Adjustable device for maintaining yard waste bags in open positions

Abstract

A continuous band is provided for insertion into the mouth of a yard waste bag. The band is formed from a flexible material that permits it to be gripped at its center and squeezed into a collapsed position with two end loops having curved ends that will engage opposing sidewalls of the bag. In the collapsed position, the band presents a configuration of a partial lemniscate. The band is formed from an elongated strip with two opposite ends. Each end includes an engagement means formed therewith which may be selectively engaged by a user to form different diameters of the band.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of prior pending application Ser. No. 09/065,920, filed Apr. 24, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to devices for bags and, more particularly, to a device for maintaining yard waste bags in an open position to facilitate the loading thereof by a user.

[0003] Yard waste recycling has increased tremendously in the past few years. Many municipalities are requiring, by ordinance, that yard waste must be placed in biodegradable paper bags and set out at the side of a curb for collection by a special hauler. These paper bags serve as good receptacles for the yard waste which may comprise grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery and/or tree branches and other organic yard waste.

[0004] The paper bags used in these have a relatively large height of almost 36 inches, or 3 feet. The cross-section of the open bag is rectangular, having spiral dimensions of about 12 inches by about 16 inches. The bags are typically folded up so that they may be sold in packets to users. When folded, the bags have dimensions of about 12 by 16 inches and have a thickness of about {fraction (1/2)} inch. When so folded, the bags develop a “memory” that creates an unfortunate tendency for the bags to resume their folded condition. This proves extremely frustrating to users who unfold a bag and expect it to stand erect and open when filling it with yard waste. Often when filling a bag, some of the waste will catch on a side of the opening of the bag and will therefore cause the opening of the bag to collapse, further frustrating the user. The actual dimensions of these bag openings may vary among manufacturers so that the opening may be bigger or smaller than 12 by 16 inches.

[0005] The present invention is therefore directed to a simple yard waste bag opening device that opens such a waste bag and maintains the mouth of the bag in an open position so that the bag will stand erect during use. There have been many approaches to solving the aforementioned frustrating problem. Although all of them appear as if they would work, their respective structures all appear to be overly complicated and they may have certain inherent disadvantage.

[0006] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,348 that issued May 12, 1987 describes a bag holder in the form of a flexible C-shaped member that is inserted into the bag mouth. The holder has two free ends that may rip into the bag walls and cause the bag walls at the bag mouth to rip and thereby defeat the purpose of the bag opening device.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,853 issued Apr. 1, 1997 describes a waste bag opening device that has a flexible strip with two free ends that are interconnected together by a string or cord. One end of this cord is knotted and extends through a hole in one end of the strip, while the other end of the cord extends through two holes. The cord is moved through these holes to adjust the configuration of the strip to form an outer support for a plastic bag. The cord may fray from repeated adjustment against the sides of the holes in the strip and therefore may break under repeated loading. The cord also is exposed in its extent along the bag opening and may break during loading of the bag.

[0008] Still other bag opening devices are large in size and bulky to manipulate and/or store, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,683 issued Jul. 3, 1984. The device described in this patent comprises a large, elongated planar sheet that is rolled up by the user to form a hollow cylinder that is inserted into the bag. Apart from requiring two hands to manipulate, this device is large and cumbersome to use and store when not in use. These devices do not have the structure necessary to adjust to the bag mouth so that they may be either too small or large for bags that are manufactured with different or varying dimensions, nor can they be adjusted to compensate for growth or shrinkage of the device due to outside temperature variations that can lead to either growth or shrinkage of the device.

[0009] One such adjustable device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,219, issued Jan. 21, 1992, require two hands to operate and cannot be manipulated with one hand. This device has an elongated member interconnected by two hollow sleeves that grip the ends of the belt that permit it to be adjusted in size. Although this structure is adjustable, the sleeves are formed with either internal engagement pegs or tapering walls that must be manufactured within close tolerances in order to work. These structural features require excessive manipulation by the user to adjust the device, thereby increasing its difficulty.

[0010] Yet still other bag opening devices consist of articulated assemblies, that is, they include one or more segments that are united together by one or more associated joints. These joints render their devices non-continuous and hamper their ability to maintain a uniform opening pressure on the bag. They also may include sharp edges that could tear the bag walls, thus frustrating the bag user.

