Bag stand

Disclosed is a bag stand including at least three side panels, each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, a right end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, each side panel having two adjacent side panels, each right end of each side panel connected to the left end of one of the adjacent side panels and each left end of each side panel connected to the right end of the other adjacent side panel, thereby forming a substantially continuous bag stand having a top end and a bottom end and a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab hingedly connected to the top end of the bag stand, each panel tab having at least one interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to refuse disposal. More specifically, this disclosure relates to apparatus for facilitating holding open and filling a refuse bag.

BACKGROUND

To be discarded, refuse is typically bagged. However, refuse bags tend to be non-rigid and quite flexible. Particularly with lawn refuse, filling a refuse bag may become difficult when the refuse itself is non-solid or requires two hands to place into the bag. For example, leaves, needles, dirt, and sticks tend not to hold together when a user attempts to place such items in a bag. When attempting to place such items in the refuse bag, the refuse bag is subject to collapsing.

SUMMARY

A bag stand is disclosed for supporting and holding open a refuse bag to facilitate filling the refuse bag. The bag support is oriented to allow the bag support and refuse bag together to stand vertically with respect to the ground and allow a user to fill the refuse bag without the need to hold the refuse bag open manually.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a bag stand to assist holding and filling refuse bags. It should be emphasized that the embodiments described herein are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.

FIG. 1displays a bag stand100having a plurality of side panels110(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h) connected to each other and arranged along the outside of the bag stand100to form a hollow structure for holding a refuse bag.

The current embodiment of the bag stand100includes eight side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h. Any number of side panels110may be used in alternative embodiments so long as the side panels110are formable into the bag stand100from a flattened position, as will be discussed further. In the current embodiment, all side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hare dimensioned about the same size and are about rectangular in shape. However, in alternative embodiments, the side panels110may be of different sizes or shapes from each other and from the current embodiment.

Each of the side panels110has a top end112, a bottom end114, a left end116, and a right end118. The side panels110are connected to each other having the left end116of one side panel110connected to the right end118of an adjacent side panel110.

All references to “left” and “right” in this disclosure are intended to refer to the left and right directions when viewed from the outside with the top end up and the bottom end down. All connections to which this disclosure refers may be any connection sufficient to hold together the elements to be connected, including an integrated construction, glue, a notched end, or other types of connecting means.

Connected to the top end112of each side panel110is one of a female panel tab120or a male panel tab121. Although panel tabs120,121are connected to each side panel110in the current embodiment, the panel tabs120,121need not be included on every side panel110. Moreover, the panel tabs need not be female panel tabs120or male panel tabs121in all embodiments, and the specific arrangement of female panel tabs120and male panel tabs121may change from one embodiment to another.

Each of the panel tabs120,121has a bottom end124, a left end126, and a right end128. The bottom ends124of the panel tabs120,121are connected to the top ends112of the side panels110. Although the panel tabs120,121are connected to the side panels110, they are not connected to other panel tabs120,121. This connection allows each panel tab120,121to hinge with respect to the side panel110to which it is connected. Female panel tabs120have top ends122. Male panel tabs121have top ends123.

Attached to the right end118hof side panel110his a connection panel140. The connection panel140overlaps the side panel110aand provides an interface for the side panels110aand110hto form a connected hollow structure. In the current embodiment, the connection panel140is glued to side panel110a. All other connections are integrated in the current embodiment. Side panels110aand110hare connected so that the left end116aof side panel110ais collinear with the right end118hof side panel110h. Although the two side panels110aand110hare connected through connection panel140, they are still “connected” as described in this disclosure. The left end116aand right end118hneed not be collinear in order to be considered connected within this disclosure.

FIG. 2displays an inside view of the bag stand100in a blank arrangement. The bag stand100is formable from a single cardboard blank. Each side panel110a,b,c,d,e,f,g has two draft cutouts at its bottom end114a,b,c,d,e,f,g—a left side draft212a,b,c,d,e,f,g and a right side draft214a,b,c,d,e,f,g. Side panel110hhas only a left side draft,212h. The left side drafts212and right side drafts214in the current embodiment are about forty-five degree (45°) with respect to the bottom ends114, the left ends116, and the right ends118of the side panels110, although other angular configurations are considered within this embodiment. Moreover, other shapes besides linear drafts are considered to be included as well. When assembled, the drafts212,214provide an escape for air passing from the inside to the outside of the bag stand100.

At the intersection of each side panel110with an adjacent side panel110is a bend line. Bend lines to which this disclosure refers are designated as weakened regions and may include a crease, a perforation, a series of perforations, or another arrangement to weaken the area of the bend line to promote bending along the bend line. In the current embodiment, bend lines are creased to provide a hinged connection. Between right end118aand left end116bis bend line220a; between right end118band left end116cis bend line220b; between right end118cand left end116dis bend line220c; between right end118dand left end116eis bend line220d; between right end118eand left end116fis bend line220e; between right end118fand left end116gis bend line220f; between right end118gand left end116his bend line220g.

The connection panel140has a top end222, a bottom end224, a left end226, and a right end228. The top end222of the connection panel140is formed at a downward angle with respect to the top ends112a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof the side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h. Similarly, the bottom end224is formed with an upward angle with respect to the bottom ends114,a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof the side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h. The angles of the top end222and the bottom end224create a shorter right side228than left side226of the connection panel140. At the connection of the left end226of the connection panel140to the right end118hof the side panel110his a bend line230.

At the intersection of each side panel110with each panel tab120,121is a bend line260. Each bend line260a,b,c,d,e,f,g,his located between each top end112a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof each side panel110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hand each bottom end124a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof each panel tab120a,c,e,g;121b,d,f,h. The panel tabs120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,hare connected only by the bend lines260a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hand otherwise are not connected in the current embodiment, although other configurations are possible and considered within this disclosure. The single connection line of each panel tab120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,hallows each panel tab120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,hto be bent along its bend line260a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h.

Located on side panels110band110fproximate the top ends112band112fare handle cutouts240band240f, respectively. The handle cutouts240b,fare generally ovular cutouts of material from the side panels110b,fsized to accommodate the hands of a user. The handle cutouts240b,fmay be supplied as holes on the side panels110b,f. In another embodiment, the handle cutouts240b,fmay be punchout regions supplied with weakened perforations to allow a user to punch through and remove material thereby forming a hole or cutout.

In alternative embodiments, the handle cutouts240band240fmay be in different places on the bag stand. For example, in some embodiments, the handle cutouts240band240fmay be placed closer to the top ends112band112f; in some embodiments, the location of the handle cutouts240band240fwill necessitate corresponding cutouts in the panel tabs121band121f. Moreover, in alternative embodiments, the handle cutouts240band240fmay be placed on other side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h.

For each panel tab120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,h, the width distance between each of the left end126a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hand right end128a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof the panel tabs120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,his the same width as the side panel110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hto which each panel tab120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,his connected proximate the bottom end124a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hof each panel tab120a,c,e,gand121b,d,f,h.

For the female panel tabs120a,c,e,g, each left end126a,c,e,ghas a standard portion272a,c,e,g, a flaring portion276a,c,e,g, and a draft portion286a,c,e,g. Likewise, each right end128a,c,e,gof each female panel tab120a,c,e,ghas a standard portion274a,c,e,g, a flaring portion278a,c,e,g, and a draft portion288a,c,e,g. The flaring portions276,278of the female panel tabs120are connected to the draft portions286,288which are further connected to the standard portions272,274, respectively. The draft portions286,288are angled with respect to the other portions of the left end126and right end128. The connections create a wider length top end122than bottom end124for each female panel tab120a,c,e,g.

For the male panel tabs121b,d,f,h, each left end126b,d,f,hhas a standard portion272b,d,f,h, a compressed portion277b,d,f,h, and a lateral portion287b,d,f,h. Likewise, each right end128b,d,f,hhas a standard portion274b,d,f,h, a compressed portion279b,d,f,h, and a lateral portion289b,d,f,h. Each standard portion272,274is connected to each compressed portion277,279by each lateral portion287,289, respectively. The lateral portions287,289are parallel to the top ends123and bottom ends124of the male panel tabs121. The connections create a narrower length top end123than bottom end124for each male panel tab121b,d,f,h. Both the left ends126and the right ends128of each male panel tab121and female panel tab120are interfacing ends in the current embodiment, although they need not be in alternative embodiments. The interfacing ends in the current embodiment allow the panel tabs120,121to connect together, keeping the bag stand100in an open arrangement.

