Holder for refuse bags

Abstract

A refuse bag holder comprising a pair of relatively moveable bag-supporting members that expand to spread the open end of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and retract toward each other to release the filled bag. The bag holder a frame has a pair of tubular members of inverted U-shape in the upright position of the frame. The bight portions of the U-shaped frame members can be moved toward and away from each other, and serve as bag-top supporting members for the material surrounding the open end of a plastic refuse bag. The open end of an empty refuse bag is pulled upwardly between the bight portions, and then draped loosely over them while they are close enough together so that the plastic bag material is slack. The bight portions can then be expanded to spread the bag top and hold it open for receiving refuse. In the case of paper bags, the bag-supporting members also include removable tension members, in the form of flat, elongated blades of resilient material, that project from the bight portions. The tension members engage the inner surface of the material at the open top of the bag, and spread it wide open and taut. When the bag top is held wide open and taut, the space between the bight portions (and the tension members, in the case of paper bags) is determined by the size of the bag. The U-shaped frame members are pivotally connected together to move scissor-like with respect to each other. When the bight portions, (or the tension members, in the case of paper bags) expand to reach a bag-top-open position corresponding to the size of the plastic or paper bag, respectively, they are locked against retraction by a positioning device. The positioning device locks the frame members against movement until it is selectively actuated to release the frame members and permit the bight portions to retract and release the bag. The positioning device is operable to lock the frame members in one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to each other that corresponds to the size of the bag.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to a bag-holding apparatus, namely, holders for bags for leaves and other refuse, and is particularly concerned with such holders that can be adjusted to accommodate refuse bags of different sizes, of different flexible materials, including both plastic and paper, and that can quickly and easily be erected to an operable condition from a collapsed, stand-alone storage condition, and vice versa.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Examples of prior art apparatus of the general type with which this invention is concerned are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: 1 U.S. Pat. No. Issue Date (mo./yr.) 2,531,856 11/50  2,632,653 3/53 3,041,026 6/62 3,666,283 5/72 3,388,920 6/68 3,754,771 8/73 3,756,548 9/73 4,040,638 8/77 4,124,185 11/78  4,160,557 7/79 4,196,880 4/80 4,202,521 5/80

[0005] Among the problems that must be dealt with are:

[0006] (1) the apparatus must be adjustable to accommodate bags of different sizes and materials, including particularly plastic and paper;

[0007] (2) the open end of the bag must be easily secured to the apparatus while the bag is being filled, but must be quickly and easily detached when the bag is filled;

[0008] (3) the paper materials typically used for refuse bags are generally less flexible than the plastic film materials used, and are more easily torn than the plastic materials; and

[0009] (4) the apparatus must be of light-weight, and capable of being erected for use, and collapsed for storage with ease.

[0010] The prior art patents disclose slideable prongs (3,041,026), detachable spring clips (3,754,771), adjustable rods 28 (3,756,548), elastic cords 48 (4,124,185), detachable clamps 66 (4,160,557), and a frame 20 with telescoping tubes coated with a non-skid surface (4,202,521) for securing the bag to the supporting apparatus and keeping it open while it is being filled with refuse. Many of such prior art devices are unduly complex and tedious to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An object of this invention is to provide a holder for conventional trash bags of flexible material, such as paper and plastic, that:

[0012] (1) is of lightweight--preferably about ten pounds--but

[0013] (2) can be collapsed easily to a storage condition, and easily erected from the storage condition to an operative condition for supporting a refuse bag;

[0014] (3) does not require telescoping parts for adjustment to different bag sizes;

[0015] (4) does not require detachable clips, or elastic cords, or the like, to hold the bag in an open position for filling; and

[0016] (5) can accommodate the different characteristics of paper and plastic refuse bags.

[0017] A bag holder according to the invention comprises a pair of relatively moveable bag-supporting members that are selectively expandable to engage the material near the open end of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and thereafter are selectively retractable toward each other to permit the bag material to be released from engagement with the bag-supporting members.

[0018] According to the preferred form of the invention the bag holder comprises a frame having a pair of tubular members of inverted U-shape in the upright position of the frame.

