Container holding device

Abstract

A container holding device is provided and includes a device structure, wherein the device structure includes a first structure side portion associated with a second structure side portion to define a structure cavity for supportingly containing a container, wherein the first structure side portion and the second structure side portion further define a structure opening communicated with the structure cavity to allow the container to be moved into and out of the structure cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a device for holding a container, and more particularly to a device for holding a bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For years people have been using bags to collect and store such things as garbage, leaves, grass, and other assorted waste. These bags have been made of paper, plastic, burlap, and composite materials, and are used both for outdoor uses such as yard work, and indoor uses such as garbage collection and disposal. While bags are good for collection and storage of all types of materials, they can be difficult to handle in that they must typically be supported. This can be accomplished via a two person operation, wherein one person holds a bag open and the other gathers material and places it in the held open bag. The draw back here is the necessity for two people, and thus devices have been created which are designed to hold bags open and in place.

One such device is a garbage can which is well known and in use in applications involving bags which must be held open and in place. Garbage cans are effective at holding open large plastic bags in that the top of a plastic bag can be folded down around the lid or opening of the garbage can, allowing the bag to stay in place. Unfortunately however, several problems exist with these devices. First, because paper bags are less pliable than plastic bags they do not fold down around a garbage can lid as easily as do plastic bags. Additionally, paper does not conform to the shape of a garbage can the way plastic does, making it susceptible to tearing and thus more difficult to keep in place without a garbage can of similar size. Second, with rising environmental consciousness, paper has become more prevalent as the bag material of choice (due to paper's biodegradability), and as such, paper bags are in demand. Third, even when plastic can be used, a full plastic bag must be lifted up and out of a can. Due to suction within the can, as well as the sheer weight of a full bag (plastic, paper, or burlap) this lifting can be an arduous and possibly injury producing necessity. Fourth, large garbage cans take up a substantial area, making storage unsightly, and possibly costly (if numerous large cans must be stored, storage area must be purchased), and inconvenient. Fifth, during indoor bagging applications it can be difficult to match a paper or burlap type bag to a typical kitchen garbage container. Thus, plastic garbage bags are usually bought and used (again for their pliability). Unfortunately, it is inconvenient to use paper or burlap bags (or even plastic grocery bags) in this type of application because of size, cost, and pliability constraints. Paper bags would not only be more environmentally responsible, but more cost effective as they can be recycled from other uses (i.e. grocery bags).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container holding device is provided and includes a device structure, wherein the device structure includes a first structure side portion associated with a second structure side portion to define a structure cavity for supportingly containing a container, wherein the first structure side portion and the second structure side portion further define a structure opening communicated with the structure cavity to allow the container to be moved into and out of the structure cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention should be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures in which like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bag holding device;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1, wherein the structure is holding a bag;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1, wherein the bag holding includes wheels;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1, wherein the bag holding device is holding a bag and includes a cover;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1 including two sides, a base, and a back;

FIG. 7 is an exploded front view of the bag holding device from FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1, wherein the bag holding device includes an attaching device;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the bag holding device in FIG. 1, wherein the bag holding device includes an attaching device;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the bag holding device from FIG. 1, wherein the bag cavity may be tilted;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the bag holding device from FIG. 1, wherein the bag cavity may be tilted;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a bag holding device in accordance with a third embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a front view of a bag holding device in accordance with a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the base of the bag holding device from FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the first side and base of the bag holding device from FIG. 15,

FIG. 19 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the bag holding device in FIG. 15;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the bag holding device in FIG. 15;

FIG. 22 is a side view of the bag holding device in FIG. 15; and

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a method for implementing a bag holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a first embodiment of a bag holding device 100 is illustrated and includes bag holding structure 102 defining a bag cavity 104 including at least one bag opening 106, wherein the at least one bag opening 106 is communicated with the bag cavity 104 to allow a bag 108 to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 104. The bag 108 can be moved into and out of the bag cavity 104 through at least one opening 106 and may be accomplished with a minimal amount of actual lifting of the bag 108. Bags 108, which can be used in conjunction with a bag holding structure 102, may include any type of bag 108 suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a plastic leaf bag, a kitchen garbage bag, a paper leaf bag, a paper grocery bag, an empty pellet stove pellet bag, a burlap bag, and a composite material bag.

The bag holding structure 102 may also include at least one wheel 110 for locomotion, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The at least one wheel 110 attaches to the bag holding structure 102 in a manner that allows rolling of the bag holding structure 102 on at least one wheel 110 when the bag holding structure 102 is tilted toward the at least one wheel 110. In this way the bag holding device 102 and the bag 108 held by the bag holding device 102 may be easily moved about a garage, yard or kitchen. The bag holding devices 102 may also include a gripping device, such as a handle 138 to aid in movement and tilting. While a two wheel configuration is illustrated in FIG. 4, a bag holding structure 102 may also include any number of wheels which may not necessarily have to be used in conjunction with tilting. The bag holding structure 102 may rest upon more than one wheel spaced and sized to continuously maintain the weight and stability of the bad holding device 102. Additionally, the at least one wheel may slide down from the side of the bag holding device 102, extend from inside the bag holding device 102 and/or flip out from the bottom of the bag holding device 102 to allow for convenient mobility with or without tilting of the bag holding device 102.

Referring to FIG. 5, the bag cavity 104 of the bag holding structure 102 may also include a bag cavity top opening 114, wherein a moveable cover 112 may associate with the bag holding structure 102 to cover the bag cavity top opening 114 and the bag 108. This allows the bag 108 and its contents to be covered when the bag is not being filled allowing for the bag 108 to be protected from the elements and/or helping to contain bag contents (and their possible odors) within the bag 108.

Referring to FIG. 6, the bag holding structure 102 is illustrated and includes a first side 118 associated with a second side 120 via a base 122 and a back structure 124 to define a bag cavity 104 including at least one bag opening 106, wherein the at least one bag opening 106 is communicated with the bag cavity 104 to allow the bag 108 to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 104. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first side 118, second side 120, base 122, and back structure may be detachable from each other, either individually or collectively.

As shown in FIG. 8, it is contemplated that attaching devices 116 may be used to supportingly attach the bag 108 to the bag holding device 100. These attaching devices 116 may be connected to or separate from the bag holding device 100, and may include any number and/or type of attaching devices 116 suitable to the desired end purpose, such as clips, hooks, and handles. Referring to FIG. 9, one embodiment illustrating the use of at least one attachment device 116 is shown, wherein the at least one attachment device 116 may be used to (usually in the form of a clip) associate the bag 108 and the bag holding structure 102 via at least one clipping cavity 128 along the top end 126 of the bag holding device 102. The attaching devices 116 may be used to associate the bag 108 with at least one of the four walls 132 which may define a clipping cavity 128 disposed adjacent the bag cavity 104. Although any type of attaching device 116 may be used to securely associate the bag 108 with the bag holding device 100, the at least one clipping cavity 128 may be disposed to interact with the attaching device 116 to the bag 108 to be securely attached to the bag holding structure 102 using a minimal area of the bag holding device 100. Additionally, if the attaching device 116 includes sharp clip ends, the at least one clipping cavity may permit these sharp clip ends to be safely contained within the confines of the bag 108 and clipping cavity 128. It should be appreciated that any attaching device 116 suitable to the desired end purpose may be used to securely associate the bag 108 with the bag holding device 100, such as a hooks, a clip and a magnetic device.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a bag holding structure 102 which may be tilted for easy access is illustrated. The first side 118 and second side 120 of the bag holding structure 102 may include inner segments 134 and 136 which can detach from the first side 118 and second side 120 and tilt outward from the bag holding device 102. Tilting may be accomplished for each of the inner segments 134 and 136 via hinges 138 and 140, which associate the inner segments 134 and 136 with the first side 118 and the second side 120. The tilting of inner segments 134 and 136 further allow the bag cavity 104 to tilt outward from the bag holding structure 102 to aid in loading a bag 108 contained within the bag cavity 104 of a bag holding device 100.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, a second embodiment of a bag holding device 1200 is illustrated including a bag holding structure 1202 which is configurable in size. The bag holding structure 1202 defines a bag cavity 1204 including at least one bag opening 1216, wherein the at least one bag opening 1216 is communicated with the bag cavity 1204 to allow a bag 108 to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 1204. The bag holding structure 1202 includes segments 1206 and 1210 which form a first side of the bag holding device 1202 and segments 1208 and 1212 which form a second side of the bag holding device. The segments 1206 and 1210 and 1208 and 1212 may be hinged at 1216 to allow segments 1206 and 1208 to fold up by rotating away from the bag cavity 1204 and rest flush against segments 1210 and 1212 respectively, as shown in FIG. 13. Segments 1210 and 1212 are hinged at 1218 to allow both sets of segments 1206/1210 and 1208/1212 to rotate into the bag cavity 1204 and rest flush against the bag holding device bottom 1214, as seen in FIG. 14. It should be appreciated that other methods of collapsibility are contemplated, including detachability of segments 1206, 1208, 1210, and 1212.

