Abstract
Mechanically engageable bag stabilizers having a first and second tabular member, a first and second engagement portion disposed thereon, an attachment portion disposed on each tabular member, and an engageable member that allows for mechanical engageability of the tabular members with each other and which may be located on either entirely on one engagement portion or partially upon both engagement portions. Depending upon the embodiment, the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers may be securably and removably attached to the bag proximal its mouth or the stabilizers may be affixed proximal the mouth. This attachment or affixation may be on the bag's interior, exterior, or areas of both. The engageable member is contemplated herein as embodying at least a separable hinge member, a frictive or magnetic interconnecting member, a slideable member, a fastenable member, or a bend-and-snap member. Wherein any such engageable member is capable of maintaining a bag's open mouth structure.
Claims
1. A mechanically engageable bag stabilizer attachable to a collapsible or foldable bag, said bag having at least an interior, an exterior, a mouth, a wall, and a base, said stabilizer comprising: a first tabular member; a second tabular member; a first engagement portion disposed on the first tabular member; a second engagement portion disposed on the second tabular member; an engageable member disposed on at least one engagement portion; and an attachment portion disposed on each of the first and second tabular members, said attachment portion securably attachable to the bag; wherein the first and second tabular members, once attached to the bag's wall via the attachment portions, alternate between a parallel position and a mechanically engageable longitudinal position.
2. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the attachment portion of the first and second tabular members is removably attachable to the bag.
3. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 2 wherein the attachment portion attaches to the bag at a position along or proximal to the mouth.
4. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 3 wherein the attachment portion attaches to the bag on only its interior, only its exterior, or areas of both.
5. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 4 wherein the engageable member is disposed entirely on either the first or second engagement portion or partially on both the first and second engagement portion.
6. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member on both the first and second engaging portions interconnects to form a separable hinge that remains mechanically engaged in both the parallel and longitudinal position.
7. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member on both the first and second engaging portions comprises a frictive material disposed along at least an area of each engagement portion.
8. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member on both the first and second engaging portions comprises a magnetic material disposed along at least an area of each engagement portion.
9. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member comprises a slideable member disposed on either the first or second engagement portion when in the parallel position and that is mechanically engageable to both the first and second engagement portions when in the longitudinal position.
10. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member comprises a bend-and-snap member disposed on both the first and second engagement portion that bends when in the parallel position and that stiffens when mechanically engaged in the longitudinal position.
11. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the engageable member comprises a fastenable member disposed on both the first and second engagement portion that is capable of mechanically engagement when in the longitudinal position.
12. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first engagement portion is disposed on the second tabular member and the second engagement portion is disposed on the first tabular member.
13. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first and second tabular members are affixed to the bag via their attachment portions during manufacture or production of the bag.
14. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 13 wherein the attachment portion affixes to the bag at a position along or proximal to the mouth.
15. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 14 wherein the attachment portion affixes to the bag on only its interior, only its exterior, or areas of both.
16. The mechanically engageable bag stabilizer of claim 15 wherein the engageable member is disposed entirely on either the first or second engagement portion or partially on both the first and second engagement portion.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures
[0029] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of disengaged mechanically engageable bag stabilizers.
[0030] FIGS. 2A and 2B are isometric views of the same embodiment when mechanically engaged in both a parallel orientation and a longitudinal orientation, respectively.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a top view of the same embodiment when mechanically engaged in a longitudinal orientation.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a front view of the same embodiment when mechanically engaged in a longitudinal orientation.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a side view of the same embodiment when mechanically engaged in a longitudinal orientation.
[0034] FIGS. 6A through 6F are a collection of front views of additional example embodiments of the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers in a longitudinal orientation.
[0035] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of another example embodiment of the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers' tabular members in a longitudinal orientation.
[0036] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an example embodiment of a slideable engageable member.
[0037] FIG. 9 is another isometric view of an example embodiment of a slideable engageable member.
[0038] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an example embodiment of the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers' tabular members in a longitudinal orientation.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a rear view of an example embodiment of the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers' tabular members in a longitudinal orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, example embodiments of the mechanically engageable bag stabilizers employing a number of the principles and concepts discussed above, and generally designated by the reference number 10, will be discussed.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a contemplated embodiment of a mechanically engageable bag stabilizer 10 is depicted as comprising first tabular member 20, first engagement portion 25 thereon, second tabular member 30, second engagement portion 35 thereon, at least one engageable member 40 on each tabular member 20, 30, and at least one attachment portion 50 on each tabular member 20, 30. The embodiment of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10 depicted in these figures is shown in its separated form (FIG. 1), in its combined form in a parallel (or folded) orientation (FIG. 2A), and in its combined form in a longitudinal (or straight) orientation (FIGS. 2B through 5). As previously discussed, attachment portions 50 are used to securably and removably attach each tabular member 20, 30 to the bag wall (not depicted) wherein engagement portions 25, 35 may be disposed about and parallel to the bag wall's crease line. In this depicted embodiment, attachment portions 50 are clips that may attach over a bag's mouth while engageable members 40 on each tabular member 20, 30 may mechanically engage together to form a separable hinge. As depicted in FIGS. 2A through 5, this separable hinge may remain mechanically engaged in both the parallel orientation (FIG. 2A) as well as the longitudinal orientation (FIGS. 2B through 5), or may be separated and/or removed by the user at any time. After attachment of this embodiment of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10 to the bag, tabular members 20, 30 may remain mechanically engaged when the bag is folded or collapsed down such that each member will nest within the bag wall's folds, with an alternative being the removal of said components by the user.
