Device for mounting a flexible bag of various sizes

Abstract

This device has an outer binder having an inner side wall surface of a predetermined shape. A plurality of inner hoops having an outer side wall surface of a shape and size complementary to various levels of the inner side wall surface of the outer binder. A flexible bag of any size may be mounted and maintained in an open manner between the outer binder and a selected one of the inner hoops by inserting the bag through the inner hoop with the bag's lip portion folded to wrap around over the outer side wall of the inner hoop and then placed inside the outer binder until the folded back lip portion of the bag is sandwiched between the mating outer binder and inner hoop. The inner hoop has openings to allow the flexible bag to cling to it's side wall to ease the mounting operation.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A mounting device for holding a flexible bag of various sizes in an open condition, comprising 
 an outer binder having an opening with an inner side wall of a predetermined configuration,    a plurality of inner hoops members of different sizes, and each inner hoop member having an outer side wall configuration complementary to a different level of said predetermined surface of said inner side wall of said outer binder,    said flexible bag being mountable on said device by first inserting through a selected one inner hoop member with a lip portion of said flexible bag folded backward over said one inner hoop member prior to mounting said one inner hoop member within said outer binder to sandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between said one inner hoop member and said outer binder.    
     
     
         2 . A mounting device according to  claim 1  wherein said predetermined configuration of said inner side wall of said outer binder is a sloping side wall, and said outer side wall configuration of said one inner hoop member is sloping in a complementary manner to said sloping side wall of said outer binder at a selected level therein.  
     
     
         3 . A mounting device according to  claim 2  wherein said inner hoop members are thin hoop members having a fractional height of said outer binder.  
     
     
         4 . A mounting device according to  claim 3  including a bracket integrally formed on said outer binder, said bracket being adapted for mounting said device to a wall surface.  
     
     
         5 . A mounting device according to  claim 3  wherein said outer binder is integrally formed in a top surface of a table.  
     
     
         6 . A mounting device according to  claim 2  wherein said outer binder includes an arch shaped upper portion with inner side wall having said predetermined wall configuration formed therein, and having a substantially flat base portion adapted for resting on a ground surface.  
     
     
         7 . A mounting device for holding a flexible bag of various sizes in an open condition for filling operation, comprising 
 a generally hoop-shaped outer binder having an inside opening with a predetermined side wall configuration,    a plurality of inner hoop members of decreasing sizes and each inner hoop member having an outer side wall configuration shaped in a complementary manner to different levels of said predetermined side wall configuration of said outer binder,    said flexible bag being mountable on said device by first inserting through a selected one inner hoop member with a lip portion of said flexible bag folded backward over said one inner hoop member prior to mounting said one inner hoop member with said flexible bag clung thereto within said inside opening of said outer binder to sandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between engaging outer side wall of said one inner hoop member and inner side wall of said outer binder.    
     
     
         8 . A mounting device according to  claim 7  wherein said inner side wall configuration of said outer binder and said outer side wall configuration of said inner hoop members are complementary sloping side walls.  
     
     
         9 . A mounting device according to  claim 7  wherein said inner side wall configuration of said outer binder is a stepped side wall having circular shoulders of decreasing sizes and said outer side wall of said inner hoop members includes a peripheral flange adapted to engage with a selected one of said circular shoulders.  
     
     
         10 . A mounting device for holding a flexible bag of a various sizes in an open condition for filling operation, comprising 
 a generally hoop-shaped outer binder having an inside opening with a predetermined side wall configuration,    a plurality of inner hoop members of decreasing sizes, a largest one of said inner hoop members having an outer side wall configuration shaped in a complementary manner to said predetermined side wall configuration of said outer binder, and each inner hoop member having an inner side wall configuration complementary to the outer side wall configuration of an immediate neighboring inner hoop member,    said flexible bag of one size being mountable between said largest one of said inner hoop members and said outer binder, and said flexible bag of a smaller size being mountable between two selected inner hoop members wherein a larger one of said two selected inner hoop members is said largest inner hoop member mounted within said outer binder.    
     
     
         11 . A mounting device according to  claim 10  wherein said larger one of said two selected inner hoop members is mounted to said outer binder through at least one intermediate inner hoop member.  
     
     
         12 . A mounting device according to  claim 11  wherein said inner side wall configuration of said outer binder has a circular stepped shoulder, and said outer side wall of said inner hoop members includes a peripheral flange, said peripheral flange of said largest one of said inner hoop members is adapted to engage with said circular stepped shoulder of said outer binder.  
     