In alternative embodiments, features of the panel tabs120,121may be different or removed. For example, in one alternative embodiment, the left end126adoes not include draft portion286aor flaring portion276a. Likewise, in one alternative embodiment, right end128hdoes not include lateral portion289hor compressed portion279h.

The bag stand100is formed by folding the side panels110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,hand connection panel140by their bend lines220a,b,c,d,e,f,gand230until the connection panel140contacts the side panel110a. In the current embodiment, shown inFIG. 1, the connection panel140overlaps the side panel110aso that an inner surface227of the connection panel140contacts an outer surface119aof the side panel110a. The connection panel140is affixed to the side panel110aby gluing. Other configurations are contemplated within this disclosure, including the connection panel140overlapping an inner surface117aof the side panel110a, connections by connecting tabs or key fit arrangements between the panels, and integrated connection, among others. When the connection is established, the left end116aof the side panel110ais about aligned with the right end118hof the side panel110h, although it need not be aligned in every embodiment.

In the configuration ofFIG. 1, the side panels110are all connected so that their top ends112together form a top end of the bag stand100. The panel tabs120,121are shown raised from the top end of the bag stand100. To form a completed bag stand, a user first folds the male panel tabs121in so that inner surfaces127of the male panel tabs121approach, and potentially contact, inner surfaces117of the side panels110, as seen inFIG. 3. The user then folds the female panel tabs120so that the inner surfaces127of the female panel tabs120approach, and potentially contact, the inner surfaces117of the side panels110, as seen inFIG. 4. For each male panel tab121, the left ends126of the male panel tabs121interface with the right ends128of adjacent female panel tabs120, and the right ends128of the male panel tabs121interface with the left ends126of adjacent female panel tabs120. The flaring portions276,278of the female panel tabs120interface with the compressed portions277,279of the male panel tabs121, forming a substantially interlocking interface, as seen inFIG. 5. Because the panel tabs120,121are substantially rigid, the substantially interlocking interface prevents collapse of the bag stand100. Although a substantially interlocking interface is described, other arrangements sufficient to hold the bag stand100in an upright and uncollapsed position should be considered included within this disclosure.

As seen inFIG. 6, in some embodiments the bag stand100will be provided to the user in a flattened arrangement. The bag stand100is flattened by having bend lines220aand220ebent with all other bend lines unbent. The connection panel140is attached to the side panel110a. In this arrangement, the bag stand100is easily shipped and is easily stored. Moreover, connection panel140is glued to side panel110asuch that a user of the bag stand100need only unbend somewhat along bend lines220aand220ewhile bending along bend lines220b,c,d,f,gand230to form the bag stand100ofFIG. 1. The unbending and bending process is shown in perspective view inFIG. 7. The user then need follow the steps described above and shown inFIGS. 3 and 4to form the completed bag stand100ofFIG. 5.

Once the bag stand100is configured in the arrangement ofFIG. 5, a refuse bag800may be inserted into the bag stand100, as seen inFIG. 8, or placed over the outside of the bag stand100, as seen inFIG. 9. In the current embodiment, the refuse bag800is a plastic refuse bag, although other refuse bags may be implemented in alternative embodiments. The bag stand100is sized to accommodate a specific sized refuse bag800, and other sizes of bag stands100may be used with other sizes of refuse bags800.

Once the bag stand100and refuse bag800are configured together, a user may fill the refuse bag with refuse, as seen inFIG. 10. The refuse may include any type of refuse, including lawn refuse, trash, and biodegradable waste, among others. When the refuse bag800is appropriately filled with refuse, the user may discard the refuse bag800, the refuse, and the bag stand100together. The user may optionally remove the bag stand100from the refuse bag800, discarding the refuse bag800and refuse while retaining the bag stand100for later use. A user may also disassemble the bag stand100, reversing the assembly steps shown inFIGS. 3-7and described above with reference to those figures.

Where materials are chosen for the elements of this assembly—particularly, corrugated cardboard—similar generally rigid material choices may also be used and would be obvious to one in the art, including corrugated cardboard or paper, linerboard, polymer, plastic, metal, alloy, wood, mesh, laminate, reinforced woven or nonwoven fabric, cellulose, composite, and combinations or mixtures of the foregoing, among others.