Abstract:
The invention generally describes a method an apparatus for supporting a flexible plastic bag in an open position to facilitate filing the bag. More particularly, the invention provides a bag support comprising an adjustable bag support member configured to receive a bag and a first and second vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member for adjusting the height of said assembly. The bag support places a plastic bag in an open position to facilitate the introduction of liquids and/or solids to the interior of the bag.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention pertains to a food storage bag holding device for supporting a flexible plastic bag in an open position to facilitate filling the bag. 
         [0003]    2. The Relevant Technology 
         [0004]    Resealable plastic bags such as Ziploc® bags are often used to store food in a refrigerator or freezer. Such bags offer a low cost alternative to Tupperware® or other costly food storage systems. Since such bags are disposable, no clean up is required after use. Resealable bags come in several shapes and sizes making a number of volumes ranging from sandwich, pint, quart, one gallon, two gallon and larger. Resealable plastic bags offer an alternative to rigid storage containers, however, the flexibility provides a significant challenge when filling the bag with fluids or other granular items. 
         [0005]    It is therefore desirable to provide a bag support that places a plastic bag in an open position to facilitate the introduction of liquids and/or solids to the interior of the bag. It is further desirable that such a bag holder have a minimal number of pieces and support a varying number of shapes and sizes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention pertains generally to a bag support for supporting a resealable plastic bag. The bag support of the present invention generally comprises an outer support ring approximately shaped in a semi-circle arrangement with at least two ends. The outer support ring further comprises a hollow interior having a plurality of ring adjustment holes. The outer support ring has a support ring hinge coupled to an edge of the outer support ring. 
         [0007]    Continuing, the bag support also has an inner support ring shaped approximately in a semi-circle arrangement with at least two ends. The inner support ring generally has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer support ring, hence allowing each end of the inner support ring to fit into a portion of each end of the outer support ring to form a full circle. The inner support ring has a ring adjustment button sized to fit into one of the ring adjustment holes. The inner support ring further has a second support ring hinge coupled to an edge of the inner support ring. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a bag support is disclosed having an adjustable bag support member configured to receive varying sized bags. In general, the bag support member comprises an outer support member having a hollow interior and a first and second outer support member end portion. The outer support member has a number of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on the first outer support member end portion and a number of adjustment holes disposed on the surface of the outer support member on the second outer support member end portion. 
         [0009]    Continuing, the bag support member also comprises an inner support member having a first and second inner support member end portion. The first and second inner support member end portions are configured to mate with the hollow interior of the first and second outer support member end portions. The inner support member has a first adjustment button disposed on a surface of the first inner support member end portion that is sized to fit and engage one of the adjustment holes. The inner support member has a second adjustment button disposed on a surface of the second inner support member end portion sized to fit and engage a different adjustment hole. 
         [0010]    Continuing, the bag support has a first vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member. The first vertical support assembly has a first vertical support member pivotally coupled to the adjustable bag support and a first vertical base member coupled to the first vertical support member. The first vertical support member and the first vertical base member are configured to vary the height of the first vertical support assembly. The bag support also has a second vertical support assembly coupled to the adjustable bag support member. The second vertical support assembly has a second vertical support member pivotally coupled to the adjustable bag support and a second vertical base member coupled to the second vertical support member. The second vertical support member and the second vertical base member are configured to vary the height of the second vertical support assembly. 
         [0011]    Other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent after reading the detailed description in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a food ingredients bag holder supporting a flexible plastic bag; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a food ingredients bag when disassembled and in a storage position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of an adjustable bag support member; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an expanded view of a section of an adjustable bag support member; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an expanded view of a resealable plastic bag supported by a food ingredients bag holder; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an expanded view of a section of an adjustable vertical support member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific cooking pan sizes etc., in order to provide an understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0021]    Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a food ingredients bag holder supporting one particular size of a flexible plastic bag. Food ingredients bag holder  100  provides a support structure for supporting resealable plastic bags, such as Ziploc® bags, in an open position. A support structure in accordance with the present invention places a resealable bag in an open position for placing food and ingredients directly into the bag without the user holding the bag open with his/her hands—i.e., a hands-free operation. Resealable bags may be used to marinate food such as meat, chicken, fish or vegetables before cooking. Since mixing several ingredients together in a resealable plastic bag can prove cumbersome, the marinade ingredients are typically mixed together in a separate container, such as a mixing bowl or the like, and then transferred to the bag for flavoring. Bag holder  100  may be used to mix ingredients for a marinade directly in a resealable flexible bag, thereby eliminating the need to mix ingredients in a separate container and then transfer the mixture to a bag. Bag holder  100  generally comprises an adjustable bag support member  10 , a first and second adjustable vertical support assemblies  31  and  41  and a first and second support base member  50  and  60 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, adjustable bag support member  10  is a circular ring that lies generally in a common plane when in an assembled position. The first and second adjustable vertical support assemblies  31 A and  41 A include vertical support members and vertical base members. For example, first and second vertical support members  30 ,  40  are each coupled to opposite ends of adjustable bag support member  10  respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, vertical support member  30  is coupled to a first end of support member  10  by a first support hinge  14 . Hinge  14  may be a T-device inserted into adjustable bag support member  10  that is configured to receive vertical support member  30 . Hinge  14  is configured to allow and provide the pivot point for vertical support member  30  to pivot about an axis and fold inward so that it may lay approximately co-planer to support member  10  when bag holder  100  is not in use. Any pivoting device that couples vertical support member  30  to adjustable bag support member  10  may be used. On the approximate opposite end of support member  10 , vertical support member  40  is coupled to the ring using a second support hinge  12 . Support hinge  12  is also configured to allow and provide the pivot point for vertical support member  40  to fold inwards and in approximately the same plane as support member  10  when bag holder  100  is not in use. At the approximate bottom of each vertical support member  30 ,  40  is a support base assembly  31 ,  41  that couples to the first and second vertical support members  30 ,  40  to provide overall support to bag holder  100 . 
         [0024]    In the illustrated embodiment, each support base assembly  31 ,  41  comprises a vertical base member  32 ,  42  and an approximately circular shaped ring  50 ,  60  that extends out from the corresponding vertical support member toward the interior of adjustable bag support member  10 . That is, support base assembly  31  comprises vertical base member  32  and base member  50 . Also, support base assembly  41  comprises vertical base member  42  and base member  60 . In the embodiment as shown, each support base has a 2.5 to 3 inch diameter; however, any suitable diameter may be used that provides a stable base for bag holder  100 . A suitable material for each support base assembly  31 ,  41  is aluminum, however, any material may be used for the manufacture of the support base assemblies  31 ,  41  such as stainless steel and plastic to name a few. In other embodiments, support bases  50 ,  60  may be elliptical, square or rectangle in shape. Support base assemblies  31 ,  41  may comprise three or more legs, such as a tripod, as a means for supporting bag holder  100 . The overall shape is not limiting to the present invention, it is purely a design choice that does not impact the scope and spirit of the present invention. The support base shall be of a suitable construction and configuration to support the bag holder assembly including the addition of any food stuffs to the bag. 
         [0025]    As show in  FIG. 1 , support base member  50  is pivotally coupled to vertical base member  32  by means of a base support hinge  55 . Support hinge  55  allows support base member  50  to fold upward and approximately co-planer to vertical base member  32  when bag holder  100  is not in use. Similarly, support base member  60  is coupled to vertical base member  42  by means of a base support hinge  65  so as to allow support base member  60  to fold upward and approximately co-planer with vertical base member  42 . 
         [0026]    Support hinges  12 ,  14 ,  55  and  65  allow bag holder  100  to be stored in a flat generally co-planer arrangement, with minimal height, when not in use. In a typical arrangement, when bag holder  100  is assembled and fully expanded, it may have a diameter of up to and including 12 inches and a height of approximately 12 inches to support a two gallon resealable bag. Typically, the height can range from 1½ inches up to 24 inches and the diameter may range from 2 inches up to 16 inches. One skilled in the art can appreciate that the approximate height and diameter of bag holder  100  may be increased or decreased depending upon the size and shape of the resealable bag. However, when bag holder  100  is not in use and disassembled, it-may have a diameter of six inches with a height of one inch, allowing it to take up a small amount of storage space, in one embodiment. Again, the disassembled size may vary considerably depending upon the intended size of the resealable bag and the thickness of the material used for the bag holder. Accordingly, the typical stored diameter may range from one inch up to twelve inches and the stored height may range from one-half inch to one inch.  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of food ingredients bag holder  100  in a stored, disassembled position. 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiment, adjustable bag support member  10  is an adjustable member, configured to change the diameter of the ring to fit the size of the resealable plastic bag. Adjustable bag support member  10  is shown having a ring shape, however, one skilled in the art will appreciate that any shape may be used without departing from the intended scope and spirit of the present invention. Adjustable bag support member  10  has a plurality of first ring adjustment holes  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 , etc. and second adjustment holes  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , etc. that are generally on opposite sides of ring  10 . In operation, a user adjusts the holes to mate with the adjustment button (not shown) to allow the size of adjustable bag support member  10  to approximately match the size of the opening of the plastic bag. Six adjustment holes, on a side, are shown in  FIG. 1 , however, any number of adjustment holes may be used to adjust the ring  10  to the proper size of the opening of the resealable bag, in embodiments of the present invention. First and second support assemblies  31 A and  41 A are also adjustable. Adjustments of first and second assemblies  31 A and  41 A change the height of bag holder  100  to accommodate the height of the resealable plastic bag. Vertical base member  32  has a plurality of adjustment holes  35 ,  36 ,  37 , etc. that operate to change the height of vertical support assembly  31 A. Vertical base member  42  also has a plurality of adjustment holes  45 ,  46 ,  47 , etc. that, when used in a combination with a support member button (not shown) change the height of vertical support assembly  41 A. Four adjustment holes are shown on the vertical base members; however, any number of adjustment holes may be used in embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Resealable plastic bag  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as a dotted line. In operation, plastic bag  70  is inserted within adjustable bag support member  10  and the top of plastic bag  70  is folded over and around adjustable bag support member  10 . Plastic bag  70  remains wrapped around adjustable bag support member  10 . The size of adjustable bag support member  10  is adjusted to closely match the size of the opening of bag  70  and the height of first and second vertical support member assemblies  31  and  41  are adjusted to closely match the height of bag  70 . For example, if plastic bag  70  is a one gallon sized bag, its diameter may be approximately 10 inches and its height may be approximately 10 inches. Adjustable bag support member  10  is adjusted using the plurality of ring adjustment holes  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  so that the diameter of the support ring is at least 10 inches. Once bag  70  is inserted into the opening of adjustable bag support member  10  and folded over and around the ring, its overall height may have decreased because of the fold. For example, the height of the fold may have been one inch, resulting in the bag height decreasing to nine inches. Hence, vertical support member assemblies  31 A and  41 A should be adjusted to a height of nine inches or less. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of bag  70  should be resting on the ground and not hanging above it. This provides additional support to bag  70  when heavy foods or ingredients are placed inside. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of a food ingredients bag holder in a stored, disassembled position. In one embodiment so as to facilitate a compact storage arrangement, food ingredients bag holder  100  collapses so that all parts of the holder are located within the interior of adjustable bag support member  10 . Support hinges  12  and  14  are pivotally configured to fold first and second vertical support members  30  and  40  to the interior area of adjustable bag support member  10 . Base support hinges  55  and  65  provide a means for pivoting base members  50  and  60  to the interior area of adjustable bag support member  10 . In one embodiment, adjustable bag support member  10  has a minimum diameter of six inches and each vertical support member  30  and  40  has a minimum height of five inches. Hence, when vertical support members  30  and  40  are folded inside ring  10 , their height does not exceed the diameter of ring  10 . Each support base member  50 ,  60  shall have a diameter sized to fit within the interior circumference of adjustable bag support member  10 . The material thickness of each of the support ring, vertical support members and support base members are typically 0.25 to 0.5 inches. The range of thickness provides the disassembled bag holder  100  with a desirable vertical footprint of one inch or less. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of an adjustable bag support member  10 . The illustrated adjustable bag support member  10  is comprised of two separate support members  15 ,  17 , each shaped in approximately a half circle in the illustrated embodiment. Outer support member  15  is adapted to be combined with inner support member  17  to form the adjustable bag support member  10 . Outer support member  15  is a hollow member shaped approximately in a half circle. Opposing ends  101 ,  102  of outer support member  15  have a number of first ring adjustment holes  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and second ring adjustment holes  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 . Ring adjustment holes are a plurality of holes cut on the side of outer support member  15  at each opposing end  101 ,  102  respectively. Inner support member  17  is a hollow tube shaped approximately in a half circle. Inner support member  17  may also be a solid tube shaped in a half circle. In the example shown, the outer diameter of inner support member  17  is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of outer support member  15  thereby permitting the ends  103 ,  104  of inner support member  17  to slide through the two openings  16 ,  18  and inside the hollow interior of outer support member  15 . Inserting inner support member  17  partially into outer support member  15  completes the complete shape of the adjustable bag support member  10 . Inner support member  17  has an adjustment button  19 ,  26  on each end  103 ,  104  of the tube. Inserting adjustment buttons  19  and  26  into first and second adjustment holes locks inner support member  17  into place with outer support member  15 . The configuration and operation of adjustment buttons  19 ,  26  and first and second adjustment holes are described in more detail with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]    In other embodiments, adjustable bag support member  10  may be another shape such as elliptical or rectangular with rounded edges. The corresponding resulting shapes may necessitate that inner support member  17  and outer support member  15  be of a different shape than the half circle illustrated in  FIG. 3 . One skilled in the art can appreciate that other shapes may be utilized for support member  10  that support a resealable plastic bag so that the bag&#39;s open end may wrap around support member  10  and provide an opening into the bag&#39;s interior. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows an expanded view of a section  105  of the adjustable bag support member  10  from a food ingredients bag holder  100  shown in  FIG. 4 . More specifically, this figure illustrates a section of adjustable bag support member  10  having one end of inner support member  17  fitting inside outer support member  15 . The end  104  of inner support member  17  is adapted to slide into opening  16  of outer support member  15  and outer support member  15  is adapted to receive at least a portion of the end  104  of inner support member  17  in the hollow interior of outer support member  15 . Outer support member  15  has a plurality of adjustment holes. The tube end  23  associated with end section  104  of inner tube  17  is illustrated inside the hollow interior of end  101  of outer support member  15 . 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 4 , adjustment button  19  is positioned inside the adjustment hole  24  of outer support member  15 . Typically, adjustment button  19  is a half spherical shaped button having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of each adjustment hole. Any shape may be used that permits adjustment button  19  to snuggly fit inside any of adjustment holes yet protrude above the surface of the hole to prevent slippage. The combination of the adjustment button  19  and an adjustment hole locks inner tube  15  and outer tube  17  in place. Adjustment button  19  has an outward pressure keeping constant force on the button in order to keep its spherical top above the surface of the surface of the outer support member  15  surrounding the adjustment hole where it is positioned. In the illustrated embodiment, a spring (not shown) exerts a constant upward pressure on adjustment button  19 , however, other mechanical means may be utilized to exert a constant upward pressure on adjustment button  19 . Adjustment button  19  is typically manufactured from a light weight but solid material such as aluminum. However, one skilled in the art may utilize any material that provides similar characteristics such as being light weight, sturdy and washable. 
         [0034]    In operation, the diameter of adjustable bag support member  10  is adjusted by pressing down on adjustment button  19  until the top of the button&#39;s spherical surface is below the surface of the surface of the outer tube surrounding the adjustment hole it was positioned within. Once the button is completely below the surface, the inner support member  17  may slide into or out of outer support member  15 , thereby increasing or decreasing the diameter of adjustable bag support member  10 . Depressing adjustment button  19  and sliding inner support member  17  in a direction out of outer support member  15  results in adjustment button  19  resting against the interior wall of outer support member  15  between, for example, adjustment hole  24  and adjustment hole  25 . This resulting movement and position of adjustment of button  19  is due to the upwards pressure being exerted from a spring or other mechanism (not shown) providing such a pressure. Once adjustment button  19  reaches the opening of adjustment hole  24 , the upward pressure of the button forces the button upwards and through the hole, locking it into place. If a user wishes for further adjustment, the depressing and moving of adjustment button  19  may be repeated until the adjustment button  19  is fitted within the desired adjustment hole corresponding to the desired diameter of the adjustable bag support member  10 . This process may also be repeated on the outer ring end  102  and inner ring end  103  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) of adjustable bag support member  10 . 
