Support frame for use with lawn and refuse bags

Abstract

A C-shaped support frame fits to the upper entry of a lawn and/or refuse bag to hold the bag open for receiving leaves or waste. The support frame includes retention structure in the form of a pair of deflectable beams and associated cutouts, each of U-shape, wherein the bag material is engaged by the beam when the beam is snap-fitted back into the cutout associated therewith. The retention structure may include two pairs of U-shaped beams, the beams of each pair being relatively deflectable and grippingly engageable with the bag material when the beams are snap-fitted into their respective cutouts.

1 . A support apparatus for insertion into and maintaining the top opening of a bag in an upwardly open position, comprising: 
 a retention frame, said retention frame including a center wall, a pair of sidewalls, and means for hingedly connecting the sidewalls to the center wall and to swing relative to the hinge between a stored first position in generally parallel relation with the center wall and an in use second position in generally perpendicular relation with the center wall and form a C-shaped structure that is fittable, at least in part, to the upper end portion of the bag and the walls are juxtaposed with a respective portion of the bag, and    retention means for engaging and gripping the material of the bag, the retention means being provided on each sidewall and adapted to removably grip a respective upper end portion of the bag with which the sidewall is juxtaposed wherein the frame operates to retain and maintain the bag in the upwardly open position.    
   
   
       2 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retention frame has a top edge proximate to the top of the bag and a bottom edge proximate to the ground, the sidewalls and center wall extending vertically between the edges when the retention frame is connected to the bag.  
   
   
       3 . The support apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bag is comprised of a strong durable paper wherein to be vertically self-standing.  
   
   
       4 . The support apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bag is comprised of a limp pliable polymeric material and the sidewalls and center wall extend between the opposite ends of the bag wherein to hold the bag vertically.  
   
   
       5 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retention frame is one piece and of a cardboard-like material, and said means for hingedly connecting the sidewalls to the center wall comprises a pair of creases or like areas of reduced cross-section formed in the material.  
   
   
       6 . The support apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retention means comprises the side wall being punched and slitted, the slit being continuous, extending between opposite ends, and U-shaped wherein to form a deflectable U-shaped beam clip that interfits in nested relation within a U-shaped cutout and the punches forming a pair of keyhole shaped openings one at each end of the slit, said key hole shaped openings defining a pivot axis proximate to the top edge of the associated side wall, said beam clip having an upper end portion disposed along said pivot axis and a lower end portion that is deflectable outwardly and inwardly relative to the plane of the associated sidewall, the upper end portion of the material of the bag being frictionally engaged and retained in a tight fit by and between the edges of the slit that form the beam clips and associated cutouts when the beam clips are nested in their cutouts and also by and with the edges that form the keyhole openings at ends of the slit.  
   
   
       7 . An arrangement for collecting leaves and like yard waste, comprising, in combination, 
 an upwardly open bag formed of self-supporting yet pliable paper material that is capable of being manipulated and deformed and having a top end, and    a support frame located, at least in part, atop the top end of the bag and holding the bag in the open position, the frame comprising a one piece generally rectangular sheet having top and bottom edges proximate to the top end, a center wall and a pair of lateral sidewalls, the walls forming a squared C-shape, and retention means for individually removably securing and engaging each said side wall to the material of the bag, said retention means comprising each said side wall being slitted to form a U-shaped beam clip and matching U-shaped cutout lock and punched to form a keyhole opening at each end of the U-shaped slit, the keyhole openings defining a pivot axis of the beam clip and for locating the top end of the bag, the beam clip being deflectable relative to the side wall outwardly from the cutout lock to receive material forming the upper end portion of the bag and inwardly to seat within the cutout lock, the bag material being frictionally engaged and retained between the mating edges of the slit forming the beam clip and cutout when the beam clip is seated and by the keyhole shaped openings receive and retain the material of the bag inserted therewithin.    
   
   
       8 . A support apparatus for holding a lawn and/or refuse bag or the like in an upwardly open condition for receiving leaves and/or other refuse funneled thereinto by a user, the support apparatus comprising a support frame fitted to the upper end portion of the bag, the support frame in the form of a C-shaped frame comprising a pair of sidewalls hingedly connected to a center wall, each sidewall including retention structure, which comprises the material of the sidewall being slitted to form a U-shaped beam that deflects upwardly from and snap-fits into a receiving cutout to establish frictional retaining engagement with the material of the bag when inserted therebetween, the walls of the frame operating to rigidify, support and hold and maintain the upper end portion of the bag in an upwardly open condition for filling by the user.  
   
   
       9 . The support apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the retention structure comprises the sidewall being punched to form a pair of circular openings and slitted, the slit being continuous, U-shaped and extending between the openings and forming a U-shaped cutout and a U-shaped beam that is deflectable upwardly from nested fitment within the cutout, the upper end portion of the bag being able to be inserted between the beam and the cutout and the upper end located in and engaged by the openings, and the beam is snap-fitted back into nested fitment within the cutout, whereupon the material is gripped by the mating edges of the beam and cutout and the frame is engaged in a tight locking engagement with the bag.