GB2488343A

GB2488343A - Bag-filling insert

Info

Publication number: GB2488343A
Application number: GB1103110.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Douglas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-23
Filing date: 2011-02-23
Publication date: 2012-08-29
Also published as: GB201103110D0

Abstract

An insert 1 for supporting a mouth of a receptacle, such as a bag or sack 4 comprises a sheet of flexible material which is adapted to be inserted into a bag such that it maintains the mouth of the receptacle in an open and in an upright position. A grip facilitates removal of the insert. Opposing edges of the sheet may be connected to form a tube. The connection may comprise a friction lining, hook and loop fasteners, poppers, tab and slot arrangements or cable ties. The insert may be used with a refuse sack or a carrier bag.

Description

An Insert

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an insert for supporting a mouth of a receptacle, and in particular a device to maintain the mouth of the receptacle in an open and upright position.

Background of the Invention

Flexible bags, such as disposable refuse sacks and carrier bags, have been in use for many years. They offer a convenient solution for the storage and disposal of waste products, and in their collapsed form, are easy to package for sale, and easy to store. They are available in a range of sizes, from larger sacks intended for use within the garden when disposing of debris such as leaf matter, through to smaller bags used within a household for disposing of kitchen waste and similar domestic refuse.

Whilst their flexible state lends these flexible receptacles to be conveniently stored, often on a roll, this also makes them difficult to handle, particularly when being filled with waste products. When filling a large refuse sack with garden refuse, for an example, a user often has a struggle with keeping the mouth of the bag upright, and in an open position, whilst requiring both hands to shovel the waste into the bag. This is often a task that requires two people, one to support the mouth of the bag in an open and upright position, and the other to shovel the waste into the bag.

It is often the case that the refuse sack must be kept within a rigid plastic container such as a bin, to support the mouth in an open position, and prevent the flexible receptacle from collapsing. This is of course inconvenient when more than one refuse sack needs to be filled, and only one bin is available. It is also inconvenient to have to lug such a rigid receptacle about a garden, to the location of the waste matter.

Flexible bags are often used within a domestic situation for the storage of items, and the disposal of waste. When loading flexible bags, such as bin liners and carrier bags, with various items, the same issues arise with supporting the mouth of the bag in an open and upright position. Again the flexible bag can be held within a structure such as a bin, but this takes away the convenience of being able to carry an empty bag to the location of the waste products. Such bags are often suspended from cupboard doors or door handles, in an attempt to keep the bag substantially upright, and the mouth easily accessible.

The use of flexible refuse sacks and bags are not limited to domestic situations, but are also used by tradesmen for the commercial storage and removal of waste. Labourers such as builders, gardeners, painters and decorators often need to conveniently dispose of detritus generated whilst working on a project. Refuse sacks provide a convenient receptacle in which to store such waste items. Although these labourers often suffer the same issues with loading the sack with waste items, and keeping the mouth of the sack in an open and upright position. It often requires the use of two tradesmen to efficiently load the sacks for disposal, with one person supporting the mouth in an open and upright position, whilst the other has both hands free to load the sack using a shovel, dustpan and brush or otherwise.

None of the means of supporting a flexible receptacle are convenient when in use, and provide sufficient support to the mouth region of the flexible receptacle. None of the means of supporting the flexible receptacle allow for hands free use, whereby a user can use both hands for placing, with tools or otherwise, the necessary items into the flexible receptacle. Supporting a flexible receptacle such as a refuse sack within a rigid receptacle such as a dust bin, detracts from the convenience of using the flexible receptacle, and requires that the rigid receptacle be manoeuvred to the location of the items to be deposited.

Prior Art

UK patent application GB 2419866 discloses a sack holder for use with flexible receptacles such as refuse sacks. The sack holder comprises an outer frame and an inner frame that are hinged together to grip the mouth of a refuse sack there between. The framework also incorporates slots to take a support stand that might be spiked of free-standing. This provides a means of keeping the mouth of a refuse sack in an open and upright position.

