Patent Application
20240351773
The present invention generally relates to reusable bag storage and dispensing devices, and more particularly, to a bag carrying and dispensing case that offers users convenience and flexibility during shopping excursions.
The ever-increasing awareness of environmental conservation has led to a significant growth in the use of reusable bags over single-use plastic or paper bags. These reusable bags are especially common for grocery shopping, where consumers are encouraged to bring their own bags to help reduce waste. Despite the well-established benefits, there are several challenges that have limited the overall convenience and adoption of reusable bags.
One such challenge is the transportation and organization of reusable bags. Many individuals find it cumbersome to carry multiple reusable bags into the store. Additionally, these bags can become untidy and disorderly when stuffed into a vehicle or personal bag, leading to inconvenience at checkout counters and potentially prolonging the bagging process.
The process of bagging groceries in a reusable bag can also pose certain challenges. Traditional grocery bag racks often do not adequately support reusable bags in an open position for easy loading, especially when the bag is not full. This problem is even more pronounced when the bag is relatively large, has flexible sidewalls, or lacks sufficient structure to remain open on its own, as is often the case with reusable “t-shirt style” bags.
Further, conventional bagging areas at check-out points are not always equipped to accommodate personal reusable bags. This lack of adaptability can complicate the bagging process and frustrate shoppers, potentially deterring them from utilizing reusable bags. Moreover, the process can be inconvenient for both customers and store employees as it can lead to slower check-out times, resulting in longer lines and decreased efficiency.
Yet another challenge arises from the inconsistency in shopping environments. Not all shopping venues have the same type of shopping cart or bagging setup. Some may have small bagging areas, while others may lack a bagging rack altogether. In these situations, it can be inconvenient for shoppers to secure their reusable bags in a manner that allows easy access and efficient bagging of their purchases.
To address these challenges, there are some products on the market that aim to make the use of reusable bags more convenient, such as various types of bag holders and organizers. However, these solutions often fall short of providing a comprehensive solution that is adaptable to various shopping environments and that simultaneously facilitates easy transportation, bag storage, bag dispensing, and loading.
In light of these and other issues, there is a need for an improved system that can conveniently store and dispense reusable bags while also facilitating the easy loading of purchases. The system should be versatile to adapt to different shopping environments and should provide an efficient method for transporting reusable bags to and from shopping locations.
It is within this context that the present invention is provided.
The present invention provides a Bag Carrying and Dispensing Case, a system designed to enhance the convenience and efficiency of using reusable bags during shopping. The dispensing case aims to provide a seamless way of storing, transporting, and dispensing reusable bags while enabling easy loading of items during checkout.
Constructed primarily of rigid materials like hard plastic, the dispensing case has a hard-case form, comprising a front and back half, both connected by a hinge at the bottom. This design creates a hollow interior for bag storage and includes a handle at the top for easy transportation. A locking mechanism, such as a pair of clickable tabs, secures the case when closed.
The dispensing case incorporates a unique set of structural features. A pair of rack attachment openings are formed on the case body, allowing the case to connect to standard bag racks, either when open or closed.
Further, a pair of foldable bag holding bars mounted on the inner side of the case provides support for keeping the bags open when loading items. The bars fold neatly into the case when not in use, thereby saving space and maintaining the compact form of the case.
Additionally, the dispensing case features a pair of clips on the outer side of the back half. These clips provide a simple yet effective way of attaching the case to shopping carts, adding another level of versatility to the system.
The optional foldable backstand unit can also be included to support the bag dispensing function in situations where there's no bagging rack or where the shopping cart is incompatible.
These multiple setup options cater to a variety of shopper situations, making the bag carrying and dispensing case versatile and user-friendly. It offers a convenient system for transporting and setting up personal reusable bags, particularly t-shirt style bags, during shopping trips.
Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.
The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.
Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The pair of foldable bag holding bars 30, mounted on the inner side of the back half 12, are designed to hold bags open when loading items into them. The holding bars 30 are pivotally mounted on blocks 31 attached to the case's inner wall, enabling them to swing outwardly for use and to fold neatly into the case when not in use.
Visible on the exterior of the back half 12 are a pair of clips 40. These clips 40 provide a means for shoppers to attach the case 10 to the handle or sides of a shopping cart for easy access during shopping.
Also visible on the back half 12 are a pair of rack attachment openings 20. These tubular openings 20 are designed to accommodate the arms of a standard bag rack, thus enabling the case 10 to be securely hung on such a rack.
Each block 31 includes two grooves: a first “open” groove 32 and a second “closed” groove 33. The open groove 32 is oriented directly outward, orthogonal to the plane of the case back wall, guiding and holding the holding bar in an extended position when the case is open, as depicted in
The closed groove 33 is oriented perpendicularly to the open groove 32 and lies parallel to the plane of the case back wall, pointing towards the center of the back wall from the block. In
This dual-groove design on the blocks 31 facilitates the switching between the folded and unfolded positions of the holding bars 30, contributing to the versatile nature of the bag carrying and dispensing case 10.
The foldable bag holding bars 30 are shown in the extended or unfolded position. The holding bars 30 can swing outward for use and fold neatly into the case 10 when not in use.
Visible in
In the figure, a reusable T-shirt bag 60 is shown hanging on the holding bars 30. Each handle of the bag 60 is looped over a respective holding bar 30, enabling the bag 60 to be held in an open position, ready for loading. The positioning of the bag 60, suspended from the holding bars 30, facilitates easy access for placing items inside, thus enhancing the shopping experience by simplifying the bagging process. The design of the case 10 allows for the efficient use and management of reusable bags during shopping trips, contributing to its versatility and user-friendly nature.
Finally,
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the dispensing case have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 63/460,069 Filed 18 Apr. 2023.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63460069 | Apr 2023 | US |
