Collapsible bag holder

[0001] This U.S. patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/561,411, filed Apr. 12, 2004.

[0002] A collapsible frame formed to hold a bag with integrally formed handles open for filling the bag.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment 100 comprises a first frame 110, a second frame 112, two angle stops 114, two axles 116, and a hook 118. The first frame 110 and second frame 112 comprise a first foot 120, a second foot 122, a first leg 124, a first U-shaped bend 128, a second U-shaped bend 130, first L-shaped bend 132, an intermediate section 134, a second L-shaped bend 136, a third U-shaped bend 138, a fourth U-shaped bend 140, and a second leg 126. A handle loop section 137 is defined by the first L-shaped bend 132, the intermediate section 134, and the second L-shaped bend 136. The handle loop section 137 may be formed to have a length between 6.0 to 9.0 inches to accommodate bag handles of different sizes. First leg 124 and second leg 126 further comprise pivot holes 142 and 144. The first leg 124 and second leg 126 may be formed to have a length between 14 to 18 inches to accommodate bags of different sizes. The length is defined as the distance between the foot 120 and the top of the first U-shaped bend 128. The hook 118 may be used to hold items like a scoop 190, or bags (not shown), or other items (not shown). The hook rests in the second U-shaped bend 130 or the third U-shaped bend 138 of the first frame 110 or second frame 112. The first frame 110 and second frame 112 may be formed from bending round wire, square or polygon shaped metal stock, round or polygon shaped tubing, injection molded plastic, die cast metal, or any equivalents thereof.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the angle stop 114 comprises a pivot hole 146, a first stop surface 148 and a second stop surface 150. The angle stop 114 may be formed of sheet metal, forged metal, injection molded plastic, die cast metal, or any equivalents thereof. The angle stop 114 is disposed between the first leg 124 of the first frame 110 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 112. The axle 116 is disposed in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the first frame 110, the pivot hole 146 of angle stop 114, and the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the second frame 112. The axle 116 may be a bolt, a screw, a rivet, a pin, or any equivalents thereof. The first frame 110 and the second frame 112 rotate open and closed relative to each other about the pivot hole 142 and the axle 116. In the open position, FIG. 1, the first leg 124 of the first frame 110 rests against the first stop surface 148 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 112 rests against the second stop surface 150. Referring again to FIG. 4, the first frame 110 and the second frame 112 open to form the shape of the letter X in side elevation view. The angle 151 between the first frame 110 and the second frame 112 may be between 60 to 110 degrees when open to accommodate bags of different sizes. Referring again to FIG. 5, the first embodiment is shown in the closed or collapsed position.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a bag 152, comprises two bag sides 154, two bag ends 156, a bag bottom 158, and two integrally formed bag handles 160. The bag 152 is held by the first embodiment 100, by placing one bag handle 160 around the intermediate section 134, and into the second U-shaped bend 130 and the third U-shaped bend 138. The second U-shaped bend 130 and the third U-shaped bend 138 are designed to help the user guide the bag handle 160 around the intermediate section 134. Referring again to FIG. 4, the angle stop 114 allows the first frame 110 and the second frame 112 open to form the shape of the letter X, whereby the intermediate section 134, the second U-shaped bend 130 and the third U-shaped bend 138 of first frame 110 and second frame 112 are sufficiently spaced apart to hold a bag 152 open. Additionally, the intermediate section 134, the second U-shaped bend 130 and the third U-shaped bend 138 of first frame 110 and second frame 112 are sufficiently spaced above first foot 120 and second foot 122 to sufficiently hold the bag 152 upright.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 8-12, a wire angle stop 162 comprises an integral axle 164, a first stop surface 166, a second stop surface 168, a first side surface 167, a second side surface 169, and an upper hook 170. The integral axle 164 is disposed in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the first frame 110 and in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the second frame 112. The first leg 124 of the first frame 110 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 112 are disposed between the first stop surface 166, the second stop surface 168, the first side surface 167, and the second side surface 169 of the wire angle stop 162. The first frame 110 and the second frame 112 rotate open and closed relative to each other about the pivot hole 142 and the integral axle 164. In the open position, FIG. 9, the first leg 124 of the first frame 110 rests against the first stop surface 166 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 112 rests against the second stop surface 168. The upper hook 170 holds the bag sides 154 open when the bag 152 is installed in the first embodiment 100. The wire angle stop 162 may be formed from bending round wire, square or polygon shaped metal stock, round or polygon shaped tubing, injection molded plastic, die cast metal, or any equivalents thereof.

