ES2578286B1 - Modular device for holding garbage bags - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular device for holding garbage bags # Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags comprising an open ring (3) configured to be coupled to the mouth (2a) of a wastebasket (2) through deformation perimeter and elastic of said ring (3); and comprises a plurality of projections (5) having coupling means with respect to the perimeter of the ring (3), wherein said projections (5) are removable at the user's will; and are configured to engage the inner wall (2b) of the bin (2), after elastic deformation of said ring (3) when it is coupled to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2), so that the bag of garbage is secured by the pressure of said projections (5) towards the inner wall (2b) of the wastebasket (2); and preventing the garbage bag from separating from the bin (2) and even turning due mainly to the action of the wind.

Description

Modular device for holding garbage bags

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular device for holding garbage bags, which are respectively housed in wastebaskets belonging to street furniture common in almost all living environments such as cities or towns. Locating said device within the hygiene and urban waste collection sector.

This modular device for holding garbage bags object of the invention has the purpose of obtaining a device for holding a garbage bag inside a bin, preventing the bag from separating from the bin and even turning due mainly to the action of the wind, so that the device avoids it and also guarantees a high degree of flexibility of use with respect to its ease of adaptation to any size of the bin, in addition to showing a modularity of key elements both for its manufacture and for its maintenance and component replacement; and all this with a simple device, reusable, and that additionally does not generate delays in the process of exchange of the bag by qualified operators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to contextualize the activity linked to the modular device object of the invention, the usual practice of waste collection is known in which garbage collection operators in bins are changing the trash bags of each bin after a period of time previously stipulated, trying to ensure that each garbage bag is relatively full of urban waste deposited by pedestrians in the area near the wastebasket.

In this context, the most common way to place the garbage bag is to put it in the bin and wrap the remaining part around the mouth of the bin, so as to try to avoid accidental removal of the garbage bag by third parties. This type of coupling to the wastebasket, in addition to being very conditioned to each qualified operator who takes care of it, leads to the problem that if the wastebasket is in open, clear, exposed areas

or near the coast, a stream of air is generated in the wastebasket that causes the garbage bag to turn around and expel all the garbage housed inside; and may even cause the garbage bag to be disengaged from the wastebasket, and again spread the garbage around the areas adjacent to the wastebasket, with the consequent fouling of the surroundings of the wastebasket; the unhealthiness that is created, since the garbage is scattered and small children or animals can access it with ease, and the delay in the work of collecting the garbage by the skilled workers in said task, when having to go picking up trash from the surroundings, instead of picking it up directly from the trash bag in the bin.

In relation to the state of the art currently known, it is worth noting the existence of patent applications such as US application number US-4707139, which describes an annular support that is attached to the bag in order to keep said bag open at all times, said support allows the bag to not close or deform its mouth despite the wind that may exist in the area, but fails to prevent the bag from turning due to air currents, or hold the bag to the own bin.

Additionally, the US patent application number US6340037 stands out; which resembles the request described above, where an annular support with multiple cavities formed in the annular support itself is described, and that in the same way as the application US-4707139, the objective is to keep the garbage bag open, with no apparent possibility of being able to attach it to the wastebasket or to avoid the turning or expulsion of the garbage bag.

It is observed, therefore, that existing devices do not prevent the dump of the garbage bag with urban waste inside; and therefore it is necessary the appearance of a new modular device for holding garbage bags that prevents such tipping, which additionally guarantees a high lifespan of the device, as well as a high flexibility in order to be used in different sizes of bins that they can be found in urban and peri-urban environments; allowing at all times to solve the problems described above in an efficient, simple and fast way for qualified operators responsible for their collection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular device for holding garbage bags, which is configured to be coupled to a curved section bin that has a garbage bag inside, where the device object of the invention comprises:

-

An open ring configured to be coupled to the mouth of the bin through a perimeter and elastic deformation of said ring; so that the open ring has the ability to deform elastically, and therefore recover its original position, in order to be able to be coupled to the mouth of the bin; and -A plurality of projections having removable coupling means with respect to the perimeter of the ring, such that said projections are removable at the user's discretion; and they are configured to be coupled to the inner wall of said bin, after elastic deformation of said ring, so that the garbage bag is held by the pressure of said projections towards the inner wall of the bin. That is, in most cases the protrusions are those that are attached to the inner wall of the bin once the ring is deformed and coupled to the mouth of the bin, making the function of a skeletal and resistant structure of the bag of garbage, and giving it a predefined volume that prevents the garbage bag from being able to turn over when these projections exist.

