Trash bag supporting device

Abstract

A device for holding open the mouth of a drawstring trash bag is disclosed. The device rests on top of the partially closed mouth of the trash bag and is secured in place by the bag's drawstrings. Ideally, the bag will be hanging to create the necessary tension in the drawstrings to keep the device in place. The device comprises a rigid plate with a hole, and notches for receiving the drawstrings. The hole is sized to receive disposable beverage cans or other similar waste. A portion of the upper surface of the plate may be dedicated to the display of promotional indicia. A holder for hanging the trash bag by its drawstrings is also disclosed. The holder may be mounted to the rear bumper of an automobile or other similar location.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A device for holding a mouth of a drawstring trash bag in an open position to allow trash to be dropped into the drawstring trash bag, the drawstring trash bag having a drawstring positioned within a sleeve extending around the mouth of the drawstring trash bag with portions of said drawstring withdrawable through at least two outlets from said sleeve; said device comprising: a rigid panel sized to be positioned over the mouth of the drawstring trash bag and between segments of the drawstring withdrawn from said outlets in said sleeve; said rigid panel having a trash receiving hole extending therethrough sized wide enough to allow at least a conventionally sized twelve ounce can to pass axially therethrough; said rigid panel having at least four receivers formed therein and extending inward from an outer periphery thereof, each said receiver sized and shaped to receive a segment of the drawstring withdrawn from said outlets in the sleeve of the drawstring trash bag, said receivers spaced outward from said trash receiving hole such that when the segments of the drawstring are positioned within said receivers with said rigid plate positioned in closely spaced relation above the mouth of the drawstring trash bag, the mouth is held open an amount sufficient to allow trash passing through the trash receiving hole in said rigid plate to pass through the mouth of the drawstring trash bag. 
     
     
         2 . The device as in  claim 1 , wherein said receivers are slots. 
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said receivers comprise two pairs of slots, each pair of slots extending inward from a peripheral edge of said rigid panel on opposite sides of said rigid panel. 
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said receivers comprise two pairs of slots, each slot extending inward from a peripheral edge of said rigid panel and each slot in each pair of slots curving toward the other slot in said pair of slots. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said receivers are notches. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of said panel is circular. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of said panel is square. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said trash receiving hole is circular. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said trash receiving hole is square. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a holder for supporting the drawstring trash bag, said holder comprising: an inverted U-shaped bracket for mounting over the top of a supporting surface, a hook shaped arm attached to and extending away from said inverted U-shaped bracket where said arm is sized to receive drawstrings from a trash bag and support the trash bag in a hanging position. 
     
     
         11 . The device as in  claim 1  having promotional indicia printed on a planar surface of said rigid panel. 
     
     
         12 . The device as in  claim 1  in combination with the drawstring trash bag. 
     
     
         13 . A device for holding a mouth of a drawstring trash bag in an open position to allow trash to be dropped into the drawstring trash bag, the drawstring trash bag having a drawstring positioned within a sleeve extending around the mouth of the drawstring trash bag with portions of said drawstring withdrawable through at least two outlets from said sleeve; said device comprising: a rigid panel sized to be positioned over the mouth of the drawstring trash bag and between segments of the drawstring withdrawn from said outlets in said sleeve; said rigid panel having a trash receiving hole extending therethrough sized wide enough to allow at least a conventionally sized individual beverage container to pass axially therethrough; said rigid panel having two pairs of slots formed therein and extending inward from an outer periphery of said rigid panel with each slot in each pair of slots curving toward the other slot in said pair of slots, each said slot sized to receive a segment of the drawstring withdrawn from said outlets in the sleeve of the drawstring trash bag, said slots spaced outward from said trash receiving hole such that when the segments of the drawstring are positioned within said receivers with said rigid plate positioned in closely spaced relation above the mouth of the drawstring trash bag, the mouth is held open an amount sufficient to allow trash passing through the trash receiving hole in said rigid plate to pass through the mouth of the drawstring trash bag; said device further comprising a holder for supporting the drawstring trash bag comprising an inverted U-shaped bracket for mounting over the top of a supporting surface and a hook shaped arm attached to and extending away from said inverted U-shaped bracket, said arm is sized to receive said drawstrings from said trash bag and support said trash bag in a hanging position. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the outer periphery of said panel is circular. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the outer periphery of said panel is square. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said trash receiving hole is circular. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said trash receiving hole is square. 
     
     
         18 . The device as in  claim 13  having promotional indicia printed on a planar surface of said rigid panel.