Countertop Bag Holder and Method

Abstract

A free-standing device capable of holding a single storage bag for filling includes a plurality of arm sets, each arm set having two vertically extending arm extensions joined at their lower most ends to a shared horizontally extending arm component, the horizontally extending arm component of the first arm set adapted for pivotally connecting to the horizontally extending arm component of the second arm set. A method of use is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for holding a bag for filling, said device comprising a plurality of arm sets, each arm set having two vertically extending arm extensions joined at their lower most ends to a shared horizontally extending arm component, the horizontally extending arm component of the first arm set adapted for pivotally connecting to the horizontally extending arm component of the second arm set.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first arm set and second arm set are adapted for interconnecting and rotating about 90 degrees apart prior to installation of the bag for filling on the device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection includes a pin extending upwardly from the horizontally extending arm component of the first arm set, said second arm set having an aperture in a same area for at least temporarily receiving the upwardly extending pin from the first arm set.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the pin extends fully through the aperture in the horizontally extending arm component.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the pin of the first arm set and the complementary aperture of the second arm set are adapted for rotationally yet permanently connecting to one another.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the post and complementary aperture are at a centermost point of the respective horizontally extending arm components.

7. The device of claim 3, which further includes two or more downwardly extending, resting tabs adjacent the complementary aperture in the horizontally extending arm component.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the two horizontally extending arm components are adapted for repeated connecting and disconnecting to one another.

9. The device of claim 1, which is made from a polymer material.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the vertically extending arm extensions terminates is a tip which will not puncture the bag.

11. The device of claim 2 wherein the vertically extending arm extensions are expandable in total length.

12. The device of claim 2 wherein the horizontally extending base elements are expandable in total width.

13. The device of claim 2, which has fixed horizontal and vertical element sizes for accommodating a consistent bag size.

14. The device of claim 2, which has adjustable widths and/or adjustable vertical lengths for the same model to accommodate bags of different sizes.

15. A method for filling a plastic bag comprises: (a) providing a bag holding stand consisting of: a plurality of arm sets, each arm set having two vertically extending arm extensions joined at their lower most ends to a shared horizontally extending arm component, the horizontally extending arm component of the first arm set adapted for pivotally connecting to the horizontally extending arm component of the second arm set (b) opening the bag holding stand by extending the vertical arms at least 30 degrees apart from adjacent vertical arms; (c) opening the plastic bag to be filled and lipping its uppermost edges onto itself; (d) positioning the lipped uppermost edges onto the uppermost lips of the bag holding stand; and (e) filling the plastic bag as it rests over the vertical arms of the bag holding stand.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the bag holding arms are extended 60 degrees apart or more.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the bag holding arms are extended about 90 degrees apart or more.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the arm sets of the bag holding stand have adjustable vertical length extensions.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the arm sets of the bag holding stand have adjustable vertical width extensions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0015] These together with the various ancillary objects and features will become apparent as the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying photographs in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the device, as shown after removal from packaging, prior to rotation for holding a bag;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the device from FIG. 1 as assembled for use;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing a quart plastic bag installed onto the four prongs of the FIG. 2 device;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the bag and bag holder from FIG. 3 partially filled;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative bag holder embodiment that has both horizontally expandable, base legs and vertically extendable arms/components; and

[0021] FIG. 6 is a pair of perspective views showing the embodiment with compacted vertical and horizontal arms (left side) and the same embodiment with the same arms extended/expanded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Per FIG. 1, the preferred device, generally 10, consists of two separate pairs of U-shaped supports, a lower support 12 and an upper support 14 at least temporarily connected to one another. Each individual support comprises a bottom, horizontal bar 16 that at both opposed ends has a pair of vertically extending vertical supports 18. A preferred angle A for where horizontal bar 16 meets each vertical supports 18 is roughly ninety (90) degrees though it is understood that other angles near a right angle might also suffice. In a first preferred version, the U-shaped supports are made as one-piece elements, integrally formed from a sufficiently rigid polymer though alternate materials may be used as mentioned below.

[0023] At a preferably central point P of each horizontal bar 16, there is a U-shaped support connector C. In FIG. 1, one version of support connector C consists of an upwardly protruding pin 20 from the upper middle of lower support 12 adapted for rotationally joining to an aperture 22 in the bottom surface of upper support 14. As shown in FIG. 1, pin 20 rests within aperture 22. Alternately, an aperture may extend fully THROUGH the center of upper support 14 so that an alternate pin version passes completely through that aperture and extends at least partially above the uppermost surface of upper support 14.

[0024] In one preferred variation, the relative thicknesses of U-shaped supports show some minor difference between the floors of lower support 12 and upper support 14. So as to not have an assembled device rock back and forth due to this difference, the lower corners of upper support 14 may include a purposeful spacer element 24. Additionally, the surrounds to aperture 22 may include downwardly extending resting tabs 26 that could serve to either lock in place OR prevent an assembled device from overly rotating too far about its central pin 20.

[0025] In FIG. 2, an additional, optional component is drawn in. The uppermost tips T to the four vertical supports 18 each have a cushion 28 that precludes the device from having anything remotely sharp which might pierce the plastics of any bags stored thereon for filling. Alternately, the tips T themselves can be curved or rounded rather than squared off.

