U.S. patent application number 13/870015 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-19 for rolled bag dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Virginia Woodruff. Invention is credited to Virginia Woodruff.
Application Number | 20130240592 13/870015 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49156724 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130240592 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woodruff; Virginia |
September 19, 2013 |
Rolled Bag Dispenser
Abstract
Disclosed is a rolled bag dispenser comprised of a plurality of
slotted dispensing tubes for the storage and dispensing of bag
rolls. Each dispensing tube is an elongated, cylindrical shell
having an open first end, an open interior volume, and a closed
second end. Along each tube is disposed a channel running along the
length thereof. The open-ended, slotted tubes are rigidly affixed
along the tangent thereof to a mounting plate such that the slot is
positioned away from the plate and towards a user. The slotted
tubes securely store a roll of flexible bags in a rolled
configuration, where removable end caps are inserted in the open
ends thereof to secure the end closed. The mounting plate is
ideally attached to a trash cart by way of an adhesive bonding to
eliminate penetrations therethrough and provide easy access to
trash bags from the dispensing tubs.
Inventors: |
Woodruff; Virginia;
(Wrightsville, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Woodruff; Virginia |
Wrightsville |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49156724 |
Appl. No.: |
13/870015 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61692511 |
Aug 23, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
225/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 225/21 20150401;
B65H 35/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
225/15 |
International
Class: |
B65H 35/10 20060101
B65H035/10 |
Claims
1. A rolled bag dispenser, comprising: at least one rolled bag
storage tube of hollow construction sized to store commonly
available bag rolls; said tube having an open first end, a closed
second end, an open interior, and a bag dispensing slot along said
tube that extends from said open first end towards said closed
second end; a mounting plate supporting said at least one storage
tube, said plate attaching along a line tangent of said storage
tube whereby said at least one tubes are aligned with one
another.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rolled bag
storage tube comprises a plurality thereof to accommodate the
separation of bags having unique purposes.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an end cap for each
rolled bag storage tube to secure closed said tube open first end
to securely contain bag rolls therein.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein said end cap further comprises: a
solid cylinder having an outer cap portion and an inner cap portion
concentrically aligned and in a stepped configuration with regard
to one another, said outer cap portion outer diameter matches that
of said rolled bag storage tube outer surface, and said inner cap
portion outer diameter fits snugly inside said rolled bag storage
tube inner diameter.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate comprises a
backside surface for mounting to a support surface, said backside
surface securing to said support surface by way of adhesive strips
which affixed thereto.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate comprises a
backside surface for mounting to a support surface, said backside
surface securing to said support surface by way of hook and loop
fasteners which affixed thereto.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein said mounting plate comprises a
backside surface for mounting to a support surface, said backside
surface securing to said support surface by way of mechanical
fasteners secured through said mounting plate and said support
surface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/692,511 filed on Aug. 23, 2012, entitled "Trash
Bag Holder." The above identified patent application is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of
disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to dispensing of bags for
trash collection or product storage. Dispensing is performed by
pulling a bag from the container with one's hands. More
specifically, the rolled bag dispenser allows for a plurality of
can liners or bags to be mounted in an easy to reach location and
selectably dispensed when required. The device is ideally mounted
to a trash cart, whereby the connection thereto does not require
penetrations through or modification of the trash cart.
[0003] Trash bags are generally packaged in rolled form allowing
the removal of a first bag to reveal the next, subsequent bag,
providing for simple and repeatable dispensing. This bag sequencing
can be accomplished via a frictional connection between the bags or
separable perforations. Additionally, in some situation bags of
different colors can be used to differentiate between recyclables
and general waste among others, and a dispensing solution should
accommodate multiple rolls of bags.
[0004] In a home setting, trash bags are often kept within the
original packaging in a location separate from the trash can
itself. When the time comes to remove a full bag and replace with a
new bag, users may have to search for another bag, bend down, and
expend more effort.
[0005] In a professional or janitorial setting, users may collect
refuse from many locations and then transport the newly bagged
trash within rolling carts. Often, unused trash bags are stored in
the bottom of these rolling carts or draped over the side. When a
new bag is needed, the bags at the bottom can be difficult to reach
or may be soiled by leaking refuse. When bags are draped on the
side of carts, they may become pinned beneath filled bags as the
cart becomes full. Pulling the bags free at this point may
plastically deform the bag itself and weaken its structural
integrity.
