US3747298A

US3747298A - Bag dispensing unit and the method of opening and removing the bags therefrom

Info

Publication number: US3747298A
Application number: US00199612A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Lieberman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-17
Filing date: 1971-11-17
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24

Abstract

The invention refers to a wicket bag dispensing unit and consists of a vertical wall and a gate or aperture therethrough and which is integral with or otherwise secured to a base, the wall and the base combining to form a wicket bag stacking section on one side of the wall and a wicket bag opening and filling section on the other side of the wall. Wicket bag stacking means are secured to the vertical wall facing the bag stacking section, and wicket bag opening and expanding means are secured to the vertical wall facing the bag opening and filling section. The front wall of the foremost wicket bag, which has its rear wall vertically suspended from the bag stacking means, is pulled through the gate of the vertical wall and is engaged with the bag opening and expanding means, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear wall, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items; the bag is then detached from the bag opening and expanding means and the bag stacking means, and carried away.

Description

United States Patent [191 Lieberman [76] Inventor: Abraham Buddy Lieberman, 4755 Boulevard des Grandes Prairies, Montreal 457, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 211 App]. No.: 199,612

[52] US. Cl 53/390, 53/384, 248/100 [51] Int. Cl B65b 67/12 [58] Field of Search 53/390, 384, 189;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1969 Propst et a1 248/100 3/1972 Meroney 53/390 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee [111 1 3,747,298 [45 July 24,1973

5? ABSTRACT The invention refers to a wicket bag dispensing unit and consists of a vertical wall and a gate or aperture therethrough and which is integral with or otherwise secured to a base, the wall and the base combining to form a wicket bag stacking section on one side of the wall and a wicket bag opening and filling section on the other side of the wall. Wicket bag stacking means are secured to the vertical wall facing the bag stacking section, and wicket bag Opening and expanding means are secured to the vertical wall facing the bag opening and filling section. The front wall of the foremost wicket bag, which has its rear wall vertically suspended from the bag stacking means, is pulled through the gate of the vertical wall and is engaged with the bag opening and expanding means, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear wall, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items; the bag is then detached from the bag opening and expanding means and the bag stacking means, and carried away.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIED JUL24|975 3. 747. 298

SHEH 1 0F 6 FIG.1.

PAIEN EBMM 5.147. 2% same or 6 Mme PAIENIED JUL 24 I975 3 74'], 2 98 SHEET 3 0F 6 wmvm? PATENTED L 2 4 sum u or 6 I- 1 lllifiiniliiJ FIG 7 PATENIED 4112mm v SHEET 5 [IF 6 FIG 9 PATENTEUJULZMBH SHEET 6 OF 6 BAG DISPENSING UNIT AND THE METHOD OF OPENING AND REMOVING THE BAGS THEREFROM The invention relates to Improvements in a Bag Dispensing Unit and the Method of Opening and Removing the Bags Therefrom, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel features of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of acceptable forms of the invention.

The invention particularly relates to dispensing units for wicket bags, sacks and the like for commercial and domestic use, such as in supermarkets, retail and wholesale stores, in industry, hospitals, residential homes and apartments, in ships, aircraft and vehicles, and other locations where wicket bags or similar bags are in demand.

In the past, various types of bag holding and dispensing devices have been constructed for the handling of wicket bags and the like for packaging various articles, but it has been found that such devices are somewhat cumbersome, taking considerable and precious space in their installations, utilizing many mechanical and moving parts for handling the bags, necessitating constant maintenance, time-consuming and uneconomical in use.

It is therefore the purpose and objective of this invention to provide novel bag dispensing units for dispensing and opening bags, at supermarkets checkout counters and in other places and locations, wherein a supply of bags is supported in upright position and wherein the front wall of the foremost bag will have its open end engage fixed means for retaining the same while the open end of the rear wall of the bag is held by bag-supporting studs, wicket legs or the like, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of the front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded position until the bag is filled with the requisite contents; the bag is then detached from the retaining means and the wicket legs and taken away, all being accomplished with little or no moving parts forming a part of the dispensing unit.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the bags are fully expanded and, in addition, to provide a means whereby a series of individual bags may be expanded individually and consecutively.

