Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a bags mounting and dispensing
system, and more particularly relates to a mounting and dis-
pensing system for flexible bags such as plastic bags used for
containing groceries, garbage and the like.
Flexible bags have a wide variety of uses. Nor-
mally the bags are provided in a stack in a folded manner or
in a tied bundle so that a bag can be removed from the stack
or bundle one at a time. Alternatively, the bags are supplied
in a continuous roll with a score line provided between suc-
cessive bags such that one bag at a time can be pulled off
from the roll for use. In use, the bag must be expanded and
its opening must be maintained în an opened state so as to
facilitate its filling. For relatively small size bags such as
groceries bags a simple bracket can be used to maintain the
bag in an opened state for filling it with groceries. However,
for larger bags such as a garbage bag or storage bag, it has
been problematic to provide a simple bracket to maîntain it in
the opened position for filling purposes. Furthermore, the
bracket can not be used for maintaining the bag also in a
closed position for storage purposes such that the material
stored in the bag is safely sealed therein. Also, it has been
always difficult for a user in finding the bag of a correct
size to fit properly in the bracket or container; more
commonly people would use bags from their everyday shopping,
with some being too small, or too big, or very thin, or not
strong enough to serve the purpose. And with the environment
being at risk, there is a definite need for the use of only
recyclable and biodegradable bags, which is not normally the
case for shopping bags. Yet another problem with conventional
bags is in closing the bag when it is filled and it is
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required to be replaced. It is extremely difficult to tie the
top edges of a filled bag or to use a string to wrap around
the bag since there is not enough bag material left unfilled
to be pulled together. This is because people normally have
the tendency of not replacing the filled bag unless it is very
full, thus not leaving any room at the top of the bag for
tying. With all of the above mentioned issues in mind, the
system disclosed herein was developed, solving all the
problems of finding the correct bag, mounting it, maintaining
it in an open state, temporarily closing the opening whenever
it is desirable, closing the bag to be removed, tying the
bag,and simultaneously finding a replacement bag after the
filled bag is removed.
It is a prîncipal object of the present invention to
provide a mounting and dispensing system which greatly
facilitates the mounting of a flexible bag and it may be
operative for maintaining a flexible bag in the opened
position for filling operation as well as in a closed position
for storage purposes and in the case of storing a material
with obnoxious odour, the odour will be inhibited from
emitting into the atmosphere.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system which greatly facilitates the
closîng or tying of a filled bag.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system which readily provides a
plurality of bags for easy access for use, and providing a
continuous supply of bags.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system which readily provides a
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plurality of bags that are recyclable and bio-degradable.
It is another object of the present învention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system which readîly provides a
replacement bag that is already mounted and ready to be used
as soon as the current bag is removed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system which serves as a convenient
mounting means for a plurality of flexible bags for easy
access for use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
a mounting and dispensing system for flexible plastic bags
which is simple in structure and easy to operate.
The principal requirement of the mounting and dispensing
system is to have arms that are substantially parallel to each
other in the closed position to facilitate the mounting and
removal of a flexible bag on and along the arms, as well as
operative sideways outwardly away from each other in their
middle portion to maintain a flexible bag in the opened
position for filling operation.
In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible bags mounting
and dispensing system primarily comprises a right articulated
arm member and a left articulated arm member mutually parallel
to each other and are equal in length. Each of the articulated
arm member has three section members, namely a front section
member, a middle section member and a rear section member. The
front section member has a rear end hingedly coupled to the
front end of the middle section member. The other end of the
middle section member is hingedly coupled to the front end of
the rear section member. The rear end portion of the rear
section member has a free end portion operative for mounting
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the system in a cantilever manner on a vertical mounting wall.
The flexible bags have mounting pipings or loops provided on
their opening edge portion such that the bags can be
threadingly mounted on the rear section member of the
articulated arms. A bag can be pulled over the front section
member and the middle section member for use.
