Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/701,022, filed Apr. 30, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/551,575, filed Jul. 17, 2012, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,056,715 on Jun. 16, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/508,914, filed on Jul. 18, 2011, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to refuse disposal. More specifically, this disclosure relates to apparatus for facilitating holding open and filling a refuse bag. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    To be discarded, refuse is typically bagged. However, refuse bags tend to be non-rigid and quite flexible. Particularly with lawn refuse, filling a refuse bag may become difficult when the refuse itself is non-solid or requires two hands to place into the bag. For example, leaves, needles, dirt, and sticks tend not to hold together when a user attempts to place such items in a bag. When attempting to place such items in the refuse bag, the refuse bag is subject to collapsing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Disclosed is a bag stand for supporting and holding open a refuse bag to facilitate filling the refuse bag. The bag stand is oriented to allow the bag stand and refuse bag together to stand vertically with respect to the ground and allow a user to fill the refuse bag without the need to hold the refuse bag open manually. 
         [0005]    Also disclosed is a method of forming a bag stand comprising the steps of: bending a first subpanel along a hinge from a flattened arrangement, each subpanel comprising a plurality of side panels and a connection mechanism, each of the plurality of side panels comprising a left end and a right end, the hinge positioned between a first side panel of the plurality of side panels and an adjacent second side panel of the plurality of side panels; and connecting the first subpanel to a second subpanel by the connection mechanism. 
         [0006]    Also disclosed is a method of forming a bag stand comprising the steps of: bending a first subpanel along a living hinge from a flattened arrangement, the first subpanel comprising a plurality of side panels and a connection mechanism; and connecting the first subpanel to a second subpanel by the connection mechanism. 
         [0007]    Also disclosed is a method of forming a bag stand comprising the steps of: obtaining a subpanel in a flattened arrangement, the subpanel comprising a plurality of side panels and a connection mechanism; bending the subpanel along a hinge; and connecting the subpanel by the connection mechanism to a second subpanel. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    The features and components of the following figures are illustrated to emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may be designated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistency and clarity. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bag stand for use with a refuse bag in accord with one embodiment of the current disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the bag stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of two bag stands of  FIG. 1  shown in a nested arrangement. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional detail view of foot panels of the nesting bag stands of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view the nesting bag stands of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bag stand for use with a refuse bag in accord with one embodiment of the current disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a half panel of the bag stand of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the bag stand of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a detail view of the bottom of the half panel of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an inner side view of the half panel of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a detail view of the inner surface of the half panel of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the half panel of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the half panel of  FIG. 7  in a bent arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Disclosed is a bag stand to assist holding and filling refuse bags.  FIG. 1  displays a bag stand  100  having a plurality of side panels  110 ( a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h ) connected together and arranged along the outside of the bag stand  100  to form a hollow structure for holding a refuse bag. 
         [0023]    The current embodiment of the bag stand  100  includes eight side panels  110   a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h . Any number of side panels  110  may be used in alternative embodiments. In the current embodiment, all side panels  110   a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h  are dimensioned about the same size and are about rectangular in shape. However, in alternative embodiments, the side panels  110  may be of different sizes or shapes from each other and from the current embodiment. 
         [0024]    Each of the side panels  110  has a top end  112 , a bottom end  114 , a left end  116 , and a right end  118 . The side panels  110  are connected to each other having the left end  116  of one side panel  110  connected to the right end  118  of an adjacent side panel  110 . 
         [0025]    All references to “left” and “right” in this disclosure are intended to refer to the left and right directions when viewed from the outside with the top end up and the bottom end down. All connections to which this disclosure refers may be any connection sufficient to hold together the elements to be connected, including an integrated construction, glue, a notched end, or other types of connecting means. 
         [0026]    Located adjacent to each side panel  110  and connecting each side panel  110  to another side panel is a connecting panel  111 . In the current embodiment, each connector is rounded or filleted so that each side panel  110  is flat and each connecting panel  111  provides an angle of curvature between each side panel  110  and each adjacent side panel  110 . Because there are eight side panels  110   a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h  in the current embodiment, each connecting panel  111  provides 45-degrees of angle between the two side panels  110  to which that connecting panel  111  connects. 
