Abstract:
A plastic bag and dispenser combination providing easy loading features includes a plurality of bags, each having at least one center tab with a central opening. The tabs are either designed to tear from the bags upon dispensing or to rupture, remaining with the dispensed bag. The dispenser has a downward pointing projection that fits through the opening in the tabs, and a support bar fixed horizontally above the projection. When bags are suspended from the projection at the tabs and located over the support bar, they are ready for individual dispensing. The combination is also applied to T-shirt style bags. The dispenser may be easily loaded as at least one end of the support bar is unattached and the bags may be slipped behind it. Variants of the invention include different configurations of the dispenser for attachment to vertical and horizontal surfaces, under shelves and to other bag dispensers.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention pertains to plastic bags and related dispensers. More particularly, the invention relates to expandable plastic film bags having and central mounting tabs and dispensers for stacks of such bags.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various styles of grocery, produce merchandise bags and related dispensers are commonly found in modern grocery stores, supermarkets, fast food outlets and department stores. Plastic bags are typically dispensed either from rolls or from bag packs. Dispensers using bag packs are desirable in that they can be refilled when only partially empty without wasting any bags. In contrast, dispensers using bag rolls must await exhaustion of the bag roll or cause a portion of the roll to be wasted in order to have the dispenser refilled. On the down side, pack type bag dispensers that can easily and efficiently dispense bags from a bag pack are often difficult and time consuming to load. Because of this difficulty, it is possible to drop all or part of a bag pack when loading the dispenser. As the cost for floor space in stores increases in price, bag dispensing systems that can be fitted into otherwise unusable space become very desirable. Dispenser that can be positioned under counters, on walls, or over otherwise unused space often provide ergonomics that make efficient use of available space while providing bags close at hand to check-out personnel or customers. The present invention addresses these difficulties while taking advantage of the dispensing features of bag pack type dispensers.  
         [0003]     Various methods and systems have been developed for dispensing and opening plastic bags, incorporating a number of different technologies. U.S. Pat. No. RE35,207 issued to Daniels, the present inventor, is directed to a directed to a method of and means for dispensing shopping bags from different sized bag packs. A rack for holding and dispensing three same or different sized packs of T-shirt style bags is illustrated. The rack comprises a transverse plate adapted to be mounted on a vertical or horizontal surface. Welded to the ends of plate is a U-shaped wire member resembling a towel bar. A vertical hook supporting plate is secured at the center of the plate to extend downwardly so as to support spaced apart wire hooking elements. Bags are installed by slipping the bag pack over the transverse bar portion of the U-shaped member and between that member and the plate. Strap ends are brought down below the hooking element whereby it is passed through a slot in a detachable closure of the bags.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,317 issued to Kober et al., is directed to an automatic T-shirt rack/bag system that has a retaining bar to hold the T-shirt bag handles. The stack of bags is hung over a rear wall with the T-shirt handles draped over the rear of the vertical wall. Preferably the bag holding wall also includes a retaining bar, which is biased against the draped, handles by, for example, bar holding slots located on either side of the vertical wall.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,402 issued to Johnson, discloses a bag storage and dispensing rack that can be mounted on a shelf or suspended under a horizontal surface. A rack for storing and dispensing a stack of bags is illustrated. The rack comprises a base member and a tray member. The base member has tracks that are adapted to receive projections of the tray, allowing the tray to slide on the base member out from under the counter to allow a bag stored on the tray to be dispensed. The base is mounted on the shelf by means of brackets. The rack is mounted from a vertical support surface or wall of a counter. The base member is supported on a pair of brackets. A mounting technique is shown where the base member is suspended from a horizontal surface utilizing brackets.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,862 issued to Prader, describes an apparatus for suspending bag packs of different geometry. The apparatus comprises a frame with a handle holder at the front of the frame. A first type of bag pack has a handle cross member. This bag pack is supported by placing the bridging portion in back of a post member with the handles of the bag pack draped over the end regions of handle holder. A bag pack of a second geometry is also illustrated. The bags have tabs that are engaged over a support means. Thereafter, the handles of the bag pack are folded over the top and behind the end regions of the handle holder.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,548, issued to Bayess et al. is directed to a device for holding T-shirt bags. The device has a mounting plate, which may be attached to a horizontal surface beneath a countertop, or to a vertical surface such as a wall. A U-shaped extension bar extends from the mounting plate. Attached to the U-shaped bar is a shoulder supporting bar. A bag separating member is attached to both the midpoint of both the supporting bar and the U-shaped bar. An assembly of bags is placed onto the device by placing the bag attachment loop over the separating member and allowing the bags to hang. The shoulders of the bags are draped over first and second sub-sections of the bag supporting bar.  
         [0008]     While other variations exist, the above-described designs for dispensers for roll mounted bags are typical of those encountered in the prior art.  
         [0009]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag and dispenser combination that can be refilled at any time without waste of bags. It is another objective to provide a bag that readily identifies the openable end to the user. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a bag and dispenser combination that prevents the user from grasping multiple bags when using the dispenser. It is still a further objective to provide a dispensing system that can take advantage of the limited spaces available around a check-out station or display to provide easy and ergonomic access to bags. Finally, it is an objective of the invention to provide a system that opens the bags as they are removed from the dispenser.  
         [0010]     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. The present invention addresses many of the deficiencies of prior art roll mounted bags and dispensers and satisfies all of the objectives described above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     (1) A bag and dispenser combination providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A plurality of plastic bags is provided. Each of the bags has a front wall, a rear wall, first and second parallel linear side edges, a first predetermined width, front and rear top edges, an openable mouth and a bottom edge. The front and rear walls have at least one front tab or rear tab. The tab is located at at least one of the top edges and has an opening therethrough. The opening is sized, shaped and located for suspending the bag from a dispenser.  
         [0012]     A dispenser is provided. The dispenser includes a downward pointing projection. The projection is sized and shaped to fit slidably through the opening in the tab. A support bar is provided. The support bar has first and second ends and is located horizontally above the projection. When the plurality of bags are suspended from the projection at the tab and located over the support bar, the bags will be positioned for individual dispensing.  
         [0013]     (2) In a variant of the invention, the bag is a T-shirt style bag that includes a front panel. The front panel has first and second parallel linear side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. A rear panel is provided. The rear panel has first and second parallel linear side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. Two front gusset panels of a first predetermined dimension are provided. Each front gusset panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, first and second parallel side edges. Each front gusset panel is joined at the first side edge to one of the linear side edges of the front panel and extends from the top edge of the front panel to the bottom edge of the front panel.  
         [0014]     Two rear gusset panels of the first predetermined dimension are provided. Each rear gusset panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, first and second parallel side edges and is joined at the first side edge to one of the linear side edges of the rear panel and extends from the top edge of the rear panel to the bottom edge of the rear panel. Each front gusset panel also is joined to a respective one of the rear gusset panels at the second side edge.  
         [0015]     Each of the front and rear gusset panels is folded inwardly relative to the front and the rear panels. The top edges of the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels terminate in an upper seam. The bottom edges of the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels terminate in a lower seam. The lower seam is perpendicular to the linear side edges of the front and rear panels. A U-shaped cut-out is provided. The U-shaped cut-out is located in an upper portion of the bag and begins at a first point along the upper seam spaced inwardly from the first linear side edge and extends to a second point along the upper seam spaced inwardly from the second linear side edge. The cut-out extends downwardly toward the lower seam, thereby forming an openable mouth and a pair of bag handles, the tab is centrally located on an edge of the openable mouth.  
         [0016]     (3) In another variant, the tab is attached to the openable mouth using a cut line such that as the bag is pulled from the dispenser, the tabs will be torn from the bag mouth and remain on the projection.  
         [0017]     (4) In still another variant, the tab includes a rupturable feature. The rupturable feature connects to the opening and extends toward a perimeter of the tab. When the bag is pulled from the dispenser, the rupturable feature provides a connection between the opening and the perimeter, permitting the bag to be removed from the projection without leaving a portion of the tabs on the projection.  
         [0018]     (5) In a further variant, the bags include means for removably attaching an upper portion of the rear panel of a first bag to an upper portion of the front panel of a second, adjacent registered bag. When the first bag is pulled from the dispenser, the rear panel will pull the front panel of the second bag forward, causing the second bag to open.  
         [0019]     (6) In still a further variant, the means for removably attaching the upper portion of the rear panel of the first bag to the upper portion of the front panel of the second, adjacent registered bag is selected from the group that includes glue spotting, corona treatment, hot pinning, cold staking and compression.  
         [0020]     (7) In another variant of the invention, the projection includes a downward facing hook.  
         [0021]     (8) In yet another variant, the downward facing hook includes a rounded feature at a lower end of the hook. The rounded feature is designed to prevent injury and unwanted tearing of the bag tabs.  
         [0022]     (9) In still another variant, the support bar has a length greater than the first predetermined width.  
         [0023]     (10) In a further variant, the support bar has bag control features located at the first and second ends.  
         [0024]     (11) In still a further variant, the bag control features comprise upwardly angled include projections. The projections are sized, shaped and located to prevent lateral movement of the bags.  
         [0025]     (12) In yet a further variant, the bag control features include rounded ends. The rounded ends are sized, shaped and located to prevent lateral movement of the bags.  
         [0026]     (13) In another variant of the invention, a tab stop is provided. The tab stop is mounted to the downward pointing projection above a lower end of the projection and prevents upward movement of bag tabs beyond the tab stop.  
         [0027]     (14) In still another variant, the support bar is attached at the second end to a spacing bracket. The spacing bracket locates the support bar at a first predetermined distance outward from the bracket such that a bag pack will fit slidably between the bracket and the support bar.  
         [0028]     (15) In a further variant, the downward pointing projection is attached to the spacing bracket.  
         [0029]     (16) In still a further variant, the downward pointing projection is attached to the support bar.  
         [0030]     (17) In yet a further variant, the dispenser includes a mounting fixture. The mounting fixture is attached to the spacing bracket.  
         [0031]     (18) In another variant of the invention, the bag and dispenser combination includes at least one additional downward pointing projection. The additional projection is located below the projection.  
         [0032]     (19) In still another variant, the additional projection extends outwardly toward the support bar further than the projection.  
         [0033]     (20) In yet another variant, the support bar is attached at the second end to a horizontal surface mount and the downward pointing projection is attached to the support bar.  
         [0034]     (21) In a further variant, the support bar is attached at the second end to a vertical surface mount and the downward pointing projection is attached to the support bar.  
         [0035]     (22) In still a further variant, the support bar is attached at the second end to another bag dispenser.  
         [0036]     (23) In yet an further variant, the spacing bracket is attached to another bag dispenser.  
         [0037]     (24) In another variant, a U-shaped bracket is provided. The bracket has a first vertical side, a second vertical side spaced from the first side and a connecting lower portion. The first vertical side has features for attaching the vertical side to a vertical surface. The support bar is attached orthogonally to an upper end of the second vertical side. The downward pointing projection is attached to the second vertical side at a point spaced downwardly from the support bar.  
         [0038]     (25) In yet another variant, the spacing bracket is attached to an L-shaped bracket. The L-shaped bracket extends above or below the support bar and has at least one hole through it for attachment to a horizontal surface.  
         [0039]     (26) In still another variant of the invention, the support bar is centrally attached to a vertical member. The vertical member is attached at a lower end to a base for securing the dispenser to a horizontal surface. The vertical member has at least one of the downward pointing projections attached to its front surface.  
         [0040]     (27) In yet a further variant, the spacing bracket is attached to a vertical support. The vertical support is attached at a lower end to a base.  
         [0041]     (28) In still a further variant, a reinforcing section is provided. The reinforcing section is attached to the support bar at a first end and attached to the vertical support at a second end.  
         [0042]     (29) In another variant of the invention, the base is sized and shaped to secure the dispenser to either a horizontal surface or a vertical surface.  
         [0043]     (30) In a final variant, the base is sized and shaped to secure the dispenser to a railing.  
         [0044]     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. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0045]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pack of center tab bags with rupturable tab opening;  
         [0046]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pack of T-shirt style bags with removable tab;  
         [0047]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pack of T-shirt style bags with removable tab illustrating means for attaching the bag walls together;  
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pack of center tab bags with rupturable tab opening and center handle opening;  
         [0049]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dispenser of the invention illustrating a support bar attached at a second end to a spacing bracket and having two downward pointing projections for attachment to bag tab openings;  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser illustrating a support bar having bag control features at its first and second ends and illustrating a method of loading bags into the dispenser;  
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser illustrating a support bar attached at one end to a horizontal surface mount;  
         [0052]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser illustrating a support bar attached at one end to a vertical surface mount;  
         [0053]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser illustrating a support bar attached at a second end to a spacing bracket and a tab stop attached to the downward pointing projection;  
         [0054]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser attached at the spacing bracket to a side of another bag dispenser;  
         [0055]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser suitable for mounting under a counter;  
         [0056]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser illustrating a vertical surface mount and downward pointing projection attached to the mount;  
         [0057]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser attached at the second end of the support bar to a side of another bag dispenser;  
         [0058]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the dispenser with the support bar attached at an upper end of a U-shaped bracket attached to a vertical surface; and  
         [0059]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispenser with the spacing bar attached to a vertical support. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0060]     (1)  FIGS. 1, 4  and  6  illustrate a bag and dispenser combination  10  providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a plurality of plastic bags  15  is provided. Each of the bags  15  has a front wall  20 , a rear wall  25 , first  30  and second  35  parallel linear side edges, a first predetermined width  40 , front  45  and rear  50  top edges, an openable mouth  55  and a bottom edge  60 . The front  20  and rear  25  walls have at least one front tab  65  or rear tab  70 . The tab  65 ,  70  is located at at least one of the top edges  45 ,  50  and has an opening  75  therethrough. The opening  75  is sized, shaped and located for suspending the bag  15  from a dispenser  80 .  
         [0061]     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a dispenser  80  is provided. The dispenser  80  includes a downward pointing projection  85 . The projection  85  is sized and shaped to fit slidably through the opening  75  in the tab  65 ,  70 . A support bar  90  is provided. The support bar  90  has first  95  and second  100  ends and is located horizontally above the projection  85 . When the plurality of bags  15  are suspended from the projection  85  at the tab  65 ,  70  and located over the support bar  90 , the bags  15  will be positioned for individual dispensing.  
         [0062]     (2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bag  15  is a T-shirt style bag  105  that includes a front panel  110 . The front panel  110  has first  115  and second  120  parallel linear side edges, a top edge  125  and a bottom edge  130 . A rear panel  135  is provided. The rear panel  135  has first  140  and second  145  parallel linear side edges, a top edge  150  and a bottom edge  155 . Two front gusset panels  160  of a first predetermined dimension  165  are provided. Each front gusset panel  160  has a top edge  165 , a bottom edge  170 , first  175  and second  180  parallel side edges. Each front gusset panel  160  is joined at the first side edge  175  to one of the linear side edges  115 ,  120  of the front panel  110  and extends from the top edge  125  of the front panel  110  to the bottom edge  130  of the front panel  110 .  
         [0063]     Two rear gusset panels  185  of the first predetermined dimension  165  are provided. Each rear gusset panel  185  has a top edge  190 , a bottom edge  195 , first  200  and second  205  parallel side edges and is joined at the first side edge  200  to one of the linear side edges  140 ,  145  of the rear panel  135  and extends from the top edge  150  of the rear panel  135  to the bottom edge  155  of the rear panel  135 . Each front gusset panel  160  also is joined to a respective one of the rear gusset panels  185  at the second side edge  180 ,  205 .  
         [0064]     Each of the front  160  and rear  185  gusset panels is folded inwardly relative to the front  110  and the rear  135  panels. The top edges  125 ,  150 ,  165 ,  190  of the front panel  110 , the rear panel  135 , the front gusset panels  160  and the rear gusset panels  185  terminate in an upper seam  210 . The bottom edges  130 ,  155 ,  170 ,  195  of the front panel  110 , the rear panel  135 , the front gusset panels  160  and the rear gusset panels  185  terminate in a lower seam  215 . The lower seam  215  is perpendicular to the linear side edges  115 ,  120 ,  140 ,  145  of the front  110  and rear  135  panels. A U-shaped cut-out  220  is provided. The U-shaped cut-out  220  is located in an upper portion  225  of the bag  105  and begins at a first point  230  along the upper seam  210  spaced inwardly from the first linear side edge  115 ,  140  and extends to a second point  235  along the upper seam  210  spaced inwardly from the second linear side edge  120 ,  145 . The cut-out  220  extends downwardly toward the lower seam  215 , thereby forming an openable mouth  240  and a pair of bag handles  245 , the tab  65 ,  70  is centrally located on an edge of the openable mouth  240 .  
         [0065]     (3) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the tab  65 ,  70  is attached to the openable mouth  55 ,  240  using a cut line  250  such that as the bag  15 ,  105  is pulled from the dispenser  80 , the tabs  65 ,  70  will be torn from the bag mouth  240  and remain on the projection  85 .  
         [0066]     (4) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the tab  65 ,  70  includes a rupturable feature  255 . The rupturable feature  255  connects to the opening  75  and extends toward a perimeter  260  of the tab  65 ,  79 . When the bag  15 ,  105  is pulled from the dispenser  80 , the rupturable feature  255  provides a connection between the opening  75  and the perimeter  260 , permitting the bag  15 ,  105  to be removed from the projection  85  without leaving a portion  265  of the tabs  65 ,  70  on the projection  85 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 .  
         [0067]     (5) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bags  105  include means  270  for removably attaching an upper portion  275  of the rear panel  135  of a first bag  105  to an upper portion  280  of the front panel  110  of a second, adjacent registered bag  105 . When the first bag  105  is pulled from the dispenser  80 , the rear panel  135  will pull the front panel  110  of the second bag  105  forward, causing the second bag  105  to open.  
         [0068]     (6) In still a further variant, the means  270  for removably attaching the upper portion  275  of the rear panel  135  of the first bag  105  to the upper portion  280  of the front panel  110  of the second, adjacent registered bag  105  is selected from the group that includes glue spotting, corona treatment, hot pinning, cold staking and compression.  
         [0069]     (7) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-12 , the projection  85  includes a downward facing hook  285 .  
         [0070]     (8) In yet another variant, the downward facing hook  285  includes a rounded feature  290  at a lower end  295  of the hook  285 , the rounded feature  290  is designed to prevent injury and unwanted tearing of the bag tabs  65 ,  70 .  
         [0071]     (9) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support bar  90  has a length  300  greater than the first predetermined width  40 .  
         [0072]     (10) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support bar  90  has bag control features  305  located at the first  95  and second  100  ends.  
         [0073]     (11) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the bag control features  305  include upwardly angled projections  310 . The projections  310  are sized, shaped and located to prevent lateral movement of the bags  15 ,  105 .  
         [0074]     (12) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the bag control features  305  include rounded ends  315 . The rounded ends  315  are sized, shaped and located to prevent lateral movement of the bags  15 ,  105 .  
         [0075]     (13) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-11 , a tab stop  320  is provided. The tab stop  320  is mounted to the downward pointing projection  85  above a lower end  325  of the projection  85  and prevents upward movement of bag tabs  65 ,  70  beyond the tab stop  320 .  
         [0076]     (14) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6 ,  9 ,  10  and  11 , the support bar  90  is attached at the second end  100  to a spacing bracket  330 . The spacing bracket  330  locates the support bar  90  at a first predetermined distance  335  outward from the bracket  330  such that a bag pack  340  will fit slidably between the bracket  330  and the support bar  90 .  
         [0077]     (15) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6 ,  9  and  10 , the downward pointing projection  85  is attached to the spacing bracket  330 .  
         [0078]     (16) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the downward pointing projection  85  is attached to the support bar  90 .  
         [0079]     (17) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 9  and  11 , the dispenser  80  includes a mounting fixture  345 . The mounting fixture  345  is attached to the spacing bracket  330 .  
         [0080]     (18) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 7 ,  8  and  12 , the bag and dispenser combination  10  includes at least one additional downward pointing projection  350 . The additional projection  350  is located below the projection  85 .  
         [0081]     (19) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the additional projection  350  extends outwardly toward the support bar  90  further than the projection  85 .  
         [0082]     (20) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the support bar  90  is attached at the second end  100  to a horizontal surface mount  355  and the downward pointing projection  85  is attached to the support bar  90 .  
         [0083]     (21) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the support bar  90  is attached at the second end  100  to a vertical surface mount  360  and the downward pointing projection  85  is attached to the support bar  90 .  
         [0084]     (22) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the support bar  90  is attached at the second end  100  to another bag dispenser  365 .  
         [0085]     (23) In yet an further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the spacing bracket  330  is attached to another bag dispenser  365 .  
         [0086]     (24) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , a U-shaped bracket  370  is provided. The bracket  370  has a first vertical side  375 , a second vertical side  380  spaced from the first side  375  and a connecting lower portion  385 . The first vertical side  375  has features for attaching the vertical side  375  to a vertical surface  390 . The support bar  90  is attached orthogonally to an upper end  395  of the second vertical side  380 . The downward pointing projection  85  is attached to the second vertical side  380  at a point  400  spaced downwardly from the support bar  90 .  
         [0087]     (25) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the spacing bracket  330  is attached to an L-shaped bracket  405 . The L-shaped bracket  405  extends above or below the support bar  90  and has at least one hole  410  through it for attachment to a horizontal surface  415 .  
         [0088]     (26) In still another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the support bar  90  is centrally attached to a vertical member  420 . The vertical member  420  is attached at a lower end  425  to a base  430  for securing the dispenser  80  to a horizontal surface  415 . The vertical member  420  has at least one of the downward pointing projections  85 ,  350  attached to its front surface  435 .  
         [0089]     (27) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the spacing bracket  330  is attached to a vertical support  440 . The vertical support  440  is attached at a lower  445  end to a base  450 .  
         [0090]     (28) In still a further variant, a reinforcing section  455  is provided. The reinforcing section  455  is attached to the support bar  90  at a first end  460  and attached to the vertical support  440  at a second end  465 .  
         [0091]     (29) In another variant of the invention, the base  450  is sized and shaped to secure the dispenser  80  to either a horizontal surface  415  or a vertical surface  390 .  
         [0092]     (30) In a final variant, the base  450  is sized and shaped to secure the dispenser to a railing  470 .  
         [0093]     The Center Tab Bags and Dispensers for Same Providing Easy Load Features  10  have 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.