Patent Publication Number: US-8534462-B1

Title: Film bags in a dispensing container

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The instant application is a continuation of PCT Application Ser. No. PCT/US11/42848 filed on Jul. 1, 2011 and claims priority to the filing date thereof. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of plastic and other film bags and dispensing systems and more specifically to bags designed specifically for use with disposable dispensing containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As counter 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. For most bag dispensing systems, other than roll mounted bag systems, the bags are acquired in bag packs in which a quantity of bags are adhered together for later dispensing. Typically these bag packs are packed in boxes for shipping and the bag packs must be removed from the boxes and then mounted on dispensing racks. The racks are typically installed in fixed locations. After the dispensers are loaded, the shipping boxes must then be removed from the workplace. One of the advantages of rack-type dispensing systems is that, through a variety of technologies, the bags can be made to self open when withdrawn from the dispensing rack. This makes loading the bags easier for the user. A variety of systems have been developed to provide bags and self opening bags for supermarket or grocery use. Some dispensing systems have been developed that use the container in which the bags are provided as a dispenser. The present invention combines the use of the container with the provision of self opening features for some embodiments. Some examples of the prior art include the following. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,546, issued to Bolton et al., discloses a pre-formed bag dispenser and bags therefore. The dispenser has a container in the form of a rectangular box-like cover having an open end into which a support slides. The support is in the form of an oblong flat plate having a rectangular opening and a locating block fixed on its surface. Catches are provided in the sides of the container which snap into engagement with notches in the support so as to retain the support positively in the container when the support is inserted fully into the container. Both the container and the support may be made of cardboard. A stack of bags is loaded on the support and the bags have parallel handles at the mouth end. A bar block formed with the stack spans and extends across the outer ends of the handles to which it is separately joined by lines of weakening. A rectangular slot is formed through the stack which defines mouth and handles. The slot is of complimentary size and shape to the locating block on the support. After the support is loaded with the bags, the support is inserted into the open end of the container so that the bags may be dispensed individually through the access aperture in the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,693, issued to Membrino is directed a box dispenser for a pad of plastic bags. The plastic bag storage and dispensing unit comprises a box made of paper or cardboard and a pad of plastic bags positioned within the box. The pad of bags is made up of a stack of bag pockets each with an open mouth and a free edge forming the upper edge of the front wall of the pocket. A pad is placed against the inside surface of the front wall of the box blank and the base portion of the pad is connected to the wall by means of staples. The box is then formed around the pad by folding on fold lines to form the upper and lower walls of the box. In order to gain access to the plastic bags, a tear is made along a scored pattern so that a bottom hinge flap remains which can be removed. The top most bag then appears in the opening and can be removed by simply grasping the lip formed by its edge and pulling forward individually as required. The rear wall of the box to which the pad is stapled acts as a stabilizer means to prevent collapse of the pad within the box. The entire unit comprises a box blank and a pad of plastic bags and is assembled such that the backer conforms to the inner surfaces of the box to hold the pad securely therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,275,657, issued to Geyer illustrates a bag dispenser that is formed from a blank that is cut and formed with appropriate fold lines and assembled to contain and dispense individual plastic bags provided in a stack. The carton is formed from a single sheet or blank of material such as corrugated cardboard which has been cut and folded to create the dispenser. The bottom wall along with back walls and first and second sidewalls define a receptacle for receiving a stack of plastic bags therein. The carton has an opening which provides access to the receptacle wherein the plastic bags are stored and may be individually removed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,462, issued to Conran et al. discloses a paper dispenser containing a removable case. The dispenser comprises a housing which is configured to receive a cartridge mounted on the inside of the housing and particularly matching the paper sheets to be dispensed. The cartridge is received in the lower portion of the housing to rest against the lower end wall. The vertical sidewalls of the cartridge include a flaring upper portion forming a hopper to facilitate reloading the cartridge with a new stack of paper sheets. The cartridge is inserted and kept in place inside the housing by an elastic nesting means. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,909, issued to Bateman is directed to a bag dispenser which is formed from a planar sheet of material wherein a portion of the sheet is cut to form a bendable flap that assists in supporting the flexible bags held within. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,482, issued to Cwikia discloses a flexible bag package article wherein a plurality of flattened stacked flexible bags are placed on a wicket and attached to an inner carton element followed by placing the stacked bags in an inner carton element into an outer carton element. A flattened stacked package of bags is formed with wicket holes and are joined together to form a stack utilizing a wicket fabricated of a metal rod or wire. The stack of bags is arranged on a bottom panel at a tray folder element which is precut and formed to provide an additional bottom panel. The tray folder element may then be formed to include a hole to facilitate the pulling and removing of a packaged article from the bulk package. To provide additional protection, a liner may be placed between the assembled stack of bags and the carton elements. The liner may be an open ended bag of plastic or the like of sufficient size to accommodate the bag. A plurality of the packaged articles may then be assembled in a bulk carton and the individual bags may be dispensed or removed individually. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that uses the cartons or boxes in which the bags are provided as a dispenser. It is a further objective to provide a system that offers self opening bags. 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 can be used without a mounting device. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a bag dispensing system that is durable, inexpensive 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 film bags in dispensing containers and satisfies all of the objectives described above. 
