Plastic Bag Hanger Device

The present invention relates generally to a garbage bag hanger device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clip for holding plastic garbage bags inside of trash receptacles.

Most all grocery stores presently use plastic grocery bags with handles for bagging groceries. Usually, these plastic bags are preferred by consumers over paper bags for a number of reasons including: 1) that the bags are easier to carry, 2) that it is easier to carry a larger number of bags at one time, 3) that the bags can be easily reused as trash can liners, and 4) that the bags do not require the destruction of trees or forests for their production.

Several devices currently exist for holding trash bags inside of trash receptacles. However, most of the current devices are designed to accommodate the larger sized trash containers by providing a means for hanging the handles of the plastic grocery bags inside of the trash container. Although this type of design results in the under-utilization of the entire volume of the trash container, it does provide a simple means for enabling one to use the plastic bags received from grocery stores as trash can liners. Reusing the plastic grocery bags as trash can liners is both economical and beneficial to the environment in that fewer bags need be bought and produced

Other trash bag holding devices are designed to permit the trash bags to cover the upper rims of the trash receptacles. However, none of the prior art devices designed so far accommodate both large and small size trash cans.

In addition, although the dual purpose of the plastic grocery bags is desirable, individuals are less likely to use the plastic grocery bags as trash can liners if the bags are not readily accessible or if it is inconvenient to store the plastic grocery bags until they are needed.

Therefore, there is an unfilled need in the prior art for a simple and inexpensive device for hanging plastic grocery bags inside trash receptacles of any size which also includes a means for storing the plastic grocery bags so that they are readily accessible when needed.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a device for hanging a plastic bag, in particular, a plastic grocery bag with handles, inside of a trash receptacle so that the bag can be used as a liner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for hanging a plastic bag inside of a trash receptacle that accommodates all sizes of trash receptacles including those trash receptacles that are tall and short.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device for hanging a plastic bag, in particular, a plastic grocery bag with handles, inside of a trash receptacle which includes a hook member for storing excess grocery bags on the outside of the trash receptacle so that they are readily accessible.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a device which affords a second use for plastic grocery bags thereby aiding the environment in reducing the number of garbage bags which must be produced.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device for hanging a plastic bag inside of a trash receptacle which is reversibly attachable to the sides of the trash receptacle.

In brief, there is provided a plastic bag hanger device which includes a clip-type member, having a substantially inverted "U"-shape, with first and second ends which correspond to the ends of the "U". The bag hanger device further includes an upwardly protruding flange on one side of the inverted "U"-shaped member and a downwardly protruding flange on the other side of the inverted "U"-shaped member. When the plastic bag hanger device is clipped over the rim of a trash receptacle, the upwardly protruding flange is located on the inside of the trash receptacle while the downwardly protruding flange is located on the outside of the trash receptacle. When the plastic bag hanger device is in place, each of the first and second ends of the clip-type member are in contact with a side wall of the trash receptacle. Two plastic bag hanger devices are used in order to hang the handles on the plastic bags opposite one another, thereby supporting the plastic bag inside of the trash receptacle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, that side of the clip-type member that rests against the outside wall of the trash receptacle and, therefore, that side which contains the downwardly protruding flange, comprises a second upwardly protruding flange near the end of the clip shaped member. This second upwardly protruding flange is used for storing extra plastic garbage bags thereby making them readily accessible when a bag becomes full and needs to be changed.

The objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a trash receptacle shown cut away having the first preferred embodiment of two of the garbage bag hanger devices according to the present invention mounted thereon supporting a plastic bag on the inside of the trash receptacle and storing a plastic bag with handles, containing additional plastic bags, on the outside of the trash receptacle.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device in accordance with the present invention mounted to a rim of a trash receptacle shown in phantom and supporting a plastic bag shown in phantom.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device in accordance with the present invention.

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the plastic bag hanger device 10. The plastic bag hanger device 10 comprises a substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. The plastic bag hanger device 10 further comprises a first upwardly protruding flange 18 which is located on that side of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 which comprises the first end 14 of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12, and a downwardly protruding flange 20 which is located on that side of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 which comprises the second end 16 of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12. That side of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 which terminates in the second end 16 of the substantially "U"-shaped member 12 further comprises a second upwardly extending flange member 22 whereby extra plastic bags can be stored on the outside of a trash receptacle. The utilization of the second end upwardly extending flange member 22 of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 is better illustrated in FIG. 2.

The plastic bag hanger device 10 is preferably composed of a thermo plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or high impact styrene, which can be easily adapted to fit securely over a rim of a trash receptacle. In addition, the plastic bag hanger device 10 is preferably formed from a one-piece mold in order to facilitate production and contain production costs, as well as to enhance the strength of the device.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of two plastic bag hanger devices 10 which are mounted to a trash receptacle 30 shown cut away to illustrate a plastic bag 32 hanging inside of the trash receptacle 30. The plastic bag hanger devices 10 are clipped onto opposite rims 34 of the trash receptacle 30 so that the first and second ends 14, 16 of each substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 are seated against the inside wall 36 and outside wall 38 of the trash receptacle 30, respectively.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2, the plastic bag 32 has handles 40 which are hung on the first upwardly protruding flanges 18 of the plastic bag hanger devices 10. The first upwardly protruding flanges 18 located on the inside of the trash receptacle 30 are utilized with taller trash receptacles so that the plastic bag 32 can be suspended down into the interior of the trash receptacle 30, thereby enabling the entire volume of the plastic bag 32 to be filled. On the other hand, the downwardly protruding flange members 20 are utilized with the shorter trash receptacles so that a plastic bag will be able to line the entire interior of the shorter trash receptacle as well as cover the rim of the shorter trash receptacle. The anchoring of the plastic bag 32 onto the plastic bag hanger device 10, with respect to a shorter trash receptacle, is better illustrated in FIG. 3.

Finally, FIG. 2 shows the utilization of the second upwardly protruding flange members 22 of one of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped members 12. Extra plastic bags 41 are draped over the second upwardly protruding flange member 22 in order to store the extra plastic bags 41 where they are readily accessible.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device 10 shown mounted to the rim 34 of a short trash receptacle 30 in phantom. In addition, a plastic bag 32 in phantom, is shown secured to the plastic bag hanger device 10 When utilizing the plastic bag hanger device 10 with a short receptacle 30, a plastic bag 32 is placed over the top of the first upwardly protruding flange 18 of the plastic bag hanger device 10 and secured under the downwardly protruding flange 20 of the plastic bag hanger device 10. As previously indicated, this enables the entire interior of the short trash receptacle 30 to be lined with the plastic bag 32. In addition, it also allows for the rim 34 of the short trash receptacle 30 to be completely covered.

The preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is also reversible in that the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 may be clipped to a trash receptacle such that the downwardly protruding flange 20 and the second upwardly protruding flange 22 are located on the inside of the trash receptacle and the first upwardly protruding flange 18 is located on the outside of the trash receptacle. This placement of the plastic bag hanger device 10 further accommodates yet another size of trash receptacle by allowing a plastic trash bag to be hung at yet a lower level then the first upwardly protruding flange 18. In addition, this reverse placement of the plastic bag hanger device 10 still enables the storage of extra plastic bags on the outside of the trash receptacle by employing the first upwardly protruding flange 18 when hanging the additional plastic bags.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3. Since securing the plastic bag 32 under the downwardly protruding flange 20 of the plastic bag hanger device 10 completely covers the rim 34 of the short trash receptacle 30, the only item seen in the cross-section is the plastic bag 32.

A second embodiment of the plastic bag hanger 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 represents a side elevational view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention. Like the first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the second preferred embodiment of the plastic bag hanger device 10 comprises a substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. The plastic bag hanger device 10 further comprises an upwardly protruding flange 18 located on the side of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 which comprises the first end 14 of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12, and a downwardly protruding flange 20 located on the side of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12 which comprises the second end 16 of the substantially inverted "U"-shaped member 12. Like the previously described first embodiment, the second embodiment of the present invention also accommodates both tall and short sized trash receptacles.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. For that reason, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.