CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/548,532 entitled BAG SUPPORTING APPARATUS, filed February 26, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] This invention relates to domestic or commercial waste disposal devices, and in particular, to an apparatus for supporting a bag to receive waste or other materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[003] Disposable bags configured with lifting handles are commonly used by retail stores to provide a customer with a convenient means for transporting a plurality of items purchased at the retail store. As a consequence, retail customers frequently accumulate large numbers of the disposable or recyclable bags in their household or place of business. One common use for the accumulated bags is to fill the bags with domestic waste, such as waste paper, food scraps, recyclable materials, and the like. The filled bags are then discarded along with other solid waste or recyclables generated within the household or place of business. [004] Since the bags are usually comprised of paper, plastic or other materials that generally lack structural rigidity, they are frequently difficult to maintain in an erected position so that the bag opening remains open while they are receiving the waste material. [005] There is therefore a need in the art for an apparatus that supports a bag so that the bag opening is supported in an open position, without occupying a floor or a counter area. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[006] The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting a bag. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a mounting bracket configured to be supported by a supporting structure (e.g., the front panel of a drawer, a door, a wall, etc.) and a pair of support arms extending outwardly from the mounting bracket to accommodate a bag therebetween. When the bag is thus supported, the support arms prevent the bag from collapsing when an object such as waste material is placed into the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[007] Figure IA is an isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. [008] Figure IB is an exploded isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. [009] Figure 2 is an isometric view of the bag supporting apparatus of Figure IA that shows the support arms in an extended position and supporting a bag. [010] Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the bag supporting apparatus of Figures IA and 2 showing the bag receiving waste material. [011] Figure 4 is an isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. [012] Figure 5 is an isometric view of the mounting brackets of Figure 4 that the support arms are pivotably retained by. [013] Figure 6 is an isometric view of the bag mounting structure shown in Figure 4. [014] Figure 7 is an isometric view of the bag supporting apparatus of Figure 4 with the bag mounting structure in its storage position. [015] Figure 8 is an isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus having non- rotatable support arms supported by a mounting bracket according to an embodiment of the invention. [016] Figure 9 is an exploded isometric of the bag supporting apparatus of Figure 8. [017] Figure 10 is an isometric view of a mounting bracket according to an embodiment of the invention that may be used with bag mounting structure of Figures 5 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[018] The invention is generally directed to an apparatus for supporting a bag. Many of the specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in the figures to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without several of the details described in the following description. [019] Figure IA is an isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 10 includes a generally channel-shaped mounting bracket 12 that is configured to be received by a supporting structure, such as an upper edge 14 of a drawer 16. Alternately, the mounting bracket 12 may be mounted on an edge of a door, or other similar supporting structures. The mounting bracket 12 may be temporarily mounted on the supporting structure, so that it may be removed and stored in a storage location when not in use. In another aspect, the mounting bracket 12 may be permanently mounted to the supporting structure. A pair of rotational supports 18 are spaced apart a predetermined distance and positioned at opposing ends of the mounting bracket 12 that further support a pair of arms 20. [020] The arms 20 may be rotated about axes 22 that are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mounting bracket 12 so that the arms may be positioned in a retracted position relative to the mounting bracket 12, as shown in Figure IA. The arms 20 may also be positioned in an extended position by rotating the arms 20 about the axes 22 in a direction R so that a longitudinal axis of each of the arms 20 is approximately aligned in a direction 24, which is approximately perpendicular to the upper edge 14 of the drawer 16. When in the extended position, the arms 20 may be laterally spaced apart about the same distance as the rotational supports 18. The rotational supports 18 further include detents 26 that retain the arms in the extended position and also in the retracted position. The arms 20 also include a plurality of upwardly extending tabs 28 that engage and retain handles on a bag supported by the apparatus 10, as will be described in greater detail below. [021] Figure 2 is an isometric view of the bag supporting apparatus 10 of Figure IA that shows the support arms 20 in an extended position and supporting a bag 30. To support the bag 30, bag handles 32 are threaded around the tabs 28 and over the arms 20 as shown, so that the bag 30 is supported between the arms 20. Since the bag 30 may vary widely in overall dimensions, and the bag handles 32 may be of different lengths or widths, the mounting bracket 12 may also include a pair of clearance slots 34 that may receive an edge 36a of the bag 30 when insufficient clearance exists between the edge 36a of the bag 30 and the mounting bracket 12. The apparatus 10 is advantageously configured so that it may accommodate a variety of bag sizes and geometries. [022] Referring now to Figure 3, a side elevation view of the bag supporting apparatus 10 of Figures IA and 2 is shown that will be used to demonstrate the utility of the apparatus 10. With the bag 30 supported by the apparatus 10 as shown in Figure 2, the drawer 16 may be positioned beneath a countertop 40, or another similar planar surface so that waste or other type of material W that is accumulated on the countertop 40 may be swept off an edge of the countertop 40 and into the bag 30 using a broom 31. It should be understood that the objects placed in the bag 30 are not limited to waste or recyclable materials. Any type of object that the apparatus 10 can support may be placed within the bag 30. [023] Figure IB is an exploded isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The bag supporting apparatus 100 is structurally and