# US 8,770,531 B2 · Bag-supporting frame apparatus which is mountable on a substrate, and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,531 B2 - Document ID: US8770531B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/558,851 - Filed: 2012-07-26 - Published: 2013-01-31 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-28 - Applicants: John Patrick Cundy - Inventors: John Patrick Cundy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770531B2 ## CPC - B65B 67/1227: {only by a part of the periphery, e.g. by single points or handles, or by one side or two opposite sides only (B65B67/1244 takes precedence)} - B65F 1/1415: {for flexible receptables, e.g. bags, sacks} - B65F 2210/18: Suspending means - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36}) ## Abstract A bag-supporting frame apparatus is removably mountable on an edge portion of a horizontal or vertical 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 end 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on an edge portion of a substantially horizontal panel 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 of a predetermined size thereon, the bag-supporting portion comprising: a substantially horizontally-extending outer loop portion which is unobstructed around a periphery thereof to receive said bag thereon; and a downwardly-extending short portion integrally attached to and extending downwardly from the outer loop portion at each end thereof, where a projecting catch is defined by a catch angle formed between the outer loop portion and the downwardly extending short portion at each end of the outer loop portion, and where the outer loop portion is sized and configured to support the open end portion of the flexible plastic bag thereon and to maintain the plastic bag in an open-mouth condition when the open end portion is stretched thereover; and a connecting portion disposed between and interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portion; wherein a lower end of each downwardly-extending short portion is disposed below a corresponding end of the outer loop portion to which the downwardly-extending short portion is attached; wherein the connecting portion extends upwardly from a portion of the frame apparatus proximate the lower ends of the downwardly-extending short portion, and wherein the frame apparatus is configured such that the bag-supporting portion is suspended at a level below the gripping portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion is configured to attach the apparatus to the substrate in cantilevered fashion, while contacting the substrate from both above and below. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion comprises: an upper horizontal section for placement above the substrate; a lower substrate-contacting arm for placement below the substrate, and a substantially vertical joining segment which interconnects the upper horizontal section and the lower substrate-contacting arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catch angle is an acute angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion comprises: an upper horizontal section for placement above the substrate; a lower substrate-contacting free arm for placement below the substrate, and a substantially vertical joining segment which interconnects the upper horizontal section and the lower substrate-contacting arm and further wherein the lower substrate-contacting free arm is formed in an L-shape with a vertically extending end portion, in order to receive and accommodate a substrate with a transverse J-shaped edge portion. ### Claim 8 A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on an edge portion of a substantially horizontal panel portion of a substrate, the apparatus comprising: a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon, the bag-supporting portion comprising: a substantially horizontally-extending outer loop portion which is unobstructed around a periphery thereof to receive said bag thereon and a downwardly-extending short portion integrally attached to and extending downwardly from the outer loop portion at each end thereof, where a projecting catch is defined by a catch angle formed between the outer loop portion and the downwardly-extending short portion at each end of the outer loop portion, and where the outer loop portion is sized and configured to support the open end portion of the flexible plastic bag thereon and to maintain the plastic bag in an open-mouth condition when the open end portion is stretched thereover; a pair of spaced-apart gripping portions for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate, each of the gripping portions including an upper horizontal section, a lower substrate-contacting arm, and a joining segment interconnecting the upper section and the lower arm; and a pair of connecting portions respectively disposed between and interconnecting the bag- supporting portion and the gripping portions; wherein a lower end of each downwardly-extending short portion is disposed below a corresponding end of the outer loop portion to which the downwardly-extending short portion is attached; wherein the connecting portions extend upwardly from a portion of the frame apparatus proximate the lower end of the downwardly-extending short portions, and wherein the frame apparatus is configured such that the bag-supporting portion is suspended at a level below the gripping portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gripping portion is configured to attach the apparatus to the substrate in cantilevered fashion, while contacting the substrate from both above and below. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes a main body portion formed from bent wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least part of the main body portion is coated with a flexibly resilient coating material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the catch angle is an acute angle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a cover panel assembly; the cover panel assembly comprising: a main panel member, and a mounting rod including two spaced apart end portions, each end portion being bent around substantially in a U-shape; wherein the cover panel assembly is detachably attached to the connecting portions by hooking the U-shaped end portions around the connecting portions. ### Claim 14 A bag-supporting frame apparatus for mounting on an edge portion of a substantially horizontal substrate, the apparatus comprising: a bag-supporting portion configured to support an open end portion of a flexible plastic bag of a predetermined size thereon, the bag-supporting portion including: a horizontally extending outer loop portion having three sides, and defining a rectangle with one open side, the outer loop portion sized and configured to support the plastic bag thereon in an open-mouthed condition; a downwardly-extending short portion attached to each end of the outer loop portion at the open side thereof, each downwardly-extending short portion cooperating with the attached corresponding end of the outer loop to form a catch angle, a projecting catch defined by the catch angle between the outer loop portion and each of the short portions; a pair of spaced-apart gripping portions for contacting the substrate and holding the apparatus in place on the substrate, each of the gripping portions being a mirror image of the other, and including an upper horizontal section, a lower substrate-contacting arm, and a first vertical joining segment interconnecting the upper section and the lower arm; and a pair of connecting portions interconnecting the bag-supporting portion and the gripping portions, each connecting portion including a first substantially vertical connecting segment extending upwardly from a portion of the frame apparatus proximate a lower end of one of the downwardly-extending short portions, and including a second substantially vertical connecting segment disposed parallel to the first substantially vertical joining segment of the gripping portion, wherein the frame apparatus is configured such that the bag-supporting portion is suspended at a level below the lower substrate-contacting arms of the gripping portions, and the projecting catches are located at a position below the gripping portions.