Side-guard for inside of a flexible bag

Abstract

A side-guard system for inside of a flexible bag is provided, including a first substantially cylindrical rigid member and a second substantially cylindrical rigid member configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, wherein, a flexible bag can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles of the second open to side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 12/284,602, filed on Sep. 22, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of side-guards, and particularly to side-guards and system for inside of flexible bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the important tasks in a back yard or garden is to clean up fallen leaves and Branches on a regular basis, especially after each storm in autumn and winter. To do this cleaning job, most people use plastic bags and garbage cans for collection and packaging of branches and leaves. Normally, an open plastic bag is placed inside a garbage can, and the person charged with the task of cleanup fills up the plastic bag with branches and leaves. This task of clean up is very hard because broken branches often times have very sharp points and sometimes thorns, which can tear and make holes in the plastic bag as they are shoved in the garbage can. Also, larger branches do not easily go through all the way and anytime one tries to force the branches by hand inside the plastic bag, the sharp points of these broken branches will make more damage to the plastic bag and make the clean up job more difficult and time consuming. Furthermore, after filling up the plastic bag with branches and leaves, there still remains the challenge of pulling out the plastic bag from the garbage can, which can further damage the plastic bag causing the leaves and branches to spill out again. This task of pulling out the plastic bag from the garbage can is especially burdensome for the elderly and those that suffer from back pain, considering that the average filled plastic bag weighs about 30 pounds, and has to be lifted up at least about 3 feet out of the garbage can to be taken out. Many times, the damaged plastic will have to be placed inside a second plastic bag to stop the branches and leaves from falling out of the tears and holes created in the cleanup resulting in waste of plastic bags.

A variety and sizes of garbage bags are available in the market, and some have been manufactured to be more flexible, durable, and tear-resistant, which cost more money than the regular type plastic bags. However, these bags are still vulnerable to tearing and puncture holes when confronted with the sharp points of broken branches and thorns. While there has been a trend to produce stronger and tear-resistant plastic bags, further improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency cleaning up a yard or garden are desirable, and the side-guard and system of the present invention addresses the existing problems and provides related solutions and benefits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of side-guards, and particularly to side-guards for inside of flexible bags. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use by home-owners or gardeners to efficiently fill up garbage bags with any type of trash including broken branches and leaves when cleaning up a yard or garden. The side-guard of the present invention can configured to any size for various bag sizes.

The present invention recognizes that a side-guard can be used to protect the inside of a bag from sharp objects, making the job of cleanup easier and more efficient. There are many different types of bags, including plastic trash bags or bags made from different materials such as those made of fabric or burlap. The present invention cay be use to protect the inside of any type of bag form sharp objects.

One aspect of the present invention includes a side-guard for inside of a flexible bag, including a substantially cylindrical rigid member able to fit inside a flexible bag, the substantially cylindrical rigid member including an open top side and an open bottom side and a peripheral side wall, wherein the peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the substantially cylindrical rigid member; and one or more handle means that are integral to or attached toward the open top side of the substantially cylindrical member.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a side-guard system for inside of a flexible bag, including a first substantially cylindrical rigid member including a first open top side and a first open bottom side and a first peripheral side wall, wherein the first peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member; a second substantially cylindrical rigid member configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, the second substantially cylindrical rigid member including a second open top side and a second open bottom side and a second peripheral side wall, and one or more peripheral rounded lip handles attached to the circumference of the second open top side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member, the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles configured to rest on the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member; wherein, a flexible bag can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles of the second open to side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a torn bag with holes filled with branches and leaves without the utilization of a side-guard.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an intact bag filled with branches and leaves with the utilization of a side-guard.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a torn bag with holes that is filled with branches and leaves without the utilization of a side-guard being pulled out of a trash container.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an intact bag filled with branches and leaves with the utilization of a side-guard, and an embodiment of the side-guard shown on top of the filled bag.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the side-guard.

FIG. 6 shows a ¼ cut perspective view of an embodiment of the side-guard.

FIG. 7 shows a front view diagram of a preferred embodiment of the side-guard.

FIG. 8 shows a front view diagram of a preferred embodiment of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic flat view of an embodiment of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 10 shows a ¼ cut perspective view of an embodiment of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 11 shows a front view diagram of an embodiment of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 12 shows a ¼ cut perspective view of an embodiment of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-section view of an embodiment of the side-guard system.

FIG. 14 shows a detail view of an embodiment of the side-guard system with the displaced air being shown with arrows.

FIG. 15A shows a front view of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member shown upside-down; FIG. 15B shows a front view of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 16 shows front view of a bag being positioned over the second open bottom side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member shown upside-down.

FIG. 17 shows a front and cross-section combination view of the side-guard system with the second substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag shown being inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, with the displaced air being shown with arrows.

FIG. 18 shows a front and cross-section combination view of the side-guard system with the second substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag shown fully inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 19 shows a front and cross-section combination view of the side-guard system with the second substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag shown fully inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag filled with branches and leaves.

FIG. 20 shows a front and cross-section combination view of the side-guard system with the second substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag shown being lifted out of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and leaving the bag filled with branches and leaves inside of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

FIG. 21 shows a front view of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the bag shown being lifted off of the intact bag filled with branches and leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Introduction

The present invention recognizes that a side-guard can be placed inside of a flexible bag and be used to protect the inside of the bag from sharp objects, and be easily removable from the inside of the bag after the bag is filled up, making the job of cleanup easier and more efficient. There are many different types of bags, including plastic trash bags or bags made from different materials such as those made of fabric or burlap. The present invention can be use to protect the inside of any type of bag form sharp objects.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To gain a full appreciation of the scope of the present invention, it will be further recognized that various aspects of the present invention can be combined to make desirable embodiments of the invention. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Where a term is provided in the singular, the inventor also contemplates the plural of that term. The nomenclature used herein and the procedures described below are those well known and commonly employed in the art.

I. A Side-Guard For Inside of a Flexible Bag

One embodiment of the present invention includes a side-guard for inside of a flexible bag, including a substantially cylindrical rigid member able to fit inside a flexible bag. The substantially cylindrical rigid member of the present invention may be made from any suitable rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible material such as plastic, rubber, metal, wood, paper, a combination thereof, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical rigid member made of rigid plastic. The substantially cylindrical rigid member includes an open top side and an open bottom side and a peripheral side wall. The shape of the substantially cylindrical member is not limited to any particular shape and does not have to be circular in configuration, but what is important is the presence of open top and bottom sides with a peripheral side wall enclosing the open center of what resembles a cylinder, and may include other configuration such as oval, triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, polygons, and other geometric shapes.

An important aspect of peripheral side wall of the present invention is that the peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the substantially cylindrical rigid member. The incline of the side wall may include a deviation from the vertical line, direction, or course of the peripheral side wall going from the open bottom side to the open top side. In such a configuration, the open top side is smaller in dimensions that the open bottom side, and the peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of side-guard. This configuration is important because it makes it easier to fill up a bag with the side-guard of the presented invention inserted therein with leaves, branches, or other debris. When a bag is being filled up, because of the bag's dimensions and effects of gravity, the bottom portion of the bag usually contains a larger volume of branches, leaves, or other debris than the top portion of the bag, and the side-guard of the present invention, facilitates the filling up of a bag based on this natural circumstance. The inclined peripheral side wall of the present invention may be continuous, meaning the inclined angle of the side wall toward the central axis may begin at the point of the open bottom side and continue to the open top side, or inclined angle of the side wall toward the central axis may be discontinuous, meaning the peripheral side wall may go up in a straight configuration for some distance, and then the inclined angle will begin and continue to the open top side. Preferably, the incline of the peripheral side wall is continuous, and the angle of incline is between about 1 degree to 15 degrees, and more preferably the angle of the incline is about 5 degrees. However in the case of the discontinuous embodiment, it is preferred that the side wall go up straight about half way to the open top side and the angle of incline begin at bout the halfway point of the side wall similar to the configuration of the continuous inclined embodiment.

