Patent Publication Number: US-10308387-B2

Title: Bagging clip tool for a bagging station

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This invention claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/435,229, filed Dec. 16, 2016 to Applicant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and entitled “Bagging Clip Tool and Method of Forming the Same”, which is incorporated entirely herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     This invention relates to bagging stations used in retail stores, and, more specifically, to a bagging clip tool used to hold shopping bags on a bag holder hook of a bagging station. 
     State of the Art 
     A bagging station is a fixture for dispensing shopping bags in a retail store. Each bagging station includes a bag holder. A bag holder holds a stack of shopping bags, and dispenses these bags as they are filled with products a customer has purchased. The shopping bags are held by the bag holder at the bagging station in a manner and position such that it is easy and convenient for a person to open one bag at a time, place purchased items in the bag, and then remove the bag with the enclosed products from the bagging station. Shopping bags are slid onto a bag holder hook of the bag holder in a stack, and are pulled open one at a time from the bag holder hook. The problem is, when one bag is pulled open or off of the bag holder hook, one or more additional bags often fall off the bag holder hook and need to be replaced. It takes time and effort for employees and customers to repeatedly replace the stack of shopping bags on the bag holder hook after the bags have inadvertently fallen off or slid off. Rubber bands or tape are often used on the bag holder hook to try to hold the stack of shopping bags on the bag holder hook, but these fixes are temporary and ineffective. In addition, it can be hard to open the next bag in the stack once one bag is removed. The two sides of the shopping bag tend to stick together, and a user often has to fumble with the bag to open it. 
     Accordingly, what is needed is a device that holds the stack of shopping bags on the bag holder hook, and helps the user to open the next bag in the stack once a shopping bag has been removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  show a perspective view of a bagging station with a number of bag holders, where each bag holder has a bagging clip tool coupled to a bag holder hook of the bag holder; 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of a bag holder hook of a bag holder of the bagging station of  FIG. 1 , with a plurality of shopping bags and a bagging clip tool coupled to the bag holder hook; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of a bagging clip tool; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the bagging clip tool of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a rear view of the bagging clip tool of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a side view of the bagging clip tool of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of a handle of the bagging clip tool of  FIG. 3 , with the pair of wheels removed; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a method of forming a bagging clip tool for a bagging station. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to bagging stations used in retail stores, and, more specifically, to a bagging clip tool used at a bagging station. The bagging clip tool is used to hold shopping bags on a bag holder hook of a shopping bag holder, and to help open one bag at a time of the shopping bags. 
     Disclosed is a shopping bag bagging station that includes a bag holder and a bagging clip tool. The bag holder includes a bag holder hook. The bag holder hook holds at least one shopping bag. The bagging clip tool couples to the bag holder hook. The bagging clip tool helps to keep shopping bags hung from the bag holder hook in place as one of the shopping bags is opened, filled, and then removed from the bag holder. The bagging clip tool also helps to open each shopping bag to be filled. The bagging clip tool includes an elongate handle, a clip coupled to a first end of the handle, and a pair of wheels coupled to a second end of the handle. The clip holds the stack of shopping bags on the bag holder hook. The pair of wheels help open each bag to be filled. The clip includes a flat plate, such as a round disk, with at least one slot in the flat plate. The slot is configured to couple to a rail of the bag holder hook of the bag holder. Once the bagging clip tool is coupled to the bag holder hook, shopping bags hung from the bag holder hook will stay in place as individual shopping bags are filled and removed from the bag holder hook. The pair of wheels are rubber and rotate freely. The pair of wheels are positioned to hang from the handle along the front side of the stack of shopping bags. Rotating one or both of the rubber wheels tends to pull the front side away from the back side of a shopping bag that is next to be opened and filled. This pulling of the front side separates the front side of the shopping bag from the rear side, helping to open the shopping bag and allowing the user a way to grab the front side to pull the shopping bag open. 
     The bagging clip tool saves employees and customers time because they no longer have to replace shopping bags that have inadvertently fallen off the bag holder hook when one shopping bag is removed. The bagging clip tool also makes it easier to open each bag in succession, saving time that is often spent fumbling with the shopping bag trying to open it. The bagging clip tool has a strap hole for coupling a strap, cord, or wire to the bagging clip. The strap, cord, or wire is used to couple the bagging clip tool to the bag holder or the bagging station, so the bagging clip tool does not get lost or separated from the bagging station. 