[0019] The bight portions of the U-shaped frame members can be moved toward and away from each other, and thus serve as bag-top supporting members for the material surrounding the open end of a refuse bag, particularly in the case of bags of plastic material. The open end of an empty refuse bag is pulled upwardly between the bight portions, and then draped loosely over them while they are close enough together so that the plastic bag material is slack. The bight portions can then be extended and pulled away from each other to pull the bag top open and hold it open for receiving refuse.

[0020] In the case of paper bags, the bag-supporting members also include tension members, preferably in the form of flat, elongated blades of resilient material, that project radially from the bight portions. The tension members engage the inner surface of the material at the open top of the bag, and spread it open and taut, to prevent the bag from being pulled off of the frame members while the bag is being filled with refuse.

[0021] The tension members are mounted on the bight portions of the frame members, and are fixed against rotation so that they can apply outward pressure against the bag material. Preferably, the tension members are removably mounted on the bight portions because they are generally not required, or desirable, for use with plastic bags.

[0022] When the bag top is held wide open and taut, the space between the bight portions (and the tension members, in the case of paper bags) is determined by the size of the bag. Thus, in a bag holder according to the preferred form of this invention, the U-shaped frame members are pivotally connected together to move scissor-like with respect to each other; any movement of the bight portions toward and away from each other is accompanied by corresponding movement of the distal ends of the respective leg members.

[0023] When the bight portions, or the tension members, expand to reach a bag-top-open position corresponding to the size of the plastic or paper bag, respectively, they are locked against retraction to permit the bag to be filled with refuse by a positioning device. The positioning device locks the distal ends of the frame members against movement until it is selectively actuated to release the frame members and permit the bight portions to be retracted and release the bag. The positioning device is operable to lock the frame members in one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to each other that corresponds to the size of the bag.

[0024] The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the detailed description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag holder according to the invention, supporting a refuse bag of flexible plastic material;

[0026] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the bag-holder of FIG. 1 with a refuse bag of paper supported by removable tension members installed on the bight portions of the frame;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder of FIGS. 1 and 1B equipped with removable tension members for use with paper bags in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1B, but with the refuse bags omitted;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 2 shown in the collapsed and stored condition;

[0029] FIG. 3A is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on lines 3A-3A of FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a side view of the holder loosely supporting an empty plastic refuse bag (shown in phantom lines);

[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view of the holder and plastic refuse bag of FIG. 6 expanded to the bag-top-open position for receiving refuse;

[0034] FIG. 7B is a side view of the holder and a paper refuse bag expanded to the bag-top-open position for receiving refuse;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of a bag holder according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 8 shown in its collapsed condition;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a view in the direction of arrow 10 of FIG. 8;

[0038] FIG. 11 is a view in the direction of arrows 11-11 of FIG. 8;

[0039] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in the direction of arrows 12-12 of FIG. 8;

[0040] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tension device in the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2;

[0041] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another form of tension device; and

[0042] FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view taken on lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0043] Reference numeral 9 (FIGS. 1-B) collectively designates a holder for a refuse bag B of flexible plastic (FIG. 1), and a refuse bag B-1 of paper (FIG. 1B).

[0044] The holder 9 includes a bag-supporting frame, collectively designated by reference numeral 10. The frame 10 is operable to support the refuse bags B and B-1 in an upright position and hold their upper ends open to receive refuse. See FIGS. 1, 1B, 7 and 7B.

[0045] The holder 9 (FIGS. 2-3) includes a pair of relatively moveable bag supporting members 2, 3 that are selectively expandable to engage the material near the open top of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut as shown in FIGS. 1, 1B, 7 and 7B, and thereafter are selectively retractable toward each other to permit the bag material to be released from engagement with the members 2 and 3.

[0046] The bag supporting members 2 and 3 comprise a pair of parallel bars 18 and 24 that form the bight portions of frame members 14 and 16 of the bag-supporting frame 10 of the holder 9, and a pair of tension members 19 (FIGS. 1B, 2 and 7B) removably mounted in the parallel bars 18 and 24 for use with paper bags as discussed further below.

[0047] Frame members 14 and 16 are of inverted U-shaped configuration in the upright position of the holder 9 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1B. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the bight portions 18 and 24 of frame members 14 and 16 are received in an inside-out folded portion F (FIG. 1) of the top of the flexible plastic bag material surrounding the open end of the bag B.

