Angled core slot dispenser and adapter for a bin

An angled core slot dispenser includes an inclined platform sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags wound on a hollow central core. A core pin has first and second ends, is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core and has at least one notch that extends across one of the ends. First and second guide slots are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the ends of the core pin. At least one guide rail is located between outer edges of at least one of the guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch. A bag stream guide, side constraints and a snagging hook are attached to the bag dispenser. The dispenser may be attached to an adapter for a bin mounted to a vertical surface formerly used to hold a single wide bag roll.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of dispensing systems for plastic and other film bags and more specifically to dispensers for roll mounted bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As mounting space is usually at a premium in supermarkets and grocery stores, it is desirable to have bag dispensing systems that use a minimum of such space, are adaptable to a variety of dispenser mounting systems and provide means for keeping bags neat and orderly in the store. Roll mounted bag systems, typically used for fresh produce, can help with limited space problems when they are designed to use folded bags. These relatively large bags are folded two to four times along vertical or horizontal axes and then formed into compact rolls. The bags are typically joined to one another using perforations. Some bags, known as star-sealed bags are folded twice and then sealed across their bottom edges. This produces a bag with an extremely strong bottom.

When using roll mounted bags, it is critical that the bags are correctly loaded into the bag dispenser and that the bag roll cannot accidently leave the dispenser when a user attempts to pull a bag from the roll. Should this happen, the bag roll could end up on the floor of store, providing a potentially hazardous condition. It is even possible for a bag roll to fly out of the dispenser and strike a grocery patron when he attempts to pull a bag from the roll. Dispensers for roll mounted bags should ideally provide a means to insure that the bag roll will remain in the dispenser. Some examples of dispensers for roll mounted bags and related inventions include the following.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,019, issued to Morris, discloses a bag separator and dispenser used for separating and dispensing plastic bags linked together to form a roll structure. The bags are linked one to another by means of perforation lines and are dispensed from a wire frame structure with channels that support the core or axle of the rolled bags.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,806, issued to Simhaee is directed to a plastic bag dispenser in which the mounting plate is not perpendicular to the slots which receive the rolled bags on the axle.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0073629, published for Tseng illustrates a plastic grocery bag dispenser with side panels and guide bar. The attachment means is connected to the bottom section which is attached to the plastic bag dispenser. The bottom section is at an angle to the roll mounting slots that exist in order to accommodate the roll of bags rotating about the axle and resting on the sides.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,585, issued to Simhaee is directed to a dispenser for plastic bags. The mounting section is at an angle with respect to slots that would accept the roll of plastic bags that rests upon and rotates about an axis while supported by the sides of the dispenser.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,953, issued to Simhaee is directed to a plastic bag dispenser which holds a continuous roll of bags connected by perforated separation lines. The roll of bags rests in curved grooves in the dispenser that cause the roll to abut and frictionally engage an interior surface of the dispenser, preventing free-wheeling of the roll. The curvature of the grooves causes the component of force which creates the frictional engagement to increase as the size of the roll decreases. The mounting means is supported by the pole that is positioned at an angle to the grooves which are mounted with respect to the vertical orientation of the dispenser. The roll of bags is mounted in the dispenser so that the roll frictionally engages an interior surface of the dispenser, thus allowing a bag to be removed and separated from the roll while the frictional force prevents the unwinding of the roll.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,222, issued to West et al. discloses a dispensing system that utilizes a roll of folded-gusseted bags in combination with a dispenser comprising: (i) a support member for attachment to a support surface; (ii) a pair of guide channels carried by the support member for rotatably supporting the roll of plastic bags for rotation of the roll on the core; (iii) a tongue spaced apart from and carried by the support member in a predetermined position corresponding to the predetermined position of the slit in the tear line.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,535, issued to Kannankeril et al. discloses a bag dispensing system providing plastic bags from a roll of bags where one end is attached to the top of the next bag by perforation lines with a slot therebetween. The roll of bags provides a core having an indexing member on at least one end. The dispenser comprising a wire frame formed into channels to support the core. The channels include a core retaining member for restraining the core in the channel. The dispenser includes at least one brake attached to a support member and disposed at an angle thereto to provide tension to the edges of the roll of bags as the core passes through the channel passageway as bags are removed from the roll.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that provides large size film bags that are folded and provided as compact bag rolls. It is a further objective to provide a system that keeps the bag roll securely within the dispenser at all times. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a dispensing system adaptable to a variety of different mountings. It is yet a further objective to provide such a system that provides a visual indication of the need to refill the dispenser. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that is durable, inexpensive, easy to keep clean and simple to use.

While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of prior art dispensers for roll mounted film bags and satisfies all of the objectives described above.

(1) An angled core slot dispenser providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. An inclined platform is provided. The platform is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags wound on a hollow central core. A core pin is provided. The core pin has first and second ends, is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core. First and second guide slots are provided. The slots are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the first and second ends of the core pin. At least one guide rail is provided. The guide rail is located between outer edges of at least one of the first and second guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch in the core pin.

(2) In a variant of the invention, a bracket is provided. The bracket has fixtures for attachment to a lower portion of the inclined platform and is adapted to connect to at least one mounting system.

(3) In another variant, the core pin has at least one notch. The notch extends across one of the ends.

(4) In still another variant, at least one guide rail is provided. The guide rail is located between outer edges of at least one of the first and second guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch in the core pin.

(5) In yet another variant, first and second side constraints are provided. The side constraints are located orthogonally to the inclined platform and spaced apart by at least a width of the roll of film bags.

(6) In another variant, a bag stream guide is provided. The bag stream guide is located orthogonally to the inclined platform at a front end of the dispenser and provides a pathway for a bag stream coming from the bag roll.

(7) In still another variant, a bag roll constraining barrier is provided. The barrier is located orthogonally to the inclined platform at a rear end of the dispenser and provides a guide for inserting the roll into the dispenser.

(8) In yet another variant, the first and second guide slots are located at an acute angle to the inclined platform.

(9) In a further variant, an upward facing snagging hook is provided. The snagging hook is located adjacent a lower end of the inclined platform.

(10) In still a further variant, the first and second side constraints are located behind the first and second guide slots.

(11) In yet a further variant, first and second front side constraints are provided. The front side constraints are located in front of the first and second guide slots.

(12) In another variant of the invention, at least one guide slot retainer is provided. The retainer is located at an upper end of at least one of the first and second guide slots. The retainer prevents unwanted removal of the roll of film bags from the dispenser.

(13) In still another variant, the bracket is attached to a mounting system attached to either of a vertical surface, a horizontal surface, or an angled surface.

(14) In yet another variant, a support member is provided. The support member extends between the bracket and a mounting surface.

(15) In a further variant, a security link is provided. The link flexibly attaches the core pin to the dispenser so as to prevent loss of the pin.

(16) In still a further variant, the security link is selected from the group includes chain, wire, string, cord or flexible plastic rod.

(17) In yet a further variant, an adapter for a bin is provided. The bin includes a support enclosure for a roll of film bags. The enclosure has a half round cylindrical wall, first and second vertical side walls. A supporting rim is provided. The rim is located orthogonally to front edges of the side walls and to upper and lower edges of the cylindrical wall. The rim has spaced apertures for mounting the bin to a surface. The surface has an opening sized and shaped to permit passage of outer surfaces of the walls but not the supporting rim. The vertical side walls have first and second integral channels. The channels provide an entry point and support for a rod. The rod is sized and shaped to support the roll of bags in the channels.

The adapter includes a fixture. The fixture includes a planar surface. The surface is sized and shaped to fit at least partially within the bin. At least one angled core slot bag dispenser for folded roll mounted film bags is provided. The dispenser includes a planar base. The base is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of the film bags and is mounted to the fixture. An inclined platform is provided. The platform is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags wound on a hollow central core.

A core pin is provided. The core pin has first and second ends and is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core. First and second guide slots are provided. The slots are sized, shaped and disposed to fit slidably about the first and second ends of the core pin. A first axle is provided. The first axle is mounted orthogonally adjacent a first side edge of the fixture. A second axle is provided. The second axle is mounted orthogonally adjacent a second side edge of the fixture. The first axle is mounted coaxially with the second axle. First and second positioning wheels are provided. The positioning wheels are mounted to the first and second axles and located to slidably engage the first and second integral channels with a bottom surface of the fixture located adjacent a lower portion of the cylindrical wall of the enclosure.

(18) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes at least one aperture penetrating the planar base for mounting the base to the fixture.

(19) In a further variant, the core pin further includes at least one notch, the notch extends across one of the ends.

(20) In still a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes at least one guide rail. The guide rail is located between outer edges of at least one of the first and second guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch in the core pin.

(21) In yet a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes first and second side constraints. The side constraints are located orthogonally to the inclined platform and spaced apart by at least a width of the roll of film bags.

(22) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes a bag stream guide. The bag stream guide is located orthogonally to the inclined platform at a front end of the dispenser and provides a pathway for a bag stream coming from the bag roll.

(23) In still another variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes a bag roll constraining barrier. The barrier is located orthogonally to the inclined platform at a rear end of the dispenser and providing a guide for inserting the roll into the dispenser.

(24) In yet another variant, the first and second guide slots of the at least one angled core slot dispenser are located at an acute angle to the inclined platform.

(25) In a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes an upward facing snagging hook. The snagging hook is located adjacent a lower end of the inclined platform.

(26) In still a further variant, the first and second side constraints of the at least one angled core slot dispenser are located behind the first and second guide slots.

(27) In yet a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes first and second front side constraints. The front side constraints are located in front of the first and second guide slots.

(28) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes at least one guide slot retainer. The retainer is located at an upper end of at least one of the first and second guide slots. The retainer prevents unwanted removal of the roll of film bags from the dispenser.

(29) In still another variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser further includes a security link. The link flexibly attaches the core pin to the dispenser so as to prevent loss of the pin.

(30) In a final variant, the security link is selected from the group includes chain, wire, string, cord or flexible plastic rod.

An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1)FIGS. 1-5illustrate an angled core slot dispenser10providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. An inclined platform14is provided. The platform14is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags18wound on a hollow central core22. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, a core pin38is provided. The core pin38has first42and second46ends, is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core22. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, first54and second58guide slots are provided. The slots54,58are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the first42and second46ends of the core pin38.

(2) In a variant of the invention, a bracket26is provided. The bracket26has fixtures for attachment to a lower portion30of the inclined platform14and is adapted to connect to at least one mounting system34.

(3) In another variant the core pin38has at least one notch50. The notch50extends across one of the ends42,46.

(4) In still another variant, at least one guide rail62is provided. The guide rail62is located between outer edges66,70of at least one of the first54and second58guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch50in the core pin38.

(5) In yet another variant of the invention, first74and second78side constraints are provided. The side constraints74,78are located orthogonally to the inclined platform14and spaced apart by at least a width82of the roll of film bags18.

(6) In another variant, a bag stream guide86is provided. The bag stream guide86is located orthogonally to the inclined platform14at a front end90of the dispenser10and provides a pathway94for a bag stream98coming from the bag roll18.

(7) In still another variant, a bag roll constraining barrier102is provided. The barrier102is located orthogonally to the inclined platform14at a rear end106of the dispenser10and provides a guide for inserting the roll18into the dispenser10.

(8) In yet another variant, the first54and second58guide slots are located at an acute angle110to the inclined platform14.

(9) In a further variant, an upward facing snagging hook114is provided. The snagging hook114is located adjacent a lower end118of the inclined platform14.

(10) In still a further variant, the first74and second78side constraints are located behind the first54and second58guide slots.

(11) In yet a further variant, first122and second126front side constraints are provided. The front side constraints122,126are located in front of the first54and second58guide slots.

(12) In another variant of the invention, at least one guide slot retainer130is provided. The retainer130is located at an upper end134of at least one of the first54and second58guide slots. The retainer130prevents unwanted removal of the roll of film bags18from the dispenser10.

(13) In still another variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 1,4and5, the bracket26is attached to a mounting system34attached to either of a vertical surface138, a horizontal surface142, or an angled surface146.

(14) In yet another variant, a support member150is provided. The support member150extends between the bracket26and a mounting surface138,142,146.

(15) In a further variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 3,6and7, a security link154is provided. The link154flexibly attaches the core pin38to the dispenser10so as to prevent loss of the pin38.

(16) In still a further variant, the security link154is selected from the group includes chain (158), wire (not shown), string (not shown), cord (not shown) or flexible plastic rod (not shown).

(17) In yet a further variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 6,7and8A-8D, an adapter200for a bin204is provided. The bin204includes a support enclosure208for a roll of film bags (not shown). The enclosure208has a half round cylindrical wall220, first224and second228vertical side walls. A supporting rim232is provided. The rim232is located orthogonally to front edges236of the side walls224,228and to upper240and lower244edges of the cylindrical wall220. The rim232has spaced apertures248for mounting the bin204to a surface252. The surface252has an opening256sized and shaped to permit passage of outer surfaces260of the walls224,228, and220but not the supporting rim232. The vertical side walls224,228have first264and second268integral channels. The channels264,268provide an entry point272and support276for a rod (not shown). The rod is sized and shaped to support the roll of bags in the channels264,268.

The adapter200includes a fixture292. The fixture292includes a planar surface296. The surface296is sized and shaped to fit at least partially within the bin204. At least one angled core slot bag dispenser10for folded roll mounted film bags18is provided. The dispenser10has a planar base284. The base284is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of the film bags18and is mounted to the fixture292. An inclined platform14is provided. The platform14is sized and shaped to fit beneath a roll of film bags18wound on a hollow central core22.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, a core pin38is provided. The core pin38has first42and second46ends, is sized and shaped to fit slidably within the central core22. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, first54and second58guide slots are provided. The slots54,58are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the first42and second46ends of the core pin38. A first axle300is provided. The first axle300is mounted orthogonally adjacent a first side edge304of the fixture292. A second axle308is provided. The second axle308is mounted orthogonally adjacent a second side edge312of the fixture292. The first axle300is mounted coaxially with the second axle308. First316and second320positioning wheels are provided. The positioning wheels316,320are mounted to the first300and second308axles and located to slidably engage the first264and second268integral channels with a bottom surface324of the fixture292located adjacent a lower portion328of the cylindrical wall220of the enclosure208.

(18) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes at least one aperture332penetrating the planar base284for mounting the base284to the fixture292.

(19) In a further variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 2,3,6and7, the core pin38further includes at least one notch50, the notch50extends across one of the ends42,46.

(20) In still a further variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 1,2,6and7, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes at least one guide rail62is provided. The guide rail62is located between outer edges66,70of at least one of the first54and second58guide slots and is sized and shaped to slidably engage the at least one notch50in the core pin38.

(21) In yet a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes first74and second78side constraints. The side constraints74,78are located orthogonally to the inclined platform14and spaced apart by at least a width82of the roll of film bags18.

(22) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes a bag stream guide86. The bag stream guide86is located orthogonally to the inclined platform14at a front end90of the dispenser10and provides a pathway94for a bag stream98coming from the bag roll18.

(23) In still another variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes a bag roll constraining barrier102. The barrier102is located orthogonally to the inclined platform14at a rear end106of the dispenser10and provides a guide for inserting the roll18into the dispenser10.

(24) In yet another variant, the first54and second58guide slots of the at least one angled core slot dispenser10are located at an acute angle110to the inclined platform14.

(25) In a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes an upward facing snagging hook114. The snagging hook114is located adjacent a lower end118of the inclined platform14.

(26) In still a further variant, the first74and second78side constraints are located behind the first54and second58guide slots.

(27) In yet a further variant, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes first122and second126front side constraints. The front side constraints122,126are located in front of the first54and second58guide slots.

(28) In another variant of the invention, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes at least one guide slot retainer130. The retainer130is located at an upper end134of at least one of the first54and second58guide slots. The retainer130prevents unwanted removal of the roll of film bags18from the dispenser10.

(29) In still another variant, as illustrated inFIGS. 3,6and7, the at least one angled core slot dispenser10further includes a security link154. The link154flexibly attaches the core pin38to the dispenser10so as to prevent loss of the pin38.

(30) In a final variant, the security link154is selected from the group includes chain (158), wire (not shown), string (not shown), cord (not shown) or flexible plastic rod (not shown).

The angled core slot dispenser10and adapter for a bin200have been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.