It is observed, therefore, that the modular device for holding garbage bags object of the invention comprises a series of technical characteristics that make it possible to secure and attach the garbage bag to the wastebasket, prevent said bag from being turned over by expelling the waste urban housed in its interior, and additionally prevents the extraction of the bag itself due to the action of the wind as explained above. And where additionally the modular device object of the invention allows:

Give rise to high flexibility in that it is adaptable to different diameters of bins due to the configuration of the open ring and the elastically deformable elasticity of the material in which it is manufactured. Ensure that the garbage bag is open even with the wind

acting on her. Absorb small dimensional differences with respect to both the mouth of the trash can as at the bottom of said bin, also due to the open ring configuration and the elastically deformable elasticity of the material in which it is manufactured.

-

Reduce the collection times of the garbage bags used by qualified operators compared to the collection times when the garbage bag has been turned or separated from the wastebasket, when urban waste is found scattered around the trash itself.

It is also observed that the plurality of projections has removable coupling means, and in this way two technical effects linked to solving two key technical problems are achieved:

First of all, the possibility of coupling and decoupling each projection with respect to the open ring allows the manufacturing of the main components of the device object of the invention to be carried out in a modular manner; that is, because the preferred manufacturing material is a type of plastic material, its recommended manufacturing process is injection molding; where a main drawback of the designs observed in the background documents, lies in the difficulty of forming due to the complete geometry of the entire device, and its consequent increase in cost; but that with respect to the modular device object of the invention, the manufacture of the open ring and the projections is carried out independently or modularly, to subsequently assemble all the elements and allow to reduce the manufacturing cost of the device, being much more competitive from a economic point of view

Secondly, the modularity of being able to couple and decouple each projection with respect to the open ring thanks to the coupling means, guarantees that, in case of breakage or uselessness of one of the projections, said projection can be replaced at the same time in that the operator becomes aware of said fault; and because the modular device object of the invention is used in urban or peri-urban environments, and is in contact with all types of waste, they can degrade the projections, and even the open ring, so that the technical characteristic of replacement of its components as quickly as possible, described in the coupling means belonging to the device object of the invention.

These two technical effects of cheaper product, and flexibility of use and maintenance, ensure that the modular device described can be used successfully in the field of hygiene and urban waste collection. Where its sequence of habitual use is structured in the following stages:

a) Insert a garbage bag into the inner cavity of a wastebasket, leaving part of the garbage bag outside the trash can.

b) Deform the ring of the garbage bag securing device, so that the contour of said ring is less than the mouth of the bin and can be attached inside.

e) Engage the device ring in the bin opening, so that the garbage bag is caught in the middle between the bin opening and the open ring; and thus the plurality of projections are found inside the garbage bag without, in principle, being in contact with the garbage bag when said open ring is compressed_

d) Stop deforming the ring of the garbage bag fastening device, so that the open ring comes into contact with the trash can (remembering that the garbage bag is trapped in the middle of two items); and where the plurality of projections are placed by reproducing the geometry of the interior cavity of the wastebasket, trapping the garbage bag between the cavity of the wastebasket and the respective projections.

In relation to how the coupling between the open ring and the mouth of the bin is solved, a preferred design option is contemplated where the modular device object of the invention has at least one radial flange located in the outer contour of the ring; which is configured to prevent the total introduction of the ring into the bin through the mouth of said bin, due to the contact between a larger face of said bin, at least one, tab and the mouth; and wherein said radial flange holds the garbage bag located between the mouth of the bin and the major face of said radial flange. So the existence of this tab ensures that the open ring does not slip through the inside of the bin, and stop once the open ring has been deformed to attach it to the bin, being a simple and highly efficient solution not only to support the device object of the invention to the bin, if not easy to remove by the qualified operator when you need to replace the used garbage bag with a new one.

