[0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending provision application “Paper Bag Mouth Opening Support” filed on Oct. 31, 2008, Ser. No. 61/110,211, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure is related generally to foldable bags and similar structures and more particularly to stiffening devices for stiffening fold lines in foldable paper bags. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many people use paper bags to collect, store and dispose of refuse. An example includes the common brown paper bags used in grocery stores to transport groceries. A second example is the taller version of brown “leaf bags” sold in hardware stores. The primary use of the leaf bags is to store refuse, and grocery bags are often secondarily used for refuse. 
         [0004]    While these bags are very useful for storing and disposing refuse, they can be difficult to use given their tendency to either flop over when empty or have their mouth opening flop shut when not held open by a user. Accordingly, when attempting to place refuse (or any other item) in the bag, it is quite common for spills to occur because the bag is not in the maximal, upright and open position. 
         [0005]    Various devices and approaches have been proposed to overcome such deficiencies, including “frames”, “stands” and relatively large devices that are inserted into the bag, or which hold the bag. Unfortunately, these typically require additional structures separate from the bag itself that are heavy and/or relatively expensive. Accordingly, a more efficient approach is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a stiffening system and method for stiffening a fold line that separates adjacent sections of a paper bag or other similar structures. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, there is a foldable bag, comprising: a fold line; a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section separated by the fold line; and a stiffener having a first portion pre-fastened to the first adjacent section and a second portion that includes a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section to maintain the foldable paper bag in an open position. 
         [0008]    In a second embodiment, there is a method of implementing a foldable bag, comprising: forming the foldable bag to include a fold line that separates a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section; and pre-fastening a first portion of a stiffener to the first adjacent section, wherein the stiffener includes a second portion having a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section to maintain the foldable bag in an open position. 
         [0009]    In a third embodiment, there is a bag stiffening system, comprising: a foldable bag having a fold line separating a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section; and a stiffener, wherein the stiffener comprises a substantially flat piece of material having an adhesive on one side, said stiffener being adapted to be manually adhered to the first adjacent section and the second adjacent section across the fold line. 
         [0010]    The illustrative aspects of the present invention are designed to solve the problems herein described and other problems not discussed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a top view of a bag opening having pre-fastened stiffeners in an un-deployed configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts the bag opening of  FIG. 1  with the pre-fastened stiffeners in a deployed configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an isometric view of a bag having pre-fastened stiffeners attached proximate to the mouth of the bag in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts the bag of  FIG. 3  with one of the stiffeners deployed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts the bag of  FIG. 3  with both of the stiffeners deployed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a leaf bag in partially folded state in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depicts cut-away side views of the leaf bag of  FIG. 6  with a stiffener in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts an exploded view of the bag of  FIGS. 6 and 7A  and  7 B in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention provides a solution for supporting two or more adjacent foldable sections of a paper bag or other similar structures.  FIGS. 1-5  depict an illustrative embodiment of a stiffener implementation. In particular,  FIG. 1  depicts a top view of bag  10  having six side sections that form an opening or “mouth”. Such configurations are commonly found in paper lawn bags and grocery bags. Note however that the invention is not intended to be limited to a particular bag configuration. Instead, the stiffening systems described herein may be applied to any bag configuration or similar structure having adjacent sections that are foldable relative to each other. This may include stiffening complex arrangements, e.g., three or more sections that are separated by multiple non-orthogonal fold lines. 
         [0022]    Bag  10  includes side sections  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 . As can be seen, side sections  12  and  14  are separated by a vertical fold line  34 , and side sections  18  and  20  are separated by a vertical fold line  36 . Attached to side sections  14  and  20  are a pair of stiffeners  24  and  26 , which are shown in an un-deployed position. In this embodiment, each stiffener encompasses a relatively flat, straight, stiff piece of material having a portion that is pre-fastened to one of two adjacent side sections separated by a fold. For instance, a portion of stiffener  24  is pre-fastened to side section  24  with an adhesive  28 . In this un-deployed mode, a second portion of the stiffener  24  extends un-fastened to any side section, thus allowing the bag  10  to be folded, e.g., for storage. 
         [0023]    Although described herein being attached with an adhesive, stiffener  24  may be pre-fasted to side  14  in any manner, e.g., using staples, tape, tabs/cut-outs, rivets, etc. Stiffener  24  may be made from any material that provides a requisite amount of stiffness for holding two (or more) adjacent sections in place. In one embodiment, stiffener  24  may be made from a biodegradable material, such as cardboard or fiber board. A typical stiffener for the embodiment of  FIG. 1  may, e.g., comprise a section of non-corrugated cardboard having dimension 2½″×6″. 
         [0024]    On the non-pre-fastened portion of stiffener  24  is a second adhesive  30  that may be provided with a removable covering  32 . Removable covering  32  may comprise a biodegradable material such as paper that can be easily removed and deposited into the bag  10  as waste. Once removed, exposed adhesive  30  can be manually secured to side section  12  to deploy the stiffener  14 . In an alternative embodiment, rather than using an adhesive  30 , stiffener  24  could be attached to side section  12  using other known techniques, e.g., tape, string, tabs/cut-outs, riveting, the adhesive commonly found on 3M® “sticky notes”, etc. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts bag  10  with stiffeners  24  and  26  in the fully deployed position. For example, with reference to stiffener  24 , adhesive  30  has been fasted to side section  12 . Accordingly, fold line  34 , which separates side sections  12  and  14 , has been stiffened such that side sections  12  and  14  are secured in a straight arrangement. In this deployed position, the mouth of the bag  10  will experience significantly less propensity of “flopping,” and thus can be more readily maintained in an open and upright position. 
