Patent ID: 7350547

Claim:
A tensioner for use in holding a mouth of a bag in an open position, said bag having sides surrounding said mouth, said tensioner comprising an annular body and being made from flexible and resilient material, said body having a first edge and a second edge, said body conveying from said first edge to said second edge, said tensioner having a perimeter, a length of said perimeter being unadjustable, said tensioner having a relaxed position and a compressed position, in said compressed position said tensioner having a reduced area within said perimeter compared to an area when said tensioner is in said relaxed position, said tensioner being changeable from said relaxed position to said compressed position when subjected to sufficient force to bend said perimeter inward, said tensioner returning toward said relaxed position when said force is removed, enabling said tensioner to be sufficiently compressed to be placed in said bag substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said bag through said mouth, and subsequently released to exert outward pressure on said sides of said bag, said pressure being sufficient to hold said tensioner in position relative to said sides and to hold said mouth in said open position.