In this way the previous technical characteristic can be extended, so that the open ring can have a superior contour with respect to the contour of the curved section of the bin, since thanks to the perimeter and elastic deformation capacity of the ring, it is possible to coupling the open ring in the bin so that said elastic deformation is carried out so that the ends of the open ring approximate (perimetric deformation), decreasing the contour of the open ring and allowing it to be coupled to the mouth of the bin, since once The open ring is no longer deformed, it regains its position (elastic deformation) until it partially engages in the inner cavity of the bin opening.

and according to the standards of sections of urban and peri-urban wastebaskets, the possibility that the curved section of the wastebasket is a circular section is contemplated, and the open ring is an arc of circumference to be coupled internally with respect to the mouth of the trash can. In this way, almost all of the geometry of the existing wastebaskets is collected, these being formed from a circular section cylinder and where the upper base is fully open for the introduction of urban waste by users.

According to the existence of the radial flange, the procedure for placing the garbage bag in the wastebasket together with the device object of the invention is extended, so as to highlight its advantages accompanied by the simplicity and effectiveness of said device; where stage c) is described as follows:

c) Approach the device ring towards the mouth, so that the radial flange comes into contact with the trash can (the garbage bag is caught in the middle between the trash can and the larger side of the radial flange ); and where the plurality of projections are housed inside the garbage bag.

In this way, the placement of the garbage bag together with the modular device object of the invention is carried out quickly, easily and efficiently in terms of working times of qualified operators; and where the extraction of the bag reproduces the previous stages in reverse order, being also a fast and effective procedure, highlighting that currently, when the garbage bag is larger than the inside of the bin, the qualified operator uses to make a knot with the excess of the garbage bag, delaying the time of introduction of the garbage bag in the trash itself.

With respect to the removable coupling means between the open ring and each projection, a preferred option is contemplated where said removable coupling means have:

-

A deformable flange belonging to one end of each projection; understanding the concept of deformable as that which allows a displacement or rotation of its usual position without causing breakage or deterioration in its properties; -a plurality of guide grooves in correspondence with the number of projections, where the guide grooves are located on the inner surface of the open ring; and are configured to allow the passage of each of the projections after elastic deformation of the flange of said projection; and -a plurality of recesses corresponding to the number of projections, where the recesses are located in each guide groove of the open ring; and are configured to allow the passage and clamping of each flange of each protrusion after the elastic recovery of each of said tabs

That is, each projection has a deformable flange, which deforms (its original position varies) when said projection passes or slides through guide grooves belonging to the open ring. And once the projection meets one of the open ring voids, the deformable flange is able to recover its original position by no longer having the physical impediment of being in contact with any physical entity of the open ring; being able to hook to said open ring guaranteeing a correct coupling between two elements. Additionally guaranteeing an easy decoupling of each tab with respect to the open ring, in case of replacement of a defective projection by use.

It is observed that the existence of the guide grooves allows the geometric arrangement of the projections with respect to the open ring to be carried out in a predefined way, seeking to equalize the position of each projection and the adjacent projections, so that the holding of the bag is perform in a balanced way and using the least number of projections possible.

In order to increase the grip of each projection with respect to the open ring, a preferred embodiment is described where each projection has a step at the end close to its removable coupling with the open ring; so that said step is configured to come into contact with the open ring once each deformable flange is coupled to its corresponding emptying; preventing the extraction of each projection once coupled to the open ring.

Noting that said step not only serves as a coupling between projection and open ring, but also additionally guarantees the parallelism between the mouth of the bin and said step of each projection, causing a slight pressure against the attached garbage bag and the inner wall itself of the trash.

In relation to the flexibility of use of the modular device object of the invention, it is contemplated that each projection has, at the opposite end to its detachable coupling with the open ring, at least one notch configured to decrease the section of said projection and Allow its breakage. Where said, at least one, notch defines the cutting area of each projection, there may be multiple notches to be able to gradually decrease the length of said projection depending on the depth of the inner cavity of the bin to install the device Modular object of invention.

