US4248278A — Filling device for freezer bags

Claim 1

Independent Claim 358 words

A bag support and filling device for maintaining a freezer bag having an open top in an open position for easy filling such as in the home freezing of fruits, vegetables and the like, comprising: a base support unit including upstanding sides with upper terminal edges that includes support means for being inserted into a cuff area formed by turning back a top portion of said open top bag over the outside of said support means so as to define an interior open top portion of the bag about the inside of said support means; funnel means adapted to be inserted into said support means for facilitating the filling of the bag supported therein and to protect the top inner portions of the bag from exposure to the food product being filled within said bag, said funnel means including an integral lower generally inverted V-shaped base for fitting over the upper terminal edges of said sides and a top filling portion extending upwardly from said lower generally inverted V-shaped base, said lower inverted V-shaped base including an inner insert wall that extends around said funnel means and is designed to be inserted interiorly of said support means and downwardly into the defined interior opening top bag portion for protecting this portion of said bag from exposure to product material being filled into said bag, said lower generally inverted V-shaped lower base portion further including an outer skirt that joins said inner insert wall and projects generally outwardly and downwardly therefrom over the upper terminal edges of said sides and the cuff portion of said bag disposed outwardly of said sides so as to define an open generally inverted V-shaped space around said funnel means between said inner insert wall and said skirt that acts to receive the upper terminal edges of said sides with said sides acting to support said entire funnel means by projecting upwardly into said defined V-shaped space between said inner insert wall and said skirt, whereby said skirt portion of said funnel means shields and protects the exposed cuff area of said bag from spillage of the product material being filled into said bag.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 358 words

A bag support and filling device for maintaining a freezer bag having an open top in an open position for easy filling such as in the home freezing of fruits, vegetables and the like, comprising: a base support unit including upstanding sides with upper terminal edges that includes support means for being inserted into a cuff area formed by turning back a top portion of said open top bag over the outside of said support means so as to define an interior open top portion of the bag about the inside of said support means; funnel means adapted to be inserted into said support means for facilitating the filling of the bag supported therein and to protect the top inner portions of the bag from exposure to the food product being filled within said bag, said funnel means including an integral lower generally inverted V-shaped base for fitting over the upper terminal edges of said sides and a top filling portion extending upwardly from said lower generally inverted V-shaped base, said lower inverted V-shaped base including an inner insert wall that extends around said funnel means and is designed to be inserted interiorly of said support means and downwardly into the defined interior opening top bag portion for protecting this portion of said bag from exposure to product material being filled into said bag, said lower generally inverted V-shaped lower base portion further including an outer skirt that joins said inner insert wall and projects generally outwardly and downwardly therefrom over the upper terminal edges of said sides and the cuff portion of said bag disposed outwardly of said sides so as to define an open generally inverted V-shaped space around said funnel means between said inner insert wall and said skirt that acts to receive the upper terminal edges of said sides with said sides acting to support said entire funnel means by projecting upwardly into said defined V-shaped space between said inner insert wall and said skirt, whereby said skirt portion of said funnel means shields and protects the exposed cuff area of said bag from spillage of the product material being filled into said bag.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 87 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 1 wherein said sides comprise two face-to-face and laterally spaced sides that extend upwardly so as to define an open area therebetween, and wherein each side includes an upper terminal edge that comprises said support means for being inserted within the formed cuff of the bag when supported, and wherein said sides are flexible such that they will slightly expand and yield for inserting said insert means therebetween, whereupon said sides exert a holding force against said insert means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 78 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 2 wherein said insert wall comprises a plurality of sides that project downwardly interiorly of said sides of said base support unit and adjacent the interior of said bag, and wherein said insert wall is of a generally rectangular horizontal cross sectional area so as to define a generally rectangular opening about the interior open top bag portion of said bag when supported by said bag support and filling device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 3 wherein said base support unit includes a generally horizontal bottom and wherein said sides project generally upwardly and inwardly from opposite ends thereof for a predetermined distance at which point said sides project generally upwardly in parallel relationship such that the lateral space between the sides at the bottom is greater than the lateral space between the sides at the top.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 4 wherein said skirt projecting generally outwardly downwardly from said insert wall includes four sides.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 5 wherein said base support unit comprises said bottom and sides is integral constructed in the form of a plastic like material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 281 words

A bag support and filling device for maintaining a freezer bag having an open top in an open position for filling such as in the home freezing of fruits, vegetables and the like, comprising: a base support unit having a horizontal base and two slightly flexible face-to-face and laterally spaced upstanding sides that project upwardly from said base to define two opposite open side areas and an open area between said face-to-face sides, said sides including upper terminal edges for being inserted into a cuff area formed by turning back a top portion of said open top bag over the upper terminal edges of said sides so as to define an interior open top portion of the bag about the upper inside area of said sides; and funnel means adapted to be inserted into said base support unit to facilitate filling the supported bag and for protecting upper inner areas of said bag from exposure to the product material being filled, said funnel means including an inner insert wall adapted to be inserted interiorly of said sides and downwardly into the defined interior open top bag portion and including means for protecting the interior top bag portion of the supported bag from exposure to product material being filled into the bag, said funnel means including an upper funneling portion that extends upwardly from said inner insert wall in a diverging fashion to form an open top filling area about said funnel means to facilitate filling the bag and skirt means the projects generally outwardly and downwardly from said inner insert wall for generally shielding the outer portion of said open topped bag cuffed over the upper terminal edges of said sides.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 281 words

A bag support and filling device for maintaining a freezer bag having an open top in an open position for filling such as in the home freezing of fruits, vegetables and the like, comprising: a base support unit having a horizontal base and two slightly flexible face-to-face and laterally spaced upstanding sides that project upwardly from said base to define two opposite open side areas and an open area between said face-to-face sides, said sides including upper terminal edges for being inserted into a cuff area formed by turning back a top portion of said open top bag over the upper terminal edges of said sides so as to define an interior open top portion of the bag about the upper inside area of said sides; and funnel means adapted to be inserted into said base support unit to facilitate filling the supported bag and for protecting upper inner areas of said bag from exposure to the product material being filled, said funnel means including an inner insert wall adapted to be inserted interiorly of said sides and downwardly into the defined interior open top bag portion and including means for protecting the interior top bag portion of the supported bag from exposure to product material being filled into the bag, said funnel means including an upper funneling portion that extends upwardly from said inner insert wall in a diverging fashion to form an open top filling area about said funnel means to facilitate filling the bag and skirt means the projects generally outwardly and downwardly from said inner insert wall for generally shielding the outer portion of said open topped bag cuffed over the upper terminal edges of said sides.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 67 words

The bag support and filling device of claim 7 wherein said skirt means joins said inner insert wall and projects generally outwardly and downwardly therefrom forms a generally inverted V-shaped open space around the entire lower portion of said funnel means wherein said generally inverted V-shaped space acts to receive the upper terminal edges of said sides for supporting said funnel means about said base support unit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-02-03	1984-08-04	1985-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-02-03	1988-08-04	1989-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-02-03	1992-08-04	1993-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Filling device for freezer bags

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