Another object is to devise a bag dispensing unit that will be durable in construction and having little or no moving parts, which will be compact in size, capable of being supported from a wall, placed on the floor or on counters, inserted in cupboards or other locations.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and the advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the following description, and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific means for convenience; the names, however, are intended to be generic in their application.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag dispensing unit, having a vertical wall or partition which separates the storage or bag stacking section on the one side and the bag opening and filling section on the opposing side of the wall or partition.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view, illustrating the bag dispensing unit, wherein the storage or bag stacking section is enclosed and the bag opening and filling section is exposed.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the bag dispensing unit as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end sectional view of the bag dispensing unit as shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating the bags mounted on a bail or wicket legs enclosed in the storage or bag stacking section and the foremost bag in an expanded position and located in the bag opening and filling section of the unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view, illustrating the bags stacked on wicket legs in the bag stacking section of the dispensing unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the arrangement of the fixed expansion means, which is adapted to be engaged by and inserted within the mouth of the bag and projecting from the vertical wall or partition into the bag opening and filling section of the dispensing unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the bag dispensing unit shaped as an adapter for detachable engagement with a supporting stand or wall bracket.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the detachable bag dispensing unit as illustrated in FIG. 7 but showing the dispensing unit detachably secured to the stand or wall bracket.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of another modification of the bag dispensing unit as illustrated in FIG. 7, with the exception that the dispensing unit is fixedly secured to the stand or wall bracket while the bag supporting means are detachably held to the dispensing unit and stand or wall bracket.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front portion of the bag dispensing unit as illustrated in FIG. 9.

FIG. ll'is a perspective view of a further modification of the bag dispensing unit, which is similar to FIGS. 1 to 5, with the exception that the bag expanding retaining means are secured to the base of the dispensing unit in an upright position. I

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various FIGURES.

Referring to the drawings, the bag dispensing unit, as indicated by the numeral 15 and illustrated in FIG. 1, consists of an upright wall or partition 16 having a gate or aperture 17 extending therethrough and integral with or otherwise secured to a suitable base 18.

The upright wall or partition 16 has a bag stacking section 19 on one side and a bag opening and filling section 20 on its opposing side, and the gate or aperture 17 is so located as to form a common passageway for the bags 21 to be individually pulled therethrough from the bag stacking section 19 to the bag opening and filling section 20.

The side 22 of the wall 16, facing the bag stacking section 19, has the bag-supporting hollow studs 23 and 24 secured thereto and located adjacent to the

upper corners

25 and 26 of the gate or aperture 17 and projecting outwardly therefrom into the bag stacking section 19, where they are engaged by the

wicket legs

27 and 28 of the wicket or bail 29 and from which the wicket bags are suspended.

The opposing side 30 of the wall 16, facing the bag opening and filling section 20, is provided with fixed expansion means 31 for holding and retaining the bag in its open and expanded position. In FIG. 1, the expansion means 31 are formed of a pair of hook arms or

hook bolts

32 and 33, having their inner ends integral with or otherwise secured to the side 30 of the wall 16 and located near the vertical edges of the gate or aperture l7 and placed below the level of the bagsupporting studs 23 and 24 located in the bag stacking section 19.

These hook

arms

32 and 33 project outwardly in a curve-like manner from the side 30 of the wall 16 and rise upwardly so that their

hook terminations

34 and 35 will be brought into an approximate level with the

fixed ends

36 and 37 of the bag-supporting studs 23 and 24 which project outwardly into the bag stacking section.

Many various types of wicket bags, made from synthetic resin or other material such as paper, may be used in the bag dispensing unit. An acceptable wicket bag, as shown, consists of a rear wall 38 and a front wall 39, with their vertical edges heat-sealed to one another for the greater portion of their lengths, the heat-sealed edges terminating at a predetermined distance from the top edges of the rear and front walls, so as to leave free vertical edges up to the top edge and thereby forming an open mouth of the bag.

The rear wall 38 is provided with apertures 40, located adjacent to its top edge 41, which are adapted to be frangibly engaged by the wicket legs of the wicket, while the front wall 39 has its top edge portion folded to form a transverse crease line 42 extending across the width of the bag and terminating at the junctures of the free vertical edges with the heat-sealed vertical edges to form a transverse lip 43; the lip, being folded from the transverse crease line, is heat-sealed to the front wall and forms a recess which is adapted to be engaged by means for opening and expanding.

The bags are suspended from a wicket and combined to form a stack of bags, the bag-supporting hollow studs are then engaged by the wicket and, since the studs are set at an inclined angle, the stack of bags simply slides down the studs or is propelled therealong until the foremost bag abuts the side 22 of the wall 16 and blocks the gate or aperture 17 of the dispensing unit and leaving the front wall of the bag with its top portion and transverse lip exposed to the bag opening and filling section of the dispensing unit. The bag is then in a position ready to be used.

When it is required to use a bag, the user simply withdraws the front wall of the foremost or partially exposed bag through the gate or aperture of the dispensing unit into the area of the bag opening and filling section by inserting the fingers of his hand in the recess formed between the front wall and its transverse lip and manually pulling the front wall of the bag away from the wall area, thereby partially opening the mouth of the bag, without disturbing the securement of the rear wall of the bag which is suspended and frangibly supported from the bag-supporting studs located in the bag stacking section. The user continues to pull the front wall of the bag outwardly, and continually enlarging the bag opening until the bag is sufficiently expanded to be in the area of the hook terminals of the hook arms,

where the user places the transverse lip of the front wall over the hook terminals for their insertion in the recess formed between the front wall and the lip; thus the bag is held in its expanded condition by the hook terminals of the hook arms and the bag-supporting studs and is ready to receive the various items that are to be inserted therein.

When the items have been inserted in the expanded bag, the user removes the bag from the dispensing unit by simply gripping the sides of the filled bag and, by giving the bag a rapid pull or jerk, the rear wall of the bag is dissevered from the bag-supporting studs, wickets or the like, and at the same time detaching the front wall of the bag from the hook terminals; the filled bag is then carried away and the next bag takes its position at the gate of the dispensing unit and is ready for use.

In FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the bag dispensing unit is formed of a rectangular casing 44, having a front wall 45, with a gate or aperture 46 extending therethrough and provided with

end walls

47 and 48, a top wall 49 and a rear hinged door 50. The casing 44 is riveted or otherwise secured to a plate base 51, which forms the bottom wall of the casing and to which the rear door 50 is hingedly secured, the base 51 continuing beyond the front wall 45 to complete a bag opening and filling section 52 and a bag stacking section 53. A bag rest 54 is situated in the bag opening and filling section and forms a part of the base 51 andis used to support a bag 55 in its expanded condition as it is being filled with various items. The rear door 50 also in its closed position acts as a weight to maintain pressure against the stack of bags, suspended from the bag-supporting studs, for their constant abutment with the gate 46 of the front wall 45.

The bag-supporting studs 56 and 57 and the fixed expansion means 58 are constructed and located in the bag stacking section 53 and the bag opening and filling section 52 in a similar manner as shown in FIG. 1 and as hereinbefore described, as well as is the use and operation of the bag dispensing unit.

The fixed expansion means for holding and maintaining the bags in their expanded condition have been hereinbefore described and illustrated as consisting of fixed hook arms with hook terminations which are engaged by the recesses formed between the transverse lips and the front walls of the bags for holding and maintaining the expanded condition of the bags.

In FIG. 6, the fixed expansion means for holding and maintaining a bag in its expanded condition are shown as being slightly altered, so as to be applicable for their engagement by ordinary bags having no lips. This is simply accomplished by having the

hook terminations

59 and 60, of the hook arms 61 and 62, bent downwardly instead of upwardly, so that they will be engaged by the inner face of the top edge portion 63 of the front wall 64 of the expanded bag 65.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, and adaptation of the bag dispensing unit is shown, in which the dispensing unit is in the form ofa detachable unit 66 adapted to engage and disengage with a supporting unit 67, which is capable of being utilized as a portable stand or wall bracket 68.

The supporting unit 67 is made of an angle plate bent in a right angle to form a transverse vertical wall 69 and an integral horizontal base 70 projecting outwardly therefrom, which is provided with a transverse bag rest 71 in its top front portion and forming a part of the bag opening and filling section 72, leaving the top rear portion of the horizontal base 70 to form a part of the bag stacking section 73.

The bag-supporting studs 74, for vertically supporting the bags in the bag stacking section 73, and the hook arms 75, with their hook terminations 76, for engaging and holding the individual bag in its expanded condition in the bag opening and filling section 72, are respectively secured to the

opposing sides

77 and 78 of a transverse elongated plate 79, having integral lateral wings 80 and 81 with ears 82 at its extreme ends and which are adapted to be detachably engaged to means 83 secured to the upper portion of the transverse vertical wall 69 of the supporting unit 67.

The use and operation of the bag detachable dispensing unit is similar to the previously described forms of the dispensing unit, with the exception that the stack of wicket bags is mounted on the bag-supporting studs before the dispensing unit is detachably secured to the supporting unit, and there are no gates or apertures through which the individual bags are pulled.

