Foldable bag support

Abstract

A stiffening system and method for a foldable bag. A foldable bag is disclosed having: one or more fold lines; a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section separated by a fold line; and a stiffener having a first portion pre-fastened to the first adjacent section and a second portion that includes a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section for maintaining the foldable bag in an open position.

1 . A foldable bag, comprising:
 a fold line;   a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section separated by the fold line; and   a stiffener having a first portion pre-fastened to the first adjacent section and a second portion that includes a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section to maintain the foldable paper bag in an open position.   
   
   
       2 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffener is adapted to be folded within the foldable paper bag in a non-interfering manner. 
   
   
       3 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable bag and stiffener each comprise a biodegradable substance. 
   
   
       4 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffener is pre-fastened to the first adjacent section with an adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for manual attachment includes an adhesive strip with a removable cover. 
   
   
       6 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the fold line comprises a vertical fold line extending from an opening of the foldable bag towards a bottom section. 
   
   
       7 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the fold line comprises a horizontal fold line extending across the foldable bag. 
   
   
       8 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffener comprises a substantially flat piece of material. 
   
   
       9 . The foldable bag of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the stiffener utilize an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of: glue, tape, a staple, string, riveting, and cut-outs/tabs. 
   
   
       10 . A method of implementing a foldable bag, comprising:
 forming the foldable bag to include a fold line that separates a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section; and   pre-fastening a first portion of a stiffener to the first adjacent section, wherein the stiffener includes a second portion having a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section to maintain the foldable bag in an open position.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener is adapted to be folded within the foldable bag in a non-interfering manner. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener and foldable bag each comprise a biodegradable substance. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener is pre-fastened to the first adjacent section with one of: an adhesive, tape, a staple riveting, and a cut-out/tab. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mechanism for manual attachment includes an adhesive strip with a removable cover. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fold line comprises a vertical fold line extending from an opening of the foldable bag towards a bottom section. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fold line comprises a horizontal fold line extending across the foldable bag. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffener comprises a substantially flat rectangular section of material. 
   
   
       18 . A bag stiffening system, comprising:
 a foldable bag having a fold line separating a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section; and   a stiffener, wherein the stiffener comprises a substantially flat piece of material having an adhesive on one side, said stiffener being adapted to be manually adhered to the first adjacent section and the second adjacent section across the fold line.   
   
   
       19 . The bag stiffening system of  claim 18 , wherein the foldable bag and stiffener are manufactured from a paper-based material. 
   
   
       20 . The bag stiffening system of  claim 18 , wherein the foldable bag includes an indicia for locating the stiffener.