Abstract:
A bag including a resilient support that can stand upright independently and is encased in flexible sheet material. The support is elastically deformed and tensions the sheet material as the support attempts to return to an undeformed condition. The bag can be provided with a cover and handles as well as an arrangement for inhibiting tipping or displacement of the bag.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a bag that is self-supporting. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Conventional trash bags typically consist of a thin layer of plastic and are supplied in a folded condition. When such a trash bag is unfolded and opened, the bag collapses and closes upon being released thereby making it difficult to fill the bag. To facilitate filling of a trash bag, the bag is held open by placing it in a container or suspending it on some other type of support. 
         [0003]    In order to eliminate the need for a container or other support capable of holding a trash bag open, a self-supporting trash bag has been developed. This self-supporting trash bag consists of a flexible frame enclosed in a thin layer of plastic. The frame, which is made of metal wire, can be folded or rolled for packaging. When the self-supporting bag is to be used, the arms are inserted in the bag and spread, thus causing the wire frame to expand and the bag to open. Once the wire frame has been expanded, the wire frame is able to hold the bag open and support the latter in an upright position. 
         [0004]    While the self-supporting bag represents a definite advance over earlier trash bags, improvements in ease of handling, stability and trash retention would be desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention resides in a self-standing bag. The bag comprises a support having opposed longitudinal ends and an interior space between the ends, and the support is adapted to stand upright independently on a first one of its ends when such end rests on a horizontal surface. The bag further comprises flexible sheet material enclosing the support substantially in its entirety, and the sheet material defines a collection space in the interior space of the support. The collection space has an opening at the second end of the support for the insertion of articles in the collection space. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of the bag additionally comprises a handle connected to the support. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the bag, the collection space is provided with a cover in the region of its opening. The cover can include flexible sheet material and a slit through such material. 
         [0008]    An additional embodiment of the bag further comprises means for holding the support in place. The holding means can include a compartment and a weighting substance in the compartment. Alternatively, the holding means may include a flap having a perforation for a holding element to be driven into a surface. 
         [0009]    The support can comprise a first endless element at the first end of the support and a second endless element at the second end of the support. Each of the endless elements surrounds the interior space of the support, and the endless elements are joined to one another by a plurality of elongated elements. The second endless element may be formed with weakened areas at two diametrically opposed locations thereof. 
         [0010]    Instead of two endless elements connected to each other by a plurality of elongated elements, the support can comprise a coil spring. 
         [0011]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, partly broken away view of a bag in accordance with the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a frame, which forms part of the bag of  FIG. 1 , in an undeformed condition. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the frame of  FIG. 2  in a deformed condition. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an elevational, partly broken away view of another bag according to the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a coil spring, which forms part of the bag of  FIG. 4 , in an undeformed condition. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the numeral  10  identifies a bag in accordance with the invention. The bag  10  is elongated and has spaced, opposed longitudinal ends  12  and  14  of which the end  12  can be considered to constitute an upper end of the bag  10  and the end  14  can be considered to constitute a lower end of the bag  10 . The bag  10  is self-standing or self-supporting in that the bag  10  is capable of standing upright on the lower bag end  14  independently, i.e., without assistance, when the lower bag end  14  rests on a horizontal surface. 
         [0018]    Considering  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the bag  10  comprises an elongated frame or support  16  which is entirely, or virtually entirely, enclosed by or encased in flexible sheet material  18 . The sheet material  18  can be plastic sheet of the type employed in conventional trash bags. 
         [0019]    The frame  16  has spaced, opposed longitudinal ends  20  and  22 , and the frame end  20  adjoins the upper end  12  of the bag  10  while the frame end  22  adjoins the lower end  14  of the bag  10 . Accordingly, the frame end  20  will be considered to constitute an upper end of the frame  16  and the frame end  22  will be considered to constitute a lower end of the frame  16 . The frame  16  is self-standing or self-supporting in that the frame  16  is capable of standing upright on the lower frame end  22  independently, i.e., without assistance, when the lower frame end  22  rests on a horizontal surface. 
         [0020]    The frame  16  has an interior space  24  which runs from the lower frame end  22  to the upper frame end  20 . The frame  16  includes an endless element  26  at the upper frame end  20  and an endless element  28  at the lower frame end  22 , and each of the endless elements  26 , 28  circumscribes or surrounds the interior space  24  of the frame  16 . The endless element  26  is here in the form of an annulus as is the endless element  28 . 
         [0021]    The annulus  26  and the annulus  28  are joined to one another by a number of elongated connecting or joining elements  30  running longitudinally of the frame  16 . The connecting elements  30  bound the interior space  24  of the frame  16 , and neighboring ones of the connecting elements  30  are spaced from each other circumferentially of the frame  16 . 
         [0022]    The annulus  26  is provided with two weakened areas  32  which are located diametrically opposite one another. The weakened areas  32  are here in the form of cuts or notches in the annulus  26 . 
         [0023]    The annuli  26 , 28  and the connecting elements  30  are preferably resilient or elastic. The terms “resilient” and “elastic” as used herein refer to an element which can undergo deformation visible to the human eye when subjected to stress and can reverse the deformation essentially in its entirety upon release of the stress. The annuli  26 , 28  and the connecting elements  30  are advantageously made from metal or plastic wire or from metal or plastic rod of small gauge. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates the frame  16  in an undeformed condition. In the undeformed condition of  FIG. 2 , the connecting elements  30  are straight. 
