GB2507726A

GB2507726A - A stand to secure and hold open a bin liner

Info

Publication number: GB2507726A
Application number: GB201218868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Robert Henderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: NICHOLAS ROBERT HENDERSON
Priority date: 2012-10-19
Filing date: 2012-10-19
Publication date: 2014-05-14
Also published as: WO2014060780A1; GB201218868D0

Abstract

A refuse sack holder has a ring integrally formed with a handle. The handle includes a resilient portion biasing the ring to increase its diameter. The user can overcome this bias to reduce the rings diameter while arranging a bags mouth around it; and then release the resilient portion so that the force of the bias presses the ring against the bags mouth to hold it in place. The handle could be radial or perpendicular to the ring. The ring could include a straight portion opposite the handle to abut a flat surface, similarly to a dustpan. Part of the ring adjacent the handle may project towards the centre of the generally circular rim to act as a spring. The handle can slot into a U shaped stand between the horizontal of the U and an adjacent strut; oriented perpendicular to the legs. The horizontal of the U can be raised out of the plane of the legs and a further strut can be provided so that the handle can be inserted into the stand parallel to the legs so that the legs act as a handle extension.

Description

PORTABLE REFUSE SACK HOLDER

The present invention relates to refuse sacks, in particular, a frame to facilitate the filling of refuse sacks.

A refuse, rubbish or waste sack, while providing a good solution for retaining and transporting waste, is by its inherent design, very light, unstable, flexible, floppy and, when used by a single person, very difficult and often messy to fill.

Existing supports for refuse sacks are limited in their use due to their size and weight, their portability and/or stability.

A refuse sack lacks a rigid structure and is therefore messy to fill as the sack blows in a breeze or folds under its own weight and size. Contamination can occur when holding the sack open, while attempting to fill a sack involves handling areas of the sack with which previous waste has come into contact.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to overcome the problems and drawbacks of existing refuse sack supports. In particular, the aim of the invention is to add temporary support to a refuse sack by way of a removable frame, wherein the frame asserts tension to the opening of the refuse sack, thereby holding the open end of the sack open and assisting in keeping the sack open while it is being filled.

Specifically, the present invention resides in a waste or refuse sack support frame comprising a ring to support a refuse sack and an integral handle. The handle is constructed from at least one resilient arm such that, in use, the arm is used to reduce the diameter of the ring.

In a particular embodiment, the handle is constructed from two resilient arms that are squeezed together to reduce the diameter of the ring.

In one embodiment, the handle is oriented in the same plane as the ring. Alternatively, the handle is oriented at right angles to the plane of the ring.

The handle may include a loop or other fixing or holding means for a hook or screw by which the ring may be hung either in a vertical plan for storage, or in a horizontal plan for use.

It will be appreciated that the ring may be dimensioned to fit a specific sack size. For example, a standard refuse sack has a diameter, when open, of about 1500mm.

Therefore, it is ideal if the ring has a circumference of between about 1200 and 2000 mm. Alternatively, a pedal bin liner has a diameter of about 850mm and so a ring of an appropriate circumference is also envisaged for this use.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle of the support frame has a length of between about 100mm and 500mm, ideally about 150mm. The length of the handle is not critical but needs to be of a sufficient length to fit comfortably within an adult palm, without being overlong and intrusive when in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the circumference of the ring includes a flat or straight portion. The straight portion, in use, may be rested on the ground or a flat surface to enable the direct sweeping of waste, leaves, rubbish etc. into the refuse sack.

Accordingly it is ideal if the flat or straight portion is located on the ring circumference substantially opposite the location of the handle.

Optionally, a portion of the circumference of the ring on either side of the handle deviates from a circular shape to provide a spring portion. This shaping imparts greater deformability and resilience to the ring to enable the circumference to be reduced sufficiently to allow a refuse sack to be easily passed through the centre of the ring and the open end folded over the ring without deforming or tearing the open end of the sack.

Ideally, the spring portion is shaped as an indent from the circumference of the ring towards the centre of the ring and the ends of the handle that join the ring are extended towards the centre of the ring. The shape of the spring portion may also be shaped to add further grip to a refuse sack when folded of the frame. For example, an elbow may be included in the shape.

In an alternative embodiment, the support frame further includes a separate stand. A particularly suitable shape for the stand is one in which the stand is substantially U-shaped having two legs joined together at one end.

The stand may include one or more struts located between the two legs so that the struts hold the legs a fixed distance apart.

Ideally, one strut is located between about Sand 15mm, ideally 10mm from the joined end of the stand.

In a further embodiment, the joined end of the stand is shaped to sit in a plane that is parallel to but below (or above) the plane of the legs when the stand is held in a horizontal plane and orientation. This provides a gap in both a vertical and a horizontal plane between the joined end of the stand and the strut.

Optionally, the stand may include a second strut located at a distance of between about 80mm and 130mm from the first strut, towards the free ends of the legs. As will become apparent, the distance of the second strut from the first is determined by the length of the ring handle.

