Patent ID: 8336584

Claim:
A device facilitating the filling of a pliable bag, the device comprising: a resilient, generally planar sheet of material, including a first portion and a second portion separated by a hinge, the resilient sheet configured such that flexing of the first portion into a generally curved surface results in the second portion moving toward the first portion by bending of the sheet along the hinge; wherein tension in the sheet urges the first portion toward a generally planar configuration; wherein the flexed first portion is dimensioned to be inserted through the mouth of a pliable bag and into the interior storage area of the bag, and to engage the side walls of the bag while in a flexed position such that the side walls of the bag engage and maintain the first portion in such flexed position; and wherein the second portion is dimensioned to extend from the bag and support the mouth of the bag at an elevated position above a surface on which the bag and device are supported.