It should also be appreciated that a collapsible bag holder 1200 may include at least one clipping cavity for securing the bag 108 to the collapsible bag holder 1200 and at least one wheel for easy transport. Additionally, the collapsible bag holder 1200 may be configured to include a first side 118 associated with a second side 120 via a base 122 and a back structure 124 to define a bag cavity 104 including at least one bag opening 106, wherein at least one bag opening 106 is communicated with the bag cavity 104 to allow a bag 108 to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 104 as seen in FIG. 6. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, the first side 118, second side 120, base 122, and back structure may also be detachable from each other. It should be further appreciated that segments of the collapsible bag holder 1200 may be detachable and the bag cavity 1204 may also tilt in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, and that a collapsible bag holder 1200 may include a moveable cover 112 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 15 through FIG. 22, a third embodiment of a bag holding device 1500 is illustrated and includes a bag holding structure 1520 defining a bag cavity 1510 including at least one bag opening 1522, wherein the at least one bag opening 1522 is communicated with the bag cavity 1510 to allow a bag to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 1510, wherein attaching devices may be used to attach the bag to the bag holding structure 1520. Additionally, the bag cavity 1510 in this embodiment may be width, height, and depth adjustable via any method and/or device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as slides and hinges.

The adjustable bag holder 1500 may include a first side 1502 associated with a second side 1504 via a base 1506 and a back structure 1508 to define a bag cavity 1510 including at least one bag opening 1522, wherein the at least one bag opening 1522 is communicated with the bag cavity 1510 to allow a bag to be moved into and out of the bag cavity 1510. Moreover, the first side 1502, second side 1504, base 1506 and back 1508 may all be detachable from each other.

Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 a bag holding structure 1520 is illustrated, wherein the bag holding structure 1520 is width adjustable. As shown, the first side 1502 and second side 1504 may move toward and away from each other along at least one groove cavity 1524 defined by the base 1506. The first side 1502 and second side 1504 are attached to at least one groove 1524 in the base 1506 via connecting structures 1526 extending from the first side 1502 and second side 1504 into at least one groove 1524 in the base 1506. These connecting structures 1526 may be sized and shaped to anchor the first side 1502 and second side 1504 into at least one groove 1524. It should be appreciated however, that other manners of bag cavity 1510 width adjustment are contemplated, including using a first side 1502 and a second side 1504 which may each be removeably fit into intervalled slots on a base 1506, or by constructing the first side 1502 and second side 1504 to have a heavy, individual bottom bases (or stake, or anchor), allowing each side 1502 and 1504 to move independently of each other while remaining associated via a back structure 1508.

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate a bag holding structure 1520 which may be height adjustable by extending at least one (or a portion of one) of the first side 1502 and the second side 1504 upward and/or downward. The first side 1502 and second side 1504 may be extended upward and/or downward via a telescoping method, wherein segments of lesser width and depth 1512 extend from inside the first side 1502 and inside second side 1504, and segments of still lesser width and depth 1514 extend from inside segments 1512. The first side 1502 and second side 1504, as well as segment 1512, may be hollow in order to accommodate unextended segments 1512 and 1514. This allows the bag cavity 1510 to adjust between larger and shorter heights. It should be appreciated that the bag cavity 1510 height extension may also be accomplished by unfolding hinged segments which are stored flush against each other outside of the bag cavity 1510 or by fastening separate attachable and detachable segments to the first side 1504 and second side 1506.

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a bag holding structure 1520 which may be depth adjustable by extending at least one of said first side 1502 and second side 1504 toward and away from said back structure 1508 via a telescoping method, wherein a segment of lesser depth and height 1516 extends from inside the first side 1502 and a segment of still lesser depth and height 1518 extends from inside segment 1516. Each segment 1516 and 1518 extends away from the back structure 1508 to form a variable sized bag cavity 1510 of greater depth. The first side 1502 and segment 1512 may be hollow in order to accommodate unextended segments 1516 and 1518. Again, the second side 1504 may house extensions in the same manner as the first side 1502. It should be appreciated that bag cavity 1510 depth extension, like height extension, may also be accomplished by unfolding hinged segments which are stored flush against each other outside of the bag cavity 1510, or by fastening separate attachable and detachable segments to the first side 1502 and second side 1504.