The first and second struts may be fixed to the legs so that one strut sits on an outer surface of the legs while the other strut sits on the inner surface.

Ideally, the end of the stand opposite the joined/closed end finishes in a point or sharp edge to facilitate insertion of the end into the ground comprising soil, sand, shingle and such like.

The stand may also include means, such as a loop or eye, by which the stand may be attached to a hook or peg either for storage or for use. The length of the legs, in particular, adds stability to the frame when the ring and stand are combined and hooked onto, say, a hook located in a wall, and substantially prevent the frame from tipping forward off a hook.

In use, the refuse sack support ring is inserted through the gap between the closed end of stand and the first strut at right angles to the stand so that the stand is oriented vertically and the ring is held by the stand at an orientation that is orthogonal to the stand.

Alternatively, the refuse sack support ring is inserted through a gap between the closed end of stand and the first strut in the same plane as the stand so that, in use, the stand is oriented in the same plane as the ring and the stand serves as a handle extension.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that the structure is lightweight and portable and provides an option to hold the refuse sack open in a substantially upright orientation.

A particular advantage of the invention is that it transforms the refuse sack into a fully portable conventional dustbin. It is ideally suited for garden refuse, weeds etc and leaf collection, as well as barbeques, camping, indoor and outdoor DIY, events and shows and roadside cleaning.

Once attached to the frame, the refuse sack may be filled from a freestanding position, attached to other apparatus such as a ladder, or simply held by a handle and filled without coming into contact with the rim of the sack. The refuse sack is held securely open until removed from the frame.

The present invention will now be described in more details with reference to a non-limiting example illustrated by the following figures: Figure 1 shows the frame of the invention, comprising a ring for holding open the open end of a refuse sack; Figure 2 shows the refuse sack ring with a refuse sack held in place over the ring circumference; Figure 3 shows a pronged stand or handle extension that may be attached to the ring; Figure 4 shows the ring located in the stand; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the joint between the ring and the stand; Figure 6 illustrates an alternative fixing arrangement between the ring and the stand, where the stand is used as a handle extension; Figure 7 is a detailed view of the joint between the ring and the stand, when the stand is used as a handle extension; Figure 8 shows the refuse sack ring inserted in to the hole of the rung of a ladder with the stand acting as a handle extension.

The refuse sack frame of the present invention is essentially a resiliently flexible ring and an integral handle. The ring and handle are shaped from a single piece of material whereby the handle is a shaped portion of the ring. In other words, the ring describes a circle and, where the two ends of the circle meet, the ends project, in the same plane as the circle, into two straight arms with each arm end being joined to the other by an essentially semi-circular shaped portion. Thus, the handle is not a solid shape but is constructed from two resilient arms joined together at one end.

The ring has a diameter of about 160mm and the handle has a length of about 150mm.

In use, the two arms of the handle are squeezed together to reduce the circumference of the ring. The open end of a refuse sack is passed through the centre of the ring and folded over the ring circumference so the body of the sack hangs downwards from the centre of the ring, when held in a horizontal plane, and the open end of the sack is folded over the ring from the inside to the outside of the ring (see Figure 2). Once the sack opening is arranged loosely over the ring, the handle arms are allowed to spring apart and return to their resting position. On return of the handle arms, the circumference of the ring expands to its original shape and size. In this way, the ring imparts a tension on the opening of the sack that holds it open and allows easy access the body of the sack. The tension also imparts friclion on the open end of Ihe sack, thereby gripping the sack opening and holding it in position on the ring. 11)

The user grasps the handle in one hand and uses the other, free, hand to put rubbish mb the sack. Once the sack is full, or Ihe requisile wasle has been collected, Ihe arms of the handles are squeezed togelher and Ihe sack is released from the ring, using the weight of the sack conlents and the reduced ring diameter to unfold the open end.

In the particular embodimenl shown in Figure 1, the ring circumference includes a straight portion located opposite the handle, thereby making the ring into a D-shape.

In addition, where the arms of the handle meet the circumference of the ring, the handle arms extend beyond the circumference towards the centre of the ring. The ends of the ring circumference extend in a straight line from the free end of each arm back out towards the circumference of the ring, joining the ring a short distance away from the handle arms. This shaping gives additional resilience to the ring and so, in use, the circumference of the ring may be substantially reduced so that the open end of a sack may be easily folded over the ring circumference without having to stretch and deform the opening of the sack. The shaping also enables a greater tension to be imparted by the ring on the sack aperture once the ring returns to its expanded original shape.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the handle is oriented in the same plane as brie ring, but ii will be apprecialed that Ihe frame of Ihe invention will also be effective if the handle is oriented at right angles to the plane of the ring.

The refuse sack frame of the invention optionally includes a second part which acts as either a stand to hold the refuse sack in an upright orientation when in use, or as an extension to the ring handle.

As shown in Figure 3, the second part is an essentially U-shaped frame having legs of a length about 680mm. The legs are joined together at one end by a straight (horizontal) strut that lies in the same plane as the legs, thereby producing a flat frame.

