Limb Bundler and Bag Holder

This invention finds its primary use in and around the home and lot for dual use in bundling, collecting and rapidly bundling tree and bush limbs and the like and for supporting trash bags during filling procedures. Hence, its general use is for efficient trash collection and disposal purposes.

A novelty search has revealed the existence of several patents having at least some remote similarity to the present invention. Each of these will be discussed in relation to its apparent pertinence to this invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,932 is directed to a "Bag Carrier With Closable Top." It incorporates two U-shaped frame members 16 and 18 of different widths and variously interconnected by permanent structures not only at their pivotal points, but at top and bottom as well. A flexible bag is intended to be disposed over the bite portions 56 and 58 interconnecting the legs and to rest upon the platform 38, which is of an extremely complex and costly structure for a device of this character. It includes two, differently sized and constructed portions attached to the frame legs and centrally pivoted for upward foldability. In general, that device, while intended for a flexible bag, as is the present invention, is more structurally complicated and costly than a device of this character should be. The frame members are also of solid bar materials, making it heavier and more susceptible to bending than the present invention, which utilizes tubular members.

The Portable Hamper of U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,543, similar to the above-described device, is intended and constructed for use as a clothes hamper in hospitals and nursing homes. Very similar in concept and structural makeup to the Bag Carrier of U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,932, the two "rectangular sub-frames" 20 and 22 are differently constructed as to both size and details of shape. Again, a lower tray 14 is included for supporting the clothesbag 18 and a cover 16 is required to be pivotally attached to the top. This combination results in a unit for a different purpose, more complex and more expensive than is the present invention, as well as not having utility for the limb bundling purpose, a primary feature of my invention.

Other patents, not nearly so pertinent as those discussed above, are identified for informational purposes. A "Device for Holding and Bundling Newspapers" is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,714. U.S. Pat. No. 385,126 is directed to a Fodder Binder and U.S. Pat. No. 566,333 describes a Corn Fodder Binder.

None of the foregoing art is comprehensive in providing the beneficial teachings of the present invention.

The invention generally comprises a pair of substantially identical sub-frame members made up from identical legs having upper and lower end portions in parallel planes and joined by intermediate, relatively angled portions, the legs being fixed together in spaced relation with a strap member. The intermediate portions of the sub-frames are pivotally connected for compact folding for storage and securably retainable in their unfolded position by a latching means. The upper leg portions are separated for receiving limbs and bags therebetween and means are provided for retaining and cutting bundling twine and for the storage of trash bags, gloves and the like.

A principle objective of this invention is to provide an economically constructed utilitarian receptacle for both bundling limbs and retaining trash bags.

Another objective is to provide a foldable frame, light of weight, readily movable and highly useful in maintaining neatness and order around the home and yard.

Other objects of invention will become apparent upon examination of the specification and drawings and in view of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, shown with limbs bundled therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention supporting a trash bag;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating certain additional features relating to limb bundling;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, showing a latch member;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view the latch member of FIG. 4, taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the latch member of FIG. 5, taken from the same position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a twine dispenser;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a twine dispenser;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the dispenser of FIG. 8, taken along line 10--10;

FIG. 11 is an elevational sectional view of the twine dispenser of FIG. 8, taken along line 11--11;

FIG. 12 is an elevational sectional view of the twine dispenser of FIG. 3, taken along line 12--12;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the glove holder of this invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the trash bag holder of this invention.

The invention, in a basic configuration, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Similar parts are therein identified by the same nomenclature numbers.

The limb bundler and trash bag holder or total frame of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10.

The frame 10 is made up of a pair of sub-frames 12 and 14. Each sub-frame 12 and 14 comprises a pair of legs, preferably as nearly identical to one another as possible, so as to minimize the cost of manufacture and simplify assembly. The sub-frame 12 includes identical legs 16 and 18. The respective legs are configured with a lower portion 20 or 20a and an upper portion 22 or 22a in planes substantially parallel to one another. These two respective portions are integrally joined by intermediate portions 24 and 24a angled between them.

The sub-frame 14 similarly includes a pair of identical basic leg members 26 and 28. These leg members respectively comprise lower portions 30 and 30a, upper portions 32 and 32a and integrally joining intermediate portions 34 and 34a.

