Support structure for a limp bag

Abstract

Support structure for a limp bag with a front sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane, a rear sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane, the sheets hingedly attached to each other on their left and right sides so that the sheets form an envelope having an inside portion that can be opened to form an enclosure having an open elliptically shaped top and bottom portion, the inside bottom portion including at least one torsion spring and attached arms that are fixedly located on the bottom horizontal plane of the endosure and spreading at a ninety degree angle from each other when in the non stressed position so that the arms automatically hold the structure in an open elliptical shape.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of bag holders and more specifically to a support structure for a standard resalable limp bag. Limp type storage bags made out of such materials as such as polyethylene or polypropylene, have been in use for many years. A common type of storage bag is the resealable type that can hold a variety of contents, even liquids that, when in a sealed condition, can hold the contents in a safe non spilling manner. A number of patented inventions have been proposed to help keep limp bags in an upright and open position including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,502,291, 3,614,041 and 3,614,042.

These inventions help a person keep a bag in the open position so that a user can put items into the bag without the need to use one or more hands to hold the bag open and upright.

However there are deficiencies in the prior technology. First, the prior art all includes support structures that do not completely surround the bag being held, they tend to be frame type structures that allow the unsightly bag to be seen. A traditional trash can type structure can support a limp, bag, but can not be easily folded flat for storage. Second, none of the prior art specifically addresses the issue of holding up a standard gallon size or quart size resalable bag so that the lip of the bag can be folded over the lip of the support structure thereby holding it open while the bottom of the bag rests safely on the surface that the support restructure sits on. Finally, while some of the prior art structures fold flat, they do not automatically spring open for use by the release of a retaining member.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a support structure for a limp bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag support structure that is primarily designed to support resealable type bags in an upright and open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag support structure that can be folded flat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bag support structure that automatically transitions from the flat stored position to the open topped use position when the user releases a retaining member.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bag support structure that completely surrounds the limp bag in a decorative manner.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a bag support structure that is sized to fit common resealable storage bags such as a quart sized bag or a gallon sized bag so that the top lip of the storage bag can be folded over the top lip of the support structure and the bottom of the storage bag rests on the flat operating surface when in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a support structure for a limp bag comprising: a front sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane, a rear sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane, said sheets hingedly attached to each other on their left and right sides so that said sheets form an envelope having an inside portion that can be opened to form an enclosure having an elliptically shaped top and bottom, said inside bottom portion including at least one torsion spring and attached arms that are fixedly located on the bottom horizontal plane of said enclosure and spreading at approximately a ninety degree angle from each other when in the non stressed position so that said arms automatically hold said structure in an open elliptical shape, said arms also capable of being folded inward so that said flexible ellipse structure can be pressed flat, and said flat structure capable of remaining temporarily flattened by use of a U shaped retaining member that grasps the outer surfaces of said front and rear sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag holder of the present invention in an open use position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag holder of the present invention in an open position with a bag in place.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the invention in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the invention in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention in the dosed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view 100 of the bag holder of the present invention in the open position. The holder is comprised of front and rear sheets 2, 4 that are flexibly biased in the horizontal direction but not flexibly Unbiased in the vertical direction. In the embodiment shown, the sheets are constructed from a plurality of thin vertical members 16 such as bamboo strips or man made plastic strips that are bound together by flexible banding 10, 12, 14 but could also be sewn together or be molded out of single sheet of flexible plastic material such as low density polyethylene. The sheets 2, 4 are attached at their right and left sides by hinge members 6, 8. However, in an alternate embodiment, sheets 2 and 4 could be constructed as one sheet where the sheet folded upon itself forms the entire enclosure including integral hinges.

Referring now to FIG. 2 we see a perspective view of the invention 100 with a plastic bag 18 in place as shown by dotted line 20. The lip of the bag 21 is folded over the top lip of the bag 18 holder 100 thereby holding the bag in an upright and open position. The holder 100 is sized to hold a standard resealable plastic bag such as a one gallon bag or a one quart bag. The height of the bag holder 100 is such that the bottom of the bag 23 touches the surface upon which the bag holder 100 sits. In this way, the present invention 100 can be used when a person wishes to fill the bag 20 with items such as food, including soup or other liquid ingredients. Because the bag holder 100 holds the bag in an open and upright position without the use of hands, the user is free to use his or her hands to pour contents into the bag thereby avoiding potential spilling. The bag holder can also be used to temporarily store unwanted items such as fruit or vegetable peelings. When the bag is full, it can be easily removed from the holder 100 and discarded. The bag holder 100 can also retain other types of disposable bags for holding trash items such as the plastic bags commonly used in the purchase of fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Because the limp bag is completely surrounded by a decorative support structure 100, it can remain on a kitchen counter without seeming unsightly. The bag holder 100 also allows a person to mix food ingredients in the bag 20 rather than mixing in a bowl which then has to be cleaned and dried. The mixed ingredients can then be stored in the resealable bag and the bag, removed from its holder 100, can be stored in a refrigerator for later use.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the invention 100. Rod shaped spreader arms 24, 26, 32, 34 help hold the side panels 2, 4 in the open position. Torsion springs 28, 30 are fixedly attached to the arm ends and act to spread the arms to roughly ninety degrees. Flexible tubular member 22, 38 connect the arms at a central location. Adhesive 68, 70 attaches the elbow of each arm to the lowest portion of the inside surface of flexible sheets 2, 4 so that the arms 24, 26, 32, 34 reside horizontally along the bottom edge of the inside portion of sheets 2, 4. Hinge members 6, 8 are also flexible so that sheets 2 and 4 can be pushed to a flattened state as shown in FIG. 4.

U shaped retaining member 20 is shown in its unused state in FIG. 3 and its use state in FIG. 4 thereby holding sheets 2, 4 in a flattened configuration. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the invention 100 in its closed position. U shaped retaining member 20 can be clearly seen holding sheets 2 and 4 in a flattened storage position.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Support structure for a limp bag comprising:

a front sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane;

a rear sheet biased to flex in a horizontal plane but not in a vertical plane;

said sheets hingedly attached to each other on their left and right sides so that said sheets form an envelope having an inside portion that can be opened to form an enclosure having an open elliptically shaped top and bottom;

said inside bottom portion including at least one torsion spring attached to arms that are fixedly located on the bottom horizontal plane of said enclosure and spreading at a ninety degree angle from each other when in the non stressed position so that said arms bias against the inner surfaces of said front and rear sheets to automatically hold said structure in an elliptical shape;

said arms also capable of being folded inward so that said flexible ellipse structure can be pressed flat; and

said flat structure capable of remaining temporarily flattened by use of a U shaped retaining member that grasps the outer surfaces of said front and rear sheets.

2. Support structure for a limp bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure is sized to hold a standard resealable limp bag so that the lip portion of said bag can be folded over the top lip portion of said support structure and the bottom of said limp bag can touch the flat surface that the support structure is standing on.

3. Support structure for a limp bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure can be sized to retain either a gallon sized bag, a quart sized bag or a sandwich sized bag or other sized bags.