[0011] A need exists for a bag opening device that is adjustable to match the size of a waste bag opening and which applies a constant and substantially opening pressure to the walls of the waste bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is therefore directed to a device for opening trash waste bags and for holding such bags in an open position. In its broadest aspect, the device comprises a continuous band of flexible material that has a diameter that is slightly larger than the length of the largest side of the bag mouth. The device may be formed, as exemplified by one embodiment of the present invention as a continuous, integral strip and as exemplified by another embodiment of the present invention as an elongated strip that is permanently fastened together by overlapping two ends to form a continuous band or ring.

[0013] The device has a width and thickness that renders it particularly flexible and which facilitates it handling and operation by a user with one hand, rather than with two hands and does not have to be adjusted to fit the opening of the bag. The band has an overall circular configuration that is different from the typical rectangular opening of a conventional paper yard waste bag. The circumference of the band is just about at least equal to and occasionally slightly greater than the perimeter of the bag mouth of the waste bag so that the band will exert an outward force on the bag walls. Due to the ring-like nature of the band, it will apply a uniform opening pressure on the bag opening that is not likely to cause the bag walls to rip at the bag opening.

[0014] In another important aspect of the present invention, the band is continuous and solid throughout its length without any joints or loose ends present that need to be adjusted. This continuous nature, along with the flexibility of the band material, permits the band to be grasped and squeezed together so that is adopts the configuration of a partial lemniscate with two opposing curved ends. These curved ends may be considered as loops which have no sharp edges and that will assist in opening the bag and its mouth.

[0015] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the device takes the form of an elongated strip of predetermined width with two free ends, with the strip including first and second means for interengaging each other disposed proximate to the respective ends of the strip. They also prevent relative movement of the two ends of the strip so that once a band is formed by the user, it retains its selected size. These means permit the user to select the size, or diameter, of the band to fit the opening of a particular waste bag. In one subaspect of the invention, the first such interengaging means includes a tab member formed at a first end of the strip and the second interengaging means includes a series of openings, preferably in the form of vertical slots formed proximate to the second end of the strip. The tab member is easily inserted into one of the openings selected by the user to form a continuous band having a chosen diameter that fits a bag being used by the user. In this manner, the user can purchase waste bags manufactured by any manufacturer and be assured that the device will fit the openings of these bags and exert the desired ring pressure on the bag walls.

[0016] In another subaspect, the strip interengagement means may include a series of holes formed in the strip proximate to the ends thereof. the first interengaging means including an array of holes, such as a 2 by 2 array, while the second interengagement means may include a similar or larger array, such as a 3 by 2 array, with some or all of the holes being interconnected by slots. The slots define tracks that permit fastening means that are received in holes in both the arrays, to be moved, as by sliding, and thereby permit the ends of the strip to be moved relative to each other.

[0017] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through consideration of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the course of the following detailed description reference will be frequently made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a yard waste bag in a folded condition;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the yard waste bag of FIG. 1 in an unfolded, opened and erect condition;

[0021] FIG. 2A is the same view as FIG. 2, but illustrating the configuration of the bag after the bag has collapsed upon itself;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bag device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a side view showing how the bag device of FIG. 3 is gripped and placed into an insertion position by a user's hand;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating how the bag device of FIG. 4 is inserted into the opening of the bag of FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic view of FIG. 5, illustrating how the configuration of the device changes from a circle to that of a partial lemniscate;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a waste bag taken from the end of the bag illustrating the bag device inserted therein and in an expanded condition at the mouth of the bag;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a bag device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a waste bag with the bag opening device of the present invention inserted in place at the bag mouth illustrating how the device supports the bag in an open position;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a plan view of another, adjustable embodiment of the invention in the form of an elongated strip with an adjustable means integrated therein;

[0030] FIG. 10A is a top view of the strip of FIG. 9 with its opposing ends engaged together;

[0031] FIG. 10B is an enlarged detail view of the two ends of the strip in their engagement;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a waste bag taken from the end of the bag illustrating the strip of FIG. 9 assembled into a band and inserted therein and in an expanded condition at the mouth of the bag;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a plan view of another adjustable embodiment of the present invention that uses separate fasteners in conjunction with the engagement means formed at the ends of the strip;

