U.S. patent application number 13/300093 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for apparatus for dispensing plastic bags.
This patent application is currently assigned to DURATECH PLASTICS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jonathan J. Tsui.
Application Number | 20120125970 13/300093 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063382 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsui; Jonathan J. |
May 24, 2012 |
Apparatus for Dispensing Plastic Bags
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing plastic bags is disclosed. The
apparatus includes a dispensing rack having a base, opposing sides,
and a front portion. The opposing sides include tracks that
accommodate a spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a
roll of plastic bags and into the tracks such that the roll of
plastic bags is seated in the dispenser rack and rotatable with
respect to the spindle. The front portion of the dispensing rack is
formed with a tongue which engages with a slit between bags on a
roll and causes a bag to separate along a perforation. The front
portion of the dispensing rack may also be formed with wedges which
angle downward from the sides of the dispensing rack toward a lower
portion of the tongue. When a bag is detached, the wedges catch the
next bag and hold the next bag in place.
Inventors: |
Tsui; Jonathan J.; (Wyckoff,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
DURATECH PLASTICS
CORPORATION
Carlstadt
NJ
|
Family ID: |
46063382 |
Appl. No.: |
13/300093 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61416084 |
Nov 22, 2010 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
225/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 2009/044 20130101;
A47F 13/085 20130101; Y10T 225/393 20150401; B65H 2701/191
20130101; B65H 35/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
225/106 |
International
Class: |
B65H 35/10 20060101
B65H035/10 |
Claims
1. A dispensing rack for dispensing bags, comprising: a base; a
spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a roll of bags;
opposing sides attached to the base and formed with opposing tracks
to accommodate the spindle such that a roll of plastic bags on the
spindle is seated in the dispensing rack and rotatable with respect
to the spindle; and a front portion comprising: a tongue positioned
to engage with a slit between bags on a roll to cause a bag to be
separated from the roll along a perforation, and wedges positioned
to form nooks on opposite sides of the tongue to catch a next bag
from the roll of plastic bags when a bag is detached from the roll
of plastic bags and hold the next bag in place.
2. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein each wedge is attached
to a respective one of the opposing sides of the dispensing rack
and angles downward from the respective opposing side toward a
lower portion of the tongue.
3. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges angle upward
from a lower portion of the tongue such that a distance between the
tongue and the wedges increases toward the top of the tongue.
4. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are attached
to opposite sides of a lower portion of the tongue and the nooks
are formed where the wedges meet the tongue.
5. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are attached
to a bottom of the front portion of the dispensing rack forming the
nooks as gaps between the wedges and a lower portion of the
tongue.
6. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising: a resistance
bar connected between the opposing sides and positioned to contact
a roll of plastic bags seated within the dispensing rack and
provide resistance to the roll of plastic bags when the roll of
plastic bags is rotated with respect to the spindle.
7. The dispensing rack of claim 5, wherein as bags are dispensed
from the roll of plastic bags and a size of the roll of plastic
bags decreases, the spindle lowers within the tracks in the
opposing sides of the dispensing rack to maintain contact between
the roll of plastic bags and the resistance bar.
8. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising a vertical
mounting plate attached to a vertical portion of the base.
9. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising a horizontal
mounting plate attached to a horizontal portion of the base.
10. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a
horizontal bottom portion and a vertical back portion that are
perpendicular with respect to each other, the opposing sides are
connected at an angle with respect to the horizontal bottom portion
of the base such that top portions of the opposing sides are not
parallel to the horizontal bottom portion of the base, and the
tracks are perpendicular with respect to the top portions of the
opposing sides.
11. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the spindle comprises
stoppers at opposite ends of the spindle, wherein a diameter of the
stoppers are smaller than a diameter of the core of the roll of
plastic bags and larger than a width of the tracks.
12. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising: a chain
attaching the spindle to the base.
13. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the base in
substantially "L"-shaped comprising a horizontal portion and a
vertical portion, the opposing sides are semi-circular, and a
curved portion of each opposing side attaches between the
horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the base.
14. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are angled
toward a lower portion of the tongue to guide a bag being pulled
from the dispenser rack such that a slit between the bag and a next
bag on the roll of bags catches on the tongue.
15. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges crinkle the
next bag caught in the nooks to initiate separation between the
front and back panels of the next bag to make the next bag easier
to open when detached from the dispensing rack.
