RACKS WITH ROLL BRAKE MECHANISM FOR DISPOSING ROLL BAGS

Abstract

A dispenser is disclosed for dispensing plastic bags from bag rolls. The dispenser includes a base frame and an arm pivotally connected to the base frame. A roll stop is attached to the arm to be inserted in the core of the bag roll when one is nested on the frame. The roll stop includes an internal spring which applies a braking force to the interior of the core of the bag roll to prevent the bag roll from spinning.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispensing assemblies for dispensing plastic bags and, more particularly, to dispensers for dispensing bags from bag rolls. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser that has a brake mechanism for preventing roll spinning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In supermarkets, department stores, fast food restaurants, and other retail outlets, there is frequently the need for consumers or store employees to place items in bags to facilitate handling and purchase. For example, produce bags are dispensed directly to customers to allow the customer to bag the produce as it is chosen for purchase. Also, in deli or meat departments, store employees place the selected meats or other deli products in bags (or other packaging) for the consumer. At fast food restaurants, especially when an order is made “to go,” the employee places the food in a plastic bag to facilitate handling and prevent spilling or leaking In the prior art, there are a number of designs for dispensing bags for these purposes.

Roll mounted plastic bags are commonly found in modem grocery stores and supermarkets. The most common bags are designed for customers to use when purchasing fresh produce. A large number of dispensers of bags from roll mounted plastic bags have been used and are being used throughout the grocery stores and super markets. Furthermore, such dispensers have been the subject of several patents.

The bags currently available are difficult for customers to use for several reasons. First, the bags tend to cling together due to excessive static and are difficult to separate from the roll. Second, it is difficult to tell the open end of the bag from the closed end of the bag. Third, the individual bags are difficult to open, as the sides tend to cling together. Fourth, the rolls tend to spin when an individual bag is pulled off the dispenser thereby causing loose bags to hang from the dispenser.

A need has arisen for a bag dispensing system for dispensing plastic bags from a roll that is simple, effective and does not spin when pulled to dispense a bag.

The present invention(s) relates to a dispenser that is compact, simple to operate and has an internal braking mechanism to prevent spinning of the roll during the dispersing process.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A plastic bag dispenser for dispensing bags from a plastic bag roll is disclosed. The dispenser includes a base frame which is composed of a bottom section and a back section having a reduced width portion. A rip tongue extending from the bottom section adapted to catch and separate a passing bag from a nested plastic bag roll. A mounting plate is attached to the bottom section and adapted to pivotally attach the dispenser to a floor stand mount with the ability to pivotally adjust the dispenser's position

A swing arm is located along the upper section of the base frame and is pivotally attached thereto. A bag roll stop is attached to the free end of the swing arm. The roll stop is received in the core of the bag roll. The roll stop includes a hollow cylinder for housing a flat spring which applies a spring force on the interior of the core to prevent the bag roll from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use. The spring is inserted in the hollow cylinder and a bend portion thereof extends beyond the exterior cylindrical surface of the hollow cylinder through a slot to provide a biasing spring force on the interior of the core of a bag roll when a bag roll is placed over the cylinder. This biasing force provides a brake so as to prevent the bag roll from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use.

In an alternative embodiment the back section is of uniform width and does not have a reduced width portion. All other components remain the same.

In operation, a plastic bag is pulled down over the rip tongue. This causes nested plastic bag roll to unroll until the perforation in plastic bag passes over the rip tongue. As the perforations pass over the rip tongue, a plastic bag separates from the nested plastic bag roll. The next plastic bag on the nested plastic bag roll is then positioned in the open front of the bottom section for use. The plastic bag roll is prevented from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use by friction between the plastic bag roll and the roll stop resulting from the biasing force of the spring on the interior of the core of the bag roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a dispenser having a bag roll nested therein in accordance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bag perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 without the bag roll showing the arm in a raised position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a spring used in the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the spring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the spring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 4 showing the arm in a lowered position;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the roll stop of the dispenser of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a front perspective of the dispenser of FIG. 10 with the arm being in a raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a plastic bag dispenser 10 according to the present invention with a plastic bag roll 12 nested therein, as more fully described below. Dispenser 10 includes a base frame 16 which is composed of a bottom section 18 and a back section 20. Bottom section 18 has an open front with a rip tongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag 24 from a nested plastic bag roll 12.

