Bag support system

Abstract

A bag support system is designed to universally support plastic shopping bags with integrated loop handles in an upright and open position for re-use as trash bags or receptacles to store and/or sort other materials or components.

1 . A bag support apparatus for securing a bag with handles comprising:
 a plurality of crossbars, each crossbar having at least one elongated portion, the elongated portion having a plurality of knobs, the knobs adapted for securing the bag by the handles,   each crossbar further adapted to removably attach a plurality of lateral supports and legs,   a plurality of lateral supports adapted to removably attach two of the crossbars to each other at a pre-determined distance from one another, and   a plurality of legs adapted to position the crossbars at a pre-determined distance from a surface to provide adequate space for the bag to hang from the crossbars.   
     
     
         2 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lateral supports are tubular. 
     
     
         3 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the legs are tubular. 
     
     
         4 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the lateral supports are removably attached to the crossbars by inserting one end of the lateral supports onto attachment protrusions on the crossbars. 
     
     
         5 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the legs are removably attached to the crossbars by inserting one end of the legs onto attachment protrusions on the crossbars. 
     
     
         6 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the crossbars are adapted to removably attach a plurality of vertical expanders, the vertical expanders adapted to removably attach additional crossbars at a pre-determined vertical distance from each other. 
     
     
         7 . A bag support apparatus for securing a bag with handles comprising:
 a plurality of crossbars, each crossbar having at least one elongated portion, the elongated portion having a plurality of knobs, the knobs adapted for securing the bag by the handles,   each crossbar further adapted to removably attach a plurality of lateral supports and legs,   a plurality of lateral supports adapted to removably attach two of the crossbars to each other at a pre-determined horizontal distance from one another,   a plurality of vertical expanders adapted to removably attach additional crossbars at a pre-determined vertical distance from each other, and   a plurality of legs adapted to position the crossbars at a pre-determined vertical distance from a surface to provide adequate space for a bag to hang from the crossbars.   
     
     
         8 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the crossbars are tubular. 
     
     
         9 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the vertical expanders are tubular. 
     
     
         10 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the legs are tubular. 
     
     
         11 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the lateral supports are removably attached to the crossbars by inserting one end of the lateral supports onto attachment protrusions on the crossbars. 
     
     
         12 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the vertical expanders are removably attached to the crossbars by inserting one end of the lateral supports onto attachment protrusions on the crossbars. 
     
     
         13 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the legs are removably attached to the crossbars by inserting one end of the legs onto attachment protrusions on the crossbars. 
     
     
         14 . A bag support apparatus for securing a bag with handles comprising:
 a plurality of upper crossbars, each upper crossbar having a plurality of knobs, the protruding members adapted for securing a bag with integrated loop handles,   each upper crossbar further adapted to removably attach a plurality of lateral supports and to removably attach a lower crossbar,   a plurality of lower crossbars, each lower crossbar having a plurality of protruding members, the protruding members adapted for securing a bag with handles,   each lower crossbar further adapted to removably attach a plurality of lateral supports and legs,   a plurality of lateral supports adapted to removably attach two of the upper or lower crossbars to each other at a pre-determined distance from one another, and   a plurality of legs adapted to position the crossbars at a pre-determined distance from a surface to provide adequate space for a bag to hang from the crossbars.   
     
     
         15 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the legs and the lateral supports include one or more tubular members connected by one or more couplings. 
     
     
         16 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the couplings include a divider and two tapered openings for facilitating insertion of a supporting member. 
     
     
         17 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the elongated horizontal portion of the upper crossbars and the elongated horizontal portion of the lower crossbars have three sides. 
     
     
         18 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the legs are angled outward. 
     
     
         19 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the legs are removably attached to the lower crossbar by inserting the legs into openings on the lower crossbars, the openings being tapered such that as the legs are inserted into the openings, interference fits are achieved. 
     
     
         20 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lateral supports are removably attached to the upper and lower crossbars by inserting the lateral supports into openings in the upper and lower crossbars, the openings being tapered such that as the lateral supports are inserted in to the openings, interference fits are achieved. 
     
     
         21 . The bag support apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lower crossbars are removably attached to the upper crossbars by inserting attachment protrusions on the lower crossbars into tapered openings on the upper crossbars such that an interference fit is achieved.