16. An apparatus comprising: a roll of plastic bags comprising a
hollow core and a plurality of plastic bags wound around the core,
wherein the plastic bags are attached to each other with a
perforation separating adjacent bags and a slit is formed in a
portion of each perforation; and a dispenser for dispensing the
plastic bags, the dispenser comprising: a base; a spindle inserted
through the core of the roll of plastic bags, opposing sides
attached to the base and formed with opposing tracks to accommodate
the spindle such that the roll of plastic bags on the spindle is
seated in the dispensing rack and rotatable with respect to the
spindle, and a front portion comprising: a tongue positioned to
engage with the slit between adjacent bags on the roll of plastic
bags to cause a bag to be separated a next bag on the roll of
plastic bags along the perforation separating the bag and the next
bag, and wedges positioned to form nooks on opposite sides of the
tongue to catch the next bag when the bag is detached from the roll
of plastic bags and hold the next bag in place.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the core is flush with sides
of the roll of plastic bags formed by the plurality of plastic bags
wound around the core.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the dispensing rack further
includes a resistance bar connected between the opposing sides and
positioned to contact the roll of plastic bags provide resistance
to the roll of plastic bags when the roll of plastic bags is
rotated with respect to the spindle, and as bags are dispensed from
the roll of plastic bags and a size of the roll of plastic bags
decreases, the spindle lowers within the tracks in the opposing
sides of the dispensing rack to maintain contact between the roll
of plastic bags and the resistance bar.
19. A method of dispensing plastic bags from a dispenser
comprising: pulling on a first bag on a roll of bags that is
rotatably seated in a dispenser; catching a slit formed in a
perforation between the first bag and a second bag on the roll of
bags on a tongue of the dispenser; causing by the tongue the first
bag to be detached from the roll of bags along the perforation
between the first bag and the second bag as the first bag is
pulled; and catching the second bag in nooks formed by wedges of
the dispenser on opposite sides of the tongue such that portions of
the second bag protrude from the nooks.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: pulling on the
portions of the second bag; catching a slit formed in a perforation
between the second bag and a third bag on the roll of bags on the
tongue; causing by the tongue the second bag to be detached from
the roll of bags along the perforation between the second bag and
the third bag as the second bag is pulled; and catching the third
bag in the nooks such that portions of the third bag protrude from
the nooks.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/416,084, filed Nov. 22, 2010, the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a dispenser for
dispensing plastic bags on a roll.
[0003] In various types of stores, such as supermarkets, food
markets, hardware stores, etc., plastic bags on a roll are
typically available for bulk purchase of various items, such as
produce, bakery products, and hardware parts. The rolls of plastic
bags are typically the same width as the bags and many rolls are
typically provided in a store for the convenience of consumers.
Many retailers are concerned that dispensers for the rolls of
plastic bags require too much shelf space and/or floor space. Many
retailers are also concerned about the aesthetic appearance of
plastic bag dispensers and the functionality provided to
consumers.
[0004] Rolls of plastic bags are typically mounted horizontally or
vertically on a shaft. The bags on the roll have perforations
between them for separating the bags. Traditionally, in order for a
customer to take a bag from a roll, the customer must grab the end
bag with one hand and pull the end bag while holding the next bag
or the roll with the other hand. Although there are perforations
between the bags on the roll, on many occasions it can be difficult
for consumers to separate a bag from the roll. In some cases, the
roll may roll too much causing a long string of bags to hang from
the roll when a consumer attempts to separate a bag from the roll.
Many retailers feel that such a long string of bags hanging from a
roll is an eyesore and a potential safety hazard. Another problem a
consumer can encounter is that after a bag is separated from a roll
the next bag on the roll can lie flat on the surface of the roll
making it difficult for a consumer to find and/or grab the next
bag.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus
for dispensing plastic bags on a roll. Embodiments of the present
invention reduce footprint of bags and dispenser and make each bag
easier to separate from roll. Further, embodiments of the present
invention prevent the roll of bags from spinning out of control
thereby leaving a string of bags hanging from the dispenser.
Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a dispenser
in which the bags are folded in such a way so each bag is easier to
open.
[0006] In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing plastic bags
includes a dispensing rack having a base, opposing sides, and a
front portion. The opposing sides may include tracks that
accommodate a spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a
roll of plastic bags and into the tracks such that the roll of
plastic bags is seated in the dispenser rack and rotatable with
respect to the spindle. The front portion of the dispensing rack
may be formed with a tongue which engages with a slit between bags
on a roll and causes a bag to separate along a perforation. The
front portion of the dispensing rack may also be formed with wedges
which angle downward from the sides of the dispensing rack toward a
lower portion of the tongue. When a bag is detached from a roll of
plastic bags, the wedges catch the next bag and hold the next bag
in place to facilitate a user grabbing and pulling the next bag to
detach the next bag.
[0007] The dispensing rack may also include a resistance bar to
contact a roll of plastic bags seated within the dispensing rack
and provide resistance to prevent the roll of bags from spinning
out of control. As bags are dispensed from the roll and the roll
size decreases, the spindle is automatically lowered within the
tracks so that adequate friction between the roll and the
resistance bar is maintained.
[0008] The dispensing rack may also include vertical and/or
horizontal mounting plates. The vertical and horizontal mounting
plates can be used to mount the dispensing rack on vertical and
horizontal surfaces, as well as free standing display stands.
[0009] These and other advantages of the disclosure will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing
bags on a roll according to an embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a dispenser rack of the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a roll of bags and the
dispenser rack;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the roll of bags seated within
the dispenser rack;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the dispenser rack mounted on
a stand and mounted on a wall;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a front view of the dispenser rack showing the
tongue and wedges;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bag being pulled off
the dispenser rack;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack showing
the tongue catching a slit between the bags; and
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack showing
the wedges holding a next bag in place.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing
bags on a roll according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a dispensing rack
100 capable of housing a roll of plastic bags 120. FIG. 2 is a side
view showing the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 3 is a side view showing
the roll of bags 120 and the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 4 is a side
view showing the roll of bags seated within the dispenser rack.
[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing rack 100
includes a base 102 that is substantially "L" shaped, two
semi-circular sides 104a and 104b attached to the base 102, and a
front portion 106 attached to the base 102 and the sides 104a and
104b. The front portion 106 of the dispensing rack 100 includes a
tongue 108, which may be integrally formed with the front portion
106 of the dispensing rack 100. The dispensing rack 100 also
includes wedges 110a and 110b. The wedges 110a and 110b may be
connected to the sides 104a and 104b, respectively, at or near
where the sides 104a and 104b are connected to the front portion
106 of the dispensing rack 100. Alternatively, the wedges 110a and
110b may be connected near a top of opposite sides of the front
portion 106, at or near where the front portion 106 is connected to
sides 104a and 104b, respectively. The wedges 110a are angled
toward a lower portion of the tongue 108 and may be connected to
opposite sides of a bottom of the front portion 106, at or near
where a bottom of the tongue 108. According to an advantageous
embodiment, there may be a small gap between the bottom of each
wedge 110a and 110b and the bottom of the tongue 108. The
dispensing rack 100 further includes a vertical mounting plate 112,
a horizontal mounting plate 114, a resistance bar 116, and a
spindle 118 attached to the dispensing rack by a chain 119. The
dispensing rack 100 may be made of metal, such as steel, or
reinforced plastic, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. The wedges 110a and 110b may be made of wire, metal
plastic, etc, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0021] As show in FIG. 1, the roll of plastic bags 120 is seated in
the dispensing rack 100. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the insertion of
the roll of plastic bags 120 into the dispensing rack 100.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in order to insert the roll 120 into the
dispensing rack 100, the spindle 118 is inserted through a core 122
of the roll of plastic bags 120. According to an advantageous
embodiment, the core 120 of the roll of plastic bags is flush with
the side of the bags. The core 120 may be a paper core, but the
present invention is not limited thereto. Once the spindle 118 is
inserted through the core 122 of the roll 120, the spindle 118 is
then placed into the tracks 105a and 105b located on opposite sides
104a and 104b of the dispenser rack 100. The spindle 118 holds the
roll 120 in place in the tracks 105a and 105b and allows the roll
120 to spin freely with respect to the spindle 118.
