U.S. patent number RE34,856 [Application Number 08/133,617] was granted by the patent office on 1995-02-14 for method and apparatus for dispensing merchandise bags.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Avantage Group, Inc.. Invention is credited to Mark E. Daniels.
United States Patent |
RE34,856 |
Daniels |
February 14, 1995 |
Method and apparatus for dispensing merchandise bags
Abstract
A method and device for dispensing .[.T-shirt type.]. plastic
.Iadd.merchandise .Iaddend.bags from a roll joined end to end in
series but separable along perforated lines where the bag ends are
connected, whereby the bags are rolled and the roll of bags is
placed in a cradle for unrolling and passing between two bars above
and parallel to the axis of the roll, at least one of the bars
having a centrally disposed hooking snagging element past which the
series of bags is drawn. When the open space between .[.the straps
of each T-shirt bag.]. .Iadd.adjacent bags .Iaddend.passes the
snagging element, the latter catches the leading edge of the
ensuing bag to restrain it sufficiently so that further pulling on
the preceding bag results in its detachment along the perforated
line for the ensuing bag. .[.Rack means are.]. .Iadd.A rack is
.Iaddend.provided to enable the method to be practiced.
Inventors: |
Daniels; Mark E. (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Avantage Group, Inc.
(Redondo Beach, CA)
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Family
ID: |
27128226 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/133,617 |
Filed: |
October 7, 1993 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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871857 |
Apr 21, 1992 |
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Reissue of: |
884744 |
May 15, 1992 |
05209371 |
May 11, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/63;
225/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F
13/085 (20130101); A47F 2009/044 (20130101); Y10T
225/393 (20150401); Y10T 225/10 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A47F
13/08 (20060101); A47F 13/00 (20060101); B65H
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/63,33,34
;225/1,106,52,39,34 ;242/55.2,55 ;211/16,115 ;206/390,554,409
;383/37,8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Noland; Kenneth W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Beehler & Pavitt
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/871,857,
filed Apr. 21, 1992, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of dispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plastic
shopping bags detachably joined together in a series, at a
cashier's or other packer's station, each bag being formed by a
pair of facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides
terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from
each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, a
transverse open top extending between the straps below their upper
edges, and the first bag being detachably joined to the next
ensuing bag at the bottom of the first bag by the upper edges of
the top straps of the next ensuing bag, and the subsequent bags in
the series each being detachably joined to its preceding bag by the
upper edges of its top straps to the bottom of its preceding bag;
said method comprising:
(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about a first
axis starting with the bottom of the initial bag of the series to
form a roll of said series of bags, said roll having the pair of
top straps of the outermost bag of the roll as the starting portion
of the roll;
(b) providing a support for the roll from which support bags may be
serially unrolled upwardly and detached;
(c) providing a pair of bars spaced slightly apart from each other
one bar above the other, said bars being parallel to the roll axis
and disposed above and in line with the roll to establish a first
direction of travel for the series of bags between the roll and
spacing between the bars, at least one of said bars being provided
with a snagging element transverse to said first direction of
travel of the series of bags, said snagging element, however,
permitting passage of the panel portions of each bag past said
snagging element in the first direction, but snagging the
transverse open top of each bag when pulled in said first direction
by releasing said open top only when it is drawn between the bars
in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
(d) grasping the leading portion of the outermost bag and pulling
the outermost bag through the spacing between the bars and the
snagging element in the first direction until the transverse open
top of the next ensuing bag reaches the snagging element, whereupon
further passage of said ensuing bag will be initially
restrained;
(e) further pulling the outermost bag against such restraint,
thereby detaching the bottom of the outermost bag from the top
edges of the straps of said ensuing bag; and
(f) pulling the transverse open top of the said ensuing bag first
in the second direction past the snagging element and then, in the
first direction until the open top of the second ensuing bag is
snagged by the snagging element, for a repetition of the previous
steps.
2. A method of dispensing bags separately from a plurality of
T-shirt plastic shopping bags detachably joined together in a
series, at a cashier's or other packer's station, each bag being
formed by a pair of facing panels, joined at their bottoms and
sides, the sides terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top
straps spaced from each other, each strap having a transverse
closed upper edge, a transverse open top extending between the
straps below their upper edges, and each bag being detachably
joined by perforations to an ensuing similar bag, the ensuing bag
being attached to the preceding bag at the bottom of the preceding
bag by the upper edges of the top straps of the ensuing bag; said
method comprising:
(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about a first
axis starting with the bottom of the initial bag of the series to
form a roll of said series of bags, said roll having the pair of
top straps of the outermost bag of the roll as the outer starting
portion of the roll;
(b) providing a support for the roll from which support bags may be
serially unrolled upwardly and detached;
(c) providing a guide member parallel to said first axis in the
vicinity of said rolls;
(d) pulling the outermost bag in the roll in a first direction
between the roll and past said member;
(e) snagging the transverse open top of the ensuing bag as it
passes said member temporarily to restrain the ensuing bag;
(f) continuing to pull the outward bag against said restraint
thereby to detach the portion of the outward bag from the top
straps of ensuing bag along the perforations;
(g) unsnagging the transverse open top of the ensuing bag and
pulling it past the guide member until the transverse open top of
the next ensuing bag is snagged, to repeat the process.
