Bag stand

1. A method of assembling a bag stand comprising the steps of:

receiving a blank formable into a bag stand having at least one side panel, each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, and a right end, at least one side panel connected to at least one adjacent side panel by a bend line, the blank also having a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab connected to the top end of at least one side panel by at least one bend line, each panel tab having at least one interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs, the blank also having at least one connection panel connected to at least one side panel by at least one bend line;

bending the blank along at least one bend line; and

connecting the at least one connection panel to the blank by a feature of the connection panel that is not the bend line.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blank is made of corrugated cardboard.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each panel tab is one of a male panel tab and a female panel tab.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blank includes at least one handle cutout.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blank includes an even number of side panels.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blank includes eight side panels.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one side panel includes at least one left side draft.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one side panel includes at least one right side draft.

9. A method of assembling a bag stand comprising the steps of:

receiving a bag stand having at least one side panel, each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, and a right end, the right end of each at least one side panel connected to the left end of at least one adjacent side panel, the bag stand also having a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab hingedly connected to the top end of at least one side panel, each panel tab having at least one interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs, the bag stand in a flattened arrangement;

unflattening the bag stand to a shape sufficient to hold open a refuse bag, the shape defining a cross-sectional shape of the bag stand; and

arranging the plurality of panel tabs such that the at least one interfacing end of each panel tab interfaces with an interfacing end of at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs to form a top end of the bag stand.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bag stand is made of corrugated cardboard.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein each panel tab is one of a male panel tab and a female panel tab.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one side panel includes at least one left side draft.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one side panel includes at least one right side draft.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

bending the plurality of panel tops relative to the top end of the bag stand, the right end and left end of each panel tab interfacing with the adjacent panel tabs, such that the inner surface of each panel tab is positioned adjacent to and facing the inner surface of a corresponding one of the left side panel, right side panel, and the at least one intermediate side panel, thereby forming a substantially interlocking interface between each panel tab, the plurality of panel tabs thereby defining an opening at the top end of the bag stand.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein each side panel is connected to one panel tab.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein each panel tab is connected to one side panel.

17. A method of using a bag stand comprising the steps of:

receiving a bag stand having at least one side panel, each side panel having a top end, a bottom end, a left end, and a right end, the right end of each at least one side panel connected to the left end of at least one adjacent side panel, the bag stand having a top end and a bottom end, the bag stand also having a plurality of panel tabs, each panel tab hingedly connected to the top end of at least one side panel, each panel tab having at least one interfacing end for connection to at least one other of the plurality of panel tabs;

orienting the bag stand in a sufficient shape to hold open a refuse bag, wherein the top end of the bag stand defines an opening and wherein the bag stand defines a cavity therein in communication with the opening;

standing the bag stand by placing the bottom end of the bag stand downward;

receiving a refuse bag having a top end and a bag portion, the bag portion being substantially continuous and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the top end defining an opening;

coupling the top end of the refuse bag with the top end of the bag stand;

supporting the bag portion of the refuse bag by one of

inserting the bag portion of the refuse bag into the opening of the bag stand to occupy at least a portion of the cavity; and

inserting the bag stand through the opening of the refuse bag and into the bag portion of the refuse bag; and

inserting refuse into the opening of the refuse bag.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

removing the refuse bag and refuse from the bag stand; and

disposing of the refuse bag and refuse.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

disposing of the refuse bag, refuse, and bag stand.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein each panel tab is one of a male panel tab and a female panel tab.