Receptacles – Wire container – Adjustable or contortable wall provides multiple...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-01-30
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Wire container
Adjustable or contortable wall provides multiple...
C220S485000, C220S495110, C220S908100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179150
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to bags such as for collecting refuse such as grass cuttings, leaves or other debris and is particularly directed to a lightweight, folding frame adapted for maintaining a collapsible bag open and upright to facilitate filling the bag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bags for collecting yard refuse are generally comprised of recyclable paper and are generally rectangular in cross section. A bag when purchased is folded to form a compact structure which is easily packaged for transport, display and sale. Yard refuse such as grass cuttings, leaves or other debris is typically deposited in the bag for disposal. A user of the bag must first unfold the bag and position it upright with its open end at the top. Because the bag is made of paper, it is collapsible and tends to bend along its original fold lines and to assume its original folded configuration. It is difficult for a user of the bag to maintain an empty bag unfolded, opened and expanded to accept the deposit of material in the bag. As more material is deposited in the bag, the bag tends to become self-standing and capable of supporting itself. However, even when filled, the typical refuse bag is unstable and is subject to being blown over by even a slight breeze. It is therefore highly desirable to maintain a collapsible refuse bag in an upright position, fully opened and stably supported as the bag is filled.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing the above discussed desirable features in a folding support frame adapted for insertion in an opened collapsible bag, whereupon the frame is then unfolded to assume an expanded configuration and engage the inner walls of the bag for maintaining the bag stably upright, open and stretched to its full, unfolded size.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate filling a collapsible bag with refuse or other material by maintaining the bag open at the top and bottom and upright while it is being filled.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, easily folded and unfolded frame adapted for insertion in a collapsible bag for maintaining the bag open, upright and semi-rigid while being filled and which can be removed from the filled bag and re-used.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable support frame and cart for use in filling a collapsible bag such as paper with refuse and transporting the filled bag.
This invention contemplates apparatus for facilitating the filling of a collapsible bag open at the top and bottom with material such as refuse by supporting and maintaining the bag in an upright, semi-rigid configuration, the apparatus comprising first and second generally planar end frames each having respective opposed lateral edges; third and fourth generally planar front panels and fifth and sixth generally planar back panels each having respective opposed lateral edges; first hinge means for pivotally coupling opposed lateral edges of the first end frame to first lateral edges of the third front and fifth back panels and second hinge means for pivotally coupling opposed lateral edges of said second end frame to first opposed lateral edges of said fourth front and sixth back panels; third hinge means for pivotally coupling second opposed lateral edges of the third and fourth front panels and fourth hinge means for pivotally coupling second opposed lateral edges of the fifth and sixth back panels, wherein the coupled panels form a generally rectangular, closed frame open at its top and bottom and adapted for folding to a compact configuration to facilitate insertion of the frame into the open top of the bag, whereupon the frame is adapted for unfolding to an expanded configuration wherein each of the panels engages an inner portion of the bag for maintaining the bag open and in an upright, semi-rigid configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1849472 (1932-03-01), Benedict
patent: 4211033 (1980-07-01), Ringer
patent: 4281813 (1981-08-01), Garrity
patent: 4418835 (1983-12-01), Watts
patent: 4441734 (1984-04-01), Schlissel
patent: 5363980 (1994-11-01), Mulcahy
patent: 5740939 (1998-04-01), Muldner et al.
Emrich & -Dithmar
Pollard Steven
LandOfFree
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