The modified form of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, consists of a supporting unit 84, made of an angle plate bent in a right angle to form a transverse vertical wall 85, and an integral horizontal base 86 extending outwardly therefrom and forming the bottom wall for the bag stacking section 87 and the bag opening and filling section 88. Adjacent to the top transverse edge 89, of the transverse vertical wall 85, is secured the wicket supporting bar 90, which extends across the width of the vertical wall and which is provided with a pair of

vertical recesses

91 and 92, which are adapted to receive the free ends of the

legs

93 and 94 of a wicket 95 from which the bags 96 are suspended.'Suitably secured to the vertical wall and below the level of the wicket supporting bar 90 are the

hook arms

97 and 98, which project outwardly into the bag opening and filling section and ending into

hook terminations

99 and 100 and which are adapted to be engaged by the front wall of the foremost bag for keeping the mouth of the bag in an expanded condition.

A transverse elongated plate 101 has integral

lateral end walls

102 and 103 projecting inwardly from its ends and which are riveted or otherwise secured to the ends of the transverse wicket supporting bar 90 or secured directly to the transverse vertical wall and extending across the width of the vertical wall. To the inner transverse face of the elongated plate 101 is secured a wicket receiving member 104, which is formed with a recess and is adapted to be engaged by the closed end of the wicket and arranged slightly lower than the location of the wicket supporting bar 90 that is secured to the vertical wall 85, which completes the structure. This modification of the dispensing unit, in which the stack of wicket bags is suspended from the bag wicket and which is inserted in the open top of the dispensing unit and rested in the recess of the wicket receiving member 104, and with the wicket legs engaging with the vertical recesses of the wicket supporting bar 90, and the operation for opening the wicket bag and maintaining the same in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items, is similar to the other forms of the invention.

The modification, as shown in FIG. 11, of the bag dispensing unit, is in having the

hook arms

105 and 106, with

hook terminations

107 and 108, arranged vertically to the angular position of the bag supporting units 109. In this instance, the hook arms are vertically secured to the base 110 of the dispensing unit and adjacent to the corners thereof and located in the bag opening and filling section, while the bag supporting units 109, in the form of bag-supporting hollow studs, are secured to the wall 111 and located in the bag stacking section. The operation of this modification is similar to the operations of the various forms of the invention as previously described.

Since certain changes may be made in the above structures and the different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

l. A bag dispensing unit comprising a base, an upright wall having a gate extending therethrough and secured to said base and forming a bag stacking section on its one side and a bag opening and filling section on its other side, bag stacking means secured to the side of the wall facing said bag stacking section and adapted to support vertically a stack of wicket bags in said bag stacking section, bag holding and retaining means secured to the side of the upright wall facing said bag opening and filling section, wherein the front wall of the foremost bag is pulled through the gate of said upright wall and opened to engage said bag holding and retaining means and leaving the rear wall of the bag engaged by said bag stacking means, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items.

2. A bag dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag stacking means is formed of a pair of wicket bag supporting studs secured to the side of the said upright wall facing said bag stacking section and located adjacent to the upper corners of the gate formed in the upright wall, and the bag holding and retaining means formed of a pair of hook arms secured to the side of the said upright wall facing the bag opening and filling section and projecting outwardly therefrom and inwardly towards one another in an arcuate curve and having hook terminations.

3. A bag dispensing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hook arms are secured to said upright wall at a level below the location of said wicket bag supporting studs and project outwardly from the upright wall and inwardly towards one another in an upward rise, so as to bring the hook terminations of the said hook arms into an approximate level with the secured ends of the said wicket bag supporting studs.

4. A bag dispensing unit comprising a base, a rectangular casing secured to said base and projecting vertically therefrom, said casing having a front wall with a gate extending therethrough, end walls and a top wall, the whole forming a wicket bag stacking section, wicket bag supporting members secured to said front wall and projecting therefrom into the wicket bag stacking section and adapted to vertically support a stack of wicket bags through engagement with the rear walls of the wicket bags, wicket bag holding and retaining means secured to said front wall of said casing and projecting outwardly therefrom to form a wicket bag opening and filling section, wherein the front wall of the foremost bag is manually pulled through the gate of said front wall and opened to engage said bag holding and retaining means and leaving the rear wall of the bag engaged by said bag-supporting members, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items then detaching the bag from the bag holding and retaining members and said bag stacking supporting members.