Each of the lower leg portions 20, 20a, 30 and 30a is preferably supplied with a standard caster 36, 37, 38 or 39, respectively, of suitable design, usually fairly large to provide maximum stability and which will roll readily over rough terraine. However, it is sometimes preferable to eliminate the casters, making the unit more economical.

Each such leg is also provided at its upper extremity with a standard cover or tip member 40, 41, 42 or 43, respectively. These covers are made of a smooth, tough, impact resistant material selected from any one of a variety of plastics or similar materials. They also define blunting end members resistant to the penetration of flexible trash bags and the like placed thereover. Similar members are also applied to the lower leg portions when the casters are removed.

Approximately centrally of the leg intermediate portions 24 and 24a these portions are pivotably attached to similar regions in the intermediate portions 34 and 34a by suitable pivot pins 44 and 44a. This provides a means whereby the sub-frame assemblies 26 and 28 may be folded into a compact package.

Pivotally attached to each of the intermediate leg portions 24 and 24a, by pivot pins 46 and 46a, are a pair of brace members 48 and 48a. It will be noted that the brace 48 is positioned on the internal side of the leg portion 24 and that the brace 48a is on the outside of the leg portion 24a. This construction accommodates the continued use of identical components, as will be later described.

Affixed through the intermediate leg portions 34 and 34a are a pair of brace retention pins 50 and 50a which are flush with one side of the legs, but extend outward beyond the leg surfaces on the opposite sides of the legs, essentially as illustrated in FIG. 4. They are also positioned substantially horizontal with respect to the pivot pins 46 and 46a when the frame 10 is in use on a horizontal surface. Thus, the braces 48 and 48a, which are respectively provided with canted slots 52 and 52a in their ends opposite the pivot pins 46 and 46a, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, or which may be alternatively provided with keyhole slots 54 and 54a, such as best illustrated in FIG. 6, may be quickly and easily latched or unlatched in relation to the retainer pins 50 or 50a. The braces 48 and 48a are shown in their latched positions in each of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Centrally of the frame 10 and mounted in a pivotal relationship upon the pivot pins 44 and 44a is a generally U-shaped connecting bar 56 having a central portion 58 and a pair of upstanding ends 60 and 60a, perforated to accept the pivot pins 44 and 44a therethrough. It is preferable, although not mandatory, that the connecting bar 56 be flat, so as to best support a flexible bag, such as the trash bag 62 illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. Therein the bag 62 has its upper end disposed over the four leg tips 40-43, with a skirt portion 62a extending downward. The bottom 62b of the bag rests upon the connecting bar 56, such that at least a portion of its weight is supported by that bar and relieved from the leg tips. This reduces the possibility of bag penetration by the leg tips and permits the use of lighter weight bags than would otherwise be practical.

Attached to the basic frame 10 in some practical location is a twine dispenser means for the retention and dispensing of twine used to tie limbs, twigs and the like collected between the sub-frames 12 and 14. It has been found to be generally preferable to attach such a twine dispenser conveniently to the connecting bar 56. Hence, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 7 and 9 a twine dispenser 64 comprises a conveniently shaped support bracket 66 conventionally hung from the connecting bar central portion 58 (FIG. 9) and having an upstanding spindle 68 riveted or otherwise affixed to an opposite end 70 of the bracket. Similarly affixed in a position surrounding the spindle 68 is a twine-accepting canister 72 having a tapered and centrally perforated lid 74 through which twine 75 may be dispensed from a twine roll 76 upon the spindle 68 and within the canister 72.

It is sometimes desirable to reverse the end 70, as shown at 70a, such that the twine roll 76 is essentially under the bar 58. In such case it is also sometimes desirable to provide a hole 58a through the bar 58 and the end of the bracket 66 for feeding the twine 75 through. The cannister 72 is sometimes removed for the sake of economy.

Alternative embodiments of the twine retainer and dispenser are shown in FIGS. 3, 8 and 10-12.

Briefly described, a bracket 78 (FIGS. 3 and 12) supports a horizontal spindle 80 having an enlarged end 82, provided by a butterfly nut-retained washer, for example, upon which a twine roll 84 is supported to rollingly dispense the twine.

