Patent Abstract:
A roll mounted T-shirt bag and dispensers for same are described. The bag is designed for fresh produce and includes front and rear panels, first and second side gussets, a bottom seam, a top seam and a U-shaped cutout forming an openable bag mouth and a pair of carrying handles. The bags are joined above and below the upper and lower seams at first and second perforation lines. The bags are wound onto a cylindrical core to form a compact roll. In a variant of the invention, the bags are folded inwardly from the side edges prior to rolling onto the core to form a more compact roll. Dispensers are described that are designed to hold the roll mounted bags in both folded and unfolded form. The dispensers include a separating tongue designed to engage the U-shaped cutout and permit the bags to be dispensed from the bottom of the bag roll. The dispensers are designed for mounting to either vertical or horizontal surfaces and function efficiently in very limited spaces.

Full Description:
EARLIER FILED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The instant application is a continuation-in-part of applicant&#39;s prior application filed Apr. 27, 2001 and having Ser. No. 09/843,347, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention pertains to dispensers for plastic produce bags. More particularly, the invention relates to dispensers for expandable plastic film gusseted bags having integral carrying handles designed for roll dispensing.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Roll mounted produce bags are commonly found in modern grocery stores and supermarkets. These bags are designed for customers to use when purchasing fresh produce. The bags currently available are difficult for customers to use for several reasons. First, the bags tend to cling together and are difficult to separate from the roll. Second, it is difficult to tell the open end of the bag from the closed end of the bag. Third, the bags are difficult to open, as the sides tend to cling together. Fourth, the bags do not provide carrying handles. A roll-mounted produce bag that identifies the proper end to open is partially opened by the dispensing rack and that provides carrying handles would save time and effort for produce purchasers.  
           [0004]    Various designs have been developed for dispensers for roll mounted bags, incorporating a number of different technologies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,055 issued to Milner discloses a device for separating a continuous strip of plastic bags mounted on a roll separated by score lines. The bags pass between a plate and a pressure bar. A prong projects outwardly from the center portion of the plate to facilitate separation of the bags along the score lines and to display the next bag for easy grasping by an operator.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,191 issued to Richardson, describes a one piece paperboard carton blank folded into a rectangular shape for packaging and dispensing from a roll of individual plastic bags, particularly disposable milk bags for feeding babies. The individual bags are connected by perforations. The carton includes a tab protruding in the direction opposite to the direction of withdrawal of bags from the roll. When the center of the perforated edge of a bag is impaled on the tab, further withdrawal of a succeeding bag is restrained and the first bag is readily separated to facilitate its dispensing while locating the leading edge of the succeeding bag where it may be easily reached for withdrawal.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,262 issued to Simhaee, discloses a plastic bag dispenser that holds a continuous roll of bags connected by perforated separation lines. The dispenser is provided with a tongue, which the bags are dispensed over, that engages the separation line between the bag at the end of the roll and the next bag. The roll of bags rests in curved grooves in the dispenser that cause the roll to abut and frictionally engage an interior surface of the dispenser, preventing freewheeling of the roll.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,019 issued to Morris, describes a bag separator and dispenser for use with bags wound on a core and separated by perforation lines at each end of the bags. The perforation lines include a slot that is collinear with the perforations and is used to engage a separator projection. The projection enters the slot as the bags are pulled from the roll. The dispenser includes two braking devices to control the removal of bags from the roll, a braking bar underneath the roll of bags and a pair of fingers that are attached to the channel for the core and are designed to engage the core as the number of bags on the roll decreases.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,535, issued to Kannankeril discloses a roll of bags having a core with an indexing member on at least one end. The dispenser comprises a wire frame formed into channels to support the core. The dispenser includes at least one brake attached to a support member and disposed at an angle to the support member to provide tension to the edges of the roll of bags as the core passes through the channel passageway as bags are removed from the roll. Spaced apart from the support is a separating tongue. The tongue engages the slot regardless of whether the bags are drawn over or under the tongue.  
           [0009]    While other variations exist, the above-described designs for dispensers for roll mounted bags are typical of those encountered in the prior art.  