[0034] FIG. 13 is a top view of the strip of FIG. 12 assembled together with a set of fasteners;

[0035] FIG. 14 is an enlarged detail view of the engagement ends of the band of FIG. 12 illustrating the manner of engagement of the ends of the strip;

[0036] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the strip of FIG. 12 assembled together to form a continuous band and inserted into the mouth of a waste bag;

[0037] FIG. 16 is a plan view of another adjustable embodiment of the present invention, utilizing fastening material formed on the surfaces of the strip; and,

[0038] FIG. 17 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the two ends of the strip of FIG. 16 engaged together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a yard waste bag 20 in a folded condition that is typical of the state in which such waste bags 20 are purchased by consumers. FIG. 2 illustrates the waste bag 20 in an unfolded, opened and erect condition. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the bag 20 has two pairs of sidewalls 22 & 23 that rise up from a bottom wall 24. These sidewalls 22 and 23 have a length of about 36 inches or so and each sidewall is folded upon itself along a center foldline 26 that run approximately for the height of the sidewalls. These center foldlines 26 split into two angled foldlines 28, 29 that extend to opposite corners 30, 32 of the bottom wall 24 of the bag 20. These foldlines 26, 28 & 29 and another transverse foldline 35 are utilized so that approximately the bottom third portion 32 of the bag 20 may easily be folded together and flat upon itself in a rectangular configuration having a thickness t of about {fraction (1/2)}-inch or less.

[0040] The waste bag 20 typically includes two other transverse folds 36 and 38 that are angularly displaced with respect to the sidewall center foldlines 36 and generally extend perpendicular thereto. These folds 34, 36 in effect, may be considered as separating the bag 20 into three vertical portions and also permit the bag to be folded twice upon itself for convenient packaging. The sidewalls 22, 23 of the bag cooperatively define at one end thereof, an open mouth 40 of the bag 20 through which a user may insert or pour yard, lawn or other waste.

[0041] Although these folds and foldlines are convenient for bag manufacturers for reducing the size of the bags 20 at their points of sale, they prove to be frustrating to a user of such bags 20. For example, the bag 20 is typically made of a biodegradable paper, such as kraft paper. The walls 22, 23 and 24 of the bag may be double ply or single ply. Although these plys are strong enough to hold a certain amount of waste without bursting, they are not strong enough to stand erect in an opened condition and, more often than not, the bag 20 when opened, stands slightly tilted on the ground as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0042] Coincident with this tilting, another frustrating structural feature of the bag 20 occurs. The sidewalls 22 that have the center foldlines 26 formed therein tend to “bow” or “flex” inward because of their “memory”, especially near and at the bag mouth 40. It is believed that this occurs because the bag 20 does not have enough strength to support itself, but also because of the formed foldlines, both the foldlines 26, 28, 29 and 35 of the end sidewalls 22, but also the folds 36, 38 of the front and rear sidewalls 23 of the bag 20. All of these folds are mechanically made during construction of the bag 20 and they impart what I consider to be a “memory” to the bag 20.

[0043] This bowing or flexing problem results from these fold “memories” and they may frustrate the user of the bag 20 in that the end sidewalls 22 will form peaked, projecting portions 42 at the bag mouth 40 that we coincident with the center foldlines 26. These peaked portions 42 project into the opening at the bag mouth 40, when a user pours or clumps yard or other work into the bag mouth 40, it may catch on these peaked portions 42 and cause them and the bag mouth 40 to collapse. The bag 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2A in such a collapsed condition.

[0044] The present invention is directed to a simple device that may be easily inserted into the bag mouth 40 with one hand and that retains the bag mouth 40 in an open position without any adjustment, but also that eliminates the peaked portions 42 of the bag 20 or any other projections of the bag from extending into the area of the bag mouth 40.