         [0035]      3 ]  FIG. 5  is an expanded view of a resealable plastic bag supported by a food ingredients bag holder. Resealable plastic bag  88  is shown with its top folded down and around a support ring (not shown). Most resealable plastic bags have about one inch at the top of the bag where the sealing device resides as well as additional thickness for strength around the seal. This one-inch area is the preferred area to fold around adjustable bag support member  10 . In the illustrated example, upper rear edge  80  of bag  88  is shown with the bag&#39;s open interior  81 . The front edge of bag  88  has an upper front edge  82  and lower front edge  84 . Seal  83  is also shown between upper and lower front edges  82  and  84 . Vertical support member  32  is coupled to a visible portion of support base member  50 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is an expanded view of a section of the vertical support assembly  41 A. In particular,  FIG. 6  illustrates the vertical support member  40  in combination with the vertical base member  42  from a food ingredients bag holder  100 . This figure shows a section of vertical support member  40  where one end  90  of an inner tube  49  (e.g., from vertical base member  42 ) is adapted and configured to fit inside an end  91  of outer tube  44  (e.g., from vertical support member  40 ). As with adjustable bag support member  10  described above, each vertical support assembly comprises two individual pieces of tubing  49 ,  44  where one piece fits inside the other to allow for adjustment between corresponding vertical support members and vertical base members to achieve overall height adjustment of adjustable vertical support assemblies  41 A or  31 A. In the illustrated section of vertical support assembly  41 A, outer tube  44  is a straight hollow tube which has a plurality of adjustment holes  45 ,  46 ,  47 . Adjustment holes  45 ,  46 ,  47  are cut from a side surface of outer tube  44  and adapted to receive an adjustment button  43 . The end  91  of outer tube  44  couples with adjustable bag support member  10  (not shown) via a hinge (not shown). Since outer tube  44  is hollow, end  91  is associated with opening  46 . Inner tube  49  may also be a hollow tube, in one embodiment, with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of outer tube  44 ; however, inner tube  41  may be manufactured of a solid material, in another embodiment. The size difference between the inner tube  49  and outer tube  44  allows inner tube  49  to slide through opening  46  and rest inside outer tube  44 . The tube end  90  of inner tube  49  is illustrated in  FIG. 6  between the adjustment hole  46  and the adjustment hole  45  of outer tube  44 . In a preferred embodiment, inner tube  49  and outer tube  44  are made from a light weight but solid material such as aluminum. However, one skilled in the art may utilize any material that provides similar characteristics such as being light weight, sturdy and washable. 
         [0037]    Towards tube end  90  of inner tube  49  is adjustment button  43  positioned inside the middle of adjustment hole  46  of outer tube  44 . Adjustment button  43  is a half spherical shaped button having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of each adjustment hole. The size difference between the adjustment button  43  and the plurality of adjustment holes permits adjustment button  43  to fit inside each adjustment hole yet protrude above the surface of the hole to prevent slippage. Adjustment button  43  is similar in both construction and function to buttons  19  and  26  described above. Accordingly, the description for adjustment buttons  19  and  26  applies to adjustment button  43  and should be considered equivalent for all purposes. 
         [0038]    The height of adjustable vertical support assembly  41 A and therefore the height of the food ingredients bag holder  100 , adjusts by pressing inward on adjustment button  43  until the top of the button is below the surface of the outer tube  44  surrounding the hole. Once the button is completely below the surface, the inner tube  49  may be slid further into or out of outer tube  44 . Once adjustment button  43  reaches the opening of an adjustment hole, for example, adjustment hole  45 , the outward pressure of the spring on the button  43  forces it outwards and through the hole  45 , thereby locking it into place. For further height adjustment, the above process may be repeated until the adjustment button  43  is fitted within the desired adjustment hole. This height adjustment process may also be repeated on the opposite adjustable vertical support assembly  31 A with corresponding adjustment holes and buttons. 
         [0039]    Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that any particular embodiment shown and described by way of illustration is in no way intended to be considered limiting. Therefore, references to details of various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims which in themselves recite only those features regarded as the invention.