GB2308346A

GB2308346A - A hand held bag support

Info

Publication number: GB2308346A
Application number: GB9626420A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Clarke; John Victor Imms
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-19
Filing date: 1996-12-19
Publication date: 1997-06-25
Also published as: GB9525925D0; GB9626420D0

Abstract

A hand held bag support comprises a rigid support member 150 (12 fig 1, 100 fig 5) defining a mouth (13 fig 1) and securing means suitable for securing a bag (32 fig 3) to the support member 150 (12 fig 1, 100 fig 5) such that, in use, an open end of the bag (32 fig 3) is held open. The support member 150 (12 fig 1, 100 fig 5) may be substantially circular and the securing means may comprise a clamp in the form of one or more tensible and/or resilient clamping members 152 (16 fig 1, 102 fig 5) which may clamp the bag (32 fig 3) between the securing means and the support member 150 (12 fig 1, 100 fig 5). The bag support may have a handle 156, 158 (14 fig 1, 104 fig 5) which may be integral with the support member 150 (12 fig 1, 100 fig 5). The handle (154 fig 8) may be comprised of two halves 156, 158 whereby each half is secured at an end of the clamping member 152, such that in use, the clamping member 152 is wrapped around the support member 150 with the bag held there between, bringing and holding two halves 156, 158 of the handle (154 fig 8) together, thus securing the bag in position. The two handle halves 156, 158 may be held together by hand or by other means, eg a swivel latch (174 fig 8). A clamping member (16 fig 1, 102 fig 5) may be releasably secured between two anchor points (24, 26 fig 2, 124, 114 fig 5), each of which may be located on either the support member or the handle. The clamping member 152 (16 fig 1, 102 fig 5) may be in the form of a spring or a rubber/steel/plastic band. The bag support may be attached to a wall when not in use by a wall mounting (42 fig 4, 130 fig 7).

Description

TITLE: A bag support DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a bag support and, in particular, to a hand held bag support.

The handling of a plastic bag can prove to be difficult especially in circumstances where it is being filled, single handed, with, for example, garden debris. Since it is necessary to keep the mouth of the bag open, which usually requires two hands, whilst simultaneously inserting debris into the bag.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a hand held bag support which overcomes the above-mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a hand held bag support comprising a rigid support member defining a mouth and means for securing a bag to said support member such that, in use, an open end of the bag is held open.

It is preferred that the securing means serves to conform the open end of the bag to the shape of said mouth.

The shape of the mouth is defined hy the support member and may he any shape hut it is preferred that said support member is substantially circular and, as a result, the mouth defined thereby is, preferably, substantially round.

The support member may he formed hy a plurality of sections. The sections may comprise cooperating engagement means thereby enabling them to he connected to each other in order to form said rigid support member.

It is preferred that the bag support further comprises a handle which may be directly connected to said support member. The handle may be connected to the exterior of the support member. The handle may take any convenient form and may simply comprise a rod extending from said support member. The rod may have a moulded hand grip.

The means for securing a bag to the support member may be provided by one or more clamps. It is preferred that said clamps secure the bag to the exterior of the support member.

In an embodiment of the present invention wherein a plurality of clamps are provided, it is preferred that said clamps are equally spaced apart around the circumference of the support member.

A clamp may be integral with said support member. A clamp may be formed by a first member and a clamping member between which said bag is clamped. The first member may be said support member.

The clamping member may be tensible and the clamp may further comprise means for applying tension to said member.

In a preferred form of the invention, the clamp comprises a resilient member.

It may be a continuous band-like member, for example, having the nature of a rubber hand.

Preferably the clamping member clamps a hag between itself and an outer face of the support member. In use. the clamping member may be secured with respect to the support member. The clamping member may he secured at one end to a first anchor point and the other end may be releasably secured to a second anchor point.

Alternatively, both ends of the clamping member are releasably secured to their respective anchor point. At least one of said anchor points may be located on said support member. At least one of said anchor points may be located on said handle.

The anchor points may be adjacent one another.

The length of the resilient member in its relaxed state is, preferably, less than the circumference of the support member and the resilient member may be stretched to a length equalling the greatest distance of separation between said first and second anchor points as measured around the circumference of the support member.

The clamping member may be releasably secured to an anchor point by means of a hook engaging with a ring. The ring may be provided at said anchor point and the hook on said second member.

The clamping member may be provided by a spring, a rubber band, a steel band or a band formed of plastics material.

The open end of the bag may be passed up through the support member and the open end folded over the support member to be held in contact with the exterior of the support member by said securing means.

The support member may he in the form of a ring, s having a substantially circular cross-section but, more preferably, is in the form of a band. The ring or band is preferably continuous hut may have an opening therein defining two ends.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, said clamping member comprises a band having half a handle formed at each of its free ends wherein said halves of the handle extend substantially perpendicular to said band. One of said halves of the handle may he connected to or integral with said hoop. In use. the hand is wrapped around the support member which is preferably a hoop and the two halves of the handle are brought together so as to form a continuous band. An upper portion of a bag is clamped between said clamping member and the hoop. The two halves of the handle may be held together by hand pressure and/or additional securing means.

The hoop may be formed of a plastics material or, alternatively, may be metallic eg formed of steel. Preferably, both the hoop and clamping member are formed of plastics materials.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in use, the upper sides of a bag S the sides adjacent the open end of the bag, are positioned such that they surround the outer face of the support band. In this position a spring secured at one end to a first anchor point located on the handle, is wrapped around the bag and the other end of the spring is releasably secured to a second anchor point located on the handle. Since the spring is stressed in order to enable it to be extended around the whole circumference of the band, it exerts a force directed towards the centre of the mouth defined by the support member. In this manner, the bag is clamped between the spring and the outer face of the band.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a bag support according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the bag support illustrated in tigure I and taken in the direction of arrow 'A'; Figure 3 is a side view of the hag support illustrated in figure 1 and taken in the direction of arrow 'B'; Figure 4 illustrates, in perspective, a wall mounting for said bag support; Figure 5 is a perspective front view of part of a bag support according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of the bag support illustrated in figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective front view of a wall mounting for the bag support illustrated in figures 5 and 6;; Figure 8 is a partial perspective front view of a bag support according to yet a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a plan view of the bag support shown in figure 8; and Figure 10 is a plan view of the bag support shown in figure 8 with the handles apart.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 in the first instance, a bag support is indicated generally by numeral 10. The bag support comprises a rigid circular support hand 12 formed of a plastics material and which defines a round mouth 13, a handle 14 connected to said band and a steel spring 16. The band 12 has an outer face 18, a top surface 20 and a bottom surface 21. Handle 14 comprises a hollow cylinder 22 an end of which is secured to the top surface 20 of the band and a plastic hand grip which is secured to a free end of the cylinder 22. The handle extends outwardly from said hand 12. Extending downwardly from a lower surface of the cylinder 22 are two spaced apart pins 24. 26. Pin 24 has a ring 28 formed at an end thereof and the centre of said ring is. approximately, in line with a midway point between the top and hottom surface of the hand.

The steel spring 16 has a first end which is secured to a pin 26 by suitable means eg by welding, and a second end which is formed by a hook 30. The length of the spring in its related state S when not stressed, is less than the circumference of the band. Consequently, it is necessary to stretch the spring in order to enable it to be positioned around the circumference of the band iç in contact with outer face 18 whereupon it is releasably secured to pin 24 by engaging hook 30 with ring 28. In this position, the spring is stressed and exerts a force on the outer face 18 in a direction towards the centre of mouth 13.

The use of the bag support will now be described with particular reference to figure 3. A bag 32 has an open end 34, an outer surface 36, an inner surface 38 and a top edge 40. Initially, the spring 16 is released from pin 24 although it is, of course, still secured at one end to pin 26. The bag is positioned around the circumference of the band such that the upper inner surface 38 of the bag is in contact with the outer surface 18 of the band and the top edge 40 is in line with top surface 20 of the band. With the band in this position, the spring is wrapped around the section of the bag overlapping outer face 18 of the band and is then secured to pin 24. As a result, the bag is secured to the band by virtue of the fact that it is clamped between spring 16 and outer face 18 of the band.With the bag secured in this manner, the open end 34 of the bag is held open and conforms to the shape of the support band.

The invention provides a bag support which enahles a hag to be secured thereto such that the mouth of the bag is held open. The hag support can he conveniently held in one hand whilst, for example, garden debris are swept into the bag.

When not in use, the bag support can, conveniently, be attached to a wall.

Figure 4 illustrates a suitable wall mounting for this purpose. A wall mounting 42 comprises a plate 44 and a plate 46 extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom.

The plate 44 is secured to a wall at a suitable height by screws 48. As mentioned above, cylinder 22 which forms part of handle 14 is hollow and pin 46 is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into said cylinder. The angle at which the pin extends from plate 44 is such as to ensure that the bag support is restricted from slipping off when fitted thereon.

A further embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to figures 5 and 6.

A bag support comprises a rigid circular support band 100 (only partly illustrated), a steel band 102 (only partly shown) and a handle 104. The support band has an outer face 106 from which said handle 104 extends perpendicular thereto. The handle comprises a rod 108 at the free end of which is provided a ring 110 and a plastic hand grip 112 is formed around said rod.

Formed on said outer face 106 is a means for applying tension to the steel band and which comprises a member 114 which is movable in the direction of arrow 'X' from a first position, as shown in figure 5, to a second position. The member comprises a first sloping face 116 and a second face 118. An opening 120 is defined at the end of said first sloping face. Said means further comprises a track 122 upon which the member slides and means for locking the member in the second position (not shown).

The steel band 102 is welded at one end 124 to the outer face of the support band and the free end of the band 102 is provided with a hook 126.

The use of the bag support is similar to that of the first above described bag support in that a plastic bag is clamped between the outer face 106 of support band 100 and band 102. The upper edge of a bag is positioned around the outer face of the support band and then the steel band is wrapped around the bag and support band.

Hook 126 of the band is engaged with opening 120 of member 114 whilst in its first position. In order to apply tension to the steel band, thumb pressure is applied to first face 116 thereby resulting in the member sliding to the second position wherein it is locked. Hence, the band 102 is tensioned and the bag is clamped to the outer face of the support band 100.

When not in use, the bag support may be attached to a hook 130 as shown in Figure 7 by way of ring 110 of the handle engaging therewith. The hook extends from a wall mounting plate 132 which can be secured to a wall at any convenient height.

With reference to figures 8. 9 and 10 a further embodiment of the invention will now be described.

The bag support comprises an inner ring 150, an outer ring 152 and a handle 154 formed in a first and second part 156, 158. Inner ring 150 is formed as a circular rigid band having an outer face 160.

The first part of the handle 156 comprises a rectangular bar 162 which extends outwardly from and perpendicular to outer face 160 and one half of a grip 164 is formed at the end of bar 162. The first part 156 provides an abutment surface 166.

The outer ring 152 is formed by a band of similar cross-sectional dimensions as that of the band forming said inner ring 150 and has an inner face 168. One end of the band is formed integral with bar 162 and said second part 158 of the handle extends from the other end of the band. The second part 158 comprises a rectangular bar 170 which extends perpendicular to the band and one half of the grip 164 is formed at the end of said rectangular bar 170. The second part 158 provides an abutment surface 172 which matches that of the abutment surface 166 of the first part 156.

The bag support may be moulded from plastics materials as a single component although the grip 164 may be rubber and secured to the two rectangular bars 162, 170 at a later stage.

In use, an open mouth of a bag is pushed up through the centre of the inner ring and the upper most portion of the bag is turned over the ring such that it overlies outer face 160. The outer ring is then wrapped around the uppermost portion of the bag and inner ring 150 such that the bag is clamped between inner and outer faces 160, 168. The outer ring 152 is dimensioned such that when the two halves of the handle are brought together ie surfaces 166 and 172 abut, the outer ring is tensioned.

The inner and outer rings may be held in their clamping position simply under hand pressure acting on the two halves of the handle and, in addition, a swivel latch 174 may be used to prevent the rectangular bars from moving apart.

The hag support can then be used in the manner described above.

Claims

1. A hand held bag support comprising a rigid support member defining a mouth and means for securing a bag to said support member such that, in use, an open end of the bag is held open.

2. A bag support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means serves to conform the open end of the bag to the shape of said mouth.

3. A bag support as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said support member is substantial circular and, as a result, the mouth defined thereby is substantially round.

4. A bag support as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the means for securing a bag to the support member is provided by one or more clamps.

5. A bag support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said clamp comprises a clamping member wherein a bag is clamped inbetween the support member and said clamping member.

6. A bag support as claimed in claim 5 wherein said clamping member is tensible.

7. A bag support as claimed in claims 5 or 6 wherein said clamping member is resilient.

8. A hag support as claimed in claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein the clamping member clamps a hag between itself and an outer face of the support member.

9. A bag support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said hag support further comprises a handle.

10. A bag support as claimed in claim 9 wherein said handle is integral with and extends outwardly from said support member.

11. A bag support as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein said clamping member is secured at one end to a first anchor point and the other end is releasably secured to a second anchor point.

12. A bag support as claimed in claim 11 wherein said clamping member is releasably secured to said first anchor point.

13. A bag support as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein at least one of said anchor points is located on said support member.

14. A bag support as claimed in claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein at least one of said anchor points is located on said handle.

15. A bag support as claimed in any one claims 11 to 14 wherein said clamping member is releasably secured to an anchor point by means of a hook engaging with a ring.

16. A bag support as claimed in claim 9 wherein said handle is formed in two halves each half being formed at an end of said clamping member.

17. A bag support as claimed in claim 16 wherein, in use, said clamping member is wrapped around said support member and said halves of the handle are brought and held together.

18. A bag support as claimed in claim 17 wherein said two halves of the handle are held together hy hand pressure and/or hy additional means.

19. A bag support as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 18 wherein said clamping member is a spring a rubber band, a steel hand or a hand formed of plastics material.

20. A hand held bag support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.