This invention relates to the field of dispensing systems for plastic and other film bags and more specifically to dispensers for vertically hung bags and bag packs with hanging apertures.
As mounting space is usually at a premium in supermarkets and grocery stores, it is desirable to have bag dispensing systems that use a minimum of such space, are adaptable to a variety of dispenser mounting systems and provide means for keeping bags neat and orderly in the store. It is also desirable that the supply of bags remaining in the dispenser be readily visible to service personnel so that bag supplies can be timely maintained. In order to dispense bags economically and environmentally, it is desirable that only a single bag is dispensed at one time and that the bag remains in the hand of the user as it is dispensed. Thin film produce bags have often been dispensed from roll mounted bag systems.
These systems are typically used for fresh produce, and can help with limited space problems when they are designed to use folded bags. These relatively large bags are folded two to four times along vertical or horizontal axes and then formed into compact rolls. The bags are typically joined to one another using perforations. Some bags, known as star-sealed bags are folded twice and then sealed across their bottom edges. This produces a bag with an extremely strong bottom.
However, when using roll mounted bags, it is critical that the bags are correctly loaded into the bag dispenser and that the bag roll cannot accidently leave the dispenser when a user attempts to pull a bag from the roll. Should this happen, the bag roll could end up on the floor of store, providing a potentially hazardous condition. It is even possible for a bag roll to fly out of the dispenser and strike a grocery patron when he attempts to pull a bag from the roll.
In order to obviate these problems, the present invention dispenses bags from a vertically oriented hanging bag stack. These compact dispensers occupy a relatively small footprint in a retail store, eliminate the danger of loose bag rolls, and also eliminate the need to open a folded bag. These dispensers provide a compact system that is easy and safe to use as well as being easy to maintain and economical to use. Some examples of dispensers for hanging bags and related inventions include the following.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,483, issued to Nguyen et al., discloses a thermoplastic bag dispensing system for use in dispensing thermoplastic bags from a stack. The dispenser comprises a vertical support rod supporting planar surface in top rack which serves as a horizontal support surface. Support members in the form of spikes extend from the horizontal surface to receive a bag pack through openings provided at the upper edge of that bag pack. The bag pack thus hangs via the support members from the horizontal support surface and over a declined (inclined) support surface. A pivotally mounted bag pack support member is also mounted on the horizontal support surface and maybe raised in order to mount the bag pack then lower it into position over the bags. Since the bags within bag pack are of the self-opening type, as the top bag is removed from a dispenser the immediately following bag is pulled into an open position and prepared for subsequent dispensing.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,960,493, issued to Dennison et al., is directed to a method and apparatus for disposable glove dispensing. The glove is dispensed one at a time while providing for a second member to be opened when the first member is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,134, issued to Springer et al., illustrates a pet waste bag dispenser. The reference discloses an example of a plastic bag dispenser system that utilizes a positioner, or stabilizer, in order to keep individual bags of a pack conveniently stacked for removal of one bag at a time.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2015/00883677, published for Tan, is directed to a bag dispenser rack that incorporates mounting spikes and pivotally mounted support surface to keep the bags in order, while providing for dispensing of individual bags from a pack with the following bag brought conveniently into open configuration for use thereafter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,371, issued to DeMatteis, illustrates the process of die-cutting bag stacks to form individual bag tops, die-cut handle apertures, or other mounting apertures, die blade configurations forming the vent lines of an array of vent apertures are also used to bond the outer surfaces of the front and rear bag walls together. The die-cutting operation selectively bonds the successive front and rear bag walls together at or adjacent the cut edges of the vent lines, thereby allowing the bags in a bag stack to subsequently self-open when dispensed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,811, issued to Wilfong, Jr., discloses a pack of self-opening serially-arranged plastic bags of the “star-seal” type defining eight superimposed wall layers in the bag. Mounting tabs form a part of top portions of each of the eight layers and are positioned in superimposed positions and each includes an aperture for mounting the tabs on a tab retaining device of a rack in a non-front-side-free manner. Each of the tabs includes a mechanism for rendering the tab detachable and providing a predetermined detaching strength. In one embodiment, each of the tabs are detachable from the rack and in another embodiment, each of the tabs are detachable from the bag. A frangible bond is formed between the rear layer and the front layer of each successive bag in the pack. This frangible bond has a predetermined strength (1) which is greater than the predetermined detaching strength of two of the tabs and (2) is weaker than the predetermined detaching strength of the remaining six tabs to allow the leading bag of the pack (when pulled by a user for removal) to disengage from the pack, while (before disengagement) pulling the succeeding bag in the pack to cause detaching of the two leading of the tabs for self-opening of the succeeding bag.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that provides large size film bags that are dispensed from a system that occupies a minimum of floor space in a retail store. It is a further objective to provide a system that does not require roll mounted bags. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a dispensing system adaptable to a variety of different mountings. It is yet a further objective to provide such a system that provides a visual indication of the need to refill the dispenser. It is still a further objective to provide a dispenser that can accommodate multiple bag sizes. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that is durable, inexpensive, easy to keep clean and simple to use.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.
