Bag retention member and system

Abstract

A bag retention member is disclosed. The bag retention member is for retaining a bag for collecting waste and / or recycling within a container. The bag retention member includes a body having a bag retention portion configured to extend from the body in a direction away from an opening of the bag to be retained. The bag retention portion includes two engagement regions that are separate and distinct from each other and which each apply a tensile force to the bag when the bag is retained, the tensile forces pointing in different directions.

Description

BAG RETENTION MEMBER AND SYSTEMFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bag retention member and system.BACKGROUND

[0002] Bags, such as plastic bags, may be used to collect waste and / or items for recycling. Containers or bins for receiving waste and / or recycling may have a bag inserted therein, which can then be removed and replaced once full. Such containers or bins typically include a retention mechanism or system for keeping the plastic bag open by applying sufficient tension to an opening of the plastic bag. Various such retention systems are known.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Embodiments will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

[0004] Fig. l is a schematic view of a prior art system for retaining bags within a waste and / or recycling container.

[0005] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a container having bag retention members according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0006] Fig. 3 is an enlargement of the area identified in Fig. 2.

[0007] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bag retention member according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0008] Fig. 5 is a further perspective view of the bag retention member of Fig. 4.

[0009] Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the bag retention member of Fig. 4.

[0010] Fig. 7 shows a bag being retained by the bag retention member of Fig. 4.

[0011] Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing a system for retaining bags according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a bag retention member according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 10 is a side view of the bag retention member of Fig. 9.

[0014] Fig. 11 is a top view of the bag retention member of Fig. 9.

[0015] Fig. 12 is a top view of a bag retention member according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Some known bag retention systems employ hooks having a single nub, member, extension or the like onto which a bag is hooked and which applies tension to an upper edge of the open bag. For example, for a square or rectangular container opening, a bag retention member may be positioned at each of the four comers of the opening. The upper edge of the plastic bag is folded or hooked onto the protrusion. If there is slack, an operator might tie a knot into the upper edge of the bag to create tension. Such protrusions are typically configured to provide a single region of engagement applying a pulling force on the bag that is angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to the comer of the container opening. Thus, at each corner, there is only a single force applying tension to the bag, the direction of force being substantially at a 45 degree angle with respect to the corner and facing away from the opening.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of some such known systems for bag retention. Fig. 1 shows a top view of a container 10 having side walls 14 defining an opening 16. Substantially at each comer 18 is positioned a bag retention member 20, such as a hook, nub, etc. A bag 22, represented by a dotted line, is placed into the container and draped over edges of the opening 16 and onto bag retention members 20. A knot (not shown) might be included to create tension in the upper part of the bag and increase the tension of the bag on the bag retention members 20. Each bag retention member 20 represents a substantially single region of engagement or contact with the upper part of the bag 22. Schematic arrows depict the resultanttensile forces 24 acting on the bag 22 at the member 20. Generally, the force 24 acts at a roughly 45 degree angle away from the comer 18 and opening 16.

[0018] Known systems for bag retention, such as systems described with respect to Fig. 1, may result in inadequate retention of the bag, particularly when it is filled with waste and / or recycling. For example, in larger containers or bins arranged in public places and / or where the time between exchanges of the bag is long, the bag may fill up with considerable amount of waste and / or recycling resulting in a significant weight pulling on the bag and the bag retention members. Insufficient tension on the bag by the retention member may result in some or all of the comers of the bag slipping off. Thus, it is desirable to improve retention of bags for collecting waste and / or recycling.

[0019] Embodiments according to the present disclosure will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 8.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a top portion of an exemplary container 28 having four sidewalls 30 and an upper rim 32 defining an opening 34. At each interior corner of the upper rim 32 there is positioned a bag retention member 36. A bag (not shown in Fig. 2) may be placed within the container 28 and made to engage the bag retention members 36.

[0021] Container 28 is exemplary only. Bag retention members according to principles of the present disclosure may be installed or provided on various kinds of containers, with varying configurations. The figures are illustrative only to better help understand the principles of the present disclosure and are not intended to be limiting. More generally, the principles described in the present disclosure may be applied to other types of containers, bag retention members or applications where a bag is retained within a waste and / or recycling container.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the bag retention member 36 is provided having a unitary body 38. The body 38 includes a generally circular, base 40 having two legs, 42, 44 extending downwardly therefrom. A connection portion is provided on a lower portion of the body for connecting the member 36 to a container. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection portion comprises the legs 42, 44. Each leg 42, 44 has, at a distal end thereof, a ramped end 46, 48, respectively. Legs 42, 44 are flexible and resilient and allow the member 36 to be snap fitinto a complementary connection structure on the container 28. A diameter of the body 38 immediately below the base 40 is smaller than a diameter of the base 40 resulting in an overhang 41. A round opening with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the base 40 but larger than the diameter of the body 38 below the overhang 41 may be provided in the container 28, e.g. the rim 32, so that the member rests on the overhang 41 when inserted. Ramped ends 46, 48 would then resist removal of the member 36 since the angling of the legs 42, 44 results in the ramp ends 46, 48 extending further radially outward than the diameter of the body 38 bellow the base 40. Thus, ramp ends 46, 48 would interfere with the container and prevent removal unless a force is applied to flex them towards each other.

[0023] Extending upwardly from the base 40, the body 38 includes a central rib 50 extending along the diameter of the base 40 and upwards. In the illustrated embodiment the central rib spans the entire diameter of the base 40. In other embodiments the central rib may extend along only a part of the diameter or may be omitted entirely.

[0024] A curved wall 52 extends upwardly from the base 40 along approximately half of the circumference of the base 40 with a radius of curvature matching that of the base 40. The central rib 50 intersects and meets the wall 52 at approximately a mid point of the wall 52 along the circumference of the base 40. Upper edge 49 of the central rib 50 may be rounded and ramped upwards. Similarly, upper edges 51, 55 of the curved wall 52 on either side of the central rib 50 may also be rounded and partially curved or ramped upwards.

[0025] In other embodiments, the curved wall may not be curved, may be configured differently or may be omitted entirely.

[0026] A tab 53 extends outward from the wall 52 away from the body 38 at a midpoint of the wall 52 along the circumference of the base 40. The tab 53 is received in a complementary receiving slot in the upper rim 32 of the container 28 and functions as a positioning and alignment feature to ensure a desired orientation of the bag retention member 36. The tab 53 may also aid in preventing undesired rotation of the bag retention member 36.

[0027] The wall 52 includes an extension portion 54 extending upwards approximately from where the central rib 50 meets the wall 52. At a distal end of the extension portion 54, thereis provided a retention portion 56. The retention portion 56 is generally shaped as a flat shelf or member and extends generally horizontally from the extension portion 54 away from the wall 52.

[0028] The retention portion 56 includes, at a proximal end where it meets the extension portion 54, a curved side 58 that matches the outer curvature of the wall 52 and extension portion 54. At a distal end of the retention portion 56 opposite curved side 58, a generally flat side 60 extends between opposing generally flat sides 62, 64. A generally flat top 66 of the retention portion 56 is bounded by rounded upper edges of the sides 58, 60, 62 and 64.

[0029] Engagement regions or regions 66 and 68 are formed by the intersection of side 60 with sides 62 and 64, respectively. The engagement regions 66 and 68 are separate and spaced from each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement regions 66 and 68 are separated by a distance equal to a length of the side 60. In other embodiments, the engagement regions may be protruding from elsewhere on the retention portion 56 and are not necessarily formed by the corners of sides of the retention portion 56. The engagement regions 66 and 68 may be limited to the comers of flat top 66 or, more generally, be limited to points of contact. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the region of engagement with the bag may also extend downward from the comers and include part or all of the vertical edges formed by the intersection of side 60 with sides 62 and 64, respectively. The region of engagement with the bag may also include the vertical surfaces extending downward from the top 66 on the sides and front of the retention portion 56.

[0030] The bag retention member 36 is configured such that a space or void 67 is formed or provided underneath the retention portion 56. The space 67 may receive part of the overhang of the bag when it is tensioned over the retention portion 56. This may aid in retention of the bag by causing the bag to get caught or retained by an underside of the retention portion 56 as well. In such scenarios, the vertical edges or surface extending downward from the engagement regions 66 and 68 may be considered to be included in the engagement regions as they may also engage the bag to retain it.

[0031] Fig. 7 shows an image of a bag 70 being retained within container 28. Specifically, an upper portion of the bag 70 extends over and is retained by a retention portion 56. The bag 70 extends over and around the retention portion 56 and is taut. Each of theengagement regions 66, 68 engage with and act on the bag, as indicated by arrows 72, 74. Curved edges of the central rib 50 and wall 52 aid in guiding the bag edge upwards and underneath the retention portion 56 into the space 67 when the operator places the bag over engagement portion 56. This may aid in further ensuring engagement of the engagement portions 66, 68 with the bag.

[0032] As compared to prior art members, retention members according to the present disclosure each provide for at least two, distinct and separate regions of engagement for contacting and applying force to a bag.

[0033] For example, as shown schematically in Fig. 8, in the illustrated embodiment, two, separate regions of engagement on each bag retention member 71 are provided and positioned relative to each other so that forces (e.g. shown by schematic force vectors 73) applied at each comer 75 are angled approximately 90 degrees to each other. At least two regions of engagement allow for additional tension to be applied to a bag 77 and / or at angles that increase the tensile force. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the force vectors shown identified as 76 and 78 provided by engagement regions on two separate retention members act at approximately 180 degrees apart, i.e. substantially diametrically opposed, with respect to each other and apply tension to the bag 77 between two corners 75.

[0034] Thus, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, where four retention members are provided for one container, in total, eight regions of engagement act on the bag instead of just four as in the prior art. This improves the retention of the bag, particularly if it becomes heavy as it is filled with waste and / or recycling.

[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, alignment of the tab 53 with its respective slot results in the central rib 50 being arranged approximately at a 45 degree angle to the corner, which in turn results in the relative positioning of the regions of engagement described above since the side 60 is arranged generally transverse to the central rib 50 at a 90 degree angle to the central rib 50. Other configurations are also possible. For example, the relative angles between forces applied by regions of engagement at a single bag retention member and / or the relative angles between forces applied by engagement regions at different bag retention members maydiffer from the illustrated embodiment. There may also be other configurations or means for aligning the bag retention members and / or regions of engagement.

[0036] Additional contact between the bag and the side 60 may aid in distributing some of the tension on a portion of the bag, thereby reducing the likelihood that each engagement region punctures the bag or weakens the bag by over-stretching it. However, in some embodiments, side 60 may not contact the bag. Side 60 may be concave, resulting in a “C” or “boomerang” shape for the retention portion of the retention member. There may be a gap between the engagement regions.

[0037] One such alternative embodiment of a bag retention member 36a is shown in Figs. 9 to 11, where like elements are given like reference numerals but with the suffix “a” added. The retention portion 56a is configured to have a C-shape, with engagement regions 66a, 68a positioned on ends of the C-shaped retention portion 56a. The engagement regions 66a, 68a, are spaced apart from each other with a gap 79 therebetween. The retention portion 56a extends approximately 180 degrees in a curve between the engagement regions 66a, 68a.

[0038] As best seen in Fig. 10, in some embodiments, the retention portion may have an upward incline, which in turn increases the size of the space underneath the retention portion, such as the space 67a, as compared to an embodiment where the retention portion extends at a 90 degree angle from the extension portion. Moreover, the upward incline of the retention portion may increase the likelihood that the bag is retained within the space below the retention portion with more of the underside of the retention portion acting on the bag.

[0039] As also seen in Fig. 10, in some embodiment, the engagement regions may have a curved profile with a rounded surface 80 extending from a top surface 82 to a bottom surface 84 of the retention portion 56a. Moreover, as best seen in Fig. 11, the rounded surface 80 may also round on either side to form rounded side surfaces 84 and 86. One or more rounded surfaces of the engagement regions 66a, 68a may reduce the likelihood that the bag is punctured or ripped while also being retained.

[0040] More generally, the engagement regions may each have a domed, spherical or partially curved surface or surfaces for engaging the bag, for example a surface or surfaces curved about two or three axes.

[0041] In other embodiment, the degrees of curvature of the retention portion between the engagement regions may be larger or smaller than 180 degrees, for example 90 degrees. Referring to the embodiment of Fig. 12, in which like elements are given like reference numerals but with the suffix “b”, the retention member 36b includes a retention portion 56b that is shaped as a curve or arc as seen in the top view. The arc has a curvature of approximately 90 degrees. Engagement regions 66b, 68b are positioned at ends of the arced retention portion 56b.

[0042] In some embodiments, including the embodiments of Figs. 9-12, a surface of the retention portion extending between the engagement regions is concave.

[0043] In other embodiments, the engagement portions may not be spaced apart. Side 60 may be domed to provide an additional distribution of tension. However, the amount of convexity or doming should not be so great as to relieve or merge both of the engagement regions, resulting in a single engagement region as in prior art systems.

[0044] The relative configuration, sizing, shape and positioning shown in the illustrated embodiment may be varied to provide for a retention member that differs from the illustrated embodiment but nonetheless provides at least two separate engagement regions spaced from each other.

[0045] The principles and embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in various containers. For example, the retention member may not be a separate component and may be unitary with the container or parts of the container, such as a rim. Conversely, the retention member may be comprised of multiple parts that are assembled to provide the member body, which is then connected to the container.

[0046] There may be more or fewer retention members in systems according to the present disclosure. Systems according to the present disclosure do not require precisely four retention members. Fewer or more members may be provided to retain the bag.

[0047] While embodiments of the retention member depict a protruding member, embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may have engagement regions located within a recess or other opening such that an operator may need to insert the bag into the recess or opening to engage the engagement regions. Such configurations may also be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] Numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concepts within the instant disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.

[0049] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having" or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a nonexclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherently present therein.

[0050] As used herein the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially" and variations thereof are intended to include not only the exact value qualified by the term, but to also include some slight deviations therefrom, such as deviations caused by measuring error, manufacturing tolerances, wear and tear on components or structures, stress exerted on structures, and combinations thereof, for example.

[0051] Use of the "a" or "an" are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[0052] Any reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.Moreover, it will be understood that features of one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments, even if not expressly recited or described as a combination.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bag retention member for retaining a bag for collecting waste and / or recycling within a container, the bag retention member comprising: a body having a bag retention portion configured to extend from the body in a direction away from an opening of the bag to be retained, wherein the bag retention portion includes two engagement regions that are separate and distinct from each other and which each apply a tensile force to the bag when the bag is retained, the tensile forces pointing in different directions.

2. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the forces applied by the engagement regions are at approximately a 90 degree angle with respect to each other.

3. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the body includes a connection portion for connecting the member to the container.

4. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is configured as an arc with one of the engagement regions being formed at each end of the arc.

5. The bag retention member of claim 1, the member being configured to provide a space underneath the retention portion for receiving an edge of the bag when the bag is retained.

6. The bag retention member of claim 5, wherein the body includes a rib and / or wall having rounded and / or ramped edges for guiding the edge of the bag into the space.

7. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the retention portion is inclined upwards.

8. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the engagement regions each comprise one or more curved surfaces that engage the bag.

9. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the engagement regions each have a rounded profile from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof.

10. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein the engagement regions are spaced from each other with a gap therebetween.

11. The bag retention member of claim 1, wherein a surface of the retention portion extending between the engagement regions is concave.

12. A waste and / or recycling container comprising two or more bag retention members according to claim 1.

13. The container of claim 12 being rectangular or square and comprising four bag retention members, each bag retention member positioned proximate a corner of the container.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein each bag retention member is positioned so that a first engagement region on a first bag retention member and a second engagement region on a second bag retention member adjacent the first bag retention member form a pair that exert tensile forces on the bag that act at approximately 180 degrees to each other.

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