Abstract:
A collapsible support frame having two side members attached to each other by at least one hinge and a retention ring which when placed on the side members secures a bag to the support frame in an open position. The two side members pivot with respect to each other to a preferred angle and the retention ring holds the side members together at the preferred angle. The support frame can be placed either upright or laid on the ground allowing the user to insert items in the bag in an easy fashion.

Description:
Applicant claims priority of Provisional Ser. No. 60/461,834, filed Apr. 11, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates, in general, to a support frame, and, in particular, to an improved support frame for use with leaf bags or the like. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   In the prior art, various types of bag retainers have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,110 to Roye discloses a bag retainer with a plurality of legs, which are joined to a bag-retaining frame having retainers to hold a bag in the frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,782 to Alderman discloses a bag retainer with a plurality of legs joined to a bag-retaining frame having retainers to hold a bag in the frame. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,888 to Ross discloses a foldable bag frame with a lower and upper support ring and supports between the support rings. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,229 to Hoefkes discloses a bag holder with two frames that are hinged together to support a bag therebetween. 
   In contrast to the prior art references, the present invention is a support apparatus for holding a bag in an open condition having a side frame which snaps onto an upper bag retention frame and retainers securing the bag to the retention frame. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a support apparatus for holding a bag in an open condition. The support has a side frame which snaps onto an upper bag retention frame and retainers securing the bag to the retention frame. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support apparatus for holding a bag in an open condition. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support apparatus that is easy to use. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved support apparatus that is lightweight. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. The various features of the drawings may not be to scale. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the retention ring of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the retention ring of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one of the retainers of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of one of the connectors of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of another connector of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 6–8  are front views showing the present invention in different stages. 
       FIG. 9  is a view of the present invention with a bag attached. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial view of one of the connectors of the present invention engaged with one of the side members. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the prior art, there are many bag holders, but these prior art bag holders have numerous deficiencies. For example, prior art bag holders may be inconvenient to erect, may collapse at inopportune times and may be unstable when the bag is filled. 
   Referring to the drawings in greater detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates the present invention  10  in an upright position having vertical side members  11   a  and  11   b , at least one hinge  12 , upper retention member  20 , at least one retainer  30  and connectors  40  and  50 . While  FIG. 1  illustrates the present invention  10  having two side members  11   a  and  11   b  whereby the present invention  10  is substantially trapezoidal in shape, any shape or number of side members could be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention  10 . 
   Side frames  11   a  and  11   b  are elongated members having at least two ends wherein side members  11   a  and  11   b  are, preferably, tubular in form and substantially U-shaped. In this preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the base of the “U” rests on a surface such as the ground, thereby adding greater stability to the present invention  10  since its base is broad. In other embodiments, side members  11   a  and  11   b  can be any shape well known within the art and can be constructed using a variety of materials such as but not limited to metal, plastic, fiberglass or the like. 
   Side members  11   a  and  11   b  are attached to each other by at least one hinge  12  which enable side members  11   a  and  11   b  to pivot around a vertical axis. This allows a user to open or close the present invention  10  for use or storage. Hinge  12  is any conventional hinge well known in the art. It should be appreciated when the user closes the present invention  10 , side members  11   a  and  11   b  lie on top of each other. 
   Connectors  40  and  50  (see also  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ) are attached to the upper end or tip of side members  11   a  and  11   b  by any means well known within the art. For example, side members  11   a  and  11   b  are elongated, hollow members and connectors  40  and  50  could be inserted within the hollow cavity (see  FIG. 10 ). While connectors  40  and  50  are shown attached to the tips of side members  11   a  and  11   b  by any means well known in the art, it would not be a departure from the scope of the present invention  10  to utilize other variations or embodiments such as making connectors  40  and  50  and side members  11   a  and  11   b  of one piece, unitary construction. 
   Retention ring  20  attaches to connectors  40 ,  50  by means of a snap connection. The outer diameter of the ring  20  is substantially the same dimension or slightly less than the dimension of the dimension of the slot G (see  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ). This allows the triangular ring  20  to be forced into the slot G to retain the ring on the connectors  40 ,  50 . When the present invention  10  is in use, it is to be understood that at least a portion of the retention ring  20  rests on or within connector  50  stabilizing the retention ring  20  and substantially holding the retention ring  20  in place limiting its movement. The only substantial difference between connector  40  and connector  50  is the slot G in connector  40  extends horizontally, and the slot G in connector  50  extends vertically. The present invention  10  also features retainer  30  which will be described later in greater detail. 
     FIGS. 2 and 2   a  illustrates the retention ring  20  in greater detail. Retention ring  20  is substantially triangular in shape. The retention ring  20  can be constructed of zinc coated steel wire. The retention ring  20  has, preferably, four offset portions  21   a ,  21   b  substantially corresponding to the locations of connectors  40  and  50 . The offset portions  21   a ,  21   b  are offset from the longitudinal axis of the sides of the ring  20  by a predetermined distance as shown in  FIG. 2   a . The offsets  21   b  will be snapped into the horizontal slots G in connectors  40 , and then the ring  20  will be rotated down until the offsets  21   a  snap into the vertical slots G in connectors  50 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the retainer  30  in greater detail. The retainer  30  is an elongated, concave member having two ends. The internal diameter of the concave portion of retainer  30  fits snugly over the straight sections of the retention ring  20 . When a bag is interposed between the ring  20  and the retainers  30 , and retainers  30  are forced onto the ring  20  the bag  90  (see  FIG. 9 ) will be held securely to the retention ring  20 . Retainers  30  can be made from various materials such as, but not limited to, extruded plastic or high-density polyethylene. 