3. A method of dispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plastic
shopping bags detachably joined together in a series, at a
cashier's or other packer's station, each bag being formed by a
pair of facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides
terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from
each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, a
transverse open top extending between the straps below their upper
edges, and each bag being detachably joined by perforations to an
ensuing similar bag, the ensuing bag being attached to the
preceding bag at the bottom of the preceding bag by the upper edges
of the top straps of the ensuing bag, and each subsequent bag being
detachably joined to its preceding bag by the upper edges of its
top straps to the bottom of the preceding bag; said method
comprising:
(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about a first
axis starting with the bottom of the initial bag of the series to
form a roll of said series of bags, said roll having the pair of
top straps of the outermost bag of the roll as the outer starting
portion of the roll;
(b) providing a support for the roll from which support bags may be
serially unrolled and detached;
(c) providing a pair of bars spaced slightly apart from each other
one bar above the other, said bars being parallel to the roll axis
and disposed in line with the roll, the upper bar having extended
from its center section, a first element having an angular bend
downwardly and the lower bar having extended from its center
section a second element having an angular bend upwardly, said
first and second elements being overlappingly spaced apart from
each other;
(d) passing the pair of top straps of the outermost bag of the roll
through the spacing between the bags and drawing the transverse
intermediate open top of the bag through the overlapping spacing
between the said first and second elements;
(e) pulling the outermost bag through said spacing between the bars
until the transverse open top of the next bag on the series reaches
the spacing between the first and second overlapping elements,
whereupon further passage of the next bag will be initially
restrained; and
(f) further pulling the initial bag against such restraint, thereby
to detach the pulled bag from the next bag in the series.
4. Rack means for dispensing separately from a roll of a series of
T-shirt type plastic bags, said series of bags of said roll being
disposed concentrically about a first axis starting with the bottom
of the initial bag of the series, whereby the outermost portion of
said roll comprises the pair of top straps of the outermost bag of
the roll, and the leading portion of each ensuing bag comprises the
top straps of said ensuing bag, whereby each bag may be grasped and
pulled by its transverse open top for detachment from the next
ensuing bag when the ensuing bag is sufficiently restrained from
movement following the preceding bag; said rack means
comprising:
(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkout counter,
said cradle means being adapted to receive and permit rotation of
said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about said
first axis;
(b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis, said bars
being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spaced,
from but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner that
a bag being unrolled from said roll may be passed through the
spacing between the bars, the first of said pair of bars being
disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, at least
one of said first and second bars having extending from its central
area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag may be
passed between the spacing between said bars and past said snagging
element until the transverse open top of the ensuing bag is
intercepted by the snagging element and temporarily restrained,
thereby, continued pulling of the preceding bag, results in
detachment of the bottom of the preceding bag from the top straps
of the ensuing bag.
5. A method of dispensing from a plurality of T-shirt plastic
shopping bags detachably joined together in a series, at a
cashier's or other packer's station, each bag being formed by a
pair of facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides
terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from
each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, a
transverse open top extending between the straps below their upper
edges, each bag being detachably joined to two adjacent bags at its
opposite ends so that at one end the joinder is by the upper edges
of its bag straps, and at the other end, the bag bottom is joined
to the upper edges of the straps of an adjacent bag, and at each
joinder is an open space defined by a portion of a bag bottom and
the inner edges of the straps and the transverse open top of the
adjoining bag; said method comprising:
(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about a first
axis whereby when said bags are unrolled each open space between
adjacent bags will appear partially defined by a leading transverse
edge and a trailing transverse edge;
(b) providing a support for the roll from which support bags may be
serially unrolled upwardly and detached;
(c) providing a pair of bags spaced slightly apart from each other
one bar above the other, said bars being parallel to the roll axis
and disposed above and in line with the roll to establish a first
direction of travel for the series of bags between the roll and
spacing between the bars, at least one of said bars being provided
with a snagging element transverse to said first direction of
travel of the series of bags, said snagging element, however,
permitting passage of the panel portions of each bag past said
snagging element in the first direction, but snagging the trailing
transverse edge partially defining the open space between the bags
as the bag including the leading transverse edge partially defining
said open space is pulled in the first direction and releasing the
last said bag only when it is drawn between the bars in a second
direction transverse to the first direction;
(d) grasping the bag which includes said leading transverse edge
and pulling the last said bag through the spacing between the bars
and the snagging element in the first direction until the trailing
edge defining the open space of the next ensuing bag reaches the
snagging element, whereupon further passage of said next ensuing
bag will be initially restrained;
(e) further pulling the bag including said leading edge against
said restraint to where said bag is detached from the next ensuing
bag;
(f) pulling the next ensuing bag first in the second direction past
the snagging element and then in the first direction until the
trailing edge defining the open space between the last said bag and
following bag is snagged by the engaging element, and initially
restrained; and
(g) repeating steps (e), (f) and (d) in that order for subsequent
bags in the series.
