Patent Abstract:
A dispenser for bags is disclosed. The dispenser is capable of storing a roll of bags and dispensing individual bags therefrom. In addition, a dispensing system for use in dispensing individual bags from a wound roll of continuously and detachably connected bags is disclosed.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to dispensers and dispensing systems for bags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumers and shoppers purchasing items, such as produce or other grocery items, often use bags to collect and carry those items. In many stores, the bags are stored in and dispensed from dispensers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel and useful dispenser for bags. In one embodiment, the invention is a dispenser that includes one or more braking surfaces for contacting a portion of a wound roll of bags; two support arms configured to receive a wound roll of bags therebetween; at least one tab on each support arm configured to engage a core of the wound roll of bags and to provide an inward force against the wound roll of bags; and a separator positioned relative to the braking surface to separate an individual bag from the wound roll of bags. In addition, the two support arms are positioned relative to the one or more braking surfaces so as to allow the wound roll of bags to contact at least one of the braking surfaces when the core of the wound roll of bags is engaged by the tabs. The two support arms also are configured to swivel so that the wound roll of bags remains in contact with at least one of the braking surfaces as the wound roll of bags is depleted. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a dispensing system for dispensing individual bags from a wound roll of bags. In one embodiment, the dispensing system includes a wound roll of bags having a core and comprising a plurality of bags that are continuously and detachably connected. The dispensing system also includes a dispenser that includes a braking surface for contacting a portion of a wound roll of bags; two support arms configured to receive a wound roll of bags therebetween; at least one tab on each support arm configured to engage a core of the wound roll of bags and to provide an inward force against the wound roll of bags; and a separator positioned relative to the braking surface to separate an individual bag from the wound roll of bags. In addition, the two support arms are positioned relative to the braking surface so as to allow the wound roll of bags to contact the braking surfaces when the core of the wound roll of bags is engaged by the tabs. The two support arms also are configured to swivel so that the wound roll of bags remains in contact with at least one of the braking surfaces as the wound roll of bags is depleted. In the dispensing system, the tabs engage the core of the wound roll of bags, and a portion of the wound roll of bags contacts a portion of the braking surface. 
     The present invention may be better understood by reference to the description and figures that follow. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the specific details as set forth in the following description and figures. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the dispenser embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the dispenser illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the support arms, tabs, and spring coils of the dispenser embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic top view of the components illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the dispenser embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wherein the dispenser is loaded with a roll of bags; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a bag that may be used in connection with the dispenser embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side view of the dispenser in  FIG. 1  having a roll of bags loaded thereon; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the dispenser in  FIG. 8A  after the roll of bags has been partially depleted; 
         FIG. 8C  is a side view of the dispenser in  FIG. 8C  after the roll of bags has been further depleted; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  with a loaded roll of bags illustrating various positions of the dispenser components as the roll of bags becomes depleted; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of support arms, tabs, and spring coils that can be used with various embodiments of dispensers of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of support arms, tabs, and spring coils that can be used with various embodiments of dispensers of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of support arms, tabs, and spring coils that can be used with various embodiments of dispensers of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13B  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention having a roll thereon show in shadow; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The use of reference characters with the same two ending digits as other reference characters to indicate structure in the present specification and drawings, without a specific discussion of such structure, is intended to represent the same or analogous structure in different embodiments. For example, and as further seen herein, the structures indicated by reference characters  108 ,  508 ,  608 ,  708 , and  808  all indicate the separator of a bag dispenser in various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Embodiments of the present invention include bag dispensers and dispensing systems for a wound roll of continuously and detachably separable bags, and  FIGS. 1-3  depict an illustrative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention in which dispenser  100  has plate  102  with braking surface  103 , frame  106 , support arms  110 , tabs  114 , and separator  108 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , plate  102  is shown as a single plate that may be formed in a three-sided cradle position. In alternative embodiments, more than one plate  102  may be present, with each plate  102  optionally adhered or joined to another plate  102  or spaced apart from each other. In further embodiments, plate  102  can be planar or of various shapes and geometric configurations. In alternative embodiments, dispenser  100  can have an open construction made of wire or frame without plate  102 . 
