Patent Publication Number: US-2013240592-A1

Title: Rolled Bag Dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/692,511 filed on Aug. 23, 2012, entitled “Trash Bag Holder.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention  
     The present invention relates to dispensing of bags for trash collection or product storage. Dispensing is performed by pulling a bag from the container with one&#39;s hands. More specifically, the rolled bag dispenser allows for a plurality of can liners or bags to be mounted in an easy to reach location and selectably dispensed when required. The device is ideally mounted to a trash cart, whereby the connection thereto does not require penetrations through or modification of the trash cart. 
     Trash bags are generally packaged in rolled form allowing the removal of a first bag to reveal the next, subsequent bag, providing for simple and repeatable dispensing. This bag sequencing can be accomplished via a frictional connection between the bags or separable perforations. Additionally, in some situation bags of different colors can be used to differentiate between recyclables and general waste among others, and a dispensing solution should accommodate multiple rolls of bags. 
     In a home setting, trash bags are often kept within the original packaging in a location separate from the trash can itself. When the time comes to remove a full bag and replace with a new bag, users may have to search for another bag, bend down, and expend more effort. 
     In a professional or janitorial setting, users may collect refuse from many locations and then transport the newly bagged trash within rolling carts. Often, unused trash bags are stored in the bottom of these rolling carts or draped over the side. When a new bag is needed, the bags at the bottom can be difficult to reach or may be soiled by leaking refuse. When bags are draped on the side of carts, they may become pinned beneath filled bags as the cart becomes full. Pulling the bags free at this point may plastically deform the bag itself and weaken its structural integrity. 
     The present invention attempts to provide a bag dispensing system that can be affixed to any surface, securely contain a plurality of rolled bags, and dispense a selectable number dependent upon user interaction. The present invention specifically contemplates a multi-roll dispensing device that supports several trash bag rolls in a ready dispensable configuration, wherein the assembly is attached to the exterior of a trash can or trash cart. The preferred connection is one that does require mechanical fasteners that would otherwise penetrate or require modification of the cart or can. Eliminating any modifications, and particularly any mechanical fastener heads within the interior of the can or cart, is ideal for eliminating any snagging or bag tearing risk therein. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to the dispensing of rolled can liners or bags. These include devices that that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to rolled bag dispensing systems that may be affixed to a surface such as the bottom of a trash can, or integrated trash can and can liner dispensers. The devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure are herein described for the purposed of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art. 
     Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,810 to Warner presents a package and dispenser for rolled bags in the general form of an upright cylinder having two halves hinged about a diametrical edge at the bottom and constructed from semi-rigid material. An elongated slot is found in one of cylindrical walls can allow for the dispensing of the bags. The Warner device is designed to be disposable and does not include any mounting provisions, whereas the instant invention is entirely rigid and offers a dedicated mounting plate. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,008 to Jenkins describes a rolled trash bag dispenser with a rectangular base for mounting. The rigid tubular body allows for loading of rolled bags through an opening on one end and dispensing through a slot near the base. The Jenkins device allows for dispensing of rolled bags, but does not securely store its inventory of bags by any method. The present invention employs a removable cap to secure the bag inventory. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,591 to Miller describes a device for dispensing trash bags continuously joined and separable from another trash bag. The device is comprised of a housing for containing the trash bags and a movably connected flexible cover having a slot for guiding the trash bag therethrough. The movably connected cover is affixed to the housing via a snap button fastener closure. While the Miller device pursues similar goals, the present invention is comprised of an entirely rigid housing and is loaded through a removable cap on one end. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,340 to Leggio presents an cylindrical apparatus for retaining and sequentially dispensing rolled liners for trash containers that can be affixed to a surface via adhesive backed hook and loop attachment. The bags are dispensed via a small opening in the rigid housing which does not run the length of the cylindrical housing as compared to the present invention. Additionally, the lack of a dedicated mounting plate and the attachment of hook and loop fasteners to the curved exterior of the storage tube will result in a weaker connection to the target location. In the case of mounting at the bottom of a trash can, the invention may rotate, making finding the dispensing location difficult, and not provide mounting force sufficient to counteract the force required for dispensing a bag. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,723 to Swift describes a rolled bag dispenser integrated to a trash can. A dispensing depression is inset at the bottom of the trash can waste chamber and accommodates a common trash bag roll. A dispensing plate can seal the bag roll within the depression and allows for dispensing via a slot. An alternate embodiment employs a roll chamber which can be removed via the side of the base. The roll chamber is a horizontal cylindrical bottom with solid end caps exposing the bag roll storage cavity to the dispensing plate at the bottom of the trash can waste chamber. Each embodiment of Swift requires the user to reach down into the trash can to dispense a new bag. Furthermore, the side-loading embodiment complicates the dispensing of the first bag, as rotation and threading of the bag roll may be difficult after loading. The instant invention provides mounting provisions that are independent from a particular trash can design and does not require a user to bend down while dispensing or refilling rolled bags. 