[0006] The present invention attempts to provide a bag dispensing
system that can be affixed to any surface, securely contain a
plurality of rolled bags, and dispense a selectable number
dependent upon user interaction. The present invention specifically
contemplates a multi-roll dispensing device that supports several
trash bag rolls in a ready dispensable configuration, wherein the
assembly is attached to the exterior of a trash can or trash cart.
The preferred connection is one that does require mechanical
fasteners that would otherwise penetrate or require modification of
the cart or can. Eliminating any modifications, and particularly
any mechanical fastener heads within the interior of the can or
cart, is ideal for eliminating any snagging or bag tearing risk
therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0007] Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to
the dispensing of rolled can liners or bags. These include devices
that that have been patented and published in patent application
publications. These devices generally relate to rolled bag
dispensing systems that may be affixed to a surface such as the
bottom of a trash can, or integrated trash can and can liner
dispensers. The devices deemed most relevant to the present
disclosure are herein described for the purposed of highlighting
and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention,
and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior
art.
[0008] Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,810 to Warner presents a
package and dispenser for rolled bags in the general form of an
upright cylinder having two halves hinged about a diametrical edge
at the bottom and constructed from semi-rigid material. An
elongated slot is found in one of cylindrical walls can allow for
the dispensing of the bags. The Warner device is designed to be
disposable and does not include any mounting provisions, whereas
the instant invention is entirely rigid and offers a dedicated
mounting plate.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,008 to Jenkins describes a rolled trash
bag dispenser with a rectangular base for mounting. The rigid
tubular body allows for loading of rolled bags through an opening
on one end and dispensing through a slot near the base. The Jenkins
device allows for dispensing of rolled bags, but does not securely
store its inventory of bags by any method. The present invention
employs a removable cap to secure the bag inventory.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,591 to Miller describes a device for
dispensing trash bags continuously joined and separable from
another trash bag. The device is comprised of a housing for
containing the trash bags and a movably connected flexible cover
having a slot for guiding the trash bag therethrough. The movably
connected cover is affixed to the housing via a snap button
fastener closure. While the Miller device pursues similar goals,
the present invention is comprised of an entirely rigid housing and
is loaded through a removable cap on one end.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,340 to Leggio presents an cylindrical
apparatus for retaining and sequentially dispensing rolled liners
for trash containers that can be affixed to a surface via adhesive
backed hook and loop attachment. The bags are dispensed via a small
opening in the rigid housing which does not run the length of the
cylindrical housing as compared to the present invention.
Additionally, the lack of a dedicated mounting plate and the
attachment of hook and loop fasteners to the curved exterior of the
storage tube will result in a weaker connection to the target
location. In the case of mounting at the bottom of a trash can, the
invention may rotate, making finding the dispensing location
difficult, and not provide mounting force sufficient to counteract
the force required for dispensing a bag.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,723 to Swift describes a rolled bag
dispenser integrated to a trash can. A dispensing depression is
inset at the bottom of the trash can waste chamber and accommodates
a common trash bag roll. A dispensing plate can seal the bag roll
within the depression and allows for dispensing via a slot. An
alternate embodiment employs a roll chamber which can be removed
via the side of the base. The roll chamber is a horizontal
cylindrical bottom with solid end caps exposing the bag roll
storage cavity to the dispensing plate at the bottom of the trash
can waste chamber. Each embodiment of Swift requires the user to
reach down into the trash can to dispense a new bag. Furthermore,
the side-loading embodiment complicates the dispensing of the first
bag, as rotation and threading of the bag roll may be difficult
after loading. The instant invention provides mounting provisions
that are independent from a particular trash can design and does
not require a user to bend down while dispensing or refilling
rolled bags.
