GB2080248A - Bag holder and dispenser for use in a refuse bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A bin or container (50, 52) is fitted internally with a false floor (54) which is provided with a rectilinear slot (56), a continuous roll (60) of separable liner bags being located beneath the false floor so that the individual bags can be pulled up through the slot (56) and folded down over the rim of the bin or container. The false floor (54) may be hinged to the wall of the bin, or alternatively, and preferably, comprise the top surface of an insertable unit designed to fit into the bin. The insertable unit is preferably a two-part unit comprising a base housing the roll of bags and a covering lid which is slotted and forms the false floor. The insertable unit may have holes in its lid for facilitating its removal from the bin, and the lid corresponds in shape with the cross sectional shape of the bin, eg square with a diagonal slot or round with a diametrical slot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bag holder This invention relates to holders for bags of for example synthetic plastics material, and is also concerned with bins designed to hold such bags, for example bags to contain refuse. Such bags may be of plastics material, paper, or any other suitable material.

The invention is based upon the use of a continuous roll of bags of material, in which the roll comprises individual bags separated from each other by transverse seams and perforations to enable the bags to be torn off one at a time from the roll. In dealing with refuse, whether in the kitchen or elsewhere, it is highly desirable to be able to have a stock of bags readily available, for example on a roll, rather than to purchase sets of individual bags which are usually sold in small numbers per set, which are relatively expensive, and which have to be stored away from the bin with which they are designed to be used.

It is already known to provide bag holders which use a roll of synthetic plastics material formed as individual bags where the holder comprises a frame, for example a lattice of wires, which can be mounted for example on the inside of a door of a kitchen cupboard, or on a wall. British patent specification 1021125 discloses an example of such a framework in which the framework supports a freely rotatable magazine roller, and also defines an opening in the form of a slot which allows the bags to be pulled up from the magazine roller through the holder and to be turned down over a resilient top ring. When the bag in use at any particular time is full, it is lifted from the framework, drawing up the succeeding bag from the magazine roller, and thereby enabling one to tear off the filled bag and position the open mouth of the new bag over the resilient top ring to hold it in place.

It is an object of the present invention to utilise such continuous rolls of bags, often referred to as bin liners, in a different way. Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a removable unit which will hold a roll of bags and which is adapted to fit into an existing bin, whether a pedalbin, swingbin, dustbin or whatever. This has the advantage that the unit of the present invention can be fitted into existing bins, without requiring the purchase of a separate frame, and in particular without the need to mount the bag holder on an upright surface. It should be clearly understood however that the invention is not wholly concerned with a removable unit which can be fitted into existing bins, but also extends to bins of whatever kind, equipped at the point of sale with such an internal unit.Whether the bin is equipped when new with such an internal unit, or whether such a unit is purchased for insertion into a bin, the result is that the unit provides what is in effect a false floor to the bin. A slot is provided in the false floor, so that the roll of bags can be housed beneath the false floor and the bags can be dispensed by being pulled up through the slot as needed.

A bag holder or a bin in accordance with the present invention has considerable advantages as compared with the known wire frame holder. It is adaptable for use with existing bins, althrough it can also readily be built into new bins as a standard fitment.

The top surface of the unit which consitutes the false floor of the bin provides far greater support for the bottom of the bag which is being filled than is the case with a wire frame grid. Similarly, the sides of the bin also provide support to a much greater degree than with a wire frame which is generally open. Additionally, the use of the bag holder of the present invention within a bin provides security and protection for the bag itself, for example against attack by household pets, whereas with a bag suspended within an open wire framework the bag is readily accessible, and, if torn, will simply drop its contents on the floor. If one fits the conventional wire holder within a cupboard, then one has to open the cupboard or door each time that one wishes to use the bag, and this soon becomes unacceptable to the busy housewife.A free-standing, easily available bin has been proved to be the most acceptable for general use in the kitchen and elsewhere, and the present invention adapts such a bin to make it more efficient and more economical to use. The same advantages generally apply to other bins which are not designed for use in the kitchen, even for large bins such as dustbins or bins designed to take industrial refuse, or designed for use in hospitals, schools, factories, restraurants, etcetera. In general terms, the present invention enables any bin to be utilised more efficiently and effectively.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, a number of embodiments of bag holder in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of bin insert unit, constituting a bag holder; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the unit of Fig. 1 with the top removed; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the unit of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of bin insert unit; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the unit of Fig. 4 with the top removed; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the unit of Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of removable bin insert; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the unit of Fig. 7 taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a schematic side view of a bin fitted in accordance with the invention with a unit which incorporates a hinged false floor.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, these show a removable insert unit designed to be fitted into a generally square cross-section bin or container. The unit, which is indicated generally at 10, is preferably moulded from a synthetic plastics material. The unit 10 is made in two parts. It comprises a dished base 12 which is in the form of a hollow shell having an upstanding peripheral wall 14. Set diagonally across the base 12 is a holder 16 for a roll of bin liners, i.e. a roll of separable bags of synthetic plastics material, for example of polythene. The roll holder 16 is shown as four upstanding ribs which together define a recess within which the roll of bin liners can rest.

The size of the recess defined by the holder 16 must be sufficient to enable the roll of bin liners to unroll in use.

The second element of the unit 10 is a lid 18 which has a peripheral sealing lip 20 which is arranged to fit over the peripheral wall 14 of the base 12. The lid 18 is provided with a diagonal slot 22 which is in alignment with the centre of the recess 16 in the base. This slot 22 acts as a guide for the bin liners as they are drawn up from the unit in use. The lid 18 is also provided with a number of holes 24 which enable the userto insert his or her fingers to lift the unit out of the bin within which it is housed.

In use, a roll of for example 50 pedalbin liners of plastics material, such as polythene, is placed within the recess 16 in the base 12, the lid 18 is fitted in place with the first bag of the roll protruding up through the slot 22, and the unit is then placed in the bottom of the bin or container. The first bag can then be drawn up and its mouth can be folded down over the rim of the bin or container to hold it in place.

When the bag is full, the filled bag is pulled up from the bin, is torn off from the next bag which has automatically been drawn up from the unit 10, and the next bag can then be fastened in place for use.

This can be continued until the roll of bags is exhausted, at which time one simply has to lift the unit out of the bin, fit a new roll of liners, and replace the unit in the bin.

Figs. 4 to 6 show an alternative design of unit indicated generally at 10'. This unit is designed to be fitted into a circular cross-section bin or container. In Figs. to 6 the corresponding elements of the unit are indicated by the same reference numbers as in Figs. 1 to 3, but with the addition of a prime.

Figs. 7 and 8 show yet another embodiment of removable unit, this time designed to be fitted into a generally rectangular cross-section bin or container.

In this embodiment, the removable insert unit indicated generally at 30 is formed in one piece and can again be moulded from a suitable plastics material.

The flat top 32 has a rectiliner slot 34 extending centrally along the longer axis. The sides 36 of the unit are curved, particularly to aid in the removal of the insert from the bin or container within which it is fitted. Similarly, the unit has rounded corners 38.

The bottom of the unit is open in order to receive a roll 40 of plastics bags. This roll 40 of bags can either rest freely within the housing which is defined by the unit 30, or it can be mounted on a pair of spigots 42 which are integrally moulded and which project inwardly from the respective shorter side walls in alignment with the slot 34. The use of such spigots 42 facilitates the location of the roll of bags within the unit and the unrolling of the bags in use.

Referring now to Fig. 9, this shows an alternative embodiment incorporating a hinged false floor to the bin or container. In Fig. 9 the container or bin comprises a base 50 and side walls 52. In this embodiment the container has a false floor 54 fitted - within it and hinged at 55 to one side wall 52 of the container. As in the other embodiments the false floor 54 has an elongate slot 56 extending across it.

The false floor 54 is provided with a number of feet 58 which extend down into contact with the base 50 of the container to support the false floor. A roll 60 of plastics bags is supported beneath the false floor 54 and in elignment with the slot 56 on two spigots 62 which depend from the underside of the false floor 54. Alternatively, one may dispense with the spigots 62 and either provide some alternative guide means for the roll of bags or simply allow the roll to rest freely on the base of the container beneath the false floor.

In an alternative version of the Fig. 9 embodiment the hinged mounting of the false floor 54 is effected by providing a pair of moulded lugs on the inside face of one wall of the bin and by providing a horizontal hole through the false floor along that edge. A pin can then be passed through the hole and the lugs to act as a pivot shaft. The opposite wall of the bin is provided with an integrally moulded ledge to support the free end of the false floor, instead of the supporting feet 58 of Fig. 9.

It should be noted that in the case of each of the embodiments described above the shape of the bin or container can be any desired shape, for example round, oval, square, rectangular, etcetera. The invention is also applicable to bins and insertable bag holder units of any material, e.g. plastics material, metal, wood, etcetera.

It should also be noted that although the invention is primarily intended for domestic bins and containers, it is also applicable to specially designed industrial containers, using the false floor to house special width storage/refuse sacks or bags.

Claims (14)

1. A bag holder for a bin or container which is adapted to carry a bag suspended therein in use, the bag holder comprising means defining a horizontal supporting surface for a filled bag, a slot formed through said supporting surface, and a continuous roll of separable bags housed beneath said supporting surface to enable bags to be dispensed from the roll through the slot.

2. A bag holder as claimed in claim 1, formed as a two-part unit, comprising a base within which the roll of bags is housed and a covering lid which is provided with the slot and which defines the support surface.

3. A bag holder as claimed in claim 2, in which the base is provided with upstanding walls defininga recess which at least partially encloses the roll of bags.

4. A bag holder as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the lid is provided with one or more holes to enable the unit to be lifted from the bin or container into which it is fitted.

5. A bag holder as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, in which a peripheral sealing lip is provided between the two parts of the unit.

6. A bag holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the holder is substantially square in plan and the slot extends diagonally across the holder.

7. A bag holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the roll of bags is mounted on supporting spigots.

8. A bag holder as claimed in claim 1, comprising a shell having said slot in the upper surface thereof, having an open bottom and having curved sides, thereby to house the roll of bags within the openbottomed shell.

9. A bin or container comprising a base, side walls, and a hingedly mounted false floor spaced above the base, the false floor being provided with a rectilinear slot therethrough, and a roll of separable bags housed between the base and the false floor.

10. A bin or container as claimed in claim 9, in which the false floor is provided with depending mounting means for the roll of bags.

11. A bin or container as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the false floor is also provided with feet extending into contact with the base of the bin or container.

12. A bag holder for a bin or container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 4 to 6, or Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A bin or container equipped with a removable bag holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8.

14. A bin or container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.