         [0026]    It is understood that although shown with two stiffeners  24 ,  26 , bag  10  may include any number or arrangement of stiffeners. Moreover, although described as flat and straight, stiffeners  24 ,  26  could be implemented in other configurations, e.g., angled, curved, etc. Furthermore, although described as having one portion that is pre-fastened to a section of the bag, stiffener  24  could be provided as an add-on device, with an adhesive that could be attached to two (or more) adjacent sections. Accordingly, stiffeners may be integrated into a bag during manufacture, or provided as an add-on device for later attachment. Still further, although shown being attached to interior side sections of bag  10 , stiffeners could be implemented to attach to exterior side sections. Finally, it is also understood that the particular shape, dimensions, and material used to implement a stiffener can vary depending upon the particular amount of stiffness required. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  depicts an isometric view of a partially opened bag  40  having stiffeners  44 ,  46  in an un-deployed position, similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 . Bag  40  includes two fold lines  50 ,  52  which, when extended, provide access to opening  42 . In this embodiment, stiffeners  44 ,  46  are pre-fastened to side sections  54  and  56 . An adhesive  48  (e.g., with a removable cover) can be seen on the back side of fastener  46 . Stiffener  44  likewise includes an adhesive, but cannot be seen in this view. Note that in this embodiment, stiffeners  44 ,  46  are pre-fastened to side sections  54 ,  56  in a kitty-corner manner, such that the un-fastened portions extend in opposite directions. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such an implementation. For instance, stiffener  46  could be pre-fastened to side section  58  instead of side section  56 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  depicts bag  40  of  FIG. 3  in which stiffer  44  has been deployed to stiffen fold line  50 . In one embodiment, this is accomplished by removing a removable adhesive cover to expose an adhesive on the back un-fastened portion of stiffener  44 , and manually affixing the stiffener  44  to side section  54 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  depicts bag  40  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in a fully opened state in which stiffeners  44  and  46  (shown in phantom) have been fully deployed. As can be seen, stiffeners  44  and  46  stiffen the vertical fold lines  50 ,  52  to create a more stable opening that is much less susceptible to flopping over. 
         [0030]    As noted, stiffeners may be utilized to stiffen any fold line that joins adjacent sections in a foldable bag or similar structure.  FIGS. 6-8  depict a further embodiment in which a stiffener is utilized to stiffen a horizontal fold line  66 , which joins sections  70  and  72  of bag  60 .  FIG. 6  depicts an isometric view of bag  60  in a partially unfolded state, and includes a bottom section  62 , a lower fold line  66 , a higher fold line  68 , and adjacent side sections  64 ,  70  and  72 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7A  depicts bag  60  in a cut-away side view in a partially unfolded state. In this embodiment, a first portion of stiffener  74  is pre-fastened to side section  72  and a second portion freely extends into the bag  60 . Note that like the embodiments of  FIG. 1-5 , stiffener  74  is placed in such a manner that it does not interfere with the folding of bag  60 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7B  depicts bag  60  in a fully unfolded state with stiffener  74  fully deployed. As can be seen, stiffener  74  stiffens horizontal fold line  66  such that side sections  70 ,  72  are firmly held in the open position.  FIG. 8  depicts an exploded view of bag  60  with stiffener  74  being deployed to stiffen fold line  66 . Note that in this embodiment stiffener  74  is implemented with a single wide rectangular piece of material to provide the necessary support. However, it is understood that this configuration is for illustrative purposes only, and the specific configuration, number and arrangement of stiffener  74  may vary without departing from the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, stiffener  74  may, e.g., comprise a section of non-corrugated cardboard having dimensions 5″×5″. 
         [0033]    Also shown in  FIG. 8  is an additional embodiment involving an add-on stiffener  80 , which in this case is utilized to stiffen horizontal fold line  68 . Add-on stiffener  80  is inserted (or attached to the exterior) after the bag  60  is opened by the user and is manually attached to both sections  64  and  70 . Indicia, such as dotted line  82  may be placed on the bag to indicate where the stiffener should be placed. Add-on stiffeners may be particularly useful for certain fold lines, such as fold line  68 , since a pre-fastened stiffener as described above would interfere with the folding of sections  64  and  70 . 
         [0034]    As noted, pre-fastening of one or more stiffeners onto sections of a bag or similar structure may be done in-line during the manufacturing of the bag. Any technique for attaching stiffeners may be utilized during such a process, and such techniques are well understood in the art of packaging and constructing paper bags and similar structures. Typical paper bags are manufactured with rolls of continuously fed paper, rotary and pinch rollers, cutting blades, folding devices and press rollers. Stiffeners may be adhered to the bag during any step of the process, and more particularly may be adhered in manner similar to the process in which paper handles are fasted to paper bags. 
         [0035]    Alternatively, stiffeners may be provided as an add-on device (e.g., packaged separately with the bag) that includes any mechanism for attachment to adjacent sections that are separated by a fold line. In still a further embodiment, a first component of the stiffener could be integrated with the bag (e.g., adhesive strips) and a second component could be added when needed (e.g., a stiffening strip). 
         [0036]    Note that the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” fold lines are not intended to be limiting to a particular orientation, but are instead intended to describe fold lines found on a typical grocery or leaf bag. 
         [0037]    Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.
A stiffening system and method for a foldable bag. A foldable bag is disclosed having: one or more fold lines; a first adjacent section and a second adjacent section separated by a fold line; and a stiffener having a first portion pre-fastened to the first adjacent section and a second portion that includes a mechanism for manual attachment to the second adjacent section for maintaining the foldable bag in an open position.