Horizontal ground-based bagging system

Abstract

A pair of posts each with a double stake peg element at the bottom are staked into penetrable ground with one stake on each post through a bottom edge of an opening in a flexible bag. An adjustable clamp slides on each post to secure the top of the opening. Two peg receptacles hold down a bottom edge of the opening, with the peg element inserted in penetrable ground or supported above impenetrable ground. A double-ramped portal element or a flexible mat secured between the peg receptacles covers the bottom edge of the bag opening. A mesh bag allows the use of a blower to fill the bag without ballooning. Grommets around the opening of the mesh bag can receive the stakes therethrough.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for holding open a flexible bag having an opening and for maintaining a bottom edge portion of the opening of the flexible bag flat against an external ground surface for moving a loose material directly from the external ground surface into the flexible bag, the system comprising: 
 a pair of rigid vertical posts capable of being spaced apart and each having a means for securely supporting each of the rigid posts on an external ground surface combined with a means for engaging and maintaining the bottom edge portion of the opening of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface, and an adjustable means for engaging and maintaining a top edge of the opening of the flexible bag above and away from the bottom edge at a desired height so that the opening of the flexible bag is maintained in an open position;    a transition element having a smooth unbroken surface capable of covering the bottom edge of the opening of the flexible bag and the transition element communicating between the external ground surface and an interior of the flexible bag to enable the loose material to be moved directly from the external ground surface over the transition element to the interior of the flexible bag.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for securely supporting each of the posts on the external ground surface combined with a means for engaging and maintaining the bottom edge of the opening of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface comprises a double stake peg element attached to a bottom of the post, the peg element having two sharp rigid stakes positioned apart and pointing downwardly, the two stakes being interconnected by a rigid cross member having a flat surface upwardly oriented for receiving pressure to force the stakes into a penetrable external ground surface with one of the stakes engaged through the flexible bag.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the double stake element is formed of molded plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each of the rigid posts is formed of molded plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each of the rigid posts is formed of extruded plastic.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a peg receptacle used in conjunction with each of the peg elements, the peg receptacle having a top opening capable of receiving the peg element therein, the peg receptacle having a means for supporting the peg element in a first position with the peg receptacle contacting the edge of the flexible bag opening and the peg element out of contact with an impenetrable external ground surface and the edge of the opening in the flexible bag, and the peg receptacle having a passageway therethrough capable of admitting the stakes of the peg element to be inserted in a penetrable external ground surface in a second position with one of the stakes passing through the edge of the opening in the flexible bag.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the transition element comprises an elongated portal element having at least one opening at each end and each of the peg receptacles having at least one mating protrusion capable of being inserted in the at least one opening at one end of the portal element with a tight friction fit so that the peg receptacle is capable of being secured to the portal element in contact with the end of the portal element forming a smooth unbroken connection therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a ground mount stand having a top opening for receiving and retaining the double stake element therein, the ground mount stand having a bottom flat surface for resting on the edge of the opening in the flexible bag maintaining the edge of the opening against an impenetrable external ground surface.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the ground mount stand further comprises a flat base plate extending outwardly from the ground mount stand on at least one side of the ground mount stand, the flat base plate being capable of resting securely on the impenetrable external surface and thereby being capable of maintaining the pole in an upright position.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the ground mount stand further comprises a horizontal slot and the means for forming a transition surface over the bottom edge of the opening of the flexible bag comprises a flat flexible mat capable of covering at least a portion of the bottom edge of the opening in the flexible bag, the mat having at least one beveled edge capable of resting on the ground and, the mat capable of communicating between the ground and an interior of the flexible bag to create a smooth transition over the flexible mat between the ground and the interior of the bag, the mat being capable of fitting within the horizontal slot of the ground mount stand to create a smooth unbroken connection between the mat and the ground mount stand.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein each of the ground mount stand is formed of molded plastic.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for holding open the opening of the flexible bag comprises an adjustable clasp clamp means for each of the pair of rigid posts, each of the clamp means being capable of attaching to one of the rigid posts at any desired point along its length and capable of engaging and retaining a top edge of the opening of the flexible bag above and away from the bottom edge of the opening so that the flexible bag is maintained horizontally in an open position.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein each of the clamp means has a first removable pressure loaded clasp for engaging the open end of the flexible bag and a second removable pressure loaded clasp for engaging one of the rigid posts at any desired position along its length to enable the system to hold open any of a variety of bags of different sizes.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein each of the clamp means has a spring-loaded clasp for engaging the top edge of the opening in the flexible bag and an opening through the clamp means capable of engaging one of the rigid posts with a slidable friction fit at any desired position along its length to enable the system to hold open any of a variety of bags of different sizes.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible bag provided with a porous surface so that loose material can be blown into the flexible bag.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the flexible bag is a mesh bag of sturdy air permeable material.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the flexible bag is a mesh bag formed of biodegradable material.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the mesh bag is provided with grommets having openings therethrough in the mesh bag positioned adjacent to the opening of the mesh bag and wherein the means for securely supporting each of the posts on the external ground surface combined with a means for engaging and maintaining a bottom edge of the opening of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface comprises a double stake peg element attached to a bottom of the post, the peg element having two sharp rigid stakes rigid positioned apart and pointing downwardly, the two stakes being interconnected by a rigid cross member having a flat surface upwardly oriented for receiving pressure to force the stakes into a penetrable external ground surface, and wherein each of the grommets is capable of receiving one of the stakes pressed therethrough and into the penetrable external ground surface.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein all of the components of the system are capable of being disassembled and rolled up inside the mesh bag for transportation and storage.