[0023] Referring again to FIG. 10, the first frame 110 and the second frame 112 open to form the shape of the letter X in side elevation view. The angle 151 between the first frame 110 and the second frame 112 may be between 60 to 110 degrees when open to accommodate bags of different sizes. Referring again to FIG. 11, the first embodiment with the wire angle stop 162 is shown in the closed or collapsed position.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 13-16, the second embodiment 200 comprises a first frame 210, a second frame 212, two angle stops 114, and two axles 116. The first frame 210 and second frame 212 comprise a first foot 120, a second foot 122, a first leg 124, a first L-shaped bend 228, a second L-shaped bend 230, third L-shaped bend 232, an intermediate section 134, a fourth L-shaped bend 236, a fifth L-shaped bend 238, a sixth L-shaped bend 240, and a second leg 126. A handle loop section 237 is defined by the third L-shaped bend 232, the intermediate section 134, and the fourth L-shaped bend 236. The handle loop section 237 may be formed to have a length between 6.0 to 9.0 inches to accommodate bag handles of different sizes. First leg 124 and second leg 126 further comprise pivot holes 142 and 144. The angle stop 114 is disposed between the first leg 124 of the first frame 210 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 212. The axle 116 is disposed in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the first frame 210, the pivot hole 146 of the angle stop 114, and the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the second frame 212. The first frame 210 and the second frame 212 rotate open and closed relative to each other about the pivot hole 142 and the axle 116. The first leg 124 and second leg 126 may be formed to have a length between 14 to 18 inches to accommodate bags of different sizes. The length is defined as the distance between the foot 120 and the top of the first L-shaped bend 228. The second embodiment 200 may substitute each angle stop 114 and axle 116 with the wire angle stop 162. The integral axle 164 is disposed in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the first frame 210 and in the pivot hole 142 of the first leg 124 of the second frame 212. The first leg 124 of the first frame 210 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 212 are disposed between the first stop surface 166, the second stop surface 168, the first side surface 167, and the second side surface 169 of the wire angle stop 162. The first frame 210 and the second frame 212 rotate open and closed relative to each other about the pivot hole 142 and the integral axle 164. In the open position, FIG. 15, the first leg 124 of the first frame 210 rests against the first stop surface 166 and the first leg 124 of the second frame 212 rests against the second stop surface 168. The first frame 210 and second frame 212 may be formed from bending round wire, square or polygon shaped metal stock, round or polygon shaped tubing, injection molded plastic, die cast metal, or any equivalents thereof. The bag 152 is held by the second embodiment 200 in a similar fashion as the first embodiment 100, by placing one bag handle 160 around the third L-shaped bend 232, the intermediate section 134, and the fourth L-shaped bend 236.

[0025] The description of the aforementioned embodiments is in no way intended to be restricted to the description and drawings used to explain the several embodiments. It is recognized that modifications may be made, by one of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the intent of the embodiments. The scope of the embodiments are to be taken as described herein as well as including all reasonable equivalents of the subject matter described herein above.

• [0026] first embodiment 100
• [0027] first frame 110
• [0028] second frame 112
• [0029] angle stop 114
• [0030] axle 116
• [0031] a hook 118
• [0032] first foot 120
• [0033] second foot 122
• [0034] first leg 124
• [0035] second leg 126
• [0036] first U-shaped bend 128
• [0037] second U-shaped bend 130
• [0038] first L-shaped bend 132
• [0039] intermediate section 134
• [0040] second L-shaped bend 136
• [0041] handle loop section 137
• [0042] third U-shaped bend 138
• [0043] fourth U-shaped bend 140
• [0044] pivot hole 142
• [0045] pivot hole 144
• [0046] pivot hole 146
• [0047] first stop surface 148
• [0048] second stop surface 150
• [0049] bag 152
• [0050] bag side 154
• [0051] bag end 156
• [0052] bag bottom 158
• [0053] bag handle 160
• [0054] wire angle stop 162
• [0055] integral axle 164
• [0056] first stop surface 166
• [0057] first side surface 167
• [0058] second stop surface 168
• [0059] second side surface 169
• [0060] upper hook 170
• [0061] scoop 190
• [0062] second embodiment 200
• [0063] first frame 210
• [0064] second frame 212
• [0065] first L-shaped bend 228
• [0066] second L-shaped bend 230
• [0067] third L-shaped bend 232
• [0068] fourth L-shaped bend 236
• [0069] handle loop section 137
• [0070] fifth L-shaped bend 238
• [0071] sixth L-shaped bend 240