# Patent

## Title
Bag stand

## Abstract

A subpanel for a bag stand includes: a first side panel and a second side panel, each of the first side panel and the second side panel including a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface. The first side panel additionally includes a connection finger, the connection finger connected to a first side end of the two side ends of the first side panel, the connection finger including a clearance portion and a clasp portion. The second side panel is at least indirectly connected to the first side panel and defines a connection recess in a first side end of the two side ends of the second side panel distal from the first side panel, the connection recess including a clearance portion and a lock portion.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/373,103, filed Dec. 8, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/139,375, filed Apr. 27, 2016, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,623 on Jan. 24, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/701,022, filed Apr. 30, 2015, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,352,870 on May 31, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/551,575, filed Jul. 17, 2012, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,056,715 on Jun. 16, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/508,914, filed on Jul. 18, 2011, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.


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
Disclosed is a bag stand for supporting and holding open a refuse bag to facilitate filling the refuse bag. The bag stand is oriented to allow the bag stand 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.
Also disclosed is a method of forming a bag stand comprising the steps of: bending a first subpanel along a hinge from a flattened arrangement, each subpanel comprising a plurality of side panels and a connection mechanism, each of the plurality of side panels comprising a left end and a right end, the hinge positioned between a first side panel of the plurality of side panels and an adjacent second side panel of the plurality of side panels; and connecting the first subpanel to a second subpanel by the connection mechanism.
Also disclosed is a bag stand comprising: a plurality of side panels, each of the plurality of side panels having a top end, a bottom end, and two side ends, the plurality of side panels forming the bag stand when connecting the plurality of side panels together, the bag stand comprising a top end and a bottom end, the bag stand defining a top opening, a bottom opening, and an interior, a first side panel of the plurality of side panels connected directly to a second side panel of the plurality of side panels and a third side panel of the plurality of side panels connected at least indirectly to the second side panel; and a connection mechanism configured to connect the first side panel and the third side panel directly to each other and comprising a connection finger and a connection recess, the connection finger connected proximate to a first side end of the two side ends of the first side panel and the connection recess defined proximate to a first side end of the two side ends of the third side panel, the connection finger comprising a clearance portion and a clasp portion and the connection recess comprising a clearance portion and a lock portion, the clearance portion of the connection recess sized to receive the clasp portion of the connection finger, the clasp portion configured to slide downward into the lock portion after the clearance portion of the connection finger passes fully into the clearance portion of the connection recess.
Also disclosed is a subpanel for a bag stand, the subpanel comprising: a first side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the first side panel further comprising a connection finger, the connection finger connected to a first side end of the two side ends of the first side panel, the connection finger comprising a clearance portion and a clasp portion; and a second side panel at least indirectly connected to the first side panel, the second side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the second side panel defining a connection recess in a first side end of the two side ends of the second side panel distal from the first side panel, the connection recess comprising a clearance portion and a lock portion.



DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag stand for use with a refuse bag in accord with one embodiment of the current disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bag stand of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view of two bag stands of FIG. 1 shown in a nested arrangement.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional detail view of foot panels of the nesting bag stands of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view the nesting bag stands of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bag stand for use with a refuse bag in accord with one embodiment of the current disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a half panel of the bag stand of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the bag stand of FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a detail view of the bottom of the half panel of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is an inner side view of the half panel of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a detail view of the inner surface of the half panel of FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 is a top view of the half panel of FIG. 7.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the half panel of FIG. 7 in a bent arrangement.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Disclosed is a bag stand to assist holding and filling refuse bags. FIG. 1 displays a bag stand 100 having a plurality of side panels 110(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h) connected together and arranged along the outside of the bag stand 100 to form a hollow structure for holding a refuse bag.
The current embodiment of the bag stand 100 includes eight side panels 110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h. Any number of side panels 110 may be used in alternative embodiments. In the current embodiment, all side panels 110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h are dimensioned about the same size and are about rectangular in shape. However, in alternative embodiments, the side panels 110 may be of different sizes or shapes from each other and from the current embodiment.
Each of the side panels 110 has a top end 112, a bottom end 114, a left end 116, and a right end 118. The side panels 110 are connected to each other having the left end 116 of one side panel 110 connected to the right end 118 of an adjacent side panel 110.
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.
Located adjacent to each side panel 110 and connecting each side panel 110 to another side panel is a connecting panel 111. In the current embodiment, each connector is rounded or filleted so that each side panel 110 is flat and each connecting panel 111 provides an angle of curvature between each side panel 110 and each adjacent side panel 110. Because there are eight side panels 110a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h in the current embodiment, each connecting panel 111 provides 45-degrees of angle between the two side panels 110 to which that connecting panel 111 connects.
Connected to the bottom end 114 of each side panel 110 is a foot panel 120. Each foot panel has a top end 122, a bottom end 124, a left end 126, and a right end 128. Each foot panel 120 is connected to another foot panel 120 by a connecting panel 121. Because there are eight foot panels 120a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h in the current embodiment, each connecting panel 121 provides 45-degrees of angle between the two foot panels 120 to which that connecting panel 121 connects.
A foot panel cutout 135b,d,f,h is defined in the bottom end 124b,d,f,h of every other foot panel 120b,d,f,h. The foot panel cutouts 135b,d,f,h allow air to pass from inside the bag stand 100 to the outside. The foot panel cutouts 135 are semi-circular in shape in the current embodiment but may be any shape in other embodiments. Further, although four foot panel cutouts 135 are present in the current embodiment, any number of foot panel cutouts 135 may be included in various embodiments. Handle cutouts 140b and 140f (not shown) are defined in side panels 110b and 110f. 
The bag stand 100 is composed of one-piece blow molded plastic. However, other generally-rigid materials may also be used to compose the bag stand 100, including corrugated cardboard or paper, linerboard, polymer, metal, alloy, wood, mesh, laminate, reinforced woven or nonwoven fabric, cellulose, resin, Styrofoam, composite, and combinations or mixtures of the foregoing, among others. The bag stand 100 of the current embodiment is not collapsible, although a collapsible bag stand 100 is considered part of this disclosure. FIG. 2 displays a bottom view of the bag stand 100. In FIG. 2, the draft angle of the bag stand 100 can be seen as the bottom of the bag stand is larger than the top.
As seen in FIG. 3, the bag stand 100 is capable of nesting with another bag stand 100(2). Additionally, it can be seen that each foot panel 120 is not directly connected to each side panel 110 in the current embodiment. Instead, a step panel 210 connects the two pieces and allows a step out for the foot panel 120. This allows the region of the foot panel 120 to be substantially vertical while the region of the side panel 110 is drafted, as discussed above. Additionally, a connection step panel 211 connects each connection panel 111 with each connection panel 121. The step panel 210 and connection step panel 211 can be seen in cross-sectional detail view in FIG. 4. A perspective view of the nesting bag stands 100,100(2) can be seen in FIG. 5.
In another embodiment, seen in FIG. 6, a bag stand 1000 is composed of two half stand panels 1100 (denoted as 1100 and 1100′ in FIG. 6 for reference). Each half panel 1100 includes four side panels 410a,b,c,d. Each side panel 410 includes a top end 412, a bottom end 414, a left end 416, a right end 418, an inner surface 417, and an outer surface 419. A panel foot cutout 435 is defined in the bottom end 414 of each side panel 410, although any number of panel foot cutouts 435 may be included. In the current embodiment, the panel foot cutout 435 is semi-circular in shape, although it may be various shapes in various embodiments. A handle cutout 440c is shown defined on the side panel 410c, although handle cutouts 440 may not be included in some embodiments, may be included on any of the side panels 410 in some embodiments, and may be included on more than one side panel 410 in some embodiments.
FIG. 7 shows one half panel 1100 alone in a flattened arrangement. The arrangement of the half panel 1100 includes a living hinge 510 between side panels 410 in the current embodiment such that living hinge 510a connects side panel 410a to side panel 410b, a living hinge 510b connects side panel 410b to side panel 410c, and a living hinge 510c connects side panel 510c to side panel 510d. A clearance void 515 is shown between connected side panels 410. The clearance voids 515 allow the side panels 410 room to flex inwardly to create the shape required to build the bag stand 1000.
Also shown on left end 416a is a matching slope 520a. A matching slope 520d located on the right end 418d. The matching slopes 520a,d allow the ends 416a,418d to align flushly with the side panels 410 when the bag stand 1000 is assembled.
In the current embodiment, each side panel 410a,b,c,d has a visible thickness between the outer surface 419 and the inner surface 417. In various embodiments, the thickness may be small or large. With embodiments of smaller thickness, matching slopes 520a,d and clearance voids 515 may not be included or may be negligible. Further, in other embodiments, matching slopes 520a,d and clearance voids 515 may not be included although thickness is visible, as in the current embodiment, or large.
FIG. 7 displays the connection mechanism for the half panel 1100 to connect to another half panel 1100. Connection recesses 550a,b are defined in side panel 410a proximate the left end 416a. Connection fingers 560a,b protrude from matching slope 520d. The connection fingers 560a,b are intended to insert into the connection recesses 550a,b. A top view of the bag stand 1000 is seen in FIG. 8. The clearance voids 515 are smaller, as the side panels 410 have been bent along the living hinges 510. Various connection mechanisms known in the art may also be used without deviating from the scope of the current embodiment.
As can be seen in FIG. 9, a bottom view of the half panel 1100, the connection finger 560b can be seen. Each connection finger 560a,b includes a clearance portion 562a,b and a clasp portion 564a,b. An inner profile of the half panel 1100 can be seen in the side view of FIG. 10 showing the connection fingers 560a,b and the connection recesses 550a,b. As can be seen in FIG. 11, a detail view of the inner surface 417a at the bottom end 414a of side panel 410a, each connection recess 550a,b includes a clearance portion 552a,b and a lock portion 554a,b. 
FIG. 12 displays a top view of the half panel 1100. The unbent profile of the living hinges 510 and the clearance voids 515 can be seen. Moreover, the matching slopes 520a,d are also seen in the profile from the top view.
As seen in FIG. 13, to assemble the bag stand 1000, the half panel 1100 is bent along the living hinges 510a,b,c until it covers a path of approximately 180-degrees. Another half panel 1100 is introduced (not shown). Each clearance portion 562a,b is aligned with and inserted into each corresponding clearance portion 552a,b. Once the clearance portion 562 passes fully into the clearance portion 552, each clasp portion 564 is allowed to slide downward into each lock portion 554. Once the clasp portion 564 slides into the lock portion 554, the connection finger 560 cannot be removed from the connection recess 550 without first raising the clearance portion 562 above the lock portion 554. Although half panels 1100 are shown in pairs in the current embodiment, any number of subpanels may be used to accomplish the objective of a collapsible bag stand. In some embodiments, three third panels may be utilized, each third panel include a certain number of side panels. In some embodiments, quarter panels may be used. In further embodiments, various arrangements of side panels may be used to make the bag stand expandable or contractible in size to accommodate various bag sizes. Various arrangements would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
To use the bag stand 100 or the bag stand 1000, a user places a refuse bag over the bag stand 100,1000. The user may fill the refuse bag, remove the refuse bag, and discard the refuse bag separately of the bag stand 100,1000. The bag stand 1000 may be disassembled after use by removing each connection finger 560 from each connection recess 550 and unfolding the side panels 410a,b,c,d. The bag stand 100 as disclosed herein is not collapsible, although a collapsible bag stand is included in this disclosure.
Although this disclosure describes bag stands 100,1000 including all side panels (110,410) connected to each other, this disclosure is intended to include an embodiment of a bag stand 100,1000 with fewer side panels or with some side panels absent to achieve certain advantages.
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.
One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while alternative embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. Unless stated otherwise, it should not be assumed that multiple features, embodiments, solutions, or elements address the same or related problems or needs.
Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

