BAG HOLDER

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/890,086 filed Feb. 15, 2007.

[0002] The invention relates to trash receptacles and more particularly to trash receptacles adapted to hold a flexible plastic liner in place generally around a rim of the container.

[0003] Consumers typically dispose a liner in a trash receptacle to militate against food and other debris from staining or sticking to an interior of the trash receptacle. Further, rather than having to transport the entire trash receptacle to a dumpster or other large waste bin, debris in the trash receptacle may be more easily removed by removing the liner and tying the liner closed.

[0004] Typical trash receptacle liners have a tendency to slip off a rim of the trash receptacle and may fall closed, fall into the debris within the liner, or fall to a bottom of the trash receptacle. Efforts have been made to support the liners in an open orientation to facilitate their use for trash disposal. Some trash receptacles include cooperating hooks or notches that do not pull the liner taut in the container and allow trash and debris to fall between an inner wall of the container and the liner.

[0005] Other trash receptacles are adapted to hold only a particular size of liners or only hold liners having handles formed thereon. Additionally, other trash receptacles adapted to support the liners include a plurality of means for holding the liner in an open orientation or include means that are designed to cause a perforation of the liner to facilitate holding it in position.

[0006] A trash receptacle has surprisingly been discovered that includes a means for holding a liner in the trash receptacle, the means for securing disposed on an exterior of the trash receptacle and adapted to receive a portion of a liner disposed in the trash receptacle for securely and detachably securing the liner in place and militating against an unintended movement of the liner.

[0016] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a trash receptacle and a flexible collapsible liner depicting the inventive features of the present invention. More particularly, there is shown a trash receptacle generally indicated by reference numeral 10, having a means for securing indicated by reference number 16, and a liner disposed in the trash receptacle 10 generally indicated by reference numeral 14.

[0017] The container 12 includes a plurality of sidewalls 18 and a bottom 20 that cooperate to form the container 12 having an opening 22 at a top thereof. A rim 13 surrounds the opening 22. The container 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. It is understood that the container 12 may have any cross-sectional shape including ovoid, round, curvilinear, or triangular, for example. The container 12 is formed from a plastic but may be formed from any conventional material such as wood, metal, or a composite, as desired.

[0018] The means for securing 16 is disposed on a sidewall 18 on an exterior of the container 12. The means for securing 16 includes a first protuberance 24 and a second protuberance 26, more clearly shown in FIG. 2. The first protuberance 24 includes an outer portion 30, an inner portion 32, and an intermediate portion 34 formed between the outer potion 30 and the inner portion 32. The second protuberance 26 includes an outer portion 36, an inner portion 38, and an intermediate portion 40 formed between the outer potion 36 and the inner portion 38. The outer portions 30, 36 are curvilinear with a concave shape. It is understood that the outer portions 30, 36 may have any shape such as linear or convex, for example, as desired. The inner portions 32, 38 are curvilinear with a concave shape and the inner portions 32, 38 cooperate to form a substantially circular aperture 28. It is understood that the inner portions 32, 38 may have any shape such as linear or convex that cooperate to form an aperture 28 having a triangular, square, ovoid, or other geometric shape, as desired. The intermediate portions 34, 40 have a substantially arcuate shape, however, it is understood the intermediate portions 34, 40 may have any shape such as ovoid, triangular, or rectangular, as desired. The intermediate portions 34, 40 are disposed substantially adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate portions 34, 40 form a space therebetween but the intermediate portions 34, 40 may touch, as desired.

[0019] The means for securing 16 is integrally attached to the container 12, but may be separately formed and attached to the container 12 with an adhesive, a mechanical attachment device, or by heat welding, for example. Further, while only one means for securing 16 is shown in FIG. 1, it is understood that a plurality of means 16 for securing 16 may be disposed on the sidewalls 18 of the container 12, as desired.

[0020] In use, the liner 14 is disposed through the opening 22 and into an interior of the container 12. A top of the liner 14 is disposed over the rim 13 of the container 12 with a portion of the top of the liner 14 disposed over the top of the container 12 and adjacent the exterior sidewalls 18 of the container 12. The liner 14 is then pulled taut to secure the top of the liner 14 against the rim 13 of the container 12 by twisting or pulling a portion of the liner 14 to form an ear 42. The ear 42 formed from the twisted portion of the liner 14 is then pulled downward and toward the means for securing 16. The ear 42 is pulled past the intermediate portions 34, 40 of the means for securing 16 and is disposed in the aperture 28 to secure the ear 42 and the top of the liner 14, and thereby militate against unintended movement of the liner 14.