     Plate  102  has braking surface  103 , which is positioned to have at least partial contact with a roll of bags when loaded in dispenser  100 . In some embodiments having more than one plate  102 , each plate  102  may have braking surface  103 . In other embodiments having more than one plate  102 , less than each plate  102  will have braking surface  103 . In alternative embodiments, frame  106  may have braking surface  103  in addition to or in lieu of braking surface  103  on plate  102 . As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C , the portions of braking surface  103  that may contact a roll of bags  120  may vary as the roll of bags  120  is depleted. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , plate  102  has mounting holes  104 , which can vary in number, size, and location in accordance with the present invention. Mounting holes  104  permit dispenser  100  to be attached to a post, wall, stand, counter, shelf, or other suitable supporting beam or surface by use of conventional fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, or the like. In alternative embodiments, mounting holes  104  are optional and dispenser  100  can be attached to a surface or structure using alternative attachment means that are readily known in the art, such as adhesion. In other embodiments, dispenser  100  can rest freely on a surface, such as a counter top or shelf, without the use of mounting holes  104 , fasteners, or any attachment means. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , plate  102  is mounted onto frame  106 , which extends under the braking surface as shown with dashed lines in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , separator  108  is attached to plate  102 , which can be by any conventional means, such as welding or bonding. In alternative embodiments, separator frame  108  may be attached to frame  106 . In other embodiments, frame  106  may be a wire frame and may extend beyond plate  102  to form separator  108 , in which embodiment frame  106  and separator  108  are integral. In yet other embodiments, separator  108  may be integral with or attached to plate  102 , and frame  106  may optionally be excluded from dispenser  100 . 
     Separator  108  can have various shapes and formations. As shown in  FIG. 1 , separator  108  is a tongue pointed upwards. In other embodiments, separator  108  can be a tongue pointed downwards. In alternative embodiments, separator  108  can be any structure that is configured to separate a bag from a wound roll of bags. Examples of separators that can be used in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0316309 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/813,695, filed on Jun. 11, 2010) and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. By way of example, separator  108  can be a double tongue or a plate with a slot. In some embodiments, separator  108  may be angled in a direction toward frame  106 . 
     In addition, the position of separator  108  can be varied so long as it is positioned to engage and separate a bag being dispensed from the dispenser. In some embodiments, separator  108  may be located in close proximity to a loaded roll of bags. In some embodiments, separator  108  may be located about 0.5 to 1.0 inch from a roll of bags. In addition, the top of separator  108  may be in the same plane as the most immediate portion of the braking surface, as shown in  FIG. 3  with regard to plate  102  and separator  108 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and in isolation in  FIGS. 4-5 , wire  109  forms support arms  110 , spring coils  112  (depicted as each having three coils in the particular embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5 ), and tabs  114 . Although support arms  110 , spring coils  112 , and tabs  114  are shown in  FIG. 1  as integrally formed from wire  109 , some or all of these components may be constructed of other material and adhered or connected together by conventional means in alternative embodiments. In some embodiments, one support arm  100 , one spring coil  112 , and one tab  114  may be integrally formed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , tabs  114  include inner engagement tab  116  and outer grasping tab  118 . However, it will be appreciated that tabs  114  can have alternative shapes and configurations that engage the core of a wound roll of bags. As shown in  FIG. 1 , tabs  114  may not extend through the entire core of a wound roll of bags, and some embodiments of dispenser  100  require at least two support arms  110  and two tabs  114 . 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , tabs  114  may be biased inwardly towards each other. The inward bias of tabs  114  may result from an inward bias of support arms  110 . In particular, support arms  110  may be biased inward due to the bending of support arms  110  and/or bias provided by the closest spring coil  112  to each support arm  110 . In some embodiments, the distance between tabs  114  at their default resting position is less than the width of a roll of bags used with dispenser  100 . 
