Abstract:
The invention relates to a collapsible support structure for holding a bag and method for using the support structure to hold open a bag and create a semi-rigid container. In particular, the support structure is configured to hold open the mouth of a flexible plastic bag to facilitate filing the bag or removal of the contents of the bag. More particularly, the support structure is configured to create a skeleton that allows a flexible plastic bag to be converted into a container that stands upright with the mouth of the bag open allowing a user to easily add or remove contents from the flexible plastic bag.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/340,830 filed on Mar. 20, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a novel support structure for holding a bag and method for using the support structure to create a semi-rigid container. In particular, the support structure is configured to hold open the mouth of a flexible plastic bag to facilitate filing the bag or removal of the contents of the bag. More particularly, the support structure is collapsible and configured to create a skeleton that allows a flexible plastic bag to be converted into a container that stands upright with the mouth of the bag open allowing a user to easily add or remove contents from the flexible plastic bag. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Plastic bags have numerous uses by consumers including as a storage container for food, liquids, toys, utensils, toiletries, almost anything imaginable. The use of resealable bags plastic bags offer a low cost alternative to other costly storage containers made out of rigid plastic, glass, or other material. The plastic bags provide an advantage over rigid containers for numerous reasons including saving storage space. The plastic bags take up minimal space when not in use and also take up the minimum space when filled with contents since removing extra air minimizes the total space requirement. The pliable and malleable nature of the plastic bag allows it to conform to numerous shapes and sizes when stored. Since the resealable bags come in several shapes and sizes with numerous varieties of volumes sizes ranging from sandwich, pint, quart, one gallon, two gallon, and larger sizes available for a consumer it is much easier for a consumer to choose a bag that specifically meets their needs. 
         [0004]    Resealable plastic bags are a staple for people on the go. The convenience of putting a flexible container in a backpack or purse easily allows a user to carry a snack or other product while on the go. The flexibility of the bag allows it to conform to the available space in a backpack or purse instead of a bulky and inefficient rigid container. The discarding of the plastic bag after use also provides for easy cleanup which is important especially for consumers in a hurry. 
         [0005]    One major drawback to using a plastic bag is the challenge of filing or removing contents from the bag especially when used with fluids, sauces, or other granular items. Because of the flexible and collapsible nature of the plastic bag the bag lacks the rigidity a hard plastic or glass container has which limits the bags ability to act as a vessel allowing a consumer to easily add or remove the contents. A consumer can use the plastic bag, for example, to transport food and water for a pet, but without a container to empty the contents in the bag is limited in its usefulness for only storage or transport. 
         [0006]    Although the art has many examples of support structures for holding a plastic bag in an open position to facilitate filing these devices have many drawbacks and none adequately address the specific needs of users that allows easy of filing and also conversion to a semi rigid container for serving or removal of the contents. Thus, there is a long felt but unmet need for an apparatus that is designed to easily transform a plastic bag into a semi-rigid container that can easily be used with and removed from an empty or full bag. Also, a need exists for an apparatus designed to easily collapse to a flat orientation for easy storage and transportation. As will be described in greater detail, the support structure apparatus of the present invention differs from current products in the industry and allows a user to easily work with a flexible plastic bag to mimic the capabilities of a more rigid storage container without the limitations encountered when the rigid storage containers are used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention provides generally to a support structure for supporting a plastic bag and a method for creating a semi-rigid container. The support structure is configured for receiving and supporting a bag in an open position allowing a user to easily fill or remove contents from the bag. The tubular member includes a wall, top edge and bottom edge. The configuration of the tubular member and a first opening is designed to receive the bag. 
         [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a support structure integrally attached to a bag. The support structure can be designed for incorporation into the wall of the bag to create a flexible bag that can transform to a semi-rigid container. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a support structure that can be used with a bag to create a semi-rigid container for use by a consumer. The support structure is configured to receive the bag and act as a skeleton for shaping the bag into standing container. Further, the support structure is easily removed from contact with the bag when the consumer is ready to transport or store the bag for later use. 
         [0010]    A further object is to provide a support structure that can be easily collapsed for flat storage when not in use. 
         [0011]    A further object is to provide a support structure where the circumference of the top and/or bottom edge can be easily adjusted to expand or reduce the overall circumference of the top and/or bottom edge. Adjusting the circumference allows a user to use a single support structure with a variety of bag sizes. 
