Portable bag holding device

Abstract

A portable bag opening device for holding a disposable bag. This device includes a handle, a first bag mouth engaging portion that has an elongated body defining an open slot for receiving part of the bag mouth therein, and at least one bag mouth holding portion for assisting in maintaining the bag mouth part in the first bag mouth engaging portion with the bag in an open position to receive contents therein. The bag mouth part is removable from the first bag mouth engaging portion for disposal of the bag after contents are placed therein. The device also includes a second bag mouth engaging portion comprising a flexible strip attachable to the bag mouth on the perimeter thereof opposite that of the first bag mouth engaging portion. Also, a kit that includes components for forming the a portable bag opening device and a method of using the same.

1 . A portable bag opening device for holding a disposable bag which has an opening that defines the mouth of the bag, comprising:
 a handle;   a first bag mouth engaging portion comprising an elongated body defining an open slot configured and dimensioned to receive part of the bag mouth therein; and   at least one additional bag mouth holding portion for assisting in maintaining the bag mouth part in the bag mouth engaging portion with the mouth of the bag in an at least partial open position to receive contents therein,   wherein the bag mouth part is removable from the first bag mouth engaging portion for disposal of the bag after contents are placed therein.   
     
     
         2 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has at least an partial open portion to allow grasping by a user or hanging of the device from a support, with the handle configured with a closed loop shape that is oval or round and is further configured to be openable and reclosable to allow the user to attach the handle to objects, or the handle is configured with an open loop shape which is sufficiently stiff to not excessively deflect when supporting a loaded bag and is sufficiently flexible to allow the user to attach the handle to objects. 
     
     
         3 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the first bag mouth engaging member each comprise a stem portion in mutual engagement, wherein the stem portions are engageable in any one of a plurality of lockable positions to provide a selective length between the handle and the first bag mouth engaging portion. 
     
     
         4 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 3 , wherein the stem portions are configured to be telescopically engageable with the plurality of lockable positions provided by a depressible button on one stem portion and a plurality of holes on the other stem portion. 
     
     
         5 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the open slot is longitudinal and the first bag mouth holding portion comprises at least one tab member positioned on the elongated body and providing a protrusion around which a portion of the bag mouth can be wrapped after passing through the slot to help secure the bag to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the open slot is longitudinal and wherein the first bag mouth engaging portion comprises at least two tab members spaced along the elongated body below the open slot for receiving the bag mouth part to further keep the bag mouth in the open position. 
     
     
         7 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the open slot is longitudinal and the bag mouth holding portion comprises either one additional threading slot positioned at the end of the body and configured and positioned to engage the bag mouth part that is pulled through the open slot to help secure the bag to the body or two additional threading slots with one provided at each end of the body, and wherein each threading slot is arcuate or comprises first and second channels oriented parallel to or at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal open slot. 
     
     
         8 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the open slot is longitudinal and the bag mouth holding portion comprises at least one hinged arm that is reversibly engageable with the bag mouth part after the bag mouth part is pulled through the threading slot. 
     
     
         9 . The portable bag opening device of  claim 1 , wherein the open slot is longitudinal and the bag mouth holding portion comprises at least one arm member that is reversibly engageable with the bag mouth part using push clips after the bag mouth part is pulled through the threading slot and positioned beneath the arm member. 
     
     
         10 . The portable bag opening device of the  claim 1 , wherein both the handle and the first bag mouth engaging portion are made of plastic, composite material, fiber-based material lightweight metallic alloy and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The portable bag opening device of the  claim 1 , further comprising a second bag mouth engaging portion comprising a flexible strip attachable to the bag mouth on the perimeter thereof opposite that of the first bag mouth engaging portion, wherein the second bag mouth engaging portion has sufficient rigidity to keep the mouth of the bag in an open position when in use and is removable from the bag for disposal when the bag is full. 
     
     
         12 . The portable bag opening device of the  claim 11 , wherein the second bag mouth engaging portion includes a projecting lip that projects over the mouth of the bag and which pivots about an axis such to engage a flat surface to provide a ramp guide for contents which is are to be placed into the bag. 
     
     
         13 . The portable bag opening device of the  claim 12 , wherein the second bag mouth engaging portion is formed of a plastic, composite or fiber-based material and includes at least one foldable tab member for attaching the second bag mouth engaging portion to the bag mouth in a position opposite that of the first bag mouth engaging portion, with the ramp guide of the second bag mouth engaging portion optionally coated with a harder material or optionally made from a harder material than that of the rest of the second bag mouth engaging portion. 
     
     
         14 . The portable bag opening device of the  claim 12 , wherein the second bag mouth engaging portion further comprises of slots dimensioned and configured to allow a portion of the bag mouth opening to be inserted and removed from the slots while also providing a clamping force on the portion of the bag mouth opening within the slots. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for holding a disposable bag open comprising components for forming a portable bag opening device according to  claim 1  and optionally one or a plurality of bags of the same or different sizes, with the bags sized to be compatible with the first bag mouth engaging portion of the bag opening device and optionally a plurality of handles of different sizes. 
     
     
         16 . A method for holding a disposable bag open comprising:
 providing a portable bag opening device according to  claim 1 ,   passing part of the bag mouth of a disposable bag through the open slot, and   securing that part of the bag mouth around the first bag mouth engaging portion to assist in holding the bag in an open position.   
     
     
         17 . A method for holding a disposable bag open comprising:
 providing a portable bag opening device kit according to  claim 15  which also contains one or more disposable bags,   passing part of the bag mouth of a disposable bag from the kit through the open slot, and   securing that part of the bag mouth around the first bag mouth engaging portion to assist in holding the bag in an open position.