6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein as second roll of bags
is disposed adjacent and parallel to the first roll, a second pair
of bars similar to the bars of claim 5 is provided and disposed
parallel to and spaced from the bars of claim 5, and the bags of
the second roll are brought along a path closely parallel to, but
spaced from, the path of the first roll for snagging and
disposition in a manner identical to that of the first roll,
whereby a clerk may select for utilization the bags from either
roll.
7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the path of the bags
of the second roll are passed above the path of the bags of the
first roll where the second pair of bars is disposed.
8. Rack means for dispensing separately from a roll of a series of
T-shirt type plastic bags, each bag being formed by a pair of
facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides
terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from
each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, a
transverse open top extending between the straps below their upper
edges, and each bag being detachably joined to two adjacent bags at
its opposite ends so that at one end the joinder is by the upper
edges of its bag straps, and at its other end the bag bottom is
joined to the upper edges of the straps of the adjacent bag, said
series of bags of said roll being disposed concentrically about a
first axis starting with the top straps of the initial bag of the
series, whereby the outermost portion of said roll comprises the
bottom of the outermost bag of the roll and the leading portion of
each ensuing bag comprises the bottom of said ensuing bag, whereby
each bag may be grasped and pulled by its bottom for detachment
from the next ensuing bag when the ensuing bag is sufficiently
restrained from movement following the preceding bag; said rack
comprising:
(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkout counter,
said cradle means being adapted to receive, and permit rotation of,
said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about said
first axis;
(b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis, said bars
being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spaced
from, but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner
that a bag being unrolled from said roll, may be passed through the
spacing between the bars the first of said pair of bars being
disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, at least
one of said first and second bars having extending from its central
area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag, when
the bag is pulled in a first direction, may be passed between the
spacing between said bars and past said snagging element until the
bottom of the ensuing bag is intercepted by the snagging element
and temporarily restrained, whereby, continued pulling of the
preceding bag against such restraint results in detachment of the
top straps of the preceding bag from the bottom of the ensuing bag,
but the ensuing bag may be freed from such restraint by being
pulled in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
9. Rack means for dispensing separately from a roll of a series of
T-shirt type plastic bags, each bag being formed by a pair of
facing panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the sides
terminating at their upper ends in a pair of top straps spaced from
each other, each strap having a transverse closed upper edge, a
transverse open top extending between the straps below their upper
edges, and each bag being detachably joined to two adjacent bags at
its opposite ends so that at one end the joinder is by the upper
edges of its bag straps, and at its other end the bag bottom is
joined to the upper edges of the straps of the adjacent bag, and at
each joinder is an open space defined by a portion of a bag bottom,
the inner edges of the straps and the transverse open top of the
adjacent bag, and series of bags of said roll being disposed
concentrically about a first axis, whereby when the bags are
unrolled each open space between adjacent bags will appear
partially defined by a leading transverse edge of the preceding bag
and a trailing transverse edge of the next ensuing bag, whereby
each bag may be grasped and pulled for detachment from the next
ensuing bag when the ensuing bag is sufficiently restrained from
movement following the preceding bag; said rack comprising:
(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkout counter,
said cradle means being adapted to receive, and permit rotation of,
said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about said
first axis;
(b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis, said bars
being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spaced
from, but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner
that a bag being unrolled from said roll, may be passed through the
spacing between the bars, the first of said pair of bars being
disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, at least
one of said first and second bars having extending from its central
area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag when
the bag is pulled in a first direction, may be passed between the
spacing between said bars and past said snagging element until the
trailing transverse edge of the next ensuing bag partially defining
the open space between the bags, as the bag including the leading
transverse edge is pulled in the first direction, is intercepted by
the snagging element and temporarily restrained, whereby, continued
pulling of the preceding bag against such restraint results in
detachment of the preceding bag from the ensuing bag, but the
ensuing bag may be freed from such restraint by being pulled in a
second direction transverse to the first direction.
10. Rack means as described in claim 9, wherein there is provided a
second cradle means similar to the cradle means of claim 7, said
second cradle means being parallel to, and spaced from, the other
said cradle means; a second pair of bars similar to the pair of
bars of claim 7 is also provided adjacently parallel to, but spaced
from, the last said bars, and a guide member is disposed between
the second cradle means and second pair of bars, said guide means
being parallel to both the second cradle means and second pair of
bars, and spaced from the path between the other cradle means and
other pair of bars, thereby to prevent contact between bags of the
second roll and bags of the first roll as the bags of both rolls
are passed from their respective cradles to and through their
respective pairs of bars. .Iadd.
11. A method of dispensing one at a time a plurality of merchandise
bags detachably joined together in a series, at a cashier's or
other packer's station, each bag being formed of a pair of facing
panels, joined at their bottoms and sides and having a top which is
open at least for a predetermined extent intermediate its sides,
each bag being detachably at least partially joined to two adjacent
bags along its top and bottom edges so that at least a portion of
the top edge of one bag is attached to the bottom edge of one
adjacent bag, and the bottom edge of one said bag is attached at
least partially to the top edge of the other adjacent bag, and
along each said edge joinder a central section is unattached to
leave an opening; said method comprising:
(a) rolling up said series of bags concentrically about a first
axis whereby when said bags are unrolled each open space between
adjacent bags will appear defined by the trailing transverse edge
of the first bag and leading edge of the next ensuing bag;
(b) providing a support for the roll from which support bags may be
serially unrolled and detached;
(c) providing a pair of bars spaced slightly apart from each other
one bar above the other, said bars being parallel to the roll axis
and disposed apart from and in line with the roll to allow a bag to
be drawn through the spacing between the bars in a first direction
of travel, at least one of said bars being provided with a snagging
element directed in a second direction transverse to said first
direction of travel, said snagging element, however, permitting
passage of the panel portions of each bag past said snagging
element in said first direction of travel, but snagging the leading
transverse edge partially defining the opening between the bags as
the bag including the leading transverse edge partially defining
said opening is pulled in the first direction, and releasing the
last said bag only when it is drawn between the bars initially in
the second direction, and thereafter in the first direction;
(d) grasping the outermost bag of the roll by its leading
transverse edge and pulling the last said bag initially in the
second direction and then immediately in the first direction
through the spacing between the bars and snagging element until the
leading edge defining the opening between the bag so pulled and the
next ensuing bag reaches the snagging element, whereupon further
passage of the said next ensuing bag will be initially restrained
by the projection of the snagging element through the opening;
(e) further pulling the bag including the trailing edge defining
the last said opening against said restraint to where said bag is
detached from the next ensuing bag along the joined edges;
(f) pulling the next ensuing bag first in the second direction past
the snagging element and then in the first direction, until the
leading edge defining the opening between the last said bag and
following bag is snagged by the engaging element, and initially
restrained; and
(g) repeating steps (e), and (f) in that order for subsequent bags
in the series. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
12. Rack means for dispensing separately from a roll of a series of
plastic merchandise bags, each bag being formed by a pair of facing
panels, joined at their bottoms and sides, the joinder of the panel
bottoms forming a transverse bottom edge, and the panel tops being
brought together to form a transverse open upper edge, and each bag
being detachably joined to two adjacent bags at its opposite ends
so that at one end the joinder is by the transverse upper edge of
the adjacent bag, and at each joinder is an open space defined by a
portion of the bottom edge of one bag and the transverse open edge
of the adjacent bag, said series of bags of said roll being
disposed concentrically about a first axis, whereby when the bags
are unrolled each open space between adjacent bags will appear
partially defined by a trailing transverse edge of the preceding
bag and a leading transverse edge of the next ensuing bag, whereby
each bag may be grasped and pulled for detachment from the next
ensuing bag when the ensuing bag is sufficient restrained from
movement to follow the preceding bag, said rack comprising:
(a) cradle means securable in the vicinity of a checkout counter,
said cradle means being adapted to receive, and permit rotation of,
said roll so that the bags on said roll may be unrolled about said
first axis;
(b) a pair of bars disposed parallel to said first axis, said bars
being spaced apart from each other, and both bars being spaced
from, but aligned with, said roll and disposed in such a manner
that a bag being unrolled from said roll, may be passed through the
spacing between the bars, the first of said pair of bars being
disposed parallel to and above the second of said bars, at least
one of said first and second bars having extending from its central
area a snagging element, whereby the panel portion of a bag when
the bag is pulled in a first direction, may be passed between the
spacing between said bars and past said snagging element until the
leading transverse edge of the next ensuing bag partially defining
the open space between the bags is intercepted by the snagging
element and temporarily restrained, whereby, continued pulling of
the preceding bag against such restraint results in detachment of
the preceding bag from the ensuing bag, but the ensuing bag may be
freed from such restraint by being pulled in a second direction
transverse to the first direction. .Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of plastic shopping bags with
particular application to what are known as "T-shirt style
merchandising bags" which are formed in series, but are detachable
from each other upon the application of a certain degree of force.