     Disclosed is a bagging clip tool for a shopping bag bagging station that includes a means to prevent a shopping bag from falling off a bag holder hook, and a means to open the shopping bag. Once the bagging clip tool is coupled to the bag holder hook, the bagging clip tool holds a plurality of shopping bags on the bag holder hook, keeping the plurality of shopping bags from sliding off or falling off of the bag holder hook as individual shopping bags are filled or removed from the bag holder hook. And the bagging clip tool provides a means to easily and quickly open a shopping bag for filling. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a bagging station  112  that includes a bag holder  114  having a bag holder hook  116 , and a bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of bagging station  112 .  FIG. 2  shows a close up view of a bag holder hook  116  of bag holder  114 , where bag holder hook  116  has at least one shopping bag  120  hung from bag holder hook  116 , and bag holder hook  116  also has bagging clip tool  108  hung from bag holder hook  116 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of a shopping bag bagging station  112  that includes a plurality of shopping bag holders  114  and bagging clip tools  108 . Bagging station  112  is a carousel-type bagging station, in this embodiment, that is often used at a checkout register of a retail store for bagging items that have been purchased in the retail store. Bagging station  112  includes a rotating platform  101  and a center section  103 . Center section  103  has a number of bag holders  114 , including two bag holders  114  on a side  106  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each bag holder  114  has a bag holder hook  116  that holds one or more shopping bags  120 . Each bagging clip tool  108  is coupled to one of the multiple shopping bag holders  114  of bagging station  112 . Specifically, each bagging clip tool  108  is coupled to bag holder hook  116  of one of the bag holders  114 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Bagging clip tool  108  is used to keep shopping bag  120  hanging from bag holder hook  116  of shopping bag holder  114 , and to help a user of bagging station  112  open shopping bag  120 . Each bag holder  114  holds and dispenses one or more shopping bag  120 . When a shopping bag  120  is opened, filled, and/or removed from bag holder hook  116 , bagging clip tool  108  keeps the remainder of the shopping bags hanging from bag holder hook  116  from falling off of bag holder hook  116 . 
     It is to be understood that bagging station  112  can have fewer or more bag holders  114  than is shown in  FIG. 1 . It is to be understood that bagging station  112  can take many different forms. 
     Bag holder  114  is used to hold at least one shopping bag  120  at bagging station  112 . Bag holder  114  can take many different forms. Bag holder  114 , in this embodiment, includes a support bar  122 , a first handle holder arm  118  and a second handle holder arm  119  coupled to and extending from support bar  122 , and a bag holder hook  116  coupled to and extending from support bar  122 , as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Support bar  122  has a support bar first end  123  and a support bar second end  124 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . First handle holder arm  118  is coupled to, and extends from, support bar first end  123 . Second handle holder arm  119  is coupled to, and extends from, support bar second end  124 . Bag holder hook  116  is coupled to, and extends from, support bar  122  between first handle holder arm  118  and second handle holder arm  119 . 
     Shopping bag  120  is hung on bag holder hook  116 , with the arms of shopping bag  120  hung on each of handle holder arms  118  and  119 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Bag holder  114  is a part of bagging station  112  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Bag holder  114  is the part of bagging station  112  that dispenses one or more shopping bag  120 . Bag holder  114  can take many different forms, but each bag holder  114  has a bag holder hook  116  that holds at least one shopping bag  120 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a close-up front perspective view of bag holder hook  116  holding a plurality of shopping bags  120 , with bagging clip tool  108  coupled to bag holder hook  116 . Bag holder hook  116  in this embodiment includes a first rail  126  and a second rail  128 . Bagging clip tool  108  couples to first rail  126  and second rail  128  in this embodiment. 
     Bagging clip tool  108  includes a clip  110 , a handle  170 , and a pair of wheels  189 . Clip  110  keeps plurality of shopping bags  120  from sliding off or falling off of bag holder hook  116  as one shopping bag  120  is opened, filled, or removed from bag holder hook  116 . Clip  110  allows one at a time of shopping bags  120  to be opened and removed, while keeping the remaining shopping bags  120  hanging from bag holder hook  116 . Rotating one or both wheels of pair of wheels  189  helps to open shopping bag  120  so that shopping bag  120  hung from bag holder hook  116  can be opened and filled. The rotation of pair of wheels  189  pulls a front side of a shopping bag  120  away from the rear side and makes it easier to grab the front side to open shopping bag  120 . 