     FIG. 4  is a detailed view of connector  40 . As described above, connectors  40  attach to side frame  11   b  by any means well known within the art, or connector  40  and side frame  11   b  could be a one piece, unitary construction. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom portion  41  of connectors  40  fits within the ends of side frame  11   b  (see  FIG. 10 ). The protrusion on the connector  40  is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is about the same as the inner diameter of side frame  11   b . While the preferred embodiment of the protrusion is described as being substantially circular in shape, other variations and embodiments can exist wherein the protrusion can be any shape well known within the art as long as the shape of the protrusion is substantially similar to the inside shape of the side frame  11   b.    
   Connector  40  features a substantially horizontal groove G, wherein the size of the groove is similar to the outer diameter of the offset point  21   b  of the retention ring  20 . Offset point  21   b  attaches to connector  40  by any means well known in the art. In the preferred embodiment, connector  40  is releasably attached to retention ring  20 , however retention ring  20  can be permanently attached to connector  40  during the manufacture of the present invention  10 , as long as the ring is allowed to pivot with respect to the connector. Either embodiment must allow the retention ring  20  to rotate around the axis created by the connection of the retention ring  20  to connector  40 . 
     FIG. 5  is a detailed view of connector  50 . As described above, connector  50  attaches to side frame  11   a  in the same manner as connector  40  and side frame  11   b . Protrusion  51  on the connector  50  is substantially circular in shape and its diameter is about the same as the inner diameter of the side frame  11   a . While the preferred embodiment of the protrusion  50  is described as being substantially circular in shape, other variations and embodiments can exist wherein protrusion  51  can be any shape well known within the art as long as the shape of the protrusion is substantially similar to the inside shape of the side frame  11   a.    
   Connector  50  features a groove G that is substantially vertical. The size of the groove is similar to the outer diameter of the offset point  21   a  of the retention ring  20 . As the retention ring  20  rotates in a clockwise direction, offset point  21   a  will come to rest within groove G of the connector  50 . Since connectors  40  and  50  engage the retention ring  20  at the offset points  21   a  and  21   b , no substantial movement occurs along the length of the retention ring  20  and this system creates a rigid lightweight assembly wherein the retention ring  20  is securely attached to side members  11   a  and  11   b.    
     FIGS. 6–8  illustrate views of the present invention  10  at various stages of assembly. To erect the present invention  10  for use, side members  11   a  and  11   b  are opened to a first angle as shown in  FIG. 8 . Retention ring  20 , by means of its connection to side frame  11   a  via connector  40 , rotates in a clockwise direction as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  until retention ring  20  engages the vertical groove G in connector  50 , as described above. Once the offset points  21   a  of the retention ring  20  engage the vertical grooves in connectors  50 , the retention ring  20  is secured in place as shown in  FIG. 6 . Since connectors  40  and  50  engage the retention ring  20  at the offset points  21   a ,  21   b , no substantial movement occurs along the length of the retention ring  20  and this system creates a rigid lightweight assembly wherein the retention ring  20  is securely attached to side members  11   a  and  11   b.    
     FIG. 9  shows a bag attached in the present invention  10 . To use the present invention  10 , an open bag  90  is inserted through the top of the retention frame  20 . It is to be understood that the present invention  10  is to be used with bags having an outer circumference slightly greater than the perimeter of the retention frame  20 . A predetermined length of the bag  90  is pulled over the retention frame  20 , preferably two inches. The retainers  30  are placed over the retention frame  20  securing the bag  90  to the retention frame  20 . 
   The bag  90  is now secured to the present invention  10  and the bag  90  can easily be filled by dropping items through the opening in the bag  90 . Alternatively, the present invention  10  can be tipped forward so that one of the side frames  11   a ,  11   b  is on the ground. In this position, the shape of the side frames  11   a  and  11   b  and retention ring  20  ensures that the present invention  10  remains as close to the ground as possible. Items can be easily moved into the horizontal bag  90  though the wide opening defined by the retention ring  20 . When the bag  90  is full, the present invention  10  can be easily moved into its upright position. 
   In the upright position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the shape and angles of the side members  11   a  and  11   b  enable the bag  90  to be filled completely without touching the side members  11   a  and  11   b . To remove the bag  90  from the present invention  10 , retainers  30  are removed and the top of the bag  90  is tied in a conventional manner. The user then grasps the retention ring  20  or other elements of the present invention  10  and lifts the present invention  10  over the bag  90 . This allows the user to move the present invention  10  and not the bag  90  since the bag  90  could be relatively heavy due to the items placed within. 
   Although the Leaf Bagger and the method of using the same according to the present invention has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention.