Coil for storing used plasatic grocery bags

• US 4,886,173 A
• Filed: 01/27/1989
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victor H. Goulter
• Original Assignee: Victor H. Goulter
• Inventors: Goulter, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US07/302,378
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 211/120, 211/6, 211/89, 211/69.8
• US Class Current: 211/89.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 13/085 Shopping-bag holders A47F9/042 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible wire coil (12) has spaced loops (14) and inwardly bent end prong portions (16A and 16B). The prong portions are inserted in holes (18A and 18B) in ends (23A and 23B) of baseplate (22), which is secured by screws or adhesives (28) to insides of cabinet doors (32) or elsewhere in kitchens, or other places. Plastic grocery bags (24) can be stored between adjacent turns of the coil for later re-use as waste disposal bags. The coil is easily mounted on the baseplate by first stretching it, then inserting the prongs into the respective holes in the ends of the baseplate, and then releasing tension so that the coil'"'"'s ends will grasp the baseplate securely, yet allow the coil to be compressed and expanded and flexed from side to side to facilitate use and prevent injury.

Claims

1. A device for storing used plastic grocery bags, comprising:

an elongated elastic wire member having a helical shape so as to form a helix, said helix having adjacent turns which are spaced apart, thereby to form an open helix, said helix having an imaginary axis extending therethrough,

said wire member having two free end portions at the respective ends of said helix, said end portions making a substantially right-angle bend with the respective adjacent portions of said helix, each end portion extending parallel to said axis and outside said helix, each end portion pointing to the opposite end portion,

means for mounting said helix by said two free end portions such that any adjacent pair of turns of said helix can be compressed or expanded and said helix can rotate to a limited extent, said means comprising a rigid base with two major surfaces which are flat and parallel to each other and at least two end surfaces interconnecting said major surfaces, said end surfaces being parallel to each other and perpendicular to said major surfaces, each of said end surfaces having a hole therein, said free end portions of said wire member being inserted into said respective holes in said end surfaces, such that said helix is positioned adjacent one of said major surfaces, and such that said axis of said helix is parallel to said major surfaces,

said wire member being free of any connection to said base other than by said end portions, such that any adjacent turns of said helix can be compressed or expanded, and such that said helix can rotate to a limited extent on said base,

said helix being under tension so that it urges said free end portions together so as to compress said base between said ends thereof,

whereby said device can be used to store a plurality of used plastic grocery bags in a rapid, convenient, and economical manner with one hand, and whereby any bag can be removed from storage for later re-use in an equally rapid and convenient manner with one hand.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said base has a rectangular shape when seen from a given direction.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said base is made of wood.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said base is made of plastic.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each of a plurality of turns of said helix is corrugated.

6. A method of storing used plastic bags, comprising:

A. providing a holder comprising an elongated plastic wire member mounted on a base,

said wire member having a helical shape with adjacent turns which are spaced apart, thereby to form an open helix, said helix having an imaginary axis extending therethrough,

said wire member having two free end portions at the respective ends of said helix, said end portions making a substantially right-angle bend with their respective adjacent portions of said helix, each end portion extending parallel to said axis and outside said helix, each end portion pointing to the opposite end portion,

said base being rigid and having two major surfaces which are flat and parallel to each other and at least two end surfaces interconnecting said major surfaces, said end surfaces being parallel to each other and perpendicular to said major surfaces, each of said end surfaces having a hole therein, said free end portions of said wire member being inserted into said respective holes in said end surfaces, such that said helix is positioned adjacent one of said major surfaces, and such that said axis of said helix is parallel to said major surfaces,

said wire member being free of any connection to said base other than by said end portions, such that any adjacent turns of said helix can be compressed or expanded, and such that said helix can rotate to a limited extent on said base,

said helix being under tension so that it urges said free end portions together so as to compress said base between said ends thereof,

B. compressing and holding a used plastic grocery bag manually so that its greatest dimension is smaller than when it is unfolded, so that said bag has a thickness which is greater than when it is unfolded, and so that if released, said bag will expand in thickness,

C. inserting said bag in its compressed state between two adjacent turns of said helix, and

D. releasing said bag so that it will expand and retain itself between said two adjacent turns,

whereby a plurality of used plastic grocery bags can be stored in a rapid, convenient, and economical manner with one hand, and whereby any bag can be removed from storage for later re-use in an equally rapid and convenient manner with one hand.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said base is mounted on a vertical surface so that said axis is vertical, whereby said bags will be held by friction with said coil turns and said holder can be stored on the inside of a cabinet.