A bag dispenser includes an axle having a plurality of spaced-apart interior annular rings. A roll of bags are wound about the axle and a rod is insertable into the axle. When inserted into the axle, the rod engages at least one of the annular rings to connect the rod to the axle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to devices for collecting animal litter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser of bags for collecting animal litter.

The rapid increase of urban population coupled with the increasing popularity of dogs and other pets has created a serious sanitary problem in connection with the disposal of animal litter, and particularly canine litter. Because many animal pet owners have permitted their animals to deposit solid excrement on both private and public property, a number of communities have enacted ordinances requiring pet owners, under penalty of fine, to retrieve and dispose of litter created by their pets.

It has been found that the willingness of pet owners to retrieve and properly dispose of animal litter is related to the ease, convenience and economy with which the litter may be handled in a clean and sanitary manner. While a number of devices have been proposed for the purpose of disposing of animal litter, they have suffered from various shortcomings. Some devices are not completely disposable and, therefore, require some degree of cleanup. Other types of devices, both of the disposable and reusable varieties, are awkward and/or conspicuous to carry. Moreover, some prior animal litter collection devices are too expensive for everyday use.

One commonly accepted method for collecting and storing animal litter until a proper disposal site can be found involves the use of a disposable plastic bag. Some pet owners will simply place a plastic bag, such as a plastic grocery bag, in a clothing pocket for retrieval when needed. This method of collecting animal litter presupposes, however, that the pet owner will always have access to and remember to grab a plastic bag prior to walking the pet. There have been proposals to provide devices which would store plastic bags within a container that may be worn by the owner or the pet. Each of these prior devices, however, suffers several disadvantages which the present invention is intended to overcome.

The retractable leash has been gaining popularity for the last twenty years and has taken its place as a permanent pet product. Some have recognized the desirability of providing an easy way to carry pet waste cleanup bags when going for a walk utilizing such a retractable leash. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,469 discloses a retractable leash placed into an animal waste collecting device which incorporates its own handle, bag holder and flashlight. It is believed, however, that such an assembly involves apparatus and associated costs which are undesirable.

Accordingly, there is a need for a bag dispenser which provides access to bags when needed. There is a further need for a bag dispenser which provides access to a roll of plastic bags when needed. There is an additional need for a bag dispenser which can be used with or without a housing. There is also a need for a bag dispenser that is modular to increase the ease of replacing an exhausted roll of bags. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a bag dispenser which provides access to bags when needed. The present invention further discloses a bag dispenser which provides access to a roll of plastic bags when needed. The present invention additionally discloses a bag dispenser which can be used with or without a housing. The present invention also discloses a bag dispenser that is modular to increase the ease of replacing an exhausted roll of bags. The bag dispenser provides bags for a variety of purposes including, without limitation, the collection of animal waste.

A bag dispenser embodying the present invention includes an axle having a plurality of spaced-apart interior annular rings and a roll of bags wound about the axle. A rod is insertable into the axle and is able to engage at least one of the annular rings to connect the rod to the axle. A stop allows the rod to selectively engaging a selected one of the annular rings. The engagement of the rod and axle permits the axle to rotate about the rod. The rod is also able to selectively disengage from the annular rings of the axle in order to disconnect the rod from the axle.

The rod includes a base shaft, a resilient lever, and the stop which extends from one side of the resilient lever. As noted above, the stop automatically engages at least one of the annular rings as the rod is inserted into the axle.

The bag dispenser further includes a flange at one end of the rod. The flange has a bracket for retaining an end of the resilient lever which engages the axle.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the bag dispenser also includes a housing defining an inner cavity. The housing has an aperture therethrough permitting access to the inner cavity. A cap is attached to the rod for positioning the roll of bags centrally within the housing. The cap snap-fits to an open end of the housing.

A bag roll retainer is connected to an end of the axle opposite the cap. The bag roll retainer includes an axle guide extending into the axle. The axle and bag roll retainer are removably connected.