Bags of this nature are usually not produced in rolls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, plastic merchandise bags have largely supplanted
paper bags in retail stores. Among the reasons for this development
are the fact that plastic bags are cheaper, easier to handle, to
ship and to store (particularly when they are provided in roll
form); and that they are more easily recycled and may be readily
provided in any of several desired sizes.
Among the more popular types of plastic bags are what have been
termed "T-shirt" style merchandising bags. Heretofore, in the
United States retailers have encountered problems, however, in
removing plastic bags from rolls at cashier's or other merchandise
packing stations, and doing so in an ergonomically and economically
efficient manner. Among the problems encountered have been the
disposition of the rolls under the counter, and the unrolling and
detachment of bags from the rolls and their opening. As disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,539 and 4,930,385, the bags are rolled up
in such a manner that when the bags are unrolled, the bag bottoms
appear first. This requires the person utilizing the bag then to
invert the bag to open it in order to place the merchandise to be
packed within the bag. The bags also may be difficult to pull
through the nozzles disclosed in the patents, and when finally
pulled through the nozzle, the bags are so wrinkled as to be
unsightly, and hence, not appreciated by the store's customers, or
the store's checker who has to open them for loading.
In addition, the nozzles may not function properly all of the time.
The bag being pulled out may not detach from succeeding bags so
that the packer has to cope with more than one bag. It is also
possible for an ensuing bag to drop back through the nozzle which
then requires re-loading up through the nozzle.
Another objection to the nozzle system disclosed in the patents
mentioned above is that the counter must be bored to provide holes
large enough to enable the nozzles to be inserted and secured in
the counter. This may require special boring equipment and skill.
Such holes also ruin the counter for other uses, should the nozzles
later be removed and the patented system abandoned. In addition,
holes and nozzles in the counters decrease the usable counter space
and may interrupt the flow of articles across the counter at the
cashier's station.
Further, loading the rolls under the counter and threading the
first bags through the nozzles as shown in these patents, would
appear to require some type of kneeling operation--one which might
not be appreciated by older or handicapped clerks, or women with
nylon stockings.
Following applicant's invention, applicant has been informed that
in Europe, as shown in at least one Scandinavian advertisement,
small T-shirt type bags connected in series have been dispensed,
straps first, from a roll in a housing having slotting, the center
of which is constricted by opposed V-shaped flat members, the
function of which, applicant understands, has been to snag ensuing
bags as they are pulled through the housing slotting. This
arrangement, however, has not lent itself to loading from behind
the counter, as well as conveniently withdrawing and opening the
bags. Nor has it been adopted nor suited for multiple sizes of
plastic bags. With this arrangement, it is possible to pull
multiple undetached bags through the U-shaped flat members without
snagging them by pulling the first bag at an incorrect angle. The
size of the housing restricts the number of bags on the roll to a
relatively small amount. The bags can only be side-loaded as the
arrangement does not permit either front or top loading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus by
which a roll of .[.T-shirt style.]. merchandise bags may easily be
loaded into a rack either above or below the counter of the cashier
or other person packing the merchandise and the first bag threaded
between a pair of bars disposed, ideally, at about the height of
the clerk's waist, or at any other suitable height. The bags are
rolled up bottom first so that they unroll with their T-straps
appearing in the lead. The rack provides means for enabling bags
from the roll to be withdrawn; and, as each bag is so withdrawn,
the inner edge between the T-straps of the ensuing bag is snagged
and temporarily restrained sufficiently to result in detachment of
the preceding bag from the leading edges of the straps of the bag
thus temporarily restrained, when continued pulling is exerted upon
the preceding bag.
In this system and by this method, the cashier or packer receives
the bag in a top-up, bottom-seal-down position so that it may
immediately be opened for the merchandise to be placed within
it.