     Clip  110  of bagging clip tool  108  is a means to prevent shopping bag  120  from falling off of bag holder hook  116 . Pair of wheels  189  of bagging clip tool  108  is a means to open shopping bag  120  so that shopping bag  120  is ready to be filled. 
       FIG. 3  through  FIG. 7  show additional details of bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 4  shows a front view of bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 5  shows a rear view of bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 6  shows a side view of bagging clip tool  108 .  FIG. 7  shows a front view of bagging clip tool  108  with pair of wheels  189  removed to show T bar  180 . 
     Bagging clip tool  108  includes elongate handle  170 , clip  110  coupled to a handle first end  171  of handle  170 , and pair of wheels  189  coupled to a handle second end  172  of handle  170 . Pair of wheels  189  in this embodiment is coupled to a bar  180 , which is coupled to handle second end  172 . 
     Handle  170  is an elongate bar or rod formed of rigid material such as, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or wood. Handle  170  has handle first end  171 , handle second end  172  opposing handle first end  171 , a first side  173  and a second side  174 , and a handle longitudinal axis  169  (see  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 ) extending longitudinally from handle first end  171  to handle second end  172 , as can be seen in the figures. Handle  170  has a handle length  177  ( FIG. 7 ) that extends from clip  110  to bar  180 . Handle  170  couples clip  110  to bar  180  and pair of wheels  189 . Handle  170  extends from clip  110  between a first slot  132  and a second slot  134  in clip  110 , as seen in  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 5 . 
     Clip  110  is coupled to handle first end  171 . Clip  110  couples bagging clip tool  108  to bag holder  114  ( FIG. 1 ) by coupling to a first rail  126  and a second rail  128  of bag holder hook  116 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Bag holder hook  116 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , is formed in part of a number of metal rails, which includes first rail  126  and second rail  128  in this embodiment (see  FIG. 2 ). Bagging clip tool  108 , in this embodiment, is designed for use with a bag holder hook  116  that has two parallel rails (or rods or bars)  126  and  128  that are fairly close together (about 1/16 th  inch to ½ inch apart in the embodiment shown). First rail  126  and second rail  128  are parallel to each other in this embodiment, and are coupled together at an end  176  of bag holder hook  116 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 7 , clip  110  includes a flat circular disk  142 , first and second slots  132  and  134 , a center support  130 , and a locking protrusion  136 . Clip  110  is formed of disk  142 , which in this embodiment is a flat circular disk  142 . It is to be understood that disk  142  and clip  110  can be many other shapes and configurations other than a flat disk. In some embodiments, clip  110  is formed of a plate with a shape different from a disk. 
     Disk  142  includes at least one slot, which in this embodiment includes first slot  132  and second slot  134  in disk  142 . Slots  132  and  134  couple disk  142  to rails  126  and  128  of bag holder hook  116  ( FIG. 2 ). First slot  132  and second slot  134  are about 1/16 th  to ½ inch apart, in this embodiment, because rails  126  and  128  are about 1/16 th  inch to ½ inch apart. It is to be understood that other dimensions of rail holder hook  116  and slots  132  and  134  are possible. First slot  132  and second slot  134 , in this embodiment, are the means to couple disk  142  to bag holder hook  116  of shopping bag holder  114 . In this embodiment, first slot  132  is a means to couple disk  142  of clip  110  to first rail  126  of bag holder hook  116 , and second slot  134  is a means to couple disk  142  of clip  110  to second rail  128  of bag holder hook  116 . The use of two slots, first slot  132  and second slot  134 , ensures that bagging clip tool  108  couples securely to bag holder hook  116  and does not fall off of bag holder hook  116 . It is to be understood that bag holder hook  116  can take many other forms, and the means to couple clip  110  of bagging clip tool  108  to bag holder hook  116  can take many different forms other than first and second slots  132  and  134 . In some embodiments, clip  110  includes only one slot that couples clip  110  to bag holder hook  116 . 
     First and second slot  132  and  134  are each elongate slot cutouts in disk  142  (see  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 7 ). The cutouts extend all the way through disk  142 , from a disk front surface  166  ( FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 ) to a disk back surface  168  of disk  142 . First slot  132  and second slot  134  are approximately parallel to each other in the embodiment of clip  110  shown in the figures, but this is not meant to be limiting. In some embodiments, first slot  132  and second slot  134  are not parallel to each other. 
