US3240457A

US3240457A - Bag holder

Info

Publication number: US3240457A
Application number: US387619A
Authority: US
Inventors: Backlund Frank; Roy H Holmberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-08-05
Filing date: 1964-08-05
Publication date: 1966-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-15

Description

March 15, 1966 F. BACKLUND ETAL 3,240,457

BAG HOLDER Filed Aug. 5, 1964 B Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank Back/Una R0 y H. Ho/mberg 1N VEN TORS March 15, 1966 F. BACKLUND ETAL 3,240,457

BAG HOLDER Filed Aug. 5, 1964 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.8

Frank Back/Una Roy H. Ho/mberg INVENTORS United States Patent 3,240,457 BAG HOLDER Frank Backlund, 132 Coy St., and Roy H. Holmberg, Rte. 1, both of Maukato, Minn. Filed Aug. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 387,619 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-99) This invention relates, broadly stated, to holders for collapsible sacks and bags and, while it is susceptible of feasible use with many and varied types and styles of bags, it is expressly designed and adapted for use on and in conjunction with throwaway paper bags such as are commonly used in the home, hospitals, motels, in automobiles, parks and elsewhere for reception and convenient disposal of waste, litter and trash.

Paper bags, waterproofed or not, are in such demand and widespread use that no effort will be herein made to comprehend or dwell on the diversified practice and mode of handling the same. On the other hand, it is is significant that because most paper bags (home used grocery store bags, for example) are flimsy and quite often dfticult to cope with full advantage of the prevailing practice is not amply realized. It follows that it is the general objective in the instant matter to provide bag users with readily and easily usable bag holders both forms of which serve to spread and retain the bags mouth open and readied for unhampered use and one form of which includes a helpfully practical bag erecting and steadying stand.

It is common knowledge that bag holders, supports and stands are, of course, old and well known. Accordingly, it is another objective herein to structurally, functionally and in other notable ways improve upon prior art adaptations. To this end and in carrying out the present concept two embodiments are offered. One comprises a simple onepiece wire or equivalent frame which is readily attachable to the wall portions of the mouth of the bag. This frame functions to spread the mouth to a wide open position and has readily attachable and detachable means for applying the frame and holding it in its intended position.

More particularly, the means preferred comprises simple and expedient clip-on grips which are located at the four corners of the frame and cooperate with the respective corners of the wall portions of the bag mouth.

Novelty is also predicated on a portable folding legequipped stand whose upper part is provided with bag spreading and attaching means, as will be hereinafter detailed and set forth.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a common paper bag with the improved bag holding attachment applied to the mouth of the bag and illustrating how it performs in effectively spreading and retaining the mouth in an open position for unhampered filling of the receptacle portion of the 'bag;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the holder attachment by itself;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view based on FIG. 1 but on a slightly smaller scale;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the plane of the section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective similar to FIGURE 1 and wherein the bag holder attachment takes the form of a bag erecting stand and which shows how the stand is constructed and used;

"ice

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of the stand and attaching means set up for ready use;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 5 on a smaller scale;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 2 but showing a third form of the invention.

With reference first to the embodiment or form of th invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the paper bag is denoted by the numeral 10 and comprises a standard folding paper bag (whatever the size and material may be) which embodies, when the bag is open, opposed side walls 12 and intervening oppositely disposed end walls 14. The holder and spreader attachment is shown to advantage in FIG. 2 wherein it will be noted that it is designated, as an entity, by the numeral 16. It is preferably constructed from stable or stout but bendable rod stock and, broadly speaking, comprises a substantially rigid frame wherein the frame members constitute stays and wherein said frame members are connected to each other by connectors which have the additional function of frame attaching and retaining clips or grips. The frame more specifically is rectangular in plan and comprises a pair of duplicate opposed parallel coplanar longitudinal members 18 joined by intervening shorter transverse end members 20. The frame members 18 are provided at their respective ends with relatively short upstanding legs 22 which are disposed in opposed spaced parallelism to similar correspondingly constructed legs 24 at the respective ends of the transverse frame members 20. The upper ends of these

legs

22 and 24 are integrated by a suitably curved bend or bent portion 26 whereby the

several components

22, 24 and 26 provide a substantially inverted U-shaped bag clip or grip denoted generally at 28. The arrangement and cooperation of the four frame members and four grips adapts the overall frame to application and use in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The

frame members

18 and 20 constitute bag spreading stays and serve to stabilize the

bag walls

12 and 14. The clips or grips 28 fit over the respective corner portions 30 of the now open bag mouth and this is accomplished in such a way that the frame members or stays 18 are disposed on the exterior and contact the exterior surfaces of the side walls 12 of the bag. On the other hand the shorter frame members or stays 20 are situated on the interior of the bag and consequently contact and brace the interior surfaces of the end Walls 14.

The broad and specific aspects of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 are believed to be clear. The manner of applying and using the attachment (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) will be clear upon evaluating the manner in which the

component parts

18, 20 and 28 cooperate with each other and also with the wall and corner portions of the bag 10.