     The present invention is a new and improved rolled bag dispenser providing selectable dispensing of a collection of rolled bags. The device is comprised of a plurality of bag storage tubes having an open first end for loading bags and a dispensing slot that extends nearly the entire length of the tube for removing individual bags from a roll stowed within the tube. Each bag storage tube is rigidly affixed to a planar mounting plate and securely closed by an end cap that secures the open end thereof after a bag roll is placed therein. In light of devices in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to rolled bag dispenser devices. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of rolled bag dispensers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a rolled bag dispenser which may be affixed to any surface without modification and support a plurality of bags rolls in a readily dispensable manner for deployment of the bags from the rolls stowed therein. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide for the storage and separation of bag rolls dedicated to a specific purpose by allocating bag rolls of a certain type to a specific dispensing tube. 
     Another object of the present invention is to allow for storage and dispensing of rolled bags from a location protected from solid and liquid contaminants inside the dispensing tube with the end cap affixed. 
     Another object of the present invention is to store and dispense rolled bags that are friction linked as well as connected by perforations. 
     Yet object of the present invention is to dispense bags via a dispensing slot which is large enough to permit bags of any gauge to pass through without affecting the structural integrity of the stored or dispensed bags. 
     A final object of the present invention is to provide a household or professional cleaning item that is simple to use, easy to clean, and robust and dependable for everyday use. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the major components that comprise the rolled bag dispenser: the bag roll, at least one dispensing tube, end caps therefore, and a planar mounting plate. 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of the assembled device in a working position, wherein the end caps are securely containing each bag roll and the bag rolls are in a readily dispensable state. Further provided is a view of the preferred adhesive attachment of the assembly to a support surface. 
         FIG. 3  shows the assembled device secured to a rolling trash cart. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the rolled bag dispenser. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for selectably dispensing any number of rolled bags. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a front view of the present invention. The primary elements of the device include at least one slotted dispensing tube  11 , removable end caps  21  therefore, and a planar mounting plate  31 . A bag roll  41  is also shown to demonstrate operation of the device, though it is not included with the assembly. In the particular embodiment shown, three dispensing tubes  11  are affixed to a mounting plate  31  to store three possibly unique bag types having different purposes. Each of the three dispensing tubes  11  includes an end cap  21  that may be interchangeable among dispensing tubes  11  to securely seal the bag roll  41  inside the dispensing tube  11  interior. 
     The slotted dispensing tube  11 , designed to protect the rolled bags  41  from the elements and other contaminants, is a hollow cylinder, closed on one end and an open  13  on the other. The open first end  13  is to be referred to as the loading passage, while the closed second end of the tube  11  functions as a backstop after the roll  41  is inserted into the tube interior. The loading passage  13  and interior of the dispensing tube  11  is slightly larger than the bag rolls  41  to be stored, allowing bag rolls to be placed within the dispensing tube from the open side with some angular misalignment. The dispensing slot  12  is cut into the cylinder wall of the dispensing tube  11  along an opposing portion thereof with respect to the tube  11  connection to the planar mouthing plate  31 . The slot  12  extends along the horizontal axis of the cylinder from the open first end  13  towards the closed end. The slot  12  is of appropriate width and length to permit dispensing of a single bag  42  therethrough without requiring excessive user force or stretching or tearing of the bag. 
     The end cap  21  is comprised of two solid cylinders of different, stepped diameters concentrically aligned into order to securely fit over and through the loading passage  13 . The outer cap portion  22  has a diameter that matches that of the outer surface of the dispensing tube  11 , while the inner cap portion  23  has a diameter that will snugly fit inside the inner diameter of the dispensing tube  11 . When the end cap  21  is securely fitted within the loading passage  13 , the dispensing tube is of appropriate length such that the bag roll  41  are not in contact with the end cap  21  or the closed end of the dispensing tube  11  simultaneously, allowing the bag roll  41  to rotate freely. The end cap  21  secures the bag roll  41  within the tube  11  interior during deployment and prevents sliding therefrom through the loading passage  13 . 