The method and system may be accomplished by means of a novel rack
which may be secured above or below the counter. In one embodiment
of this invention, this rack includes a cradle which may be front
loaded from behind the counter and a pair of transverse
spaced-apart guide bars above the cradle through which the leading
edges of the initial bag in the roll are to be drawn. To accomplish
the desired snagging in various embodiments of the invention, the
bars are provided centrally with a pair of opposed overlapping
(preferably U-shaped) elements which are bent oppositely and spaced
apart from each other sufficiently to allow the bags to be pulled
between them. These elements serve to snag and temporarily restrain
the inner edge between the T-straps of each bag which follows the
bag being withdrawn through the pair of transverse guide bars. By
such restraint, the ensuing bag is held sufficiently to enable the
bottom of the preceding bag, by continued pulling, to be detached
from the leading edges of the straps of the restrained bag, along
the perforations joining such edges to the bottom of the preceding
bag.
In another embodiment of the invention, the snagging may be
accomplished by providing a single element on one of the two
spaced-apart guide bars, such element being constructed to catch
and temporarily hold the leading edge of each bag between the
straps as such straps are pulled through the bars.
The system of the invention may actually comprise pulling with one
hand the bags from a roll one at a time by either strapped top ends
over any type of guiding edge, such as the rim of a box, and
snagging the edge portion of each bag between the straps by using
the other hand.
In one embodiment of the invention, the cradle may be stationary,
while in a further embodiment of the invention, the cradle may be
forwardly tiltable to facilitate the front loading of the roll from
behind the checkout counter. In both embodiments, however, a method
of the invention involves bringing the strap ends of the bag
through the spacing between a pair of transverse guide bars and the
spacing between the centrally disposed opposed overlapping
elements, or other snagging element. Each bag of the roll is then
removed by simply pulling the center of the bag or the bag strap
ends which protrude between the transverse guide bars, thereby
causing the bag roll to rotate in its cradle and to allow unrolling
of the bag which is being grasped and pulled. It will be followed
by the attached ensuing bag until the inner edge between the
T-straps of the succeeding bag is temporarily snagged by the
overlapping elements or other snagging element, thereby providing
sufficient temporary resistance to further unrolling of the
succeeding bag to result in the detachment of the bottom of the bag
which is being pulled along the perforated connections from the
leading edges of the straps of the succeeding and temporarily
restrained bag. When the next bag is to be withdrawn from the roll,
the checker or packer at the counter simply slides the restrained
edge out of the opposed overlapping elements or other snagging
element and pulls the bag again through those elements and the
spaced apart transverse guide bars to repeat the process.
In a still further embodiment of the invention two parallel cradles
may be provided, one to carry a roll of bags of one size and the
second, a roll of bags of a different size. In this embodiment, the
cradles may be disposed one behind the other with the paths of the
bags being parallel but separated from each other by a guide member
over which the bags of one roll are drawn before moving forward to
a rack having a pair of transverse bars each with a snagging
element similar to that described above for the single roll
embodiment. The guide member may either be integrated into the rack
itself or it may be separately mounted to the underside of the
counter. Preferably, the cradle for the roll of smaller size bags
should be disposed to the rear of the cradle for the larger sized
bags so that the latter bags will be below the smaller bags for
grasping by the clerk or cashier at the counter. Thereby, the clerk
or cashier may see the availability of both bags. Should the larger
bags come out above the smaller bags, the latter may not be readily
visible to the clerk or cashier.
It will be found that the method and apparatus of the present
invention provide a most convenient system for a checker behind a
counter to remove bags from a roll. Moreover, as the bags are
detached into the hands of the checker they are ready to be opened,
thereby enabling the checker conveniently to deposit the customer's
merchandise in the bag, the straps of which may or may not then be
tied in a knot and the bag handed to a customer. In addition, the
bags when presented to the customer will be in an unwrinkled
condition.
While it is preferred that the bag roll be wound so that the bags
unroll with the bag straps appearing first, the method and
apparatus of the present invention may be adapted to dispense bags
which are rolled so that the bag bottoms appear first. Bags so
rolled will be found also to be snagged for separation, but at
their bottoms instead of at the transverse portion defining the
cut-out.
The rolling up of the bags and the snagging system herein discussed
may, however, have many other applications apart from retail
stores.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the rack showing
the manner in which a roll of bags may be deposited in the
cradle.
FIG. 1A is an enlarged section taken on the lines 1A/1A of FIG.
1.
FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view of the same type of rack shown
in FIG. 1, showing the rack loaded with the initial bag in position
for grasping and pulling by the checker.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, but
showing the first bag being removed and detached from the ensuing
bag.
FIG. 4 is a still further perspective view similar to the views of
FIGS. 1 through 3 of the rack, but showing the ensuing bag now
ready for removal.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a different cradle and guide bar
arrangement, in which the cradle and guide bar arrangements are
separated entities.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate upper portion snagging
mechanism of the radii of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of the method as practiced manually.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention in
which two rolls of bags are brought up for dispensation.
FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a partial view of the guide member shown in FIG. 9 in an
alternate form.
FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate method of dispensing the bag.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, the method of the
present invention may be practiced by providing a rack 10 formed of
a pair of vertical wire rectangles 12a and 12b spaced apart from
each other by the width of a roll 14 of T-shirt type bags 16, 16',
etc. The bottom edge 18 of each bag 16, 16', etc. is perforatedly
secured to the leading edges 20' of the straps 22' of the next
succeeding bag 16', etc. so that upon the application of any
pulling force along the bottom edge 18, when movement of the straps
22' is restrained, will result in detachment of the bag 16 from the
ensuing bag 16', and similarly, in the case of bag 16' with the bag
that next follows it in the roll 14.
The two Wire rectangles 12a and 12b may be secured oppositely in
parallel alignment by transverse base members 24, 26 and a pair of
U-shaped guide bars 28 and 30 spaced apart from each other.
Centrally disposed on each of the U-shaped elements 28 and 30 is a
forwardly projecting bent U-shaped element 32, 34, respectively,
shown in enlargement in the sectional view FIG. 1A. Element 32 is
slightly shorter than element 34 and is bent at a 90 degree angle
to provide a vertical segment 32a. While element 34 is bent
vertically in an opposite and downward direction to provide a
segment 34a which overlaps slightly the transverse segment 32b of
the element 32, thereby leaving a space 36 between 32a and 32b, and
34a and 34b.
While the overlapping elements 32 and 34 are thus described in this
specific configuration, as the preferred embodiment, it is not
necessary that they be U-shaped as so shown, but the overlapping
element could be in other configurations which would temporarily
arrest the passage of the bag by catching its leading edge 17.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, a swinging cradle 38 is
provided to receive the roll 14. This cradle may be formed of a
U-shaped member 40 having looped ends 42, 42a, 24b, which may be
wrapped around the ends of the transverse member 24. A pair of
curved elements 44a and 44b terminating in transverse members 46
and 48 may be secured at 50a and 50b to the transverse portion 40a
of the U-shaped member 40. Upper and lower orificed mounting plates
52, 54, respectively, may be secured to the upper and lower
transverse portions of the rectangular frame members 12a and
12b.
A pair of hooked elements 56a and 56b may be secured to the
vertical portions 58a, 58a' and 58b and 58b', respectively, of the
rectangular elements 12a and 12b.
In practicing the method in the system of the present invention,
the bags 16, 16', etc., which are formed in an interconnected
series, are first rolled, commencing with the bottom of the first
bag and ending with the straps 22 of the last bag. With the cradle
swung out in the position shown in FIG. 1, the roll 14 is laid into
the cradle, which is then swung back and hooked as shown in FIG. 2.
The leading strap edges 20, together with the leading transverse
intermediate edge 17 of the first bag is brought through the
spacing between the U-shaped transverse guide bars 28 and 30 and
the spacing 36 between the bent U-shaped elements 32 and 34 to the
position shown in FIG. 4. With the initial bag 16 so positioned,
the person at the checkout counter may remove a bag to pack a
customer's purchase by withdrawing the bag 16 in the direction
initially as shown in FIG. 2 to where the initial bag 16 is
withdrawn from the rack, and the transverse portion 17 of the
ensuing bag is brought into the spacing 36 between the elements 32
and 34, at which point further passage of the second bag 16' will
temporarily be restrained. Further pulling On the first bag 16 will
result in detachment of the bag 16 from the leading edges 20' of
the straps 22' of the bag 16'. The bag 16 may then be filled by the
person at the checkout counter. In the meantime, the straps 22' and
the transverse portion 17' of the next bag will drop down into the
position shown in FIG. 4, in which position, the person at the
checkout counter may now grasp the leading edge 17' or any other
part of the bag 16' and commence pulling the bag 16' forward in the
manner shown in FIG. 2--unrestrained by the U-shaped elements 32
and 34. The process may be repeated until all of the bags from the
roll 14 have been utilized, whereupon a new roll of bags should be
provided in the cradle 38 after it is unhooked and swung forward to
the position shown in FIG. 1.
While the roll 14 is shown in FIGS. 1-5 as unrolling from the back
side, it could also be unrolled oppositely from the front.