[0013] The present invention is a new and improved rolled bag
dispenser providing selectable dispensing of a collection of rolled
bags. The device is comprised of a plurality of bag storage tubes
having an open first end for loading bags and a dispensing slot
that extends nearly the entire length of the tube for removing
individual bags from a roll stowed within the tube. Each bag
storage tube is rigidly affixed to a planar mounting plate and
securely closed by an end cap that secures the open end thereof
after a bag roll is placed therein. In light of devices in the
prior art, it is submitted that the present invention is
substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and
consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an
improvement to rolled bag dispenser devices. In this regard the
present invention substantially fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of rolled bag dispensers now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides a rolled bag dispenser which may be
affixed to any surface without modification and support a plurality
of bags rolls in a readily dispensable manner for deployment of the
bags from the rolls stowed therein.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide for
the storage and separation of bag rolls dedicated to a specific
purpose by allocating bag rolls of a certain type to a specific
dispensing tube.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to allow for
storage and dispensing of rolled bags from a location protected
from solid and liquid contaminants inside the dispensing tube with
the end cap affixed.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to store and
dispense rolled bags that are friction linked as well as connected
by perforations.
[0018] Yet object of the present invention is to dispense bags via
a dispensing slot which is large enough to permit bags of any gauge
to pass through without affecting the structural integrity of the
stored or dispensed bags.
[0019] A final object of the present invention is to provide a
household or professional cleaning item that is simple to use, easy
to clean, and robust and dependable for everyday use.
[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Although the characteristic features of this invention will
be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and
manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood
after a review of the following description, taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are
provided throughout.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the major components that
comprise the rolled bag dispenser: the bag roll, at least one
dispensing tube, end caps therefore, and a planar mounting
plate.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a view of the assembled device in a working
position, wherein the end caps are securely containing each bag
roll and the bag rolls are in a readily dispensable state. Further
provided is a view of the preferred adhesive attachment of the
assembly to a support surface.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows the assembled device secured to a rolling trash
cart.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like
reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like
or similar elements of the rolled bag dispenser. For the purposes
of presenting a brief and clear description of the present
invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for
selectably dispensing any number of rolled bags. The figures are
intended for representative purposes only and should not be
considered to be limiting in any respect.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of the
present invention. The primary elements of the device include at
least one slotted dispensing tube 11, removable end caps 21
therefore, and a planar mounting plate 31. A bag roll 41 is also
shown to demonstrate operation of the device, though it is not
included with the assembly. In the particular embodiment shown,
three dispensing tubes 11 are affixed to a mounting plate 31 to
store three possibly unique bag types having different purposes.
Each of the three dispensing tubes 11 includes an end cap 21 that
may be interchangeable among dispensing tubes 11 to securely seal
the bag roll 41 inside the dispensing tube 11 interior.
[0027] The slotted dispensing tube 11, designed to protect the
rolled bags 41 from the elements and other contaminants, is a
hollow cylinder, closed on one end and an open 13 on the other. The
open first end 13 is to be referred to as the loading passage,
while the closed second end of the tube 11 functions as a backstop
after the roll 41 is inserted into the tube interior. The loading
passage 13 and interior of the dispensing tube 11 is slightly
larger than the bag rolls 41 to be stored, allowing bag rolls to be
placed within the dispensing tube from the open side with some
angular misalignment. The dispensing slot 12 is cut into the
cylinder wall of the dispensing tube 11 along an opposing portion
thereof with respect to the tube 11 connection to the planar
mouthing plate 31. The slot 12 extends along the horizontal axis of
the cylinder from the open first end 13 towards the closed end. The
slot 12 is of appropriate width and length to permit dispensing of
a single bag 42 therethrough without requiring excessive user force
or stretching or tearing of the bag.
[0028] The end cap 21 is comprised of two solid cylinders of
different, stepped diameters concentrically aligned into order to
securely fit over and through the loading passage 13. The outer cap
portion 22 has a diameter that matches that of the outer surface of
the dispensing tube 11, while the inner cap portion 23 has a
diameter that will snugly fit inside the inner diameter of the
dispensing tube 11. When the end cap 21 is securely fitted within
the loading passage 13, the dispensing tube is of appropriate
length such that the bag roll 41 are not in contact with the end
cap 21 or the closed end of the dispensing tube 11 simultaneously,
allowing the bag roll 41 to rotate freely. The end cap 21 secures
the bag roll 41 within the tube 11 interior during deployment and
prevents sliding therefrom through the loading passage 13.
