SCREEN FOR HOLDING REFUSE SACKS OPEN

ECRAN POUR MAINTENIR DES SACS DE DECHETS OUVERTS

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a screen for holding refuse sacks (7) open.
The screen (1) is shorter than the refuse sack (7) such that open parts (7b)
of the refuse sack (7) can be folded into the screen (1). The screen (1) is
designed to stretch the refuse sack (7). A locking device (11) is provided to
lock the open parts (7b) of the refuse sack (7) and the screen (1) to each
other.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un écran pour maintenir des sacs de déchets (7) ouverts. Ledit écran (1) est plus petit que le sac de déchets (7), de sorte que les parties (7b) ouvertes du sac de déchets (7) peuvent être pliées dans l'écran (1). Ledit écran (1) est conçu pour étirer le sac de déchets (7). Un dispositif de verrouillage (11) est destiné à ouvrir les parties ouvertes (7b) du sac de déchets (7) et l'écran ensemble.

Claims

8.
CLAIMS
1. Screen for holding refuse sacks (7) open, cha-
racterized in
that the screen (1) is shorter than the refuse sack
(7) such that open parts (7b) of the refuse sack (7) can
be folded into the screen (1),
that the screen (1) is designed to stretch the re-
fuse sack (7), and
that a locking device (11) is provided on the screen
(1) such that open parts (7b) of the refuse sack (7) can
be pressed on said locking device (11).
2. Screen according to claim 1, characte-
rized in
that the screen (1) consists of elastic material
and is compressible from a normal shape to a narrower
shape,
that the refuse sack (7) can be threaded onto the
screen (1) or said screen (1) be inserted into said re-
fuse sack (7) when said screen (1) is compressed to a
narrower shape, and
that the screen (1) can be brought to spring out
from its narrower shape to its normal shape and thereby
stretch the refuse sack (7).
3. Screen according to claim 2, characte-
rized in that a holding-together member (13) is
provided to hold the screen (1) in its narrower shape.
4. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in that second end portions (1c)
of the screen (1) has at least one handle opening (6)
into which parts (12) of the refuse sack (7) are insert-
able such that one can get hold of the handle opening (6)
in order to lift and carry the screen (1) and the refuse
sack (7).
5. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in that the locking device (11)
comprises pins (11a) which extend outwards from second

9.
end portions (1c) of the screen (1) and against which
open parts (7b) of the refuse sack (7) can be pressed
preferably for penetration thereof.
6. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in that the screen (1) in cross
section has a semicircular or substantially semicircular
shape.
7. Screen according to claim 1, characte-
rized in that the screen (1) is provided to permit
location thereof, with a refuse sack (7) provided thereon,
on a support (8) from which refuse shall be moved into
the refuse sack (7), such that those parts (12) of the
refuse sack (7) which extend between the two longitudinal
edges (2, 3) of the screen (1) and which thereby have a
planar or substantially planar shape, are situated close
to and/or engage said support (8).
8. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in that the longitudinal edges
(2, 3) of the screen (1) are designed or include members
for preventing damage of the refuse sack (7) by said lon-
gitudinal edges (2, 3).
9. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in that a strip (15) can be hoo-
ked onto two longitudinal edges (2, 3) of the screen (1)
such that said strip (15) extends across an opening (1a)
between said edges (2, 3) at second end portions (1c)
of the screen (1) and that open parts (7b) of the re-
fuse sack (7) can be folded within said strip (15).
10. Screen according to any preceding claim, cha-
racterized in
that the screen (1) is thin-walled and elastic and
consists of polypropylene or similar material, and
that the refuse sack (7) is a plastic bag from
which the screen (1) can be removed and which can be
tied up after removal of the screen (1).

