This invention relates to a holder for disposable bags or sacks.

It is now customary to use large plastic bags or sacks of disposable nature for disposal of waste material and, in particular for disposal of garden rubbish. However, problems arise in the use of such disposal bags or sacks because of the difficulty of holding the bag or sack open while attempting to empty into the bag or sack rubbish which has been collected or while attempting to shovel in material which has been swept into a heap.

It is known to provide dustbin liner sacks with a fixed . stationary support which includes a lid so that the dustbin liners can be located in a' position normally occupied by a dustbin. The liner can then . -b 'removed -from ^' th ^; f ^r s ^' holder for disposal.' ^*" Ηόtteveϊ ' ^' ,t £§ ₄ ^" sjpill provides problems with regard to garden rubbish since it is very often desirable to be able to take the bag to the place*wher© the rubbish is, rather-than to have to cart the rubbish to tjie bag in its holder. ' . ., _. _ ^'' . .. , '-i .

The invention seeks to provide a device which can' be readily attached to ^' a disposable sack or bag which _. wi _. ll maintain the mouth of the bag in an open condition.

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According to the invention a holder for a disposable bag o sack comprises a rectangular framework about which the top end the bag or sack can be folded such that the frame work can effectively surround the open mouth of the bag or sack, the framework being foldable about its corners so as to fold, flat for storage and transport _c

Preferably, the framework is square and is foldable in suc a way as to take up an area not substantially greater tha the area of one side.

Means may be provided for releasably holding the framewor in its unfolded state and this may suitable comprise a wire li element threaded through one side of the frame and parallel to its free- edges, the ends of the wire like element been bent at right angles and pivotable from a position parallel to the said one side to a position at right angles thereto and aligned with the adjacent sides when unfolded.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-.

,.Figure 1 is a view of the fra ewo.rk of the holder in accordance with the invention in the folded state;

Figure 2 is a view of the framework of figure 1 in its open §tate;

Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the use of the device in use for.collecting garden refuse;

Figure 4 is a pictorial view showing the use of the sack holder as a dustbin like device into which rubbish can be brushed;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the framework in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of

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the framework in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 7 is a pictorial view of the framework on a wheeled trolley.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the disposable bag or sack holder comprises a square frame 1, which can be folded flat about its corners as shown in Figure 1. The framework has one side which is narrower in a direction at right angles to the cross-section of the framework than the opposite side 3, the sides 4 and 5 varying in width from minimum at the end adjacent the side 2 to a maximum at the end adjacent the side 3. In this way the side 3 protrudes forward of the framework 1 when in the open state to form a lip.

It-will be seen that strengthening of the framework.1 is ' provided by means of a wire element 6 passing through the longer side 3 and protruding at both ends through a cut away portion 7.

The protruding ends 8 are bent at right angles to the remainder of the wire and are pivo able between a position which is parellel to the plane of the deeper side 3 to a position at right angles thereto. In this latter position it holds" the framework in its open position. The tips of the wire ^' ends ^" 8 are preferably provided with suitable knobs 9 to prevent damage either to the user or to the framework itself. As can also e" ^" s ^~ eeri each of the corners is provided with a cut away 10 which receives a locating elastic band 11 for retaining a disposal bag or sack 12 in a position as will be described with reference to figure 3. Hand holes in the form of cut outs 14 are provided on the three shorter sides 2,4 and 5 of the framework 1 and are arranged ^'" further into the sides than the line joining the cut out portions 10. The locating band 11 may be used around the framework by the folded position to retain the framework folded.

In order to assemble the device with a disposable sack or the band 11 is first removed. Then the framework one is unfolded to take up its square position and the wire element 6 is rotated from the position shown in figure 1 to the position shown in figure 2, so that its end lie alongside the adjacent walls 4 and 5 of the framework 1 to hold the framework in its open position.

The disposal sack or bag 12 is threaded between the sides the framework 1 and the edges of the sack or bag 12 are folded round the edges of the framework 1 so as to lie over all the inside faces of the framework including the lip portion formed by the longer side 3. The edges of the bag 12 extend back ov the outside of the framework until they pass over the cut away portions 10 and the elastic band 11 is then placed around the framework 1 and over the edge of the bag 12 so as to lie in th cut out portions 10. In this way the bag 12 is securely on the framework 1. Once assembled, the bag or sack 12 can be placed on the ground so that the framework makes a stand-up box around the mouth of the sack or bag (Fig 3) or the sack or 12 may be laid on its side so that the framework 1 also lies on its side with a lip portion of the framework at the bottom (Fig.4). In this position, rubbish can be swept over the lip into the bag in a similar way to the use of a dust pan.