     Holder  119  (depicted as a crimp or bend in plate  102 ) engages wire  109  and attaches wire  109  to plate  102  in a manner that permits support arms  110  to swivel as described subsequently herein with respect to  FIGS. 8A-C  and  9 . Although holder  119  is depicted as a crimp or bend in plate  102 , it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that different attachments can be used that permit the support arms  110  to swivel as described herein, and such mechanisms are within the scope of the present invention. In other embodiments, support arms  110  may not be directly or indirectly connected to each other and each support arm  110  may be independently attached to frame  106  or plate  102 . 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, support arms  110  and spring coils  112  may be constructed of wire, such as stainless steel wire. In some embodiments, it is beneficial if the wire has an adequate combination of flexibility and force for the dispenser to function as described subsequently herein. Wire having a composition and hardness suitable for the manufacture of springs, such as music wire per ASTM Specification A228, which is available from suppliers such as United Wire Company, Inc. of New Haven, Conn., has been found to provide the adequate properties in some embodiments of the present invention. 
     In addition, the placement and number of spring coils  112  in dispenser  100  is a factor in providing the requisite inward force of the tabs  114 . Although each set of spring coils is shown in  FIG. 1  as having three coils, the number of coils will vary based upon the location and wire used in a particular dispenser and the desired bias force. 
     The dimensions of the components of the dispenser can vary based upon the parameters of rolls of bags to be used with the dispenser, but the dimensions should ensure that adequate force is applied to the roll of bags by the tabs as described herein. In certain embodiments, the default resting distance between the tabs is less than the width of the roll of bags for use with the dispenser. Although any dimensions that offer the functionality of the dispenser are within the scope of the present invention, approximate dimensional ranges for illustrative embodiments of the invention include the following with reference to the dimension characters of  FIG. 5 : 
     S: 0.125″ to 0.1875″ 
     T: 0.75″ to 1.25″ 
     U: 0.75″ to 1.25″ 
     V: 3″ to 5″ 
     W: 3″ to 5″ 
     X: 0.25″ to 0.75″ 
     Y: 1″ to 2″ 
     Z: 0.5″ to 2″ 
     In one particular example, the dispenser may have the following dimensions: S=0.156″; T=1.03″; U=0.96″; V=4″; W=4.25″; X=0.5″; Y=1.38″; and Z=0.54″. Other embodiments may have proportions that are approximately relative to these dimensions. 
     As indicated, the dispenser of the present invention is for use with a roll of bags.  FIG. 6  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in which a roll of bags  120  having a core  122  has been loaded onto the dispenser. Core  122  can be the inner most bag itself but is more desirably one or more tube-like inserts within the bag that are constructed of a durable material, such as plastic, and that spans some or all of the width of the roll of bags  120 . In some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , core  122  may be completely hollow. 
     Although it will be readily apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art that numerous types of bags may be used with dispenser embodiments of the present invention, some rolls of bags used with the present invention may have a plurality of continuously and detachably separable bags. An example of a roll of bags that can be used in the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0316309 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/813,695). 
     As an example of a roll of bags that may be used with dispensers of the present invention,  FIG. 7  illustrates in more detail roll of bags  120  shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG.  7 , roll of bags  120  with core  122  has been partially unwound to show bag  124  and bag  125 . As depicted, bag  124  has a bottom end  126  that is formed by a heat seal, a mouth end  128 , two opposing faces  130 , and two opposing lateral sides  132 . As shown, bottom end  126  and mouth end  128  are on opposing longitudinal ends. In the depicted embodiment, bag  124  is shown with gussets  133  on each side  132 . Bag  125 , which is identical to bag  124  but without all features shown in the illustration, is continuously and detachably connected to bag  124  by perforation line  134 . Perforation line  134  generally comprises alternating cuts, in which the tubing forming the bag is severed, and the uncut portions between the cuts in the perforation line are called ties. 
       FIG. 7  also depicts center slit  136  in perforation line  134 , although it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that center slit  136  alternatively can be located on either longitudinal side of perforation line  134 , such as closer to mouth end  128  or bottom end  126 . In another embodiment, the center slit  136  can alternatively be located closer to one of opposing lateral sides  132 . In similar manner, additional bags are continuous and detachably connected in series similar to the arrangement and attachment of bag  124  to bag  126  and are wound into a roll of bags  120 . It is apparent that other types of bags are contemplated for use in the present invention, including, for example, folded or unfolded, gusseted or nongusseted, sealed or star-sealed bags, and combinations thereof. Other bags for use with the dispenser of the present invention are readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     In order to load roll of bags  120  onto dispenser  100 , with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6  for illustration, tabs  114 , which are biased inwards toward each other, may be pulled outwardly apart from each other to separate them with sufficient distance such that a roll of bags can be placed between them. For convenience, the user may grasp outer grasping tabs  118 , when present, to assist with separating tabs  114  to load the roll of bags. After placing roll of bags  120  between tabs  114  such that engagement tabs  116  are aligned with core  122 , tabs  114  are released and permitted to move back inwardly toward each other such that engagement tabs  116  engage core  122  of the roll of bags  120  (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8A -C). It is beneficial in some dispenser embodiments of the present invention if support arms  110  swivel at a point such that roll of bags  120  maintains a constant or approximately constant distance from separator  108 . 
     When a roll of bags  120  is loaded on the dispenser of the present invention, the roll of bags may be automatically centered with respect to separator  108 , i.e., the roll of bags may be aligned in the left to right direction such that an optional center slit (not shown) on the bags in the roll is aligned with the dispenser&#39;s separator  108 . This feature avoids the necessity of a user having to manually center the bags on the dispenser and eliminates centering errors. In addition, the support arms  110  and tabs  116  maintain the roll of bags  120  in a centered position, which prevents the roll of bags from undesirably wobbling or sliding as observed in other types of dispensers. Tabs  114  engagement with the core of the roll of bags also prevents the roll from undesirably “jumping” out of the dispenser when a hag is pulled by a user for dispensing, which has been found to occur in some other commercial dispensers (especially when the user pulls on the bag being dispensed with a large degree of force and the roll of bags is nearing depletion and has less mass). In addition, as a result of tabs  114  positioning roll of bags  120 , roll of bags  120  may be automatically centered and positioned in the front to back direction within dispenser  100  due to the cradle shape of the plate  102  and the positioning by tabs  114 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , because a roll of bags is loaded between tabs  114 , which may be biased inward, dispenser  100  may advantageously allow for the use of rolls of bags having different widths. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, a dispenser can hold a roll having a width from three inches to five inches. In other embodiments of the present invention, both smaller or larger rolls width rolls of bags can be used. In addition, unlike other commercial dispensers, there is no need for the core of the roll of bags to be greater than the width of the roll of bags for use with the dispenser of the present invention, which results in material, cost, and waste savings. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 6, and 7 , a person desiring to dispense a bag from dispenser  100 , such as a shopper or consumer, may pull the outermost bag (bag  124 ) on roll of bags  120  toward separator  108 . When a user pulls bag  124  from roll of bags  120  toward separator  108 , center slit  136  may be engaged by separator  108 . As a result, separator  108  may provide a force to begin tearing perforation line  134  in each outward direction from center slit  136 . As a result of perforation line  134  tearing, bag  124  may be separated and dispensed from roll of bags  120 . In other embodiments, the bags may lack a center slit  136  and the separator  108  could directly engage perforation line  134 . 
     In operation, the dispenser of the present invention may beneficially prevent or significantly diminish any overspin (or freewheeling) of the roll of bags by applying various braking forces to the roll of bags. First, a gravitational force provides a braking function. For instance,  FIGS. 8A-8C  depict a side view of the embodiment of dispenser  100  shown in  FIG. 1  at various stages of the dispensing process as roll of bags  120  have been gradually depleted. Similarly,  FIG. 9  depicts this depletion of the roll of bags with shadow images. As illustrated, because support arms  110  are capable of rotating or swiveling in a direction such that a portion of roll of bags  120  remains in contact with braking surface  103  as roll of bags  120  is depleted. As a result, a downward gravitational force exists that is proportional with the mass of the roll of bags, and this force serves a braking function on the roll of bags  120  against braking surface  103 . A frictional braking force also exists due to the contact of the roll of bags  120  against braking surface  103 . 