         [0012]    Other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and are for illustration by way of example and not limitations. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the support structure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the support structure partially folded. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2   b  and  2   c  our top views of the support structure partially folded. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective top view of the support structure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3   b  is a perspective bottom view of the support structure. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  is a top and bottom view of the support structure when configured in a conical shape. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d  are side views of the support structure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5   a  is a side view of one embodiment of the support structure folded. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5   b  is a side view of another embodiment of the support structure folded. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bag inserted into the support structure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the support structure in use with the dotted lines representing a bag folded over the top edge of the support structure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the adjustable support structure without the ends attached. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the support structure with a locking member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The present invention relates to a support structure  10  for a bag as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7  and a method for using the support structure  10  to create a semi-rigid container. 
         [0028]    The support structure  10  is fabricated using a lightweight durable and pliable material, which is preferably a plastic, but can be composed of any other material known in the industry that includes but is not limited to paper, cardboard, leather, cloth material, cork, neoprene, and combinations thereof. In another embodiment the support structure  10  can be made from a corrugated material such as cardboard or plastic to produce the desired support structure. 
         [0029]    The support structure  10  is shown in multiple view in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 , and  7  and is configured to support a plastic bag in an upright orientation with the open end of the bag  8  held open as shown in  FIG. 7 . The support structure  10  is generally configured as a tubular member  12  with an opening end  14 . 
         [0030]    The body of the support structure  10  is shown in multiple views in  FIGS. 1-8  and is configured as a tubular member  12  with a wall  16 , an edge  18 , and an opposite edge  20 . The wall  16 , edges  18  and  20  allow the support structure  10  to stand in an upright orientation when in use such as on a table or counter. In one embodiment the tubular member  12  is a single piece of material with no continuous break in the wall  16  along a longitudinal line from the edge  18  to the opposite edge  20 . In another embodiment the tubular member  12  is a single piece of material that includes a break  108  along a longitudinal line perpendicular from the edge  18  to the opposite edge  20  creating a first end  110  and second end  112  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In another embodiment, the break  108  can be along a diagonal line not perpendicular from the edge  18  to the edge  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the ends  110  and  112  can communicate in an integral manner creating an integral attachment or in an alternative embodiment the ends  110  and  112  can communicate in a removeable manner creating a removeable attachment as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The communication between the ends  110  and  112  can include an attachment member  114  including any means known in the art for attachment that is either removable or integral, including but not limited to snaps, buttons, hook and loop, rivets, adhesives, plastic welds and combinations thereof. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the tubular member  12  including the edges  18  and  20  can be configured to be adjustable. The adjustable nature of the tubular member  12  allows the circumference of the edges  18  and  20  to be expanded or reduced dependent on the type of bag used with the support structure  10 . The ends  110  and  112  are configured to adjust along the wall  16  of the tubular member  12  to expand or reduce the edges  18  and  20  circumference. The attachment member(s)  114  are configured along the wall of the tubular member  12  to aide in the connection and adjustment between the ends  110  and  112  to create the tubular member  12  when engaged. Allowing the tubular member  12  to adjust in size permits the tubular member to better communicate with and fit more securely around the perimeter of the bag in use. Adjusting the circumference size of the support structure  10  also allows a single support structure to be used with bags of varying size including but not limited to sandwich, quart, gallon, two gallon and any size used by a consumer. 
         [0032]    The tubular member  12  is generally a circular shape but can also include square, rectangular, triangle, star-shaped, oval, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, octagonal, or any shape that could accommodate a flexible bag  8 , such as a resealable plastic bag or any bag used in the industry for storage. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment the tubular member  12  will include a fold line  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 2   a - c . The fold line  22  is configured in a longitudinal orientation from the edge  18  to the opposite edge  20 . In a preferred embodiment tubular member  12  will include two fold lines  22  and  24  positioned 180° degrees apart on the resulting circumference of the open tubular member. In another embodiment, the fold line  22  is perpendicular to the edges  18  and  20 . In another embodiment, the fold line  22  is not perpendicular to the edges  18  and  20  and can run in a diagonal orientation from the edges  18  and  20 . The fold line  22  and  24  creates folding axes allowing the tubular member  12  to fold flat or open to a conical configuration for use. In another embodiment the tubular member  12  can include a varied number of fold lines dependent on the desired configuration. The number of fold lines  22  can include but are not limited to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more fold lines. In the preferred embodiment the fold lines  22  are living hinges integrated into the material for the tubular member. The fold lines  22  can also be of any means known in the industry that will allow flexibility of the material including folding of the material but not limited to a hinge, perforation of the material, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the fold line  22  can be configured in a longitudinal orientation within the wall of the tubular member, but may not extended from the edge  18  to the opposite edge  20 , but instead is contained within but not touching the edge  18  or opposite edge  20 . 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the tubular member  12  is configured with the fold lines  22  and  24  to allow the tubular member  12  to fold in a flat orientation. When the tubular member  12  is folded the edge  18  and opposite edge  20  are configured in a flat orientation as shown in  FIG. 5   a . In another embodiment, the tubular member  12  when folded creates a concave edge  200  and convex opposite edge  202  as shown in  FIG. 5   b . In both embodiments the tubular member  12  when opened creates a general conical configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  7 . 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the tubular member  12  is configured without fold lines  22 . The support structure  10  can be composed of flexible material that does not require fold lines for it to lay in a flat orientation when not in use. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment that includes at least a slit  26  in a longitudinal orientation. The tubular member  12  can include more than one slit  26  with the slits  26  parallel to each other and in a perpendicular orientation to the edge  18  along a longitudinal orientation around the tubular member  12 . In another embodiment, the tubular member  12  can include a plurality of slits  26 . The slit(s)  26  are configured to help with the flexibility and collapsibility of the support structure  10 . In another embodiment the tubular member  12  can be configured with no slits dependent on the material used to create the support structure as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0037]    The tubular member  12  further comprises a first opening  14  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The first opening is configured as the area within the circumference of the edge  18 . The first opening  14  is configured to receive the plastic bag  8 . In one embodiment the tubular member  12  further includes a second opening  15  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The second opening  15  is parallel to the first opening and includes the area within the circumference of the opposite edge  20 . 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment the circumference of the edge  18  for the first opening  14  and the circumference for the opposite edge  20  for the second opening  15  are both equal. In this configuration the tubular member  12  has two parallel and of equal circumference first and second openings. In another embodiment, the circumference of the edge  18  for the first opening  14  and the circumference for the opposite edge  20  for the second opening  15  are unequal. In this configuration the tubular member  12  has two parallel but unequal circumference first and second openings, creating a typical bowl type structure with a larger circumference edge on the top a smaller circumference edge on the bottom. 
         [0039]    The support structure  10  may also include a locking member  150  configured to aide in holding open the tubular member  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The locking member  150  is configured to communicate with the tubular member either via an edge  18  or  20  or the internal side wall of the tubular member  12 . The locking member  150  can be any configuration known in the industry for holding open a conical configuration, and can further include a locking mechanism. 
         [0040]    The support structure  10  is designed for use with a bag  8 . The bag can include any bag used by consumers for storage or used in the industry for packaging products, such as but not limited to consumer goods. The support structure  10  is configured to communicate with the bag  8  to create the semi-rigid container, but the support structure can be removed when not in use and the bag is ready to store. In another embodiment, the support structure  10  can be incorporated into the design of the bag  8  to create a bag  10  with an integrally configured support structure. 
         [0041]    The method for using the support structure is also disclosed. The method generally includes using the support structure  10  with a bag  8  to create a semi-rigid container. A resealable plastic bag  8  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7  to provide an illustration of how the support structure is designed to work with a bag. The support structure  10  is first unfolded to create an open tubular member  12  with a first opening  14  on the edge  18 . The bag  8  is inserted within the support structure  10 . The support structure  10  acts as a sleeve when inserted over the bag  8  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Next a user folds the open end of the bag  8  over the edge  18  and around the tubular member  12 . Folding the bag  8  over the tubular member  12  creates the semi-rigid container that permits the bag to remain open allowing a user to fill the bag or remove the contents from the bag without the user continually holding or supporting the bag  8 . In another embodiment, the support structure  10  can be designed for incorporation into the bag  8  design to create bag  8  with an integrally attached support structure  10 . 
         [0042]    Thus, there has been described a support structure for a bag and a method for using. It is apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications to the support structure method for using are possible, and also such changes, variations, modifications, other uses, and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.