In FIGS. 8, 10 and 11 a bracket 86 supports a horizontally disposed canister 88 with a spring 90 co-axially positioning a spindle 92 within the canister. A twine roll 94 is positioned upon the spindle 92 for twine dispensing. As noted with respect to FIG. 9, it will be recognized that the lower extremity of the bracket 86 may be reversed to place the twine roll 94 under the bar 58, parallel thereto, placing it out of the way of a trash bag when such a bag is used.

Concerning the brackets 66, 78 and 86, various support means are illustrated for their removable retention upon the connecting bar central portion 58, since it is sometimes desirable that it be removed therefrom, or sold without it, particularly in situations wherein it is intended that the primary function of the invention will be as a flexible bag holder.

A twine cutter is attached to one of the frame legs, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, but also seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therein a bracket 96 for holding a single-edged razor blade 98 is bolted, riveted or otherwise affixed to the leg 18a adjacent the twine roll 84. The twine may, thus, be readily severed by simply drawing it over the edge of the razor blade at whatever length the user desires.

A trash bag box retainer 100 for conveniently and snugly holding a box of trash bags 102 in a bag-dispensing orientation is usually provided. In this instance the retainer 100 is fabricated from a stiff wire properly configured to be hung from one of the braces 48. It is best illustrated in FIG. 14.

Similarly, a retainer 104 for gloves 106 or the like is preferably made from sheet metal, bent into a proper supportable and glove-retention configuration.

It will be understood that the trash bag box and glove retainers are illustrated and described representatively only. They may be interchanged or differently configured without departing from the teachings of this invention.

It has also been found to be most convenient for limb bundling purposes to provide a twine-end retention means in a position from which it can be quickly grasped for tying purposes. Such a means is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. There a twine-end retainer 105 is provided in the form of a relatively stiff wire, wrapped around or otherwise retained, as at 106, upon or near the upper extremity of the leg upper portion 22a. It extends outward and generally toward the opposite upper leg portion 22. A hook portion 108 is provided at the opposite end to receive and retain a properly looped end of the twine 75 until its use is required.

The frame 10 of FIGS. 1-3 is utilized for limb bundling by first looping the end of the twine 75 and hanging the loop over the hook 108 on the twine-end retainer 105 (FIG. 3). The limbs 110 are cut into desirable lengths (usually about 3-5 feet) and placed across the frame 10 between upper leg portions of the respective sub-frames 12 and 14, permitting the limbs to nestle down into the open region therebetween as far as possible. As additional limbs are added they are crushed more tightly together until they are forced into a relatively dense and compact grouping. The twine end, which still hangs from the twine retainer hook, is then retrieved by simply reaching over the limb bundle, from the opposite side, and drawing the twine across and around the limbs to a convenient length. The twine is then severed at the length determined by drawing it across the edge of the razor blade 98. The two loose ends of the twine are then drawn tightly around the limbs, usually with the cut end being inserted through the looped end (FIG. 1), securely bundling them, and the ends are tied. It will be apparent that multiple passes of the twine about the limbs can be made if this is desirable in the upper section.

It will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the upper and lower portions of the legs are of approximately the same lengths, such that the entire frame stands up to a height convenient for the user to work with. It will be apparent that these legs, as to any portion of them, may be of differing lengths, so long as the mating portions are the same. This will provide flexibility, so that the lengths can be most suitably configured for the particular user or the particular job for which the unit is being used. For example, it will sometimes be desirable that the upper regions be longer in order to accommodate a larger bundle of limbs than would otherwise be possible. It will be seen that in FIG. 3 the intermediate portions of the legs are considerably longer vis-a-vis the upper and lower leg portions than in the FIG. 1 embodiment, thereby providing enhanced stability and a greater limb or trash bag capacity.

It will also be noted that the FIG. 3 embodiment is provided with a pair of sub-frame cross braces 112 and 112a connecting the lower leg portion 20 to the portion 20a and the lower leg portion 30 to the portion 30a. These braces impart greater strength to the sub-frame structures and improved stability to the entire structure of the frame 12. They also enhance foldability of one sub-frame relative to the other, since the interconnected legs are required to move as an integral unit, rather than being permitted to move independently.

It will be apparent that the invention has been illustrated and described in somewhat general terms and that reasonable variations in structural arrangements can be made without departing from either the spirit or scope of the invention.