Patent ID: 8517610

Claim:
A free-standing bag comprising: a lower portion comprising a plurality of lower side sections and a bottom section, wherein the lower side sections define a lower cavity, wherein the lower cavity is tubular; and an upper portion comprising: a plurality of upper side sections; a plurality of insert sections extending from the upper side sections and arranged to connect the upper portion to the lower portion; and a plurality of foldable connector sections that connect the upper side sections to define an expandable upper cavity, wherein each connector section comprises at least one crease for folding the connector section inward to the upper cavity; wherein the connector sections are arranged such that when the connector sections are unfolded, the upper cavity is expanded and comprises: a lower opening that is proximate to the lower cavity and substantially the same size as a cross section of the lower cavity; and an upper opening that is distal to the lower cavity and larger than the lower opening; wherein the connector sections are further arranged such that when the connector sections are folded inward, both the lower opening and the upper opening are substantially the same size as a cross section of the lower cavity; and wherein the upper portion of the bag comprises a single piece of material comprising a plurality of cuts and creases arranged to provide the upper side sections, the insert sections, and the foldable connector sections, and wherein the lower portion of the bag comprises at least one separate piece of material.