[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the performance of
the apparatus may be increased if the roll 120 is mounted with the
bags coming off the bottom of the roll 120, as shown in FIG. 1. The
spindle 118 can have two stoppers 117a and 117b attached to the
opposite ends of the spindle 118. For example, the stoppers 117a
and 117b may be implemented as balls. The stoppers 117a and 117b
prevent the spindle 118 from being pulled through the tracks 105a
and 105b. According to an advantageous embodiment, the diameter of
the stoppers 117a and 117b is smaller than the diameter of the core
122 of the roll of plastic bags 120, but larger than a width of the
tracks 105a and 105b. Accordingly, the stoppers 117a and 117b can
be inserted along with the spindle 118 through the core 122, but
prevent the spindle from being pulled through a side of the tracks
105a and 105b. Many conventional bag dispensers have the core of
the roll of bags extend past roll of bags. However, according to an
advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roll of bags
120 with core 122 flush with side of the bags makes packaging the
rolls for shipment much easier. Further, the core 122 for each roll
120 can be made with less material and will spin much more freely
on the spindle 118.
[0023] The bags on the roll of plastic bags 120 are each separated
with a perforation. This perforation between each bag allows the
bags to be wounded into a roll 120 and for each bag to be easily
detached from the rest of the roll 120. A slit is formed in the
center of each perforation. The slit is used to catch onto the
tongue 108 in the dispenser rack 100 to automatically separate each
bag as the bags are pulled from the dispenser rack 100 and thereby
allow only one bag to be dispensed at a time. This prevents a
string of bags from being pulled off the roll 120 at one time. When
a bag is detached from the roll 120, the wedges 110a and 110b near
the tongue 108 hold the bag in place to facilitate a user grabbing
the next bag. The wedges 110a and 110b also serve to guide a bag
down onto the tongue 108 when the bag is being pulled from the
dispenser rack 100.
[0024] It is to be understood that the roll of bags 120 shown in
FIG. 1 can be any type of plastic bag. In one embodiment, side
gusset bags may be used with the apparatus of FIG. 1, but the
present invention is not limited thereto and other types of bags,
such as star seal bags, bottom seal bags, etc., may be used as
well.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the roll of plastic bags 120
is seated within the dispenser rack 100, the roll of plastic bags
120 is in contact with the resistance bar 116, which is connected
to a bottom portion of both sides 104a and 104b. The tracks 105a
and 105b allow the spindle 118 to descend within the dispensing
rack 100 as the roll of plastic bags 120 is reduced in size in
order for the roll of plastic bags 120 to maintain contact with the
resistance bar 116. The friction between the resistance bar 116 and
the roll 120 prevents the roll 120 from spinning out of control
when a user pulls on a bag in order to remove a bag from the roll
120. As a possible alternative, the resistance bar 116 could also
be implemented as a plate that contacts the roll of plastic bags
120, where the size of the plate determines the amount of friction
applied to the roll of plastic bags 120 to prevent the roll 120
from spinning. According to an advantageous embodiment, the sides
104a and 104b of the rack are completely open such that the roll of
bags 120 is visible when housed in the dispensing rack 100, making
it easy for a user see how many bags remain in the roll 120.
[0026] The base 102, sides 104a and 104b, and front portion 106 of
the dispenser rack 100 may be welded together, but the present
invention is not limited thereto. The wedges 110a and 110b may be
welded to the sides 104a and 104b and/or the front portion 106 of
the dispenser rack 100, but the present invention is not limited
thereto. The vertical and horizontal mounting plates 112 and 114
may be welded to vertical (back) and horizontal (bottom) portions
of the base 102 of the dispensing rack 100, but the present
invention is not limited thereto.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the dispenser rack 100 mounted
on a stand and mounted on a wall. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the
dispensing rack 100 can be mounted on a stand 500, or other
horizontal surface, by attaching the horizontal mounting plate 114
to a horizontal surface of the stand 500. The dispensing rack 100
can also be mounted on a wall 502, or other vertical surface, by
attaching the vertical mounting plate 112 to the wall 502. The
vertical and horizontal mounting plates 112 and 114 can be attached
to respective surfaces using screws or the like.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the dispensing rack 100 can be mounted
horizontally or vertically with a small footprint. Accordingly,
with its small footprint, the dispenser rack 100 can be mounted
near any location in which bags may be needed by consumers. As
shown in FIG. 5, the sides 104a and 104b of the dispensing rack 100
and not parallel with the horizontal portion of the base 102. When
the dispensing rack 100 is mounted horizontally or vertically, as
shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal portion of the base 102 is
substantially parallel with respect to the ground and the vertical
portion of the base 102 is substantially perpendicular with respect
to the ground. The sides 104a and 104b are at an angle with respect
