Trash Bag Retainer

Abstract

An apparatus for easy holding of a trash bag in a container: It comprises of a) a holder made of two magnetically coupled pieces which can engage or disengage with each other; and b) a container, having an open end, with one of the two holding pieces attached rigidly to an outside portion of the container. When placing a portion of a trash bag inside the container with part of the outside portion being captured by the two holding pieces in the coupled state, the trash bag is consequently folded around the rim of the container and around the two magnetically coupled pieces. The resulting total folding angle of the trash bag is greater than 210° which greatly reduces the force needed to hold a heavy trash bag at the coupling section of the two holding pieces. The apparatus can be easily operated with one hand.

1 . A magnetic retainer comprises of two pieces: one of them is attached rigidly to a trash can, while the other can engage with the 1 st  piece and together they capture a portion of a trash bag affixing it to the trash can. 
   
   
       2 . The retainer of  claim 1  can be of any size and shape 
   
   
       3 . The retainer of  claim 1  can be made of rigid or flexible material. 
   
   
       4 . The retainer of  claim 1  can be used by itself or with other retainers. 
   
   
       5 . The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the 1st piece can be integrated into a trash can and may be the top rim of the trash can with a magnet or a magnetic piece placed under it. 
   
   
       6 . The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the shape of the 1st piece may be such that it attaches easily to a curved trash can other than a trash can with flat sides. 
   
   
       7 . The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the 2nd piece may be attached flexibly to the 1 st  piece or to the trash can. 
   
   
       8 . The attachment in  claim 7  may be by different methods, e.g., a string or a ribbon. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for holding a trash bag in a container comprising of
 A. a holder made of two magnetically coupled pieces (the two holding pieces) which can engage or disengage with each other;   B. a container, having enclosed sides and at least one open end, with one of the two holding pieces in A (the 1st holding piece) attached rigidly to an outside portion of the container;   Wherein, when placing a portion of a trash bag inside the container with part of the outside portion being captured by the two holding pieces in the coupled state, the trash bag is consequently folded around the rim of the container as well as around the two magnetically coupled pieces and the total folding angle of the trash bag is greater than 210° between the portion along the inside wall of the container and the portion at a coupling interface of the two holding pieces.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , whereby the attachment of the 1 st  holding piece is on the side of the container. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , whereby the container has a rim extending beyond the plane of the container side and the attachment of the 1 st  holding piece is under the rim of the container. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , whereby the 1 st  holding piece is integrated into the rim of the container.