[0042] Referring next to FIGS. 6A through 6F, various contemplated embodiments of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10 having tabular members 20, 30 with differently shaped engagement portions 25, 35 are depicted. Unlike in FIGS. 1 through 5, the depicted embodiments of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10 within these figures possess engagement portions 25, 35 having engageable member 40 that mechanically engage, or interconnect, only when oriented longitudinally and which separate when oriented parallel. In the presently depicted figures, engageable member 40 may include a frictive or magnetic material disposed along at least a section of the edges of each tabular member 20, 30 about their engagement portions 25, 35 such that repeated mechanical engagement and disengagement is feasible. Unlike in FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein attachment to the bag is effectuated via attachment portion 50 comprised of a securably removable clip structure on each tabular member 20, 30, the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6A through 6F may each include attachment portion 50 comprised of an aforementioned alternative attachment method, such as adhesive on the back side of each tabular member 20, 30 (similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11). As previously discussed, the contemplated embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6F do not represent all of the potential shapes, formations, or profiles that may be embodied by mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10.
[0043] Referring next to FIGS. 7 through 11, the depicted contemplated embodiment of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10 is comprised of tabular members 20, 30 having engagement portions 25, 35 that are depicted herein as rail structures traversing the full length of each tabular member 20, 30 (as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10). Although the present depiction of engagement portions 25, 35 lack any backstop or end guard that restricts the movement of the slideable engageable member 40 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), such an additional feature is contemplated as within the scope of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10. Engageable member 40, as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, is a slideable member capable of being disposed upon either engagement portion 25, 35 of each tabular member 20, 30 as well as being disposed upon both engagement portions 25, 35 simultaneously when oriented in a longitudinal position, thereby stabilizing whatever bag wall these components are attached or affixed to. In the depicted embodiment, attachment portion 50 is contemplated as comprising a securably removable clip structure in FIG. 7 (which is different in design than FIGS. 1 through 5) while attachment portion 50 is also contemplated as comprising an adhesive (or an alternative aforementioned affixable element) in FIG. 11 depicting the back side of tabular members 20, 30 illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6F and FIG. 10.
[0044] Referring lastly to FIGS. 12 and 13, these illustrations include additionally contemplated embodiments of mechanically engageable bag stabilizers 10. In FIGS. 12A and 12B, engageable member 40 is depicted as possessing two slideable members (each similar to that depicted in FIG. 8) that may be used in conjunction with engagement portions 25, 35 of tabular members 20, 30 (as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 10). However, unlike previously depicted embodiments, engageable member 40 includes a length of some bendable and snappable material connected to both slideable engageable members 40. Similar to the previously discussed separable hinge, engageable member 40 depicted in FIGS. 12A and 12B is capable of bending when tabular members 20, 30 are in a parallel orientation as the bag is collapsed or folded down then snapping into a stiff and stabilizing member when tabular members 20, 30 are in a longitudinal orientation when the bag is stood upright, thereby maintaining a free-standing open mouth position.
[0045] On the other hand, FIG. 13 resembles the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6A through 6F in that tabular members 20, 30 are mechanically engaged when disposed in a longitudinal orientation then disengaged when in a parallel orientation. However, unlike some previously depicted embodiments, tabular members 20, 30 may include engagement portions 25, 35 having overlapping lengths (as opposed to complementary lengths) such that fastenable engageable members 40 overlie atop one another. As depicted in FIG. 13, tabular members 20, 30 are of unequal lengths such that when oriented longitudinally a length of tabular member 20 containing engageable member 40 of engagement portion 25 will overlie a length of tabular member 30 comprising engageable member 40 of engagement portion 35. Due to the unequal lengths, it is conceivable that the longer tabular member 20 will protrude from the bag wall folds when disengaged and disposed in a parallel orientation. Engageable members 40 of engagement portions 25, 35 are illustrated herein as the top and bottom half of a snap, however, additionally contemplated embodiments may include any number of fastener elements as an alternative to the presently depicted snap, such as those listed above.
[0046] Reiterated here, though previously discussed, the materiality of each component is contemplated as durable and resilient enough to withstand the attributed utility in consideration, in some cases, of the repeated stress and strain applied thereto. As such, it is contemplated herein that each component may be formed of one or more plastics, polymers, metals, alloys thereof, treated wood, or equivalent compositions that may withstand the rigors of usage described herein.
