Bag frame device

Abstract

A bag frame device is provided. Such bag frame device includes a frame member for fitting within a predetermined bag. Such frame member includes a plurality of generally vertical support members each having a first end and a second end and being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. A plurality of generally horizontal support members each have a first end and a second end and are manufactured from a second predetermined material and have a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. A connecting mechanism connects each of such plurality of generally horizontal support members at each of such first ends and such second ends thereof generally adjacent each of such first ends of such plurality of generally vertical support members.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/963,732 filed Aug. 7, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to frame devices and, more particularly, this invention relates to a frame for holding open a bag such as a paper yard refuse bag and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, bags, such as paper and plastic bags, standard paper yard bags, garbage bags and the like, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used to as receptacles for yard refuse, for storage of various items, and for various other purposes. Often a person attempting to fill such bags becomes frustrated as such bags inevitably collapse and fail to remain open during the filling process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bag frame device. Such bag frame device includes a frame member for fitting within a predetermined bag. Such frame member includes a plurality of generally vertical support members each having a first end and a second end and being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape. A plurality of generally horizontal support members each have a first end and a second end and are manufactured from a second predetermined material and have a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape. A connecting means connects each of such plurality of generally horizontal support members at each of such first ends and such second ends thereof generally adjacent each of such first ends of such plurality of generally vertical support members.

According to another embodiment, a bag frame device for fitting within a predetermined bag includes a frame member having at least two sides. Each of such sides includes: at least two vertical support members each having a first end and a second end, such at least two vertical support members are manufactured from a first predetermined material and have a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, a first horizontal support member having a first end and a second end and being connected at each respective end thereof to a first end of each of such at least two vertical support members, such first horizontal support member being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, a second horizontal support member and a third support horizontal member each having a first end and a second end and each being perpendicularly attached at such first ends thereof to each of such respective first ends of such vertical support members such that such second horizontal support member and such third horizontal support member are parallel to each other and perpendicular to such first horizontal support member, each of such second horizontal support member and such third horizontal support member being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, and a connecting means for releasably connecting each of such second horizontal support members closely adjacent each of such third horizontal support members at each respective second end thereof, such connecting means being manufactured from a fourth predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a fourth predetermined shape.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a frame device which can be used to hold a bag open.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame device for holding a bag open, such device being able to be disassembled for storage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight wire frame which can be inserted into a bag such as a paper yard refuse bag and the like for keeping such bag in an open shape.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for enabling a user to have easy access to the interior portion of a predetermined bag.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a frame device which is easily removed from an interior portion of a bag after such bag has been filled with refuse, grass cuttings, garbage, trimmings, brush, and the like.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-4.

The present invention provides a bag frame device, generally designated 10. Such bag frame device 10 includes a frame member 12 for fitting within a predetermined bag 14. Such frame member 12 includes a plurality of generally vertical support members 16 each having a first end 18 and a second end 22 and being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape.

A plurality of generally horizontal support members 24 each have a first end 26 and a second end 28 and are manufactured from a second predetermined material and have a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape.

A connecting means 32 connects each of such plurality of generally horizontal support members 24 at each of such first ends 26 and such second ends 28 thereof generally adjacent each of such first ends 18 of such plurality of generally vertical support members 16. Such connecting means 32 may be any type of connecting means which facilitates such a purpose including, but not limited to such generally vertical support members 16 and such generally horizontal support members 24 being manufactured from substantially the same material, such generally vertical support members 16 and such generally horizontal support members 24 being welded together, and the like.

It is presently preferred that such frame member 12 further includes a stabilizing means 34 releasably attachable to such frame member 12 at a first predetermined location thereon.

It is presently preferred that such stabilizing means 34 is a band type stabilizing means 36 for fitting around a perimeter created by each of such vertical support members 16 when such vertical support members 16 are attached to such horizontal support members 24, such band type stabilizing means 36 being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape.

It is presently preferred that such third predetermined material is at least one of an elastomer, plastic, and a metal. It is presently most preferred that such third predetermined material is an elastomer.

It is presently preferred that such second ends 22 of such vertical support members 16 are at least one of curved and curled at a predetermined location thereof such that such second ends 22 will not penetrate such predetermined bag 14 when such bag frame device 10 is placed within such predetermined bag 14.

It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such first predetermined material is metal.

It is presently preferred that such second predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic, and a combination thereof. It is presently most preferred that such second predetermined material is metal.

It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined material and said second predetermined material are substantially identical.

It is presently preferred that such vertical support members 16 are bent at a predetermined angle at a predetermined location thereon. The bending of the legs provides further stability and may be used to hold the stabilizing support 34 on the frame member 12. Furthermore, the vertical support members 16 may be flexible and bendable as desired. Additionally, if a user is in possession of more than one device 10, such devices 10 are meant to be stackable.

It is presently preferred that each of such vertical support members 16 is between about 30.0 inches and about 36.0 inches long.

It is presently preferred that each of such horizontal support members 24 is between about 10.0 inches and about 17.0 inches long.

