Trash bag support and liner

Abstract

The present invention is a simple and inexpensive removable trash bag support and liner. The liner of the present invention is a single, generally rectangular piece of plastic, preferably about 1/16″ thick, about 32″ high, and with a width (which becomes the perimeter) about 68″. Also, the liner may have several hand holes near its upper and lower edges to facilitate lifting it out of the bag when the bag is full of debris. Also, the liner has a temporary locking mechanism for holding it in a set cylindrical position. When the lock is engaged, the bag liner may be set in a self-standing manner for its edge, and an empty garbage bag easily placed over the liner. Then, when the liner and bag are inverted to the upright position, releasing the locking mechanism lets the liner automatically expand to fit tightly within the plastic bag. Preferably, the locking mechanism is a combination tab near an outside edge of the liner, and a cooperating open slit near the center of the liner, for example, about 41″ toward the center and away from the tab.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A trash bag support and liner, comprising: 
 a single, generally rectangular piece of plastic, and    a temporary locking mechanism for holding the bag support and liner in a set cylindrical position, the locking mechanism comprising a tab integral with the single piece of plastic, and a cooperating open slit in the single piece of plastic.    
     
     
         2 . The bag support and liner of  claim 1  which also comprises a hand hole near an edge of the piece of plastic.  
     
     
         3 . The bag support and liner of  claim 1  which also comprises hand holes near two edges of the piece of plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The bag support and liner of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism tab is near an edge of the piece of plastic, and the cooperating slit is near the center of the piece of plastic.