     In addition, because support arms  110  and, correspondingly, tabs  114  may be biased inwardly towards each other, there may also be an inward force exerted on each side of roll of bags  120  by tabs  114 . In certain embodiments, this force may result from the resting (or default) position between tabs  114  being a lesser distance than the width of a loaded roll of bags  120 . This force that is applied by tabs  114  may provide a braking mechanism that prevents or reduces overspin (or freewheeling) of roll of bags  120  during dispensing. In addition, as indicated above, this configuration may also permit a dispenser of the present invention to accommodate rolls of bags of various widths due to the possibility of tabs  114  being separable to varying degrees. 
     Dispensers of the present invention may provide a sufficient braking force to reduce or eliminate the roll of bags overspinning or freewheeling even as a roll of bags is depleted. This operation is advantageous over previous dispensers in which a roll of bags is more likely to overspin as the number of bags is diminished due to the decreased gravitational and frictional forces. As a result, partially-diminished rolls of bags prone to overspinning have been conventionally discarded prematurely when used with previous dispensers, thereby increasing costs and waste. 
     In particular, with dispensers of the present invention, such as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C , a larger roll of bags  120  shown in  FIG. 8A  contacts greater surface area of braking surface  103  than the smaller (more depleted) roll of bags in  FIG. 8C . In addition, the mass of the larger roll of bags  120  in  FIG. 8A  is greater than the mass of the more depleted roll of bags  120  in  FIG. 8C . As a result, the gravitational force and friction on the roll of bags in  FIG. 8A  is greater than that force on the more depleted roll of bags  120  in  FIG. 8C . Furthermore, as compared with the more depleted roll of bags  120  in  FIG. 8C , there is also a greater mechanical advantage for dispensing the larger roll of bags  120  shown in  FIG. 8A , such that the pull force felt by a user to dispense a bag is not excessive for a large roll of bags. 
     However, as support arms  110  swivel toward braking surface  103  as roll of bags  120  is depleted, the inward force from tabs  114  is not diminished but instead remains constant. As a result, an adequate amount of force is applied to the roll of bags  120  to prevent overspin even as the bags are used. This function is advantageous over previous dispensers that have insufficient braking force as the number of bags is being diminished. In addition, although the mechanical advantage is decreased as the bags are depleted, the gravitational and frictional braking forces have diminished. As a result, the user may experience a nearly constant pull force to dispense a bag as the bags are depleted. 
     As discussed above, the bias force applied by tabs  114  to a roll of bags  120  in the present dispenser is a significant factor in the operation of the dispenser of the present invention. The force necessary to separate tabs in dispensers of the present invention relates to the amount of force applied to a roll of bags after being loaded. In some embodiments of the present invention, the inward force of tabs when engaged with the core of a loaded roll of bags is from about 0.5 pounds of pressure to about 2.0 pounds of pressure, which corresponds with a deflection of about 0.5 to about 2.0 inches of deflection of tabs in certain embodiments. 
     In addition, embodiments of the dispenser having a spring coil, and particularly a spring coil associated with each support arm such as spring coils  112  in  FIG. 1 , provide for a range of motion such that tabs can be separated to accommodate a wide variety of widths of bag rolls. By contrast, support arms that do not have spring coils, such as the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 13A-B  and  14 , may have a limited range of motion, thereby restricting the range of bag roll widths that can be loaded. For example, the inward pressure of tabs at a point with the arms deflected to be approximately parallel in a dispenser embodiment having two spring coils (with three coils per spring coil) was measured at 2.0 pounds of pressure, whereas the same measurement for tabs on a u-shaped wire without spring coils was measured at 10.5 pounds of pressure. Accordingly, dispenser embodiments having spring coils may permit the use of a larger range of bag widths than similar dispenser embodiments without spring coils. 