         [0027]    Connected to the bottom end  114  of each side panel  110  is a foot panel  120 . Each foot panel has a top end  122 , a bottom end  124 , a left end  126 , and a right end  128 . Each foot panel  120  is connected to another foot panel  120  by a connecting panel  121 . Because there are eight foot panels  120   a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h  in the current embodiment, each connecting panel  121  provides 45-degrees of angle between the two foot panels  120  to which that connecting panel  121  connects. 
         [0028]    A foot panel cutout  135   b,d,f,h  is defined in the bottom end  124   b,d,f,h  of every other foot panel  120   b,d,f,h . The foot panel cutouts  135   b,d,f,h  allow air to pass from inside the bag stand  100  to the outside. The foot panel cutouts  135  are semi-circular in shape in the current embodiment but may be any shape in other embodiments. Further, although four foot panel cutouts  135  are present in the current embodiment, any number of foot panel cutouts  135  may be included in various embodiments. Handle cutouts  140   b  and  140   f  (not shown) are defined in side panels  110   b  and  110   f.    
         [0029]    The bag stand  100  is composed of one-piece blow molded plastic. However, other generally-rigid materials may also be used to compose the bag stand  100 , including corrugated cardboard or paper, linerboard, polymer, metal, alloy, wood, mesh, laminate, reinforced woven or nonwoven fabric, cellulose, resin, Styrofoam, composite, and combinations or mixtures of the foregoing, among others. The bag stand  100  of the current embodiment is not collapsible, although a collapsible bag stand  100  is considered part of this disclosure.  FIG. 2  displays a bottom view of the bag stand  100 . In  FIG. 2 , the draft angle of the bag stand  100  can be seen as the bottom of the bag stand is larger than the top. 
         [0030]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the bag stand  100  is capable of nesting with another bag stand  100 ( 2 ). Additionally, it can be seen that each foot panel  120  is not directly connected to each side panel  110  in the current embodiment. Instead, a step panel  210  connects the two pieces and allows a step out for the foot panel  120 . This allows the region of the foot panel  120  to be substantially vertical while the region of the side panel  110  is drafted, as discussed above. Additionally, a connection step panel  211  connects each connection panel  111  with each connection panel  121 . The step panel  210  and connection step panel  211  can be seen in cross-sectional detail view in  FIG. 4 . A perspective view of the nesting bag stands  100 , 100 ( 2 ) can be seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, seen in  FIG. 6 , a bag stand  1000  is composed of two half stand panels  1100  (denoted as  1100  and  1100 ′ in  FIG. 6  for reference). Each half panel  1100  includes four side panels  410   a,b,c,d . Each side panel  410  includes a top end  412 , a bottom end  414 , a left end  416 , a right end  418 , an inner surface  417 , and an outer surface  419 . A panel foot cutout  435  is defined in the bottom end  414  of each side panel  410 , although any number of panel foot cutouts  435  may be included. In the current embodiment, the panel foot cutout  435  is semi-circular in shape, although it may be various shapes in various embodiments. A handle cutout  440   c  is shown defined on the side panel  410   c,  although handle cutouts  440  may not be included in some embodiments, may be included on any of the side panels  410  in some embodiments, and may be included on more than one side panel  410  in some embodiments. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows one half panel  1100  alone in a flattened arrangement. The arrangement of the half panel  1100  includes a living hinge  510  between side panels  410  in the current embodiment such that living hinge  510   a  connects side panel  410   a  to side panel  410   b,  a living hinge  510   b  connects side panel  410   b  to side panel  410   c,  and a living hinge  510   c  connects side panel  510   c  to side panel  510   d.  A clearance void  515  is shown between connected side panels  410 . The clearance voids  515  allow the side panels  410  room to flex inwardly to create the shape required to build the bag stand  1000 . 
         [0033]    Also shown on left end  416   a  is a matching slope  520   a.  A matching slope  520   d  located on the right end  418   d.  The matching slopes  520   a,d  allow the ends  416   a , 418   d  to align flushly with the side panels  410  when the bag stand  1000  is assembled. 