The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art hanging bag dispensers and satisfies all of the objectives described above.
(1) A hanging bag dispenser providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A bag support platform is provided. The platform provides a surface. The surface contacts a last bag in a vertically supported bag pack. The bag pack has a first predetermined width and a first predetermined length. At least one mounting device is provided. The device is attached to the bag support platform and is sized, shaped and located to engage a mounting aperture. The aperture penetrates each bag in the bag pack. A positioning system is provided. The system is attached to the bag support platform and maintains the bag support platform at a height sufficient to allow the bag pack to extend downwardly for at least the first predetermined length. At least one pivotally mounted bag control arm is provided. The bag control arm is mounted to the bag support platform and is sized shaped and located to permit installation of the bag pack on the at least one mounting device when pivoted to a loading position and located to constrain an outermost bag in the bag pack when pivoted to a control position.
(2) In a variant of the invention, at least one mounting device is upwardly angled.
(3) In another variant, the at least one mounting device includes a bendable tab.
(4) In still another variant, the at least one mounting device includes an angled hook.
(5) In yet another variant, the at least one pivotally mounted bag control arm rests upon the outermost bag in the bag pack when pivoted to the control position.
(6) In a further variant, the positioning system is selected from the group comprising floor stands, wall mounts, surface mounts, shelf mounts, glue, screws, nails and looping and hooking fasteners (Velcro®).
(7) In still a further variant, first and second horizontal control arms are provided. The control arms are attached either to or adjacent to the bag support platform and are sized, shaped and located to align with hanging apertures located in handles of a T-shirt style bag.
(8) In a variant of the invention, a surrounding control device is provided. The device is attached to either the bag support platform or the positioning system. The cage is sized shaped and located to surround at least a lower portion of the bag pack, thereby preventing a user from pulling a bag from a lower portion of the bag.
(9) In another variant, the control device is of wire form construction.
(10) In yet another variant, the control device is formed of wood, plastic or metal.
(11) In still another variant, the support platform is either of a vertical and angled planar surface.
(12) In a further variant, the support platform is horizontally oriented and has either a cylindrical or convex curved surface.
(13) In still a further variant, the at least one mounting device is a mounting spike.
(14) In yet a further variant, the mounting spike has an angled portion adjacent a distal end of the spike.
(15) In another variant of the invention, the at least one mounting device is slidably mounted to the bag support platform and adapted to accommodate bags having a variety of differently located mounting apertures.
(16) In still another variant, the at least one mounting device is a mounting hook.
(17) In yet another variant, the mounting hook is slidably mounted to the bag support platform and adapted to accommodate bags having a variety of differently located mounting apertures.
(18) In a further variant, the positioning system is any of a floor stand, a counter mount and a surface stand. The positioning system is adapted to support at least two of the bag support platform.
(19) In still a further variant, the positioning system is a wall mount. The wall mount supports the bag support platform.
(20) In yet a further variant, the positioning system is a counter mount. The counter mount supports the bag support platform.
(21) In another variant of the invention, the at least one pivotally mounted bag control arm contacts the outermost bag of the bag pack at a single point.
(22) In still another variant, the at least one pivotally mounted bag control arm includes a pair of control arms. The control arms contact the outermost bag of the bag pack at two points.
(23) In a further variant, the at least one pivotally mounted bag control arm includes at least one weight. The weight provides increased friction between the control arm and the outermost bag.
(24) In still a further variant of the invention, the at least one pivotally mounted bag control arm includes first and second bag control elements. The first and second elements are attached to a pivot rod. The pivot rod is slidably located within a bearing structure. The bearing structure is attached to the bag support platform.
(25) In yet a further variant, the bag further includes a central handle, the central handle selected from the group that includes round, oval, kidney-shaped and racetrack (elongated round).
(26) In another variant of the invention, the bag further includes a top seam, a bottom seam, a U-shaped cut-out commencing at the top seam, extending downwardly toward the bottom seam, proceeding across the bag and rejoining the top seam, a central hanging aperture, the top seam and bag material adjacent the U-shaped cut-out forming first and second bag handles, the bag handles has first and second hanging apertures located in an upper portion of the handles.
(27) In still another variant, the bag further includes at least one side gusset.