[0048] The U-shaped frame member 14 has a pair of parallel leg members 20 and 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3) with proximate ends joined to opposite ends of the bight member 18. The leg members 20 and 22 extend from the bight member 18 to distal ends secured to shaft 48 (FIGS. 3-7). Similarly, the frame member 16 has a pair of leg members 26 and 28 with proximate ends joined to the opposite ends of the bight member 24, and distal ends located remotely therefrom and which are pivotally connected at 34 to the base 38 of a platform 36 (FIG. 2) described more fully below. The bight members 18, 24 are straight in the preferred form of the invention except for the curved transition with the proximate ends of the respective pair of leg members 20, 22; 26, 28.

[0049] The frame members 14 and 16 are connected together scissor-like. Each leg member of one frame member is pivotally connected to one of the leg members of the other frame member. A pivot pin 30 (FIG. 2) connects leg member 22 of frame member 14 with leg member 28 of frame member 16, and a pivot pin 32 connects leg member 20 of frame member 14 with leg member 26 of frame member 16. The leg members 26 and 28 of the smaller frame member 16 are received between those of the larger frame member 14. The pivot pins 30 and 32 are on a common axis. The bight members 18 and 24 are thus constrained to remain in parallel relationship as they move toward and away from each other during pivotal movement of frame members 14 and 16 about pins 30 and 32.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the material at the top of the plastic refuse bag B is pulled upwardly between, and then draped over, and supported by, the bight portions 18, 24. The fold F is frictionally restrained from being pulled off the bight portions 18, 24, as the bag is filled.

[0051] In FIG. 1B, the tension members 19 are in the form shown in FIG. 13 consisting of flat, elongated plates 21 of resilient plastic material mounted in slots formed in the bars defining the bight portions 18, 24. Each plate 21 is formed with top flanges 19a for holding the tension members in place in slots on bight portions 18, 24 (FIG. 13). As the paper bag material is pulled taut against the outer surfaces of the blades 21, the blades resiliently deflect and apply outward resilient pressure on the inner surface of the paper bag B-1 to resist slippage of the bag material off the frame 10 as it is being filled with refuse.

[0052] An alternate form of tension device, collectively designated by reference numeral 119, is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this form, a pair of flat, resilient blades 121 are integrally formed with a U-shaped support member 120. Support member 120 has a bight portion 122 and depending leg portions 123. The tubular support member 120 is slotted throughout its length so that it can be snap-fitted onto the bight portion 18 and upper ends of legs 20, 22 of the U-shaped frame member. The slot in leg portions 123 is indicated at 123a, and on the underside of bight portion 122 at 122a, in FIGS. 14 and 15. The tension device 119 is preferably of injection molded plastic material. Dimples, knobs, and the like may be provided on surfaces of the blades 121 that engage the material of the bag (such as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1B and &B) to enhance the frictional grip between the opposed surfaces of the blades and bag material.

[0053] Reference numeral 36 collectively designates a platform 36 having a base plate 38. In the collapsed and stored condition (FIG. 5), the holder 9 is supported on a flange 41 depending from the leading end of the base plate 38. A rearwardly and upwardly inclined flange 42 is formed on the trailing end of the base plate for constraining the bottom of the bag B (FIG. 7)

[0054] A pair of stop flanges 44 project laterally from the base plate 38, in the same plane. A pair of resilient latch members 46 project upwardly from the rear, side edges of the base plate 38 for resiliently securing the platform to leg members 26, 28 of frame member 16 in the stored position (FIGS. 3 and 3A). The stop flanges 44 engage the leg members 26, 28 of frame member 16 to prevent over-travel of the platform 36 when it moves into the storage position shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A

[0055] The holder 9 further includes a positioner collectively designated by reference numeral 52 (FIGS. 3-7). As described in greater detail below, the positioning mechanism 52 is operable to selectively permit the holder to be positioned in:

[0056] (1) a fully collapsed, closed condition, for storage, illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the frame members 14 and 16 are folded together; and

[0057] (2) any one of a plurality of bag-supporting conditions in which the bight portions 18, 24 of frame members 14 and 16, respectively, are spaced apart to hold a bag top open, a distance that varies with, and is determined by, the size of the bag.

