Food storage bag holder

Abstract

A food storage bag holder is configured to maintain a food storage bag in an open and upright configuration to facilitate filling the food storage bag with contents such as food. The holder has a body comprised of a cylinder or frame with a top rim adapted to frictionally engage a folded over top edge of the food storage bag to support it and hold it open. The body defines an interior cavity. The holder is sized to engage a food storage bag. The top rim is sized to engage a bag having a resealable closure. The bag is engaged by inserting the bag into the cavity defined by the body and folding the closure of the bag over the top rim of the holder. The top rim has an outer perimeter less than the perimeter of the mouth of the bag. For example, a circular top rim may have an outer diameter less than the quotient of the perimeter of the mouth of the bag divided by π. The height h of the holder is less than the height measured from the bottom of the body of the bag to the bottom edge of the closure of the bag.

1 . A bag holder configured to maintain a food storage bag in an open and upright configuration to facilitate filling the food storage bag with contents, said holder comprising a cylinder having a top rim adapted to frictionally engage a folded over top edge of the food storage bag to support it and hold it open, said cylinder defining an interior cylindrical cavity and said holder being sized to engage the food storage bag. 
   
   
       2 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising, a planar base configured to cover the bottom of the cylinder, said base providing a support surface for an engaged bag, and said base and cylinder forming a cup suitable for containing any contents that may leak from the bag. 
   
   
       3 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , said top rim being sized to engage a bag having a resealable closure, wherein said bag is engaged by inserting the bag into the cavity defined by the cylinder and folding the closure of the bag over the top rim of the holder. 
   
   
       4 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , said bag having a resealable open mouth with a perimeter, and said holder having a top rim with an outer perimeter less than the perimeter of the mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       5 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , said bag having a resealable open mouth with a perimeter, and said holder having a top rim with an outer diameter less than the quotient of the perimeter of the mouth of the bag divided by π. 
   
   
       6 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said bag has body with a bottom and a top, a resealable closure with a free top edge and a bottom edge attached to the top of the body of the bag, and a height measured from the bottom of the body of the bag to the bottom edge of the closure; and   the height h of the holder is less than the height measured from the bottom of the body of the bag to the bottom edge of the closure.   
   
   
       7 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder is comprised of a material from the group consisting of transparent and translucent materials. 
   
   
       8 . A bag holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder is comprised of a plastic from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, cellulosics, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, urethane, acetal resins, polyamides, polycarbonate and polyester. 
   
   
       9 . A bag holder according to  claim 8 , wherein said plastic includes an additive form the group consisting of:
 a thermochromic additive in an amount effective to achieve a visible color change at a determined temperature;   a photochromic additive in an amount effective to achieve a visible color change when exposed to light;   a phosphorescent polymer additive in an amount effective to absorb light energy from a source and release that energy as visible light after the source is removed.   
   
   
       10 . A bag holder configured to maintain a food storage bag in an open and upright configuration to facilitate filling the food storage bag with contents, said holder comprising a frame having a top rim adapted to frictionally engage a folded over top edge of the food storage bag to support it and hold it open, said frame defining an interior compartment and said holder being sized to engage the food storage bag. 
   
   
       11 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , further comprising, a planar base configured to cover the bottom of the frame, said base providing a support surface for an engaged bag. 
   
   
       12 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , said top rim being sized to engage a bag having a resealable closure, wherein said bag is engaged by inserting the bag into the compartment defined by the frame and folding the closure of the bag over the top rim of the holder. 
   
   
       13 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , said bag having a resealable open mouth with a perimeter, and said holder having a top rim with an outer perimeter less than the perimeter of the mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       14 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , said bag having a resealable open mouth with a perimeter, and said holder having a top rim with an outer diameter less than the quotient of the perimeter of the mouth of the bag divided by π. 
   
   
       15 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , wherein
 said bag has body with a bottom and a top, a resealable closure with a free top edge and a bottom edge attached to the top of the body of the bag, and a height measured from the bottom of the body of the bag to the bottom edge of the closure; and   the height h of the holder is less than the height measured from the bottom of the body of the bag to the bottom edge of the closure.   
   
   
       16 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , wherein said frame is comprised of a material from the group consisting of transparent and translucent materials. 
   
   
       17 . A bag holder according to  claim 10 , wherein said frame is comprised of a plastic from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, cellulosics, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymers, urethane, acetal resins, polyamides, polycarbonate and polyester. 
   
   
       18 . A bag holder according to  claim 17 , wherein said plastic includes an additive from the group consisting of:
 a thermochromic additive in an amount effective to achieve a visible color change at a determined temperature;   a photochromic additive in an amount effective to achieve a visible color change when exposed to light;   a phosphorescent polymer additive in an amount effective to absorb light energy from a source and release that energy as visible light after the source is removed.   
   
   
       19 . A method of holding a food storage bag in an open condition using a holder configured to maintain a food storage bag in an open and upright configuration to facilitate filling the food storage bag with contents, said holder comprising a body having a top rim adapted to frictionally engage a folded over top edge of the food storage bag to support it and hold it open, said body defining an interior cavity and said holder being sized to engage the food storage bag, said method comprising steps of:
 inserting the bag into the cavity,   extending the top edge of the bag above the top rim of the holder,   folding the top edge of the bag over the top rim of the holder, and   guiding food into the bag.   
   
   
       20 . A method of holding a food storage bag in an open condition according to  claim 19 , further comprising a step of microwave cooking food in the bag with the top edge of the bag over the top rim of the holder.