The method described may also be practiced with a different type of
cradle and guide bar arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 5. In
the embodiment of this latter figure, a different type of cradle
38' may be provided. The cradle 38' may be constructed of a
U-shaped plate 60 which may be permanently secured to shelving
below the counter. This plate 60, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, is
shown with a pair of bent wire receptacles 62 which may be welded
or otherwise secured to the plate 60. The cradle 38' is left open
so that it may be loaded from the top under or above the counter
with a roll 14'. To practice the method, however, a different type
of transverse guide bars 10' may be provided for mounting under or
over the counter or against the edge of the counter. This
transverse guide bar may be in the form of a plate 64, to which is
secured the ends 66a, 66b of a U-shaped member 66. Having a second
transverse piece spaced inwardly from the transverse segment 66' of
the member 66. In this second rack embodiment, opposed U-shaped
elements 32' and 34' are provided similarly to the members 32 and
34 of the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment.
It will be appreciated that with the cradle 38' and rack 10', bags
16, 16', etc. may be drawn from the roll in essentially the same
manner and by the same method as that which has been described in
connection with the FIGS. 1-4 inclusive embodiment.
While it is preferred to support the roll by a cradle, such as
those which have been described heretofore, it will also be
understood that the manner in which the roll is supported for
unrolling, is not a critical feature of the present invention so
long as the support disposes the roll about an axis which is
substantially parallel to the bars 28 and 30. Thus, the support
could be in the form of the box 70 shown in FIG. 7 or it could be a
spindle, not shown, passed through the center of the roll 14 and
supported at one or both ends in the manner commonly found for
paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, etc. The term "cradle" or
"cradle means" should be understood to encompass such means for
dispensing the roll parallel to the bars 28 and 30.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a single snagging element 34' is
provided in lieu of the overlapping U-shaped elements 32, 34 of the
embodiments of FIGS. 1-5. When the bags 16 (not shown) are drawn
between the bars 28', 30' in the direction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
it will be found that the snagging element 34' will temporarily
snag the leading edge 17' of the ensuing bag 16' so that the
preceding bag 16 will be detached from the edges 20 of the straps
22' upon the application of further pulling force, just as in the
case of the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment.
FIG. 7 illustrates how the method of the present invention may be
practiced manually without any cradle and rack of the FIGS. 1-6
embodiments. Thus, in FIG. 7, the roll 14' of bags 16' formed, as
heretofore explained, is simply laid in a box 70 having a straight
edge 72, parallel to the roll axis. The bags 16' are then drawn out
of box 70 over the straight edge 72 with one hand (not shown) while
the person's other hand 74 is held adjacent the straight edge 72 to
catch and temporarily restrain forward movement of the leading edge
17" of the ensuing bag 16", with the result that the trailing
bottom edge 21 will detach from the leading edges 20" of the straps
22".
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the manner in which the method of the
present invention may be utilized to dispense bags from two rolls.
In this embodiment, a U-shaped member 66a is mounted on a plate 64a
similar to what is shown in FIG. 5. However, the member 66a is
provided with a second pair of bars 28a, 30a with a single snagging
element similar to 34' shown in FIG. 6. In the embodiment of FIGS.
8 and 9, there is also secured to the member 66a a U-shaped guide
piece 76, the function of which is to keep the path of the plastic
bags of the second roll substantially parallel to the bags of the
first roll as the bags move up and between the bars 28a and 30a for
interception by the snagging element 34a. In this embodiment of the
rack, the clerk at the counter may have available for dispensing
two different size bags as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 represents a
modification of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to the
extent of eliminating the U-shaped guide 76 from the member 66a.
Instead, a U-shaped member 78 is mounted at both of its ends to a
plate so screwed to the counter, to produce a result identical to
that accomplished by the guide piece shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
In FIG. 11, the rack 10a is substantially identical to the rack 10
shown in the FIGS. 1-4 embodiment, but instead of the bags being
brought up from the roll straps first, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the
bags are delivered to and through the bars 28 and 30 bottom first
since that is the manner in which the bags are rolled. The rack and
the system, however, are still effective since the snagging element
34 effectively restrains the bottom of the bag which represents the
trailing edge defining the open space 82 between each of the series
of bags coming off the roll. In this instance, the leading edge 17'
defining the space 82 corresponds with the leading transverse
intermediate edge 17 shown in FIG. 2.
Thus, it will be seen that, irrespective of the manner in which the
bags have been rolled, the rack of the present invention is
effective to enable the method to be practice.
From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that the method of the
present invention may be practiced in several ways, although doing
so with one of the types of racks illustrated and described herein
should be found to be more convenient and practicable.
* * * * *