The cap includes a flange having a central slot, and the rod extends through the central slot and includes a retaining flange for retaining the engaging means in abutting relation to the cap flange. The cap also includes at least one bracket extending outwardly therefrom for connecting the bag dispenser to a leash.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the bag dispenser includes a generally planar bar having an elongated slot through which the bags are individually removable from the roll, and first and second bag roll retaining flanges. The bar extends between the first and second bag roll retaining flanges in spaced relation to the axle. The bag dispenser also includes a guide for limiting radially outward expansion of the roll of bags as the roll of bags unwinds.

The roll of bags is adhesively connected to the axle. One side of each bag includes a releasable dry adhesive for adhering to another side of at least one bag in the roll of bags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown inFIGS. 1-18for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a spool-supported bag dispenser10,60,80,100.

A bag dispenser10embodying the present invention, illustrated inFIGS. 1-5, includes a tubular axle12having a plurality of spaced-apart interior annular rings14and a roll16of a plurality of plastic bags18which are connected end-to-end and wound about the axle12. A rod20is insertable into the axle12and includes means for engaging22at least one of the annular rings14to connect the rod20to the axle12. The engaging means22includes a stop24that allows the rod20to selectively engage a selected one of the annular rings14. The stop24is a generally rectangular shelf that extends from the rod20. The engagement of the rod20and axle12permits the axle12to rotate about the rod20as the selected annular ring14moves along a top surface of the stop24as the axle12rotates. The rod20also includes means for selectively disengaging26from the annular rings14of the axle12in order to disconnect the rod20from the axle12.

The rod20includes a base shaft28and an L-shaped resilient lever30. The resilient lever30is of unitary construction with the base shaft28but splits from the base shaft28at the lower portion of the rod20. The stop24extends from one side of the resilient lever30. The engaging means22functions by the stop24automatically engaging at least one of the annular rings14as the rod20is inserted into the axle12.

The means for selectively disengaging26the rod20from the axle12includes a flange32at one end of the rod20. The flange32has a bracket34for retaining an end36of the resilient lever30which extends away from the portion of the resilient lever30which engages the axle12. The rod20is disengaged from the axle12when the end36of the resilient lever30is biased towards the axle12. This causes the stop24, which is part of the resilient lever30, to move towards the center of the axle12and away from the annular ring14the stop24had been engaged with. Disengaging the stop24from the annular ring14allows the rod20to be removed from the axle12.

The bag dispenser10also includes a generally cylindrical housing38defining an inner cavity40for holding therein the roll16of plastic bags18. The housing38has an aperture42in a sidewall of the housing38which permits access to the inner cavity40. The roll16of plastic bags18is disposed within the inner cavity40of the housing38such that the bags18may be individually removed therefrom through the aperture42in the housing38. The roll16of plastic bags18may be inserted into and disposed within the inner cavity40through an upper open end46of the housing38.

A cap44is attached to the rod20to form a lid for covering the housing38and positioning the roll16of bags18centrally within the housing38. The cap44encloses the upper open end46of the housing38. As shown, the cap44snap-fits onto the open upper end46of the housing16. The cap44includes a generally circular flange48having a central slot50. The rod20extends through the central slot50and includes a retaining flange52for retaining the engaging means22in abutting relation to a shelf56of the cap flange48. The cap44, in combination with the rod, also includes two loops or brackets54extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom for connecting the bag dispenser10to a leash (not shown) or the like. A tie58or the like is placed through the brackets54to securely affix the dispenser10to the leash device or the like. In the alternative, the cap44and rod20may be of unitary construction.

In another embodiment of the present invention,FIGS. 6-10illustrate a bag dispenser60, similar to the bag dispenser10described above, but including a bag roll retainer62that engages the axle12and is rotatable relative to the housing38. The bag roll retainer62is removably connected to an end64of the axle12opposite the cap44. The bag roll retainer62is a generally disk-shaped flange66that includes an axle guide68extending upwardly from an upper surface of the flange66. The axle12and bag roll retainer62are removably connected as the axle guide68extends into a lower portion of the interior of the axle12where the axle guide68is frictionally retained by the interior surface of the axle12. The axle guide68is shaped to conform with the shape of the interior of the lower portion of the axle12. For example, the axle guide68is generally circular (FIG. 10) to match the circular shape of the interior of the axle (FIG. 10) and sized so as to be frictionally retained therein. This results in the bag roll retainer62rotating in the same direction as the axle12when the axle12rotates. The bag roll retainer62is disposed adjacent to a cylindrical base70of the housing38. The connection of the bag roll retainer62to the end64of the axle12prevents movement of the roll16of bags18past the end64of the axle12and contact with the base70of the housing38. In this manner, the axle12is rotatable relative to both the cap44and the base70of the housing38as the ends of the axle12are securely yet rotatably retained centrally within the inner cavity40of the housing38.

InFIGS. 11-16, an additional bag dispenser80embodying the present invention, similar to the bag dispensers10,60described above, includes an axle82with a generally planar bar84having an elongated slot86through which the bags18are individually removable from the roll16. The bar84extends between first and second bag roll retaining flanges88,90in spaced relation to the axle82. The first and second bag roll retaining flanges88,90are generally perpendicular to and extend from an exterior surface of the axle82. The first and second bag roll retaining flanges88,90align the roll16with the elongated slot86as the roll16rotates. The axle82is otherwise identical to the axle12described above and includes a plurality of interior annular rings (not shown) which engage the stop24of the rod20.

The roll16of bags18is adhesively connected to the axle12,82. A piece of tape92or the like connects an end of a first bag18on a new roll16to the roll16. The tape92is removed and the first bag18is threaded through the slot86to place the dispenser80in condition for use. One side of each bag18includes a releasable dry adhesive94for adhering to another side of at least one bag18in the roll16of plastic bags18. The adhesive94assists the bags18in maintaining cohesiveness as a roll16and prevents the roll16from unwinding during use of the dispenser10,60,80.

In use, fifteen or so plastic bags18are wound about the axle12to form the roll16. A replacement roll16may include bags18pre-wound about an axle12which replaces the bag-exhausted axle12from the previous roll16or new bags18can be wound about the axle12used for the previous roll16. Either way, the cap44and rod20are removed from the housing38to place the new roll16within the inner cavity40if a housing38is used. If no housing38is used, then the cap44and rod20are simply disengaged from the bag-exhausted axle12. The axle12is either engaged to the rod20or placed into the housing38and the rod20engaged to the axle12as the cap44is placed onto the housing38. If a bag roll retainer62is used, the bag roll retainer62can be connected to the axle12at any point during this process. The end bag18of the roll16may then be accessed through the housing aperture42and withdrawn from the housing38as desired. The entire roll16of plastic bags18disposed on the axle12will rotate within the housing38as the bags18are withdrawn therefrom. The bags18are preferably releasably attached to one another such that one bag16may be easily separated from another after being withdrawn from the dispenser10,60,80yet the bags16are sufficiently attached to one another to prevent such separation as they are being withdrawn from the dispenser10,60,80.

Another bag dispenser100embodying the present invention, seen inFIGS. 17 and 18and similar to the bag dispenser80described above, includes a coiled guide102disposed above and adjacent to the second bag roll retaining flange90. The guide102may be made of a variety of materials including, without limitation, metal or plastic. The guide102limits radially outward expansion of the roll16of bags18as the roll16of bags18unwinds. A retainer flange104at an end of the guide102abuts against the exterior of the roll16and limits the outward expansion of the roll16. The roll16of bags18used with this dispenser100may or may not use adhesive94to help maintain cohesiveness of the bags18as a roll16.

The bag dispensers10,60,80,100and their various components may be made of a variety of materials including, without limitation, metal or plastic.

The bag dispenser10,60,80,100is intended to be utilized in connection with a collar, harness or a leash device (not shown) commonly utilized when walking one's pet. The bag dispenser10,60,80,100may also be attached to a key chain (not shown) or the like. The leash device may be simple leather or chain leash or a leash device that incorporates a retractable leash that extends from a housing.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.