Patent ID: 8888055

Claim:
A stake for a bag mouth holder comprising: a longitudinal spike with a distal end and a stake tip opposite the distal end; a head portion having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the distal end of the longitudinal spike, wherein the head portion extends transversely from the longitudinal spike at a predefined angle; and a clip portion with a first clip end and a second clip end, the second clip end having a clip tip extending transversely therefrom towards the head, the first clip end connected to the second end of the head portion with the clip portion extending generally towards the first end and substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the head portion; wherein the head portion and the clip portion define an open space therebetween; wherein the open space is shaped to receive one upper portion of a bag mouth holder with the clip portion and the head portion engaging the upper portion, wherein the bag mouth holder has the general shape of a rectangular perimeter of a hyperbolic paraboloid with upper, middle, and lower portions that define a rectangular opening, the middle portions being oriented in a generally perpendicular position relative to the upper portions and to the lower portions, the bag mouth holder being temporarily changeable from an uncompressed shape to a compressed shape when subjected to applied pressure enabling the bag mouth holder to be placed within a refuse bag with the middle portions substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the refuse bag and the upper portions protruding outward from a top portion of the refuse bag, the bag mouth holder being changeable again to the uncompressed shape when disposed within a mouth of the refuse bag by releasing the applied pressure, thereby causing the middle portions to exert outward force on interior corners of the refuse bag adequate to maintain the mouth of the refuse bag in the open position.