[0058] The positioner 52 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3-5. A shaft 48 is mounted on the distal ends of leg members 20 and 22 of frame member 14, and supports a pair of wheels 50 mounted on its opposite ends.

[0059] The positioner 52 includes a metal strap 54 and a locking bar 56, both of which are secured to the underside of the base plate 38 of the platform 36. Locking bar 56 is secured to the base plate 38 by conventional fasteners 57a and b. One end of strap 54 is secured to the locking bar 56 (and, hence, to the base plate 38 ) by fastener 57b. The other end is secured directly to the base plate by a conventional fastener 57c (FIG. 5).

[0060] Strap 54 is spaced from the locking bar 56 a distance larger than the diameter of shaft 48, to define a slot 61. Slot 61 extends over the full length of the locking bar 56 to permit the shaft 48 to travel from one of its ends to the other.

[0061] The locking bar 56 is formed with a series of grooves 58 (FIG. 3-5) including groove 58a at one end of the series near fastener 57a, and groove 58b at the other end near fastener 57b (FIG. 4). The end of the locking bar 56 nearest fastener 57c (FIG.4) is spaced from the vertical leg 56a of strap 54 to define a storage position groove 61b that communicates with the end of slot 61.

[0062] Each of the grooves 58 (including grooves 58a and 58b) constitutes a discrete position available to shaft 48 to establish a temporary fixed distance between shaft 48 carried by the distal ends of leg members 20, 22 of frame member 14, and the distal ends of leg members 26, 28 of frame member 16 that are fixed relative to shaft 48 by their fixed pivotal connection to base 38 by pins 34.

[0063] Each position of shaft 48 in one of the grooves 58 also establishes a temporary fixed distance between the bight portions 28 and 24 of frame members 14 and 16, respectively. The distance between the bight portions 18 and 24 determines the size of the bag that can be supported, and held open by, the bight portions or tension members.

[0064] The number of grooves 58 engageable by shaft 48 determines the range of different bag sizes that can be accommodated by the holder 9.

[0065] The maximum bag size is determined by the engagement of shaft 48 in groove 58b (FIG. 4), and the minimum bag size is determined by the engagement of shaft 48 in groove 58a

[0066] FIG. 4 illustrates three different positions of the shaft 48 with respect to the locking bar 56. The first position, shown in solid lines, shows shaft 48 received in grove 58b to lock the frame members 14 and 16 in the fully extended condition (shown in FIG. 7) in which the bight members 18 and 24, are spaced from each other a maximum, non-extendable, distance to accommodate the maximum size of bag B that can be supported on the frame 10, because shaft 48 on the distal end of leg member 20 cannot move any further away from pin 34 at the distal end of leg member 26.

[0067] The second position is shown in phantom lines and is indicated by reference numeral 48a. In this position, the shaft 48 is disengaged from the locking grooves 58a and is located in the slot 61 so that is free to move along the length of the strap 54 from one end to the other of slot 61.

[0068] The third position, also shown in phantom lines, is indicated by reference numeral 48b. In this position, the shaft 48 is received in a storage recess 61b, the frame members 14 and 16 are collapsed together, and the bag holder 9 is locked in its collapsed and closed condition for storage, as shown in FIG. 5. The storage recess 61b is formed by leg 56a and a ramp surface 56b on the end of the locking bar 56 adjacent to leg 56a.

[0069] In FIGS. 7 and 7B, the shaft 48 is located in groove 58a at the end of the series of grooves 58 opposite from groove 58b. In this condition, the bag holder is locked in a position to support the minimum size of bag that can be accommodated by the bag holder 9.

[0070] Shaft 48 can be disengaged from groove 58b and moved into slot 61 by pivoting the platform assembly 36 about the axis of pin 34 (FIG. 4). When shaft 48 is in slot 61, such as indicated at 48a (FIG. 4), the shaft will be caused to move along the slot 61 toward the left in FIG. 4 by pivoting the frame member 14 in a clockwise direction about the axis of pins 30, 32 (FIGS. 2, 4, 6, & 7). Platform 36 can be pivoted upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of pin 34 by the operator either manually or by the operator's foot, to disengage shaft 48 from any of the grooves 58.