     The dispensing tubes  11  are rigidly affixed to the mounting plate  31  along a tangent of the tube opposite of the slot  12 , whereby the tubes are preferably aligned along a horizontal axis for level deployment of bags from each tube  11 . The backside surface of the mounting plate  31 , opposite the front side thereof upon which the dispensing tubes  11  are attached, provides more secure mounting surface for connection to a support surface (e.g. a trash can or trash cart exterior), whereby the weight of the device components and stored bag rolls  41  is distributed across a large surface area. 
     A bag roll  41  in  FIG. 1  is shown to demonstrate the loading of the roll into the dispensing tube  11  via the loading passage  13  entryway for subsequent presentation of a single bag  42  via the dispensing slot  12 . The bag roll  41  is secured within the tube interior by way of the end cap  21  over the otherwise open loading passageway  13 . However, just prior to securement therein, a user freely rotates the bag roll  41  with the end cap removed until a single bag  42  is pulled through the dispensing slot  12 . Once the cap  21  is secured, a free end of a bag  42  is presented for the user to grasp and withdraw from the given tube  11 . The ability to easily rotate the bag roll  41  while in a position to thread the first single bag  42  is not available in most integrated trash can and bag dispenser designs demonstrated in the prior art. The slot  12  provided herein extends to the open loading passageway  13  to facilitate this procedure. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a frontal perspective view of the assembled invention loaded with rolled bags for dispensing. Adhesive mounting strips  51  are shown attaching to the backside face of the mounting plate  31  opposite the side upon which the dispensing tubes  21  rest. In this embodiment, rectangular adhesive mounting strips  51  are shown to extend substantially the entire height of the mounting plate  31  and are affixed to the side opposite that which supports the dispensing tubes  11  against a support surface, such as a trash can or cart exterior surface. As an alternative to adhesive strips  51 , strips of hook and loop fasteners can be used to provide a removable connection of the assembly to the support surface, whereby the strips remain in contact with the support surface and mounting plate, and the connection between the two strips is separable. 
     The use of adhesive mounting strips or hook and loop fasteners does not require any modifications or penetrations to be performed on the surface to which the mounting plate will be affixed. Adhesive mounting strips  51  also form a semi-permanent bond, allowing for later repositioning if a more advantageous dispensing location is identified. Not modifying the support surface is preferred for ease of application and for not damaging an existing piece of janitorial equipment. While mechanical fasteners can be utilized to connect the mounting plate, wherein fasteners would be driven through aperture therethrough and into a support surface, this form of connection is not preferred. Mechanical fasteners would inevitable cause snag or tear risks to bags within the interior of a trash can or cart interior if the device where mounted to the exterior surface thereof. Therefore, simple adhesive bonding, either in strip or large swaths, is the preferred connection means between the mounting plate backside surface and the support surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  there is shown a perspective side view of the rolled bag dispenser assembly employed in a typical use condition. In this embodiment, the mounting plate  31  is securely attached to a rolling trash bin  61  exterior surface. The mounting plate  31  has been affixed to rolling trash bin  61  below the trash bin handle  62  to the slanted exterior wall  63 , whereby a user can readily grasp a bag  41  extending therefrom. 
     When the mounting plate  31  is affixed to the slanted exterior wall  63 , the dispensing tubes  11  are arranged horizontally and angled towards the user, which permits for low energy dispensing and allows single bags  41  which may protrude from the dispensing slot  12  to fall in a non-overlapping arrangement to simplify selection when each bag has a unique purpose. It is not desired to limit the present assembly to a specific number of dispensing tubes  41  along the mounting plate (i.e. at least one), but rather to disclose a novel assembly for dispensing bags from the exterior of a trash can or cart. If multiple tubes are deployed on the assembly, the tubes can support specific types of bags, whereby the bags may serve different purposes or be specific to a given application (i.e. trash, recycling, hazardous waste, medical waste, etc.). 
     Overall the device reduces the current drawbacks related to storage of replacement bags on or within a trash can or trash cart and facilitates ready deployment and replacement of trash bags. It is contemplated that the present invention may be used in residential or commercial settings to improve efficiency, reduce wasted bags, and improve user procedures for storing and dispensing rolled bags. 
     It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.