The height, width, and depth adjustable bag holder 1500 may also be collapsible via any method and/or device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. Additionally, an adjustable bag holder 1500 may include at least one wheel 110 for locomotion and wherein the bag cavity 1510 includes a bag cavity top opening 114, the bag holder 1500 may also include a movable cover 112. Moreover, the adjustable bag holder 1500 may include a tilting bag cavity 1510 and at least one clipping cavity 128.

Referring to FIG. 23, a method for implementing the bag holder 100, 1200, 1500 is illustrated and includes moving a bag into a bag cavity through a bag opening, wherein the bag cavity and bag opening are defined by a bag holding device, as shown in operational block 2302. The method further includes attaching a bag to the bag holding device, wherein the bag is attached in a manner that holds the bag open, as shown in operational block 2304. Additionally, further clipping of a bag and a side of at least one clipping cavity is included in the method, wherein the attachment devices are clipping devices, and the bag holding device includes a top end which defines at least one clipping cavity for associating a bag to the bag holding device via clipping devices, as shown in operational block 2306. Also included is adjusting the height, width, and length of the bag cavity, and tilting the cavity, as shown in operational block 2308, along with wheeling the bag holder to an intended area, and collapsing the bag holding device when the bag holding device is not in use, as shown operational block 2310.

Bag holders may be produced to hold any number of bags at one time, including configurations where individual bag holders are attached to each other in side-to-side and back-to-back manners to form multiple bag holders. Additionally, bag holders may consist of any type of sturdy (but possibly flexible) material, including at least one of wood, metal, rubber, plastic, and a composite thereof.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims

1. A container holding device, comprising:

a device structure, wherein said device structure includes a first structure side portion associated with a second structure side portion to define a structure cavity for supportingly containing a container, wherein said first structure side portion and said second structure side portion further define a structure opening communicated with said structure cavity to allow said container to be moved into and out of said structure cavity.

2. The container holding device of claim 1, wherein said first structure side portion is associated with said second structure side portion via at least one of a structure base portion and a structure back portion to define said structure cavity.

3. The container holding device of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first structure side portion, said second structure side portion, said structure base portion and said structure back portion are configurable to configure the container holding device between a first configuration and a second configuration.

4. The container holding device of claim 3, wherein when the container holding device is configured into said first configuration, said first structure side portion, said second structure side portion and at least one of said structure base portion and said structure back portion are configured to define said structure cavity having said structure opening.

5. The container holding device of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first structure side portion, said second structure side portion said structure base portion and said structure back portion are configurable to at least one of increase and decrease the size of said structure cavity.

6. The container holding device of claim 3, wherein when the container holding device is configured into said second configuration, said first structure side portion, said second structure side portion and at least one of said structure base portion and said structure back portion are configured to be collapsed upon each other.

7. The container holding device of claim 3, wherein when the container holding device is configured into said second configuration, said first structure side portion, said second structure side portion and at least one of said structure base portion and said structure back portion are configured to be detached from each other.

8. The container holding device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a transport device and a configurable support device.

9. The container holding device of claim 8, wherein said transport device includes at least one wheel and is configurable between a stowed configuration and an unstowed configuration, wherein when said transport device is configured into said stowed configuration, said at least one wheel is disposed away from the ground and when said transport device is configured into said unstowed configuration, said at least one wheel is disposed to interact with the ground.

10. The container holding device of claim 8, wherein said configurable support device is configurable between a first support configuration and a second support configuration, wherein when said configurable support device is configured into said first support configuration the container holding device is disposed to be tilted to one side and wherein when said configurable support device is configured into said second support configuration the container holding device is disposed to be substantially vertical.

11. The container holding device of claim 8, wherein said at least one transport device is at least one of a wheel and a roller.

12. The container holding device of claim 1, further comprising at least one attachment cavity and at least one attaching device for attaching said container to said device structure, wherein said attaching device interacts with said container and said attachment cavity to supportingly associate said container with the container holding device.

13. The container holding device of claim 12, wherein said at least one attachment device is at least one of a clip, a hook, a magnetic device and a Velcro device.

14. The container holding device of claim 1, further comprising a structure top portion movably associated with said device structure for coveringly associating with said structure cavity.

15. The container holding device of claim 1, wherein at said structure opening is sized and shaped to allow said container to be easily disposed in and removed from said structure cavity.

16. The container holding device of claim 1, wherein said container is a bag.