     
         13 . A mounting device according to  claim 12  wherein, except for a smallest inner hoop member, said inside wall of all intermediate inner hoop members and said largest one of said inner hoop members have an annular shoulder formed therein adapted to engage with said peripheral flange of a neighboring smaller inner hoop member.  
     
     
         14 . A mounting device according to  claim 13  including a plurality of open ended retaining slots formed in said peripheral flange of said inner hoop members.  
     
     
         15 . A mounting device according to  claim 9  including a bracket integrally formed on said outer binder and adapted for mounting said device to a wall surface.  
     
     
         16 . A mounting device according to  claim 13  wherein said outer binder is integrally formed in a top surface of a table.  
     
     
         17 . A mounting device according to  claim 16  including a cover adapted to cover over said inner hoop member mounted in said outer binder.  
     
     
         18 . A mounting device according to  claim 8  wherein said outer binder has an arch shaped upper portion with inner side wall having stepped shoulders formed therein and a substantially flat base portion adapted to rest on a ground surface, and said inner hoop members are similarly shaped as said outer binder and having an outer peripheral flange formed on the outer side wall of the arch shaped upper portion therein adapted to engage with said stepped shoulders of said outer binder.  
     
     
         19 . A mounting device according to  claim 7  including a plurality of retainer openings formed in said inner hoop members.  
     
     
         20 . A mounting device according to  claim 19  wherein said retainer openings are substantially star-shaped.  
     
     
         21 . A mounting device for holding a flexible bag of various sizes in an open condition, comprising 
 an outer binder having an arch shaped upper portion and a substantially flat base portion adapted to rest on a ground surface, said upper portion having a predetermined inner side wall configuration formed therein,    a plurality of inner hoop members having a shape similar to said outer binder including an arch shaped upper portion and a substantially flat base portion, and said arch shaped upper portion of said inner hoop members having an outer side wall configuration complementary to said predetermined inner side wall configuration of said arch shaped upper portion of said outer binder, a largest size inner hoop member being adapted to engage within said outer binder, and subsequent inner hoop members being engageable within an immediate neighboring larger inner hoop member located within said outer binder,    said flexible bag being mountable on said device by first inserting through largest inner hoop member with a lip portion of said flexible bag folded backward over said largest inner hoop member prior to mounting said largest inner hoop member within said outer binder to sandwich said lip portion of said flexible bag between said largest inner hoop member and said outer binder, and in a similar manner a smaller size flexible bag being mountable between two neighboring inner hoop members located within said outer binder.    
     
     
         22 . A mounting device according to  claim 21  wherein said outer binder and said inner hoop members are substantially triangular in shaped with one side forming said base portion and two sloping sides extending upwards from said base portion to form said arch shaped upper portion.  
     
     
         23 . A mounting device according to  claim 22  including a plurality of retainer openings formed in said sloping sides of said inner hoop members adapted to facilitate easy mounting of said inner hoop member, with said flexible bag attached thereto, to said outer binder, and a plurality of transverse elongated openings formed on said sloping sides of said outer binder, said retainer openings and said elongated openings being aligned with one another when an inner hoop member is mounted within said outer binder to facilitate easy removal of said inner hoop member from said outer binder with a push out action.  
     
     
         24 . A mounting device according to  claim 22  including a plurality of semi-circular cut outs formed on a rear edge of said sloping sides of said outer binder, and a plurality of semi-circular latches formed on a rear edge of said sloping sides of said inner hoop members, a plurality of additional semi-circular cut outs formed in a rear edge of said base portion of said inner hoop members and a plurality of additional semi-circular latches formed in a rear edge of said base portion of said outer binder, said semi-circular cut outs and semi-circular latches as well as said additional semi-circular cut outs and said additional semi-circular latches being adapted to engage with one another when one inner hoop member is mounted within said outer binder for maintaining said one inner hoop member securely mounted in place, and two extension arms extending outwards rearwardly from said rear edge of said outer binder and adapted to provide additional support for said outer binder in resting on said floor.  
     
     
         25 . A mounting device according to  claim 22  including a plurality of mounting openings formed on said base portion of said outer binder adapted for mounting said outer binder on a wall with screws, a plurality of corresponding openings formed in said base portion of said inner hoop members adapted to accommodate heads of said screws and to store excessive lip portions of said flexible bag when an inner hoop member is engaged within said outer binder mounted to said wall.  
     
     
         26 . A mounting device according to  claim 24  including a substantially U-shaped handle formed at an apex of said two sloping sides, said handle having a front wall with a mounting opening formed therein adapted for hanging said device on a wall surface.