to the horizontal portion of the base 102 and the tracks 105a and
105b are perpendicular with respect to the sides 104a and 104b. The
angle of the sides 104a and 104b with respect to the base 100
allows the roll of plastic bags 120 to roll easier when a user
pulls on a bag to detach the bag from the roll 120.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a front view of the dispenser rack showing the
tongue 108 and wedges 110a and 110b. As illustrated in FIG. 6,
wedge 110a is angled downward from a top portion of side 104a
toward a bottom portion of the tongue 108 and wedge 110b is angled
downward from a top portion of side 104b toward a bottom portion of
the tongue 108. The distance between the wedges 110a and 110 and
the tongue 108 decreases toward the bottom of the tongue 108. This
creates a small nook 602a and 602b between each wedge 110a and 110b
and a bottom portion of the tongue 108. The nooks are capable of
holding a next bag in place when a bag is detached from the roll of
plastic bags 120. In the example of FIG. 6, the wedges 110a and
110b connect to a bottom portion of the tongue 108 creating the
nooks 602a and 602b where the wedges 110a and 110b meet the tongue
108. In an alternate embodiment, the wedges 110a and 110b may
connect to the bottom of the front portion 106 of the dispensing
rack near the tongue 108, leaving a small gap between each wedge
110a and 110b and the tongue 108. In this case the small gaps
between the wedges 110a and 110b and the tongue create the nooks
that are capable of holding a next bag in place when a bag is
detached from the roll 120.
[0030] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate dispensing a bag using the apparatus of
FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bag being pulled off
the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the
dispenser rack 100 showing the tongue 108 catching a slit between
the bags. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack 100
showing the wedges 110a and 110b holding a next bag in place. As
shown in FIG. 7, a first bag 123 on the roll of plastic bags 120 is
pulled from the dispenser rack 100. As the bag 123 is pulled from
the dispenser rack the bag is pressured against the tongue 108. As
shown in FIG. 8, there is a slit 125 and perforation 126 between
the first bag 123 and a next bag 124 on the roll of plastic bags.
As the first bag 123 is pulled from the dispenser rack 100, the
slit 125 catches on the tongue 108. The tongue 108 causes the
perforation 126 to tear, thereby automatically separating the first
bag 123 from the next bag 124 and the rest of the roll 120. The
first bag 123 is then detached from the roll of plastic bags 120.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the first bag 123 is detached, the wedges
110a and 110b hold the next bag 124 to facilitate a user grabbing
the next bag 124 to detach the next bag 124. In particular, when
the first bag 123 is removed, the next bag 124 is forced down the
tongue 108 and the wedges 110a and 110b catch the next bag 124 and
hold the next bag 124 in the nooks between the wedges 110a and 110b
and the tongue 108. As shown in FIG. 9, portions of the next bag
124 protrude from the nooks formed between the wedges 110a and
110b. The protruding portions of the next bag 124 allow a user to
easily grab and pull the next bag 124 to detach the next bag 124
from the roll of plastic bags 120.
[0031] Furthermore, the shape of the wedges 110a and 110b crinkles
the top of the next bag 124 which makes the next bag 124 easier for
a user to open when the next bag 124 is detached. The action
applied by the wedges 110a and 110b on the next bag 124 is similar
to a user using his/her hands to crinkle the bag to provide better
traction for his/her fingers and to initiate separation between the
front and back panels of the next bag 124. Therefore the next bag
124 becomes easier to open for the user.
[0032] As described above, an apparatus for dispensing bags on a
roll is disclosed. The bags could be used to hold various things
such as fresh produce, bakery products and hardware parts. The
dispenser rack has a separating tongue in front catches the slit
between bags to separate each bag from the roll along the
perforation. The dispensing rack has wedges on opposite sides of
the tongue that catch a next bag and hold the next bag in place
when a previous bag is detached. The dispenser rack utilizes a
spindle and track system to support the roll of bags in place
within the dispenser rack. The spindle and track system allows the
roll of bags to turn with ease around the spindle. As bags are
dispensed from the roll, the roll size decreases. The spindle and
track automatically adjusts to the roll size so that adequate
friction between roll and a resistance bar of the dispensing rack
is maintained. This prevents the roll from spinning freely out of
control. The dispensing rack can be mounted to vertical or
horizontal surfaces, as well as a free standing display stand.
[0033] The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as
being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not
restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not
to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the
claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by
the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown
and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the
present invention and that various modifications may be implemented
by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement
various other feature combinations without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *