Trashcan assembly including bag engaging member

• US 7,243,811 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edison Nation LLC (Vinco Ventures, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pressix Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ramsey, Franklin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eloshway; Niki
• Application Number:
  US11/424,920
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 22049504-49508, 220/495.11, 220/908.1, 220/554, 220/501, 220/229
• US Class Current: 220/495.11
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/062 having means for storing or dispensing spare bags

Abstract

A trashcan assembly includes a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a rim of the peripheral wall defining an opening extending into the container; and a bag engaging member located in an area of the peripheral wall. The bag engaging member is generally coplanar with the peripheral wall in the area and is configured for receiving a portion of a trash bag for securing the trash bag to an outer surface of the peripheral wall. A trash bag may be extended over the rim and secured to the peripheral wall with the bag engaging member.

Claims

1. A trashcan assembly, said assembly comprising:

(a) a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a rim of said peripheral wall defining an opening into said container; and

(b) a bag engaging member located in an area of said peripheral wall, said bag engaging member being generally coplanar with said peripheral wall in said area and being configured for receiving a portion of a trash bag for securing the trash bag to said peripheral wall;

(c) wherein (i) said bag engaging member comprises an aperture and a plurality of at least five slots extending away from said aperture, (ii) said slots define a plurality of fingers between adjacent ones of said slots, and (iii) said fingers do not include pointed ends all converging toward a common point,

whereby a trash bag may be extended over said rim and secured to said peripheral wall with said bag engaging member.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container is formed of a resilient, semi-flexible plastic.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bag engaging member includes a star configuration, and wherein said fingers bend inward upon insertion of a portion of a trash bag.

4. A trashcan assembly, said assembly comprising:

(a) a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a rim of said peripheral wall defining an opening into said container;

(b) a bag engaging member located in an area of said peripheral wall, said bag engaging member being generally coplanar with said peripheral wall in said area; and

(c) a trash bag received within said container and extending over said rim and secured to said peripheral wall with said bag engaging member, a portion of said trash bag extending through said bag engaging member into an interior of said trashcan assembly;

(d) wherein (i) said bag engaging member comprises an aperture and a plurality of at least five slots extending away from said aperture, (ii) said slots define a plurality of fingers between adjacent ones of said slots, and (iii) said fingers do not include pointed ends all converging toward a common point.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of bag engaging members.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of bag engaging members includes two bag engaging members disposed in opposite facing relation with one another.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said two bag engaging members are disposed on opposite walls.

8. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of bag engaging members includes four bag engaging members.

9. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of bag engaging members is biased into a common plane with said peripheral wall.

10. The trashcan assembly of claim 4, wherein said trash bag extends from the interior of said container over said rim and a portion of said trash bag extends through said aperture of said bag engaging member and is disposed in frictional engagement with said fingers such that said trash bag is secured from slipping into said container when trash is received within said trash bag in said container.

11. The trashcan assembly of claim 10, wherein only said portion of said trash bag extends through said aperture for securing said trash bag from slipping into said container.

12. A method of making a trashcan assembly configured for receiving a trash bag, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, a rim of said peripheral wall defining an opening into said container;

(b) forming an arrangement of slots in said peripheral wall, said arrangement being configured for receiving a portion of said bag and securing said bag to said peripheral wall;

(c) wherein (i) the arrangement of slots includes at least five slots extending away from an aperture, (ii) the slots define a plurality of fingers between adjacent ones of the slots, and (iii) the fingers do not include pointed ends all converging toward a common point,

whereby a trash bag may be extended over said rim and secured to said peripheral wall by insertion of a portion of the trash bag through the arrangement of slots, and

wherein the arrangement of slots is formed with a device configured for punching said arrangement in the peripheral wall of said container.