Taking up now the form or embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive it is reiterated that this embodiment is characterized by frame means, more specifically, a foldable or collapsible stand and wherein the frame means is also provided with bag wall steadying stays and clip-like grips or attaching means therefor. More specifically the stand is made up of two identically constructed component parts or units; namely, the U-shaped frame 32 at the right in FIG. 6 and the companion U-shaped frame 34 at the left in the same showing. Each leg frame is the same in construction and a description of one will SUII'ICC for both. To this end the horizontal bottom or bight portion is denoted at 36 and, if desired, is provided with rubber surface protecting and anti-slipping sleeves 38. The coplanar spaced parallel legs which are upwardly directed in use are denoted at 40. The legs of the leg frame 32 are crossed with the median portions of the legs 40 of the frame 34 and suitably fashioned and pivotally connected together at 42 .to permit the overall frame or stand to be folded into compact form for handling, transportation and storage. The bag mouth steadying and reinforcing means is situated at the upper end portions 'of the

respective leg frames

32 and 34. Each means comprises an elongated rod or stay 44 which is of a length in keeping with the dimension of the bag wall with which it is adapted to cooperate. The member 44 is provided at its opposite ends with lateral upstanding bent portions 46 which constitute auxiliarly legs and which have their upper ends integrally joined to the corresponding upper ends of the main legs 40 by Way of suitably twisted bends or bent portions 48 which function to offset the members 44 so that they will be in proper spaced-apart coplanar relationship.

The twisted bends 48 which junctionally connect the short or auxiliary legs 46 with the upper ends of the principal or main legs 40 are such in character that when the main legs of the

leg frames

32 and 34 assume pivoted X-shaped relationship as shown in FIG. 5, the gripequipped stabilizing members or stays 44 assume the intended interior bag wall relationship shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8. This is to say the stays 44 are coplanar in spaced parallelism and appropriately vertical to the diagonal slant of the pivoted legs 40. Consequently, the

leg frames

32 and 34 cooperate with the side walls 50 and end walls 52 of the bag. 54 as best shown in FIG. 5. Whereas the components 36'and 40 are on the exterior ofv the bag and support the bag in an erect self-standing manner, the interior stays 44 stabilize the upper wall portions and the grip means 46 and 48- functions to engage the corner portions of the open bag.

With reference now to the third form of the invention (see FIG. 9) it will be evident that this is basically and broadly much the same as the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2. With specific reference to FIG. 9 it will be noted that the frame, instead of being of one-piece construction (as shown in FIG. 2) is made up of a plurality of individual component parts which are separably and adjustably connected together to provide a frame which is extensible and retractible. The purpose of this adjustable adaptation is, obviously, to permit the frame to adapt itself to bags of different sizes. Briefly, it comprises four correspondingly constructed corner units, each,

unit denoted by the reference character 28A. These four units are in turn separably and adjustably joined together in frame-forming relationship by way of four assembling sleeves or tubes, the side sleeves being denoted at 18A and being in spaced parallel coplanar relation and the end sleeves at 20A. Consequently, the

component parts

18A, 20A and 28A go to make up the adjustable frame 16A. Each corner unit is fashioned into an inverted U- shaped bag clip or grip 29 which joins coplanar end members 31 which extend telescopingly and adjustably into the sockets provided therefor in the coacting end portions of the assembling and adjusting sleeves or tubes 18A ments of the invention will be evident from the preceding description and the accompanying views of the illustrative but not restrictive drawings. One of the users greatest and perplexing objections to the use of flimsy paper bags will be readily overcome with the aid of the herein disclosed bag holding and spreading means. Other features and advantages of the invention will also be clearly evident. Accordingly, a more extended description of the concept and its purposes is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modificationsand equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A readily attachable and detachable paper bag holder comprising a frame designed and structurally adapted to spread and hold the mouth of a bag unobstructedly open, said frame made from bendable but self-shape-sustaining rod stock and embodying a pair of duplicate longitudinally spaced parallel coplanar side members adapted to contact and bridge predetermined exterior surfaces of a bags side walls, and a complemental pair of companion spaced parallel end members disposed at right angles to their respectively coordinated side members and being parallel to each other and adapted to fittingly depend into the mouth of a bag in a manner to bridge interior surfaces of the usual end walls of a bag, the terminal ends of said side members and end members, respectively, being joined together by individual upstanding but inverted U-shaped members constituting and providing readily applicable and removable bag corner engaging clips, the component vertical portions of said clips being releasably connectible with interior and exterior bag wall portions of the respective corners of a bag, and the bight portions of said clips being adapted to be saddled over coacting upper free edge portions of a bags side and end walls.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said frame is generally rectangular in plan, said frame and clips being made from a single length of rod stock having resilient properties.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said frame is elongated and made up of a plurality of four duplicate frame-forming units, said units each embodying one of said' U-shaped cli-ps cooperating with each other in defining the aforementioned side and end members, and all of said side and end members being longitudinally adjustably joined together and permitting the overall frame to be manually adjusted. to accommodate bags of 55 varying sizes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED. STATES PATENTS CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiners.

Claims

1. A READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLY PAPER BAG HOLDER COMPRISING A FRAME DESIGNED AND STRUCTURALLY ADAPTED TO SPREAD AND HOLD THE MOUTH OF A BAG UNOBSTRUCTEDLY OPEN, SAID FRAME MADE FROM BENDABLE BUT SELF-SHAPE-SUSTAINING ROD STOCK AND EMBODYING A PAIR OF DUPLICATE LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PARALLEL COPLANAR SIDE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO CONTACT AND BRIDGE PREDETERMINED EXTERIOR SURFACES OF A BAG''S SIDE WALLS, AND A COMPLEMENTAL PAIR OF COMPANION SPACED PARALLEL END MEMBERS DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THEIR RESPECTIVELY COORDINATED SIDE MEMBERS AND BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND ADAPTED TO FITTINGLY DEPEND INTO THE MOUTH OF A BAG IN A MANNER TO BRIDGE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE USUAL END WALLS OF A BAG, THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND END MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, BEING JOINED TOGETHER BY INDIVIDUAL UPSTANDING BUT IN-