The present invention also includes one or more handle means that are integral to or attached at the open top side of the substantially cylindrical member. The handle means may be any handle means that are suitable to act as a handle for the present invention for moving the side guard out of the flexible bag after use. Preferably, the handle means is a lip handle, such as a rounded lip handle, that is integral to or attached to the entire circumference of the open top side of the substantially cylindrical rigid member. Alternatively, the handle means may include one of more independent handles that are integral to or attached toward the open top of the side-guard. Also, the handle means may be integral to the side guard by removing a portion of the peripheral side wall, at one or more locations toward the open top portion, and creating a cavity into the side wall which can be used as handles.

A preferred embodiment of the side-guard of the present invention includes an open bottom side with a diameter of about 24 inches, a peripheral side wall with a height of about 36 inches which has an angle of incline of about 5 degrees, and an integral peripheral rounded lip handle with a height of about 2 inches.

A preferred method of use of the side-guard of the present invention includes the step of providing the side-guard of the present invention, turning it upside down and placing it on the ground, providing a flexible bag and pulling the flexible bag over the upside down side-guard through the open end of the flexible bag such that the bottom end of the side-guard and the closed end of the flexible bag are substantially in contact, and turning over the side-guard and the flexible bag right side up wherein the side-guard is positioned in the flexible bag and ready for use in filling up the flexible bag. After the bag is filled up with branches, leaves, and other debris, the side-guard is easily pulled out of the flexible bag using the handle means leaving the bag filled and intact.

II. A Side-Guard System For a Flexible Bag

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a side-guard system for a flexible bag. The side-guard system includes two separate parts that are each similar in certain aspects to the construction and configuration to the side-guard for inside of a flexible bag described above in Section I. Those similarities are apparent and will not be repeated again in this section.

The side-guard system for inside of a flexible bag, includes a first substantially cylindrical rigid member including a first open top side and a first open bottom side and a first peripheral side wall, wherein the first peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member. The side-guard system also includes a second substantially cylindrical rigid member configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member (FIG. 13). The second substantially cylindrical rigid member includes a second open top side and a second open bottom side and a second peripheral side wall, and one or more peripheral rounded lip handles attached to the circumference of the second open top side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member. The one or more peripheral rounded lip handles configured to rest on the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member. In this configuration, a flexible bag can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles of the second open to side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member (FIG. 14).

Embodiments of the side-guard system can include a second peripheral side wall is substantially vertical and straight, which means that the peripheral wall can be exactly vertical and straight or slightly inclined in one direction, e.g., by between about 1 to about 5 degrees. The second substantially cylindrical rigid member can include an open bottom side with a diameter of 22 inches, a peripheral side wall with a height of 36 inches, and a peripheral rounded lip handle with a height of 2 inches. The peripheral rounded lip handle of the second peripheral side wall can be configured as one handle that runs along the entire circumference of the open top side of the substantially cylindrical rigid member.

In one embodiment of the side-guard system, the first peripheral side wall may be continuously inclined from the open bottom side to the open top side. The angle of incline toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical member can be between 1 to 15 degrees, for example 5 degrees. The first second substantially cylindrical rigid member can include an open bottom side with a diameter of 24 inches and a peripheral side wall with a height of 36 inches. The first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member may include a rounded crown that can be configured to run along the entire circumference of the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member. The rounded crown can be used as a handle and can provide strength and support. The rounded crown may be about ½ inch tall, can be configured in one or more sections, and may be shaped like a pipe or a partial pipe that is attached to the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.

Referring to FIGS. 15 through 21, the side-guard system for a flexible bag described above can be used by following a series of steps by one or more individuals. For example, the first substantially cylindrical rigid member can be placed on the ground (FIGS. 15B), and the second substantially cylindrical rigid member can also be placed on the ground in an upside-down orientation (FIGS. 15A). A garbage bag, from its open end, can be draped and positioned over the second open bottom side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member (FIGS. 16). The second substantially cylindrical rigid member and the bag can then be flipped over to a right-side-up orientation and inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member (FIGS. 17). The circumference of the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member is preferably larger than the circumference of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member, e.g., by between about 1/16 to 2 inches, such that when the second substantially cylindrical rigid member and bag is being inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, any trapped air can escape out from the space created by this size difference (FIGS. 17).

