US20140061400A1

US20140061400A1 - Bag opener device

Info

Publication number: US20140061400A1
Application number: US13/597,147
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Sanderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-28
Filing date: 2012-08-28
Publication date: 2014-03-06

Abstract

The present invention is a bag opener device that includes a planar horizontal portion set on a flat surface, the planar horizontal portion stabilizes the bag opener device, a planar vertical portion hingedly attached to the planar horizontal portion, the planar vertical portion is folded and movably positioned as desired by a user and a plurality of hinges hingedly attach the planar horizontal portion to the planar vertical portion and allow a user to position the planar horizontal portion and the planar vertical portion as desired. The bag opener device includes a pair of holder rods extends from the planar vertical portion to hold-up a bag to be filled with a selected one of one or more materials and one or more items and a pair of holder clips attached to the pair of holder rods to releasably secure the bag in an open position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

Resealable bags are often used for food storage purposes. In attempting to fill a resealable bag, many times a second person is required to hold the resealable bag or other type of bag in an open position.
The present invention generally relates to an opener device. More specifically, the invention is a bag opener device.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bag opener device that holds open a storage bag, a freezer bag or a trash bag in a plurality of sizes.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bag opener device that facilitates pouring material into a storage bag, a freezer bag or a trash bag in a plurality of sizes.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bag opener device that is compact and foldable for relatively easy storage or transport.
What is really needed is a bag opener device that holds open a storage bag, a freezer bag or a trash bag in a plurality of sizes that facilitates pouring material into a storage bag, a freezer bag or a trash bag in a plurality of sizes that is compact and foldable for relatively easy storage or transport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a bag opener device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
The phrase “in one embodiment” is utilized repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a bag opener device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The bag opener device 100 includes a planar horizontal portion 110, a planar vertical portion 120, a plurality of hinges 130, a pair of holder rods 140 and a pair of holder clips 150. The planar horizontal portion 110 is set on a relatively flat surface and stabilizes the bag opener device 100. The planar vertical portion 120 is hingedly attached to the planar horizontal portion 110 and can be folded and movably positioned as desired by a user. The planar vertical portion 120 is well-suited to be positioned at an approximately 90 degree angle to the planar horizontal portion 110. The hinges 130 hingedly attach the planar horizontal portion 110 to the planar vertical portion 120 and allow a user to position the planar horizontal portion 110 and the planar vertical portion 120 as desired. The hinges 130 allow the planar horizontal portion 110 and the planar vertical portion 120 to be folded-up for convenient storage and transport. The pair of holder rods 140 extends from the planar vertical portion 120 to hold-up a bag 142 to be filled with any suitable material or items. The material or items can be food, garbage or any other suitable material or items. The bag 142 can be a storage bag 144, a freezer bag 146, a trash bag 148 or any other suitable type of bag. The bag 142 can be a quart sized bag 141, a gallon sized bag 143 or any other suitable sized bag. The pair of holder rods 140 can be extended at an approximate 90 degree angle to hold the bag 142 upward. The pair of holder rods 140 can also be folded against the planar vertical portion 120 to conserve space and to facilitate storage and transport of the bag opener device 100. The pair of holder rods 140 is made of stainless steel but can be made of any suitable material. The pair of holder clips 150 is attached to the pair of holder rods 140 to releasably secure the bag 142 in an open position. The pair of holder clips 150 is made of stainless steel but can be made of any suitable material. The pair of holder clips 150 can be positioned anywhere along the pair of holder rods 140, but typically the pair of holder clips 150 are positioned on a first half 144 of the pair of holder rods 140. The bag opener device 100 can be made of plastic or wood or any other suitable material. The bag opener device 100 is approximately 11 inches in height, 11 inches in length and 7 inches in width but can be any other suitable dimensions.
The bag opener device facilitates unaided filling of a variety of different types and sizes of bags that can be filled with trash, food or any other suitable material or items. The bag opener device includes a plastic holder which can be folded open or closed, with a plurality of L-shaped hinges that provide a relatively high degree of stability when placed on any flat surface. The bag opener device is provided with a pair of steel rods which are inserted into a bag with a clip attached at the end of each rod, effectively maintaining any fastened bag in an open position. Among those who will find the bag opener device relatively practical and convenient are kitchen accessory manufacturers, household product retailers and an everyday consumer.
The bag opener device features a self-contained, bag holding device which incorporates a plurality of grooves and a small compartment to fit the steel rods and clips. The bag opener device is designed to assist in filling a gallon sized bag, a quart sized bag or any other suitable sized bag.
While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims

1. A bag opener device, comprises:

a planar horizontal portion adapted to be set on a flat surface, said planar horizontal portion configured to stabilize said bag opener device;

a plurality of hinges hingedly attached to said planar horizontal portion;

a planar vertical portion hingedly attached to said plurality of hinges, wherein said planar vertical portion is hingedly coupled to said planar horizontal portion through said plurality of hinges;

a pair of discrete holder rods which are each independently attached to and extend from said planar vertical portion and are together configured to support a bag to be filled with a selected one of one or more materials and one or more items; and

a pair of holder clips movably attached to said pair of holder rods, wherein said holder clips are adapted to releasably secure an attached bag in an open position.

2.-7. (canceled)

8. The bag opener device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of holder rods are configured to extend at a 90 degree angle to hold an attached bag upward.

9. The bag opener device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of holder rods are additionally configured to fold against said planar vertical portion to conserve space and to facilitate storage and transport of said bag opener device.

10.-20. (canceled)