Cross-over bag clip for a wire rack for bags

Abstract

A bag clip for retaining bags to a frame having a top member spaced from the ground, each bag clip having two adjacent windings angled in respect to each other creating a crossover that holds the bags to the frame by a pinching contact.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bag clip utilized with a wire rack designed to hold bags for filling. A typical use would include a holder for a bag used for bagging leaves and other lawn debris.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wire racks have been utilized to support bags for many years. Typically, these wire racks are sturdy devices utilized in the bagging to help a consumer bag lawn and garden debris at the owner's home. Wire racks are also used in other industrial and agricultural applications in order to support bags in their upright position for filling. This includes grocery checkout bagging and other commercial applications.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this present invention to provide a quick disconnect for a trash bag rack.

It is another object of this present invention to simplify the connection of trash bags to a retention rack.

It is still another object of this invention to facilitate re-cycling of lawn debris.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a sturdy wire rack for trash bags.

It is still another object of the present invention to simplify the design of wire racks.

It is a further object of the present invention to facilitate the collection of leaves and other lawn debris.

Other objects and a more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure, operation, and advantages of the presently disclosed preferred embodiment of the invention will become apparent when consideration of the following description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the bag clip of this application;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wire rack incorporating the invention of the application and shown in a four clip configuration to be used by a consumer;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the preferred clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the clip of FIG. 3 and is taken generally from lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred clip and is taken generally from lines 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a further side view of the preferred clip and is taken generally from lines 6-6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the rack of FIG. 2 in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the collapsed rack of FIG. 7 and is taken generally from lines 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the support utilized between the top and base to the sides of the rack of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 10 is a side view like FIG. 3 of an alternative clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sturdy bag clip for supporting trash bags.

The invention will be described in its preferred embodiment of a clip 12 for a wire rack for use with recycling trash bags 100 such as are utilized in consumer collection of leaves and other lawn debris (see FIG. 2). (Note the bag 100 is slightly displaced from the clips 12 for clarity. The operative position of the top of the bag 100 to the clip 12 is shown in FIGS. 3, 10.)

Multiple clips are typically utilized to hold a trash bag 100 to the rack. Each clip 12 shown has contact points to hold the paper or plastic material 100. The preferred bags typically are paper. Upon insertion of the material into the clip 12, the pinching action of the sides of the clip retains such material within the clip without the necessity of further consumer action. The crossover cooperation of the coil 13 with the connection extensions serves to retain the bag material within such clip by a pinching action. The crossover further extends the service life of the clips 12. The cooperation of adjoining clips 12 reduces the separation of the material 100 from any individual clip perpendicular to the axis thereof. Preferably, the initial contact with the clip 12 is spaced from the tip 29 of the clip to allow for preliminary guidance of the bag material while the later crossover 16 maximizes the friction of the material to such clip. In addition, the opening 37 between the sides 18, 19 of the clip allows for the physical contact between the consumer's fingers and the bag material being associated with the wire rack within any individual clip. This guides the consumer into proper use of the wire rack. This is further aided by the top frame 40 of the wire rack, which frame separates the user's fingers at the top of the joining motion to the clip.

One clip rack would serve to hold the bag in place; two clips would orient the bag, for example in respect to an opening therein; three clips would define a planar triangular opening; while four clips would define a rectangular opening. More clips could be utilized if desired. The rack, thus, cooperates with the clip to hold the bag in position.

The rack 10 shown is a wire rack having a side 11, a base 13, and a top 14 (FIGS. 2, 7, 8, 9).

The side 11 is designed to retain the top 14 of the wire rack 10 a spaced distance from the ground substantially parallel thereto. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, this is accomplished by supporting the top 14 (later described) a fixed distance from the ground which distance is substantially equal to the length of the open paper bag to be utilized with the wire rack. A ratio of 90-110% could be utilized if suitable for this purpose.

The side 11 is preferably simple in overall shape and mirror imaged about its centerline in order to lower the manufacturing costs for the rack by minimizing the number of construction jigs as well as easing the assembly of the rack. It is preferred that the side 11 be formed out of a unitary piece of bent rod, both to facilitate manufacture and in addition to remove any concern for weld breakage and other destructive disassembly of the side. It is further preferred that a part of the top 14 and base 13 (as later described) be integrally formed with the side so as to integrate the rack 10 with as few pieces as possible.

The preferred side 11 is formed of a single piece of unitary wire bent into substantially a rectangular shape. The side has a first upright 21 and a second upright 22 interconnected at the top by a top portion 23 and at the bottom by a bottom portion 24.

In the preferred embodiment shown, there is a butt weld joint 27 in one upright of the wires so as to provide for an integral side 11 (in upright 21 in the embodiment disclosed).

The first upright 21 and second upright 22 are located substantially in a single plane with the top portion 23 and bottom portion 24 slightly offset therefrom (see FIGS. 2, 9).

In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the top and bottom portions 23, 24 extend off the two ends of the uprights at a backward angle (approximately 25° shown in FIG. 9 although the angle could vary from 15-45°). This angle at the very top and the very bottom of the first and second uprights 21, 22 provides an offset in order to displace the top portion 23 and the bottom portion 24 slightly outwards from a continuation of the longitudinal axis of each upright. This reduces the number of separate parts making up the rack 10 by providing an available portion for the physical support for the top 14 and base 13, respectively.

The support for the top 14 and base 13 in addition uses stop pieces 25, 26 extending between upright 21 and upright 22 substantially parallel to the top portion 23 and bottom portion 24 slightly spaced therefrom respectively. These stop pieces 25, 26 form ledges on which the top 14 and base 13 rest in their extended use position, allowing a cantilever-type physical support between the single side 11 and such top 14 and base 13 (see FIG. 9). While the stop pieces 25, 26 can be segmented or self-formed in each side (this latter, for example, by an integral sideways inwardly extending “U” bend in each upright replacing the stop pieces), it is preferred that a single rod serves both sides. This design provides simplicity, as well as a comfortable handle for moving the rack.

The dimensions of the side 11 are chosen in view of the bag to be utilized with the rack (i.e., the length of the uprights 21, 22 aid to define the operational height of the rack 10 while the top portion 23 and bottom portion 24 define the operational width of the rack 10).

The base 13 serves to physically support the side 11 (and remainder of the rack 10) to the ground.

The preferred base 13 consists of two parallel sides 30, 31 joined by an end cross wire piece 35. An alternative base would be two longitudinal extensions of the sides 21, 22 of the rack 10 for use as prongs for pressing into the grass soil with which the alternative rack 10 is to be utilized (see FIGS. 7, 8 dotted lines at 36).

The primary purpose of the parallel sides 30, 31 is to provide a physical support for the rack 10 as well as connecting the end cross wire piece 35 to the side 11 of the rack 10. In the preferred embodiment shown, the base 13 connection is provided by tip end loops having a diameter substantially equal to that of the bottom portion 24 of the side 11 (see the tip end loop 32 in FIG. 9 for the similar interconnection design utilized between both the top 14 and base 13 to the side 11 of the rack 10). The purpose of the end cross piece 35 is to form the outer end of the base 13. The end cross piece 35 also spaces the two parallel sides 30, 31 by a distance approximately equal to that of the side uprights 21, 22. This construction provides for the rectangular shape of the preferred base.

The use of two parallel sides 30, 31 integral with the end cross wire piece 35 is again preferred due to the structural simplicity and physical strength of the design. It also provided some external support for the trash bag utilized with the rack. The identity and nature of the cross piece 35 is not critical as long as this function is performed.

The top 14 serves to physically support the top of the trash bag 100 in addition to spacing the sides of such bag a certain distance apart. The top 14 also provides a handy fill opening for, and physical protection of, the open top of the trash bag 100.

The preferred top 14 disclosed includes a top frame 40 and bag clips 12 (the bag clips 12 provide the primary support for the bags to be utilized with the rack as later disclosed).

The top frame 40 serves to provide the protected fill hole for the trash bag 100 in addition to providing the physical location of the bag clips 12.

A fill hole 41 in the top frame 40 provides for holding the opening for the trash bag 100 about its edges. The bag clips 12 retain the top of the trash bag to the top frame 40.

The opening for the trash bag occurs because of the interconnection of the top, open end of the trash bag 100 to the bag clips 12. As the bag clips 12 are physically separated and spaced in respect to each other, they cooperate to retain the top of the trash bag open. The bag clips 12 thus serve to physically hold the material that forms the top walls of such bag in its proper, open position relative to the remainder of the bag rack 10.

The preferred bag clip 12 shown is formed of a coil 13 having two connection extensions 15 extending off of the sides 18, 19 thereof (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6). In the preferred embodiment disclosed, there are first 27 and second 28 windings in the coil, which windings are angled 34 in respect to each other in order to create an opening 37 to initially guide the top of a trash bag into its retention position in respect to the bag clip 12 (FIG. 6). In this operation, the sides 18, 19 of the clip 12 serve to guide the user's fingers (typically forefinger and thumb) to facilitate the process of engaging the trash bag with the clips 12. This movement also inherently aligns the top of the bag with the bag clips 12. The distance 36 between the sides 18, 19 are preferably greater than the width of the user's fingers so as to allow for the gripping of the bag initially threaded into the opening 37 of each coil 13.

The first 27 and second 28 windings of the clips 12 also crossover at two spaced points so as to create two pinching locations of contact 46, 47 for each coil 13. These two pinch points 46, 47 together create a friction contact to retain the bag material in the clip 12 by a compression type force. These pinching locations thus serve to retain the bag material in respect to the top frame 40 of the wire rack 10. Due to the resilient reaction between the two windings 27, 28 of each clip, the crossovers retain the top of the trash bag to the rack 10.

The outer ends of the windings 27, 28 cooperate at the tip 29 of the clip 12 in order to form an opening 37 into which the material of the trash bag may be inserted by the user. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the bottom opening is due to the angling of two planar windings 27, 28. This angling 34 is preferred because it simultaneously causes the two pinch points 46, 47 and the opening 37 to be created. It is noted that due to the inherent pressure between the two windings 27, 28 of the coil 13, the pinch point retention will be maintained for the life of the rack.

The angling of the two windings 27, 28 serves to guide and then retain the bag material in respect to the top frame of the rack 10. The spacing of the sides 18, 19 of the clip 12 together with the crossover reduces tearing by spreading out the forces over a distance as well as eliminating a need to re-tension or re-align the bag clip 12 during its service life.

The clip 12 has at least one extension section 53, 54 extending tangentially of off the first 27 and second 28 windings respectively serve to attach the bag clips 12 to the top 14 of the wire rack 10. In the preferred embodiment disclosed, this attachment is provided for by welding the top ends 55, 56 of the extensions 53, 54 of the clip 12 to the top frame 40 in a single plane at two laterally spaced locations for each of the bag clips 12 (see FIG. 4). This two location welding securely connects the clip 12 to the side pieces 42, 43 of the rack 10 against tension forces as well as lateral and longitudinal forces. It also reinforces the pinch points 46, 47.

In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the extension sections 53, 54 are each straight sections which are spot welded to the top frame 40 to securely interconnect the bag clip 12 to the top of the rack 10 (top frame 40 side pieces 42, 43 shown). Note that due to the connection of the extension sections 53, 54 in a single plane to the frame 40, the tension between the windings 27, 28 at the crossovers 46, 47 is maintained for the service life of the rack without the need of adjustment.

In the preferred embodiment disclosed, the coil 13 is substantially 1.1″ in diameter. The extension sections 53, 54 are each substantially 0.67″ long extending tangentially in respect to each coil. The clip material wire itself is some 0.1″ in diameter. The first 27 and second 28 windings are angled in respect to each other over their full diameter. In the embodiment disclosed, this produces a 0.06″ opening 37 at the bottom thereof. It is noted that the two-point contact facilitates the initial manufacture of the coil 12 by reducing the need to keep the spacing between the two adjacent coils at a constant exact dimension (as would be needed with a parallel orientation between adjoining windings).

The dimensions of the wire rack should substantially match the height and width and length of the bag to be utilized with the rack 10. For example, a particular paper bag has an opening 12″ wide by 16″ deep by 22″ high. The 16″ and 12″ would define the base 13 and top 14 dimensions of the rack, while the 22″ would define the side dimensions of the rack.

It is preferred that the rack 10 have a height within the range of 12″ to 36″, a width within the range of 8″ to 20″, and a depth within the range of 5″ to 20″. It is further preferred that the dimensions of the rack 10 substantially match those of the bag. It is further preferred that the height of the top of the bag clips 50 be substantially equal to the height of the bag. This allows the bag itself to provide part of the support of the items within the trash bag.

To use the rack 10, one moves the top 14 and base 13 approximately 270° in respect to the plane of the side 11 of the rack 10. The base 13 is then placed on the ground. At this time, the trash bag to be utilized with the rack 10 is opened and its top edges are pulled into the bag clips 12, one clip at a time. The bag can then be filled through the bag opening 40. Upon the completion of filling the bag, one removes the bag from the rack 10, one clip at a time. The bagged material is then amenable to a further operation. On completion of all bagging, the wire rack 10 is collapsed back into its compact storage position and put away for use at a later time. With a bag in the wire rack 10, the rack is being utilized for its intended purpose.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that numerous changes can be made without deviating from the invention as hereinafter claimed.

For example, the bag clips 12 are shown (FIG. 3) having two extension sections 53, 54 extending tangentially off of the coil windings 27, 28. The welding of these sections 53, 54 in turn holds the clip 12 to the wire rack 10. An alternative would be to weld the top of the coil 13 directly to the wire rack 10 (for example, at two spaced locations 88, 89 along the circumference directly to the top frame 40 (see FIG. 10). The two spaced extension sections may or may not be omitted in this embodiment.

An additional example, the clip 12 is shown (FIG. 3) as a circle. An alternative would be to reduce the spacing 36 of the clip, thus to provide a more oval clip (see FIG. 10).

An additional example, the bag clips 12 can be utilized with differing racks. An example of such a rack is that contained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,889 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,944, the contents of which are included by reference. Other changes can also be made.

Other modifications are also possible.

Claims

1. A bag clip connection for a wire rack for holding bags, the bag clip connection comprising the wire rack including a top frame and a side to support the top frame in respect to a ground surface,

said top frame being substantially perpendicular to said side of the wire rack,

a bag clip, said bag clip being connected to said top frame extending downwards thereof, said bag clip having first and second adjacent windings, one of said first and second adjacent windings being angled in respect to the other of said first and second adjacent windings,

said angling of said adjacent windings creating a crossover between said first and second adjacent windings with said crossover providing a pinching contact between said first and second adjacent windings to connect the bag to said bag clip.

2. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that there are two crossovers between said adjacent windings.

3. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized by the addition of an extension section, and said extension section connecting said bag clip to said top frame.

4. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that each of said first and second adjacent windings have an extension section and both of said extension sections connecting said bag clip to said top frame.

5. The bag clip connection of claim 4 characterized in that both of said extension sections are located in a single plane in respect to said top frame.

6. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that said bag clip is connected to said top frame directly via one of said two adjacent windings.

7. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that said two adjacent windings each have a downward tip and said downward tips being spaced from each other so as to create an opening therebetween.

8. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that said adjacent windings are circular.

9. The bag clip connection of claim 1 characterized in that said adjacent windings are not circular.

10. A bag clip connection for a wire rack for holding bags, the bag clip connection comprising the wire rack including a top frame and a side to support the top frame in respect to a ground surface,

said top frame being substantially perpendicular to the side of said wire rack,

four bag clips, each said bag clip having first and second windings and an extension section, each said extension section being fixedly connected to said top frame with said bag clip extending downwards thereof respectively,

one of said first and second windings of each said bag clip being angled in respect to the other of said first and second windings of each said bag clip, each said angling of said adjacent windings creating two crossovers between said first and second windings respectively,

said two crossovers providing two pinching contacts between said first and second adjacent windings of each said bag clip, and said two pinching contacts for holding the bag to each said bag clip.

11. The bag clip connection of claim 10 characterized in that said first and second adjacent windings of each said bag clip have an extension section and both of said extension sections connecting each said bag clip to said top frame.

12. The bag clip connection of claim 11 characterized in that both of said extension sections are located in a single plane in respect to said top frame.

13. The bag clip connection of claim 10 characterized in that said two adjacent windings each have a downward tip of each said bag clip and said downward tips being spaced from each other so as to create an opening therebetween.

14. The bag clip connection of claim 10 characterized in that said adjacent windings are circular.

15. The bag clip connection of claim 10 characterized in that said adjacent windings are not circular.

16. A bag clip connection for a wire rack for holding bags, the bag clip connection comprising the wire rack including a top frame and a side to support the top frame in respect to a ground surface,

said top frame being substantially perpendicular to the side of said wire rack,

four bag clips, each said bag clip having first and second adjacent windings, each said bag clip having two extension sections, the first of said two extension sections extending off of said first winding and the second of said two extension sections of each said bag clip extending off of said second winding respectively,

said first and second of said two said extension sections being fixedly connected to said top frame with each said bag clip extending downwards thereof with said first and said second windings being spaced from and beneath said to frame,

one of said first and second windings of each said bag clip being angled in respect to the other of said first and second windings, said angling of said adjacent windings creating two crossovers therebetween,

said two crossovers providing two pinching contacts between said first and second adjacent windings of each said bag clip, said two pinching contacts for holding the bag to each of said four bag clips, said adjacent windings of each said bag clip having downward tips,

and said angling of said adjacent windings of each said bag clip also spacing said downward tips to create an opening therebetween.

17. The bag clip connection of claim 16 characterized in that each of said first and second adjacent windings of each said bag clip have an extension section and both of said extension sections connecting each said bag clip to said top frame respectively.

18. The bag clip connection of claim 16 characterized in that said adjacent windings of each said bag clip are circular.

19. The bag clip connection of claim 16 characterized in that said adjacent windings of each said bag clip are not circular.

20. A method for constructing a bag clip connection for a wire rack for holding bags, the wire rack including a top frame and a side to support the top frame in respect to a ground surface with the top frame being substantially perpendicular to the side of the wire rack,

said method comprising forming a bag clip having first and second adjacent windings, with one of the first and second adjacent windings being angled in respect to the other to create a crossover between the such adjacent windings to provide for a pinching contact between the first and second adjacent windings to connect the bag to the wire rack when such bag clip is connected to the top frame thereof.