Bag supporting apparatus

Claim 1

Support apparatus for stabilizing in an upright position at least one unstable object such as a grocery bag or the like, said apparatus comprising: base means receivable beneath an object to be stabilized, said base means including a plural number of tines maintained in mutually spaced apart relationship in a common plane, to fit between the object being stabilized and a support surface; upright support means pivotably connected to said base means, and selectably movable to occupy either an upright or a folded position relative to said base means; latch means operatively associated with said object support means to maintain said object support means in the upright position relative to said base means, so as to contact and support an object received on said base means; said latch means being selectably operative to allow the object support means to pivot to the folded position disposed alongside and substantially parallel to said tines of the base means; said upright support means comprising a U-shaped member including a pair of spaced apart elongated support members individually pivotably connected to corresponding tines, and a bridging member extending between said elongated support members at a location spaced apart from said pivotable connection and rigidly interconnecting the elongated support members; said latch means including a latch member connected to one of said elongated support members spaced apart from said pivotable connection, and a latch engaging member movably connected to the corresponding tine of said base means spaced apart from said pivotable connection; said latch engaging member including a first channel extending from said movable connection and within which said latch member is slidably disposed, and a second channel joining said first channel at a substantial angle to selectably slidably receive said latch member; said second channel being located above said first channel in position for alignment with said latch member when said elongated support members are moved to said upright position, so that the latch member enters said second channel and the latch engaging member automatically moves downwardly to latch the upright position when said latch member is moved along said first channel into alignment with said second channel; said latch engaging member being selectably operative to disengage the latching member when the latch engaging member is moved upwardly to return said latch member to said first channel; and guide means engaging said latch member to move said latch engaging member to position substantially in plane alignment with said tines and said upright support means when moved to said folded position, so that the entire apparatus is folded substantially flat for storage.