[0021] FIGS. 3 and 3a show a means for securing 316 attached to a container 312 similar to the container 12 described above and shown in FIG. 1. The means for securing 316 is disposed on a sidewall on an exterior of the container 312. The means for securing 316 includes a first protuberance 324 and a second protuberance 326. The first protuberance 324 includes an outer portion 330, an inner portion 332, an intermediate portion 334 formed between the outer potion 330 and the inner portion 332, and a first tab 325. The second protuberance 326 includes an outer portion 336, an inner portion 338, an intermediate portion 340 formed between the outer potion 336 and the inner portion 338, and a second tab 327. The outer portions 330, 336 are curvilinear with a concave shape. It is understood that the outer portions 330, 336 may have any shape such as linear or convex, for example, as desired. The inner portions 332, 338 are curvilinear with a concave shape and the inner portions 332, 338 cooperate to form a substantially circular aperture 328. It is understood that the inner portions 332, 338 may have any shape such as linear or convex that cooperate to form an aperture 328 having a triangular, square, ovoid, or other geometric shape, as desired. The intermediate portions 334, 340 have a substantially round shape, however, it is understood the intermediate portions 334, 340 may have any shape such as ovoid, triangular, or rectangular, as desired. The intermediate portions 334, 340 are disposed substantially adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate portions 334, 340 form a space therebetween but the intermediate portions 334, 340 may touch, as desired. The first tab 325 is formed on the inner portion 332 of the first protuberance 324 and has a substantially triangular shape.

[0022] The first tab 325 is disposed at a downward angle of approximately 45° relative to the first protuberance 324, as shown in FIG. 3a. The second tab 327 is formed on the inner portion 338 of the second protuberance 326 and has a substantially triangular shape. The second tab 327 is disposed at a downward angle of approximately 45° relative to the second protuberance 326, as shown in FIG. 3a. The first tab 325 and the second tab 327 cooperate to form a space therebetween but may touch as desired. It is understood that the first tab 325 and the second tab 327 may have any shape such as rectangular, circular, or ovoid, for example, and that the first tab 325 and the second tab 327 may be disposed at any angle relative to the protuberances 324, 326, as desired, or substantially parallel thereto.

[0023] The means for securing 316 is integrally attached to the container 312 but may be separately formed and attached to the container 312 with an adhesive, a mechanical attachment device, or by heat welding, for example. Further, while only one means for securing 316 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 3a, it is understood that a plurality of means 316 for securing may be disposed on the exterior sidewalls 18 of the container 312, as desired.

[0024] In use, a liner (not shown) is disposed through an opening (not shown) and into an interior of the container 312. A top of the liner is disposed over a rim 313 of the container 312 with a portion of the top of the liner disposed over the top of the container 312 and adjacent the exterior thereof. The liner is then pulled taut to secure the top of the liner against the rim 313 of the container 312 by twisting or pulling a portion of the liner to form an ear (not shown). The ear formed from the twisted portion of the liner is then pulled downward and toward the means for securing 316. The ear is pulled past the intermediate portions 334, 340 of the means for securing 316 and past the first tab 325 and the second tab 327. The tabs 325, 327 cooperate to hold the liner in place and militate against an unintended movement of the ear and liner, and thereby secure the ear and the top of the liner against the rim 313 of the container 312.

[0025] FIGS. 4 and 4a illustrate a means for securing 416 substantially similar to the means for securing 316 described above except as described below. The means for securing 416 attached to a container 412 similar to the container 12 described above and shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The means for securing 416 includes a single tab 425 having a substantially triangular shape and that is partially disposed adjacent an inner section 432 of a first protuberance 424 and partially disposed adjacent an inner section 438 of a second protuberance 426. The tab 425 is disposed at a downward angle of approximately 45° relative to the protuberances 424, 426, as shown in FIG. 4a. It is understood that the tab 425 may have any shape such as rectangular, triangular, or arcuate, for example, and that the tab 425 may be disposed at any angle relative to the protuberances 424, 426, as desired, or substantially parallel thereto.

[0027] In use, a liner (not shown) is disposed through an opening (not shown) and into an interior of the container 412. A top of the liner is disposed over a rim 413 of the container 412 with a portion of the top of the liner disposed over the top of the container 412 and adjacent the exterior thereof. The liner is then pulled taut to secure the top of the liner against the rim 413 of the container 412 by twisting or pulling a portion of the liner to form an ear (not shown). The ear formed from the twisted portion of the liner is then pulled downward and toward the means for securing 416. The ear is pulled past intermediate portions 434, 440 of the means for securing 416 and against the tab 425 in the aperture 428. The tab 425 is adapted to militate against an upward movement of the ear and militate against the liner falling into the container 412, thereby securing the ear and the top of the liner against the rim 413 of the container 412.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a means for securing 516 attached to a container 512 similar to the container 12 described above and shown in FIG. 1. The means for securing 516 is disposed on a sidewall on an exterior of the container 512. The means for securing 516 includes a first protuberance 524 and a second protuberance 526. The first protuberance 524 includes an outer portion 530, an inner portion 532, and an intermediate portion 534 formed between the outer potion 530 and the inner portion 532. The second protuberance 526 includes an outer portion 536, an inner portion 538, and an intermediate portion 540 formed between the outer potion 536 and the inner portion 538. The outer portions 530, 536 are curvilinear with a pronounced concave shape. It is understood that the outer portions 530, 536 may have any shape such as slightly concave curvilinear, linear, triangular, or convex, for example, as desired. The inner portions 532, 538 are also curvilinear with a pronounced concave shape and the inner portions 532, 538 cooperate to form a substantially circular aperture 528. It is understood that the inner portions 532, 538 may have any shape such as linear or convex that cooperate to form an aperture 528 having a triangular, square, ovoid, or other geometric shape, as desired. The intermediate portions 534, 540 have a substantially arcuate shape, however, it is understood the intermediate portions 534, 540 may have any shape such as ovoid, triangular, or rectangular, as desired. The intermediate portions 534, 540 are disposed substantially adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate portions 534, 540 form a space therebetween but the intermediate portions 534, 540 may touch, as desired.

[0029] The means for securing 516 is integrally attached to the container 512 but may be separately formed and attached to the container 512 with an adhesive, a mechanical attachment device, or by heat welding, for example. Further, while only one means for securing 516 is shown in FIG. 5, it is understood that a plurality of means 516 for securing may be disposed on the exterior of the container 512, as desired.

[0030] In use, a liner (not shown) is disposed through an opening (not shown) and into an interior of the container 512. A top of the liner is disposed over a rim 513 of the container 512 with a portion of the top of the liner disposed over the top of the container 512 and adjacent the exterior thereof. The liner is then pulled taut to secure the top of the liner against the rim 513 of the container 512 by twisting or pulling a portion of the liner to form an ear. The ear formed from the twisted portion of the liner is then wrapped around the outer portions 530, 536 of the means for securing 516. Then the ear is pulled downward and toward the means for securing 516. Next, the ear is pulled past the intermediate portions 534, 540 of the means for securing 516 and is disposed in the aperture 528 thereby securing the ear and the top of the liner against the rim 513 and militating against the liner falling into the container 512.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a means for securing 616 attached to a container 612 similar to the container 12 described above and shown in FIG. 1. The means for securing 616 is disposed on a sidewall on an exterior of the container 612. The means for securing 616 includes a first protuberance 624 and a second protuberance 626. The first protuberance 624 includes an outer portion 630, an inner portion 632, and an intermediate portion 634 formed between the outer potion 630 and the inner portion 632. The second protuberance 626 includes an outer portion 636, an inner portion 638, and an intermediate portion 640 formed between the outer potion 636 and the inner portion 638.

[0032] The outer portions 630, 636 are substantially curvilinear with a concave shape and each outer portion 630, 636 includes a slot 631. The slots 631 are apertures formed in the outer portions 630, 636 and are adapted to receive a portion of a liner therein. The slots 631 may have any width and length and any conventional shape, as desired. It is understood that the outer portions 630, 636 may have any shape such as linear or convex, for example, as desired. The inner portions 632, 638 are curvilinear with a concave shape and the inner portions 632, 638 cooperate to form a substantially circular aperture 628. It is understood that the inner portions 632, 638 may have any shape such as linear or convex that cooperate to form an aperture 628 having a triangular, square, ovoid, or other geometric shape, as desired. The intermediate portions 634, 640 have a substantially arcuate shape, however, it is understood the intermediate portions 634, 640 may have any shape such as ovoid, triangular, or rectangular, as desired. The intermediate portions 634, 640 are disposed substantially adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the intermediate portions 634, 640 form a space therebetween but the intermediate portions 634, 640 may touch, as desired.

[0033] The means for securing 616 is integrally attached to the container 612, but may be separately formed and attached to the container 612 with an adhesive, a mechanical attachment device, or by heat welding, for example. Further, while only one means for securing 616 is shown in FIG. 6, it is understood that a plurality of means 616 for securing may be disposed on the exterior of the container 612, as desired.

[0034] In use, a liner (not shown) is disposed through an opening (not shown) and into an interior of the container 612. A top of the liner is disposed over a rim 613 of the container 612 with a portion of the top of the liner disposed over the top of the container 612 and adjacent the exterior thereof. The liner is then pulled taut to secure the top of the liner against the rim 613 of the container 612 by twisting or pulling a portion of the liner to form an ear. The ear formed from the twisted portion of the liner is then caused to be wrapped around the outer portions 630, 636 of the means for securing 616 and through the slots 631 of the outer portions 630, 636. Next, the ear is pulled downward and toward the means for securing 616. The ear is pulled past the intermediate portions 634, 640 of the means for securing 616 and is disposed in the aperture 628 thereby securing the ear and the top of the liner and militating against the liner falling into the container 612.

[0035] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.