Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for supporting above ground or floor level and simultaneously spreading and holding spread a substantial portion of the bag wall at the mouth of a flexible bag so that the unsupported portion of the bag wall adjacent the mouth can be drawn away from the supported and spread portion thereby to open the mouth of the bag for reception of material, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an elevated support member located above ground or floor level and having a bag draping surface over which a portion of the exterior bag wall adjacent the bag mouth can be draped and conformed thereto with a substantial portion of the bag wall in surface to surface contact with the bag draping surface, and combined bag gripping and spreading means having parts engageable over the outside of the draped surface to grip and maintain the draped surface in support contacting condition during opening of the bag mouth and loading of the bag, said combined means including an integral spreader bar operable to cause a substantial segment of the bag wall to remain stationary when the unsupported portion is drawn away from the supported portion thereby to open the mouth of the bag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for supporting above ground or floor level and simultaneously spreading and holding spread a substantial portion of the bag wall at the mouth of a flexible bag so that the unsupported portion of the bag wall adjacent the mouth can be drawn away from the supported and spread portion thereby to open the mouth of the bag for reception of material, said apparatus comprising, in combination, an elevated support member located above ground or floor level and having a bag draping surface over which a portion of the exterior bag wall adjacent the bag mouth can be draped and conformed thereto with a substantial portion of the bag wall in surface to surface contact with the bag draping surface, and combined bag gripping and spreading means having parts engageable over the outside of the draped surface to grip and maintain the draped surface in support contacting condition during opening of the bag mouth and loading of the bag, said combined means including an integral spreader bar operable to cause a substantial segment of the bag wall to remain stationary when the unsupported portion is drawn away from the supported portion thereby to open the mouth of the bag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as in claim 1, said gripping and spreading means including a resilient loop centrally located on said spreader bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as in claim 1, said gripping and spreading means including a pair of generally U-shaped clamps having bight portions attached to said spreader bar, said claims spaced from one another lengthwise of the spreader bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as in claim 1, said gripping and spreading means including a resilient loop centrally located on said spreader bar and extending laterally therefrom and a pair of generally U-shaped clamps having bight portions attached to said spreader bar, said clamps spaced from one another lengthwise of the spreader bar and extending laterally from the spreader bar in a direction opposite to that of said resilient loop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination as in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a generally horizontally extending doorknob, said gripping and spreading means comprising a resilient loop centrally located on said spreader bar, said loop adapted to fit around the knob and draped bag portion with the spreader bar inside the bag and extending to opposite sides thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as in claim 5, including means for adjusting the effective length of said resilient loop thereby to accommodate knobs of various sizes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as in claim 6, wherein said resilient loop is in the form of a coil spring having opposite end portions extending through openings in said spreader member, and including adjustable means for securing said end portions to said spreader member in a manner to permit adjustable variation in the effective length of said coil spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as in claim 7, wherein said adjustable means includes a plate member releasably mounted on said spreader bar at a location to extend between adjacent coils of the respective end portions of spring, thereby securing said end portions to said spreader bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination as in claim 8, wherein said adjustable means includes a clip releasably mounted on said spreader bar and comprising: a first plate portion contacting one side of said spreader bar and passing between the adjacent coils of the respective end portions of said spring to attach said end portions to said spreader bar; and a second plate portion contacting an opposite side of said spreader bar and connected with said first plate portion in a manner to cooperate therewith and releasably mounting said clip on said spreader bar.