           [0010]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a dispenser for a T-shirt type produce bag that can be mounted on a continuous roll. It is a further objective to provide such a dispenser that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured in a variety of sizes that is durable and easy to use. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a dispenser that initiates opening of the roll-mounted bag for a user. It is yet a further objective to provide a dispenser that will permit a user to open a bag with one hand. In is another objective of the invention to provide a dispenser that can dispense bags from the top or the bottom of the roll. It is still another objective to provide a dispenser that will insure that the bag roll cannot be inadvertently pulled from the dispenser, allowing contamination of the bag roll. Finally, it is an objective of the invention that the dispenser is capable of identifying for the user the open end of the bags.  
           [0011]    While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified. The present invention addresses many of the deficiencies of prior art roll mounted bags and dispensers and satisfies all of the objectives described above.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    A roll mounted plastic produce bag providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A front panel has first and second parallel linear side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. A rear panel has first and second parallel linear side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. Two front gusset panels of a first predetermined dimension are provided. Each front gusset panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, first and second parallel side edges. The front gusset panels are connected at the first side edge to one of the linear side edges of the front panel and extend from the top edge to the bottom edge of the front panel.  
           [0013]    Two rear gusset panels of the first predetermined dimension are provided. Each rear gusset panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, first and second parallel side edges. The rear gusset panels are connected at the first side edge to one of the linear side edges of the rear panel and extend from the top edge to the bottom edge of the rear panel. Each front gusset panel is also connected to a respective one of the rear gusset panels at the second side edge. Each of the front and rear gusset panels is folded inwardly relative to the front and the rear panel.  
           [0014]    The top edges of the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels terminate in a first perforation line. The first perforation line is perpendicular to the linear side edges of the front and rear panels. An upper seam connects the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels at a level spaced downwardly from and parallel to the first perforation line. The bottom edges of the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels terminate in a second perforation line. The second perforation line is perpendicular to the linear side edges of the front and rear panels. A lower seam connects the front panel, the rear panel, the front gusset panels and the rear gusset panels at a level spaced upwardly from and parallel to the second perforation line.  
           [0015]    A U-shaped cutout is located in an upper portion of the bag. The U-shaped cutout begins at a first point along the first perforation line. The point is spaced inwardly from the first linear side edge and extends to a second point along the first perforation line. The second point is spaced inwardly from the second linear side edge. The cutout extends downwardly toward the lower seam, forming an open mouth and a pair of bag handles. The second perforation line attaches the bag to a subsequent bag. The bags are rolled from their upper seams toward their lower seams onto a cylindrical core to form a compact roll from which the bags are dispensed.  
           [0016]    In a variant of the invention, the bag is folded inwardly from the first and second linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension prior to rolling the bags onto a cylindrical core, thereby providing a more compact roll of bags.  
           [0017]    In a further variant, a dispenser for roll mounted plastic produce bags includes a supporting base and a surrounding upper member. The upper member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of a bag roll. An attachment member is provided. The attachment member is fixedly attached to the supporting base and the surrounding upper member and provides means for securing the dispenser to either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface.  
           [0018]    First and second parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots has a front edge member and a rear edge member. The slots extend upwardly from the supporting base and connect to and extend above the surrounding upper member. The slots are sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first and second ends of a cylindrical produce bag core on which the bags are wound in a roll. The angled slots permit the bag core to slide downwardly within the slots. First and second core supports are provided. The core supports are located adjacent upper ends of the first and second slots and provide a bearing surface for the produce bag core.  
           [0019]    A bag constraining ring is provided. The constraining ring is mounted between the front edge members of the upwardly angled slots and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally about a bag as it is removed from the bag roll. Upper and lower separating tongues are provided. The upper and lower tongues are affixed to upper and lower portions of the bag constraining ring, respectively. The upper and lower tongues point toward an interior of the ring and are sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bags as bags are pulled from the bag roll.  
           [0020]    When a roll of T-shirt style bags is mounted in the dispenser with its core resting upon the first and second core supports, the roll may be arranged to dispense bags from either of a top and bottom of the bag roll. When a leading bag from the roll is fed through the constraining ring adjacent either the upper or lower separating tongues, one of the tongues will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bag and facilitate tearing of the perforation joining the leading bag to a subsequent bag on the roll.  
           [0021]    In still a further variant of the invention, a dispenser is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags that have been folded inwardly from the first and second linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension prior to rolling the bags onto a cylindrical core, thereby providing a more compact roll of bags.  