A second straight (horizontal) strut is fixed orthogonal to, but in the same plane as, the legs at a small distance from the joining strut. The minimum size of the small distance is dictated by the depth of the ring because, in use, the handle of the ring is inserted between the top, joining strut and the second strut. The second strut either grips the ring by virtue of the size of the gap between it and the joining strut, or the ring is balanced in an orientation orthogonal to the stand legs, as shown in Figure 4 and in more detail in Figure 5. The stand and the ring lock together to that the stand sits at the join between the handle and the ring.

As shown in detail in Figure 5, the ends of the stand legs that are joined together are curved away from the horizontal plane of the legs so that the joined end of the stand lies below but parallel to the plane of the legs when viewed from the side. This shaping also imparts a space between the two horizontal struts. The spacing between the two struts provides additional support to the handle of the ring and assists in holding the ring in an orientation that is orthogonal to the stand.

In use, the handle of the ring is inserted through the gap at the top of the stand and the opposite ends of the legs are inserted into the ground, either directly into soil/grass/sand/shingle or into holes formed in a solid ground surface such as concrete.

The free ends of the stand legs may be pointed or sharpened to assist with insertion.

Thus, the stand is oriented vertically and the ring has a horizontal orientation which allows the refuse sack to hang freely from the ring, in front of the stand.

In another embodiment, the stand includes a third, horizontal straight strut that is located away from the closed end of the stand, towards the free ends of the legs. This third strut is located at a distance that matches most of the length of the ring handle. To link the two stand parts together, the stand legs are held in a horizontal orientation so that the closed end dips downwards. The ring handle is inserted through the gap between the lowered end of the stand and the two struts. In this way, the ring is attached to the stand in the same plane as Ihe stand and the ring handle is held in place by the Ihree struls. In this way, the stand legs act as a handle extension. An example of when a handle exlension is useful is when using Ihe frame and altached refuse sack up a ladder. As shown in Figure 8, the handle extension is inserted into a hole on the ladder, such as the hole created by a rung, so Ihe ring is supported by the ladder and the opening of the sack is in an orientation 10 enable easy filling of the sack.

The frame may be made from any suitable metal or plastics malerial provided IhaI the material has a) sufficient rigidily 10 support the weight of aI leasl a partially filled refuse sack, b) sufficient flexibility and resilience to enable the ring to function as envisaged, and c) a weight that promotes the portability of the frame. The ring and stand may be made from the same or different materials. For example, the ring and stand may be shaped from mild steel rod having an external diameter of 5mm. In addition, the rod may be coated, for example in plastic or zinc.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A refuse sack support frame comprising a ring to support a refuse sack and an integral handle, wherein the handle is constructed from at least one resilient arm such that, in use, the arm is used to reduce the diameter of the ring.
2. A support frame according to Claim 1, wherein the handle is oriented in the same plane as the ring or at right angles to the plane of the ring.
3. A support frame according to Claiml or Claim 2, wherein the ring has a circumference of between 1200mm and 2000mm or between 600mm and 1000mm.
4. A support frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the handle has a length of between 100mm and 500mm.
5. A support frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the circumference of the ring includes a flat or straight portion.
6. A support frame according to Claim 5, wherein the flat or straight portion is located on the ring circumference substantially opposite the location of the handle.
7. A support frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein a portion of the circumference of the ring on either side of the handle deviates from a circular shape to provide a spring portion.
8. A support frame according to Claim 7, wherein the spring portion is shaped as an indent from the circumference of the ring towards the centre of the ring and the ends of the handle that join the ring are extended towards the centre of the ring.
9. A support frame according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the frame further includes a separate stand.
10. A support frame according to Claim 9, wherein the stand is U-shaped having two legs joined together at one end.
11. A support frame according to Claim 10, wherein the stand includes one or more struts located between the two legs that hold the legs a fixed distance apart.
12. A support frame according Ia Claim 11, wherein one strul is located belween about 5 and 10mm from the joined end of the stand. 11)
13. A support frame according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the joined end of the sland is shaped to sit in a plane that is parallel 10 but below (or above) the plane of the legs when Ihe stand is held in a horizonlal plane and orientation.
14. A support frame according 10 any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein a second strut is localed at a distance of belween aboul 80mm and 130mm from the first slrul, towards the free ends of the legs.
15. A support frame according to any one of Claims 9 to 14, wherein one end of the stand finishes in a point or sharp edge.
16. A support frame according to any one of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the refuse sack support ring is inserted through a gap between the closed end of stand and the first strut at right angles to the stand so that, in use, the stand is oriented vertically and the ring is held by the stand at an orientation that is orthogonal to the stand.
17. A support frame according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the refuse sack support ring is inserted Ihrough a gap belween the closed end of stand and Ihe first slrul in the same plane as the stand so that, in use, the stand is oriented in the same plane as the ring and the sland serves as a handle exlension. I0
18. A refuse sack support frame as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 8.
19. A refuse sack support frame as depicted in any one of Figures 1 to 8.II