5. A bag dispensing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wicket bag supporting members are situated adjacent to each upper corner of the gate formed in said front wall and projecting into the wicket bag stacking section formed within said casing, and said wicket bag holding and retaining members being located adjacent to the vertical edges of the gate of said front wall and projecting outwardly therefrom into the wicket bag opening and filling section.

6. A bag dispensing unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein a rear door is hingedly secured to said base and adapted to swing in and out of said casing and effecting a weight pressure against wicket bags suspended from said wicket bag supporting members for their abutment against the inner face of the front wall of said casing.

7. A bag dispensing unit comprising the combination of an angle plate having a vertical wall and an integral base projecting therefrom, and an adapter formed of an elongated plate having integral lateral wings at each end and adapted to be detachably secured to the upper portion of the said vertical wall and located above the inner portion of said base which projects from the lower portion of its integral vertical wall, wicket bag supporting members secured to the inner face of said elongated plate and projecting inwardly in the direction of said vertical wall and forming a bag stacking section and adapted to vertically support the rear walls of a stack of wicket bags in the bag stacking section, and wicket bag holding and retaining members secured to said elongated plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and terminating in hook ends, wherein the front wall of the foremost bag is pulled away from its rear wall and extended beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and opened to engage with the hook ends of said bag holding and retaining members, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of the front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items,

then detaching the bag from the said wicket bag supporting members and the said bag holding and retaining members.

8. A bag dispensing unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wicket bag holding and retaining members are formed of hook arms, the inner ends of which are secured to the inner face of said elongated plate and project therefrom, therebeneath and outwardly beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and ending in hook terminations.

9. A bag dispensing unit comprising the combination of a vertical wall and a horizontal base secured to one another and an adapter formed of an elongated plate having integral lateral wings at each end and secured to the upper portion of said vertical wall, a wicket receiving member secured to the inner face of said elongated plate, a wicket supporting bar secured to the inner face of said vertical wall, bag holding and retaining members secured to said vertical wall and projecting therefrom and extending beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and terminating in hook ends, and a wicket adapted to support wicket bags and detachably secured to said wicket receiving member and said wicket supporting bar.

10. A bag dispensing unit comprising a base, an upright wall having a gate extending therethrough and secured to said base and forming a bag stacking section on its one side and a bag opening and filling section on its other side, bag stacking means secured to the side of the wall facing said bag stacking section and adapted to support vertically a stack of wicket bags in said bag stacking section, bag holding and retaining means formed of a pair of hook arms having hook terminations and secured to said base and projecting upwardly therefrom into the bag opening and filling section, wherein the front wall of the foremost bag is pulled through the gate of said upright wall and opened to engage the hook terminations of said hook arms and leaving the rear wall of the bag engaged by said bag stacking means, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items, then detaching the bag from the bag holding and retaining means and said stacking means.

i i it it:

Claims

1. A bag dispensing unit comprising a base, an upright wall having a gate extending therethrough and secured to said base and forming a bag stacking section on its one side and a bag opening and filling section on its other side, bag stacking means secured to the side of the wall facing said bag stacking section and adapted to support vertically a stack of wicket bags in said bag stacking section, bag holding and retaining means secured to the side of the upright wall facing said bag opening and filling section, wherein the front wall of the foremost bag is pulled through the gate of said upright wall and opened to engage said bag holding and retaining means and leaving the rear wall of the bag engaged by said bag stacking means, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of its front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items.

7. A bag dispensing unit comprising the combination of an angle plate having a vertical wall and an integral base projecting therefrom, and an adapter formed of an elongated plate having integral lateral wings at each end and adapted to be detachably secured to the upper portion of the said vertical wall and located above the inner portion of said base which projects from the lower portion of its integral vertical wall, wicket bag supporting members secured to the inner face of said elongated plate and projecting inwardly in the direction of said vertical wall and forming a bag stacking section and adapted to vertically support the rear walls of a stack of wicket bags in the bag stacking section, and wicket bag holding and retaining members secured to said elongated plate and projecting outwardly therefrom and beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and terminating in hook ends, wherein thE front wall of the foremost bag is pulled away from its rear wall and extended beyond the outer face of said elongated plate and opened to engage with the hook ends of said bag holding and retaining members, whereby the mouth of the bag, formed by the open ends of the front and rear walls, is expanded and maintained in its expanded condition until the bag is filled with the required items, then detaching the bag from the said wicket bag supporting members and the said bag holding and retaining members.