Replaceable bags, generally of plastic, for collecting rubbish are usually placed inside supporting structures.

These structures are cylindrical, or otherwise shaped, and the bag is put inside them with some suitable means for fixing its upper edge.

Similarly well known are the cage-type structures having a tray a the bottom, a ring at the top with cover and poles connecting the ring and the base. Said poles may consist of several parts, one of which can be fitted into another, into the tray at the base and into the upper ring.

These structures are bulky and awkward to carry about so that it is practically impossible to use them, except where they permanently stand, to take them along on an outing or a picnic.

T-he present invention avoids these drawbacks offering at the same time considerable advantages as will be ex¬ plained below.

Subject of the invention is a supporting structure to hold rubbish bags, consisting of parts that can be put together, having a tray at the bottom, a lid at the top hinged onto an intermediate frame, an inner frame, hinged between the main frame and the lid, to clamp down onto the upper edges of the bag, and a set of pole components to put together and make poles for connecting the tray and upper frame, the completed poles being then fitted into sockets made for them on the tray and on said upper frame. The frame is formed of an annular body. The pole components are cylindrical each having at one end an axial cylindrical hole and, at the other end, an axial cylindrical pin.

The cylindrical sockets on the upper frame are formed of cylindrical pins projecting from said frame and having cylindrical holes inside. Diameter of the pole components, at least at the end with a hole, is less than or equal to the external diameter of the pins on the frame, and to the internal diameter of the sockets on the tray. Diameter of the pins in the pole components is less than or equal to the internal diameter of their holes.

Hole diameter of the pins on the frame is virtually equal to* the diameter of the holes in the pole components. Seen in a plan view, shapes and dimensions of the lid, tray and frame are substantially the same. The foregoing explains how a carrying-case type of body can be formed by placing the frame on the tray and fitting

^■ the pins on the frame inside the sockets on the tray. This case-type body can be either "closed" with the lid down over the frame, or "open" with the lid turned back on the hinge that joins it to said frame. Support for the bag is made by separating frame and tray and fitting poles into the sockets on the tray and into the holes inside the pins on the frame, said poles being formed of one or more pole components put together by fit¬ ting the pin on the end of one into the hole at the end of another and aligning them.

The lid has orthogonal sides of virtually the same height as the sides of the tray.

Structure of the frame is substantially that of a chan¬ nel with a section shaped like an overturned "U" into which the pins are inserted.

External dimensions of the frame are slightly smaller than those of the tray and correspond practically to the internal dimensions of the lid so that, in the closed po¬ sition, the lid fits down onto the frame forming a case whose sides are virtually continuous all round.

The diameters of the various parts to be joined by fitting one into another, namely the pole components, their pins, the sockets on the tray at the base, the pins on the frame and the holes in them, are such that, allowing for any ribbing on the pole component pins and by exploiting the elasticity of the material, putting them all together and taking them apart is easily done, at the same time sufficient stability being ensured both when used as a "structure" for the bag and when used as a closed "case". The frame, the inner one fixing bag edges and the lid are connected by hinges formed of pins. Said pins project

sideways from a flat bracket in the frame, and run through holes in the sides of another flat substantial¬ ly parallelepiped ledge projecting centrally at the back of the lid so that, when the structure is closed form- ing a case, said ledge can be used as a handle.

The case, when closed, is kept shut by a small peg pro¬ jecting from an outward jutting edge at the front of the tray, said peg penetrating tightly enough through a small hole in another outward jutting edge on the lid. The pole components are all of the same length and the poles made with them can be as long as required depending on the number of pole components put together. In this way the structure for rubbish bags can be made as high as needed according to their dimensions. Length of the pole components is not greater than maximum internal width of the frame so as to allow said components to be stowed away inside the case formed of association between the lid and the tray at the base. The advantages of the device are clear. Practically speaking the same basic parts required for the cage of a rubbish bag structure make it possible to create one suitable for transport and for ordinary use. Being similar to a small suitcase, the form for transport is compact and of minimum bulk. The association between tray at the base and lid, by the same means that permit creation of a structure, produces a case that can be carried conveniently.

The hinge at the back serving for the lid, the frame and inner bag-clamping frame, is shaped to make it useful as a handle .

Transformation from case to rubbish bag structure takes no time at all.

The poles needed to keep the lid and frame at a suitable distance from the tray below are made from pole compo¬ nents whose length does not exceed the width of the in- side of the case . All component parts, including a supply of bags, can there¬ fore be stowed inside the case to the great convenience of the user .

