U.S. patent application number 11/786811 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for support structure for a limp bag.
Invention is credited to Sharon Campbell.
Application Number | 20080251654 11/786811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39852841 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080251654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Campbell; Sharon |
October 16, 2008 |
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.
Inventors: |
Campbell; Sharon; (N.L.V.,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Sharon Campbell
7733 Fruit Dove St.
N.L.V.
NV
89084
US
|
Family ID: |
39852841 |
Appl. No.: |
11/786811 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 1/1415 20130101;
B65B 67/1205 20130101; B65F 1/06 20130101; B65F 2220/1063 20130101;
B65B 67/1255 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/97 |
International
Class: |
B65B 67/12 20060101
B65B067/12 |
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.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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
[0007] The primary object of the invention is to provide a support
structure for a limp bag.
[0008] 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.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a bag support
structure that can be folded flat.
[0010] 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.
[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bag
support structure that completely surrounds the limp bag in a
decorative manner.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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
[0015] 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.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag holder of the
present invention in an open use position.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag holder of the
present invention in an open position with a bag in place.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the invention in the open
position.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the invention in the closed
position.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention in the dosed
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
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