BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to a garbage collection tool, and more specifically, a collapsible garbage bag support.

[0002] It is often difficult placing a large or bulky amount of garbage into a plastic or paper garbage bag. A garbage bag typically has to be propped open while the garbage is simultaneously carried into and through the bag opening. With large or bulky garbage items, two people may be necessary to dispose of the refuse. The first person handles the garbage, while the second person holds the garbage bag open. However, a second person may not always be available.

[0003] Conventional rigid, free-standing garbage

containers are sometimes lined with garbage bags to

maintain the bag's opening while garbage is placed inside. However, such a configuration typically requires that the filled garbage bag be lifted out and over the container. Such a maneuver may be difficult if there is a large amount of garbage being bagged.

SUMMARY

[0004] One example of the invention is a collapsible bag support. The collapsible bag support comprises a tube having a first end and a second end. The tube is configured

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 to receive refuse through the first end and deliver the refuse through the second end. Furthermore, the tube is flexible, such that the tube may be placed in a collapsed position and a fully extended position. The collapsible bag support also includes a spring coil carried by the tube. The spring coil biases the tube to the fully extended position .

[0005] Another example of the invention is a collapsible bag support having a funnel-shaped tube. The funnel-shaped tube includes a first end and a second end. The tube is configured to receive debris through the first end and deliver the debris through the second end, with a first opening at the first end being larger than a second opening at the second end. The tube is flexible such that the tube may be placed in a collapsed position and a fully extended position. The collapsible bag support also includes a spring coil carried by the tube. The spring coil biases the tube to the fully extended position.

[0006] Yet a further example of the invention is a collapsible bag support. The collapsible bag support comprises a sleeve having a first end and a second end. The sleeve is configured to receive refuse through the first end and deliver the refuse through the second end.

Furthermore, the sleeve is flexible, such that the sleeve may be placed in a collapsed position and a fully extended position. The collapsible bag support also includes a

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 spring coil carried by the sleeve. The spring coil biases the sleeve to the fully extended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the

specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a collapsible bag support in accordance with the present invention.

[0009] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a collapsible bag support in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Embodiments of the invention will now be

described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the

invention are shown.

[0011] One embodiment of the invention is a collapsible bag support 100, as shown in Fig. 1. The bag support 100 includes a tube or sleeve 102 having a first end 104 and second end 106. The tube 102 is configured to receive refuse 108 through the first end 104 and deliver the refuse 108 through the second end 106. In a particular

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 configuration, the tube 102 is approximately 22 inches in diameter and 26 inches in height.

[0012] The tube 102 is flexible such that it may be placed in a fully extended position for garbage collection and a collapsed position for convenient storage. For example, the tube 102 may be made from cloth, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, nylon or other suitable material.

[0013] The bag support 100 may further include a spring coil 110 carried by the tube 102. The spring coil 110 biases the tube 102 to the fully extended position such that the bag support 100 maintains its garbage collection configuration during use. In the collapsed position, the spring coil 110 is compressed.

[0014] In the example configuration of Fig. 1, the bag support 100 is placed on the outside of a plastic garbage bag 112. The plastic bag 112 is held open and upright by the bag support 100, with any excess bag material 114 draped over the first end 104. Thus, the bag support 100 holds the plastic bag 112 up while it is being filled.

[0015] As garbage is added to the plastic bag 112, the tube 102 can slide up the bag 112. Sliding the tube 104 up the bag 112 causes the bottom of the bag to pass through the second end 106 of the tube 102 and any excess bag material 114 to be taken in by the tube 102 though the first end 104.

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 [0016] Once the plastic bag 112 is completely filled, the bag support 100 is removed from the bag 112 and the bag 112 is tied. Since the bag support 100 is much lighter than the filled plastic bag 112, the bag support 100 can

beneficially eliminate lifting heavy bags of debris.

[0017] The bag support 100 may also include handles 116 attached to the first end 104 of the tube 102 to aid in lifting the bag support 100. The handles 116 may be

fabricated from various materials, such as nylon and cloth, and may be sewn directly to the tube 102. It is

contemplated that handles 116 may also be attached to the second end of the tube 102 so that the user does not have to orientate the bag support 100 before use.

[0018] The spring coil 110 can be made of flexible material configured to retain its shape, such as steel or fiberglass. The spring coil 110 can be sewn directly to the tube 102, either on the outside surface or the inside surface. In one embodiment, a channel is sewn onto the tube/sleeve and the spring material is slid into the channel forming a spring coil 110 around the tube or sleeve .

[0019] The bag support 100 may also include fasteners 118 to secure the bag support 100 in the collapsed

position. The fasteners may be, for example, buttons, snaps, or Velcro. The fasteners 118 maintain the bag support 100 in the collapsed position (i.e., the spring

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 coil 110 is compressed) for easy storage.

[0020] Another example of a bag support contemplated by the present invention is shown in Fig. 2. In this

embodiment, the bag support 202 includes a funnel-shaped tube or sleeve 204 having a first end 206 and a second end 208. A first opening 210 at the first end 206 is larger than a second opening 212 at the second end 208.

[0021] As discussed above, the tube 204 is configured to receive debris through the first end 104 and deliver the debris through the second end 106. In a particular

configuration, the tube 204 is approximately 22 inches in diameter at the first opening 210 and approximately 16 inches in diameter at the second opening 212. The tube 204 is approximately 37 inches in height, with approximately 9 inches being tapered to form the funnel shape.

[0022] As discussed above, the tube 204 is flexible such that it may be placed in a fully extended position for garbage collection and a collapsed position for convenient storage. For example, the tube 204 may be made from cloth, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, nylon or other suitable material.

[0023] The bag support 202 may further include a spring coil 214 carried by the tube 204. The spring coil 110 biases the tube 204 to the fully extended position such that the bag support 202 maintains its garbage collection configuration during use. In the collapsed position, the

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 spring coil 214 is compressed.

[0024] In the example configuration of Fig. 2, the bag support 202 is placed on the inside of a paper garbage bag 216. The paper bag 216 is held open and upright by the bag support 202. Thus, the bag support 202 holds the paper bag 216 up while it is being filled.

[0025] Once the bag support 202 is filled, it is lifted up and removed from the paper bag 216. Since the bag support 202 is bottomless, the debris falls through the tube 204 and into the paper bag 216. The bag support 202 may include handles 218 attached to the first end 206 of the tube 204 to aid in lifting the bag support 202. As mentioned above, the handles 218 can be made from various materials, such as nylon and cloth, and may be sewn

directly to the tube 204.

[0026] The spring coil 214 can be made of flexible material configured to retain its shape, such as steel. The spring coil 214 can be sewn directly to the tube 204, either on the outside surface or the inside surface.

[0027] The bag support 202 may also include fasteners 220 to secure the bag support 202 in the collapsed

position. The fasteners 220 may be, for example, buttons, snaps, or Velcro. The fasteners 220 maintain the bag support 202 in the collapsed position (i.e., the spring coil 214 is compressed) for easy storage.

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1 [0028] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention can help

eliminate lifting heavy bags out of garbage over collection containers once it is placed into bags. The bottomless deign of the bag support allows it to slid up garbage bags during the filling process to completely fill the bags. When the garbage bag is full, the bottomless tube can be slipped over and out of bag. This allows the user to lift only the weight of the bag support and not the weight of the filled garbage bag. Moreover, the bag support is collapsible and easily stored.

[0029] While the preferred embodiments to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the

invention first described.

Attorney Docket No. 0231P001PCT1