## Claims

1. A subpanel for a bag stand, the subpanel comprising:
a first side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the first side panel further comprising a connection finger, the connection finger connected to a first side end of the two side ends of the first side panel, the connection finger comprising a clearance portion and a clasp portion; and
a second side panel at least indirectly connected to the first side panel, the second side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the second side panel defining a connection recess in a first side end of the two side ends of the second side panel distal from the first side panel, the connection recess comprising a clearance portion and a lock portion;
wherein the clearance portion of the connection recess is sized to receive the clasp portion of the connection finger and wherein the clasp portion of the subpanel is configured to slide downward into the lock portion of a second subpanel that is substantially identical to the first subpanel after the clearance portion of the connection finger passes fully into the clearance portion of the connection recess of the second subpanel.

2. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the second side panel is indirectly connected to the first side panel with a living hinge proximate to the outer surface of each of the first side panel and the second side panel, a clearance void defined between a side end of the first side panel and an adjacent side end of the second side panel, the clearance void distal from the outer surface of each side panel when the subpanel is in a flattened arrangement and configured to allow room for the second side panel to flex at the living hinge with respect to the first side panel.

3. The subpanel of claim 1, further comprising a third side panel, the third side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the third side panel connected directly to the first side panel and at least indirectly to the second side panel; the third side panel connected to the first side panel with a living hinge proximate to the outer surface of each of the first side panel and the third side panel.

4. The subpanel of claim 3, wherein a clearance void is defined between a side end of the first side panel and an adjacent side end of the third side panel, the clearance void distal from the outer surface of each side panel when the subpanel is in a flattened arrangement and configured to allow room for the third side panel to flex at the living hinge with respect to the first side panel.

5. The subpanel of claim 3, further comprising a fourth side panel, the fourth side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the fourth side panel connected directly to the third side panel and at least indirectly to the second side panel; the fourth side panel connected to the third side panel with a living hinge proximate to the outer surface of each of the third side panel and the fourth side panel.

6. The subpanel of claim 5, wherein a clearance void is defined between a side end of the third side panel and an adjacent side end of the fourth side panel, the clearance void distal from the outer surface of each side panel when the subpanel is in a flattened arrangement and configured to allow room for the fourth side panel to flex at the living hinge with respect to the third side panel.

7. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein a side end of the first side panel defines a matching slope angled with respect to an inner surface and an outer surface of the first side panel.

8. The subpanel of claim 7, wherein the connection finger protrudes from the matching slope.

9. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the subpanel is formed of blow-molded plastic.

10. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second side panel is equal to a distance measured from the matching slope to a portion of the clasp portion of the connection finger that is closest to the matching slope.

11. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the clasp portion of the connection finger is angled 90 degrees with respect to the clearance portion.

12. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the connection finger taken along a plane perpendicular to the first side end of the first side panel is L-shaped.

13. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein a height of the clasp portion of the connection finger is equal to a height of the clearance portion of the connection finger, the height of the clasp portion of the connection finger and the height of the clearance portion of the connection finger measured in a direction parallel to the first side end of the first side panel.

14. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein a height of the clearance portion of the connection recess is equal to or greater than a height of the lock portion of the connection recess, the height of the clearance portion of the connection recess and the height of the lock portion of the connection recess measured in a direction parallel to the side end of the second side panel.

15. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the connection finger is a first connection finger and the connection recess is a first connection recess, the subpanel further comprising a second connection finger connected to the first side end of the first side panel and a second connection recess defined in the first side end of the second side panel.

16. The subpanel of claim 1, wherein the first connection finger and the second connection finger are aligned along and proximate to the first side end of the first side panel and the first connection recess and the second connection recess are aligned along and proximate to the side end of the second side panel.

17. A subpanel for a bag stand, the subpanel comprising:
a first side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the first side panel further comprising a connection finger, the connection finger connected to a first side end of the two side ends of the first side panel, the connection finger comprising a clearance portion and a clasp portion;
a second side panel at least indirectly connected to the first side panel, the second side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the second side panel defining a connection recess in a first side end of the two side ends of the second side panel distal from the first side panel, the connection recess comprising a clearance portion and a lock portion, wherein the clearance portion of the connection recess is sized to receive the clasp portion of the connection finger and wherein the clasp portion of the subpanel is configured to slide downward into the lock portion of a second subpanel that is substantially identical to the first subpanel after the clearance portion of the connection finger passes fully into the clearance portion of the connection recess of the second subpanel;
a third side panel, the third side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the third side panel connected directly to the first side panel and at least indirectly to the second side panel; the third side panel connected to the first side panel with a living hinge proximate to the outer surface of each of the first side panel and the third side panel; and
a fourth side panel, the fourth side panel comprising a top end, a bottom end, two side ends, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a thickness defined from the inner surface to the outer surface, the fourth side panel connected directly to the third side panel and at least indirectly to the second side panel; the fourth side panel connected to the third side panel with a living hinge proximate to the outer surface of each of the third side panel and the fourth side panel.

18. The subpanel of claim 17, wherein a clearance void is defined between a side end of the third side panel and an adjacent side end of the fourth side panel, the clearance void distal from the outer surface of each side panel when the subpanel is in a flattened arrangement and configured to allow room for the fourth side panel to flex at the living hinge with respect to the third side panel.