Bag for Installation on a Mobile Cleaning Cart

Abstract

A bag for installation on a mobile cleaning cart features an open top end at which the bag is arranged for hanging support on the mobile cleaning cart and an openable and closable bottom end facilitating removal of contents from the bag through said bottom end with the top end hanging from the cart. Installed on a cart of known types commonly used in custodial, janitorial, maid or housecleaning services, the bag can be emptied through the selectively openable bottom end of the bag to avoid lifting of the bags contents through the open top end.

Description

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,637,176, filed Jul. 4, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to bags used on mobile cleaning carts, and more particularly to such a bag that is openable at a bottom end thereof to facilitate removal of its contents without lifting thereof through the bag's open top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile cleaning or utility carts commonly used in custodial, janitorial, housekeeping or maid services are typically arranged to support a bag at one or more ends of the cart for collection of garbage, recyclables, laundry or other materials therein. For example, a commonly used conventional cart features top and bottom horizontal rectangular platforms interconnected at their corners by vertically extending legs, the bottom platform having four corresponding wheel carriers depending downward therefrom beneath the platforms to facilitate rolling motion of the cart. At one or both ends of the platforms, a pair of horizontal arms aligned with opposite side edges of the top platform project therefrom in an orientation parallel thereto to support a horizontal handle extending parallel to the respective end edge of the top platform at a distance therefrom such that the handle, arms and respective platform end edge delimit a rectangular area when viewed in plan. Sets of hooks respectively project into this space at opposite sides thereof from the end edge of the top platform and the side of the handle facing this end edge of the platform to support a collection bag by means of grommeted or eyelet-equipped holes on opposite sides of the bag's open top end.

Conventionally, these bags are either only open at the top thereof, thus requiring manual lifting of the bag's contents by the user for removal from the bag, or have been additionally provided with a zipper-openable side to allow for easier lateral emptying of the bag's contents. A problem with the latter arrangement however has been that as the bag becomes more full, the contents of the bag may tend to force open the zipper fastener used to secure the openable side of the bag shut until emptying of the bag is desired. Another problem with conventional cleaning cart bags has been the ease with which some of the bags rip, particularly at the holes near the top of the bag from which the bag is hung during use.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved cleaning cart bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bag for installation on a mobile cleaning cart, the bag having an open top end at which the bag is arranged for hanging support on the mobile cleaning cart and an openable and closable bottom end facilitating removal of contents from the bag through said bottom end with the top end hanging from the cart.

Preferably there is provided a bottom flap movable between open and closed positions respectively spanning over and exposing an opening in the bag at the bottom end thereof.

Preferably there are provided fasteners operable to selectively close off and open the bottom end of the bag.

Preferably there are provided cooperative fastener elements supported on opposite ones of the bottom flap and a portion of the bag distinct from the bottom flap and adjacent a bottom perimeter of the bag defining the opening therein, the cooperate fastener elements being selectively engageable to secure the bottom flap in the closed position.

Preferably the cooperative fastener elements comprise mating male and female components of a quick release clip.

Preferably there is provided a plurality of holes formed in the bag proximate, and at spaced positions along, an upper perimeter of the bag defining the open top end thereof for passage of corresponding hooks on the cleaning cart through the holes to hang the bag on the cart.

Preferably each of the holes formed proximate the upper perimeter of the bag is fitted with an eyelet or grommet.

Preferably there is provided a plurality of pockets defined on an exterior of the bag.

Preferably the plurality of pockets is defined on a single side of the bag.

Preferably the plurality of pockets is arranged in parallel columns of pockets.

Preferably different ones of the parallel columns of pockets feature different numbers of pockets.

Preferably the plurality of pockets comprising differently sized pockets.

The bag may comprise canvas.

Preferably there are provided straps supported proximate the open top end of the bag for wrapping about respective portions of the cart for hanging of the bag therefrom.

Preferably a first fastener component is carried on each strap and is removably engagable with a second corresponding fastener component supported proximate the open top end of the bag to form a closed loop around the respective portion of the cart.

Preferably the fastener components comprise quick release clip elements.

The bag may be used in combination with a removable liner situated within the bag. In this instance, the removable liner may comprise a garbage bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a cleaning cart bag with a bottom flap thereof hanging in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the cleaning cart bag during movement of the bottom flap from the open position of FIG. 1 into a closed position.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the cleaning cart bag installed on a conventional cleaning cart with the bottom flap in the closed position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the bag and cleaning cart of FIG. 3 as taken along line IV-IV thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures provided herewith illustrate a cleaning cart bag 10 arranged for installation on a conventional cleaning cart 100. The cart illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is of the prior art type briefly described herein above, featuring a top horizontal rectangular platform 102 aligned with and positioned over an equally sized bottom horizontal rectangular platform 104 by four vertically extending legs 106 interconnecting the two platforms at their aligned corners. The bottom platform 104 has four wheel carriers 108 depending downward from the corners thereof beneath the platforms 102, 104 to facilitate rolling motion of the cart 100. At the illustrated end of the platforms, a pair of horizontal arms 110 aligned with opposite side edges of the top platform 102 project therefrom in an orientation parallel to these side platform edges to support a horizontal handle 112 extending parallel to the respective end edge 102a of the top platform 102 at a distance therefrom such that the handle 112, arms 110 and respective platform end edge 102a delimit a rectangular area when viewed in plan. Sets of hooks 114, 116 respectively project into this space at opposite sides thereof from the end edge 102a of the top platform 102 and the side of the handle 112 facing this end edge 102a to support the cleaning cart collection bag 10 by means of grommeted or eyelet-equipped holes on opposite sides of the bag's open top end.

When unfolded and hung for use on the cart, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, and 4, the bag 10 features a front wall 12, opposite rear wall 14 and opposing side walls 16 delimiting, and depending downward from, an open top end 18 of the bag. The front wall 12 and rear wall 14 feature respective sets of holes 20 extending therethrough just below the perimeter of the open top end 18, where as illustrated in the figures the bag 10 may be folded or doubled over to form a hemmed edge 18a. Each hole 20 is fitted with a respective grommet or eyelet 20a for reinforcement of the bag 18 at these holes to better resist tearing when hung on the cart 100. With reference to FIG. 4, the holes 20 of the bag's front wall 12 fit over the cart handle's L-shaped hooks 116, which project from the cart handle 112, first horizontally toward the cart's top platform 102, parallel to the arms 110 supporting the handle 112, and then vertically upward. Similarly, the holes of the bag's rear wall 14 fit over the cart platform's L-shaped hooks 114, which project from the end edge 102a of the cart's top platform, first horizontally toward the cart's handle 112, parallel to the arms 110 supporting the handle 112, and then vertically upward. Each hook 114, 116 thus extends horizontally through a respective hole 20 in the bag 10 from the respective part of the cart 100 and then projects upward to form a stop that prevents sliding of the bag 18 off the hook, the hooks thus hangingly supporting the bag 10 on the cart 100.

At the bottom end of the bag opposite the open top end 18, the walls 12, 14, 16 of the bag 10 delimit a bottom opening 24 of the bag communicating with the interior thereof. Connected to the rear wall 14 of the bag 10 proximate a bottom end of the rear wall a short distance past the perimeter of the bottom opening 24 is a rectangular bottom flap 26. This flap 26 is sewn, along one edge 26a thereof, to and across the rear wall 14 of the bag 10 just outward from a respective perimeter edge of the bottom opening 24 so that the flap can be pivoted or folded along this relatively permanent fastening of the flap to the bag 10. FIG. 1 shows the flap 26 in an open position hanging downward from its connection to the rest of the bag 10 so that the bottom opening 24 is left unobstructed, while FIG. 2 illustrates how the flap 26 can be bent or folded over the bottom opening 24 to span thereover from the rear wall 14 to the front wall 12 and also fully, or substantially fully, between the side walls 16 so as to conceal the bottom opening 24 and thus close off the bottom of the bag 10.

Proximate an end edge 26b of the bottom flap 26 opposite its connection to the rear wall 14 of the bag 10, female halves 28 of a series of quick release clip connectors are carried on an exterior side of the flap, which faces away from the bottom opening 24 when closed thereover, by respective flexible straps 30 spaced along this edge 26b of the flap. Respective male halves 32 of the quick release clip connectors are similarly carried by short flexible straps 34 on the exterior side of the bag's front wall 12 a short distance upward therealong from the respective perimeter edge of the bottom opening 24 defined by the front wall 12. Each flexible strap is sewn to the respective portion of the bag proximate one end of the strap with the other free end having the respective clip connector component pivotally connected thereto in a known manner by threading the strap through an eye in the connector component and sewing it back onto itself, the flexibility of the strap allowing movement of the connector component relative to the bag. The spacing of the male halves 32 across the front wall 12 of the bag 10 matches that of the female halves 28 so that when the flap 26 is folded over the bottom opening 24 for closing thereof, each male half 32 aligns with a respective female half so that these mating halves can be engaged together. Each of the so-engaged quick release clips thus defines an easily releasable fastener connecting the flap 26 and the front wall 12 of the bag 10 so that engagement of all these clips secures the flap 26 in the closed position. It will be appreciated that releasable fasteners other than the illustrated quick release clip connectors, commonly used for backpacks and fanny packs, may alternatively be applied for selective and reversible fastening of the bottom flap 26 into the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom platform 104 of the illustrated conventional cart 100 features an extension 118 projecting from the bottom platform 104 beneath the arms 110 and handle 112 of the handle structure projecting from the top platform 102. The extension 118 is rectangular in plan and has its perimeter in general alignment with the perimeter of the handle structure defined by the edge surfaces of the arms 110 and handle 112 that face outwardly away from the rectangular area bound thereby. The extension 118 thus provides a support surface beneath the bag 10 so that resting of the bag atop this surface avoids bearing of a full bag's entire weight by the cooperating hooks 114, 116 and grommeted holes 20 near the open top end 18 of the bag. During filling of the hanging bag 10, the mating halves of the quick release connectors are engaged between the flap 26 and the front wall 12 of the bag 10 to keep the bottom end of the bag closed. The locking action of the clips and the positioning of the openable flap 26 at the bottom of the bag so that its opening motion is against the bottom platform extension 118 separately and together oppose unwanted opening of the bag 10 under the weight of its contents.

At a short distance below the open top end 18 of the bag 10, each side wall 16 of the bag features a first flexible strap 36 sewn to it near a first end of the strap, an opposite free end of the strap having a male half 38 of another quick release clip connector, of the same type used for securing of the flap 26, pivotally connected thereto in the aforementioned known manner. A second flexible strap 40, near one end thereof is fixed to the same side wall 16 just beneath where the respective first strap 36 is fixed thereto, the opposite free end of the second strap 40 pivotally carrying a respective female half 42 of the quick release clip connector. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, once the empty bag 10 is hung on the cart 100 by cooperation of the cart's hooks 114, 116 with the corresponding holes 20 near the upper end of the bag 10, the first strap 36 near the bag's upper end on each side is passed upward over the respective one of the handle-supporting arms 110 of the cart 100 to the outer side thereof opposite the rectangular space, delimited by the cart's handle structure, in which the bag is hung. Here, the female half 38 of the connector engages with the male half 42 carried at the free end of the second strap 40, which extends laterally outward from the bag 10 to this outer side of the cart arm 110 therebeneath. On each side of the bag 10, with the connector halves so coupled, the first and second straps 36, 40 cooperate therewith to form a closed loop fastened about the respective one of the cart's handle-supporting arms 110 so that the bag is not hung solely by the cart hooks 114, 116 and corresponding grommeted holes 20.

Just as for the securing of the bottom flap 26, it will be appreciated that releasable fasteners other than the illustrated quick release clip connectors, commonly used for backpacks and fanny packs, may alternatively be applied for selective and reversible fastening of the first and second straps 36, 40 around the handle-supporting arms 110 of the cart 100. Straps, ties or bands could alternatively be tied around the arms of the cart without requiring additional fastener elements, but the locking action of the click-together quick release clips or other releasable locking fasteners prevent inadvertent opening of the loops from around the cart arms that may be more likely to occur when relying on user-tied knots. It will also be appreciated that depending on the features and structure of a particular cart, the loops may be closed around other portions of the cart for securing of the bag thereto.

The bag also features a series of pockets formed on the exterior side of the bag's front wall 12. In the illustrated embodiment the pockets are arranged in two parallel columns extending nearly the full height of the bag's front wall 12 and each spanning approximately half the width thereof. A relatively large first pocket 50 spans the full height of its respective column, forming a single pocket having a depth equaling a substantial portion of the front wall's height. The other column features a bottom second pocket 52 having its bottom aligned with that of the first pocket 50 near the bottom end of the front wall 12 and a top third pocket 54 situated over the bottom second pocket 52 a short height thereabove and extending up the front wall 12 to the same height therealong as the first pocket 50. The open top of each of the large first pocket 50 and the top third pocket 54 is not horizontally oriented, the upper edge of each of these two pockets instead sloping obliquely and generally linearly downward, outwardly away from a vertical centerline of the front wall 12 such that the open top of each of these two pockets faces not only upwardly, but also laterally outwardly away from the bag's midplane passing through the front and rear walls 12, 14 between the side walls 16. The sloping of the upper edges of these two pockets acts to provide a wider opening to the pocket than in a rectangular pocket configuration for better access to pocket contents.

In the illustrated embodiment, all the pockets are disposed on the front side of the bag, which herein refers to the side of the bag facing away cart platforms 102, 104 toward the handle 112. This way, all the pockets are easily accessible from where a user would typically be maneuvering the cart. It will be appreciated that additional pockets could be added on the bag's side walls and that the number, layout or relative sizing of the pockets could be varied. The use of multiple pockets allows for organized storage of different types of items by dedicating contents of a particular pocket to a series of the same or related object types. For example, using the bag in the context of hotel housekeeping, each of the three pockets could be dedicated to a single one of pamphlets, coffee bags and linens. Carrying cleaning supplies, room supplies or other materials in the pockets frees up room on the cart's platforms. Some carts are adapted to carry bags at both ends, in which case the number of bag-defined pockets can be further increased to increase the carrying capacity of the cart or offer improved organization or reduced clutter. The pockets may also be useful when sorting recyclable materials being collected and sorted for subsequent transportation on the cart, for example by dedicating one pocket to aluminum cans, another to plastic bottles or containers and a third to glass products.

The novel bag described herein above may be used with or without an interior liner, for example depending on the objects or materials being collected within the bag. For example, when using the bag and cart combination to collect garbage, a conventional plastic garbage bag may be inserted into the collection bag to form an interior liner. When the garbage bag is full or needs to be removed for other reason, the user can open the bottom flap 26 and slide or shimmy the bottom of the collection bag up over the garbage bag for release thereof from the collection bag's interior without lifting the potentially heavy garbage bag. When collecting laundry or other materials not necessarily requiring an interior liner, the openable flap allows removal from the collection bag without repeatedly reaching over the cart handle down into collection bag 10 from above, thereby potentially reducing awkwardness, strain or fatigue. As an example, using a cart capable of supporting two collection bags, one could be used with a liner for garbage collection with the other used without a liner for laundry collection.

As an example, the bag may be made of polyurethane coated 1000 Denier heavy Cordura nylon with 100% nylon face and polyurethane backing to produce a bag that is high in strength, density and hydrostatic performance; water repellant; UV resistant; rot and mildew resistant; and abrasion resistant. Exemplary dimensions of the cleaning cart collection bag are 18 inches wide, 11 inches deep and 35 inches high. However, it will of course be appreciated that the dimensions may be varied, for example to suit use with a particular cart, and that the bag may be made of any of a known variety of materials.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A bag for installation on a mobile cleaning cart, the bag having an open top end at which the bag is arranged for hanging support on the mobile cleaning cart and an openable and closable bottom end facilitating removal of contents from the bag through said bottom end with the top end hanging from the cart.

2. The bag according to claim 1 comprising a bottom flap movable between open and closed positions respectively spanning over and exposing an opening in the bag at the bottom end thereof.

3. The bag according to claim 1 comprising fasteners operable to selectively close off and open the bottom end of the bag.

4. The bag according to claim 2 comprising cooperative fastener elements supported on opposite ones of the bottom flap and a portion of the bag distinct from the bottom flap and adjacent a bottom perimeter of the bag defining the opening therein, the cooperate fastener elements being selectively engageable to secure the bottom flap in the closed position.

5. The bag according to claim 4 wherein the cooperative fastener elements comprise mating male and female components of a quick release clip.

6. The bag according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of holes formed in the bag proximate, and at spaced positions along, an upper perimeter of the bag defining the open top end thereof for passage of corresponding hooks on the cleaning cart through the holes to hang the bag on the cart.

7. The bag according to claim 6 wherein each of the holes formed proximate the upper perimeter of the bag is fitted with an eyelet or grommet.

8. The bag according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of pockets defined on an exterior of the bag.

9. The bag according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of pockets are defined on a single side of the bag.

10. The bag according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of pockets is arranged in parallel columns of pockets.

11. The bag according to claim 10 wherein different ones of the parallel columns of pockets feature different numbers of pockets.

12. The bag according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of pockets comprise differently sized pockets.

13. The bag according to claim 1 comprising canvas.

14. The bag according to claim 1 comprising straps supported proximate the open top end of the bag for wrapping about respective portions of the cart for hanging of the bag therefrom.

15. The bag according to claim 14 a first fastener component is carried on each strap and is removably engagable with a second corresponding fastener component supported proximate the open top end of the bag to form a closed loop around the respective portion of the cart.

16. The bag according to claim 14 wherein the fastener components comprise quick release clip elements.

17. The bag according to claim 1 in combination with a removable liner situated within the bag.

18. The bag according to claim 17 wherein the removable liner comprises a garbage bag.