FOOD INGREDIENTS BAG HOLDER
The invention generally describes a method an apparatus for supporting a flexible plastic bag in an open position to facilitate filing the bag. More particularly, the invention provides a bag support comprising an adjustable bag support member configured to receive a bag and a first and second vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member for adjusting the height of said assembly. The bag support places a plastic bag in an open position to facilitate the introduction of liquids and/or solids to the interior of the bag.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a food storage bag holding device for supporting a flexible plastic bag in an open position to facilitate filling the bag.
2. The Relevant Technology
Resealable plastic bags such as Ziploc® bags are often used to store food in a refrigerator or freezer. Such bags offer a low cost alternative to Tupperware® or other costly food storage systems. Since such bags are disposable, no clean up is required after use. Resealable bags come in several shapes and sizes making a number of volumes ranging from sandwich, pint, quart, one gallon, two gallon and larger. Resealable plastic bags offer an alternative to rigid storage containers, however, the flexibility provides a significant challenge when filling the bag with fluids or other granular items.
It is therefore desirable to provide a bag support that places a plastic bag in an open position to facilitate the introduction of liquids and/or solids to the interior of the bag. It is further desirable that such a bag holder have a minimal number of pieces and support a varying number of shapes and sizes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention pertains generally to a bag support for supporting a resealable plastic bag. The bag support of the present invention generally comprises an outer support ring approximately shaped in a semi-circle arrangement with at least two ends. The outer support ring further comprises a hollow interior having a plurality of ring adjustment holes. The outer support ring has a support ring hinge coupled to an edge of the outer support ring.
Continuing, the bag support also has an inner support ring shaped approximately in a semi-circle arrangement with at least two ends. The inner support ring generally has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer support ring, hence allowing each end of the inner support ring to fit into a portion of each end of the outer support ring to form a full circle. The inner support ring has a ring adjustment button sized to fit into one of the ring adjustment holes. The inner support ring further has a second support ring hinge coupled to an edge of the inner support ring.
In another embodiment, a bag support is disclosed having an adjustable bag support member configured to receive varying sized bags. In general, the bag support member comprises an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion. The outer support member has a number of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on the first outer support member end portion and a number of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on the second outer support member end portion.
Continuing, the bag support member also comprises an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion. The first and second inner support member end portions are configured to mate with the hollow interior of the first and second outer support member end portions. The inner support member has a first adjustment button disposed on a surface of the first inner support member end portion that is sized to fit and engage one of the adjustment holes. The inner support member has a second adjustment button disposed on a surface of the second inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage a different adjustment hole.
Continuing, the bag support has a first vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member. The first vertical support assembly has a first vertical support member pivotally coupled to the adjustable bag support and a first vertical base member coupled to the first vertical support member. The first vertical support member and the first vertical base member are configured to vary the height of the first vertical support assembly. The bag support also has a second vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member. The second vertical support assembly has a second vertical support member pivotally coupled to the adjustable bag support and a second vertical base member coupled to the second vertical support member. The second vertical support member and the second vertical base member are configured to vary the height of the second vertical support assembly.
Other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent after reading the detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific cooking pan sizes etc., in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.
In one embodiment, adjustable bag support member 10 is a circular ring that lies generally in a common plane when in an assembled position. The first and second adjustable vertical support assemblies 31A and 41A include vertical support members and vertical base members. For example, first and second vertical support members 30, 40 are each coupled to opposite ends of adjustable bag support member 10 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, vertical support member 30 is coupled to a first end of support member 10 by a first support hinge 14. Hinge 14 may be a T-device inserted into adjustable bag support member 10 that is configured to receive vertical support member 30. Hinge 14 is configured to allow and provide the pivot point for vertical support member 30 to pivot about an axis and fold inward so that it may lay approximately co-planer to support member 10 when bag holder 100 is not in use. Any pivoting device that couples vertical support member 30 to adjustable bag support member 10 may be used. On the approximate opposite end of support member 10, vertical support member 40 is coupled to the ring using a second support hinge 12. Support hinge 12 is also configured to allow and provide the pivot point for vertical support member 40 to fold inwards and in approximately the same plane as support member 10 when bag holder 100 is not in use. At the approximate bottom of each vertical support member 30, 40 is a support base assembly 31, 41 that couples to the first and second vertical support members 30, 40 to provide overall support to bag holder 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, each support base assembly 31, 41 comprises a vertical base member 32, 42 and an approximately circular shaped ring 50, 60 that extends out from the corresponding vertical support member toward the interior of adjustable bag support member 10. That is, support base assembly 31 comprises vertical base member 32 and base member 50. Also, support base assembly 41 comprises vertical base member 42 and base member 60. In the embodiment as shown, each support base has a 2.5 to 3 inch diameter; however, any suitable diameter may be used that provides a stable base for bag holder 100. A suitable material for each support base assembly 31, 41 is aluminum, however, any material may be used for the manufacture of the support base assemblies 31, 41 such as stainless steel and plastic to name a few. In other embodiments, support bases 50, 60 may be elliptical, square or rectangle in shape. Support base assemblies 31, 41 may comprise three or more legs, such as a tripod, as a means for supporting bag holder 100. The overall shape is not limiting to the present invention, it is purely a design choice that does not impact the scope and spirit of the present invention. The support base shall be of a suitable construction and configuration to support the bag holder assembly including the addition of any food stuffs to the bag.
As show in
Support hinges 12, 14, 55 and 65 allow bag holder 100 to be stored in a flat generally co-planer arrangement, with minimal height, when not in use. In a typical arrangement, when bag holder 100 is assembled and fully expanded, it may have a diameter of up to and including 12 inches and a height of approximately 12 inches to support a two gallon resealable bag. Typically, the height can range from 1½ inches up to 24 inches and the diameter may range from 2 inches up to 16 inches. One skilled in the art can appreciate that the approximate height and diameter of bag holder 100 may be increased or decreased depending upon the size and shape of the resealable bag. However, when bag holder 100 is not in use and disassembled, it-may have a diameter of six inches with a height of one inch, allowing it to take up a small amount of storage space, in one embodiment. Again, the disassembled size may vary considerably depending upon the intended size of the resealable bag and the thickness of the material used for the bag holder. Accordingly, the typical stored diameter may range from one inch up to twelve inches and the stored height may range from one-half inch to one inch.
In the illustrated embodiment, adjustable bag support member 10 is an adjustable member, configured to change the diameter of the ring to fit the size of the resealable plastic bag. Adjustable bag support member 10 is shown having a ring shape, however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any shape may be used without departing from the intended scope and spirit of the present invention. Adjustable bag support member 10 has a plurality of first ring adjustment holes 20, 21, 22, 23, etc. and second adjustment holes 24, 25, 26, 27, etc. that are generally on opposite sides of ring 10. In operation, a user adjusts the holes to mate with the adjustment button (not shown) to allow the size of adjustable bag support member 10 to approximately match the size of the opening of the plastic bag. Six adjustment holes, on a side, are shown in
Resealable plastic bag 70 is illustrated in
In other embodiments, adjustable bag support member 10 may be another shape such as elliptical or rectangular with rounded edges. The corresponding resulting shapes may necessitate that inner support member 17 and outer support member 15 be of a different shape than the half circle illustrated in
In
In operation, the diameter of adjustable bag support member 10 is adjusted by pressing down on adjustment button 19 until the top of the button's spherical surface is below the surface of the surface of the outer tube surrounding the adjustment hole it was positioned within. Once the button is completely below the surface, the inner support member 17 may slide into or out of outer support member 15, thereby increasing or decreasing the diameter of adjustable bag support member 10. Depressing adjustment button 19 and sliding inner support member 17 in a direction out of outer support member 15 results in adjustment button 19 resting against the interior wall of outer support member 15 between, for example, adjustment hole 24 and adjustment hole 25. This resulting movement and position of adjustment of button 19 is due to the upwards pressure being exerted from a spring or other mechanism (not shown) providing such a pressure. Once adjustment button 19 reaches the opening of adjustment hole 24, the upward pressure of the button forces the button upwards and through the hole, locking it into place. If a user wishes for further adjustment, the depressing and moving of adjustment button 19 may be repeated until the adjustment button 19 is fitted within the desired adjustment hole corresponding to the desired diameter of the adjustable bag support member 10. This process may also be repeated on the outer ring end 102 and inner ring end 103 (not shown in
3]
Towards tube end 90 of inner tube 49 is adjustment button 43 positioned inside the middle of adjustment hole 46 of outer tube 44. Adjustment button 43 is a half spherical shaped button having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of each adjustment hole. The size difference between the adjustment button 43 and the plurality of adjustment holes permits adjustment button 43 to fit inside each adjustment hole yet protrude above the surface of the hole to prevent slippage. Adjustment button 43 is similar in both construction and function to buttons 19 and 26 described above. Accordingly, the description for adjustment buttons 19 and 26 applies to adjustment button 43 and should be considered equivalent for all purposes.
The height of adjustable vertical support assembly 41A and therefore the height of the food ingredients bag holder 100, adjusts by pressing inward on adjustment button 43 until the top of the button is below the surface of the outer tube 44 surrounding the hole. Once the button is completely below the surface, the inner tube 49 may be slid further into or out of outer tube 44. Once adjustment button 43 reaches the opening of an adjustment hole, for example, adjustment hole 45, the outward pressure of the spring on the button 43 forces it outwards and through the hole 45, thereby locking it into place. For further height adjustment, the above process may be repeated until the adjustment button 43 is fitted within the desired adjustment hole. This height adjustment process may also be repeated on the opposite adjustable vertical support assembly 31A with corresponding adjustment holes and buttons.
Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.
Claims
1. A bag support comprising:
- an adjustable bag support member configured to receive varying sized bags, said adjustable bag support member comprising, an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a first plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said first outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a second plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said second outer support member end portion, and an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion, said first and second inner support member end portions being configured to mate with the hollow interior of said first and second outer support member end portions, said inner support member having a first adjustment button disposed on a surface of said first inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said first plurality of adjustment holes, said inner support member having a second adjustment button disposed on a surface of said second inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said second plurality of adjustment holes,
- a first vertical support assembly coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said first vertical support assembly having a first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member and a first vertical base member coupled to said first vertical support member, wherein said first vertical support member and said first vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said first vertical support assembly, and wherein said first vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member; and
- a second vertical support assembly coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said second vertical support assembly having a second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support and a second vertical base member coupled to said second vertical support member, wherein said second vertical support member and said second vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said second vertical support assembly, and wherein said second vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member.
2. The bag support member of claim 1, wherein said first vertical support member has a hollow interior and first and second vertical support member end portions, said first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support at said first vertical support member end portion, said first vertical support member having a third plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of said first vertical support member on said second vertical support member end portion, wherein said first vertical base member has first and second base member end portions, said first vertical base member having a third adjustment button disposed on a surface of said second base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said third plurality of adjustment holes of said first vertical support member.
3. The bag support member of claim 2, wherein said second vertical support member has a hollow interior and third and fourth vertical support member end portions, said second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support at said third vertical support member end portion, said second vertical support member having a fourth plurality of adjustment holes disposed on said fourth vertical support member end portion, wherein said second vertical base member has third and fourth base member end portions, said second vertical base member having a fourth adjustment button disposed on said fourth base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said fourth plurality of adjustment holes of said second vertical support member.
4. A bag support comprising:
- an adjustable bag support member configured to receive a bag, said bag support member having a means for selectively adjusting the size of said support to accommodate an opening to varying sized bags;
- a first vertical support assembly pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said first vertical support assembly having a first means for adjusting the height of said assembly, wherein said first vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member; and
- a second vertical support assembly pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said second vertical support assembly having a second means for adjusting the height of said assembly, wherein said second vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member.
5. The bag support of claim 4, further comprising a first base member pivotally coupled to said first vertical support assembly and a second base member pivotally coupled to said second vertical support assembly.
6. The bag support of claim 4, wherein said adjustable bag support further comprises:
- an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a first plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said first outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a second plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said second outer support member end portion; and
- an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion, said first and second inner support member end portions being configured to mate with the hollow interior of said first and second outer support member end portions, said inner support member having a first adjustment button disposed on a surface of said first inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said plurality of adjustment holes, said inner support member having a second adjustment button disposed on a surface of said second inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said second plurality of adjustment holes.