Such a device provides one solution, however the installation of such a device within the mouth of a flexible receptacle is a tricky operation. The two portions of the frame have to be clamped about the edge of the mouth, and an additional element of a support stand is required to ensure that the mouth of the receptacle is maintained in a substantially upright position. This is inconvenient in use, and requires a number of components. The arrangement of frame and support stand is also difficult to pick up and move to another location. The frame is also of a particular size to fit one size of receptacle mouth, and cannot be adapted to fit different receptacles.

The present invention aims to provide apparatus and methods to address the above needs.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided, an insert for retaining the walls of a receptacle in an open position, the insert comprising a flexible sheet of material, dimensioned and arranged to fit in a mouth region of the receptacle, and provided with at least one grip to facilitate its removal, wherein, in use, the insert retains the mouth region in an open and substantially upright state.

The invention thus provides a means to support the mouth of a flexible receptacle in an open and upright position, whilst ensuring convenience of installation within the mouth of the receptacle, and maintaining the attributes of using a flexible receptacle. It is to meet this objective that the present invention provides an insert for retaining the walls of a receptacle in an open position, the insert comprising a flexible sheet of material, dimensioned and arranged to fit in a mouth region of the receptacle, and provided with at least one grip to facilitate its removal.

Preferably, the sheet is provided with two grips, wherein, in use, the grips are positioned generally diametrically opposite one another about the periphery and within the mouth of the receptacle.

Preferably, the flexible sheet of material is substantially rectangular. This facilitates forming the insert as several inserts can be cut from a single sheet or layer of substrate material.

Optionally parallel edge portions of the sheet can be provided with fastening means to secure one edge of the sheet to the other, forming a tube.

Advantageously the fastening means can include a friction lining to secure one edge of the sheet to the other when in an overlapped position.

Alternatively, the fastening means may comprise hook and loop fasteners.

In a further alternative, the fastening means may comprise poppers or other types of connectors.

In a yet further arrangement the fastening means may comprise one or more tabs designed to slot into one or more corresponding slots.

In a still further alternative, the fastening means may comprise one or more cable ties or other temporary connectors.

Preferably, the grips comprise cut-outs within the flexible sheet. Alternatively grips may be defined by handles connected to or formed integrally with the sheet.

The cut-outs may comprise finger holes.

Alternatively, the grip may comprise one or more moulded edge portions of the flexible sheet.

Preferably, the flexible sheet may comprise high impact synthetic plastics material.

Preferably, the high impact plastic is styrene.

Preferably, the thickness of the sheet is greater than 5mm and less than 10mm.

Preferably, the receptacle is a refuse sack.

Alternatively, the receptacle is a carrier bag or other container that is used to receive waste, debris or trash.

In a related method there is provided a method of opening and supporting a receptacle comprising the steps of: coiling a flexible sheet to fit within a mouth region of the receptacle; releasing the plastic sheet to expand and fit the mouth portion of the receptacle, wherein the mouth portion of the receptacle is supported in an open and upright position.

Optionally a user may raise the flexible sheet upwards when inside the receptacle as it fills with waste or debris. This is especially useful in long receptacle as the height of the insert needs only to be a fraction of the total height of the receptacle.

There is also provided a method of fabricating the insert that comprises cutting or moulding an insert to a desired shape and forming at least one handle therewith.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of an insert for retaining the walls of a receptacle, showing a first embodiment of a grip; Figure 2 shows the plan view of figure 1, showing a second embodiment of a grip; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the insert of figure 2, in a rolled position; Figure 4 shows the insert of figures 2 and 3 in use within the mouth of a receptacle; Figure 5 shows the insert of figure 4 in an expanded position to fit the mouth of the receptacle; Figure 6 shows the insert of figure 1, showing the position of a fastening means; Figure 7 shows the insert of figure 6 in a rolled position, with ends of the insert overlapping to engage the fastening means; Figure 8 shows the insert of figure 7, showing a further embodiment of grip; Figure 9 shows the insert of figure 7, showing yet a further embodiment of grip; Figure 10 shows the insert of figure 7, showing an alternative embodiment of fastening means; Figure 11 shows the insert of figure 1, in a stowage state; and Figure 12 shows the insert of figure 11, within a storage receptacle.