[0071] As frame member 14 continues to move in a clockwise direction toward frame member 16, the bight members 18 and 24 move closer together, platform 36 continues to move in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of pin 34 until shaft 48 engages one of the grooves 58 such as shown in FIG. 7, or moves into the storage recess 61b to place the bag holder in its collapsed storage condition shown in FIG. 5. In the storage condition, the bag holder can be supported on the leading end 41 of the platform 36 to hold the wheel 50 above the ground as indicated by the space between the chain dotted lines W.L. (wheel line) and G.L. (ground line) in FIG. 5. This facilitates storing the collapsed apparatus by leaning it against a wall.

[0072] Each of the grooves 58 has a side-wall 58d that is substantially normal to the base plate 38 of the platform 36, and a side-wall 58e that is slanted outwardly from the base (toward the right in FIG. 4). The width of the groove progressively increases from the base to the open end due to the inclination of wall 58e. The straight groove wall 58d prevents any movement of the shaft 48 toward the left as viewed in FIG. 4 until platform 36 pivots counter-clockwise about pin 34 to completely separate shaft 48 from the groove and bring it into contact with the upper surface of strap 54 in slot 61.

[0073] However there is less resistance to moving the shaft 48 in a bag-opening direction, i.e., from the position shown in FIG. 6 toward the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, than in the opposite direction, due to the inclination of groove walls 58e. The shaft 48 can be moved to the right (i.e., in a bag-opening direction) from the FIG. 6 position toward the FIG. 7 position simply by pulling the bag-supporting bars 18 and 24 away from each other because the shaft 48 can easily be forced to ride out of the groove 58 on the inclined wall 58e. Hence, when the bag holder 9 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the configuration of the grooves 58 permits the shaft 48 to be unseated from the groove by manually pulling the bag supporting bars, defined by the bight members 18 and 24, away from each other. The scissor-like configuration of the frame 10 causes shaft 48 to move to the right in FIG. 6 as the bight members 18 and 24 are pulled away from each other, and the shaft 50 is cammed out of the grooves 58 by the inclined walls 58e of the grooves.

[0074] The manner in which a bag can be installed on the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 7B, the installed bag B has an opening which, in its wide open condition, corresponds to dimension y.

[0075] To install the plastic bag B, the bight members 18 and 24 are positioned a distance x (FIG.6) from each other that is less than the distance y in FIG.7. In the position of bag B shown in FIG.6, the top of the bag is pulled between the bight members 18 and 24, and a fold portion F is then draped loosely over the bight members 18 and 24. The operator then manually pulls bight members 18 and 24 in opposite directions to open the bag top until the folded portion F becomes taut against the bight members 18 and 24 when the bag assumes its wide open condition. This action also causes the shaft 48 to be disengaged from its groove 58 in FIG. 6 and move to the right until the fold F is drawn tight by the bight members 18 and 24 as they move from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the wide open position shown in FIG. 7. When that occurs, shaft 48 is located in proximity to a groove 58 having a position corresponding to the wide open, taut condition determined by the size of the bag B. In FIG. 7, the illustrated bag B is of the maximum size for the illustrated holder 9. Therefore, the shaft 48 comes to rest in proximity to, and is received in, groove 58b at the right-hand end of the series of grooves, as is shown in FIG. 7.

[0076] When the bag B in FIG. 7 has been filled with refuse, and is ready to be removed from the holder 9, the operator can raise the platform 36, manually or with the operator's foot, to pivot the platform counterclockwise about pivot 34 and disengage shaft 48 from groove 58b. This permits the bight members 18 and 24 to retract toward each other to return the bag top to a slack condition, such as shown in FIG. 6. This enables the fold F to be easily removed from the bight members 18, 24 so that the bag can be removed from the holder 9, and the bag top closed.

[0077] In summary, the bight members 18, 24 engage the material of the plastic bag B (FIG. 6) near the open end thereof while the bag material is in a slack condition, and thereafter expand the material, in accordance with the size of the bag, until the open the bag is wide open (FIG. 7), and the material surrounding the opening is in a taut condition. When this occurs, the locking bar 56 engages shaft 48 (FIG. 7) to releasably lock the bight members 18, 24 against retraction to maintain the bag B in the wide open and taut condition. This condition is maintained until shaft 48 is selectively disengaged from the locking bar 56 to permit the bag material to return to a slack condition for disengagement from the bight members 18, 24.

[0078] The engagement of the bight members 18, 24 is facilitated by the inside-out fold F that receives them as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. This makes it convenient for the operator to grasp the bight members 18, 24, through the bag material and expand the bag from the slack condition (FIG. 6) to the wide open, taut condition (FIGS. 1 and 7).

[0079] When the bag has been filled, the platform base member 38 can be kicked upwardly by the operator's foot to disengage shaft 48 from the groove 58 in which it is seated to permit the bight members to be retracted and allow the bag to return to a slack condition for disengagement from the bight members 18, 24, and then be removed from the holder 9.

[0080] The bag B illustrated in FIG. 7 represents the largest bag size that can be accommodated by holder 9. The illustrated locking bar 56 has nine grooves 58, and can thus accommodate eight bag sizes smaller than the bag B illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0081] To install the paper bag B-1 of FIG. 7B, the tension members 19 are removably installed on the bight members 18, 24 so that a pair of the plates 21 (FIG. 13) or 121 (FIG. 14) depend from each of the bight members. The bight members are spaced close enough to each other to permit the slack open end of the bag B-1 to loosely enclose the tension members when the bag is placed on the platform 36 in an erect position. The bight members are then expanded to cause the tension members 19 to spread the slack top of bag B-1 to a wide open, taut condition as shown in FIG. 7B. The tension members 19 apply resilient outward pressure on the inner surface of the paper material adjacent to the open top of the bag B-1.

[0082] When the bag B-1 is filled, the shaft 48 can be disengaged from the grooved locking bar in the manner described above to permit the bight members to retract toward each other and release the bag top from the tension members. Movement of the bottom portion of bag B-1 away from the flange 42 (FIG. 7B) causes the bag top to move down and away from the tension members 19 as the bag is removed from the holder.

[0083] FIGS. 8-11 illustrate a modification of the previously described, preferred, embodiment of FIGS. 1-7

[0084] In FIG. 8, reference numeral 109 collectively designates the modified holder which has a frame 110 comprising U-shaped frame members 114, 116 with bight portions 118, 124 that are identical to the corresponding frame 10 and its U-shaped frame members 14, 16 of the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 1-8.

[0085] The holder 109 has a platform 138 with a flat base portion 138 and a pair of parallel angle members 139, 141 at the opposite edges of the upper surface of the base portion.

[0086] A U-shaped strap 142 projects upwardly and rearwardly for restraining a bag (not shown) seated on the base portion 138.

[0087] The positioning mechanism 152 of the modified embodiment comprises a locking bar in the form of a flat blade 156 formed with grooves 158, having substantially the same configuration as the grooves 58 of the previously described embodiment, for receiving the shaft 148 of wheels 150.

[0088] In the modified embodiment, the platform 138 and locking bar 156 carried by the platform 138, can be caused to pivot about pivot pin 134 (FIG. 8) to disengage shaft 148 from any of the grooves 158 by a foot pedal 175 in the form of a flat plate with side flanges 176 (FIG. 9). The side flanges 176 are pivotally mounted onshaft 148. The leading edge 178 of the foot pedal 175 engages the underside of the flat base member 138. A keeper 179 (FIGS. 9-11) projects upwardly from the leading edge and overlies the edge of the top surface of the base member 138. An oblong opening 177 in the foot pedal 175 receives the leg 122 of frame member 118 (FIGS. 9, 11, 12).

[0089] When the platform 138 is in an operative position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10-12, pivotal depression of the foot pedal 175 from the FIG. 8 position pivots the platform 38 upwardly about pivot pin 134 to disengage the shaft 148 from the grooved locking bar 156 and permits the bight members 118, 124 to be moved toward or away from each other in the manner described in connection with FIGS. 1-7.

[0090] The tension members of FIGS. 2, and 13-15 may also be installed on frame members 114 and 116 of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-11.

[0091] While specific forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction shown. To the contrary, various alterations in the construction and arrangement of parts, all falling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising:

A pair of relatively moveable bags supporting members (2, 3);

said bag supporting members (2, 3) being selectively expandable to engage the material near the open top of a refuse bag and hold it open and taut, and thereafter selectively retractable toward each other to permit the bag material to be released from engagement with said members (2, 3);

and positioning mechanism (52, 152) interconnecting said bag supporting members, (2, 3), said positioning mechanism (52, 152) being operable to selectively secure said bag-supporting members (2, 3) in:

(1) a closed condition in which said bag supporting members (2, 3) are collapsed together for storage; and

(2) any one of a plurality of bag-supporting conditions in which said bag-supporting members (2, 3) are spaced apart a distance, as determined by the size of the bag, sufficient to hold a bag top in a wide open condition.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 which said pair of bag holding members (2, 3) comprises a pair of parallel bars (18, 24: 118, 124) connected together to remain in parallel relationship as they move toward and away from each other.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 2 further including a pair of U-shaped frame members (14, 16; 114, 116), each comprising one of said parallel bars (18, 24; 118, 124) and a pair of leg members (20, 22; 24, 26; 120, 122; 124, 126) with proximate ends joined to opposite ends of the respective parallel bar, and distal ends located remotely from said respective parallel bar.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3 in which the leg members (20, 22; 24, 26; 120, 122; 124, 126) of each pair of leg members are substantially parallel to each other.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4 in which each leg member (20, 22; 120, 122) of one frame member (14; 114) is pivotally connected to a respective one of the leg members (26, 28; 126, 128) of the other frame member (16; 116) to join the frame members together scissors-like about an axis that is parallel to said parallel bars, and is located between the proximate and distal ends of said leg members.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which a connector (34; 134) connects said positioner (52; 152) with one of said frame members (14; 114); and further comprising co-operable securing elements (58, 158; 48, 158) on said positioner (52; 152) and the other of said frame members (16; 116) that are selectively engageable to secure the frame members (14, 16: 114, 116) in said selected one of a plurality of relative positions about the axis of said pivot means.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6 in which said positioner (52; 152) comprises an elongated bar (56; 156); said co-operable securing elements comprise a series of grooves (58; 158) along at least a portion of the length of said bar (56; 156); and a groove-engaging element (48; 148) on said frame (16; 116) selectively engageable with one of said grooves (58; 158).

8. A holder as claimed in claim 7 in which each of said grooves (58; 158) has a wall (58d; 158d) that is transverse to the length of said locking bar (56; 156) and a wall (58a;158a) that is inclined outwardly in the direction of movement of said groove-engaging element (48; 148) to increase the distance between said bag supporting members (18, 24; 118, 124).

9. A holder as claimed in claim 8 in which said securing element (48; 148) comprises a shaft mounted on the distal ends of the leg members (20, 22; 120, 122) of said frame member (14; 114).

10. A holder as claimed in claim 9 further including a platform (36; 136) that overlies and is secured to said positioner (52; 152), said platform (36; 136) being pivotally connected to the distal ends of the leg members (26, 28; 126, 128) of said frame member (16; 116).

11. A holder as claimed in claim 10 in which said positioner (52) further comprises a strap (54) secured to said platform (36) in spaced, parallel relationship with said elongated bar (56) to define a slot (61) therewith for slideably receiving said securing element (48) on said frame member (16).

12. A holder as claimed in claim 11 further including a pair of wheels (50) mounted on opposite ends of said shaft (48).

13. A holder as claimed in claim 12 further including a pair of resilient latch members (46) engageable between the leg members (26, 28) of said frame members (16) in the collapsed, stored condition to resiliently hold said platform in said collapsed and stored condition.

14. A holder as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said bag supporting members (2, 3) comprises at least one tension member (19; 119) adapted to apply outward pressure on the bag material adjacent the open top of the refuse bag.

15. A holder as claimed in claim 14 in which each of said tension members (19; 119) includes at least one flat blade (21; 121) of resilient material adapted to project into the open top of the bag.

16. A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising, in combination:

first means for engaging the material of a flexible bag near the open end thereof while the material is in a slack condition and thereafter expanding it in accordance with the size of the bag until the open end is wide open with the surrounding material in a taut condition; and

second means for releasably locking said first means against retraction to maintain the bag in the wide open and taut condition until selectively released to permit the material to return to a slack condition for disengagement from said first means.

17. A holder as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first means further comprises:

means for applying continuos resilient pressure on the bag material against relaxation of the taut condition.

18. A holder as claimed in claim 17 wherein said first means further comprises:

means for engaging the material of a flexible bag near the open end thereof while the material is in a slack condition by engaging an inside-out fold of the flexible material surrounding the open end of the bag as opposite sides of the bag, and thereafter expanding the material of the fold and at the perimeter of the open end until the bag is wide open and in a taut condition.

19. A holder as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first means further comprises:

means for applying continuous outward pressure to the inner surface of said fold while the bag is in said wide open and taut condition.

20. A holder as claimed in claim 18 wherein said second means further comprises:

third means for moving in response to the expansion of the open end of the bag by said first means to a position corresponding to the size of the bag in its wide open and taut condition; and

fourth means for releasably engaging said third means and releasably locking it against retraction from said position corresponding to the size of the bag in its wide open and taut condition.

21. A holder as claimed in claim 20 wherein said first means further comprises:

means for engaging and applying continuous outward pressure to the inner surface of the material while the bag is in said wide-open and taut condition.

22. A holder as claimed in claim 1 further including, in combination therewith:

a refuse bag (B) of flexible plastic material having its upper end portion received between and draped over said pair of bag supporting members (2, 3) such that an inside-out fold (F) thereof depends from said bag supporting members (2, 3).

23. A holder as claimed in claim 1 further including, in combination therewith:

a paper refuse bag (B-1), and in which each of said bag-supporting members (2, 3) comprises at least one tension member (19; 119) having at least one blade (21, 121) projecting downwardly into the open top of said bag (B-1) engageable with the inner surface of the paper bag material.

24. A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising:

a frame (10, 110) including a pair of U-shaped frame members (14, 16; 114, 116) each having a bight portion (18, 24; 118, 124) with a pair of leg members (20, 22; 26, 28; 120, 122; 126, 128 ) having proximate ends joined to opposite ends of the respective bight portions (18, 24; 118, 124) and extending therefrom to distal ends spaced remotely from said bight portions (18, 24; 118, 124);

pivot means (30, 32; 130, 132) connecting each leg member (20, 22; 120, 122) of one frame member (14, 114) with one leg member (26, 28; 126, 128) of the other frame member (16:116) so that the frame members (14, 16; 114, 116) pivot scissors-like about the axis of said pivot means (30, 32; 130, 132) to cause the respective bight portions (18-24; 118, 124) and distal ends to move toward and away from each other;

and a positioner (52; 152) interconnecting said frame members (14, 16; 114, 116),said positioner (52, 152) being operable to selectively secure said frame members (14, 16; 114, 116) in a selected one of a plurality of relative positions about the axis of said pivot means (30, 32; 130, 132) in which the bight portions (18, 24; 118, 124) thereof are spaced different distances from each other to accommodate refuse bags of different sizes.

25. A holder for refuse bags of flexible material, said holder comprising:

a pair of relatively moveable bag-top supporting members (18, 24; 118, 124);

said pair of members (18, 24; 118, 124) having at least one bag-top attaching and release position spaced from each other a sufficient distance such that a flexible bag top is adapted to be received in the space between, and draped over said members in a slack condition for easy removal;

said pair of members 18, 24; 118, 124) then being moveable apart from each other a distance, determined by the size of the bag, to a bag-top open position in which the bag top is pulled taut and held wide open by said pair of members for receiving refuse; and

a positioner (52; 152) interconnecting said pair of members (18, 24; 118, 124), said positioner being operable to secure said members in the bag-top open position; and to selectively release said members and permit their return to a bag-top attaching and release position for removal from said bag-supporting members.

26. A holder as claimed in claim 2 in which each of said bag holding members (2, 3) further comprises at least one tension member (19; 119) detachably mounted on each of the parallel bars (18, 24; 118, 124).

27. A holder as claimed in claim 26 in which each of said tension members (19; 119) comprises at least one flat blade (21; 121) projecting downwardly from its associated parallel bar (18, 24; 118, 124).

28. A holder as claimed in claim 27 further including, in combination therewith, an open-topped paper refuse bag B-1 supported upright thereon; said flat blades (21; 121) each projecting into the open top of said paper bag B-1 to engage with the inner surface of the paper bag material.