Patent ID: 6382551
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A47F,B65D,Y02W

Abstract:
A reusable container for holding and dispensing rolls of disposal bags of various axial lengths, the container comprising:a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second side panels, said container having first and second end portions, and each of said top, bottom and side panels having first and second end portions, and said top, bottom and side panels being interconnected and forming a parellelpiped container defining a cavity; means to divide the cavity into separate compartments for holding individual rolls of bags; a plurality of dispensing openings, each in communication with one of said compartments; first and second sets of rolls of disposal bags, said first set of rolls having an axial length substantially greater than that of said second set of rolls; first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps, each pivotally connected to one of said first and second ends of said bottom panel, respectively; said first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps each having an inserted position wherein said inwardly-projecting end flap is inserted into the cavity, and having a removed position wherein said inwardly-projecting end flap is outside the cavity, each inwardly-projecting end flap being pivotal between said removed and said inserted position; each inwardly-projecting end flap including a substantially flat abutment panel substantially an entirety of said abutment panel being located inside said cavity and being located a predetermined distance from an associated end of the cavity when an associated inwardly-projecting end flap is in said inserted position; said dispensing openings being elongated in shape, and having first and second ends, said first and second ends of each dispensing opening associated with said rolls of said first set being substantially aligned with said abutment panels of said first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps, respectively, one end of each dispensing opening associated with one of said rolls of said second set being substantially aligned with one of said abutment panels of said first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps; spacing inserts inserted into said compartments for each roll of said second set, each spacing insert contacting an abutment panel of one of said inwardly-projecting end flaps and each spacing insert including an abutment portion being substantially aligned with one end of an associated dispensing opening; and each roll of said first set contacting and being held in substantial axial alignment with associated dispensing openings by said abutment panels of said first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps, and each roll of said second set contacting and being held in substantial axial alignment with associated dispensing openings by an abutment panel of one of said first and second inwardly-projecting end flaps and by an abutment portion of one of said spacing inserts; and means to releasably maintain said inwardly-projecting end flaps in said inserted position.