Description

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1.
Screen for holding refuse sacks open.
The present invention relates to a screen for holding
refuse sacks open.
US 4 760 982 A describes a device having a screen
for holding refuse sacks open. At this device, the screen
has two upwardly movable side panels which makes the con-
struction relatively complex and thereby rather expensive
to manufacture and difficult to handle. Neither is it
possible to lock the screen and the refuse sack to each
other by simple means.
The object of the present invention is to simplify
and improve screens for refuse sacks and this is accomp-
lished by providing the screen with the characterizing
features of primarily claim 1.
Since the screen is shorter than the refuse sack,
said sack may be folded into the screen, which is an
advantage inter alia for holding reasons. Since the
screen stretches the refuse sack, said sack is also bet-
ter attached to the screen and is better protected there-
by. Since a locking device locks the screen and refuse
sack to each other, it is ensured that they do not loo-
sen or separate from each other when carrying them with
the refuse sack filled.
The invention will be further described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
fig. 1 is a perspective view of a screen according
to the invention;
figs. 2 and 3 are side views of a screen according
to fig. 1 when said screen is provided with a refuse
sack; and
fig. 4 is a front view of a screen according to
fig. 1 with a refuse sack placed lying on a support.
The screen has an elongated shape and defines in
cross section an arcuate or polygonal flute or groove
having two longitudinal edges 2, 3 which are parallel or
substantially parallel with each other and which there-

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2.
between define a longitudinal opening 1a. First end por-
tions 1b of the screen 1 have a transverse first edge 4
and second end portions 1c thereof have a transverse se-
cond edge 5. The edges 4 and 5 are, seen from the side,
parallel or substantially parallel with each other. The
edges 4 and 5 preferably extend perpendicular or sub-
stantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 2, 3.
The screen 1 has at least one handle opening 6
which is located at the second end portions 1c of the
screen 1. At the embodiment shown, the screen 1 has
three handle openings 6 which are elongated and provi-
ded in parallel with the second edge 5.
The screen 1 is designed to be located in a refuse
sack 7 and it is shorter than the refuse sack 7. The re-
fuse sack 7 is for the purpose of clarity illustrated
with broken lines in fig. 1. More exactly, the screen 1
is designed to allow threading or pulling the refuse
sack 7 over said screen such that parts of said sack
will extend freely over and close the longitudinal ope-
ning 1a. The refuse sack 7 can be threaded or pulled on-
to the screen 1 until closed parts 7a of the sack 7 are
situated at the first end portions 1b of the screen 1
and open parts 7b of the sack 7 at the second end por-
tions 1c of the screen 1.
In order to accomplish this in a simple way, the
screen 1 may first be placed upside down on a support 8
- see fig. 2. The refuse sack 7 is preferably threaded
or pulled over the screen 1 such that the bottom 9 of
said sack 7, at the closed parts 7a thereof, is situated
at and/or engage the first edge 4 of the screen 1. The
screen 1 may then be turned such that the first edge 4
thereof is directed downwards, whereupon the screen 1
can be placed on the support 8 through the bottom 9 of
the refuse sack 7 - see fig. 3.
The screen 1 may have such length relative to the
refuse sack 7 that open parts 7b of said sack 7 extend
beyond the second edge 5 of the screen 1 and said open

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3.
parts 7b can be folded into the screen 1 at said second
edge 5.
The parts 12 of the refuse sack 7 located outside
the screen 1 may preferably be inserted into the handle
openings 6 such that one can get hold of said handle
openings in order to lift and carry the screen 1 and
the refuse sack 7 with or without content.
The screen 1 may be designed such that it stretches
the refuse sack 7, which means that also the parts 12 of
said sack extending over the opening 1a will be stretched
to a planar shape.
The screen 1 may be made of elastic material which
means that it is compressible from a basic shape to a
narrower shape. The longitudinal edge 2 is thereby situa-
ted closer to the longitudinal edge 3, which is indica-
ted with broken lines in fig. 1. When the screen 1 has
been given its narrower shape, this shape can be main-
tained by means of a holding-together member 13 which
is attached to one 2 of the longitudinal edges 2, 3 of
the screen 1 and which can be brought to extend across
the opening 1a for engagement at the other longitudinal
edge 3. When the screen 1 has been compressed to its nar-
rower shape and is held therein by the holding-together
member 13, it is narrower than the refuse sack 7, which
thereby is easy to thread onto the screen 1 or is the
screen 1 easy to insert into the refuse sack 7.
When the screen 1 is located inside the refuse
sack 7, the holding-together member 13 is released from
the said other longitudinal edge 3, whereby the screen 1
springs outwards to its original, basic shape and thus,
stretches the refuse sack 7.
The holding-together member 13 may be a wire, one
end of which is attached or secured to the longitudinal
edge 2 while the other end has a hook 14 with a suitable
shape for hooking onto the other longitudinal edge 3.
There may also be a strip 15 (schematically illustra-
ted with broken lines in fig. 1) which can be hooked on

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4.
to or attached to the longitudinal edges 2, 3 by a snap-
-in action, such that the strip 15 extends across the
opening 1a at the second end portion 1c of the screen 1.
The open parts 7b of the refuse sack 7 may be folded
over this strip 15, which stiffens the screen 1 and the
refuse sack 7 and protects the sack when it is filled.
The embodiment of the screen 1 described above per-
mits location thereof, with a refuse sack 7, standing
free and upright on the support 8 - see fig. 3 - where-
by the screen 1 continuously holds the refuse sack 7
open so that refuse can be filled therein from above.
Thus, the screen 1 defines a support for the refuse
sack 7, which allows the sack 7 to stand upright.
As is apparent from fig. 4, the screen 1 and the
refuse sack 7 can be laid down on the support 8 such
that the planar or substantially planar parts 12 of the
refuse sack 7 are found at or close to the support 8.
Hereby, insertion of refuse from the support 8 into the
refuse sack 7 is facilitated and this is particularly
relevant if the support 8 is relatively level and if
the planar parts 12 can be located close thereto and/or
at least partially can be brought to engage said sup-
pot 8. Also when the screen 1 and the refuse sack 7 are
lying down, the screen 1 keeps the sack 7 open.
When refuse is filled into the refuse sack 7, the
screen 1 forms an inner protection in the sack 7 for
protection thereof from the inside against penetration
by refuse - e.g. twigs - which is inserted into the
sack 7. This is true irrespective of whether the screen 1
with the refuse sack 7 stands up or lies down.
When refuse has been filled into the refuse sack 7,
said sack 7 may, by means of the screen 1, be carried
to a suitable spot for emptying or storage. During this
transport of the refuse sack 7, the screen 1 forms a
type of transport handle. When the screen 1 is no longer
needed, it can be pulled out of the refuse sack 7, which
then can be tied up at the top. The risk for overfilling

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5.
the refuse sack 7 is less while the sack 7 Can resume
its original shape when the screen 1 is removed there-
from.
The longitudinal edges 2, 3 of the screen 1 may be
designed such that they do not damage the refuse sack 7
or are said edges 2, 3 provided with members preventing
damage of the refuse sack 7.
There is preferably provided a locking device 11
for locking the open parts 7b of the refuse sack 7 to
the screen 1 so that said refuse sack 7 can not uninten-
tionally slip off the screen 1 or vice versa. This
locking device 11 may e.g. include pins 11a which can
extend outwards from the second end portions 1c of the
screen 1. The open parts 7b of the refuse sack 7 can be
pressed against these pins 11a preferably such that the
refuse sack 7 is penetrated thereby and the sack 7 is
effectively locked to the screen 1.
The screen 1 may preferably be made of thin-walled
polypropylene material or similar and it may be elastic.
The refuse sack 7 may be of plastic bag type or simi
lar, which can be tied up after removal of the screen 1.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment de-
scribed above and illustrated in the drawings, but may
vary within the scope of the subsequent claims. As an
example of an embodiment not further described it can be
mentioned that the screen 1 can be piled and have~a low
. weight .

Representative Drawing