         [0025]    When the frame  16  is encased in the sheet material  18 , it is preferred for the frame  16  to be in a deformed condition shown in  FIG. 3 . In the deformed condition of  FIG. 3 , the connecting elements  30  are elastically bent so that they assume a curvature longitudinally of the frame  16 . Due to the elasticity of the connecting elements  30 , the connecting elements  30  are resiliently urged from the bent condition to the straight condition. This causes the sheet material  18  to be placed in tension thereby imparting added rigidity and stability to the bag  10 . 
         [0026]    As indicated in  FIG. 1 , the sheet material  18  of the bag  10  defines a collection space  34  within the interior space  24  of the frame  16 . The collection space  34  functions to accumulate articles which are introduced into the bag  10 . 
         [0027]    The collection space  34  has an opening  36  at the upper end  12  of the bag  10 , and the opening  36  serves for the insertion of articles into the collection space  34 . The opening  36  is defined by the annulus  26  of the frame  16  and the sheet material  18  encasing the annulus  26 . 
         [0028]    A cover  38  for the collection space  34  is provided in or adjacent to the opening  36 . The cover  38  here comprises flexible sheet material  40  which is supported by the annulus  26  of the frame  16  and spans the opening  36  of the collection space  34 . A slit  42  in the sheet material  40  allows articles to be passed through the sheet material  40  into the collection space  34 . Similarly to the sheet material  18 , the sheet material  40  can be plastic sheet of the type employed in conventional trash bags. 
         [0029]    Two handles  44  and  46  are mounted on the annulus  26  of the frame  16 . The handles  44 , 46  are located diametrically opposite one another and can be used to easily lift the bag  10 . The handle  44  is provided with a centrally situated aperture  48  while the handle  46  is provided with a centrally situated button or peg  50  which can snap into the aperture  48 . The aperture  48  and the button  50  enable the handles  44 , 46  to be clipped to each other thereby facilitating handling of the bag  10 . The aperture  48  and the button  50  are preferably designed so that the button  50  can be snapped out of the aperture  48  to separate the handles  44 , 46 . 
         [0030]    To inhibit tipping of the bag  10  or displacement of the bag  10  by wind, the bag  10  is provided with means for holding the bag  10  in place. The holding means here includes a chamber or compartment  52  at the lower end  14  of the bag  10 . The chamber  52 , which is isolated from the collecting space  34  and is located below the latter when the bag  10  is in its upright position, accommodates a weighting substance  54  which increases the weight of the lower bag end  14  to thereby inhibit tipping of the bag  10  or displacement of the bag  10  by wind. By way of example, the weighting substance  54  can be water or sand. The weighting substance  54  is here assumed to be water. 
         [0031]    The weakened areas  32  of the annulus  26  can be considered to constitute folding or bending lines, and the weakened areas  32  make it possible to readily fold the annulus  26  to thereby close the upper end  12  of the bag  10 . 
         [0032]    Turning to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the same numerals as in  FIGS. 1-3 , plus  100 , are used to denote similar elements. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows a bag  110  which differs somewhat from the bag  10 . In the bag  110 , the frame  16  of the bag  10  is replaced by a coil spring  116  which is illustrated in  FIG. 5  and is constituted by a compression spring. 
         [0034]    The coil spring  116  is in an uncompressed or undeformed condition in  FIG. 5 . When the coil spring  116  is encased in the sheet material  118  of the bag  110 , it is preferred for the coil spring  116  to be in a compressed or deformed condition. Since the coil spring  116  is resiliently urged towards its uncompressed condition, the sheet material  118  is placed in tension so that the rigidity and stability of the bag  110  are enhanced. 
         [0035]    Like the bag  10 , the bag  110  is provided with means for holding the bag  110  in place. However, instead of the compartment  52  and the weighting substance  54  of the bag  10 , the holding means for the bag  110  comprises a tab or flap  156 . The tab  156 , which can be flexible, is located at the lower end  114  of the bag  110  and is supported by the coil spring  116 . The tab  156  has a perforation  158 , and a holding element  160  such as a spike or nail can be passed through the perforation  158  and driven into a surface to thereby anchor the bag  110 . For instance, if the bag  110  is used outdoors, the holding element  160  could be driven into the ground. A grommet  162  can be inserted in the perforation  158  to reinforce the latter. 
         [0036]    The cover  38  and the handles  44 , 46  of the bag  10  have here been omitted from the bag  110 . However, it is possible to form the bag  110  with a cover and/or with handles. 
         [0037]    The bags  10 , 110  have a variety of applications. Thus, the bags  10 , 110  can be employed as indoor trash bags, e.g., in homes, hospitals, office buildings and industrial buildings. The bags  10 , 110  can also be used as outdoor trash bags for the collection of refuse and yard debris. Moreover, it is possible to employ the bags  10 , 110  as storage bags. 
         [0038]    The bags  10 , 110  can be disposable or reusable. 
         [0039]    Various modifications are possible within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.