           [0022]    In another variant of the invention, a dispenser for roll mounted plastic produce bags includes a supporting base and a surrounding upper member. The upper member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of a bag roll. A surrounding intermediate member is provided. The intermediate member has a first side, a second side and a rear portion. The intermediate member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and downwardly from the surrounding upper member and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of the bag roll. An attachment member is provided. The attachment member is fixedly attached to the supporting base, the surrounding intermediate member and the surrounding upper member and provides means for securing the dispenser to either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface.  
           [0023]    First and second parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots has a front edge member and a rear edge member and extends upwardly from the surrounding intermediate member and above the surrounding upper member and is sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first and second ends of a cylindrical produce bag core on which the bags are wound in a roll. The angled slots permit the bag core to slide downwardly within the slots. At least one roll bearing bar is provided. The roll bearing bar extends from the first side of the surrounding intermediate member to the second side of the surrounding intermediate member.  
           [0024]    A bag constraining ring is provided. The constraining ring is mounted between the front edge members of the upwardly angled slots and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally about a bag as it is removed from the bag roll. Upper and lower separating tongues are provided. The upper and lower tongues are affixed to upper and lower portions of the bag constraining ring, pointing toward an interior of the ring. The upper and lower tongues are sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bags as bags are pulled from the bag roll.  
           [0025]    When a roll of T-shirt style bags is mounted in the dispenser with its core disposed between the front edge member and the rear edge member of the first and second parallel, upwardly angled slots, the roll may be arranged to dispense bags from either a top or bottom of the bag roll. The bag roll rests upon the roll bearing bar and the bar controls movement of the bag roll. When a leading bag from the roll is fed through the constraining ring adjacent either of the upper and lower separating tongues, one of the tongues will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bag and facilitate tearing of the perforation joining the leading bag to a subsequent bag on the roll.  
           [0026]    In yet another variant of the invention a dispenser for roll mounted plastic produce bags is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags that have been folded inwardly from the first and second linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension prior to rolling the bags onto a cylindrical core, thereby providing a more compact roll of bags.  
           [0027]    7—In still another variant, a dispenser for roll mounted plastic produce bags includes a supporting base and a surrounding upper member. The upper member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of a bag roll. An attachment member is provided. The attachment member is fixedly attached to the supporting base and the surrounding upper member and provides means for securing the dispenser to either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface.  
           [0028]    First and second parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots has a front edge member and a rear edge member. The slots extend upwardly from the supporting base and connect to and extend above the surrounding upper member. The slots are sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first and second ends of a cylindrical produce bag core on which the bags are wound in a roll. The angled slots permit the bag core to slide downwardly within the slots. First and second core supports are provided. The core supports are located adjacent upper ends of the first and second slots and provide a bearing surface for the produce bag core.  
           [0029]    A tongue mounting loop is provided. The mounting loop is attached between the front edge members of the upwardly angled slots and is positioned at an acute angle to the supporting base. A separating tongue is provided. The separating tongue is affixed to a perimeter of the tongue mounting loop, pointing inwardly from the perimeter, upwardly at the acute angle to the supporting base and is sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bags as bags are pulled from the bag roll.  
           [0030]    When a roll of T-shirt style bags is mounted in the dispenser with its core resting upon the first and second core supports, the roll is arranged to dispense bags from the bottom of the bag roll, a leading bag from the roll is fed over the tongue mounting loop adjacent the separating tongue, the tongue will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bag and facilitate tearing of the perforation joining the leading bag to a subsequent bag on the roll.  
           [0031]    8—In yet another variant of the invention, a dispenser is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags that have been folded inwardly from the first and second linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension prior to rolling the bags onto a cylindrical core, thereby providing a more compact roll of bags.  
           [0032]    9—In still another variant of the invention, a dispenser for roll mounted plastic produce bags includes a supporting base and a surrounding upper member. The upper member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of a bag roll. A surrounding intermediate member is provided. The intermediate member has a first side, a second side and a rear portion. The intermediate member is spaced upwardly from the supporting base and downwardly from the surrounding upper member and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion of the bag roll. An attachment member is provided. The attachment member is fixedly attached to the supporting base, the surrounding intermediate member and the surrounding upper member and provides means for securing the dispenser to either a vertical surface or a horizontal surface.  
           [0033]    First and second parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots has a front edge member and a rear edge member and extends upwardly from the surrounding intermediate member and above the surrounding upper member and is sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first and second ends of a cylindrical produce bag core on which the bags are wound in a roll. The angled slots permit the bag core to slide downwardly within the slots. At least one roll bearing bar is provided. The roll bearing bar extends from the first side of the surrounding intermediate member to the second side of the surrounding intermediate member.  
           [0034]    A tongue mounting loop is provided. The mounting loop is attached between the front edge members of the upwardly angled slots and is positioned at an acute angle to the supporting base. A separating tongue is provided. The separating tongue is affixed to a perimeter of the tongue mounting loop, pointing inwardly from the perimeter, upwardly at the acute angle to the supporting base and is sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bags as bags are pulled from the bag roll.  
           [0035]    When a roll of T-shirt style bags is mounted in the dispenser with its core disposed between the front edge member and the rear edge member of the first and second parallel, upwardly angled slots, the roll is arranged to dispense bags from the bottom of the bag roll. The bag roll rests upon the roll bearing bar, the bar controlling movement of the bag roll and when a leading bag from the roll is fed over the tongue mounting loop adjacent the separating tongue, the tongue will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout in the upper portion of the bag and facilitate tearing of the perforation joining the leading bag to a subsequent bag on the roll.  
           [0036]    10—In a final variant of the invention, a dispenser is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags that have been folded inwardly from the first and second linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension prior to rolling the bags onto a cylindrical core, thereby providing a more compact roll of bags.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the T-shirt style bag of the present invention illustrating a pair of side gussets, upper and lower seams and an openable mouth;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 bag folded inwardly from the parallel side edges;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of the FIG. 1 embodiment bags rolled onto a cylindrical core suitable for a dispenser;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a plurality of the FIG. 1 bags folded inwardly from the parallel side edges and rolled onto a cylindrical core suitable for a dispenser;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 1A bags taken along the line  5 - 5 ;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6A is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 2 bags taken along the line  6 A- 6 A;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1 rolled bags;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1 rolled bags;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1A rolled bags;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1A rolled bags;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the FIG. 14 dispenser with a bag roll installed and the bags feeding from the top of the roll;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the FIG. 17 dispenser with a bag roll installed and the bags feeding from the bottom of the roll;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the FIG. 16 dispenser with a bag roll installed and the bags feeding from the bottom of the roll;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1 rolled bags;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1A rolled bags;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1 rolled bags;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a dispenser suitable for the FIG. 1A rolled bags; and  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the FIG. 23 embodiment of the dispenser with a roll of FIG. 1 rolled bags installed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0055]    [0055]FIGS. 1, 2,  3  and  6 A illustrate a roll mounted plastic produce bag  10  providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. A front panel  14  has first  18  and second  22  parallel linear side edges, a top edge  26  and a bottom edge  30 . A rear panel  34  has first  38  and second  42  parallel linear side edges, a top edge  46  and a bottom edge  50 . Two front gusset panels  54 ,  58  of a first predetermined dimension  62  are provided. Each front gusset panel  54 ,  58  has a top edge  62 , a bottom edge  66 , first  70  and second  74  parallel side edges. The front gusset panels  54 ,  58  are connected at the first side edge  70  to one of the linear side edges  18 ,  22  of the front panel  14  and extend from the top edge  26  to the bottom edge  30  of the front panel.  
         [0056]    Two rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  of the first predetermined dimension  62  are provided. Each rear gusset panel  78 ,  82  has a top edge  86 , a bottom edge  90 , first  94  and second  98  parallel side edges. The rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  are connected at the first side edge  94  to one of the linear side edges  38 ,  42  of the rear panel  34  and extend from the top edge  46  to the bottom edge  50  of the rear panel  34 . Each front gusset panel  54 ,  58  is also connected to a respective one of the rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  at the second side edge  98 . Each of the front  54 ,  58  and rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  is folded inwardly relative to the front  14  and the rear panel  34 .  
         [0057]    The top edges  26 ,  46 ,  62 ,  86  of the front panel  14 , the rear panel  34 , the front gusset panels  54 ,  58  and the rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  terminate in a first perforation line  102 . The first perforation line  102  is perpendicular to the linear side edges  18 ,  22 ,  38 ,  42  of the front  14  and rear  34  panels. An upper seam  106  connects the front panel  14 , the rear panel  34 , the front gusset panels  54 ,  58  and the rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  at a level  110  spaced downwardly from and parallel to the first perforation line  102 . The bottom edges  30 ,  50 ,  66 ,  90  of the front panel  14 , the rear panel  34 , the front gusset panels  54 ,  58  and the rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  terminate in a second perforation line  114 . The second perforation line  114  is perpendicular to the linear side edges  18 ,  22 ,  38 ,  42  of the front  14  and rear  34  panels. A lower seam  118  connects the front panel  14 , the rear panel  34 , the front gusset panels  54 ,  58  and the rear gusset panels  78 ,  82  at a level  122  spaced upwardly from and parallel to the second perforation line  114 .  
         [0058]    A U-shaped cutout  126  is located in an upper portion  130  of the bag  10 . The U-shaped cutout  126  begins at a first point  134  along the first perforation line  102 . The first point  134  is spaced inwardly from the first linear side edge  18 ,  38  and extends to a second point  138  along the first perforation line  102 . The second point  138  is spaced inwardly from the second linear side edge  22 ,  42 . The cutout  126  extends downwardly toward the lower seam  118 , forming an open mouth  142  and a pair of bag handles  146 . The second perforation line  114  attaches the bag  10  to a subsequent bag  10 . The bags  10  are rolled from their upper seams  106  toward their lower seams  118  onto a cylindrical core  148  to form a compact roll  150  from which the bags  10  are dispensed.  
         [0059]    In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, 2A and  5 , the bag  10  is folded inwardly from the first  18 ,  38  and second  22 ,  42  linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension  154  prior to rolling the bags  10  onto a cylindrical core  156 , thereby providing a more compact roll  158  of bags  10 .  
         [0060]    In a further variant, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 18, a dispenser  162  for roll mounted plastic produce bags  10  includes a supporting base  166  and a surrounding upper member  170 . The upper member  170  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  166  and sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear  168  portion of a bag roll  150 . An attachment member  174  is provided. The attachment member  174  is fixedly attached to the supporting base  166  and the surrounding upper member  170  and provides means for securing the dispenser  162  to either a vertical surface  178  or a horizontal surface  182 .  
         [0061]    First  186  and second  190  parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots  186 ,  190  has a front edge member  194  and a rear edge member  198 . The slots  186 ,  190  extend upwardly from the supporting base  166  and connect to and extend above the surrounding upper member  170 . The slots  186 ,  190  are sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first (not shown) and second  200  ends of a cylindrical produce bag core  146  on which the bags  10  are wound in a roll  150 . The angled slots  186 ,  190  permit the bag core  148  to slide downwardly within the slots  186 ,  190 . First  202  and second  206  core supports are provided. The core supports  202 ,  206  are located adjacent upper ends  210 ,  214  of the first  186  and second  190  slots and provide a bearing surface  218  for the produce bag core  146 .  
         [0062]    A bag constraining ring  222  is provided. The constraining ring  222  is mounted between the front edge members  194  of the upwardly angled slots  186 ,  190  and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally about a bag  10  as it is removed from the bag roll  150 . Upper  226  and lower  230  separating tongues are provided. The upper  226  and lower  230  tongues are affixed to upper  234  and lower  238  portions of the bag constraining ring  222 , respectively. The upper  226  and lower  230  tongues point toward an interior  242  of the ring  222  and are sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bags  10  as bags  10  are pulled from the bag roll  150 .  
         [0063]    When a roll  150  of T-shirt style bags  10  is mounted in the dispenser  162  with its core  148  resting upon the first  202  and second  206  core supports, the roll  150  may be arranged to dispense bags  10  from either of a top  246  and bottom  250  of the bag roll  150 . When a leading bag  10  from the roll  150  is fed through the constraining ring  222  adjacent either the upper  226  or lower  230  separating tongues, one of the tongues  226 ,  230  will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bag  10  and facilitate tearing of the perforation  102  joining the leading bag  10  to a subsequent bag  10  on the roll  150 .  
         [0064]    In still a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 20, a dispenser  254  is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags  10  that have been folded inwardly from the first  18 ,  38  and second  22 ,  42  linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension  154  prior to rolling the bags  10  onto a cylindrical core  156 , thereby providing a more compact roll  158  of bags  10 .  
         [0065]    In another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a dispenser  258  for roll mounted plastic produce bags  10  includes a supporting base  262  and a surrounding upper member  266 . The upper member  266  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  262  and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion  168  of a bag roll  150 . A surrounding intermediate member  270  is provided. The intermediate member  270  has a first side  274 , a second side  278  and a rear portion  282 . The intermediate member  270  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  262  and downwardly from the surrounding upper member  266  and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion  168  of the bag roll  150 . An attachment member  286  is provided. The attachment member  286  is fixedly attached to the supporting base  262 , the surrounding intermediate member  270  and the surrounding upper member  266  and provides means for securing the dispenser  258  to either a vertical surface  178  or a horizontal surface  182 .  
         [0066]    First  290  and second  294  parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots  290 ,  294  has a front edge member  298  and a rear edge member  302  and extends upwardly from the surrounding intermediate member  270  and above the surrounding upper member  266  and is sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first (not shown) and second  200  ends of a cylindrical produce bag core  148  on which the bags  10  are wound in a roll  150 . The angled slots  290 ,  294  permit the bag core  148  to slide downwardly within the slots  290 ,  294 . At least one roll bearing bar  306  is provided. The roll bearing bar  306  extends from the first side  274  of the surrounding intermediate member  270  to the second side  278  of the surrounding intermediate member  270 .  
         [0067]    A bag constraining ring  222  is provided. The constraining ring  222  is mounted between the front edge members  298  of the upwardly angled slots  290 ,  294  and is sized and shaped to fit frictionally about a bag  10  as it is removed from the bag roll  150 . Upper  226  and lower  230  separating tongues are provided. The upper  226  and lower  230  tongues are affixed to upper  234  and lower  238  portions of the bag constraining ring  222 , pointing toward an interior  242  of the ring  222 . The upper  226  and lower  230  tongues are sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bags  10  as bags  10  are pulled from the bag roll  150 .  
         [0068]    When a roll  150  of T-shirt style bags  10  is mounted in the dispenser  258  with its core  148  disposed between the front edge member  298  and the rear edge member  302  of the first  290  and second  294  parallel, upwardly angled slots, the roll  150  may be arranged to dispense bags  10  from either a top  246  or bottom  250  of the bag roll. The bag roll  150  rests upon the roll bearing bar  306  and the bar  306  controls movement of the bag roll  150 . When a leading bag  10  from the roll  150  is fed through the constraining ring  222  adjacent either of the upper  226  and lower  230  separating tongues, one of the tongues  226 ,  230  will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bag  10  and facilitate tearing of the perforation  102  joining the leading bag  10  to a subsequent bag  10  on the roll  150 .  
         [0069]    In still another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a dispenser  314  for roll mounted plastic produce bags  10  is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags  10  that have been folded inwardly from the first  18 ,  38  and second  22 ,  42  linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension  154  prior to rolling the bags  10  onto a cylindrical core  156 , thereby providing a more compact roll  158  of bags  10 .  
         [0070]    In still another variant, as illustrated in FIG. 21, a dispenser  318  for roll mounted plastic produce bags  10  includes a supporting base  322  and a surrounding upper member  326 . The upper member  326  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  322  and sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion  168  of a bag roll  150 . An attachment member  330  is provided. The attachment member  330  is fixedly attached to the supporting base  322  and the surrounding upper member  326  and provides means for securing the dispenser  318  to either a vertical surface  178  or a horizontal surface  182 .  
         [0071]    First  334  and second  338  parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots  334 ,  338  has a front edge member  342  and a rear edge member  346 . The slots  334 ,  338  extend upwardly from the supporting base  322  and connect to and extend above the surrounding upper member  326 . The slots  334 ,  338  are sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first (not shown) and second  200  ends of a cylindrical produce bag core  146  on which the bags  10  are wound in a roll  150 . The angled slots  334 ,  338  permit the bag core  146  to slide downwardly within the slots  334 ,  338 . First  350  and second  354  core supports are provided. The core supports  350 ,  354  are located adjacent upper ends  358 ,  362  of the first  334  and second  338  slots and provide a bearing surface  366  for the produce bag core  146 .  
         [0072]    A tongue mounting loop  370  is provided. The mounting loop  370  is attached between the front edge members  342  of the upwardly angled slots  334 ,  338  and is positioned at an acute angle  374  to the supporting base  322 . A separating tongue  378  is provided. The separating tongue  378  is affixed to a perimeter  382  of the tongue mounting loop  370 , pointing inwardly from the perimeter  382 , upwardly at the acute angle  374  to the supporting base  322  and is sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bags  10  as bags  10  are pulled from the bag roll  150 .  
