Apparatus for holding a bag open

Abstract

A flexible, annular band of variable diameter keeps a yard bag open and properly oriented for use in receiving debris and manipulating the bag. The flexible, annular band may be locked to a fixed or variable diameter to fit the opening of common yard bags. By contracting the band, it can be placed inside the opening of the bag, expanded to the bag's diameter, and then locked to hold the bag open to receive yard debris. When the bag is full, the flexible annular band is unlocked and contracted for removal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding open a bag comprising: an expandable annular band; and a passive lock engaged with said annular band; and said passive lock engaging incrementally as said annular band expands to a location fit with said bag; wherein once expanded to fit within the opening of a bag, the passive lock holds the annular band expanded and engaged in a location fit within the opening of the bag.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag is a yard-waste bag.

3. An apparatus for holding open a bag comprising: an expandable annular band; and a passive lock engaged with said annular band; and a semi-cylindrical vertical flange having a top edge and a bottom edge; and a hollow collar engaged with said vertical flange about the top edge; wherein once expanded to fit within the opening of a bag, the passive lock holds the annular band and the semi-cylindrical vertical flange expanded and engaged in a location fit within the opening of the bag while the hollow collar provides rigidity about the top edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a flexible inner member having a first end and a second end; and the first end of said flexible inner member fixedly engaged with said hollow collar; and the second end of said flexible inner member fitting within, and slidably engaged with, said hollow collar; wherein friction between the flexible inner member and the hollow collar provide a location fit that holds the annular band to a fixed diameter when expanded.

5. An apparatus for holding open a yard-waste bag comprising: an expandable annular band having a first end and a second end; and said expandable annular band comprising a semi-cylindrical vertical flange having a top edge and a bottom edge; and a hollow collar engaged with said vertical flange about the top edge; and a flexible inner member having a first end and a second; and the first end of said flexible inner member fixedly engaged with said first end of said hollow collar; and the second end of said flexible inner member fitting within, and slidably engaged with, said second end of said hollow collar; and a passive lock fixedly engaged with said second end of said flexible inner member; wherein once expanded to fit within the opening of a yard-waste bag, the passive lock holds the annular ring expanded and held in a location fit within the opening of the yard-waste bag, the vertical flange engaged against the inner surface of said yard-waste bag.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the flexible inner member is a hollow tube; and the passive lock comprises a flared and splined end of said flexible inner member hollow tube; wherein the flared and splined end provides a passive locking engagement with the hollow collar.

7. An apparatus for holding open a yard-waste bag comprising: an expandable annular band; and an active lock engaged with said annular band; and said active lock engaging incrementally as said annular band expands to a location fit with said bag; wherein once expanded to fit within the opening of a yard-waste bag and the active lock is engaged, the active lock holds the annular ring expanded and engaged in a location fit within the opening of the yard-waste bag.

8. The apparatus of claim 7; wherein the active lock is a ratcheting mechanism.

9. The apparatus of claim 7; wherein the active lock is a clamp.

10. The apparatus of claim 7; wherein the active lock is a pin in a hole.

11. An apparatus for holding open a yard-waste bag comprising: an expandable annular band having a first end and a second end; and said expandable annular band comprising a semi-cylindrical vertical flange having a top edge and a bottom edge; and a hollow collar engaged with said vertical flange about the top edge; and a flexible inner member having a first end and a second end; and the first end of said flexible inner member fixedly engaged with said first end of said hollow collar; and the second end of said flexible inner member fitting within, and slidably engaged with, said second end of said hollow collar; and an active lock fixedly engaged with said second end of said flexible inner member; wherein once expanded to fit within the opening of a yard-waste bag, the active lock engaged, holds the annular ring expanded and engaged in a location fit within the opening of the yard-waste bag, the cylindrical vertical flange engaged against the inner surface of the yard-waste bag and the hollow collar residing above the opening of the yard-waste bag.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the active lock is a ratcheting mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the active lock is a clamp.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the active lock is an interference mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed invention and associated methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment and an exploded view of the flared location fitting;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus contracted to a small diameter;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the apparatus as oriented on a provided example bag;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus accommodating a provided, large bag;

(6) FIG. 5 is an orthographic view and a detailed, section view of the apparatus shown installed on a provided bag.

DESCRIPTION

(7) In FIG. 1, 100, a flexible, annular band apparatus 112 is comprised of a flange 113 and a collar 115 that houses a partial inner ring 110. The partial inner ring has at its proximal end a flared location fitting 114 that when inserted into the collar's distal receiving end 116 holds the apparatus closed. By varying how much of the partial inner ring is inserted, the apparatus's circumference can be adjusted to fit various bag sizes.

(8) In FIG. 2 the apparatus is contracted to its smallest possible diameter. The flared end 114 of the partial inner ring 110 is shown in its farthest insertion point at the apparatus's 112 farthest contraction.

(9) In an exploded view FIG. 3 shows the apparatus's 112 orientation on a provided example bag 118. The apparatus's diameter has been manually adjusted to approximate the diameter of the bag. The partial inner ring 110 has been inserted into the collar 115 to a depth adequate to reach a circumference that effects a press fit in the bag.

(10) In FIG. 4, the apparatus 112 is shown accommodating a provided, large bag 118. The partial inner ring 110 is inserted into the receiving end 116 of the collar to a degree adequate to reach a circumference that effects a press fit. One skilled in the art can observe that it may be further expanded or contracted to fit bags of varying size. The flange 113 presses against the inner diameter of the bag 118, supporting the apparatus and holding its collar 115 atop the uppermost edge of the bag 118. Installed, the collar 115 of the apparatus 112 serves as manual grip so that the filled bag may be easily relocated.

(11) In FIG. 5, an orthographic view shows the apparatus installed on a provided bag 118. A detailed, section view shows the apparatus 112 installed, with its collar 115 resting atop the provided bag 118, and the apparatus's flange 113 against the bag's inner diameter. A section view of the collar 115 shows the partial inner ring 110 as inserted in the receiving end 116 of the collar.