     Tests confirm that dispensers of the present invention in which tabs provide an inward bias on a roll of bags beneficially decrease or eliminate the likelihood of the roll of bags overspinning or freewheeling. In particular, the force necessary to pull a bag forward on a roll of bags having a width of 3.75 inches was measured on multiple dispensers at two stages: (i) when the roll had a 7-inch diameter and weighed 4.39 pounds and (ii) after being partially depleted such that the roll diameter was reduced to 1.5 inches and the weight was reduced to 0.09 pounds. Three alternative dispensers were tested: (i) a commercial dispenser available in the market that is similar to the dispenser shown in FIG. 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,806, (ii) a dispenser of the present invention having the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , and (iii) a cradle dispenser in which the roll of bags freely rests without any inward bias, as depicted in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,256. Each bag was tested using a slow, medium, and fast pull, and the following results indicate the average pull force required to pull a bag forward using each dispenser: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Roll 
                 Commercial 
                 Invention 
                 Cradle 
               
               
                   
                 Diameter 
                 Dispenser 
                 Embodiment 
                 Dispenser 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 7″ 
                 2.45 LBS 
                 3.05 LBS 
                  2.2 LBS 
               
               
                   
                 1.5″ 
                  1.1 LBS 
                  2.1 LBS 
                 0.05 LBS 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     A greater requisite force to pull a bag forward indicates that a greater braking force exists on the roll of bags. With a greater braking force, the roll of bags is less likely to overspin or freewheel. Accordingly, as evidenced by the test results shown above, the invention embodiment tested provides an improved braking force on the roll of bags, thereby improving the dispensing process by diminishing overspinning as a roll of bags is depleted. In addition, the tested embodiment of the invention was the only dispenser tested in which the force required to pull a bag forward from the smaller roll was consistently greater than the weight of the smaller roll. 
     In addition, it was observed during the testing that the smaller roll of bags was likely to jump out of the cradle dispenser when a relatively quick motion was used to dispense a bag. In addition, the cradle dispenser lacked adequate resistance or braking force to consistently engage bags on the smaller roll on the separator. It was also observed that bags in the commercial dispenser were also likely to jump out of the dispenser if the bags were pulled quickly in an upward motion, which is a practical scenario for use in commercial settings. By contrast, these disadvantages were not observed with dispensers of the present invention. 
     The tendency for a depleted roll of bags to overspin and jump out of the other dispensers may be due in part to the increasing spin speed of the roll of bags as the bags become depleted. In particular, when a user pulls at a rate of 22 inches per second, a 7-inch diameter roll of bags will rotate at approximately 1 revolution per second. By contrast, when a 1.4-inch diameter roll of bags is pulled at the same rate, it will rotate at approximately 5 revolutions per second, which is nearly five times faster than the larger roll. This increased spin speed likely contributes to depleted rolls of bags overspinning or jumping from dispensers. However, with the configuration of the dispensers of the present invention, these unfavorable characteristics may be overcome. 
       FIGS. 10-12  depict illustrative alternative embodiments of components that can be used with dispensers of the present invention. The various examples of components shown in  FIGS. 4 and 10-12  are all designed in a manner so that when used with a particular dispenser embodiment, a sufficient force is applied to a roll of bags to reduce or eliminate overspinning during dispensing. These examples are illustrative in nature and do not exclude other embodiments from within the scope of the present invention. 
     For instance,  FIG. 10  shows two support arms  210 , spring coil  212 , and tabs  214  formed from wire  209 . Tabs  214  are biased inwardly towards each other and have an inner engagement tab  216  and an outer grasping tab  218 . In this embodiment, spring coil  212  is a single set of multiple coils. Although the components in this embodiment and other illustrative embodiments are shown as integrally formed from wire  209 , some or all of these components may not be integral in other embodiments. 
       FIG. 11  shows support arms  310 , spring coil  312 , and tabs  314  formed from wire  309 . As depicted, tabs  314  are biased inwardly towards each other and have an inner engagement tab  316  and an outer grasping tab  318 . In this embodiment, inner engagement tabs  316 , which are shown as loops of wire for grasping by the user, are not integral to the support arms  310  but are attached by any conventional means, such as welding or bonding. In addition, spring coil  312  is shown as a single coil set (which has multiple coils therein) and is not integrally formed from the same wire forming support arms  310 . Instead, in this depicted embodiment, spring coil holder  313  is attached to wire  309  at each end of spring coil  312  (although only one spring coil holder  313  can be seen from the view in  FIG. 11 ). This attachment can be by any conventional means, such as welding or bonding. Spring coil  312  may be coiled around wire  309  and freely held in position by spring coil holders  313 . 
     In the embodiment in  FIG. 11 , the force of spring coil  312  may maintain or aid in maintaining support arms  310  in a default resting position so that tabs  314  are biased inward. When tabs  314  are separated to load a roll of bags, spring coil  312  may be compressed and exert a force so that tabs  314  exert an inward force on a loaded roll of bags of a magnitude to provide the aforementioned braking force on a roll of bags. In this illustrated embodiment, the distance between tabs  314  may be less than the width of a roll of bags for use in dispenser  300 . In addition, the number of coils in spring coil  312  can vary in alternative embodiments and as suitable for particular applications. In other embodiments, wire  309  may be comprised of two separate wires that are joined (such as with a hinge or other conventional means) at a location within the portion where spring coil  312  is located. In such embodiments, the force exerted by spring coil  312  may be increased due to such a hinged construction. 
       FIG. 12  depicts an alternative embodiment of the support arms  410  of the present invention. In this embodiment, wire  409  forms support arms  410  and tabs  414 . As illustrated, support arms  410  are shaped such that they serve as S-shaped springs, which may increase the deflection, range of motion, and potential inward bias of support arms  410 . In addition, tabs  414  are biased inwardly towards each other and have an inner engagement tab  416  and an outer grasping tab  418 . 
     To further illustrate the scope of the present invention, another dispenser embodiment is shown in  FIG. 13A . In this embodiment, dispenser  500  is constructed of frame  506 . Plate  502  and plate  502 ′ are mounted on frame  506 , and plate  502  has braking surface  503 . In addition, the upper portion of frame  506  has braking surface  503 . As shown, plate  502 ′ is mounted on the outside of frame  506 . In alternative embodiments, plate  502 ′ can be mounted on the inner side of frame  506  in order to contact a loaded roll of bags such that the upper surface may serve as a braking surface. In other embodiments, both plate  502  and plate  502 ′ can be omitted and the roll of bags can rest upon and contact frame  506  directly so that frame  506  itself serves as the braking surface. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 13A , frame  506  and plate  502  form a cradle structure that corresponds with the cradle structure formed by plate  102  in dispenser  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Plates  502  and  502 ′ also include mounting holes  504 . Dispenser  500  also includes separator  508  that is integral with frame  506  and extends in a downward direction. A single wire, which is attached to frame  506  by holders  519 , forms support arms  510 , and each support arm  510  has tab  514  on its distal end. Tabs  514  are biased inwardly towards each other and have inner engagement tab  516  and outer grasping tab  518 . 
     As in previously described embodiments, support arms  510  are capable of swiveling in a direction to continually engage a roll of bags with braking surface  503  as the roll of bags is depleted. However, in contrast to the previously-described embodiments, dispenser  500  does not have any spring coils on support arms  510 . Instead, as depicted in this embodiment, tabs  514  are biased inwardly solely by the bending or angling of support arms  510 . Also, in this embodiment, as bags are being unwound from the roll for dispensing, the bags may pass through the open portion of frame  506  at the distal end of dispenser  500  as shown by the arrow. In this manner, frame  506  can also function as a guide channel for the bags being dispensed. To engage separator  508 , the bag being dispensed may be pulled in a slightly upward direction. 
     For further illustration,  FIG. 13B , depicts an identical dispenser to  FIG. 13A  except that separator  508 ′ of  FIG. 13B  is depicted as a double tongue. In this embodiment, a bag is dispensed in the same manner as described with  FIG. 13A , except the bags are also pulled between upper wire  508 A and lower wire  508 B that form separator  508 ′. The bag being dispensed may be pulled slightly upward to engage the perforation of the bag against upper wire  508 A forming separator  508 ′, such that a perforation tears and separates the bag being dispensed from the subsequent bag in the roll. In this manner, separator  508 ′ also serves the function of guiding the bag during dispensing. 
     It will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that components illustrated in the various illustrative embodiments herein can be interchanged into other embodiments of the invention, just as separator  508  and  508 ′ in  FIGS. 13A and 13B  can be altered and remain within the scope of the present invention. In addition, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that alternative embodiments of depicted components, such as alternative separators, are known and can be used within the scope of the dispensers of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  provides another illustrative embodiment of a dispenser of the present invention that has a roll of bags  620  with core  622  loaded thereon. In this embodiment, dispenser  600  is constructed of a frame  606 , which has plates  602  mounted thereon. Frame  606  and plates  602  form a cradle position. As shown, plates  602  may optionally have a plurality of mounting holes  604 . In addition, plates  602  have braking surfaces  603 , which may contact roll of bags  620 . In alternative embodiments, plates  602  may be integral with each other and with plate  608 ′, and in such embodiments frame  606  can optionally be excluded. 
     Support arms  610  are attached to plate  602  by holders  619  and may be capable of swiveling in an up and down direction. Although support arms are depicted as formed from a single piece of wire, in other embodiments support arms  610  may be nonintegral to each other and each support arm  610  may be independently attached to plate  602 . Tabs  614  are adjoined to the distal end of each support arm  610 . In this embodiment, tabs  614  do not include an outer grasping tab to assist in separating tabs  614 . In this depicted embodiment, separator  608  is a slot formed within plate  608 ′. In this embodiment, a user pulls the outermost bag on a loaded roll of bags through separator  608 , which then aids in tearing the perforation on the series of bags to dispense a bag. 
       FIG. 15  shows dispenser  700  constructed of frame  706  with plates  702  mounted thereon. As shown, plates  702  include braking surfaces  703  and mounting holes  704 . Dispenser  700  also includes support arms  710 , spring coils  712  (depicted as each having two coils), and tabs  714 . Tabs  714  are biased inwardly towards each other and have inner engagement tab  716  and outer grasping tab  718 . As illustrated, wire  709  is also attached to dispenser  700  by holder  719 , and wire  709  forms two support arms  710 , two spring coils  712 , and tabs  714 . However, it will be appreciated, as with other illustrative embodiments disclosed herein, that these components can be nonintegral. 
     Unlike the three-sided cradle structure depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , plates  702  in  FIG. 15  form a two-sided cradle structure in which braking surfaces  703  contact a roll of bags when loaded on the dispenser. As illustrated with respect to the dispenser embodiment in  FIGS. 8A-8C , it is appreciated that each of braking surfaces  703  may not contact the roll at all points of dispensing and less contact with braking surfaces  703  may be present as a roll of bags is depleted. Dispenser  700  also has separator  708 . For illustration of an alternative embodiment,  FIG. 16  shows dispenser  700  wherein plate  702 ′ is extended as compared with plate  702  in  FIG. 15 . In yet other embodiments, the extended portion of plate  702 ′ in  FIG. 16  could consist of a separate plate that is mounted separately upon frame  706 . 
       FIG. 17  depicts dispenser  800  having plate  802  mounted on frame  806 . In addition, plate  802  has a braking surface  803  and mounting holes  804 . In contrast to the two-sided and three-sided cradle structures discussed in previous embodiments of the present invention, dispenser  800  only has a single braking surface  803  and plate  802  is planar. Dispenser  800  also includes separator  808 . As with other embodiments disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that separator  808 , which is shown as integral with frame  806 , can be nonintegral and alternatively attached or mounted to frame  806 , plate  802 , or both. 
     Dispenser  800  includes wire  809  that forms support arms  810 , spring coils  812 , and tabs  814 , which may be separately formed and attached to one another in alternative embodiments. Holders  819  attaches wire  809  to plate  802  in a manner that permits support arms  810  to swivel in a vertical direction. In addition, tabs  814  may be biased inwardly towards each other and have inner engagement tab  816  and outer grasping tab  818 . Dispenser  800  also includes separator  808 , which is shown as a tongue. As compared with dispenser  100  in  FIG. 1 , in which spring coils  112  have three coils, spring coils  812  each have one coil. 
     Although the present invention includes different shapes of the plates carrying the braking surface, the three-sided cradle structure offers more contact with a roll of bags and thereby provides a greater force to avoid overspin. In addition, these structures may advantageously provide for centering the roll of bags in the front and back direction of the dispenser and maintain and securing that position and any unwanted movement of the roll of bags. 
     The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find utility in applications differing from the types described. While the invention has been illustrated and described in the general context of bag dispensers, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As such, further modifications and equivalents of the invention herein disclosed may occur to persons skilled in the art using no more than routine experimentation, and all such modifications and equivalents are believed to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1