In order to dismantle the arrangement the reverse operati takes place. The bag or sack is detached from the framework by removal of the band 11 and the framework is folded flat. T band 11 can then be replaced around the folded framework.

The material of the framework may comprise a sheet of plastics material which may be of corrugated or honeycomb form. One such sheet is sold under the registered Trade Mark "Correx As mentioned above, figure 3 shows pictorially the use of £ _

-5- bag or sack holder as a garden bin, it being shown in use for emptying the grass-catcher 12 of a lawn mower. In this situation, once the box like part has been filled up, the framework 1 may be raised to allow the refuse to pass into the lower part of the bag leaving a fresh box-like portion available for further use. ,

Figure 4 shows the use of the sack holding device for sweeping up rubbish using the lip portion of the framework in the sameway as a dustpan.

Figure 5 shows an alternative form of framework which can also be folded flat. The main difference between this construction and that of the first embodiment resides in the fact that a structured lip is provided, the longer side 3 being ^' connected to the remaining sides by means of the triangular portions 17.

Figure 6 shows a form of framework in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention in which the framework is a two part construction, the frame 21 itself being of the same depth all round and a separate ramp member 22 being provided which acts not only to hold the bag in the open position but enables the operation device as a dustpan.

While the frameworks have all been described for use on their own, it is possible to arrange for them to be hookable on to a trolley arrangement 24 (Fig 7) such as a shopping type trolley. In this form they could be used in supermarkets D instead of or as an adjunct to the normal trolleys provided and they could also be used generally where it is desirable to be able to move the bag or sack around particularly when the bag or sack has to carry relatively heavy contents making other

forms of cartage of the bag or sack unwieldy.

From the above described embodiments, it will be seen that the framework can be folded up so as to take up an area not substantially longer than the area of the longest side 3.

However, it will be noted that, to achieve this, one corner must be folded in reverse e.g. the corner between the sides 2 and 3 (Fig 2).

It will be appreciated that various modifications have be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, although the framework 1 has been suggested as being made of a plastics material, it could be made of other similar rigid or semi-rigid material e.g. wood or cardboard. Because of the .cheapness of the framework while on many occasions this may be used time and time again, for certain applications, such as for hospitals and other places where contamination might take place, the framework can be disposed of together with the bag. Although the frame has been stated as being square in the present examples, it is of course possible to make the framework of other rectangular shapes, although, then it is no ^' possible to provide such a close folding of the framework itself.

In a suitable form of construction the framework may be spl along its widest side and joined at this point so that the whole framework can be made out of one sheet of flat plastics or other material. Strengthening members, e.g. metal wires, can be inserted across the joint. Also where desired the framework may be provided with a further strengthening member in the other sides. If two strengthening wires are provided in the deeper side, both may have right angle portions which may be in one case bent up to secure the open state of the

framework and in the other case bent down to enable the bent portions to form prongs with which the framework can be secured on the ground. Other means could be used for securing the framework to the ground if desired. The fastening by 5 means of the elastic band could be replaced by the use of built in or separate metal clips.

Because of the ease of folding of framework, it will produce no storage problems, either from the point of view of ^■ -- 0 shops keeping stocks of it or from the point of view of transporting it. It may be hung on a wall for example by means of its hand holes and if desired it may be stored with the bag in position, in which state, the mouth of the bag can be readily maintained closed while not in use. It will be 5 appreciated that the invention has numerous applications and can be used as a dustbin for picnicing, camping, caravaning or boating. A smaller version with appropriately a smaller bag can be carried in a car to provide a disposable rubbish container or could be used in an emergency as a child's potty.

.0 Variations of the device, particularly with a bag which is not much larger than the area of framework, can be used as a paddling pool or sand container. Suitable sizes of the device . can be also used around the house for use when decorating, in particular when stripping wall paper, the arrangement having

!5 the advantage of being folded away for storage when not in use.