7. The bag support of claim 6, wherein said outer support member is approximately semi-circular in shape and said inner support member is approximately semi-circular in shape.
8. The bag support of claim 6, wherein said outer support member is approximately u-shaped and said inner support member is approximately u-shaped such that the combination creates an approximate rectangular shape when said outer support member is engaged with said inner support member.
9. The bag support of claim 4, wherein said first vertical support assembly further comprises a first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member and a first vertical base member coupled to said first vertical support member, wherein said first vertical support member and said first vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said first vertical support assembly; and
- wherein said second first vertical support assembly further comprises a second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member and a second vertical base member coupled to said second vertical support member, wherein said second vertical support member and said second vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said second vertical support assembly.
10. The bag support member of claim 9, wherein said first vertical support member has a hollow interior and first and second vertical support member end portions, said first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support at said first end, said first vertical support member having a first plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of said first vertical support member on said second vertical support member end portion, wherein said first vertical base member has first and second base member end portions, said first vertical base member having a first adjustment button disposed on the surface of the said second base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said first plurality of adjustment holes of said first vertical support member.
11. The bag support member of claim 10, wherein said second vertical support member has a hollow interior and a first and second support member end portion, said second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support at said first end, said second vertical support member having a second plurality of adjustment holes disposed on a surface of said second vertical support member end portion, wherein said second vertical base member has a first and second base member end portion, said second base member having a second adjustment button disposed on the surface of said second vertical base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said plurality of adjustment holes on the surface of said second vertical support member.
12. A bag support comprising:
- an adjustable bag support member configured to receive varying sized bags, said adjustable bag support member comprising, an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion, and an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion, said outer support member being adapted to receive at least a portion of said first and second inner support member end portions, said outer support member configured to move relative to said inner support member to vary the size of said adjustable bag support member so as to receive said varying sized bags;
- a first vertical support assembly coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said first vertical support assembly having a first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support and a first vertical base member coupled to said first vertical support member, wherein said first vertical support member and said first vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said first vertical support assembly, and wherein said first vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member; and
- a second vertical support assembly coupled to said adjustable bag support member, said second vertical support assembly having a second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member and a second vertical base member coupled to said second vertical support member, wherein said second vertical support member and said second vertical base member are configured to vary the height of said second vertical support assembly, and wherein said second vertical support assembly is inwardly collapsible towards said adjustable bag support member.
13. The bag support of claim 12, wherein said adjustable bag support further comprises:
- an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a first plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said first outer support member end portion, said outer support member having a second plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on said second outer support member end portion; and
- an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion, said first and second inner support member end portions being configured to mate with the hollow interior of said first and second outer support member end portions, said inner support member having a first adjustment button disposed on a surface of said first inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said plurality of adjustment holes, said inner support member having a second adjustment button disposed on a surface of said second inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said second plurality of adjustment holes.
14. The bag support member of claim 12, wherein said first vertical support member has a hollow interior and first and second vertical support member end portions, said first vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support member at said first vertical support member end portion, said first vertical support member having a first plurality of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of said first vertical support member on said second vertical support member end portion, wherein said first vertical base member has first and second base member end portions, said first vertical base member having a first adjustment button disposed on the surface of said second base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said first plurality of adjustment holes of said first vertical support member.
15. The bag support member of claim 14, wherein said second vertical support member has a hollow interior and a first and second support member end portion, said second vertical support member pivotally coupled to said adjustable bag support at said first end, said second vertical support member having a second plurality of adjustment holes disposed on a surface of said second vertical support member end portion, wherein said second vertical base member has a first and second base member end portion, said second base member having a second adjustment button disposed on the surface of said second vertical base member end portion sized to fit and engage one of said plurality of adjustment holes on the surface of said second vertical support member.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said adjustable bag support member, first vertical support assembly and a second vertical support assembly are made from aluminum.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said adjustable bag support member, first vertical support assembly and a second vertical support assembly are made from stainless steel.
18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of said adjustable bag support member, first vertical support assembly and a second vertical support assembly are made from plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 11, 2008
Inventor: Carmen Albert (Edwards, CO)
Application Number: 11/759,166
International Classification: B65B 67/12 (20060101);