GB2506647A

GB2506647A - Support frame folded from a blank for a waste bag

Info

Publication number: GB2506647A
Application number: GB201217860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Amanda Kingsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-05
Filing date: 2012-10-05
Publication date: 2014-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-05
Also published as: GB201217860D0; GB2506647B

Abstract

A bag support foldable from a blank has four panels separated by parallel fold lines. The widths of two adjacent panels 14, 16 are greater than the other panels 12, 18 so that the device can fold flat with the adjacent panels on the outside. There can be a base formed by a single flap extending from the lower edge of each side panel, which could automatically interlock as the support is unfolded. Cutouts 32, 34 on the folds could form downward hooks 36, 38 to retain the bags handles. Formations 22, 24 on the end flaps can secure the panels in the erect state while strap 26 can retain them in the collapsed state. The retained bag may receive refuse such as diapers.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A DISPOSABLE PLASTICS BAG

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag.

Background of the invention

when changing an infant's diaper, it is convenient to place the soiled diaper, be it washable or disposable, in a plastics bag. However, keeping the mouth of the bag open and ensuring that the soiled diaper is fully contained in the bag requires the use of two hands. It is preferable therefore to be able to throw the used diaper into a bin lined with a plastics bag but a such a bin cannot readily be carried around in a changing bag.

Object of the invention The present invention seeks therefore to provide a frame for supporting a plastics bag that collapses into a compact configuration so that it may be stored and transported easily.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag, comprising a flat blank having generally parallel fold lines that define between them two central panels and two end panels, the free edges of the end panels being connectable to one another to form, when in a deployed state, a self-supporting upright frame of quadrilateral cross-section, wherein rhe four panels are foldabe into a collapsed state for transportacion, in which collapsed state the panels lie in a stack having a width equal to the width of the widest panel, the widths of the panels being such that the four panels when stacked lie flat against one another.

If the panels of the frame are sufficiently rigid, then it is not necessary for the frame to have a base but alternatively the frame may further comprise a base formed by at least one flap defined by the same flat blank and connected by a fold line to the lower edge of one of the panels.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a frame without a base, Figure 2 shows the blank of Figure 1 in its deployed state, Figure 3 shows the blank of Figure 1 in its compact folded state, Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a frame with a base, Figure 5 shown a plan view of a blank of a further embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the ernbodimenu(s)

The blank 10 of Figure 1 comprises four panel 12, 14, 16 and 18 connected to one another by fold lines 13,15 and 17. The free edges of the two end panels 12 and 18 are intended to be connected to one another when the frame is in the deployed state shown in Figure 2. For this purpose, the end panel 18 is connected by a fold line 19 to a narrow flap 20 that has slits 22 to receive tongues 24 formed by slits in the opposite end panel 12.

A strap 26 having a slit 28 is cut out of the end panel 18 adjacent the fold line 17. As shown in Figure 3, a tongue 30 cut out of the panel 14 engages in the slit 28 to retain the blank in a compact folded state.

Instead of slits, it is possible to use slots, the difference between the two being that slots reguire material to be removed from the blank (as shown in the drawings) whereas slits only require the material to be cut.

The collapsible frame commences as the blank shown in Figure 1, To make it more compact for storage or transportation, it is folded in the manner shown in Figure 3. First the flap 20 is folded about the fold line 19 to line against the panel 18. Next, the panels 12 and 18 are folded about their respective fold lines 13 and 17 to lie over the two central panels 14 and 16. When folding the panel 18, the strap 26 is not folded over but is left protruding from the fold line 17. Then the central panels are folded about the fold line 15 and the strap 26 is folded over the panel 14 and the tongue 30 is engaged in its slot To deploy the frame, the strap 26 is unfastened and the blank is opened out. The tongues 24 are then inserted into the slits 22 to form a self-supporting upright frame of quadrilateral cross-section over which a plastics bag may be stretched.

It will be noted that the blank 10 in Figure 1 is also formed with two heart shaped cut-outs 32 and 34 centred on the fold lines 13 and 17, respectively. These cut-outs, in the deployed state of the frame, form downwardly pointing projections 36 and 38 that can act as hooks for the handles of a plastics bag placed within the frame, to hold the mouth of the bag open.

The advantage of the collapsible frame is that it can be folded flat. As the frame panels need to be fairly rigid (so that the frame does not collapse under the weight of a diaper placed in the plastics bag) their thickness may not be insignificant. For the panels to be able to lie flat against one another in the manner shown in Figure 3, it is imaporrant that combined width of the panel 12 and 18 should be less that combined width of the panels 14 and 16 and the fold line 15 connecting them.

The blank 10 may be formed of a plastics material. Tt is possible to commence with a sheet material then to stamp out the blanks and form the necessary fold lines. Alternatively, the blank may be cut out of a continuously extruded material having preformed live hinges on the fold lines.

If a suitable grade of plastics material is adopted, the structure shown in Figures 1 to 3, which has no base, would suffice to take the weight of a soiled diaper. It is however alternatively possible, for example in frame made of card, for the blank to have one or more additional flaps that form a base.

Such a blank is shown in Figure 4, wherein flaps 42, 44, 46 and 48 are connected by fold lines 41, 43, 45 and 47 to the respective panels 12, 14, 16 and 18. If the flaps are folded against their respective panels to lie inside the frame when it is deployed, then as the flaps are released they automatically interlock to form a solid base acting to keep the panel 12, 14, 16 and 18 in the position shown in Figure 2. The flaps 42, 44, 46 and 48 may lie between the panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 in the compact configuration shown in Figure 3 increasing the thickness of the stack but not afiecting its height or width.

While Figure 4 shows four interlocking flaps, it would be possible to use a different number of flaps and/or a different arrangement to hold the base flaps in place.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention similar to that of Figure 4 and to avoid repetition, the same reference numerals with the addition of a prime have been used to designate like parts.

The embodiment of Figure 5 differs from that of Figure 4 in the shape of the flaps 42T, 44!, 46' and 48!. In this case, flaps 46T and 44! have formations in the form of a tab 60 and a slot 62 so that they interlock with one another and the same applied to the flaps 48' and 42'.

Another difference is he manner in which the end panels are locked to one another. In this case rhree tabs 50 engage in three slits 52. The tabs 50 are slightly wider than the slots 52 and wider than the fold lines connecting Them to the panel 12'. Once inserted into the slits 52, they need to be deformed before the panels 12! and 18T can be separated.

Therefore, once the blank is folded and the panels locked together the first time, the panels 12' and 18' do not separate from one another nor do the pairs of flaps 42', 48' and 44', 46'.

The frame therefore merely requires the deployed frame to be squeezed diagonally to for it to be folded into a compact transport configuration.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag, comprising a flat blank having generally parallel fold lines that define between them two central panels and two end panels, the free edges of the end panels being connectable to one another to form, when in a deployed suate, a self-supporting upright frame of quadrilateral cross-section, wherein the four panels are foldable into a collapsed state for transportation, in which collapsed state the panels lie in a stack having a width equal to the width of the widest panel, the widths of the panels being such that the four panels when stacked lie flat against one another.
2. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has two contiguous panels of which the sum of the widths exceeds the sum of the widths of the other two panels by an amount greater than at least the combined thickness of said other two panels.
3. A collapsible frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame further comprises a base formed by at least one flap defined by the same flat blank and connected by a fold line to the lower edge of one of the panels.
4. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base is formed of four flaps, each connected by a respective fold line to a respective one of the four panels.
5. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein the four flaps forming the base are shaped to interlock with one another automatically as the four panels are moved from the stacked state to the deployed state.
6. A collapsible frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein cut-outs are formed in the panels to define downwardly pointing projections for engaging handles of a plastics bag stretched over the frame.
7. A collapsible frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blank further defines a strap capable of engaging with a feature of one of the panels to retain the blank in the collapsed state.
8. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 7, wherein the strap is formed by a cut-out in one of the four panels.
9. A collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. aAmendments to the claims have been filed as follows:CLAIMS1. A collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag, comprising a flat blank having generally parallel fold lines that define between them two central panels and two end panels, The free edges of the two end panels being connectable to one another to form, when in a deployed state, a self-supporting upright frame of quadrilateral cross-section, wherein the four panels are foldable into a collapsed sate for transportation, in which collapsed state the panels lie in a stack with the inner sides of the two end panels in contact with one another, the inner sides of the central panels in contact with one another, and the outer side of a first of the central panels in contact with the outer side of a first of the end panels, wherein the combined widths of the first end panel and the first central panel is less than the combined width of the socond ond panol and tho socond central panol to onablo the four panels when stacked to lie flat against one another, and wherein a cut-out is formed in one of the central panels to define a strap capable of engaging with a feature of one of the end panels to retain the blank in the collapsed state.2. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a base formed by at least one flap defined by the same flat blank and connected by a fold line to the lower edge of one of the panels.3. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base is formed of four flaps, each connected by a respective fold line to a respective one of the four panels.4. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein the four flaps are arranged in two pairs, the flaps of each pair having formations that interlock with one another.5. A collapsible frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in each pair of flaps, the formations comprise a tab projecting from one of the flaps engageable in a slot formed in the other.6. A collapsible frame as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the flaps forming the base are shaped to interlock with one another automatically as the four panels are moved from the collapsed state to the deployed state.C7. A collapsible frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein cut-outs are formed in adjacent central and end panels to define downwardly pointing projections for engaging handles of a plastics bag stretched over the frame.8. A collapsible frame for supporting a disposable plastics bag, constructed substantially as hereinbefore dcscribcd with rcfcroncc to and as illustratod in tho accompanying drawings.