     Center support  130  is between first slot  132  and second slot  134 . Handle  170  extends from disk  142  by extending from center support  130 . First slot  132  and second slot  134  are on either side of handle  170  and center support  130 . First slot  132  is adjacent first side  173  of handle  170 . Second slot  134  is adjacent second side  174  of handle  170 . 
     First slot  132  includes a first rail hole  150  that captures first rail  126  when clip  110  is coupled to first rail  126 . First rail hole  150  has a diameter that is slightly larger than first rail  126 , and is also larger than a width of the remainder of the length of first slot  132 . Second slot  134  includes a second rail hole  158  that captures second rail  128  when clip  110  is coupled to second rail  128 . Second rail hole  158  has a diameter that is slightly larger than second rail  128 , and is also larger than a width of the remainder of the length of second slot  134 . Clip  110  is coupled to bag holder hook  116  in this embodiment by sliding first rail  126  into first slot  132  until first rail  126  is captured in rail hole  150 , and sliding second rail  128  into second slot  134  until second rail  128  is captured in rail hole  158 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Center support  130  is between first and second slots  132  and  134 . Center support  130  keeps bagging clip tool  108  from sliding off end  176  of bag holder hook  116 . As clip  110  slides to end  176  of bag holder hook  116 , center support  130  hits end  176  of bag holder hook  116 , keeping clip  110  from falling off of bag holder hook  116 . Center support  130  in this embodiment includes a locking protrusion  136  that extends from disk front surface  166  of disk  142 . Locking protrusion  136  is a sloped protrusion in this embodiment, see  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 . Locking protrusion  136  is a triangle-shaped protrusion that protrudes from disk front surface  166 . Locking protrusion  136  has a protrusion front surface  164  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 ). Protrusion front surface  164  of locking protrusion  136  is sloped such that protrusion front surface  164  lies in a protrusion plane  186  that is not parallel to a disk plane  188  of disk front surface  166 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . An angle  178  is between protrusion plane  186  and disk plane  188 . In this embodiment, angle  178  is about 15 degrees. In some embodiments, angle  178  is between 10 degrees and 20 degrees. An angle  178  of between 10 and 20 degrees provides the optimum shape of locking protrusion  136  so that locking protrusion  136  catches end  176  of bag holder hook  116  ( FIG. 2 ). The sloped shape of locking protrusion  136  helps center support  130  catch and hold end  176  of bag holder hook  116  and keep bagging clip tool  108  coupled to bag holder hook  116 . In some embodiments, locking protrusion  136  is eliminated, so that locking protrusion  136  is not a part of clip  110  or bagging clip tool  108 . 
     In some embodiments, clip  110  includes strap  140 , as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . Strap  140  in this embodiment is coupled to disk  142  through a strap hole  138 . Strap  140  is used to couple clip  110  to bagging station  112  so that bagging clip tool  108  does not get misplaced, lost, or stolen. Strap  140  can couple to bagging station  112 , to bag holder  114 , or to bag holder hook  116 , for example, but not by way of limitation. Strap  140  can be a wire, a rope, a string, a strap, a cord, or any other elongate element that can couple bagging clip tool  108  to bagging station  112 . 
     Bagging clip tool  108  includes bar  180  and pair of wheels  189 . Bar  180  is coupled to handle second end  172  of handle  170  together forming a T bar. Handle  170  extends from handle first end  171  coupled to clip  110 , to handle second end  172  and bar  180 . Pair of wheels  189  are coupled to handle second end  172  by being coupled to bar  180 . 
     Bar  180  is a length of rigid material such as, but not limited to, metal, plastic, or wood. Bar  180  has a bar first end  181 , a bar second end  182 , a bar length  183 , and a bar longitudinal axis  175 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  shows bagging clip tool  108  with pair of wheels  189  removed so that bar  180  can be easily seen. Bar  180  is coupled to handle second end  172  such that a bar length  183  of bar  180  extends perpendicular to handle  170 . Bar longitudinal axis  175  is perpendicular to handle longitudinal axis  169 . Bar  180  is a means to couple pair of wheels  189  to handle second end  172 . Bar first end  181  has a first wheel retainer clip  184  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Bar second end  182  has a second wheel retainer clip  185  as shown in  FIG. 7 . First and second wheel retainer clips  184  and  185  are bulbous ends of bar  180  that keep a first and a second wheel  190  and  194  on bar  180 . 
     Pair of wheels  189  includes first wheel  190  and second wheel  194 . First and second wheel  190  and  194  are coupled to handle second end  172  by being coupled to bar  180 . First wheel  190  is coupled to bar first end  181  by sliding first wheel  190  over first wheel retainer clip  184 . First wheel retainer clip  184  locks first wheel  190  onto bar  180  at first end  181 . First wheel  190  rotates about bar  180  and bar longitudinal axis  175 . Second wheel  194  is coupled to bar second end  182  by sliding second wheel  194  over second wheel retainer clip  185 . Second wheel retainer clip  185  locks second wheel  194  onto bar  180  at second end  182 . Second wheel  194  rotates about bar  180  and bar longitudinal axis  175 . First and second wheel  190  and  194  independently rotate about bar  180 . This means that first wheel  190  can rotate in a direction  198  as shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, while second wheel  194  rotates in a direction  199 . 
     With bagging clip tool  108  hanging from bag holder hook  116  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , pair of wheels  189  provide a surface to help separate the front side of shopping bag  120  from the rear side of shopping bag  120 , which helps a user to open shopping bag  120  so it can be filled. This eliminates fumbling at the opening of shopping bag  120  to try to open it. In this embodiment, wheels  190  and  194  are made of rubber and include a plurality of knobs  192  ( FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , in which some, but not all, knobs  192  are numbered for simplicity). The rubber wheels  190  and  194  and knobs  192  catch the plastic of the front side of bag  120  and help to separate the front side from the rear side of shopping bag  120 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a method  200  of forming a bagging clip tool for a bagging station. Method  200  includes an act  210  of coupling a clip to a handle. The handle is an elongate bar having a handle first end, a handle second end, and a handle longitudinal axis extending from the handle first end to the handle second end. In some embodiments, the clip is coupled to the handle first end. 
     Method  200  also includes an act  220  of coupling a T bar to the handle second end of the handle. The T bar is an elongate bar having a T bar first end, a T bar second end, and a T bar longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, act  220  of coupling the T bar to the second end of the handle includes coupling the T bar to the second end such that the T bar is perpendicular to the handle. The T bar is an elongate member with a T bar first end and a T bar second end. The T bar has a length that extends perpendicular to the handle in some embodiments. The pair of wheels are coupled to the handle by being coupled to the T bar. 
     Method  200  includes an act  230  of coupling a pair of wheels to the T bar. In some embodiments, act  230  of coupling the pair of wheels to the handle includes coupling a first wheel to the T bar first end, and coupling a second wheel to the T bar second end. The wheels independently rotate. The wheels help to grab the front side of the shopping bag and help a user to open the shopping bag. 
     The clip is used to couple the bagging clip tool to the bagging station. In some embodiments, method  200  includes forming a first and a second slot through a disk to form the clip, where the first and the second slot couple the clip to the bagging station. In some embodiments, method  200  includes forming a first slot in a flat disk to form the clip. In some embodiments, method  200  includes forming a second slot in the flat disk, wherein the first and the second slot both couple to the bagging station. In some embodiments, the clip couples to a bag holder hook of a bag holder of the bagging station. In some embodiments, the bag holder hook includes two rails, and the first slot couples to a first rail and the second slot couples to a second rail of the pair of rails. In some embodiments, act  210  of coupling the first end of the handle to the clip includes coupling the first end of the handle to the clip between the first and the second slot. In some embodiments, the handle extends from the disk between the first and the second slot. 
     A bagging clip tool has been shown and described that couples to the bag holder hook of a bag holder at a bagging station. The bagging clip tool keeps one or a stack of plastic shopping bags that are hung from the bag holder hook from falling off of the bag holder hook when one of the shopping bags is removed. The clip includes a disk with at least one slot. The slot couples to a rail of the bag holder hook. With the clip coupled to the end of the bag holder hook, the plurality of shopping bags remain hung from the bag holder hook when a shopping bag is removed. The pair of wheels provide a device which allows for easy opening of the shopping bag by providing a rubber, rotating surface that catches one side of the shopping bag and separates it from the other side, so the shopping bag can be pulled open and filled. The pair of wheels is coupled to the clip using a handle and a T Bar. The bagging clip tool can be coupled to the bag holder or the bagging station using a strap or a tie and a strap hole in the clip. 
     The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above.