Support structure for and method of using plastic bags

Abstract

A collapsible support frame has a top opening and open sides to allow a plastic bag to be received through the top opening. Anchoring members protrude outwardly from the frame to engage the top of the open bag after it is folded over the frame. The anchoring members are dimensioned to at least partially stretch the folded-over portion of the bag to insure that the bag remains secured to the frame even when the bag is weighed down with materials placed in the bag, such as trash, recyclables, etc. After the bag is full and is to be removed from the frame the folded over portion is manually urged over the anchoring members to separate the bag from the frame. While the bag is held in the frame the exterior surfaces of the bag are visible and preferably bear messages, advertisements, etc.

1 . A support structure for supporting a thin walled stretchable plastic bag having an open end, the support structure comprising a vertical frame defining a vertical axis, an interior volume or space and an upper generally rectangular frame edge and opening forming four corners and arranged in a generally horizontal plane when the support structure is supported on a horizontal surface to orient said axis in a generally vertical direction; and generally wedge-shaped portions each with a continuous smooth surface one at each corner on said frame proximate to said frame opening, each wedge-shaped portion having an uppermost dimension, in a direction away from said axis, substantially equal to zero, at an uppermost point closest to said frame opening, and a lowermost maximum dimension, in a direction away from said axis, whereby a plastic bag can be folded over said rectangular edge when inserted into said interior volume or space and pulled only vertically downwarly in a direction parallel to said axis with said wedge-shaped portions that stretch a bag and engage said wedge-shaped portions when the plastic bag is pulled over said smooth surfaces and below the lowermost portions to retain an open end of a bag placed within said interior volume while maintaining the plastic bag open. 
     
     
         2 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said frame is formed of a plurality of frame members linked to each other and collapsible for storage. 
     
     
         3 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said frame member is a non-collapsible bin. 
     
     
         4 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wedge-shaped portions have rounded ends at points of said maximum dimensions to prevent puncturing of a plastic bag when stretched over said wedge-shaped portions. 
     
     
         5 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wedge-shaped portions are arranged about said upper frame opening with uppermost portions substantially coextensive with said rectangular frame edge. 
     
     
         6 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is straight. 
     
     
         7 . A support structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is curved. 
     
     
         8 . A support structure as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is convex. 
     
     
         9 . In combination of a thin walled stretchable plastic bag and a support structure for supporting said thin walled stretchable plastic bag, said bag generally defining an open end, said support structure comprising a vertical frame defining a vertical axis, an interior volume or space and an upper generally rectangular frame edge and opening forming four corners and arranged in a generally horizontal plane when the support structure is supported on a horizontal surface to orient said axis in a generally vertical direction; and generally wedge-shaped portions each with a continuous smooth surface one at each corner on said frame proximate to said frame opening, each wedge-shaped portion having an uppermost dimension, in a direction away from said axis, substantially equal to zero, at an uppermost point closest to said frame opening, and a lowermost maximum dimension, in a direction away from said axis, whereby a plastic bag can be folded over said rectangular edge when inserted into said interior volume or space and pulled only vertically downwarly in a direction parallel to said axis with said wedge-shaped portions that stretch a bag and engage said wedge-shaped portions when the plastic bag is pulled over said smooth surfaces and below the lowermost portions to retain an open end of a bag placed within said interior volume while maintaining the plastic bag open. 
     
     
         10 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said bag comprises a T-shirt type bag. 
     
     
         11 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein perimeters p of plastic bag openings for use with a bin of rectangular edge perimeter P is selected to be within the range
   0.95P<p≦P.
   
     
     
         12 . A support structure as defined in  claim 11 , wherein P is equal to approximately 41″ and said bag has a perimeter within the range of 39-41″. 
     
     
         13 . A support structure as defined in  claim 11 , wherein P is equal to approximately 41″ and said bag has a perimeter p=40″. 
     
     
         14 . A support structure as defined in  claim 11 , wherein p˜0.975P. 
     
     
         15 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said wedge-shaped portions have rounded ends at points of said maximum dimensions to prevent puncturing of a plastic bag when stretched over said wedge-shaped portions. 
     
     
         16 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said wedge-shaped portions are arranged about said upper frame opening with uppermost portions substantially coextensive with said rectangular frame edge. 
     
     
         17 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is straight. 
     
     
         18 . A support structure as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is curved. 
     
     
         19 . A support structure as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said continuous smooth surface of each wedge-shaped portion is convex. 
     
     
         20 . A method for securing a thin walled stretchable plastic bag generally defining and axis and an open end to a support structure comprising the steps of providing a support structure comprising a vertical frame defining a vertical axis, an interior volume or space and an upper generally rectangular frame edge and opening forming four corners and arranged in a generally horizontal plane when the support structure is supported on a horizontal surface to orient said axis in a generally vertical direction; and generally wedge-shaped portions each with a continuous smooth surface one at each corner on said frame proximate to said frame opening, each wedge-shaped portion having an uppermost dimension, in a direction away from said axis, substantially equal to zero, at an uppermost point closest to said frame opening, and a lowermost maximum dimension, in a direction away from said axis, whereby a plastic bag can be folded over said rectangular edge when inserted into said interior volume or space and pulled only vertically downwarly in a direction parallel to said axis with said wedge-shaped portions that stretch a bag and engage said wedge-shaped portions when the plastic bag is pulled over said smooth surfaces and below the lowermost portions to retain an open end of a bag placed within said interior volume while maintaining the plastic bag open.