Detailed Description of the illustrated embodiment

It is to be appreciated that these Figures are for illustration purposes only and other configu rations are possible.

Figure 1 shows an insert I for holding open and upright the mouth of a receptacle such as a refuse sack or bag. The insert 1 comprises a flexible sheet 2, that is sufficiently flexible as to allow one end of the flexible sheet 2 to reach the other end of the flexible sheet 2, thus forming a tube. The insert I is provided with one or more grips 3, positioned along one edge of the flexible sheet 2, in such a position as to be conveniently placed about the mouth of a receptacle when in an inserted position.

As shown in figure 1, the grips 3 may comprise one or more cut-outs within the flexible sheet 2, sufficient in size to allow the fingers of a hand to hold.

The flexible sheet 2 may be made from a flexible polymer such as a styrene, made me manufactured from a recycled plastic, or may also be fabricated from a suitable canvas material.

As shown in Figure 2, the grips 3 project away from the flexible sheet 2, so that when positioned within the mouth of a receptacle, they are in a suitable position for carrying the receptacle, projecting beyond the edge of the mouth.

Figure 3 shows the flexible sheet 2 when configured as a tube for insertion within the mouth of a receptacle. The flexible sheet 2 may be substantially rectangular in configuration. The edges of the flexible sheet 2 may be finished in such a way so as to be rounded, and not to snag a polythene receptacle such as a refuse sack.

In figure 3, the short edges of the flexible sheet 2, are shown in an overlapped state. These edges can be overlapped to a lesser or greater extent to allow the insert I to fit a number of different sized receptacle mouths. By applying pressure to the outside wall of the insert 1, the overlapping portion increases and the diameter of the tube formed from the flexible sheet 2 is reduced. This enables ease of entry into the mouth of a receptacle. Once this pressure is released from the insert 1, the flexible sheet 2 begins to unroll to fill the mouth of the receptacle, thus supporting the mouth in a fully open state. The height of the insert 1, or width of the flexible sheet 2, determines the extent of the mouth portion of the receptacle that is to be held in an open position. The structure formed from the flexible sheet 2, also gives the receptacle more rigidity and allows the mouth to be held in an upright position, for ease of loading.

Figure 4 shows the insert 1 when inserted into the mouth of a receptacle 4 such as a refuse sack or bin liner. The diameter of the flexible sheet 2, in a rolled-up state, is less than the diameter of the mouth of the refuse sack 4. As shown in figure 5, once the insert I is released, the flexible sheet 2 expands to fill and support the mouth of the refuse sack 4. Figure 5 also shows waste matter 5 within the refuse sack 4. The waste matter 5 may be garden detritus such as leaf matter and other debris, or might also be waste commercial waste, or domestic waste within the home.

Figure 5 shows the mouth of the receptacle 4 held in an open and upright position. The waste matter 5 can be loaded into the receptacle 4 without the need to hold the mouth open with one hand and load with the other. The receptacle 4 can be placed in a location adjacent to the waste matter 5 to be loaded, and can be easily moved to a different location through the use of the grips 3 as and when required.

As shown in figure 6, the flexible sheet 2 may incorporate more than one grip 3. With four grips 3 the receptacle 4 containing the insert 1 can be easily lifted by two persons. This could be useful where the contents of the receptacle 4 are particularly heavy, or large and bulky. Figure 6 also shows a fastening means 6 for supporting the two ends of the flexible sheet 2 when the insert is in a rolled state. This fastening means 6 may comprise a friction lining, that is throughout or across a portion of the flexible sheet 2. The friction lining 6 provides resistance to movement of the overlapping portion of flexible sheet 2, allowing the insert 1 to be retained in a rolled position, as shown in figure 7.

Figure 8 shows an alternative form of grip 3, whereby the edge of the flexible sheet 2 is moulded in such a way as to provide a lip 3 that can be gripped by a user. The flexible sheet 2 may comprise one continuous lip 3 about the periphery of the edge, or may comprise a number of portions of lip 3.