[0029] The dispensing tubes 11 are rigidly affixed to the mounting
plate 31 along a tangent of the tube opposite of the slot 12,
whereby the tubes are preferably aligned along a horizontal axis
for level deployment of bags from each tube 11. The backside
surface of the mounting plate 31, opposite the front side thereof
upon which the dispensing tubes 11 are attached, provides more
secure mounting surface for connection to a support surface (e.g. a
trash can or trash cart exterior), whereby the weight of the device
components and stored bag rolls 41 is distributed across a large
surface area.
[0030] A bag roll 41 in FIG. 1 is shown to demonstrate the loading
of the roll into the dispensing tube 11 via the loading passage 13
entryway for subsequent presentation of a single bag 42 via the
dispensing slot 12. The bag roll 41 is secured within the tube
interior by way of the end cap 21 over the otherwise open loading
passageway 13. However, just prior to securement therein, a user
freely rotates the bag roll 41 with the end cap removed until a
single bag 42 is pulled through the dispensing slot 12. Once the
cap 21 is secured, a free end of a bag 42 is presented for the user
to grasp and withdraw from the given tube 11. The ability to easily
rotate the bag roll 41 while in a position to thread the first
single bag 42 is not available in most integrated trash can and bag
dispenser designs demonstrated in the prior art. The slot 12
provided herein extends to the open loading passageway 13 to
facilitate this procedure.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a frontal
perspective view of the assembled invention loaded with rolled bags
for dispensing. Adhesive mounting strips 51 are shown attaching to
the backside face of the mounting plate 31 opposite the side upon
which the dispensing tubes 21 rest. In this embodiment, rectangular
adhesive mounting strips 51 are shown to extend substantially the
entire height of the mounting plate 31 and are affixed to the side
opposite that which supports the dispensing tubes 11 against a
support surface, such as a trash can or cart exterior surface. As
an alternative to adhesive strips 51, strips of hook and loop
fasteners can be used to provide a removable connection of the
assembly to the support surface, whereby the strips remain in
contact with the support surface and mounting plate, and the
connection between the two strips is separable.
[0032] The use of adhesive mounting strips or hook and loop
fasteners does not require any modifications or penetrations to be
performed on the surface to which the mounting plate will be
affixed. Adhesive mounting strips 51 also form a semi-permanent
bond, allowing for later repositioning if a more advantageous
dispensing location is identified. Not modifying the support
surface is preferred for ease of application and for not damaging
an existing piece of janitorial equipment. While mechanical
fasteners can be utilized to connect the mounting plate, wherein
fasteners would be driven through aperture therethrough and into a
support surface, this form of connection is not preferred.
Mechanical fasteners would inevitable cause snag or tear risks to
bags within the interior of a trash can or cart interior if the
device where mounted to the exterior surface thereof. Therefore,
simple adhesive bonding, either in strip or large swaths, is the
preferred connection means between the mounting plate backside
surface and the support surface.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a perspective side
view of the rolled bag dispenser assembly employed in a typical use
condition. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 31 is securely
attached to a rolling trash bin 61 exterior surface. The mounting
plate 31 has been affixed to rolling trash bin 61 below the trash
bin handle 62 to the slanted exterior wall 63, whereby a user can
readily grasp a bag 41 extending therefrom.
[0034] When the mounting plate 31 is affixed to the slanted
exterior wall 63, the dispensing tubes 11 are arranged horizontally
and angled towards the user, which permits for low energy
dispensing and allows single bags 41 which may protrude from the
dispensing slot 12 to fall in a non-overlapping arrangement to
simplify selection when each bag has a unique purpose. It is not
desired to limit the present assembly to a specific number of
dispensing tubes 41 along the mounting plate (i.e. at least one),
but rather to disclose a novel assembly for dispensing bags from
the exterior of a trash can or cart. If multiple tubes are deployed
on the assembly, the tubes can support specific types of bags,
whereby the bags may serve different purposes or be specific to a
given application (i.e. trash, recycling, hazardous waste, medical
waste, etc.).
[0035] Overall the device reduces the current drawbacks related to
storage of replacement bags on or within a trash can or trash cart
and facilitates ready deployment and replacement of trash bags. It
is contemplated that the present invention may be used in
residential or commercial settings to improve efficiency, reduce
wasted bags, and improve user procedures for storing and dispensing
rolled bags.
[0036] It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown
and described in what is considered to be the most practical and
preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures
may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With
respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
[0037] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *