Adjustable multi-hook bag dispensing rack system, and bags therefore

A bag rack which is configured to support and dispense bags from bag stacks of varying size, wherein a larger size bag pack is positioned to receive a smaller bag pack overlying fashion, the bags positioned so that the smaller bag pack is situated distal the rack and closer to the user, the larger bag pack situated closer to the bag rack, with the smaller pack situated thereupon relative to the user. The rack of the present system comprises contemplates a generally horizontally situated support bar having provided thereon, in slidingly adjustable fashion, support hooks or prongs formed to engage support apertures in the handles of the bags. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention contemplates multiple aligned, horizontally situated support bars which allows the user to selectively mount the support hooks for different sized bag packs at different spacing and heights relative to one another, to optimize the positioning of the various bag packs for optimal dispensing efficiency, while providing diversity as to the size of bag packs which can be dispensed.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to grocery bag racks and the like, and in particular to a bag rack which is configured to dispense bags from bag stacks of varying size.

GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to grocery bag racks and the like, and in particular to a bag rack which is configured to support and dispense bags from bag stacks of varying size, wherein a larger size bag pack is positioned to receive a smaller bag pack overlying fashion, the bags positioned so that the smaller bag pack is situated distal the rack and closer to the user, the larger bag pack situated closer to the bag rack, with the smaller pack situated thereupon relative to the user.

The rack of the present system comprises contemplates a generally horizontally situated support bar having provided thereon, in slidingly adjustable fashion, support hooks or prongs formed to engage support apertures in the handles of the bags. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention contemplates multiple aligned, horizontally situated support bars which allows the user to selectively mount the support hooks for different sized bag packs at different spacing and heights relative to one another, to optimize the positioning of the various bag packs for optimal dispensing efficiency, while providing diversity as to the size of bag packs which can be dispensed.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1A-1F, the preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a rack R having a vertical support S formed of lower1and upper2, support components, the lower1component having first3′ and second3″ ends, the upper2support component having first4′ and second4″ ends, the second end3″ of the lower support component having an inner diameter formed to receive5′ the outer diameter of the first end4′ of the second upper2support component, so as to provide variable height adjustment16which may be fixed via threaded engagement member11(thumb screw) engaging a threaded aperture, as shown.

The first end3′ of the lower1support component as affixed thereto a base5to support the vertical support S in a vertical position. At the second4″ end of the upper2support component is mounted, in transverse fashion, a generally horizontally situated support component6having a front face and a rear face, the rear face mounted to the second end of the upper support component, the front face configured to have multiple support hooks emanating therefrom, as will be more fully explained infra.

As shown, the support component6is comprised of at least one horizontal support bar7, with the preferred embodiment of the invention utilizing a support component6further having second7′, third8, and fourth8′ support bars situated in evenly spaced, longitudinally aligned fashion, and along a common vertical plane, so as to provide support surfaces for mounting support hooks9,9′, which may be selectively mounted along the length10and height10′ of said support component6.

Continuing withFIGS. 2A-2D,1B and3D, these support hooks9of the present invention are shown having a length having first20and second20′ ends, and a medial support length21their between. The second20′ end is formed to mount the support component6, having first24and second24′ bar mounting brackets24,24′ having slots27,27′ forms they are in, respectively, to slip over30slidingly31engage adjacent support bars (for example, bars7′,8′) of said support component6, which mounting brackets24,24′ may be locked to said support bars7′,8′ by threadingly engaging thumb screw26, which passes through threaded aperture25formed in bracket24′. Once engaged to the support bar, the support hook9is formed to provide a generally horizontal support area21(although said support hook could be formed in various configurations), the support bar having a raised22′ area at the distal first end20, terminating in a stop22, shown as a bulbous tip.

Continuing withFIGS. 3F and 3G, the user configures the rack by vertically adjusting16it to the appropriate height via the telescoping vertical support adjustment earlier disclosed, then positions the support hooks on the rack so as to support the stacks of bags desired for dispensing. As shown, the rack system ofFIG. 3Gis configured to dispense T-shirt bags, particularly a larger stack of T-shirt bags43having first45and second45′ handles having support apertures47,47′, respectively, as well as a smaller stack of T-shirt bags44having first46and second46′ handles having support apertures48,48′, respectively.

In use, the user mounts the support hooks to the rack, with the outermost support hooks42,42′ spaced apart equidistant from the vertical support number, these support hooks42,42′ spaced a distance49correlating to the distance between the handle support apertures47,47′ of the larger stack of T-shirt bags43.

After the user mounts between the outermost support hooks42,42′, the support hooks41,41′ for the smaller stack of bags44are mounted, said support hooks41,41′ likewise are spaced apart equidistant in relation to the vertical support member, at a distance49′ correlating to the distance between the handle support apertures48,48′ of the smaller bag stack44.

Once the hooks have been mounted accordingly, the user then mounts the larger stack of bags43first on the rack by passing support hook42through support aperture47on handle45, as well as passing support hook42′ through support aperture47′ on handle45′.

The user then mounts the smaller stack of bags44to the rack by passing the support hook41through handle support aperture48, then support hook41′ through handle support aperture48′, so as to over lie the smaller backpack44over the larger backpack43, thereby allowing the user open, easy access to the smaller pack of bags, as well as the larger stack of bags there behind.

FIGS. 4A-4Dillustrate a close-up view of the support aperture47′ in handle45′ in the larger T-shirt bag stack43shown in the figures, although this support aperture configuration may be used with any of the T-shirt bags dispensed in the present system.

As shown, the support aperture47′ is formed via a die cut, and has a configuration similar to a backwards “C”, having first51and second52ends curving55′,55, respectively, into a intermediate portion53. As shown, the upper, first end terminates in a line approximately transverse the inner edge54of the bag handle45′ end, and is spaced56from said inner edge54a nominal distance (for example, 3/32 of an inch but can vary depending upon the plastic used, thickness, etc), adequate to support lead bag stack on the rack, while facilitating tearing or rupturing of the film spaced56there between upon dispensing, providing a rupture area R. The bags of the present invention may comprise, for example, a co-extruded HDPE based T-Shirt bag by Advance Polybag, Inc., of Houston, Tex.

The second end52of the support aperture die cut terminates in a line generally parallel to the inner edge54of the bag handle, and is spaced56′ a distance from said edge to discourage rupture or tearing of the film there between.

In dispensing a bag from the larger43or smaller44bag pack, the user grasps the outermost bag of the stack from the stack of bags desired, and pulls60(FIGS. 3H and 4C) the bag downward60(for the larger, underlying bag stack), which applies pressure to the support aperture in the bag being dispensed at the support hook, causing the support apertures to rupture62at their respective rupture areas R, the area56between the inner edge of the handle and the first end of the support aperture tearing or rupturing due to the applied user pressure upon the bag engaging the respective support handle during the dispensing of the bag.

While the above example illustrated the user applying downward pressure to the larger, underlying bag in the bag stack, it is noted that the overlying, smaller bag stack bags can be dispensed by applying either downward pressure to the outermost bag to be dispensed, or by pulling the smaller bag away from the rack and generally horizontal fashion, as be and will apertures will engage the upward look at the end of the support hooks were stop portion as illustrated in the drawings and discussed above, causing rupturing of the film area at the rupture zone and allowing dispensing of the bags.

It is noted that, while the present example showed a single smaller stack overlying a larger stack of bag, the present system will likewise allow still a third, smaller bag stack to be placed overlying the second smaller bag stack, with the user positioning the support hooks accordingly. An important aspect of the present invention is that the larger bag stacks or mounted closest the rack, with the progressively smaller bag stacks mounted in overlying fashion thereupon, to allow the user unhindered access to whatever size bag they desire.

The invention embodiments herein described are done so in detail for exemplary purposes only, and may be subject to many different variations in design, structure, application and operation methodology. Thus, the detailed disclosures therein should be interpreted in an illustrative, exemplary manner, and not in a limited sense.