Bag holder

Abstract

A holder for a bag. The holder comprises a stand or trash can and chute elements rotatably engaged to the stand or trash can. The chute elements are for opening the bag when frictionally engaging interior surfaces of the bag. The chute elements comprise a first pair and a second pair of chute elements. Each of the first pair of chute elements have stop elements for limiting rotation on the stand or trash can of each of the second pair of chute elements, when each of the first pair of chute elements has engaged sides of the bag in the holder.

1 . A holder for a bag, comprising a stand, and chute elements rotatably engaged to the stand, for opening the bag when frictionally engaging interior surfaces of said bag,
 wherein said chute elements comprise a first pair and a second pair of chute elements, each of said first pair of chute elements having stop elements for limiting rotation on said stand of each of said second pair of chute elements, when each of said first pair of chute elements has engaged sides of the bag in said holder.   
   
   
       2 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said stop elements comprise curved edges on ends of said first pair of chute elements which respectively overlap ends of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       3 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the edge is curved at opposite ends to prevent piercing the bag. 
   
   
       4 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said chute elements are adapted to cover an entire perimeter of a mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       5 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein said first pair and said second pair of chute elements have engagement elements for maintaining said second pair of chute elements in engagement with said first pair of chute elements, and said edge portion in engagement with the bag, after rotation of said second pair of chute elements has been limited by said stop elements. 
   
   
       6 . The holder according to  claim 5 , wherein said engagement elements comprises a pair of detents on opposite ends of each of said first pair of chute elements which engage beveled edges on opposite ends of each of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       7 . The holder according to  claim 5 , wherein said engagement elements comprises a pair of bumps on opposite ends of each of said first pair of chute elements which engage beveled edges on opposite ends of each of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       8 . The holder according to  claim 5 , wherein the engagement elements provide force to keep a bag open. 
   
   
       9 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of chute elements are longer than the second pair of chute elements and wherein a lower portion of the first pair of chute elements contact the bag sufficiently below the top edge of the bag so that essentially no force is applied to the mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       10 . The holder according to  claim 9 , wherein the lower portion of the first pair of chute elements is angled outwardly to apply force to the bag. 
   
   
       11 . The holder according to  claim 10 , wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein a height of the stand is at least as long as a length of the bag when opened or in said holder. 
   
   
       13 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of chute elements are made from an elastically deformable material. 
   
   
       14 . The holder according to  claim 13 , wherein the second pair of chute elements force the first pair of chute elements to deform. 
   
   
       15 . A trash can with a holder for a bag comprising:
 a trash can body; and   a lid, the lid comprising chute elements rotatably engaged to the lid, for opening the bag when frictionally engaging interior surfaces of said bag,   wherein said chute elements comprise a first pair and a second pair of chute elements, each of said first pair of chute elements having stop elements for limiting rotation on said stand of each of said second pair of chute elements, when each of said first pair of chute elements has engaged sides of the bag in said holder.   
   
   
       16 . The trash can according to  claim 15 , further comprising wheels and a handle. 
   
   
       17 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein said stop elements comprise curved edges on ends of said first pair of chute elements which respectively overlap ends of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       18 . The holder according to  claim 17 , wherein the edge is curved at opposite ends to prevent piercing the bag. 
   
   
       19 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein said chute elements are adapted to cover an entire perimeter of a mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       20 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein said first pair and said second pair of chute elements have engagement elements for maintaining said second pair of chute elements in engagement with said first pair of chute elements, and said edge portion in engagement with the bag, after rotation of said second pair of chute elements has been limited by said stop elements. 
   
   
       21 . The holder according to  claim 20 , wherein said engagement elements comprises a pair of detents on opposite ends of each of said first pair of chute elements which engage beveled edges on opposite ends of each of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       22 . The holder according to  claim 20 , wherein said engagement elements comprises a pair of bumps on opposite ends of each of said first pair of chute elements which engage beveled edges on opposite ends of each of said second pair of chute elements. 
   
   
       23 . The holder according to  claim 20 , wherein the engagement elements provide force to keep a bag open. 
   
   
       24 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein the first pair of chute elements are longer than the second pair of chute elements and wherein a lower portion of the first pair of chute elements contact the bag sufficiently below the top edge of the bag so that essentially no force is applied to the mouth of the bag. 
   
   
       25 . The holder according to  claim 24 , wherein the lower portion of the first pair of chute elements is angled outwardly to apply force to the bag. 
   
   
       26 . The holder according to  claim 25 , wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
   
   
       27 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein a height of the stand is at least as long as a length of the bag when opened or in said holder. 
   
   
       28 . The holder according to  claim 15 , wherein the first pair of chute elements are made from an elastically deformable material. 
   
   
       29 . The holder according to  claim 28 , wherein the second pair of chute elements force the first pair of chute elements to deform. 
   
   
       30 - 41 . (canceled)