According to another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a bag frame device, generally designated 20, for fitting within a predetermined bag 14, includes a frame member 12 having at least two sides 42. Each of such sides 42 includes: at least two vertical support members 16 each having a first end 18 and a second end 22, such at least two vertical support members 16 are manufactured from a first predetermined material and have a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size, a first horizontal support member 44 having a first end 46 and a second end 48 and being connected at each respective end thereof to a first end 18 of each of such at least two vertical support members 16, such first horizontal support member 44 being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, a second horizontal support member 52 and a third horizontal support member 54 each having a first end 56 and a second end 58 and each being perpendicularly attached at such first ends 56 thereof to each of such respective first ends 18 of such vertical support members 16 such that such second horizontal support member 52 and such third horizontal support member 54 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to such first horizontal support member 44, each of such second horizontal support member 52 and such third horizontal support member 54 being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, and a connecting means 62 for releasably connecting each of such second horizontal support members 52 closely adjacent each of such third horizontal support members 54 at each respective second end 58 thereof, such connecting means 62 being manufactured from a fourth predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a fourth predetermined shape.

It is presently preferred that such connecting means 62 is at least one friction fit connecting tube 64.

It is further presently preferred that such second ends 22 of such vertical support members 16 are at least one of curved and curled at a predetermined location thereof such that such second ends 22 will not penetrate such predetermined bag 14 when such bag frame device 20 is placed within such predetermined bag 14.

It is presently preferred that such frame member 12 further includes a stabilizing means 34 releasably attachable to such frame member 12 at a first predetermined location thereon.

It is further presently preferred that such vertical support members 16 are bent at a predetermined angle at a predetermined location thereon. The bending of the legs provides further stability and may be used to hold the stabilizing support 34 on the frame member 12. Furthermore, the vertical support members 16 may be flexible and bendable as desired.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bag frame device comprising:

a. a frame member for fitting within a predetermined bag, said frame member including: i. a plurality of generally vertical support members each having a first end and a second end and being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size and a first predetermined shape; ii. a plurality of generally horizontal support members each having a first end and a second end and being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape; and iii. a connecting means for connecting each of said plurality of generally horizontal support members at each of said first ends and said second ends thereof generally adjacent each of said first ends of said plurality of generally vertical support members.

2. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said frame member further includes a stabilizing means releasably attachable to said frame member at a first predetermined location thereon.

3. A bag frame device according to claim 2 wherein said stabilizing means is a band type stabilizing means for fitting around a perimeter created by each of said vertical support members when said vertical support members are attached to said horizontal support members, said band type stabilizing means being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape.

4. A bag frame device according to claim 3 wherein said third predetermined material is at least one of an elastomer, plastic, and a metal.

5. A bag frame device according to claim 4 wherein said third predetermined material is an elastomer.

6. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said second ends of said vertical support members are at least one of curved and curled at a predetermined location thereof such that said second ends will not penetrate said predetermined bag when said bag frame device is placed within said predetermined bag.

7. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic, and a combination thereof.

8. A bag frame device according to claim 5 wherein said first predetermined material is metal.

9. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined material is at least one of metal, plastic, and a combination thereof.

10. A bag frame device according to claim 9 wherein said second predetermined material is metal.

11. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined material and said second predetermined material are substantially identical.

12. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein said vertical support members are bent at a predetermined angle at a predetermined location thereon.

13. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein each of said vertical support members is between about 30.0 inches and about 36.0 inches long.

14. A bag frame device according to claim 1 wherein each of said horizontal support members is between about 10.0 inches and about 17.0 inches long.

15. A bag frame device, for fitting within a predetermined bag, such bag frame device comprising:

a. a frame member having at least two sides, each of said sides including: i. at least two vertical support members each having a first end and a second end, said at least two vertical support members being manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size; ii. a first horizontal support member having a first end and a second end and being connected at each respective end thereof to a first end of each of said at least two vertical support members, said first horizontal support member being manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a second predetermined shape; iii. a second horizontal support member and a third horizontal support member each having a first end and a second end and each being perpendicularly attached at said first ends thereof to each of said respective first ends of said vertical support members such that said second horizontal support member and said third horizontal support member are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said first horizontal support member, each of said second horizontal support member and said third horizontal support member being manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape; and iv. a connecting means for releasably connecting each of said second horizontal support members closely adjacent each of said third horizontal support members at each respective second end thereof, said connecting means being manufactured from a fourth predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a fourth predetermined shape.

16. A bag frame device according to claim 15 wherein said connecting means is at least one friction fit connecting tube.

17. A bag frame device according to claim 15 wherein said second ends of said vertical support members are at least one of curved and curled at a predetermined location thereof such that said second ends will not penetrate said predetermined bag when said bag frame device is placed within said predetermined bag.

18. A bag frame device according to claim 15 wherein said frame member further includes a stabilizing means releasably attachable to said frame member at a first predetermined location thereon.

19. A bag frame device according to claim 15 wherein said vertical support members are bent at a predetermined angle at a predetermined location thereon.