Kitchen storage bag filling apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for filling a bag includes a resilient sheet having first and second portions separated by a scored boundary having the shape of an arc. The resilient sheet is arrangeable between a relaxed configuration, wherein the resilient sheet is generally flat, and a flexed configuration, wherein the first portion is flexed into a curved shape that results in the second portion bending toward the first portion along the scored boundary. When in the flexed configuration, the first portion is adapted to fit into an opening in the bag and the second portion extends from the bag and supports the resilient sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device facilitating the filling of a pliable bag, the device comprising:
 (a) a resilient, generally planar sheet of material, including a first portion and a second portion separated by a hinge, the resilient sheet configured such that flexing of the first portion into a generally curved surface results in the second portion moving toward the first portion by bending of the sheet along the hinge;   (b) wherein tension in the sheet urges the first portion toward a generally planar configuration;   (c) wherein the flexed first portion is dimensioned to be inserted through the mouth of a pliable bag and into the interior storage area of the bag, and to engage the side walls of the bag while in a flexed position such that the side walls of the bag engage and maintain the first portion in such flexed position; and   (d) wherein the second portion is dimensioned to extend from the bag and support the mouth of the bag at an elevated position above a surface on which the bag and device are supported.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises a curved line of reduced thickness relative to the first portion and to the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is water-resistant. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a notch on each side of the sheet, wherein the notch aids in holding open the bag. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet further comprises an opening that enables the device to be hung on a hook. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is dimensioned to be used with a quart-sized bag. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is dimensioned to be used with a gallon-sized bag. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient sheet is constructed of water-resistant plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of material is translucent. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a pliable bag; and   (b) a sheet of material comprising a first portion and a second portion separated by a hinge, the sheet of material being configurable between,
 (i) a first configuration, in which the resilient sheet of material is generally planar, and 
 (ii) a second configuration, in which the first portion is altered into a generally curved surface and the second portion is altered to extend at an angle to the first portion; 
   (c) wherein the first portion is received within the bag in the altered state and wherein the second portion extends from the bag and to support a mouth of the bag at an elevated position above a surface on which the apparatus is supported.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet is resilient. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet is malleable. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet is translucent. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet is water-resistant. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the sheet further comprises an opening that enables the device to be hung on a hook. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bag has a zip-seal, wherein the first portion of the sheet includes side notches, and wherein the zip-seal is retained by the side notches such that the bag is held in place along a predetermined extent of the first portion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bag is a quart-sized bag. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the bag is a gallon-sized bag. 
     
     
         19 . A method of filling a bag, comprising:
 (a) providing a device comprising a resilient sheet of water-resistant material, including an interior portion and an exterior portion separated by a pre-scored arc;   (b) gripping the device by the interior portion;   (c) squeezing the device and causing it to bend along the arc, thereby creating a supporting side on the exterior portion and a funnel side on the interior portion;   (d) inserting the interior portion into a bag;   (e) releasing the grip;   (f) filling the bag; and   (g) removing the device from the bag.   (h) wherein a user grips and squeezes the interior portion of the sheet to bend the sheet along the pre-scored arc, thereby creating a free-standing funnel-like structure, wherein the interior portion is configured for insertion into a plastic bag to permit the plastic bag to be held open.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for filling a bag, the apparatus comprising a resilient sheet having first and second portions separated by a scored boundary having the shape of an arc, the resilient sheet being arrangeable between a relaxed configuration, wherein the resilient sheet is generally flat, and a flexed configuration, wherein the first portion is flexed into a curved shape that results in the second portion bending toward the first portion along the scored boundary, wherein, when in the flexed configuration, the first portion is adapted to fit into an opening in the bag and the second portion extends from the bag and supports the resilient sheet. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient sheet is biased against being in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the scored boundary has a thickness less than that of either of the first and second portions. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second portions have the same thickness. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second portions have different thicknesses. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient sheet includes notches at opposite sides thereof, the notches being arranged to engage sides of the opening in the bag when the resilient sheet is in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the second portion defines a pair of foot supports when the resilient sheet is in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient sheet is made from a water-resistant material. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the resilient sheet is made from a translucent material. 
     
     
         29 . A method of filling a bag, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a generally flat, resilient sheet having first and second portions separated by a scored boundary;   (b) arranging the resilient sheet in a flexed configuration by flexing the first portion into a curved shape that results in the second portion bending toward the first portion along the scored boundary; and   (c) when in the flexed configuration, placing the first portion into an opening of a bag such that the second portion extends from the bag and supports the resilient sheet.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the resilient sheet is biased against being in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the scored boundary has a thickness less than that of either of the first and second portions. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second portions have the same thickness. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second portions have different thicknesses. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising aligning notches at opposite sides of the resilient sheet to engage sides of the opening in the bag when the resilient sheet is in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second portion defines a pair of foot supports when the resilient sheet is in the flexed configuration. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the resilient sheet is made from a water-resistant material. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the resilient sheet is made from a translucent material.