Abstract:
A shopping bag dispenser has a fabric storage and dispensing bag with an open end having an area of opening, and a length, and a plurality of shopping bags having common dimensions, each formed from a material having a low coefficient of friction, and capable of sustaining permanent fold creases. Each shopping bag of the plurality is implemented with permanent fold creases, folded along the creases and stacked with others of the plurality, to a folded and stacked size having a length less than the length of the storage bag and a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the length less than the area of the opening of the fabric storage and dispensing bag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS 
       [0001]    The system is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/772,123, filed Mar. 4, 2013, entitled “Reusable Shopping Bag Storage and Dispensing System”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety at least by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of articles for storage or transport of other articles, and pertains more particularly to reusable shopping bags. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    It is well known that many municipalities have enacted ordinances to limit or eliminate the use of plastic and or paper bags, and also to authorize grocery stores and other enterprises to charge for paper bags. These new ordinances bring about distaste and inconvenience in the shopping experience. Not only do shoppers have to pay expensive prices for groceries, they also have to pay up to twenty five cents per bag. As a result it has become desirable for shoppers to bring their own bags, such as reusable cloth bags, when visiting a retail establishment that may charge for bags to carry purchased items away. Therefore what is clearly needed in the art is storage and dispensing enclosure system that may be used to hold a plurality of shopping bags in a manner that bags may be individually withdrawn and used to hold a plurality of purchased items and then reinserted with a high degree of organization in a small footprint resulting in a unique form factor. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment of the invention a shopping bag dispenser is provided, comprising a fabric storage and dispensing bag with an open end having an area of opening, and a length, and a plurality of shopping bags having common dimensions, each formed from a material having a low coefficient of friction, and capable of sustaining permanent fold creases. Each shopping bag of the plurality is implemented with permanent fold creases, folded along the creases and stacked with others of the plurality, to a folded and stacked size having a length less than the length of the storage bag and a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the length less than the area of the opening of the fabric storage and dispensing bag. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the storage and dispensing bag comprises a drawstring implemented in a channel at the open end, such that the storage and dispensing bag may be closed or opened by manipulating the drawstring. Also in one embodiment the drawstring comprises a spring-loaded gripping element enabling holding the open end closed with the drawstring drawn. Also in one embodiment the storage and dispensing bag is implemented with a closure along one side for a portion of the length, allowing the storage and dispensing bag to be opened to facilitate loading with a stack of folded shopping bags. In one embodiment the closure is a zipper. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment the shopping bag dispenser further comprises a wrapper implemented as a fabric panel having a width and a length, attachable at one end of the length to an inner surface of the storage and dispensing bag with the width of the wrapper in line with the length of the storage and dispensing bag, such that a stack of shopping bags may be wrapped in the wrapper within the storage and dispensing bag prior to closing the closure. Also in one embodiment the wrapper is implemented with fastening elements providing fastening the wrapper around the stack of shopping bags once the stack of shopping bags is wrapped. Still in one embodiment the shopping bag dispenser further comprises a carabineer attached to the gripping element or to the storage and dispensing bag, facilitating clipping the shopping bag dispenser to an article of clothing or to a shopping cart or carriage. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the invention a method of dispensing shopping bags is provided, comprising steps (a) implementing a plurality of shopping bags from fabric having a low coefficient of friction, with a pattern of permanent creases; (b) folding each of the plurality of shopping bags along the permanent creases and stacking the plurality together into a stack having a length and a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the length; and (c) inserting the stack of shopping bags into a fabric storage and dispensing bag with an open end having an area of opening greater than the cross-sectional area of the stack of shopping bags, and a length greater than the length of the stack, providing a dispenser enabling one shopping bag at a time to be drawn from the storage and dispensing bag at need. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the method the storage and dispensing bag comprises a drawstring implemented in a channel at the open end, such that the storage and dispensing bag may be closed or opened by manipulating the drawstring. Also in one embodiment the drawstring comprises a spring-loaded gripping element enabling holding the open end closed with the drawstring drawn. Also in one embodiment the storage and dispensing bag is implemented with a closure along one side for a portion of the length, allowing the storage and dispensing bag to be opened to facilitate loading with a stack of folded shopping bags. In one embodiment the closure is a zipper. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment the method further comprises a wrapper implemented as a fabric panel having a width and a length, attachable at one end of the length to an inner surface of the storage and dispensing bag with the width of the wrapper in line with the length of the storage and dispensing bag, such that a stack of shopping bags may be wrapped in the wrapper within the storage and dispensing bag prior to closing the closure. Also in one embodiment the wrapper is implemented with fastening elements providing fastening the wrapper around the stack of shopping bags once the stack of shopping bags is wrapped. Also in one embodiment there is a carabineer attached to the gripping element or to the storage and dispensing bag, facilitating clipping the shopping bag dispenser to an article of clothing or to a shopping cart or carriage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a shopping bag exemplary of the type of bag suitable for shopping bags in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2(   a ) is an illustration of a folded shopping bag exemplary of the type of bag suitable for shopping bags in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2(   b ) is an illustration of a stack of folded shopping bags in an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  Illustrates a shopping bag container opened to receive folded bags according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a storage bag container according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a shopping bag container holding shopping bags according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a closed shopping bag container enclosing a plurality of folded shopping bags according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates an open shopping bag container illustrating an internal bag enclosing member according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a closed shopping bag container system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a shopping bag folded over an insertion element prior to insertion into shopping bag container according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates a shopping bag folded over an insertion element prior to insertion into shopping bag container according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a shopping bag exemplary of the type of bag suitable for shopping bags in an embodiment of the present invention. Shopping bag  101  is made from a material with a low coefficient of friction to other materials. In one embodiment the material is silk. In another embodiment the material is ripstop nylon. In one embodiment shopping bag  101  is made of silnylon which is a form of ripstop nylon incorporating silicone. Ripstop fabrics are woven fabrics, often made of nylon, using a special reinforcing technique that makes them resistant to tearing and ripping. During weaving, reinforcement threads are interwoven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern. The intervals are typically 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 in). Thin and lightweight ripstop fabrics have a 3-dimensional structure due to the thicker threads being interwoven in thinner cloth. Older lightweight ripstop fabrics display the thicker interlocking thread patterns in the material quite prominently, but more modern weaving techniques make the ripstop threads less obvious. 
         [0024]    Another characteristic of bag  101  is that when the material is folded, permanent fold creases  104  may be formed which enhance the ability of the bag to be accurately folded and re-folded along these creases. Once folded the material maintains the creases very well and facilitates refolding once the shopping bag is emptied. This folding memory enhances the ability of the user to refold the bag into its preferred shape for reinsertion info a container. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 1  a handle  103  may be incorporated. Handle  103  is used to facilitate carrying bag  101 . Handle  103  may be made of various materials therefore the type of material is not intended to be a limitation rather any material can be used for handle  103  and bag  101 . Element  102  indicates a single opening into the shopping bag. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2(   a ) illustrates shopping bag  101  folded along folding lines  104  (shown in  FIG. 1)  which may produce a compact folded bag. Several bags  101  may be stacked together in practicing the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 2(   b ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a storage bag  301  opened fully, prior to wrapping and storing shopping bags  101 . Storage bag  301  has an outer skin  302  which may form a cylindrical tube when a zipper  303  is drawn closed. Drawing zipper  303  closed may be achieved by a user grasping a pull tab  305  and dragging an attached zipper slider  304  along to mesh the zipper&#39;s teeth to seal most of the length of the storage bag  301 . In some embodiments closure of storage bag  301  may accomplished via buttons, Velcro™, or by some other means. Outer skin  302  may also be made from a variety of pliable materials such as natural or artificial fiber, cloth, plastic, hessian or metal chain mesh, for example, depending at least in part upon strength required, weight consideration, availability or fabrication cost factors. Fabric of outer skin  302  may also be intrinsically waterproof or treated with a waterproofing agent. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment there is a carabineer  307  connected to pull tab  305  via a split ring  306 . One purpose of attaching carabineer  307  to the present invention may be to enable storage bag  301  to be attached to another object such as, for example, a shopping cart. This may allow a user to carry storage bag  301  without the use of hands. One purpose of using split ring  306  may be to ensure that carabineer  307  is not easily detached from pull tab  305 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment outer skin  302  may not be fully enclosed by zipper  303  along the total length of storage bag  301 . This allows a non-zippered portion of outer skin  302  to retain an open flange section  308  when zipper  303  is fully drawn in the closed position. In one embodiment providing open flange section  308  may assist in dispensing the stacked bags shown in  FIG. 2(   b ). In another embodiment storage bag  301  may also incorporate drawstring  309  which may loop through the ends of each side of outer skin  302 . Drawstring  309  may then be drawn tight to constrain the stacked bags shown in  FIG. 2(   b ). Drawstring  309  may have a locking mechanism such as a spring-loaded drawstring gripping element  310 . In one embodiment drawstring gripping element  310  may be used to keep drawstring  309  in the fully drawn position or any other convenient position. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  further illustrates a constraining element  311  which may be used to surround and constrain folded and stacked shopping bags (shown as element  101  in FIG.  2   b ) and hold them together inside storage bag  301 . Constraining element  311  is further discussed below with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a storage bag container according to one embodiment of the present invention. Constraining element  411 , equivalent to element  311  of  FIG. 3 , may incorporate a Velcro strip  401  attached to the exterior of constraining element  411 . Velcro strip  401  is adapted to join with an internal Velcro securing strip (shown as element  312  of  FIG. 3 ) to constrain and secure a plurality of pre-folded and stacked shopping bags inside storage bag  403 . Constraining element  411  may be attached to the inside of storage bag  401  by various means. In one embodiment element  411  is sewn to the inside of storage bag  403 . In other embodiments it is attached via a plurality of buttons, fasteners, of by any other convenient means. 
         [0032]    In other embodiments constraining element  411  may be a separate element such that a user may wrap folded bags separately. In this circumstance a user might have two or more stacks of folded bags, so when one set is dispensed completely, it is only necessary to place another pre-prepared set of folded bags into the storage bag  403 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates a shopping bag container holding shopping bags according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment a stack of pre-folded shopping bags  502  are wrapped with constraining element  505 . Constraining element  505  surrounds a plurality of pre-folded shopping bags  502  such that continued rolling or folding of constraining element  505  will cause Velcro strip  503  to adhere to Velcro pad  504  thereby constraining the pre-folded shopping bags to the interior of storage bag  501 . Once the pluralities of bags are constrained to the interior of storage bag  501  the storage bag may be zipped up via zipper  506 . Once storage bag  501  is zipped up, spring-loaded drawstring gripping element  507  is grasped and drawstring  508  is pulled therethrough causing storage bag  501  to close around the plurality of previously constrained bags  502 . It is known to the inventor that other methods of constraining shopping bags  502  in storage bag  501  may be used therefore the method of constraint of  FIG. 5  is exemplary in nature and not intended to be limiting. For example, a hook and eye linking mechanism may be appropriate for this purpose and therefore other securing mechanisms could be used. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a storage bag  600  containing a plurality of shopping bags  601 , the storage bag containing the shopping bags in the closed position. Flange opening  608  may assist in dispensing stacked bags  601  by widening the storage bag opening. A user may open storage bag  600  to this position by loosening spring-loaded drawstring gripping element  610  by pressing spring loaded button  611  and loosening drawstring  609  sufficiently to expose the ends of stacked shopping bags  601 , which may allow a user to extract one bag at a time to, for example, hand over each bag to a cashier to pack purchased items. Zipper elements  603 ,  604 ,  605 ,  606  do not have to be used in the store as the shopping bags may be accessed by the method discussed above thereby providing a convenience not previously afforded shoppers. In this closed position the shopping bag storage system has a small profile such that the whole unit may be carried in a purse or snapped via carabineer  607  to a belt loop, shopping cart or other such convenient place. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates an open shopping bag container system  712  illustrating an internal bag constraining member  701  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this view a plurality of pre-folded shopping bags  700  are shown wrapped and secured via Velcro (discussed earlier) within constraining element  701 . Constraining element  701  is firmly attached via sewing or glue, or any other method, to contiguous material  708 . Material  708  is attached to the interior of storage bag  702 . The attachment of a fairly large portion of material  708  to the inside of storage bag  702  insures a very strong marriage of the materials. 
         [0036]    When a user is done shopping and has emptied all of the shopping bags of groceries or other items, the user may re-fold the bags  700  and wrap them in constraining element  701  such that they are attached to the interior of storage bag  702  once again. Once this is done the user will zip up bag  702  via zipper  703 . Zipper  703  is attached to bag  702  by a number of standard means which may include sewing, gluing etc. A zipper sliding body (not shown) causes the material of storage bag  702  to come together when urged towards the top of storage bag  702 . Zipper sliding body (not shown) is attached to zipper tab  705  via ring  704 . Zipper tab  705  is further attached to another ring  706  which facilitates attachment to carabineer  707  to facilitate attachment to shopping cart etc. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of storage bag system  801  fully zippered and closed. One experienced in the art will recognize the advantage of the compact form factor which can enclose from a few to many shopping bags. The packaged bags can be carried in a pocket of a jacket, in a purse, in the pocket of a pair of jeans or just clipped to a loop of any material that is part of the clothing or clothing accessory, or clipped to a portion of a shopping cart. The packaged bags might be implemented in a wide variety of bag sizes, depending in part upon the many purposes of the invention, and therefore other dimensions could be used which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of a shopping bag insertion method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Element  901  is a bag insertion element. This element is made from a sufficiently thin stiff material. The material may be plastic, wood, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride plastic, ABS plastic or any other material capable of urging shopping bag  902  into a storage bag. In one embodiment the insertion element  901  is a plastic, solar charged calculator. The shopper may use this to calculate groceries prices and check totals at check out. In one embodiment the insertion element is an internet connected device capable of checking prices of grocery items against other sellers. In another embodiment the insertion element is capable of scanning skews of grocery items and comparing them to other sellers or totaling items at checkout. In another embodiment the insertion device is a computerized appliance. A shopper scans the groceries with said appliance and utilizes a self check out, the self checkout tallying the groceries from the previously scanned groceries. 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of an insertion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment storage bag  1003  is made of an elastic material. Pre-folded shopping bag  1002  is folded over insertion device  1001  enabling shopping bags to be inserted into storage bag  1003  very easily. The pre-folded bag  1002  being made of very slippery material as mentioned earlier in this specification. In this embodiment only a one-piece storage bag is necessary with no need for a zipper or a constraining element. In another embodiment the rim of storage bag  1003  is formed into an elastic closure. In practice shopping bag  1002  is folded over plastic insertion element  1001 . Because of the stiffness of insertion element the elastic closure  1004  is forced open to receive shopping bag  1002 . Once insertion element is removed the elastic storage bag and elastic closure close around previously inserted shopping bag  1002 . A plurality of shopping bags may be inserted in this way into storage bag  1003 . Once inserted all bags are securely held in storage bag  1003  and may be removed and re-inserted easily.