         [0073]    When a roll  150  of T-shirt style bags  10  is mounted in the dispenser  318  with its core  146  resting upon the first  350  and second  354  core supports, the roll  150  is arranged to dispense bags  10  from the bottom  250  of the bag roll  150 , a leading bag  10  from the roll  150  is fed over the tongue mounting loop  370  adjacent the separating tongue  378 , the tongue  378  will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bag  10  and facilitate tearing of the perforation  102  joining the leading bag  10  to a subsequent bag  10  on the roll  150 .  
         [0074]    In yet another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 22, a dispenser  386  is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags  10  that have been folded inwardly from the first  18 ,  38  and second  22 ,  42  linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension  154  prior to rolling the bags  10  onto a cylindrical core  156 , thereby providing a more compact roll  158  of bags  10 .  
         [0075]    In still another variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 25, a dispenser  390  for roll mounted plastic produce bags  10  includes a supporting base  394  and a surrounding upper member  398 . The upper member  398  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  394  and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion  168  of a bag roll  150 . A surrounding intermediate member  402  is provided. The intermediate member  402  has a first side  406 , a second side  410  and a rear portion  414 . The intermediate member  402  is spaced upwardly from the supporting base  394  and downwardly from the surrounding upper member  398  and is sized and shaped to enclose at least a rear portion  168  of the bag roll  150 . An attachment member  418  is provided. The attachment member  418  is fixedly attached to the supporting base  394 , the surrounding intermediate member  402  and the surrounding upper member  398  and provides means for securing the dispenser  390  to either a vertical surface  178  or a horizontal surface  182 .  
         [0076]    First  422  and second  426  parallel, upwardly angled slots are provided. Each of the slots  422 ,  426  has a front edge member  430  and a rear edge member  434  and extends upwardly from the surrounding intermediate member  402  and above the surrounding upper member  398  and is sized, shaped and located to slidably constrain first (not shown) and second  200  ends of a cylindrical produce bag core  146  on which the bags  10  are wound in a roll  150 . The angled slots  422 ,  426  permit the bag core  146  to slide downwardly within the slots  422 ,  426 . At least one roll bearing bar  438  is provided. The roll bearing bar  438  extends from the first side  406  of the surrounding intermediate member  402  to the second side  410  of the surrounding intermediate member  402 .  
         [0077]    A tongue mounting loop  370  is provided. The mounting loop  370  is attached between the front edge members  430  of the upwardly angled slots  422 ,  426  and is positioned at an acute angle  374  to the supporting base  394 . A separating tongue  378  is provided. The separating tongue  378  is affixed to a perimeter  382  of the tongue mounting loop  370 , pointing inwardly from the perimeter  382 , upwardly at the acute angle  374  to the supporting base  394  and is sized and shaped to locate the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bags  10  as bags  10  are pulled from the bag roll  150 .  
         [0078]    When a roll  150  of T-shirt style bags  10  is mounted in the dispenser  390  with its core  146  disposed between the front edge member  430  and the rear edge member  434  of the first  422  and second  426  parallel, upwardly angled slots, the roll  150  is arranged to dispense bags  10  from the bottom  250  of the bag roll  150 . The bag roll  150  rests upon the roll bearing bar  438 , the bar  438  controlling movement of the bag roll  150  and when a leading bag  10  from the roll  150  is fed over the tongue mounting loop  370  adjacent the separating tongue  378 , the tongue  378  will serve to engage the U-shaped cutout  126  in the upper portion  130  of the bag  10  and facilitate tearing of the perforation  102  joining the leading bag  10  to a subsequent bag  10  on the roll  10 .  
         [0079]    In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 24, a dispenser  442  is sized and shaped to accommodate produce bags  10  that have been folded inwardly from the first  18 ,  38  and second  22 ,  42  linear side edges for a third predetermined dimension  154  prior to rolling the bags  10  onto a cylindrical core  156 , thereby providing a more compact roll  158  of bags  10 .  
         [0080]    The roll mounted plastic produce bag  10  and related dispensers  162 ,  254 ,  258 ,  314 ,  318 ,  386 ,  390  and  442  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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1