(28) In yet another variant, the bag pack further includes self-opening bags. The self-opening bags employ technology selected form the group comprising: corona treatment, corona treatment with pressure, knife cutting, adhesives, hot staking, cold pinning, special material formulations and adhering inks.
(29) In a further variant, the special material formulation includes 40-48 wt. % high density, high molecular weight polyethylene, 12-20 wt. % high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene, 20-30 wt. % linear low density polyethylene, 0-8 wt. % color concentrate.
(30) In still a further variant, the special material formulation further includes 0.5 wt. % slip and antiblock compound.
(31) In yet a further variant, the special material formulation further includes 1-3 wt. % calcium carbonate.
(32) In another variant of the invention, the special material formulation further includes 10-20 wt. % recycled material, the recycled material comprising about 40-48 wt. % high density, high molecular weight polyethylene, 12-20 wt. % high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene, 20-30 wt. % linear low density polyethylene, 0-8 wt. % color concentrate.
(33) In still another variant, 10-15 wt. % of the linear low density polyethylene has a density ranging from 0.923-0.924 gm/cc.
(34) In yet another variant, 10-15 wt. % of the linear low density polyethylene has a melt index ranging from 0.25-0.30 gm/10 minutes.
(35) In a further variant, the high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene has a density ranging from 0.937-0.947 gm/cc.
(36) In still a further variant, the high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene has a melt index ranging from 0.10-0.30 gm/10 minutes.
(37) In yet a further variant, a central mounting hook and first and second horizontal control arms are provided. The mounting hook and the control arms are attached either to or adjacent to one of the at least two of the bag support platforms. The mounting hook and the first and second horizontal control arms are sized, shaped and located to align with hanging apertures located in bag material adjacent a U-shaped cut-out and handles of a T-shirt style bag, respectively.
(38) In another variant of the invention, the positioning system supports two bag support platforms. The platforms are located at right angles to each other.
(39) In a final variant of the invention, the dispenser includes at least one removable surrounding control device. The device is attached to either the bag support platform or the positioning system. The device is sized shaped and located to surround at least a lower portion of the bag pack, thereby preventing a user from pulling a bag from a lower portion of the bag.
An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.
(1) A hanging bag dispenser 10 providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in
(2) In a variant of the invention, at least one mounting device 38 is upwardly angled.
(3) In another variant, as illustrated in
(4) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(6) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(7) In still a further variant, first 60 and second 64 horizontal control arms are provided. The control arms 60, 64 are attached either to or adjacent to the bag support platform 14 and are sized, shaped and located to align with hanging apertures 68, 72 located in handles 76, 78 of a T-shirt style bag 80.
(8) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(9) In another variant, the control device 74 is of wire form construction 90.
(10) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(11) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(12) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(13) In still a further variant, the at least one mounting device 38 is a mounting spike 110.
(14) In yet a further variant, the mounting spike 110 has an angled portion 114 adjacent a distal end 118 of the spike 110.
(15) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(16) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(17) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(18) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(19) In still a further variant, as illustrated in
(20) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
(21) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(22) In still another variant, as illustrated in
(23) In a further variant, as illustrated in
(24) In still a further variant, as illustrated in
(25) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
(26) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(27) In still another variant, the bag 80 further includes at least one side gusset 48.
(28) In yet another variant, as illustrated in
(29) In a further variant, the special material formulation includes 40-48 wt. % high density, high molecular weight polyethylene, 12-20 wt. % high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene, 20-30 wt. % linear low density polyethylene, 0-8 wt. % color concentrate.
(30) In still a further variant, the special material formulation further includes 0.5 wt. % slip and antiblock compound.
(31) In yet a further variant, the special material formulation further includes 1-3 wt. % calcium carbonate.
(32) In another variant of the invention, the special material formulation further includes 10-20 wt. % recycled material, the recycled material comprising about 40-48 wt. % high density, high molecular weight polyethylene, 12-20 wt. % high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene, 20-30 wt. % linear low density polyethylene, 0-8 wt. % color concentrate.
(33) In still another variant, 10-15 wt. % of the linear low density polyethylene has a density ranging from 0.923-0.924 gm/cc.
(34) In yet another variant, 10-15 wt. % of the linear low density polyethylene has a melt index ranging from 0.25-0.30 gm/10 minutes.
(35) In a further variant, the high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene has a density ranging from 0.937-0.947 gm/cc.
(36) In still a further variant of the invention, the high density, medium molecular weight polyethylene has a melt index ranging from 0.10-0.30 gm/10 minutes.
(37) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in
(38) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in
(39) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in
The hanging bag dispenser 10 has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.