US3502238A

US3502238A - Trash receptacle

Info

Publication number: US3502238A
Application number: US763216A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Kelley
Original assignee: ROBERT A KELLEY
Current assignee: ROBERT A KELLEY
Priority date: 1968-09-27
Filing date: 1968-09-27
Publication date: 1970-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-24

Description

March 24, 1970 KELLEY 3,502,238

TRASH RECEPTACLE Filed Sent. 27. 1968 FIGI V II'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT EOBEET A. KELLEY United States Patent 3,502,238 TRASH RECEPTAQLE Robert A. Kelley, 216 W. 10th St., Tifton, Ga. 31794 Filed Sept. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 763,216 Int. Cl. B65d 25/16 US. Cl. 220-63 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disposable liner bag for a trash receptacle is held in mouth-open position within the receptacle by means of an open frame to which the liner mouth is clipped. The frame is nested within the top of the receptacle to rest upon a ledge formation and is removable to leave the liner remaining in the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The household use of trash receptacles within which a removable bag liner is fitted has become quite commonplace inasmuch as this offers a convenient way to handle trash. Usually, however, the mouth of the bag liner is rolled back over the edge of the trash receptacle so as to maintain the liner in open position and although this is an entirely satisfactory arrangement, it does interfere with the proper positioning of the receptacle cover and, moreover, presents a somewhat unsightly appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a trash receptacle wherein the bag liner is held in mouth-open position by means of a separate and removable frame assembly so that theframe assembly and the bag may be nested wholly within the trash receptacle to allow the cover to be positioned properly thereon. The bag mouth is clipped to the frame and the frame is of relatively great vertical height so as to allow the mouth of the bag to position itself vertically therewithin so that the bag bottom rests squarely upon the bottom wall of the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken through the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the section of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further handle arrangement that permits the grasping and carrying of two receptacles by an individual in one hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character indicates in general the trash receptacle which is provided with a removable cover indicated by the reference character 12. For the sanitary handling of trash, the interior of the receptacle 10 is provided with a bag-like liner 14 and in order to hold the liner bag mouth in open position within the receptacle, a removable frame assembly indicated generally by the reference character 16 is provided, same having associated therewith a series of clip members 18.

In the particular embodiment shown, the receptacle 10 is of generally rectangular configuration in cross section, having the

opposite side walls

20 and 22 and end walls 24, all joined by the bottom wall 26 to define the trashreceiving space within the interior of the receptacle. As may be seen more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner surface 28 of the side wall portions of the receptacle adjacent the upper edge 30 thereof is outwardly stepped as indicated by the reference character 32 to present a circumscribing ledge 34 which is adapted to receive the previously mentioned frame assembly 16. The frame assembly is of open rectangular form corresponding in general to the cross sectional shape of the receptacle 10 but is somewhat smaller than the dimensions dictated by the stepped wall portions 32 so as to leave a gap as indicated by the reference character 36 to allow for the recep tion of the U-shaped clips 18 which are utilized to hold the liner bag in mouth-open position. At the same time, the illustrative embodiment of the invention will be seen to employ an interior dimension for the frame assembly 16 such that the inner surface 40 thereof effects substantially a continuation of the inner surface 28 of the receptacle body lying below the ledge 34 so as to present a generally smooth surface which does not interfere with the normal contours of the liner bag 14. At the lower portion of the frame 16, there is an outwardly directed flange 43 formed thereabout that prevents lateral shifting of the frame 16 as it rests on the ledge 34.

The frame assembly 16 may simply take the form of a rectangular integral construction fabricated from synthetic resinous material, or the like, and it -is preferred that the individual limbs 42 forming the frame be of substantial vertical width or height and that the clips 18 be correspondingly elongate so as to allow the liner 14 to drift vertically and thereby to accommodate itself to the contour required while still retaining a clipping action by the members 18. In this way, the bottom of liner 14 will always rest upon the bottom wall 26 with a wide range of liner sizes, and the capacity of the trash receptacle may be increased considerably over and above the capacity of the liner.

The upper rim portion 44 of the receptacle 10 above the ledge formation 34 is flared outwardly slightly to accommodate for the reduced wall thickness effected by the ledge formation 34 and also to provide an inwardly beveled upper edge so that the cover member 12 may be snap fitted over this edge as indicated by the reference character 46 in FIG. 3.

Opposite sides

48 and 50 of the rim formation may be provided with hand hole openings 52 and the corresponding limbs 42 of the frame assembly are provided with registering hand hole openings 54 so that a secure grip may be obtained on the receptacle assembly when desired.

A further form of handle arrangement is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the handles 60 are positioned exteriorly of the

opposite sides

48 and 50 and are of such size to permit an individual to readily grasp and carry two such receptacles 10 when positioned in side by side arrangement as shown in FIG. 4.

In use, the liner 14 may be lowered into the receptacle 10, with the frame assembly 16 resting upon the ledge formation 34. The proper height of the liner 14 is then determined with its bottom flush against the bottom of receptacle 10. The upper portion of the liner 14 may be readily clipped to frame 16. During subsequent filling of the liner 14, it may readily shift at its mouth in a vertical direction to accommodate for the internal contours of the receptacle, this action being allowed for the clip elements 38 which only lightly engage the bag mouth but do so with sufficient force to retain the same in open position. Bags in general use today vary in height and opening size but by the use of the frame and clip arrangement such variation in sizes do not prevent their use as a bag having a smaller opening than the frame may be clipped to only three sides of the frame and still be effective. The function of the clamps is to hold the mouth of the bag open and to provide support for the bag or liner 14 vertically. When full, or when it is desired to place the trash for collection, the cover 12 may be removed whereafter the cover 12 may be replaced and the entire assembly less the frame and clips placed for trash collection.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made and the use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A trash receptacle comprising, in combination:

a substantially rigid container having upstanding side wall portions and a bottom, the inner surfaces of said side wall portions adjacent the upper edge of the container being outwardly stepped to define a ledge,

a substantially rigid frame removably supported on said ledge,

clip means for removably securing the open top of a bag-like liner within the confines of said frame,

and a cover for said container.

2. The trash receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the upper wall portion of said container above said ledge is exteriorly tapered outwardly to present a sharp outer edge for engagement with said cover.

3. The trash receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said frame is of closed form dimensioned to provide an 4 inner surface effecting a smooth continuation of the inner Surface of the container below said ledge.

4. The trash receptacle according to claim 3 wherein said frame is comprised of side portions of substantial height, said clip means comprising a plurality of U-shaped clips of a length substantially equal to the height of said frame.

5. The trash receptacle according to claim 4 wherein said frame is of exterior dimensions slightly smaller than the interior dimensions of said container above said ledge to provide a gap between said frame and said container for receiving said clips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,986 1/1927 Reynolds 22063 2,726,517 12/1955 Pruett. 3,377,017 4/1968 Rosenfield 220-6O X FOREIGN PATENTS 662,970 3/1929 France.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner J. R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner