STADIUM SEAT TRASH BAG

Abstract

A stadium seat trash bag is provided. The trash bag is removably attached by adhesive or other means to the back of a stadium seat and used to collect debris that normally is deposited on the floor of an entertainment stadium. The trash bag may also be used as an advertising or decorative medium.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This patent relates to a waste receptacle for use in spots and entertainment venues having stadium type seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,942 describes a trash collection bag that is mounted to the underside of a folding stadium type seat. When the seat is folded up the bag flexes back toward the seat to allow unobstructed passage. When the seat is folded down for use the bag swings forward for easy access.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stadium seat waste receptacle that can be easily mounted to the back of a stadium seat for use by the person seated behind the stadium seat

A further object of the invention is to provide a waste receptacle that does not obstruct passage but is easily opened and closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trash bag mountable to a stadium seat that can carry advertising or decoration viewable by the person seated behind the stadium seat.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a trash bag removably mountable to a stadium seat for collecting debris that otherwise would be deposited on the floor of an entertainment stadium. The trash bag comprises a front panel and a rear panel affixed along three sides. The trash bag can be transparent to enable a worker to determine at a glance whether the bag needs to be emptied.

The front panel has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. The rear panel has a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges and a seat facing side that faces away from the front pane. The front and rear panels are affixed by a heat seal or other means along their bottom edges and their side edges to define an open mouthed receptacle. The front and rear panel side edges can slope inward to create a cone effect.

The front and rear panels have the same horizontal dimension, but the rear panel has a greater vertical dimension so that the rear panel top edge extends above the top edge of the front panel. The trash bag further comprises a collar panel defined as that part of the rear panel that extends above the top edge of the front panel. The collar panel has a seat facing side that can bear advertising, a trademark or other indicia.

The trash bag further comprises means for removably attaching the bag to a seat back. The attachment means can be a layer of adhesive extending across the collar panel on the seat facing side of the rear panel and a removable non-adhesive strip overlaying the layer of adhesive; a carrying handle affixed to the bag near the rear panel top edge and configured to loop over the stadium seat; a hook and loop type fastening system or any suitable means.

The front panel and/or rear panels near their bottom edges can be is porous, or can have small holes to allow water to pass through in the event of rain.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a stadium seat trash bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the stadium seat trash bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the stadium seat trash bag of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a stadium seat trash bag according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a third embodiment of a stadium seat trash bag according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 one embodiment of the stadium seat trash bag 10 of the present invention. The purpose of the trash bag 10 is to collect debris that normally is deposited on the floor of an entertainment stadium while providing an advertising or decorative medium.

The trash bag 10 comprises a front panel 12 and a rear panel 14 affixed along their bottom edges 16 and side edges 18 to provide an open mouthed receptacle. The front and rear panels 12, 14 have a similar lateral (horizontal) dimension, but the rear panel 14 has a greater vertical dimension so that its top edge 15 extends above the top edge 13 of the front panel 12. As a result, the bag 10 includes a collar panel 20 defined as that part of the rear panel 14 that extends above the top edge 13 of the front panel 12. The collar panel 20 preferably is about two inches high and extends across the top of the bag 10. The collar 20 panel provides easier access to the inside of the bag 10 and prevents the user from contacting the seat 22 on which the bag 10 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bag 10 is anchored to a stadium seat back 22 by the collar panel 20. The collar panel 20 is stretched across the back of the stadium seat back 22 so that the bag 10 hangs in front of the intended user 24 for the purpose of collecting peanut shells and other small debris.

Preferably the bag 10 comprises a mild adhesive strip 26 that extends across the collar panel 20 on the seat facing side of the rear panel 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The adhesive strip 26 comprises a layer of adhesive and a removable plastic strip that covers the adhesive layer until the bag 10 is ready to be mounted to a seat back 22. The adhesive is such that the bag 10 can be easily mounted to and removed from the seat 22. The bag 10 may be removed from the seat back 22 by pulling on the collar panel 20 or other part of the bag 10.

In the preferred embodiment the bag 10 is 14 to 18 inches wide (in the horizontal dimension) and about 20 inches tall so the trash bag 10 will stretch across the back of any seat 22 measuring 17 inches to 22 inches across. The circumference of the bag opening is between about 28 and 36 inches.

The seat facing side of the collar panel 20 that affixes to the chair 22 may display a name, trademark or other indicia. The trash bag 10 front panel 12 may also carry advertising or decorative elements.

In further embodiments of the invention the side edges 18 of the bag may slope inward at an angle to create a cone effect as shown in FIG. 4. The front and/or rear panels near the bottom edge 16 may be porous or have small holes 28 to allow for the pass through of water in the event of rain. The bag 10 can also be made from transparent material so that cleaning crews know whether a bag must be emptied or replaced.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bag 10 may have an integrally formed carrying handle 30 that extends across the rear panel 14 near the rear panel top edge 15 and can be looped over the seat back 22. The handle is defined by parallel perforations 32 near the rear panel top edge 15 and may be used instead of the adhesive strip 26 for mounting the bag 10 to the seat back 22. In this embodiment the handle 30, and thus the horizontal dimension of the bag near the rear panel top edge 15, must be sufficiently wide so that the handle 30 can extend over a seat back 22.

In still further modifications of the invention the stadium seat trash bag 10 may be attached to the seat back with a hook and loop type fastening system.

Other modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended claims. It is intended that the claims cover all such modifications that fall within their scope.

Claims

1. A trash bag removably mountable to a stadium seat, the trash bag comprising:

a front panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges;

a rear panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges and a seat facing side that faces away from the front panel;

the front and rear panels being affixed along their bottom edges and their side edges to define an open topped receptacle;

the front and rear panels having the same horizontal dimension;

the rear panel having a greater vertical dimension so that the rear panel top edge extends above the top edge of the front panel;

the trash bag further comprising a collar panel defined as that part of the rear panel that extends above the top edge of the front panel;

the trash bag further comprising attachment means for removably attaching the bag to a seat back.

2. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the front panel bears advertising or other indicia.

3. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the bag is transparent.

4. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein a the attachment means comprises a layer of adhesive extending across the collar panel on the seat facing side of the rear panel and a removable non-adhesive strip overlaying the layer of adhesive.

5. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a handle integrally formed in the bag and extending across the rear panel near the rear panel top edge, the handle being defined by parallel perforations located near the rear panel top edge.

6. The trash bag of claim 5 wherein the handle is sufficiently long that it can be looped over a stadium seat back.

7. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the attachment means is a hook and loop type fastening system.

8. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the collar panel has a seat facing side bearing indicia.

9. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the front and rear panel side edges slope inward.

10. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the front panel or rear panel near their bottom edges is porous.

11. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the rear panel near the rear panel bottom edge has small holes.

12. The trash bag of claim 1 wherein the front panel near the front panel bottom edge has small holes.