EXPANDABLE BAG ASSEMBLIES WITH AN INTEGRAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR FILLING

摘要

Expandable bag assemblies (100) and associated methods are disclosed herein. Certain aspects of the invention are directed toward an expandable bag assembly. that includes a flexible bag (110) with closed and open ends (112,114) and collapsible sidewalls (116) disposed between the ends. The assembly beneficially includes an integrated support structure (122) provided with stiff eners (126) and a mechanism for attachment to help hold a mouth of the bag in an open position while filling the bag. The assembly can be compressed for easy packaging and storage and be expanded into a self- supported, open position without memory folds. The assembly is also configured to retract during closure of the open end of the bag.