Device to hold bag open

Abstract

The device to hold a bag open is a strap that is formed into an expandable loop that is placed into the mouth of a bag and expanded to keep the mouth of the bag open by tension. The strap is formed from a flexible, resilient material that is either straight or arcuate in its relaxed state. A plurality of ratchet teeth are disposed at one end of the strap and a spring-biased clasp is attached to the opposite end of the strap. A button or lever on the clasp is pushed to release a pawl on the clasp so that the toothed end can be inserted through the clasp and drawn far enough through the clasp so that the diameter of the loop is small enough to fit into the mouth of the bag. The resiliency of the strap material urges the strap to return to its straight or relaxed state, thereby exerting tension against the mouth of the bag to keep the bag mouth open.

1 . A device to hold a bag open, comprising: 
 an elongated strap of flexible, resilient material, the strap having a first end, an opposing second end, a first surface, and an opposing second surface;    a clasp mounted on the second surface of the strap at the first end, the clasp having a pawl pivotally mounted thereon; and,    a plurality of ratchet teeth mounted on the second surface of the strap, each of the teeth having an outwardly facing wall perpendicular to the second surface, the strap being dimensioned and configured for forming a loop holding a mouth of the bag open by tension when placed in the mouth of the bag, the clasp releasably engaging at least one of the plurality of ratchet teeth, whereby the circumference of the loop may be adjusted by the user such that the circumference of the loop matches the circumference of the mouth of the bag.    
   
   
       2 . The device to hold a bag open as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pawl is pivotally supported by a pair of support members projecting upwardly from said second surface of said strap at said first end thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The device to hold a bag open as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a spring for biasing said pawl against said pair of support members.  
   
   
       4 . The device to hold a bag open as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said spring is a torsion spring.  
   
   
       5 . The device to hold a bag open as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said loop has a substantially circular contour.