As shown in figure 9, the grip 3 may comprise a plurality of cut-outs or finger holes suitable positioned about the periphery for holding the insert 1 inside the receptacle 4. Figure 10 shows an alternative fastening means 6 for securing the ends of the flexible sheet 2 together and into a rolled position. One end of the flexible sheet 2 is provided with a plurality of tabs that interlock within corresponding slits within the other end of the flexible sheet 2. The tabs may also incorporate toothed edges to provide grip, whilst allowing for different diameters of receptacle mouth.

Figure 11 shows the insert 1 with flexible sheet 2 in a stored state. The flexible sheet 2 is tightly rolled into a tube to take up minimal space. This storage state is convenient for use when being shipped and sold on a shelf in store, whilst also being convenient for storage when not required by a user.

Figure 12 shows the rolled insert 1 with flexible sheet 2 in a stored state within a storage bag 9. The flexible sheet 2 can incorporate fastening means to secure it together when rolled, not shown in the drawings.

The insert 1 may incorporate means to affix to the mouth portion of a receptacle 4, such as a clip arrangement that catches on the rim of the mouth of the receptacle 4. The insert I could also be sold as a disposable version, and incorporate a contact adhesive within the flexible sheet 2 for affixing to the mouth portion of a receptacle 4, not shown.

The insert 1 could be sold in a range of sizes to cater for large industrial sized receptacles 4 or sacks, whilst also being sold in smaller sizes for use with smaller receptacles 4 such as carrier bags or bin liners. It is also thought that it could be used within the top of other receptacles such as laundry bags, compost sacks, and anywhere that it is required to provide temporary support for the mouth of a receptacle 4, to maintain it in an upright and open position.

The insert I provides a temporary structure to the mouth of the receptacle 4, to prevent it from collapsing or even blowing away, particularly when empty and waiting to be filled. Insert I is designed to fit a wide variety of receptacle 4 mouths within a range of sizes of receptacle 4. The insert 1 automatically adjusts to fill the mouth of any receptacles 4 within a certain range.

Claims

Claims 1. An insert for retaining the walls of a receptacle in an open position, the insert comprising a flexible sheet of material, dimensioned and arranged to fit in a mouth region of the receptacle, and provided with at least one grip to facilitate its removal, wherein, in use, the insert retains the mouth region in an open and substantially upright state.
2. An insert according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is provided with two grips, wherein, in use, the grips are positioned diametrically opposite one another about the periphery of the mouth of the receptacle.
3. An insert according to claims I or 2, wherein the flexible sheet of material is substantially rectangular.
4. An insert according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the parallel edge portions of the sheet are provided with fastening means to secure one edge of the sheet to the other, forming a tube.
5. An insert according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening means comprises a friction lining to secure one edge of the sheet to the other when in an overlapped position.
6. An insert according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises hook and loop fasteners.
7. An insert according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises poppers.
8. An insert according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises one or more tabs designed to slot into one or more slots.
9. An insert according to claim 4, wherein the fastening means comprises one or more cable ties.
10. An insert according to claim 2, wherein the grips comprise cutouts within the flexible sheet.
11. An insert according to claim 10, wherein the cut-outs comprise finger holes.
12. An insert according to claim 1, wherein the grip comprises one or more moulded edge portions of the flexible sheet.
13. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible sheet comprises high impact plastic.
14. An insert according to claim 13, wherein the high impact plastic is styrene.
15. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the sheet greater than 5mm.
16. An insert according to claim 15, wherein the thickness of the sheet is less than 10mm.
17. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is a refuse sack.
18. An insert according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is a carrier bag.
19. An insert, substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.
20. A method of opening and supporting a receptacle comprising the steps of: coiling a plastic sheet to fit within a mouth region of the receptacle; releasing the plastic sheet to expand and fit the mouth portion of the receptacle, wherein the mouth portion of the receptacle is supported in an open and upright position.