Thanks to said, at least one, notch, it is guaranteed to be able to manufacture a single model of modular device and that it adapts to each type of wastebasket; thus lowering manufacturing costs, and guaranteeing the least loss of excess material depending on how much each projection is cut through the decrease in section of said at least one, notch.

Additionally, and as a preferred embodiment, the possibility is contemplated that the plurality of projections are six and of length equivalent to the length of the bin cavity; where the number of projections guarantee the geometric reproduction of the internal cavity of the wastebasket by the garbage bag to be fastened, and are of a length equivalent to the cavity of the wastebasket so that a large surface of the waste bag is not left garbage without holding and attaching to the inside cavity of the bin. And where preferably, each projection has a length between 30 and 60 cm according to the standards of dimensions of bins commonly used today.

Thus, in accordance with the described invention, the modular clamping device for garbage bags object of the invention constitutes an important novelty in clamping and opening devices for garbage bags, preventing them from separating from the bin and even turning due mainly to wind action; and where, thanks to the removable coupling means between the projections and the open ring, a significant reduction in its manufacturing cost is guaranteed as well as the maintenance and replacement of its main elements is improved; and all this with a simple, reusable device that prevents urban waste from being removed from wastebaskets, improving the hygienic and aesthetic conditions of the surrounding urban environment; and without generating delays in the process of exchange of the stock market by qualified operators.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made, and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a series of drawings are attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a first three-dimensional view of the modular device for holding garbage bags object of the invention.

Figure 2.- It shows a first stage of the coupling of the modular device for holding garbage bags to the wastebasket, in which the deformation is indicated by perimeter arrows to the open ring for its partial introduction into the mouth of the wastebasket.

Figure 3.- Shows a second stage of the coupling of the modular device for securing garbage bags to the wastebasket, where the open ring is partially inserted into the mouth of the wastebasket, said ring being deformed by the qualified operator.

Figure 4.- Shows a third stage of the coupling of the modular device for securing garbage bags to the wastebasket, where the open ring is coupled to the mouth of the wastebasket through the radial flange, eliminating deformation of the open ring to reproduce the geometry of the trash cavity.

Figure 5.- Shows a detail of the ends of two projections closest to the coupling area with the open ring.

Figure 6.- Shows a first three-dimensional view of a first stage of coupling a projection towards the open ring.

Figure 7 shows a second three-dimensional view of the first stage of coupling a projection towards the open ring.

Figure 8 shows a first three-dimensional view of a second stage of coupling a projection towards the open ring.

Figure 9 shows a second three-dimensional view of the second stage of coupling a projection towards the open ring.

Figure 10.- Shows a detail of the end of a projection closer to the coupling area with the open ring, highlighting the wedge-shaped geometry of the deformable flange

Figure 11.- Shows a detail of the projections and the respective notches to decrease their length.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of figures 1 to 11, it can be seen how the modular device (1) for holding garbage bags object of the invention is configured to be coupled to a bin (2) of circular section comprising a garbage bag in its interior; where the device comprises:

An open ring (3) configured to be coupled to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) through a perimeter and elastic deformation of said open ring (3); so that said open ring (3) has a contour greater than the contour of the curved section of said bin (2); and capable of being internally coupled with respect to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) through a perimetric and elastic deformation of said open ring (3);

A plurality of radial tabs (4), specifically six radial tabs (4) and taking into account that in Figures 2 to 4, the plurality of tabs (4) is represented as a single continuous flange (4) as a simplification of the proposed design; which are located in the outer contour of the open ring (3); all of them configured to prevent the total introduction of the open ring (3) in the bin (2) through the mouth (2a) of said bin (2), due to the contact between a major face of each tab (4) and the mouth (2nd); and where each radial flange (4) holds the garbage bag located between the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) and the major face of each radial flange (4); Y

six projections (5), in correspondence with the six radial tabs (4), which have removable coupling means (6) at the will of the user with respect to the perimeter of the open ring (3); so that the garbage bag is held by the pressure of said projections (5) towards the inner cavity (2b) of the wastebasket (2), after elastic deformation of said open ring (3); and where said projections (5) have a length equivalent to the length of the bin cavity (2).

