Snap-ring stiffener apparatus having a scooping ramp edge and method for stiffening bag openings and other flexible fabrics

摘要

A stiffener apparatus, including first and second stiffener body sections, each section forming an open, geometric structure, with U-shaped channels facilitating mechanically mating the two sections, i.e. a quasi-congruent, multi-planar surface, snap-ring construction, that effects reliable compression of flexible material disposed between two mating sections. The stiffener sections are sized for fitting an opening of a flexible trash bag. An integral clamping mechanism securely latches the stiffener sections together and facilitates separating the sections. Mating channels compress the outer edges of the trash bag's opening material, greatly improving the compression fit keeping the trash bag open, especially in heavily loaded trash bag conditions. Each stiffener section, has a scooping ramp edge member for channeling material into the trash bag. One stiffener section has at least one handle with a notch for hanging the apparatus. The apparatus has means for attaching an optional hinged cover.