     (1) Film bags in a dispensing container providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A dispensing container is provided. The dispensing container is formed of resilient material and has an opening. At least one stack of film bags is provided. Each of the bags includes front and rear film walls. Each of the front and rear walls have first and second side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. The front and rear walls are integrally joined at the first and second side edges and are secured together at the bottom edges. 
     Each of the bags includes a dispensed portion and a remaining portion. The dispensed portion is removable from the dispensing container through the opening and the remaining portion is retained within the container. The dispensed portion is removably attached to the remaining portion with at least one frangible attachment. The at least one bag stack is sized and shaped to fit within the dispensing container. The bag stack is located within the dispensing container. 
     (2) In a variant of the invention, each of the bags in the bag stack is adhered to an adjacent bag in the bag stack. 
     (3) In another variant, the remaining portion is retained within the container by attaching the remaining portion of the bags in the bag stack to the container with a fastener selected from the group that includes staples, wires, tape, ties, glue and cord. 
     (4) In a further variant, the remaining portion is retained within the container by attaching the remaining portion of the bags in the bag stack to at least one bag stack holder insert. The insert is formed of a resilient material. The insert has a first end, a second end, a first predetermined length and has a notch at the first end. The notch is sized and shaped to at least partially align with the opening in the dispensing container and to permit access to the bags in the at least one bag stack. Each of the bag stacks is secured at the remaining portion to one of the inserts with the top edge located adjacent a first line spaced from the first end. The at least one bag stack holder insert is located within the dispensing container. 
     (5) In still another variant, the remaining portion of the bags in the bag stack are attached to the at least one bag stack holder insert with a fastener selected from the group that includes staples, wires, tape, ties cord, glue and folded resilient material. 
     (6) In yet another variant, an upper portion of the front and rear walls are penetrated by first and second openings. The first opening commencing at a first point spaced downwardly from the top edge and inwardly from the first side edge, extending downwardly for a first predetermined distance, inwardly to a first side of a base of a center portion, upwardly along a first side of the center portion and outwardly to the first point. The second opening commencing at a second point spaced downwardly from the top edge and inwardly from the second side edge, extending downwardly for the first predetermined distance, inwardly to a second side of the base of the center portion, upwardly along a second side of the center portion and outwardly to the second point. The first and second openings leave the center portion and extend upwardly toward the top edge and join the remaining portion. The remaining portion has a frangible attachment to at least the center portion. 
     (7) In a further variant, the bags further include an upper seam. The upper seam seals the front wall to the rear wall adjacent the top edges. The remaining portion extends between first and second bag handles formed by the openings and the upper seam. The remaining portion has an additional frangible attachment to at least one of the first and second bag handles. The upper seam is penetrated by a cut-out. The cut-out commences at a third point along the upper seam spaced inwardly from the first side edge and extends to a fourth point along the upper seam spaced inwardly from the second side edge. The cut-out extends downwardly toward the dispensed portion, thereby defining a width for the first and second bag handles. 
     (8) In still a further variant, a lower end of the bag stack is folded under the first end of the insert and the bag stack is placed in the dispensing container with a folded portion of the bag stack located adjacent the opening. 
     (9) In yet a further variant, the opening in the dispensing container further includes surrounding perforations to assist in forming the opening in the container. 
     (10) In another variant of the invention, each of the bags further includes longitudinally oriented side gussets, the side gussets forming multi-layered handles in the bags. 
     (11) In still another variant, each of the bags further includes a bottom gusset. 
     (12) In yet another variant, the frangible attachment is selected form the group includes U-shaped knife cuts, wave-shaped knife cuts, straight knife cuts, shredding and perforations. 
     (13) In a further variant, each of the bags in the bag stack is adhered to an adjacent bag in the bag stack using a method selected from the group includes cold staking, hot pinning, multiple corona treatment, knife cutting, special resin formulations, and glue spotting. 
     (14) In still a further variant, at least an upper portion of an outer surface of either of the front and rear walls of each of the bags has been corona treated. 
     (15) In yet a further variant, lower ends of the first and second openings further include stress relieving features. The stress relieving features includes outward and downward curving edges. The edges then extend upwardly to join the first and second side edges of the center portion. 
     (16) In another variant of the invention, each of the bag stacks is secured with any of staples, wires, tape, ties, glue and cord at the remaining portion to one of the inserts with the top edge located adjacent the first line spaced from the first end. The insert so secured to the bag stack has a second predetermined length. 
     (17) In still another variant, a central portion of the insert includes at least one slit and the second end of the insert includes at least one mating tab. The tab secures the second end of the insert over the top edges and the remaining portion. 
     (18) In yet another variant, the insert further includes a second line spaced toward the second end from the first line. The second line is spaced by approximately a thickness of the at least one bag stack. 
     (19) In a further variant, the first and second lines are creases in the insert, the creases serving to ease folding of the insert over the bag stack. 
     (20) In still a further variant, graphic images are located upon at least one outer surface of the dispensing container. 
     (21) In yet a further variant, the dispensing container has a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side a front and a back and the opening penetrates at least part of any of the top, the bottom, the first side, the second side, the front and the back. 
     (22) In another variant of the invention, at least one inner surface of the first and second sides of the dispensing container is located slidably adjacent at least one of the first and second side edges of the front and rear walls of the film bags, thereby providing friction as the bags are withdrawn from the dispensing container. 
     (23) In still another variant, the folded portion of the bag stack includes the center portion of the bags, thereby providing a grasping point for withdrawal of the bags from the dispensing container. 
     (24) In yet another variant, the bags are packaged into bag packs. The bag packs are inserted into the dispensing container. The bag packs include at least one stack of bags. The at least one stack of bags is located within an outer wrapper. The outer wrapper is formed of flexible material, surrounds the at least one bag stack and has an aperture. The aperture provides access to at least one of upper and lower surfaces of bags of the at least one bag stack for removal of the bags through the opening in the dispensing container. 
     (25) In a further variant, the bags further include handle openings. The handle openings penetrate the front and rear film walls. 
     (26) In a final variant of the invention, the handle openings have a shape selected from the group that includes round, oval, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, trapezoidal and finger gripped. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating a tear-out opening and a bag partially withdrawn from a dispensing container; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bag stack holder insert of the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bag stack holder insert of the  FIG. 2  embodiment folded to illustrate insertion of the tabs into the slots; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view a bag stack for use with the  FIG. 1  embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view a bag stack disposed upon the  FIG. 2  insert illustrating wave shaped frangible attachments between the cross member, bag handles and the center portion; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view the bag stack with the insert folded over it and the tabs inserted into the slots; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view the bag stack attached to the insert with a lower end of the bag stack folded under the insert and the dispensing container open for insertion of the bag stack into the box; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a bag stack of gusseted bags disposed over an alternative embodiment of the insert; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bag stack attached to the  FIG. 8  insert with staples; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 2  insert folded over a bag stack and attached with tabs and slots illustrating the bag stack folded under the insert; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an upper portion of a bag stack illustrating U-shaped frangible attachments between the cross member, bag handles and center portion; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an upper portion of a bag stack illustrating perforations and shredding as frangible attachments between the cross member, bag handles and center portion; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a bag pack enclosing several bag stacks prior to insertion into the container; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a stack of tabbed, side gusseted merchandise handle bags with an oval handle opening with the dispensed portion attached to the remaining portion; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a stack of tabbed, bottom gusseted merchandise handle bags with a round handle opening with the remaining portion removed; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a stack of t-shirt type bags attached to the  FIG. 2  insert prior to insertion into the container without folding the bag stack under the insert; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 2  insert with the remaining portion of the bags of the bag stack in place after removal of the dispensed portion of the bags from the bag stack (attachment tabs not attached to mating slots); 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a stack of tabless side gusseted merchandise handle bags with a finger gripped handle opening with the dispensed portion attached to the remaining portion; and 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a stack of tabless bottom gusseted merchandise handle bags with a rectangular handle opening with the remaining portion removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     (1)  FIGS. 1-19  illustrate film bags in a dispensing container  10  providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  7 ,  13  and  16 , a dispensing container  14  is provided. The dispensing container  14  is formed of resilient material  166  and has an opening  42 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  14 ,  15 ,  18  and  19 , at least one stack  46  of film bags  50  is provided. Each of the bags  50  includes front  54  and rear  58  film walls. Each of the front  54  and rear  58  walls have first  62  and second  66  side edges, a top edge  70  and a bottom edge  74 . The front  54  and rear  58  walls are integrally joined at the first  62  and second  66  side edges and are secured together at the bottom edges  74 . 
     Each of the bags  50  includes a dispensed portion  52  and a remaining portion  56 . The dispensed portion  52  is removable from the dispensing container  14  through the opening  42  and the remaining portion  56  is retained within the container  14 . The dispensed portion  52  is removably attached to the remaining portion  56  with at least one frangible attachment  158 . The at least one bag stack  46  is sized and shaped to fit within the dispensing container  14 . The bag stack  46  is located within the dispensing container  14 . 
     (2) In a variant of the invention, each of the bags  50  in the bag stack  46  is adhered to an adjacent bag  50  in the bag stack  46 . 
     (3) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the remaining portion  56  is retained within the container  14  by attaching the remaining portion  56  of the bags  50  in the bag stack  46  to the container  14  with a fastener  60  selected from the group that includes staples  64 , wires (not shown), tape (not shown), ties (not shown), glue (not shown) and cord (not shown). 
     (4) In a further variant, the remaining portion  56  is retained within the container  14  by attaching the remaining portion  56  of the bags  50  in the bag stack  46  to at least one bag stack holder insert  162 . The insert  162  is formed of a resilient material  166 . The insert  162  has a first end  170 , a second end  174 , a first predetermined length  178  and has a notch  182  at the first end  170 . The notch  182  is sized and shaped to at least partially align with the opening  42  in the dispensing container  14  and to permit access to the bags  50  in the at least one bag stack  46 . Each of the bag stacks  46  is secured at the remaining portion  56  to one of the inserts  162  with the top edge  70  located adjacent a first line  186  spaced from the first end  170 . The at least one bag stack holder insert  162  is located within the dispensing container  14 . 
     (5) In still another variant, the remaining portion  56  of the bags  50  in the bag stack  46  are attached to the at least one bag stack holder insert  162  with a fastener  60  selected from the group that includes staples  64 , wires (not shown), tape (not shown), ties (not shown), glue (not shown) and cord (not shown) and folded resilient material  166 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  10 ,  16  and  17 . 
     (6) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an upper portion  82  of the front  54  and rear  58  walls are penetrated by first  86  and second  90  openings. The first opening  86  begins at a first point  94  spaced downwardly from the top edge  70  and inwardly from the first side edge  62 , extends downwardly for a first predetermined distance  98 , inwardly to a first side  102  of a base  106  of a center portion  110 , upwardly along a first side  114  of the center portion  110  and outwardly to the first point  94 . The second opening  90  begins at a second point  118  spaced downwardly from the top edge  70  and inwardly from the second side edge  66 , extends downwardly for the first predetermined distance  98 , inwardly to a second side  122  of the base  106  of the center portion  110 , upwardly along a second side  126  of the center portion  110  and outwardly to the second point  118 . The first  86  and second  90  openings leave the center portion  110  and extend upwardly toward the top edge  70  and join the remaining portion  56 . The remaining portion  56  has a frangible attachment  158  to at least the center portion  110 . 
     (7) In a further variant, the bags  50  further include an upper seam  78 . The upper seam  78  seals the front wall  54  to the rear wall  58  adjacent the top edges  70 . The remaining portion  56  extends between first  134  and second  138  bag handles formed by the openings  86 ,  90  and the upper seam  78 . The remaining portion  56  has an additional frangible attachment  158  to at least one of the first  134  and second  138  bag handles. The upper seam  78  is penetrated by a cut-out  142 . The cut-out  142  commences at a third point  146  along the upper seam  78  spaced inwardly from the first side edge  62  and extends to a fourth point  150  along the upper seam  78  spaced inwardly from the second side edge  66 . The cut-out  142  extends downwardly toward the dispensed portion  52 , thereby defining a width  154  for the first  134  and second  138  bag handles. 
     (8) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 10 , a lower end  190  of the bag stack  46  is folded under the first end  170  of the insert  162  and the bag stack  46  is placed in the dispensing container  14  with a folded portion  194  of the bag stack  46  located adjacent the opening  42 . 
     (9) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the opening  42  in the dispensing container  14  further includes surrounding perforations  198  to assist in forming the opening  42  in the container  14 . 
     (10) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , each of the bags  50  further includes longitudinally oriented side gussets  202 , the side gussets  202  forming multi-layered handles  134 ,  138  in the bags  50 . 
     (11) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 , each of the bags  50  further includes a bottom gusset  204 . 
     (12) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  11  and  12 , the frangible attachment  158  is selected form the group includes U-shaped knife cuts  206 , wave-shaped knife cuts  210 , straight knife cuts  214 , shredding  218  and perforations  222 . 
     (13) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  9 , each of the bags  50  in the bag stack  46  is adhered to an adjacent bag  50  in the bag stack  46  using cold staking  226 , hot pinning  230 , multiple corona treatment (not illustrated), knife cutting  236 , special resin formulations (not shown), and glue spotting  240 . 
     (14) In still a further variant, at least an upper portion of an outer surface  234  of the front  54  or rear  58  walls of each of the bags  50  has been corona treated  238 . 
     (15) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , lower ends  242  of the first  86  and second  90  openings include stress relieving features  246 . The stress relieving features  246  includes outward and downward curving edges  250 . These edges  250  extend upwardly to join the first  114  and second  126  side edges of the center portion  110 . 
     (16) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  14 , each of the bag stacks  46  is secured with any of staples  64 , wires (not shown), tape (not shown), ties (not shown), glue (not shown) and cord (not shown) at the remaining portion  56  to one of the inserts  162  with the top edge  70  located adjacent the first line  186  spaced from the first end  170 . The insert  162  so secured to the bag stack  46  has a second predetermined length  90 . 
     (17) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 - 7  and  10 , a central portion  258  of the insert  162  includes at least one slit  262 . The second end  174  of the insert  162  includes at least one mating tab  266 . The tab  266  secures the second end  174  of the insert  162  over the top edges  70  and the remaining portion  56 . 
     (18) In yet another variant, the insert  162  further includes a second line  278  spaced toward the second end  174  from the first line  186 . The second line  278  is spaced by approximately a thickness  282  of the at least one bag stack  46 . 
     (19) In a further variant, the first  186  and second  278  lines are creases  286  in the insert  162 , the creases  286  serving to ease folding of the insert  162  over the bag stack  46 . 
     (20) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , graphic images  290  are located upon at least one outer surface  294  of the dispensing container  14 . 
     (21) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the dispensing container  14  has a top  18 , a bottom  22 , a first side  26 , a second side  30 , a front  34  and a back  38  and the opening  42  penetrates at least part of any of the top  18 , the bottom  22 , the first side  26 , the second side  30 , the front  34  and the back  38 . 
     (22) In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , at least one inner surface  298  of the first  26  and second  30  sides of the dispensing container  14  is located slidably adjacent at least one of the first  62  and second  66  side edges of the front  54  and rear  58  walls of the film bags  50 , thereby providing friction as the bags  50  are withdrawn from the dispensing container  14 . 
     (23) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the folded portion  194  of the bag stack  46  includes the center portion  110  of the bags  50 , thereby providing a grasping point  302  for withdrawal of the bags  50  from the dispensing container  14 . 
     (24) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the bags  50  are packaged into bag packs  306 . The bag packs  306  are inserted into the dispensing container  14 . The bag packs  306  include at least one stack  46  of bags  50 . The at least one stack  46  of bags  50  is located within an outer wrapper  310 . The outer wrapper  310  is formed of flexible material  314 , surrounds the at least one bag stack  46  and has an aperture  318 . The aperture  318  provides access to at least one of upper  322  and lower  326  surfaces of bags  50  of the at least one bag stack  46  for removal of the bags  50  through the opening  42  in the dispensing container  14 . 
     (25) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 ,  15 ,  18  and  19 , the bags  50  further include handle openings  330 . The handle openings  330  penetrate the front  54  and rear  58  film walls. 
     (26) In a final variant of the invention, the handle openings  330  have a shape selected from the group that includes round  334 , oval  338 , rectangular  342 , triangular (not shown), hexagonal (not shown), octagonal (not shown), trapezoidal (not shown) and finger gripped  346 . 
     The film bags in a dispensing container  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.