This means that an object is provided of maximum structu¬ ral and functional simplicity at a very low cost. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will become still clearer from the following example of its execution illustrated by diagramma ically drawn figures. Fig.1 The support, in units, for rubbish bags, subject of the invention, when closed as a suitcase. Fig.2 The suitcase when open.

Fig.3 The support when in use to sustain a rubbish bag, with the lid open, seen in perspective. Fig.4 As above, with the lid closed. Fig.5 As above, but lower in height, with the lid open. Fig.6 Detail of the hinges for the various parts.

The structure 10 comprises a tray 11 at the base, a frame 12, an inner frame 14, a lid 13, all quadrangular in shape and having reciprocally corresponding dimensions. The tray 11 consists of a base 20, sides 21; it has three cylindrical sockets 15, 16, 17 of equal diameter, a forward protruding edge 19 and central peg 24.

The structure of the frame 12 is that of an overturned "U" , with external sides 25, internal sides 37 and braces 23. External dimensions are slightly less than those of the tray 11 at the bottom.

The frame 12 carries cylindrical pins 27,28,29 having

downward facing holes 30,31,32 of an external diameter less or equal to the internal diameter of the sockets 15, 16, 17 on the bottom tray 11, said pins being placed sub¬ stantially in the same positions, in a plan view, as those of said sockets 15-17.

At the back of the frame 12 there is a brcket 47 with la¬ teral pins 44 indtto form a hinge (see Fig. 6). The inner annular frame 14 has an angular section with sides 41. External dimensions of said sides 41 are equal to or less than the internal dimensions of the frame 12, while the greater dimensions are practically equal to the external dimensions of said frame 12.

In said inner frame 14 there is a bracket 46 with a pair of holes 49 through which pass pins 44 on the frame 12 so that said inner frame 14 can turn hingewise in relation to the frame 12 (Fig. 6).

The lid 13 consists of its flat surface 40, sides 35, a pair of holes 48 at the back made in the sides 43 of the central bracket 45, whose internal centre distance is equal to or greater than the external centre distance of the holes 49 in the inner frame.

Similarly, pins 44 in the bracket 47 on the frame 12 are made to penetrate through said holes 48. Said lid 13 can therefore turn hingewise in relation to the frame 12, as can also the inner frame 14.

The internal dimensions of said lid 13 are greater than or equal to the external dimensions of the frame 12. By fitting the pins-= 27,28,29 on the frame into the res¬ pective sockets 15, 16, 17 on the tray 11, the frame 12 remains associated to said tray 11 as seen in Figs. l and 2. In Fig.2 the pin 28 on the frame 12, fitted into socket 16

on the tray 11 at the base, has been drawn in by a dotted 1ine .

As can be seen the tray 11 at the base and the franE 12 form a kind of case with its lid 13, the whole indicated by number 10.

By means of the hinge created by the pins 44 fixed to the frame 12, the lid 13 can be placed in the "open" position as in Fig. 2, or in the "closed" position as in Fig. 1. At the front of the lid there is a jutting edge 42 in which there is a central hole 34 whose diameter is such as to permit entry of the small peg 24 on the jutting edge 19 on the tray 11, into which hole it fits tightly. In this way, when shut, the case remains firmly closed. As shown in Fig. 2, inside said case 10 the pole compo- nents 50 comprising ^" a cylindrical body 51, hole 55, pin 54 opposite the hole, with longitudinal ribbing 53, can be stowed .

The external diameter of the pole components 50 is equal to or less than the internal diameter of the sockets 15, 16, 17 on the tray 11 at the base.

The diameter of the hole 55 is practically equal to the diameter of the holes 30,31,32 in the pins 27,28,29 on the frame 12. The diameter of the pin 54 on the pole components 50 is less than the diameter of said holes 30,31,32 in the pins 27,28,29 on the frame 12 and therefore of the hole 55 in said pole components 50.

The longitudinal ribbing 53 in practice increases the dia¬ meter of the pin 54 so as to ensure elastic grip inside said holes both in the case position and in that of a structure to support a rubbish bag.

^• The functioning position is effected by fitting the pins 54 of one or other of the pole components 50 into the holes 30,31,32 of pins 27,28,29 on the frame 12 and in the holes 55 in the pole components 50 themselves and then fitting these latter inside the sockets 15, 16, 17 on the tray 11 at the base (see Figs. 3, 4, 5). In Fig. 3 three pole components 50 are seen put together forming three poles 51 that support the frame 12. In Figs. 3 and 4 the poles 51 are high enough to allow use of a rubbish bag 58 of adequate size.

The poles 52 drawn in Fig. 5 consist of four pole compo¬ nents and can be used for a larger bag 59.