[0045] One embodiment of such a device is illustrated generally as 50 in FIG. 3. This device 50 includes a continuous flexible band 52 having a width W of about 2 inches for stability, although sizes of between about 1 inch and about 2 inches may be used. The band 52 is preferably made from a flexible and solid, or imperforate material strip, such as plastic or Formica or the like. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-6, the band 52 may be made continuous through a suitable process, such as by injection molding. Such a band 52 may also be formed in a laminating or pressure forming process, wherein multiple, discrete ring layers are adhered to each other to form a continuous ring. Polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) strips of above {fraction (1/16)}-inch in thickness have been found to give desirable results in forming the continuous band 52.

[0046] The band 52 is flexible so that it may be easily gripped and squeezed to a constricted state, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 where the band 52 is gripped near the center portion 53 thereof by a user's hand 54 to form a compressed band having two relatively large loops 55 portions at its ends 56. The flexible and continuous nature of the band 52 importantly forms the loop portions 55 in such a manner that the ends 56 thereof present curved surfaces 58 that may initially engage the interior surfaces 60 of the sidewalls 22. The curved surfaces 58 do not present any sharp ends or edges as would an articulated device that is interconnected by engaging two free ends together as described in the prior art.

[0047] In an important departure from prior art bag devices, the continuous and flexible nature of the band 52 provides an important structural advantage. This advantage is illustrated in FIG. 5A, wherein it can be seen that the continuous band 52 has an initial circular configuration (at the left of FIG. 5A) that can be collapsed to a configuration that approximates a figure-eight or, a partial lemniscate 51 (at the right of FIG. 5A). As mentioned above, this partial lemniscate configuration permits the band 50 to be easily inserted into a bag mouth 40. Moreover, in this configuration, the ends 56 of the loop portions 55 formed by collapsing, or squeezing, the band 50, on gentle curves that do not present any sharp edges that may tear into the side walls 22 of the bag 20. In the articulated bag devices of the prior art, the joints will not permit the device to be so collapsed and easily inserted.

[0048] The continuous nature of the band 52 eliminates the need for the user to adjust the size of the band 52 with two hands in order to fit the bag mouth 40, which is a departure from the prior art device described U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,219 referred to earlier above. When a user grasps the device of the '219 patent in its mid-portion and tries to collapse it, the free ends of this device will move and the device will expand to a state larger than the bag 20 under an outward pressure force caused by the grasping of the device. In the present invention, the band 52 is continuous and it will not expand under grasping pressure.

[0049] Once inserted, the user releases his or her hand 54 from the band 50 so that it springs outwardly against the interior surfaces 60, 61 of the bag 20 at the bag mouth 40, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The normal configuration of the bag mouth 40 is rectangular (FIG. 2), ignoring the effects of the peaked projections 42. The circular configuration of the band 52 is retained by the band 52 and thereby impressed upon the bag 20 at its opening.

[0050] This changes the overall configuration of the bag 20 when erected. FIG. 8 illustrates the bag of FIG. 6 in such an upright position. As can be seen from FIG. 8, part of the upper third portion 64, and particularly, the extent “C” now takes a cylindrical shape while the remaining middle and bottom third portions 65, 34 retain their rectangular shape. The outward flexing caused by the band 52 places a tension on the bag sidewalls 22, 23 which in turn, substantially prevents them from bowing or otherwise buckling in along any associated foldlines. The lower portions of the bag 20 that retain their rectangular shape permit the bag 20 to stand erect and to be stored when not in use without collapsing upon itself. The lower portions and the band 52 cooperate together to support the bag 20.

[0051] The cylindrical opening now formed in the bag 20 (FIG. 6) by the pressure of the band 52 permits the bag 20 to be laid on its side to facilitate the scooping or loading of debris into the bag opening 40. This cylindrical opening is an ideal, even opening without any sharp corners or edges that might restrict the user from quickly and easily depositing debris therein. Also, because the band 50 has an overall ring or hoop shape when expanded, it will in accordance with hoop or ring pressure theory, exert a uniform pressure on the bag sidewalls 22, 23 in a radially outwardly direction as represented by the arrows illustrated in FIG. 8. This pressure, in effect, overcomes the memory of the bag folds and enables the bag to stand erect as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0052] In order to carry out this tensioning of the bag mouth 40, it is desirable that the perimeter, i.e, the circumference, of the band 52 be about the same size or slightly greater than the perimeter of the bag. Suitable ranges for the desirable circumference of the band 52 would be anticipated range about 98% to about 106% of the nominal perimeter of the bag mouth 40. Most waste bags 20 are produced having nominal dimensions of 12 inches by 16 inches but may have actual dimensions that may vary as much as 1 inch for each dimension. For such a bag 20, a band 50 having an overall general diameter of between about 17¾ inches and about 18 inches with a circumference of between about 55½ inches and about 56 inches or so yields desirable results. It will be understood that these dimensions are only exemplary and that the present invention is not to be limited in its use with bags of these particular dimensions. The band 52 will preferably be of a size that will exert a radially outward pressure on the walls 22, 23 of the bag 20 at the opening 40 thereof. It has been discovered that when the band 52 has dimensions that are greater than those of the bag opening 40, the band 52 will partially stretch the bag walls 22, 23. When this occurs and the band 53 is initially expanded against the sidewalls 22, 23 of the bag 20, most of the band 52 will press against the sidewalls 22, 23, but a remaining portion will initially buckle inwardly and then “snap” into place against the bag walls 22, 23 when the bag stretching is effected.

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrated another embodiment of a continuous bag opening device 70 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. This device 70 also includes a continuous band 71 that is formed from an elongated strip 72 that has two opposing ends 73, 74. The end portions 73, 74 are permanently joined together, such as by heat, plastics, ultrasonic or other type of welding or by way of a plastics adhesive or solvent when the base material of the band 71 is plastic. The end portions 73, 74 overlap a preselected distance 0. No articulated joints or sharp edges are presented in this band 71. This type of band 52 is continuous in that the band ends 73, 74 are permanently joined together such that when the band 71 is either compressed or expanded, there is no relative movement between the band ends 73, 74 as would occur in non-continuous devices of the prior art.

[0054] The present invention also contemplates a bag opening device that is selectively adjustable so that a user may use one band with a variety of different size bags made by a variety of different manufacturers. FIG. 9 illustrates one such embodiment in which the band 100 is assembled from an elongated strip 102 of flexible material, such as the plastics referred to above. The strip 102 has first and second opposing ends, respectively 103, 104. The ends 103, 104 have first and second engagement means 106, 108 associated therewith and disposed proximate to the ends 103, 104. The first engagement means 106 takes the form of a tab member 110 formed at the first end 103 of the strip 102. The tab member 110 has two ends 111, 112 disposed thereon that are separated from the body of the strip 102 by a pair of notches 113.

[0055] At the opposite, or second end of the strip 102, a series of openings 115 are formed. Both the tab member 110 and the openings 115 have respective heights H1,H2 that are preferably less than the width W (FIG. 7) of the strip 102. Preferably, the height H1 of the tab member 110 exceeds the height H2 of the openings 115 so that the tab member 110 can engage any of the openings 115 and retained therein by the ends 111, 112 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 10B.

[0056] In use, the user preforms a circular band 100 by placing the ends 103, 104 of the strip 102 together and inserting the band so formed into the mouth of the bag to determine which opening 115 the tab member 110 should engage to give the band a proper diameter to exert an outward radial pressure on the bag walls. Once the size of the band is determined, the tab member 110 is inserted into an opening 115 to form a band 100 as seen in FIG. 10A. The band 100 may be then squeezed by the user with one hand at approximately the midpoint thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 and then inserted into the bag in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 and released to expand radially against the bag walls as illustrated in FIG. 11. In its expanded state, the band 100 imparts its circular shape upon the bag mouth 40 changing it from the bag's normal rectangular shape, the band 100 maintains a hoop or ring pressure against the bag walls.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the tab member 110 may extend along the exterior of the band against one of the bag walls 22, 23 when the band is expanded. Importantly, the engagement between the tab member 110 and the openings 115 is such that it prevents relative movement between the two ends 103, 104 of the strip 102.