A mounting plate 26 is attached to bottom section 18 and adapted to attach the dispenser 10 to a floor stand mount 28. Mounting plate 26 includes an arched slot 36. A nut and bolt 32 pivotally connects mounting plate 26 to floor stand mount 28. A nut and bolt 34 connects mounting plate 26 to floor stand mount 28 and is adapted to travel in arched slot 36 when mounting plate 26 pivots around nut and bolt 32. The position of dispenser 10 is adjustable by pivoting mounting plate 26 around nut and bolt 32 and allowing nut and bolt 34 to travel in arched slot 36 until it reaches the desired position whereupon nut and bolt 34 is tightened to secure mounting plate 26 to the new position. Dispenser 10 may also be attached to any other bracket such as a vertical surface mount or a horizontal surface mount.

A swing arm 40 is located along the upper section of back section of base frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped, with a right angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20. Swing arm 40 is attached to back section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which are attached to back section 20. Swing arm 40 is received in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52. A plastic bag roll stop 58 is located at the free end of swing arm 40 and is adapted to keep plastic bag roll 12 in place during use. As plastic bag roll 12 is depleted, swing arm 40 rotates about swing arm base 52 towards back section 20 and bottom section 18 of base frame 16.

In operation, a plastic bag 24 is pulled down over rip tongue 22. This causes nested plastic bag roll 12 to unroll until the perforation in plastic bag 24 passes over rip tongue 22. As the perforations pass over rip tongue 22, plastic bag 24 separates from the nested plastic bag roll 12. The next plastic bag 24 on the nested plastic bag roll 12 is then positioned in the open front of bottom section 18 for use. Plastic bag roll 12 is prevented from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use by friction between the plastic bag roll 12 and roll stop 58, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is a shown a front perspective view of dispenser 10. There is shown plastic bag roll 12 nested therein and supported on bottom section 18 having an open front with rip tongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag 24 from the nested plastic bag roll 12. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottom section 18.

Generally cylindrical roll stop 58 is received in core 60 of bag roll 12. Roll stop 58 includes a cylindrical chamber 61 for housing a spring 62 which applies a spring force on the interior of core 60 to prevent bag roll 12 from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a shown a rear perspective view of dispenser 10 of FIG. 1. There is shown plastic bag roll 12 nested therein and supported on bottom section 18 and back section 20 which has a reduced width portion as compared to the width of bottom section 18.

Mounting plate 26 extending from bottom section 18 is attached to floor stand mount 28 via nuts and bolts 32 and 34. Swing arm 40 is attached to back section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which are attached to back section 20. Swing arm 40 is received in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52

Roll stop 58 is received in core 60 of bag roll 12. Roll stop 58 includes cylindrical chamber 61 for housing spring 62 which applies a spring force on the interior of core 60 to prevent bag roll 12 from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a front perspective view of bag dispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without a plastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16 which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having a reduced width portion 21. Bottom section 18 has an open front with rip tongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag from a plastic bag roll. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottom section 18 and adapted to attach dispenser 10 to a floor stand mount (not shown in FIG. 4 but shown in FIG. 1).

Swing arm 40 is in extended raised position and is located along the upper section of base frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped, with a right angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20. Swing arm 40 is attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which are attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20. Swing arm 40 is received in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52. Plastic bag roll stop 58 is located at the free end of swing arm 40.

Roll stop 58 includes a hollow cylinder 70 with an elongate slot 71 providing an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70 to the cylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62 disposed in the interior of cylinder 70. Cylinder 70 is attached to swing arm 40 on one end and is open on the other end to receive spring 62. A circular plate 74 is attached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40 to provide a stop to bag roll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a side view of spring 62. Spring 62 is a flat spring constructed of metal spring material having bend portions 72 and 74 suitable for performing the functions described below. FIG. 6 is a top view of spring 62 of FIG. 5 having bend portions 72 and 74 and openings 76 and 78 for affixing spring 62 to the interior of hollow cylinder 70. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of spring 62 of FIG. 5 having bend portions 72 and 74 and openings 76 and 78 for affixing spring 62 to the interior of hollow cylinder 70.

Referring back to FIG. 4, spring 62 is inserted in hollow cylinder 70 and secured therein through attachment elements going through openings 76 and 78 (not shown in FIG. 4 but shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). In the secured position bend portion 72 extends beyond the exterior cylindrical surface of hollow cylinder 70 and is adapted to provide a biasing spring force on the interior of core 60 of bag roll (not shown in FIG. 4 but shown in FIG. 3) when core 60 is received over roll stop 58. This biasing force provides a brake so as to prevent bag roll 12 from unraveling when a bag is being pulled or when not in use. Further, in the secure position, bend portion 74 is adapted to be pushed to one position to allow for the sliding placement of the bag roll on roll stop 58 and to return to a second position to act as a stop preventing the bag roll from slipping out after it is placed on roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown a bottom perspective view of bag dispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without a plastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16 which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having a reduced width portion 21. Mounting plate 26 is attached to bottom section 18 and adapted to attach dispenser 10 to floor stand mount 28 via nut and bolts 32 and 34. Roll stop 58 is in lowered position resting on back section 20. Swing arm (not shown) is attached to back reduced width portion 21 of section 20 by swing arm base 52.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a front perspective view of bag dispenser 10 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention without a plastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10 includes base frame 16 which is composed of bottom section 18 and back section 20 having a reduced width portion 21. Bottom section 18 has an open front with rip tongue 22 extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag from a plastic bag roll.

Swing arm 40 is in lowered position and is located along the upper section of base frame 16. Swing arm 40 is generally “L” shaped, with a right angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20. Swing arm 40 is attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20 by swing arm base 52 comprised of bushings 54A and 54B which are attached to reduced width portion 21 of back section 20. Swing arm 40 is received in bushings 54A and 54B to allow swing arm 40 to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52. Plastic bag roll stop 58 is located at the free end of swing arm 40.

Roll stop 58 includes a hollow cylinder 70 with an elongate slot 71(not shown) providing an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70 to the cylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62 disposed in the interior of cylinder 70. Cylinder 70 is attached to swing arm 40 on one end and is open on the other end to receive spring 62. A circular plate 74 is attached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40 to provide a stop to bag roll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a dispenser 10A which is similar to the dispenser 10 of FIGS. 1-4, 8 and 9 with the only difference being that back section 20 of dispenser 10 that has a reduced width portion 21 is replaced by a back section 20A that has a uniform width and not a reduced width portion. There is shown a front perspective view of bag dispenser 10A without a plastic bag roll nested therein. Dispenser 10A includes base frame 16A which is composed of bottom section 18A and back section 20A. Bottom section 18A has an open front with rip tongue 22A extending therefrom adapted to catch and separate a passing bag from a plastic bag roll.

Swing arm 40A is in lowered position and is located along the upper section of base frame 16A. Swing arm 40A is generally “L” shaped, with a right angle bend where it extends past the depth of back section 20A. Swing arm 40A is attached to back section 20A by swing arm base 52A comprised of bushings 54C and 54D which are attached to back section 20A. Swing arm 40A is received in bushings 54C and 54D to allow swing arm 40A to act as an axle when coupled with swing arm base 52A. Plastic bag roll stop 58A is located at the free end of swing arm 40A.

Roll stop 58A includes a hollow cylinder 70A with an elongate slot 71A providing an elongate opening from the interior of cylinder 70A to the cylindrical exterior thereof and a spring 62A disposed in the interior of cylinder 70A. Cylinder 70A is attached to swing arm 40A on one end and is open on the other end to receive spring 62A. A circular plate 74A is attached to the cylinder adjacent swing arm 40A to provide a stop to bag roll when the bag roll is received over roll stop 58A. Dispenser 10A is attached to a floor stand 28A.

Referring now to FIG. 11 there is shown an enlarged view of roll stop 58A of FIG. 10, showing bend portion 72A extending beyond the exterior cylindrical surface of hollow cylinder 70A and is adapted to provide a biasing spring force on the interior of the core of a bag roll when the core is received over roll stop 58A.

Referring now to FIG. 12 there is shown dispenser 10A of FIG. 10 with arm 40A raised.

Having described the invention above, various modifications of the techniques, procedures, materials, and equipment will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such variations within the scope and spirit of the invention be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing bags from plastic bag rolls that have a core: a frame;a pivotable arm attached to the frame; anda brake adapted to apply a braking force to the interior of the core.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the brake is a spring.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the brake includes a hollow cylinder and a spring disposed in the cylinder.

4. A dispenser according to claim 3 wherein the hollow cylinder included a slot and a portion of the spring extends through the slot beyond the exterior surface of the cylinder.