         [0034]    In the current embodiment, each side panel  410   a,b,c,d  has a visible thickness between the outer surface  419  and the inner surface  417 . In various embodiments, the thickness may be small or large. With embodiments of smaller thickness, matching slopes  520   a,d  and clearance voids  515  may not be included or may be negligible. Further, in other embodiments, matching slopes  520   a,d  and clearance voids  515  may not be included although thickness is visible, as in the current embodiment, or large. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  displays the connection mechanism for the half panel  1100  to connect to another half panel  1100 . Connection recesses  550   a,b  are defined in side panel  410   a  proximate the left end  416   a.  Connection fingers  560   a,b  protrude from matching slope  520   d.  The connection fingers  560   a,b  are intended to insert into the connection recesses  550   a,b . A top view of the bag stand  1000  is seen in  FIG. 8 . The clearance voids  515  are smaller, as the side panels  410  have been bent along the living hinges  510 . Various connection mechanisms known in the art may also be used without deviating from the scope of the current embodiment. 
         [0036]    As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , a bottom view of the half panel  1100 , the connection finger  560   b  can be seen. Each connection finger  560   a,b  includes a clearance portion  562   a,b  and a clasp portion  564   a,b . An inner profile of the half panel  1100  can be seen in the side view of  FIG. 10  showing the connection fingers  560   a,b  and the connection recesses  550   a,b . As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , a detail view of the inner surface  417   a  at the bottom end  414   a  of side panel  410   a,  each connection recess  550   a,b  includes a clearance portion  552   a,b  and a lock portion  554   a,b.    
         [0037]      FIG. 12  displays a top view of the half panel  1100 . The unbent profile of the living hinges  510  and the clearance voids  515  can be seen. Moreover, the matching slopes  520   a,d  are also seen in the profile from the top view. 
         [0038]    As seen in  FIG. 13 , to assemble the bag stand  1000 , the half panel  1100  is bent along the living hinges  510   a,b,c  until it covers a path of approximately 180-degrees. Another half panel  1100  is introduced (not shown). Each clearance portion  562   a,b  is aligned with and inserted into each corresponding clearance portion  552   a,b . Once the clearance portion  562  passes fully into the clearance portion  552 , each clasp portion  564  is allowed to slide downward into each lock portion  554 . Once the clasp portion  564  slides into the lock portion  554 , the connection finger  560  cannot be removed from the connection recess  550  without first raising the clearance portion  562  above the lock portion  554 . Although half panels  1100  are shown in pairs in the current embodiment, any number of subpanels may be used to accomplish the objective of a collapsible bag stand. In some embodiments, three third panels may be utilized, each third panel include a certain number of side panels. In some embodiments, quarter panels may be used. In further embodiments, various arrangements of side panels may be used to make the bag stand expandable or contractible in size to accommodate various bag sizes. Various arrangements would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0039]    To use the bag stand  100  or the bag stand  1000 , a user places a refuse bag over the bag stand  100 , 1000 . The user may fill the refuse bag, remove the refuse bag, and discard the refuse bag separately of the bag stand  100 , 1000 . The bag stand  1000  may be disassembled after use by removing each connection finger  560  from each connection recess  550  and unfolding the side panels  410   a,b,c,d . The bag stand  100  as disclosed herein is not collapsible, although a collapsible bag stand is included in this disclosure. 
         [0040]    Although this disclosure describes bag stands  100 , 1000  including all side panels ( 110 , 410 ) connected to each other, this disclosure is intended to include an embodiment of a bag stand  100 , 1000  with fewer side panels or with some side panels absent to achieve certain advantages. 
         [0041]    It should be emphasized that the embodiments described herein are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and all combinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspects discussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. 
         [0042]    One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while alternative embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. Unless stated otherwise, it should not be assumed that multiple features, embodiments, solutions, or elements address the same or related problems or needs. 
         [0043]    Various implementations described in the present disclosure may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

Technology Category: 7