HOLDER FOB BAGS DURING FILLING OPERATION

The present invention relates to an improved holder for bags, particularly adapted for use during the filling of the same.

The invention has for its object to provide

3 a simple device, the cost of manufacture of

which is reduced to a minimum; one which

when used will increase over the old method

the number of bags filled and at the same

time reduce the cost of labor by eliminating

10 the workman necessary with the old method

for holding the bag upright with its mouth

open; one which will retain the bag in an

upright position and maintain the mouth

fully open and its body in a spread con

15 dition for filling; to provide a device capable

of fitting any bag, and one which can be

readily folded for storage purposes when not

in use, or for initially positioning the de

. vice within the bag. for subsequent unfold

20 ing to spread the bag body and mouth and

to retain the open bag in upright position

for filling purposes.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the 25 novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, 80 size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of. the invention.

35 Reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein—

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the invention, in operative position, the bag being illustrated in dotted 40 outline.

Figure 2 is a view in detail of the upper ends of the side members and the hinged connecting member uniting the same.

Fig. 3 is a view of the bag frame in folded 45 position.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, the numerals 1 and 2 indicate inverted U-shaped frame members preferably of hollow tubular 50 material, the parallel portions of said frames constituting legs 3 and 4 adapted to rest on the bottom wall 5 of the bag 6 when inserted therein. Corresponding legs of. the frame members 1 and 2 are connected pref^5 erably near their upper ends by a uniting frame 7, the ends 7' of which are pivotally

connected with the legs 4 of the frame members 1 and 2, as shown at 8, thus permitting swinging movement of the frame members 1, and 2 at the outer ends of the uniting 80 frame 7. The uniting frame 7 is centrally hinged at 9, enabling said frame members to flex inwardly, permitting the frame members 1 and 2 to lie.adjacent to each other, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. 85

Any. means may be employed to maintain .the ends 7' of the uniting frame connected with the frame members 1 and 2, the preferred means being pins 10 passing through the legs 4 between which the frame ends 7' 70 lie. To lock the uniting frame 7 in open position, a latch 11 is provided, one end 12 thereof being pivotally mount-eel at one side of the hinge 9 and the free end being hooked at 13 to engage on the other side of the 75 hinge, thus locking the members of the uniting frame in alignment.

In operation, with the uniting frame preferably folded, the frame members are inserted within the bag 6 with the legs 3 and 4 rest- 80 ing upon the bottom wall 5 of the bag, the uniting frame 7 is then operated to extended position and locked. The frame members 1 and 2 are then swung on their fulcrum connection at the ends of the uniting frame until 85 the forward legs tightly engage the front wall 5' of the bag, as shown in Figure 1, thus holding the bag walls taut and the bag in an open position during the filling operation. When filled, the uniting frame may 90 be collapsed, the bag frame members may be swung on their fulcrum connections and the structure withdrawn from the bag, as a unit, and the top of the bag closed for shipment.

The lightness of the structure enables the 95 bag filler to readily handle the same, both in inserting it into a bag to be filled, removing it from a filled bag or folding it for storage purposes. By the employment of this frame, the bag filler can readily lift, shake the bag 100 to settle its content while the frame is. in position as the top portions of the frames afford gripping surfaces and with a portion of the bag mouth gripped in each hand, there is no liability of the frame pulling from the *05 bag during the settling operation. I claim:—

A bag filling frame comprising a pair of bag spreading frame members, each consisting of parallel leg members united at least 510 at one end by transverse members, said frame members adapted for insertion within the