Bag-supporting frame apparatus which is mountable on a substrate, and method of using same

Abstract

A bag-supporting frame apparatus is removably mountable on a portion of a substrate. The apparatus includes a gripping portion for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate. The apparatus also includes a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag thereon, the bag-supporting portion including an outer loop portion and a downwardly-extending short portion attached to the outer loop portion at each end thereof. A projecting catch is defined, at each of two opposed sides of the outer loop portion, at the juncture of the downwardly-extending short portion and the outer loop portion. The outer loop portion is sized and configured to support a plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon. The apparatus also includes a connecting portion interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portion. Methods of using the apparatus are also described.

Having, thus, described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on a portion of a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
 a gripping portion for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate;   a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag thereon, the bag-supporting portion including an outer loop portion and a downwardly extending short portion attached to the outer loop portion at each of two opposed sides thereof, where a projecting catch is defined between the outer loop portion and the short portion at each of the two opposed sides of the outer loop portion, and where the outer loop portion is sized and configured to support a plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon; and   a connecting portion interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion is configured to attach the apparatus to a substrate in cantilevered fashion, while contacting the substrate in at least two different areas thereof which are spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion comprises:
 an upper section for placement contacting the substrate at a first portion thereof;   a lower section for placement contacting the substrate at a second portion hereof situated substantially opposite the first portion, and   a substantially vertical joining segment which interconnects the upper section and the lower section.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material. 
     
     
         6 . A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on a portion of a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
 a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag thereon, the bag-supporting portion including an outer loop portion and a downwardly extending short portion attached to the outer loop portion at each of two opposed sides thereof, where a projecting catch is defined between the outer loop portion and the short portion at each of the opposed sides of the outer loop portion, and where the outer loop portion is sized and configured to support a plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon;   a gripping portion for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate, and   a connecting portion interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portion; wherein the gripping portion comprises:   an upper section for placement contacting the substrate at a first portion thereof;   a lower section for placement contacting the substrate at a second portion thereof situated substantially opposite to the first portion, and   a substantially vertical joining segment which interconnects the upper section and the lower section.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion is configured to attach the apparatus to a substrate in cantilevered fashion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material. 
     
     
         10 . A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on a portion of a substrate, the apparatus comprising:
 a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag thereon, the bag-supporting portion including an outer loop portion extending substantially in a horizontal plane in an installed configuration of the apparatus, and a downwardly extending short portion attached to the outer loop portion at each of two opposed sides thereof, where a projecting catch is defined between the outer loop portion and the short portion at each of the opposed sides of the outer loop portion, and where the outer loop portion is sized and configured to support a plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon;   a gripping portion for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate, and   a connecting portion interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portion; wherein the gripping portion comprises:   an upper section for placement contacting a distal side of the substrate at a first portion thereof;   a lower section for placement contacting a proximal side of the substrate at a second portion thereof, where the proximal side of the substrate is substantially opposite to the distal side; and   a substantially vertical joining segment which interconnects the upper section and the lower section.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the gripping portion is configured to attach the apparatus to a substrate in cantilevered fashion. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material.