Trash basket having integral, internally-flush vanes for supporting plastic grocery bags

A trash basket which can support a plastic bag in an upright, open condition within said basket, said bag being of the type which has a predetermined size, an opening at the top thereof, and a pair of handles of a predetermined size at opposite sides of said opening, said trash basket comprising:

• a container having a bottom and substantially vertical side walls extending up from said bottom,
• said side walls having opposed internal surfaces,
• said side walls terminating in an open mouth at the top of said container,
• said container being able to contain said plastic grocery bag when the handles thereof are supported within said container adjacent the top thereof,
• the top portion of said basket comprising holding means for holding the handles of said plastic bag apart at opposite sides of said container,
• said basket and said holding means being integral and constituting a single part,
• said holding means comprising a pair of vertically-oriented vanes at the top of said container,
• the base of said vanes being attached integrally to said container,
• said vanes projecting vertically upward from their bases and having free upper ends so that the handles of a bag may be hung thereon,
• the upper free ends of said vanes being at least as low as said opening at the top of said container such that said vanes do not project above the top of said container,
• said vanes being substantially flush with said respective opposing internal surfaces of said container such that said vanes do not project into the interior of said container from said opposing internal surfaces thereof,
• said vanes comprising a member having two oppositely-facing vertically-oriented major surfaces, each of said surfaces having dimensions which are relatively large in relation to the thickness of said vanes between said surfaces,
• said container having an upper rim around and defining said opening at the top of said container, the portions of said rim adjacent said vanes being spaced from said vanes so as to define a slot between said portions of said rim adjacent said vanes and said vanes, said portions being joined to said respective sides of said basket by integral connection portions, said portions projecting outwardly from their respective sides of said container so as to provide a pair of graspable handles for lifting said basket,
• whereby when said plastic bag is hung by its handles from said respective vanes and completely stuffed with items, it can easily be withdrawn from said container without being obstructed by vanes, and
• whereby a plurality of said containers can be stacked or nested together without interference from said vanes.