Bag opening device

A bag opening device that includes a strip having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end insertible through a central slit disposed in a lock, said lock disposed on the proximal end, which lock has a locking tab to releasably engage with a plurality of slots disposed along the length of the strip, whereby the strip forms a rigid circumference securable to a particular bag opening by means of a clip and a plurality of securing ties, said bag thereby held open to more easily dispose of items therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of bag opening devices are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a bag opening device that includes a strip having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end insertible through a central slit disposed in a lock, said lock disposed on the proximal end, which lock has a locking tab to releasably engage with a plurality of slots disposed along the length of the strip, whereby the strip forms a rigid circumference securable to a particular bag opening by means of a clip and a plurality of securing ties, said bag thereby held open to more easily dispose of items therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bag opening device, and more particularly, to a bag opening device that includes a strip having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end insertible through a central slit disposed in a lock, said lock disposed on the proximal end, which lock has a locking tab to releasably engage with a plurality of slots disposed along the length of the strip, whereby the strip forms a rigid circumference securable to a particular bag opening by means of a clip and a plurality of securing ties, said bag thereby held open to more easily dispose of items therein

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the bag opening device, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a bag opening device which has many novel features that result in a bag opening device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

When working in the yard and, for example, raking leaves, it is inconvenient to have to open a trash bag to properly encapsulate each shovel load of debris to be deposited therein. A way of holding a bag open, then, to enable the easy deposition of material and debris into the bag without having to open the bag to receive each deposit—and thus deviate from shoveling said debris momentarily—will be useful and time-saving.

The present device, therefore, has been devised to enable a ready and easy way to hold a bag open when working to dispose of items and debris therein. The present bag opening device includes a strip with a distal end and proximal end. This strip is envisioned to be at least one inch in width. When fitted to a bag opening of a specific diameter, the distal end is easily inserted into a slit disposed in a head of a lock. This lock has a locking tab disposed therein, which locking tab releasably engages with each of a plurality of slots disposed at regular intervals along the length of the strip. When the locking tab is depressed away from the distal end, the strip easily moves through the locking head. When the locking tab is released, the locking tab readily engages with each of the plurality of slots to secure the device rigidly around a set circumference. Thusly, a set circumference of a particular diameter, corresponding to a particular bag at hand, may be readily obtained.

The strip is then securable to the bag opening by means of a clip and a plurality of securing ties. The clip includes a pair of edges compressibly forced together by means of a spring. This spring is disposed between a pair of spatulas, each of the pair of spatulas connected to each of the pair of edges. When the pair of spatulas are to forced together contrary the action of the spring, the pair of edges are opened. When the pair of spatulas are released, the action of the spring closes the edges together. Thusly, the clip may be releasably attached to the strip and a bag, to hold the strip about the bag opening.

Each of the plurality of securing ties may be used to further secure the strip in place about the bag's opening. Each securing tie includes an inelastic member with a pair of ends. Each securing tie is configured to reach through a pair of adjacent slots in the strip, wherethrough the pair of ends may be subsequently twisted together to secure the bag and the strip thereto.

Objects of the present bag opening device, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the bag opening device, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particularFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, example of the instant bag opening device employing the principles and concepts of the present bag opening device and generally designated by the reference number10will be described.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5a preferred embodiment of the present bag opening device10is illustrated.

The bag opening device10includes a plastic strip20at least one inch wide. The strip20has a distal end22and a proximal end24. A plurality of slots26is disposed upon the strip20, said plurality of slots26disposed at regular intervals along the length of the strip20. A lock28is disposed on the proximal end24. The lock28includes a parallelepiped head30, a central slit32disposed within the head30, and a locking tab34.

The distal end22of the strip20is insertable into the lock28central slit32and the locking tab34releasably engages with each of the plurality of slots26. When the locking tab34is engaged with a slot26the strip20forms a rigid circumference applicable to the open end off a bag36. In such a position, the device10functions to maintain the opening of a bag36at a set diameter, enabling the efficient and easy disposal of items, as desired, without having to open the bag for each addition of disposed items thereto.

When the locking tab34is pulled away from the corresponding slot26the lock28disengages with the strip20, and the distal end22may be easily removed from within the lock28(seeFIG. 3). Thus, the device10may be easily removed from a bag36and the diameter quickly reset to a desired circumference.

The present bag opening device10also includes a clip38, the clip releasably attachable to the strip20to secure the strip20in the requisite position inside the bag36opening. The clip38includes a parallelepiped pair of edges40and a pair of spatulas42, each of the pair of spatulas42attached to each of the pair of edges40. A spring44is disposed between the pair or spatulas42. This spring44forces the pair of edges40together. The edges40are separable when the pair of spatulas42are forced together, against the action of the spring44, whereby the clip38is releasably attachable to the strip20to secure a bag36thereto.

The instant bag opening device10also includes a plurality of securing ties46. Each securing tie46includes a pliable inelastic member48having a pair of ends50. Each securing tie46is configured to reach through a pair of adjacent slots26in the strip20to further secure the strip20to a bag36opening when the pair of ends50are twisted together.

Thusly, the strip20may be inserted into a bag36opening, the strip20locked at a desired diameter conforming to the diameter of the particular bag36opening by means of the lock28, the locking tab34engaging with one of the plurality of slots26disposed at regular intervals along the length of the strip20, and the strip20there secured to the bag36by means of the clip38and the plurality of securing ties46, as desired. The bag36opening is thusly held open for ease of depositing items within the bag36without additional effort to open the bag36before each deposit therein.

It is envisioned that the strip20is friable. The friability of the strip20enables a user to easily close the bag36and dispose of said bag36and its contents simply by crushing the strip20, the subsequent pieces of the strip20disposed within the bag36when the bag36is thrown away. If desirable, however, the strip20may be reused, the securing ties46simply untied and the clip38released. The device10can therefore be removed from the bag36opening and reused, as desired.