Bag accessory

A bag accessory for attachment to a bag, which accessory includes a ramp or scoop for guiding refuse or other material from a work surface into an attached bag, gripping means carried by the ramp or scoop for releasably gripping the bag, arms for distending or holding the bag open, and suspension means for hanging the bag as for a trash receptacle, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
While it is appreciated that the prior art has proposed a variety of 
devices as accessories for utilizing grocery bags, and the like, these 
accessory devices have not found general acceptance with consumers, being 
unduly limited in application and use, complex in construction and readily 
subject to malfunction and damage, and high in cost for the potential 
benefits to be derived. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide 
an accessory device for use with grocery bags and the like which is highly 
versatile in application and operation for quick and convenient use both 
in sweeping, dusting and the like removal of refuse and other material 
from a work surface, as well as mounting in a convenient location as a 
receptacle for convenient gravitational deposit therein of trash and other 
material. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an accessory 
device for grocery bags, and the like, having the advantageous 
characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which is very 
quickly and easily attachable to and removable from a bag without special 
training or skill. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bag 
accessory of the type described which is extremely simple in construction, 
for economy in cost, durability and reliability throughout a long useful 
life. 
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading 
the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, 
which form a material part of this disclosure. 
The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, 
combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be 
exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the 
scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 
thereof, an accessory device of the present invention is there generally 
designated 10, and illustrated in operative association with a grocery bag 
11, arranged as an assembly with the bag located for gravitationally 
receiving the deposit of trash, and the like. 
In the disposition of FIG. 2, the assemblage of accessory 10 and bag 11 is 
shown in position for location on a floor or other work surface as in 
dusting or sweeping of refuse into the bag. 
The bag 11 may be conventional, say fabricated of kraft paper, or the like, 
including generally rectangular front and back walls 15 and 16, side walls 
17 and 18 extending between the front and back walls, and a bottom wall 19 
extending between the lower edges of the front, back and side walls 15-18. 
The accessory device 10 may include a generally flat, substantially 
rectangular inner plate or ramp member 25 which is illustrated as being 
located within the open end or mouth of the bag 11, in facing engagement 
with the open end edge portion 26 of the rear bag wall 16, extending 
laterally substantially between the side walls 17 and 18. Further, the 
flat inner plate or ramp member 25 extends outwardly through and beyond 
the open end or mouth of bag 11 to terminate in a relatively sharp outer 
or distal edge 27. 
In generally facing relation with the inner plate or ramp member 25, but 
outwardly of the bag edge portion 26, is an outer, generally flat plate or 
gripping member 28. That is, the outer plate or gripping member 28 may be 
generally rectangular, approximately congruent to the inner plate or ramp 
member 25, outward of the bag edge portion 26 and hingedly connected to 
the ramp member adjacent to the distal ramp edge 27 for swinging movement 
relative to the ramp member into and out of a sandwiching or gripping 
relation with the interposed bag edge portion 26. 
The inner plate or ramp member 25 and outer plate or gripping member 28 may 
advantageously be fabricated of plastic, if desired, or other suitable 
material, and may be formed integrally with a hinged distal edge at 27, or 
formed separately and otherwise hinged, if desired. 
Outstanding from the under or outer side of ramp member or inner plate 25 
may be one or more impaling elements or studs 30, say for piercing action 
through the interposed or sandwiched bag portion 26. Further, the impaling 
elements or studs 30 may engage frictionally through respective openings 
or holes 31 in the outer plate or gripping member 28. Thus, the studs or 
impaling pins 30 cooperate with the plates 25 and 28 to effect positive 
gripping action of the intermediate bag portion 26 and effectively retain 
the accessory 10 in gripping relation with the bag. 
The inner plate or ramp member 25 may be further formed with a through hole 
32, and the outer plate or gripping member 28 is further formed with a 
through hole 33 movable into and out of registry with the hole 32. The 
aligned holes 32 and 33 are thus adapted for receiving a hook, or the like 
to define suspension means for supporting the assemblage in the upright 
receptacle condition shown in FIG. 1. 
Remote from the distal ramp edge 27, the outer side of the outer flat plate 
or gripping member 28 is provided with a laterally extending outstanding 
rib or support 35 which projects beyond the impaling members or pins 30 in 
the assembled condition, see FIG. 3. Thereby, the rib or support 35 is 
engageable with a nether work surface 36, simultaneously with engagement 
of distal ramp edge 27 with the surface 36 to maintain the ramp 25 at a 
proper inclination with respect to the work surface for guiding material 
from the surface to the interior of bag 11. As the support 35 projects 
outwardly from gripping member 28 beyond the through projection of pins 
30, the latter do not adversely affect the desired angle of ramp repose. 
In addition, the inner plate or ramp member 25 is provided at opposite side 
edges, remote from the distal ramp edge 27, with a pair of generally 
parallel arms or distention members 38, which extend generally away from 
the gripping member 28 interiorly of the bag 11 along opposite bag side 
walls 17 and 18. The distention members or arms 38 thereby serve to 
maintain the bag mouth open, and may be provided on their free ends with 
projections or pins 39, say for engagement through respective bag side 
walls. 
Of course, when the bag 11 is full to the desired extent, it is only 
necessary to swing the gripping member or plate 28 outwardly, as shown in 
phantom in FIG. 3 in the direction of arrow 40, so that the pins 30 may be 
withdrawn from the bag wall region 26, and the device 10 removed from the 
bag. A new bag may, obviously, be replaced by reversal of the above 
procedure. 
From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a bag 
accessory which is extremely simple in construction, greatly facilitates 
bag use both as an upright receptacle for the gravitational deposit of 
trash, and as an inclined ramp or scoop for receiving sweepings, and the 
like, from a work surface. 
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of 
illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is 
understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the 
spirit of the invention.