[0026] When lower support 12 and upper support 14 are joined together about pin 20, they can be rotated about, at an angle ranging from 30 to 50 or 60 degrees apart, or up to 90 degrees on a less preferred basis. That causes device 10 to form an X-shaped, crisscross of vertical supports with an open top to serve as a filling support for a partially spread apart plastic bag situated thereon.

[0027] The device is primarily intended for a lightweight, dishwasher safe bag support with primary component parts made from a polymer resin. Alternate versions may be made from bamboo, a composite, or metal such as stainless steel or aluminum.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, device 10 is meant to sufficiently (but not overly firmly) hold, for filling, a flexible plastic bag B by taking its open end E, folding onto itself to form a holding lip L. The relative spread and height of the vertical arms would be dictated by the size/dimensions of the bag (e.g., snack, quart, sandwich, half-gallon, gallon) to be used therewith.

[0029] In alternate embodiments (FIGS. 5 and 6), common elements for device 110 are commonly numbered though in the next hundred series. In those views, individual horizontal supports 116 and vertical supports 118 each include adjustable elements. For better visibility, the lower horizontal support at 5 o'clock was not installed on its extension shaft 117 while the outer horizontal support arm 117 on lower horizontal support arm 112 was pushed completely in, toward the center cross pin 120.

[0030] For the other representative extendable horizontal support arms, like those shown extended at 3 and 6 o'clock, there is an internal base support arm 116i onto which is adjustably slid an outer, L-shaped wing arm 1160. Similarly, the four vertical elements (3 are shown), there is a plurality of internal elements 118i onto which are slid their respective upper outer posts 1180. Ideally, like the outer horizontal wing arms 1160, these upper outer posts 1180 can be locked in place (via ratcheting or squeezing) to accommodate different sizes (heights and widths) of container bags B.

[0031] The device is adapted for inserting into the mouth region of an open plastic bag before overlapping the periphery of that bag mouth of the bag over the at least four uppermost stems, or vertical edge/tips T of the invention.

[0032] In one embodiment, vertical arms (or legs) of this device are about 1.3 to 1.7 times longer than their lowermost horizontal components. They form a stable support with upwardly extending arms and an open top end.

[0033] In a first alternate embodiment, the horizontal components are commonly sized (by width). In a second alternate embodiment, the widths of horizontal components would be purposefully differently sized to allow inter-nesting, one fork or prong within the other, to lay flatter when not in use.

[0034] A first alternative interconnection would include complementary protrusions and recesses that are meant to fit, one within the other, after rotating the two arm sets roughly 90 degrees apart from one another.

[0035] On a less preferred basis, if there were a three pair (six arm) version, a first arm set resting in/on a second set that, in turn, rests in/on a third, lowest most arm set, the rotation between sets would be about 60 degrees each.

[0036] The arms of preferred embodiments are squared or planar on all sides. Alternately, the cross-section of each arm may resemble I-beams for providing some additional structural rigidity. Alternately, the respective vertical and/or horizontal components can be rounded or oval in cross-section to be more pipe-like.

[0037] When meant to be horizontally AND/OR vertically adjustable/extendable, the various base/bottom components . . . and the vertically extending bag arms would be inter-Nesting, with a slightly larger outer element for telescoping over a smaller, inner element that may or may not include spaced markers that can also serve an interlocking purpose.

[0038] The uppermost tips of each vertically extending arm should end in a soft, non-sharp end T to safely hold a folded bag lip situated thereoverbut not so sharp as to possibly tear the bag situated thereover for holding and filling. Other versions of uppermost tips may just be tipless like on the right side of FIG. 6.

[0039] FIG. 6 also illustrates two different variations of extendable elemental components. In the left side version of FIG. 6, device 110 has the same fixed dimension horizontal components 116. But each of the FOUR vertically extending arms are able to be adjusted in vertical length to better accommodate taller/deeper/longer bodied bags. Each of these arms include a bottom, or internal base vertical component 118i onto which could be slid, snapped (or otherwise joined, permanently or otherwise) a first vertical outer component or extension piece 1180.

[0040] For the last alternate variation of device 210, i.e., the right side of FIG. 6, its horizontal AND vertical arms are each stretchable/expandable. Particularly, each of its components has a first inner component, 216i extending in an X-shape, criss-cross, closest to center pin 220 with horizontally slidable extensions 2160 on the outermost edges of each. Similarly, on slidable vertical posts, an adjustable inner peg 218i has an outer cover 2180 slid thereover and then easily locked in place.

[0041] A method for holding a plastic bag per this invention comprises the steps of: providing a bag holding device like that described above; opening the device by rotating the vertical arms 90 degrees apart; locking the inner and outer arm sets by resting on a flat, planar surface; opening a plastic bag and folding over the uppermost bag edges to create a temporary lip for resting on the spaced arm sets of the device; and filling the bag while resting on the device, i.e., bag stand.

[0042] Having described the best modes currently known for practicing this system and method, it is to be understood that the scope of this invention may be further described by the attached claims.

SEQUENCE LISTING

[0043] Not applicable.