Adjustable device for maintaining yard waste bags in open positions

Abstract

A continuous band is provided for insertion into the mouth of a yard waste bag. The band is formed from a flexible material that permits it to be gripped at its center and squeezed into a collapsed position with two end loops having curved ends that will engage opposing sidewalls of the bag. In the collapsed position, the band presents a configuration of a partial lemniscate. The band is formed from an elongated strip with two opposite ends. Each end includes an engagement means formed therewith which may be selectively engaged by a user to form different diameters of the band.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An adjustable device for insertion into a mouth of a collapsible waste bag which supports the waste bag from the inside of the bag and which maintains said waste bag mouth in an open position, the device comprising: 
 an elongated strip having first and second opposite ends, the strip being formed from a flexible material having sufficient flexibility that the strip may be formed into a circular configuration, the first and second ends of said strip including respective first and second engagement means that may be selectively engaged with each other to form a continuous band of a selected length, said first and second engagement means preventing relative movement between said strip ends so that said continuous band may be grasped by a user with one hand at approximately a mid-portion thereof and squeezed together with said one hand to form a collapsed configuration of a partial lemniscate to facilitate insertion of said band into said bag, said band expanding to said circular configuration when released and expanding radially outwardly against the bag.    
     
     
         2 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said strip has an approximate width of between approximately 1 to 2 inches.  
     
     
         3 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said strip is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first engagement means includes a tab member formed along said strip first end, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of openings formed in a body portion of said strip proximate to said second end thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 4   , wherein said tab member has two opposing ends that are separated from the strip body portion by a pair of notches formed in opposite edges of said strip.  
     
     
         6 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 5   , wherein said openings are vertical openings that are spaced apart from each other, the openings having a height that is less than a corresponding height of said tab member.  
     
     
         7 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 4   , wherein said openings are spaced apart from each other lengthwise of said strip and extend vertically within said strip body, and said tab member extends vertically along said strip first end, said tab member having a height that is greater than a corresponding height of said openings so that said tab member may be inserted by a user into one of said openings and retained therein.  
     
     
         8 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said band, when grasped and squeezed with said one hand into said partial lemniscate, has two opposing end portions, each end including a partial loop with a curved surface facing outwardly at each said end portion.  
     
     
         9 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first engagement means include a first extent of hook and loop material disposed on a first surface of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a second extent of hook and loop material disposed on a second surface of said strip, said first and second surfaces being opposite surfaces of said strip.  
     
     
         10 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first engagement means includes a first array of openings formed in said strip and said second engagement means includes a second array of openings formed in said strip, said second array being containing more openings than said first array, and said device further includes at least two fasteners that are received with two openings of said first array and two openings of said second array.  
     
     
         11 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first array of openings includes a 1 by 2 array having one row of 2 openings vertically oriented within a body portion of said band, and said second array of openings includes at least a 2 by 2 array having at least two rows of 2 openings vertically oriented within the body portion of said band.  
     
     
         12 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 11   , wherein said second array of openings includes a 4 by 2 array with four rows of 2 openings vertically oriented within the body portion of said band.  
     
     
         13 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 1   , wherein said first engagement means includes a first array of openings formed in said strip and two fasteners associated with said first array of openings, and said second engagement means includes a second array of openings formed in said strip, said second array being containing more openings than said first array, said two fasteners being received within two openings of said first array and two openings of said second array aligned with said first array two openings.  
     
     
         14 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 13   , wherein said fasteners include screws with screw heads that are larger in size than said band openings.  
     
     
         15 . The adjustable bag device as set forth in    claim 13   , wherein said second array openings are interconnected by horizontal slots extending lengthwise of said band, the slots permitting selective movement of said fasteners between corresponding pairs of openings of said second array.  
     
     
         16 . An adjustable band for insertion into a collapsible waste bag for supporting said bag from the inside of the bag near a mouth of the bag and for maintaining the bag mouth in an open position, the adjustable band comprising: 
 an elongated continuous, non-articulated strip having two opposing ends, the strip being formed from a flexible material having sufficient flexibility so that the strip ends may be brought together by a user and engaged together into a band of circular configuration, which band may be grasped by a user with one hand at approximately a mid-portion thereof and squeezed together by said user with said one hand to form a collapsed configuration of a partial lemniscate to facilitate insertion of said band into said bag, said band expanding to said circular configuration when released and expanding radially outwardly against the bag;    said strip including first and second engagement means disposed proximate said strip ends and which engage each other in a manner so as to prevent relative movement between said strip ends and thereby maintain said band in a circular configuration when inserted into said bag.    
     
     
         17 . The band of    claim 16   , wherein said first engagement means includes a tab member formed at a first end of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of vertical openings disposed in said strip proximate to a second end thereof, the openings being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.  
     
     
         18 . The band of    claim 16   , wherein said first engagement means includes a first extent of self-fastening material disposed on a first surface of said strip and proximate to the first end of said strip, and said second engagement means includes a second extent of self-fastening material disposed on a second surface of said strip, opposite from said first surface, the first and second extents being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.  
     
     
         19 . The band of    claim 16   , wherein said first engagement means includes a pair of first openings disposed in said strip proximate to a first end of said strip and a pair of fasteners associated with said pair of openings, and said second engagement means includes a plurality of pairs of second openings disposed in said strip proximate to a second end thereof, the openings being spaced apart lengthwise of said band.