functionally similar to the bag supporting apparatus 10 of Figure IA, therefore, in the interest of brevity, components in both apparatus 10, 100 that are identical to each other have been provided with the same reference numerals, and an explanation of their structure and function will not be repeated unless the components function differently. The bag supporting apparatus 100 differs from the bag supporting apparatus 10 of Figure IA in that it employs two mounting bracket members 102a and 102b each with an associated support arm 20 and a separate backsplash 104 that fits between the two mounting bracket members 102a and 102b and attaches thereto to form an assembly. Each of the mounting bracket members 102a and 102b have slots 106a and 106b located on respective inside portions. The slots 106a and 106b are configured to receive male projections (not shown) of the backsplash 104 located adjacent the sides of the backsplash 104. When the backsplash 104 is mated with each of the mounting bracket members 102a and 102b, a rigid assembly is formed. The use of slots 106a and 106b is only one technique for attaching the mounting bracket members 102a and 102b with the backsplash 104. Alternative attachment techniques may be used. The configuration of bag supporting apparatus 100 facilitates packaging thereof because it may be disassembled for efficient packaging. Accordingly, once assembled on a drawer or another supporting structure, the bag supporting apparatus 100 functions identically to the bag supporting apparatus 10 of Figure IA. [024] Figure 4 is an isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus 40 according to an embodiment of the invention. The bag support apparatus 40 differs from the bag supporting apparatuses 10 and 100 of Figures IA and IB in that bag mounting structure 44 thereof is configured to be rotated upwardly to position the bag mounting structure 44 in a storage position adjacent to a generally channel-shaped mounting bracket 42. The mounting bracket 42 may be mounted on an edge of a door, or other similar supporting structures. The mounting bracket 42 may be temporarily mounted on the supporting structure, so that it may be removed and stored in a storage location when not in use. As best shown in Figure 5, the bag supporting apparatus 40 further includes plates 54 each having holes 56 therein secured to the mounting bracket 42 by welding, mechanical fastening, or another suitable technique. Alternatively, the plates 54 may be integrally formed with the mounting bracket 42 by stamping. The bag mounting structure 44, best shown in Figure 6, is pivotably supported by the plates 54 of the mounting bracket 42. The bag supporting structure 44 has a general circular cross- sectional shape and includes a pair of support arms 46a and 46b having respective bag retention portions 48a and 48b, and a cross-member 52 connecting each of the support arms 46a and 46b. End portions 50a and 50b of the bag mounting structure 44 are dimensioned to be received by the holes 56 of each of the plates 54 so that the bag mounting structure 44 is pivotably retained by the plates 54. The bag mounting structure 44 and the mounting bracket 42 collectively define a generally rectangular- shaped opening 45 that receives a bag 30 (not shown). In the position shown in Figure 4, the bag mounting structure 44 rests against lower portion 59 of the mounting bracket 42. [025] The bag mounting structure 44 may be rotated about an axis 58, which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting bracket 42, upwardly in the direction R to a storage position when not in use, shown in Figure 7, and rotated downwardly in the direction R to re-position the bag mounting structure 44 in the position, shown in Figure 4, when in use. In use, a bag 30 (not shown) is positioned between the support arms 46a and 46b and the bag handles 32 of the bag 30 (not shown) are threaded around the bag retention portions 48a and 48b in order to retain the bag 30 on the bag mounting structure 44 when an object is placed inside the bag 30. [026] Figures 8 and 9 show an isometric view and an exploded isometric view of a bag supporting apparatus 60 according to an embodiment of the invention. The bag supporting apparatus 60 includes a generally channel-shaped mounting bracket 62. The mounting bracket 62 has horizontal support members 72a and 72b which are fixed to the mounting bracket 62 by welding or by cutting a portion of the mounting bracket 62 and bending the cut portion downwardly. Each of the horizontal supports 72a and 72b have holes 74a and 74b therein that are dimensioned to receive end portions 80a and 80b of a bag mounting structure 70. [027] The bag mounting structure 70 includes a pair of support arms 76a and 76b, bag retention portion 78a and 78b, portions 84a and 84b, end portions 80a and 80b, and a cross member 82 connecting the support arms 76a and 76b. The bag mounting structure 70 is similar to the bag mounting structure 44 of Figure 4, except the end portions 80a and 80b extend downwardly so that portions 84a and 84b of the bag mounting structure 70 are supported by the horizontal supports 72a and 72b when the end portions 80a and 80b are inserted into the holes 74a and 74b. The end portions 84a and 84b extend through the holes 74a and 74b a sufficient length so that the bag mounting structure 70 is retained on the mounting bracket 62 when a downward load is applied thereto. The bag mounting structure 70 is easily removable from the mounting bracket 62 by a user for storage. A bag 30 (not shown) may be placed and retained on the bag mounting structure 70 as performed in the embodiment of Figure 4. [028] Figure 10 shows a mounting bracket 90 that may be used instead of the mounting bracket 62 of the bag supporting apparatus 60 according to another embodiment of the invention. Therefore, in the interest of brevity, components in both mounting brackets 60, 90 that are identical to each other have been provided with the same reference numerals, and an explanation of their structure and function will not be repeated unless the components function differently. Instead of using a channel-shaped mounting bracket of any of the aforementioned embodiments, a mounting bracket 86 configured as a plate with a plurality of holes 88 may be used. The mounting bracket 86 may be secured to a wall or another support structure by inserting screws or another fastening mechanism through each of the holes 88. Furthermore, the various configurations for the mounting brackets and bag mounting structures may be formed of materials such as carbon steels and stainless steels. Stainless steels are well suited if the bag supporting apparatus disclosed herein are to be employed in a corrosive environment such as in a marine environment in a boat. ] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, certain features shown in the context of one embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in other embodiments as well. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description of embodiments except as by the following claims.