Thus, according to the coupling procedure described above, it comprises the following steps: a) Insert a garbage bag into the inner cavity (2b) of a wastebasket (2), leaving part of the garbage bag outside the mouth (2a) of the bin (2). b) Deform the open ring (3) of the garbage bag holding device (1), so

the contour of said open ring (3) is less than the mouth (2a) of the

bin (2) and can be attached inside. c) Approach the open ring (3) of the device (1) to the mouth (2a), so that

the radial tabs (4) come into contact with the mouth (2a) of the bin (2)

(the garbage bag is caught in the middle between the mouth (2a) of the

wastebasket (2) and the major face of each radial flange (4); and where the six outgoing (5)

They stay inside the garbage bag.

d) Stop deforming the open ring (3) of the bag holder (1), so that the open ring (3) comes into contact with the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) (remembering that the bag of garbage is trapped in the middle of two elements); and where the six projections (5) are placed by reproducing the geometry of the inner cavity (2b) of the wastebasket (2), trapping the garbage bag between the inner cavity (2b) of the wastebasket (2) and the respective projections ( 5).

These removable coupling means (6) between each projection (5) and the open ring (3) have: - A deformable flange (5a) belonging to one end of each projection (5); which is seen in figures 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10; where said flange (5a) has a wedge-shaped prismatic geometry; - a plurality of guide grooves (3a) in correspondence with the number of projections (5), where the guide grooves (3a) are located on the inner surface (3b) of the open ring (3); and are configured to allow the passage of each of the projections (5) prior elastic deformation of the flange (5a) of said projection (5); where the guide grooves (3a) are clearly seen in Figure 7, guaranteeing the passage of each projection (5) in addition to the deformation of each flange (5a) during its passage through each respective guide groove (3a), see figures 6, 7 and 8; - a plurality of recesses (3c) in correspondence with the number of projections (5), where the recesses (3c) are located in each guide groove (3a) of the open ring (3); and are configured to allow the passage and clamping of each tab (5a) of each projection

(5) after the elastic recovery of each of said tabs (5a); Y -a step (5b) belonging to each projection (5), and located at the end near the detachable coupling with open ring (3); where said step (5b) is configured to get in contact with the open ring (3) once each tab (5a) is attached deformable to its corresponding emptying (3c); preventing the extraction of each projection (5) once coupled to the open ring (3).

And in order to be able to cut the distance of the projections (5), depending on the depth of the bin cavity (2), it is observed in figures 1 and 11 that each projection (5) presents, at the end opposite to its detachable coupling with the open ring (3), a plurality of notches (5d) configured to decrease the section of said projection (5) and allow its breakage, since they are areas of low mechanical resistance having a smaller section, and an operator is able to break the remaining pieces of each projection

(5) depending on the depth of the bin cavity (2) to install the modular device (1) object of the invention.

And when it is required, by an operator, the replacement of one of the projections (5) with respect to the open ring, the steps to be performed are the following: a) Press the tab (5a) so that the coupling between said flange (5a) and the corresponding emptying (3c) is unlocked; b) slide the projection (5) gravitationally through the corresponding guide grooves (3a), so that the step (5b) of said projection is no longer in contact with the open ring (3); e) take a new projection (5) and slide its upper end through the corresponding guide grooves (3a), where the flange (5a) deforms when it comes into contact with the open ring (3), but without preventing slippage of the new outgoing; and d) coupling the new projection (5) in the open ring (3) thanks to both the locking of the flange (5a) and the emptying (3c) of the open ring (3), as well as the contact between the step (5b) of the new projection (5) with the ring open (3).

In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will be able to understand that the embodiments of the invention that have been described can be combined in multiple ways within the scope of the invention. The invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that multiple variations can be introduced in said preferred embodiments without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.

