Horizontal ground-based bagging system

Abstract

A pair of posts with double stake bottoms are staked into penetrable ground with one stake on each post through a bottom edge of an opening in a flexible bag. Adjustable pressure clasps slide on the posts to a desired height to secure the top of the opening, enabling any size bag to be used. A flat flexible mat with a beveled edge covers the bottom edge of the opening allowing material to pass smoothly from the ground into the bag. Ground mount stands receive the double stakes and provide a wide base plate to support the posts on impenetrable ground surfaces. 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 in one end and for maintaining a 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 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 a bottom portion of the opening end of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface, and a means for engaging and maintaining a top portion of the opening end of the flexible bag above and away from the bottom portion so that the opening end of the flexible bag is maintained in an open position;    a means for forming a transition surface over the opening end of the flexible bag to enable the loose material to be moved directly from the external ground surface to an 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 a bottom portion of the opening end of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface comprises a double stake element having two sharp rigid stakes attached to a bottom of the post, the 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 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 an impenetrable external ground surface.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  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.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein each of the ground mount stand is formed of molded plastic.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for holding open the opening end of the flexible bag comprises an adjustable clasp means for each of the pair of rigid posts, each of the clasp means being capable of attaching to one of the rigid posts at any desired point along its length and capable of engaging and maintaining a top portion of the opening end of the flexible bag above and away from the bottom portion of the opening so that the flexible bag is maintained horizontally in an open position.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein each of the clasp 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.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for forming a transition surface over the opening end of the flexible bag comprises a flat flexible mat capable of covering at least a portion of the bottom portion of the opening end, the mat having at least one beveled edge capable of resting on the ground and creating a smooth transition over the flexible mat between the ground and an interior of the bag.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the flexible bag is provided with a porous surface so that loose material can be blown into the flexible bag.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the flexible bag is a mesh bag of sturdy air permeable material.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  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 portion of the opening end of the flexible bag flat against the external ground surface comprises a double stake element having two sharp rigid stakes attached to a bottom of the post, the 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, and wherein each of the grommets is capable of receiving one of the stakes pressed therethrough and into the penetrable external ground surface.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein all of the components of the system are capable of being disassembled and rolled up inside the mesh bag for transportation and storage.