Portable plastic shopping bag retainer for use in automobiles

Abstract

A portable shopping bag retainer used to stabilize one or more filled plastic shopping bags ( 20 ) in an upright position during transport in an automobile and prevent spillage of the bag contents. The device comprises a thin flat plate body ( 10 ) which attaches vertically to an automobile seat back rest ( 22 ) or trim panel by means of elastic or other type of attachment straps ( 18 ). The thin flat plate body ( 10 ) includes a plurality of inverted horseshoe shaped apertures ( 12 ), each of which provide an upwardly vertical stalk ( 14 ) that is used to secure shopping bag handle loops ( 21 ) while the weight of the bag contents is supported on the horizontal surface of an automobile seat cushion ( 24 ) or floor. The surface of the thin flat plate body ( 10 ) also includes an unobstructed space for an imprinted logo or advertising decal ( 28 ) which remains visible while the device is configured for use.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A portable device for retaining filled plastic shopping bags, each having a pair of handle loops, in an upright position while being transported in an automobile comprising: 
 a) a thin flat plate    b) a plurality of apertures within the body of said thin flat plate each of said apertures forming an upwardly vertical stalk    c) each of said upwardly vertical stalks providing an upright member upon which to releasably secure said handle loops of said filled plastic shopping bags    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said thin flat plate contains a plurality of longitudinal apertures 
 a) each of said longitudinal apertures allowing an attachment point through which an attachment strap may be threaded thereby providing a means of releasably attaching said thin flat plate vertically to an automobile seat  
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said thin flat plate contains a solid unobstructed space on the outward surface thereby allowing for placement of advertising media