When the side-guard system for a flexible bag is going to be used, the bag can be sandwiched between the first and second substantially cylindrical rigid members (FIG. 18), and various objects such as branches leaves can be collected in the bag (FIG. 19). When the cleaning job is finished and the bag is full, the second substantially cylindrical rigid member can be pulled out of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, leaving behind the filled bag inside of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member (FIG. 20). The bag can then be securely tied, and the first substantially cylindrical rigid member can be lifted off of the intact filled bag without any holes or tears on the bag, which rests on the ground (FIG. 21).

All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified. Various changes and departures may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specification or as illustrated in the drawings, but only as set forth in the claims. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Example I

A Side-Guard For Inside of a Flexible Bag

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, this example provides an embodiment of a side-guard 100 for inside of a flexible bag, which includes a substantially cylindrical rigid member 101 able to fit inside a flexible bag, the substantially cylindrical rigid member 101 includes an open top side 102 and an open bottom side 103 and a peripheral side wall 101, wherein the peripheral side wall 101 is inclined toward the central axis of the substantially cylindrical rigid member 101; and one or more handle means 104 that is integral toward the open top side 102 of the substantially cylindrical member 101.

Example II

A Side-Guard System For a Flexible Bag

Referring to FIGS. 8 through 14 this example provides an embodiment of a side-guard system 300 for a flexible bag, which includes a first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200 including a first open top side 202 and a first open bottom side 203 and a first peripheral side wall 201, wherein the first peripheral side wall 201 is inclined toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200; a second substantially cylindrical rigid member 210 configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200, the second substantially cylindrical rigid member 210 including a second open top side 212 and a second open bottom side 213 and a second peripheral side wall 211, and one or more peripheral rounded lip handles 214 attached to the circumference of the second open top side 212 of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member 210, the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles 214 configured to rest on the first open top side 202 of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200; wherein, a flexible bag 400 can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200 with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side 202 the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200 and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles 214 of the second open to side 212 of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member 210. The first open top side 202 of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200 may include a rounded crown 204 that can be configured to run along the entire circumference of the first open top side 202 of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member 200.

Claims

1. A side-guard system for a flexible bag, comprising:

a first substantially cylindrical rigid member comprising: a first open top side and a first open bottom side and a first peripheral side wall, wherein the first peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member;

a second substantially cylindrical rigid member configured to nest inside the first substantially cylindrical rigid member, the second substantially cylindrical rigid member comprising: a second open top side and a second open bottom side and a second peripheral side wall, and one or more peripheral rounded lip handles attached to the circumference of the second open top side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member, the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles configured to rest on the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member;

wherein, a flexible bag can be inserted into the first substantially cylindrical rigid member with the open side of the bag hanging over and sandwiched in place between the first open top side the first substantially cylindrical rigid member and the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles of the second open to side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

2. The side-guard system of claim 1, wherein the second peripheral side wall is substantially vertical and straight.

3. The side-guard system of claim 2, wherein the second open bottom side has a diameter of 22 inches and the second peripheral side wall has a height of 36 inches, and the peripheral rounded lip handle has a height of 2 inches.

4. The side-guard system of claim 1, wherein the one or more peripheral rounded lip handles run along the entire circumference of the second open top side of the second substantially cylindrical rigid member.

5. The side-guard system of claim 1, wherein the first peripheral side wall is continuously inclined from the first bottom side to the first top side.

6. The side-guard system of claim 5, wherein the first peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the first substantially cylindrical member by an angle of between 1 to 15 degrees.

7. The side-guard system of claim 6, wherein the peripheral side wall is inclined toward the central axis of the substantially cylindrical member by an angle of 5 degrees.

8. The side-guard system of claim 6, wherein the first open bottom side has a diameter of 24 inches and the first peripheral side wall has a height of 36 inches.

9. The side-guard system of claim 1, wherein the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member comprise a rounded crown that runs along the entire circumference of the first open top side of the first substantially cylindrical rigid member.