Claims (8)

1.-Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags, configured to be attached to a bin (2) of curved section that has a garbage bag inside, the device being characterized by comprising: -a ring ( 3) open configured to be coupled to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) through a perimetric and elastic deformation of said ring (3); and -a plurality of projections (5) having coupling means (6) with respect to the perimeter of the ring (3), where said projections (5) are removable at the will of the user; and are configured to engage the inner wall (2b) of the bin (2), after elastic deformation of said ring (3) when it is coupled to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2), so that the bag of garbage is secured by the pressure of said projections (5) towards the inner wall (2b) of the bin (2). 2. Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one radial flange (4) located on the outer contour of the ring (3); which is configured to prevent the total introduction of the ring (3) in the bin (2) through the mouth (2a) of said bin (2), due to the contact between a larger face of said bin, at least one, tab (4) and the mouth (2a); and wherein said radial flange (4) holds the part of the garbage bag located between the mouth (2a) of the bin (2) and the major face of said radial flange (4). 3. Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling means (6) between each projection (5) and the ring (3) have: -a flange ( 5a) deformable belonging to one end of each projection (5); - a plurality of guide grooves (3a) in correspondence with the number of projections (5), where the guide grooves (3a) are located on the inner surface (3b) of the ring (3); and are configured to allow the passage of each of the projections (5) prior elastic deformation of the flange (5a) of said projection (5); and -a plurality of recesses (3c) in correspondence with the number of projections (5), where the recesses (3c) are located in each guide groove (3a) of the open ring (3); and are configured to allow the passage and clamping of each flange (5a) of each projection (5) after the elastic recovery of each of said tabs (5a). 4. Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each projection (5) has a step (5b) at the end close to its removable coupling with the open ring (3 ); wherein said step (5b) is configured to come into contact with the ring (3) once each deformable flange (5a) is coupled to its corresponding emptying (3c); preventing the extraction of each projection (5) once coupled to the open ring (3). 5. Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each projection (5) has, at the opposite end to its detachable coupling with the ring (3), at least one notch (5d) configured to decrease the section of said projection (5) and allow its breakage. 6. Modular device (1) for holding garbage bags, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved section of the wastebasket (2) is a circular section, and the ring (3) is an arc of circumference to be fitted internally with respect to the mouth (2a) of the bin (2). 7.-Procedure for coupling the open ring (3) with respect to the bin (2), according to the modular device (1) defined in claims 2 and 3, and any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps : e) insert the garbage bag into the inner cavity (2b) of the wastebasket (2), leaving part of the garbage bag outside the mouth (2a) of the wastebasket (2); f) warp the open ring (3) so that the contour of said ring (3) is smaller than the mouth (2a) of the wastebasket (2) and can be fitted inside (2b); g) approximate the ring (3) to the mouth (2a), so that the radial flange (4) comes into contact with the mouth (2a) of the wastebasket (2); and where the six projections (5) are housed inside the garbage bag; and h) stop deforming the ring (3), so that the open ring (3) comes into contact with the mouth (2a) of the bin (2); and where said projections (5) are placed by reproducing the geometry of the inner cavity (2b) of the bin (2), trapping the garbage bag between the inner cavity (2b) of the bin (2) and the respective protrusions (5 ). 8. Procedure for replacing one of the projections (5) with respect to the open ring (3), according to the modular device (1) defined in claim 4 and any of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: e) press the tab (5a) so that the coupling between said coupling is unlocked tab (5a) and the corresponding emptying (3c); f) slide the projection (5) gravitationally through the guide grooves (3a) 5 corresponding, so that the step (5b) of said projection is no longer in contact with the open ring (3); g) take a new projection (5) and slide its upper end through the corresponding guide grooves (3a), where the flange (5a) deforms when it comes into contact with the open ring (3) but without impeding the sliding of the new outgoing; Y 10 h) couple the new projection (5) in the open ring (3) thanks to both the locking of the flange (5a) and the emptying (3c) of the open ring (3), as well as the contact between the step (5b) of the new projection (5) with the ring open (3).