elevated position. In many cases, the holder includes an opening frame to which the bag retainers are attached or form a part. [0017]In particular embodiments, the mount includes a clamp, e.g., a spring clamp or a screw clamp; the mount includes at least one suction cup; the opening frame is constructed as described for the above aspects or otherwise described herein. In certain embodiments, the holder includes a swivel or pivot point in a vertical plane (for normal mounting) or in two generally perpendicular vertical planes. Such swivels or pivot points allow the holder to be adjusted for differing orientations of mounting surfaces or edges. [0018]In certain embodiments, the opening frame and mount(s) are configured such that the trash bag opening is generally straight or flat against a mounting surface or other mounting point. In particular embodiments this is provided by using two hooks, pegs, clips, or other bag edge retainers that define a straight line between them, spaced such that an installed bag essentially follows that straight line between the bag retainers on one side but has extra edge length or slack on the other side such that an opening for insertion of trash or other materials is provided. The opening can be created merely by the bag gaping open or can be created and maintained using an opening frame and/or opening extender. The straight line and the separation of the retainers can be established by independent placement of separate mounts (e.g., separate suction or vacuum cups) with attached bag retainers, or by having a spacing bar as part of the opening frame, i.e., a generally straight opening frame member that defines the straight portion of the opening. When a spacing bar is used, it may essentially constitue the opening frame, or may have additional opening frame structure attached, e.g., arms or curved members that assist in holding an installed bag open. [0019]In another related aspect, the invention concerns a method for utilizing a trash bag by hooking exposed drawstring sections on a pair of hooks of a trash bag holder as described for the first aspect above, or otherwise described herein. [0020]Yet another aspect concerns a method for utilizing a selected bag (e.g., a trash bag) by hooking or clipping a trash bag on a trash bag holder as described for any of the bag holder embodiments described herein, e.g., a holder than includes a clamp-type or suction cup-type mount. Continue reading about Trash bag holder... Full patent description for Trash bag holder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Trash bag holder 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 Trash bag holder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Line management device Next Patent Application: Cable support systems Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Trash bag holder patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.14847 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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