Plastic storage bag holder

[0001] The present invention generally relates to plastic bag holding devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to plastic storage bag holders for supporting the plastic storage bag in an opened position to facilitate the filling of the bag.

[0002] The use of plastic storage bags to store solid and liquid foods has increased through the years. Plastic storage bags offer an easy alternative to store food items without having to clean the container. Unfortunately, plastic storage bags are made of flexible material which makes it difficult for one person alone to maintain the plastic storage bag in a wide-open configuration during the filling of the bag.

[0003] As can be seen, there is a need for an easy to use device that allows a person to easily fill the plastic storage bag without an additional person to hold the bag open.

[0004] In one aspect of the present invention, a bag holder includes a first support having a top end, a bottom end, and a middle section; a second support having a top end, a bottom end, and a middle section; a first upper arm connecting the top end of the first support with the top end of the second support; a second upper arm connecting the top end of the first support with the top end of the second support; a first lower support connecting the bottom end of the first support with the bottom end of the second support; a second lower support connecting the bottom end of the first support with the bottom end of the second support; and clamps positioned opposed to one another, the clamps are secured to at least one of the first upper arm, the second upper arm, and the middle section of the first support and the second support.

[0005] In another aspect of the present invention, a bag holder includes a first support having a top end, a bottom end, and a middle section; a second support having a top end, a bottom end, a middle section; at least one relief cut located on each one of the top ends of the first support and the second support; a first upper arm connecting the relief cut of the top end of the first support with the top end of the second support; a second upper arm connecting the relief cut of the top end of the first support with the top end of the second support; a first lower support connecting the bottom end of the first support with the bottom end of the second support; a second lower support connecting the bottom end of the first support with the bottom end of the second support; clamps positioned opposed to one another, the clamps are secured to at least one of the first upper arm, the second upper arm, and the middle section of the first support and the second support; the first upper arm and the second upper arm pivot against the relief cut to move the bag holder from an opened position to a folded position; the first lower support and the second lower support pivot against the bottom ends of the first support and the second support to move the bag holder from the opened position to the folded position.

[0006] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

[0012] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0013] Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

[0014] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a bag holder for allowing a person to easily fill a plastic storage bag without the help of an additional person to hold the plastic storage bag open.

[0015] FIGS. 1-5 show a bag holder 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The bag holder 10 may provide support to large plastic storage bags 24 as well as to small plastic storage bags 26. The bag holder 10 may hold the plastic storage bags 24, 26 wide open so that contents, for example, a food item (not shown) may be easily poured into the plastic storage bags 24, 26. In addition, the bag holder 10 may allow the user (not shown) to easily remove the plastic storage bags 24, 26 from the bag holder 10. The bag holder 10 may be made of a sturdy material, for example, hard plastic, metal, composite, wood, or resin.

[0016] The bag holder 10 may include a first support 12a and a second support 12b. The first support 12a and the second support 12b may be shaped as an inverted capital letter T, as a capital letter I, or as a capital letter H. Each one of the first support 12a and the second support 12b may include a top end 13a, a bottom end 13b, and a middle section 13c. The length of the top end 13a may be smaller than the length of the bottom end 13b to keep the bag holder 10 in a stable upright position. The size and shape of each top end 13a may be, for example, between approximately 5 and 8 inches in length. The size and shape of each bottom end 13b may be, for example, between approximately 7 and 10 inches in length. The height and width of the middle section 13c may depend on the length of the top end 13a and the length of the bottom end 13b. The middle section 13c may have, for example, between approximately 7 and 9 inches in length and between approximately ½ and 1½ inches in width.

[0017] A first upper arm 14a and a second upper arm 14b may connect the first support 12a with the second support 12b. The first upper arm 14a and the second upper arm 14b may provide the general length to the bag holder 10. The first upper arm 14a and the second upper arm 14b may be support for the upper portion of the large plastic bag 24 while being filled. The first upper arm 14a and the second upper arm 14b may be pivotably attached to the ends of each one of the supports 12a, 12b. The first upper arm 14a and the second upper arm 14b of the bag may have a length, for example, between approximately 8 and 12 inches and a width, for example, between approximately ¼ and ¾ inches. The first upper arm 14a and the second upper arm 14b may include an angled portion of, for example, between 15 to 30 degrees. In some embodiments, the angled portion may be at a 20 degree angle. The angled portion may allow the bag holder 10 to be folded for easier storage.

[0018] A first lower support 16a and a second lower support 16b may connect the first support 12a with the second support 12b. The first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b may firmly hold the bottom of the large plastic storage bag 24 in position during the filling of the large plastic bag 24. The first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b may be pivotably attached to the ends of each one of the supports 12a, 12b. The size of the first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b may depend on the size of the upper arms 14a, 14b to keep the plastic storage bag holder 10 at a vertical position without binding when being folded for storage. The first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b may have, for example, approximately 2½ inches in height and approximately 9¾ inches in length. Pins (not shown) may be secured to each end of the first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b. The pins (not shown) may protrude from the first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b and fit into the holes (not shown) on the bottom ends 13b providing a pivot point for the bag holder 10 to be folded. The first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b may have a curved shape.

[0019] Holes (not shown) may be placed on the bottom end 13a to allow the pivoting connection with the first lower support 16a and the second lower support 16b. The holes (not shown) may be located at a distance, for example, between approximately 2¼ and 2¾ inches from the center of the middle section 13c.

[0020] Relief cuts 28 (FIGS. 1-2) may be located on each end of the top ends 13a. The relief cuts 28 may provide additional space for the upper arms 14a, 14b to pivot against the top end 13a. The space may also provide additional room needed for opening the large plastic storage bag 24.

[0021] Upper spring clamps 18 may be secured to each one of the upper arms 14a, 14b. Lower spring clamps 20 may be secured to each one of the middle sections 13c of the support 12a, 12b. The upper spring clamps 18 and the lower spring clamps 20 may be a commercially available spring type damp. The upper spring clamps 18 and the lower spring clamps 20 may provide the proper tension to hold the plastic storage bags 24, 26. The upper spring clamps may be pivotably attached to the upper arms 14a, 14b to provide an anchor point for the large plastic storage bags 24 to be held open while being filled. The pressure for the upper spring clamps 18 holds the large plastic storage bag 24 in position.

[0022] In some embodiments, the upper spring clamps 18 and the lower spring clamps 20 may be a 3-sided clamp including a flange 30 that snap locks on the upper arms 14a, 14b and the middle sections 13c of the support 12a, 12b. The flange 30 may allow the upper spring clamps 18 and the lower spring clamps 20 to slide on the upper arms 14a, 14b and the middle sections 13c. The flange 30 may be, for example, between approximately ¼ and 3 inches long and between approximately ¼ and ¾ inches wide. The flange 30 may have a U-shape or a C-shape.

[0023] The lower spring clamps 20 may help in locking the small plastic storage bags 26 to the bag holder 10. The lower spring clamps 20 may slide on the middle section 13c. The lower spring clamps 20 may include angled tabs on the lower portion to help hold the small plastic storage bag 26 open.

[0024] A clamp mounting device 22 may be used to secure the spring clamps 18, 20 to the supports 13a or the upper arms 14a, 14b.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the bag holder 10 in a folded configuration. Pivoting the upper arms 14a, 14b and the lower support 16a, 16b against the supports 12a, 12b may produce the bag holder 10 to move from the open position to the folded position.

[0026] The user (not shown) may unfold the bag holder 10 and place the bottom ends 13b of the supports 12a, 12b on a stable surface (not shown). Then, the user may place the large plastic storage bag 24 between the upper arms 14a, 14b with the sides of the large plastic storage bag 24 towards the upper spring clamps 18. The user may open upper spring clamps 18, place one of the open sides of the large plastic storage bag 24, and close the upper spring clamps 18. Next, the user may repeat the process to secure the other open side of the large plastic storage bag 24 to the other upper spring clamps 18. The user may place the bottom of the large plastic storage bag 24 between the lower supports 16a, 16b, with the end resting on the stable surface. Then, the user may pour the food into the large plastic storage bag 24. The user may release the large plastic storage bag 24 from the upper spring clamps 18. The user may remove the large plastic storage bag 24 from the bag holder 10 and close the large plastic storage bag 24.

[0027] When using the small plastic storage bag 26, the user may lock one of the open sides of the small plastic storage bag 26 with the lower spring clamp 20. The user may place the bottom of the small plastic storage bag 26 resting on the stable surface. Then, the user may pour the food into the small plastic storage bag 26. The user may release the small plastic storage bag 26 from the lower spring clamps 20 and store the small plastic storage bag 26. The height of the lower spring clamp 20 may be adjusted by releasing the flange 30 to move the lower spring clamp 20 up or down.

[0028] The plastic storage bag holder 10 may be used in the mining industry, agricultural industry, and food packing industry. In addition, the plastic storage bag holder 10 may be used for filling sample bags, restaurants, food service, or pet stores for placing fish into plastic bags for temporary transportation.

[0029] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.