[0058] FIGS. 12-15 illustrate another embodiment of an adjustable device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, a band 200 is also formed from an elongated strip 202 of preselected width W and includes first and second opposing ends 203, 204. Each such end 203, 204 of the strip 202 includes respective first and second arrays 205, 206 of openings 209. The openings 209 are preferably of the same size in each array and the openings 209 in the array 206 may be interconnected by optional longitudinal slots 211 that extend horizontally as shown to permit selective movement of the fasteners between pairs, or rows of the second array of openings. Fastening means 213 are provided and are illustrated in FIGS. 13-15 as openings 209, screws 214 and wing nuts 215. The screws 214 have shafts 216 leading from enlarged heads 217, and the heads 217 are larger in diameter than the openings 209 which are sized to receive the screw shafts 216. The screws 214 may be separate components or may by molded as part of the strip 202, or may further be attached to the band by suitable attachment means, such as adhesives, plastics welding or the like.

[0059] As shown, the arrays 205, 206 of the openings 209 includes vertical rows of openings R-R4. The second array 206 at the second end of the strip 202 is shown to include a 1 by 2 array. That is, the array 206 includes one row “R” of two vertically spaced-apart openings at the strip second end 204, while the first array 205 of openings at the strip first end 203 is shown to include a 4 by 2 array that utilizes four such vertical rows R1-R4 of two vertically spaced-apart openings each. In order to provide some stability to the overall band, the strip 202 preferably includes a leading edge portion “M” of sufficient length, approximately 1 to 2 inches, that bears against the opposite end of the strip when the band is formed. This extent prevents excessive stress on the engagement means.

[0060] Where the openings 209 are not interconnected by the slots 211, a user can place one of the strip ends, preferably the second end 204, onto the first end 203 to preform a band 200 having the desired size to hold the bag mouth open and in order to align a number of the openings 209 at both ends of the strip. The fasteners, preferably two of them, are inserted into a like number of aligned openings so that they extend through both ends of the strip 202. They are preferably inserted so that the heads 217 of the screws 214 are situated on the exterior of the band 200 and the screw shafts 216 extend radially inwardly of the band 200, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The nuts 215 are then secured to the screws 214 on the interior of the band 200. The fasteners serve to secure the ends of the strip together and prevent relative movement of them that would compromise the band's ability to hold the bag mouth in the circular shape.

[0061] In strips where the openings 209 at one end of the strip are interconnected by the slots 211, the screws 214 may be inserted through the aligned openings 209 of both first and second arrays 203, 204. The ends of the strip may then be selectively pulled or moved together by a user to increase or decrease the diameter of the band 200 so as to fit the bag opening and still exert a hoop or ring pressure on the bag walls. In either instance, the band 200 so formed may be squeezed near its midpoint and inserted into the bag 20 as described above, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The screw shafts and nuts project radially inwardly into the bag so they will not compromise the integrity of the bag walls. As shown in FIG. 13, the screws 214 are inserted into their openings of the second array 206 at the second end of the strip and then inserted into their openings of the first array 205 at the first end of the strip so that the strip end with the larger array of openings on the interior side of the bag. This type of embodiment is useful with plastic waste bags.

[0062] FIGS. 16 & 17 illustrate another adjustable embodiment of the invention, wherein an elongated strip 302 is provided with two opposing ends 303, 304. Two extents 305, 306 of suitable self-fastening material, such as hook and loop material, commonly sold under the trade name VELCRO, are attached, or otherwise formed in the strip body portion proximate to the strip opposing ends 303, 204, but on opposite surfaces of the strip 302. The two ends 303, 304 are brought together by a user to preform a band 300 that is sized to fit the bag opening and the fastener material extents contacted to each other. The hook and loop materials holds the ends together without relative movement of the strip ends from occurring. Such a band 300 may be squeezed in its middle and inserted into the bag in the manner described above. The hook and loop materials may be attached to the strip 302 by adhesives, plastics welding or corona discharge treatment.

[0063] Importantly, all the adjustable embodiments utilize engagement means that prevent relative movement of the opposite ends of the strip. This maintains the formed band in its circular and flexible form which is not possible when any means that permit sliding movement of the ends are used. The present invention may thus be used with bags that are wet and which have expanded from their original shape and configuration.

[0064] While the preferred embodiment of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable device for insertion into a mouth of a collapsible waste bag which supports the waste bag from the inside of the bag and which maintains said waste bag mouth in an open position, the device comprising:

an elongated strip having first and second opposite ends, the strip being formed from a flexible material having sufficient flexibility that the strip may be formed into a circular configuration, the first and second ends of said strip including respective first and second engagement means that may be selectively engaged with each other to form a continuous band of a selected length, said first and second engagement means preventing relative movement between said strip ends so that said continuous band may be grasped by a user with one hand at approximately a mid-portion thereof and squeezed together with said one hand to form a collapsed configuration of a partial lemniscate to facilitate insertion of said band into said bag, said band expanding to said circular configuration when released and expanding radially outwardly against the bag.

2. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said strip has an approximate width of between approximately 1 to 2 inches.

3. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said strip is formed of plastic.

4. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said first engagement means includes a tab member formed along said strip first end, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of openings formed in a body portion of said strip proximate to said second end thereof.

5. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 4, wherein said tab member has two opposing ends that are separated from the strip body portion by a pair of notches formed in opposite edges of said strip.

6. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 5, wherein said openings are vertical openings that are spaced apart from each other, the openings having a height that is less than a corresponding height of said tab member.

7. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 4, wherein said openings are spaced apart from each other lengthwise of said strip and extend vertically within said strip body, and said tab member extends vertically along said strip first end, said tab member having a height that is greater than a corresponding height of said openings so that said tab member may be inserted by a user into one of said openings and retained therein.

8. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said band, when grasped and squeezed with said one hand into said partial lemniscate, has two opposing end portions, each end including a partial loop with a curved surface facing outwardly at each said end portion.

9. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said first engagement means include a first extent of hook and loop material disposed on a first surface of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a second extent of hook and loop material disposed on a second surface of said strip, said first and second surfaces being opposite surfaces of said strip.

10. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said first engagement means includes a first array of openings formed in said strip and said second engagement means includes a second array of openings formed in said strip, said second array being containing more openings than said first array, and said device further includes at least two fasteners that are received with two openings of said first array and two openings of said second array.

11. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said first array of openings includes a 1 by 2 array having one row of 2 openings vertically oriented within a body portion of said band, and said second array of openings includes at least a 2 by 2 array having at least two rows of 2 openings vertically oriented within the body portion of said band.

12. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 11, wherein said second array of openings includes a 4 by 2 array with four rows of 2 openings vertically oriented within the body portion of said band.

13. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 1, wherein said first engagement means includes a first array of openings formed in said strip and two fasteners associated with said first array of openings, and said second engagement means includes a second array of openings formed in said strip, said second array being containing more openings than said first array, said two fasteners being received within two openings of said first array and two openings of said second array aligned with said first array two openings.

14. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 13, wherein said fasteners include screws with screw heads that are larger in size than said band openings.

15. The adjustable bag device as set forth in

claim 13, wherein said second array openings are interconnected by horizontal slots extending lengthwise of said band, the slots permitting selective movement of said fasteners between corresponding pairs of openings of said second array.

16. An adjustable band for insertion into a collapsible waste bag for supporting said bag from the inside of the bag near a mouth of the bag and for maintaining the bag mouth in an open position, the adjustable band comprising:

an elongated continuous, non-articulated strip having two opposing ends, the strip being formed from a flexible material having sufficient flexibility so that the strip ends may be brought together by a user and engaged together into a band of circular configuration, which band may be grasped by a user with one hand at approximately a mid-portion thereof and squeezed together by said user with said one hand to form a collapsed configuration of a partial lemniscate to facilitate insertion of said band into said bag, said band expanding to said circular configuration when released and expanding radially outwardly against the bag;

said strip including first and second engagement means disposed proximate said strip ends and which engage each other in a manner so as to prevent relative movement between said strip ends and thereby maintain said band in a circular configuration when inserted into said bag.

17. The band of

claim 16, wherein said first engagement means includes a tab member formed at a first end of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of vertical openings disposed in said strip proximate to a second end thereof, the openings being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.

18. The band of

claim 16, wherein said first engagement means includes a first extent of self-fastening material disposed on a first surface of said strip and proximate to the first end of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a second extent of self-fastening material disposed on a second surface of said strip, opposite from said first surface, the first and second extents being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.

19. The band of

claim 16, wherein said first engagement means includes a pair of first openings disposed in said strip proximate to a first end of said strip and a pair of fasteners associated with said pair of openings, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of pairs of second openings disposed in said strip proximate to a second end thereof, the openings being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.