The system is set up in such a way that when the arms are
pushed towards each other, the system becomes in a closed
state, where the arms form two parallel lines juxtaposed to
each other. However, when the arms are pulled away from each
other, they are no longer in parallel, and the system becomes
an open state. The basic idea is that when the arms are in
parallel, i.e., the system is in a closed state, a bag mounted
on the arms through pipings provided on its opening edge
portion can be pulled along the arms all the way until the end
of the arms, thus providing an empty bag in a closed state
mounted on the arms. With this system, it is therefore
extremely easy to mount a bag onto the arms since all that is
required is to slide the bag along the arms. Also, the problem
of finding the correct type and size of bag to use is
eliminated since the bags are readily available. For opening
the bag in use, the middle portion of the arms are simply
pulled away from each other or exerting a pushing force
axially at their front ends. The expansion of the arms will
cause the bag to open and to be ready for use. Whenever the
bag is not being used, it can be !cept closed by simply pushing
the arms towards each other, hence the parallel arms maintain
the bag securely closed to protect its contents. Whenever the
bag is filled or is required to be replaced, the arms are
first operated to the parallel positions, then the filled bag
-- ~ 0~35Z~)
can be pulled along the parallel arms all the way untîl the
pipings on îts opening edge are tîghtly squeezed. The system
thus greatly facilitates the action of tying the filled bag.
After tying the bag, it can be removed by using a cutter
provided at the end of the arms. As the filled bag is being
pulled along the arms to be removed, the next bag is
automatically pulled forwards onto the arms to become ready
for use, since the bags are serially connected to each other.
In the drawings illustrating the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the articulated
mounting and dispensing arm member for the flexible bags
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a top elevation view of the articulated
mounting and dispensing arm member in the closed position.
Figure 3 is a top elevation view of the articulated moun-
ting and dispensing arm member in the opened position.
Figure 4 is an isolated top elevation view of the front
portion of the articulated arm member with bag cutting means
incorporated therein.
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the flexible bags
mounting and dispensing system according to the present
invention with the flexible bags mounted on the rear section
member therein.
Figure 6 is a perspective side elevation view of the
flexible bags according to the present invention having moun-
ting pipings or tubings provided in the edge portion of their
opening. The bags may be connected to each other along the
side edeges which can be provided with a severable impression
line.
Figure 7 is a perspective side elevation view of the
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flexible bags according to the present invention having a
plurality of mounting loops provided in the edge portion of
their opening.
Figure 8 is a perspective side elevation view of a second
embodiment of the mounting and dispensing system according to
the present invention with flexible bags supplied in a contin-
uous roll.
Figure 9 is a partial top elevation view of the second
embodirllent thereof.
Figure 10 is an enlarged front elevation sectional view
along section line X-X of Figure .3.
Figure 11 is an enlarged front elevation sectional view
along section line XI-XI of Figure 8.
l~ith reference to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals indicate same parts in the several different views,
the system of the present învention is shown in an exemplary
embodiment which includes an articulated bracket 10 having two
equal length articulated arms 11 and 12. The articulated arms
11 and 12 are normally positioned mutually parallel to each
other and each comprises of three section members, namely,
front section members 13, 14, middle section members 15, 16,
and rear section members 17, 18 respectively. The front end of
the front section members 13 and 14 are pivotally coupled
together and preferably hingedly coupled to a short cross
member 19 as best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The rear end of
the front section members 13 and 14 are respectively hingedly
coupled to one end of the middle section rnembers 15 and 16
respectively to form pivotal operating joints 20 and 21. These
joints preferably have a configuration similar to a tongue and
groove joint in which a slot is formed at the end of one
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section while a tongue-like end extension section is formed in
the other section. The extension section is pivotally fitted
into the slot of the associated section and the two sect-ions
are pivotally secured together by a pin 22. The other end of
the middle section member 15 and 16 are respectively hingedly
coupled to the front end of the rear section member 17 and 1~
with similar tongue and groove joints. The rear portion of the
rear section memher 17 and 1~ are connected to a free end
mounting section 23 which may be L-shaped as shown and
operative for mounting the articulated bracket ln in a
cantilever manner by being inserted removably into a sheath
bracket provided on a mounting means such as a wall or a post.
The flexible bags for the present system have a reinfor-
ced double layer edge portion around its opening forming
tubings or pipings 24 and 25 along each half portion therein.
The bags may be joined together at their upper end portion
such that the pipings 24 and 25 are continuous from bag to
bag, so that the bags may be easily and simply mounted on the
artlculated arms 11 and 12 by inserting the latter through the
pipîngs 24 and 25 respectively and pulling the bags tight
together to hang onto the rear section mernber therein. The
side of each bag may also be connected to the si-de of the bas
next to it by perforated lines. The perforated lines will make
it easier to separate the bags from one another. The bags may
be easily and simply mounted onto the articulated arms 11 and
12 by first disconnecting the bracket 10 from the mounting
section 23, and then inserting the end of the rear section
members 17 and 1,~ through the pipings 24 and 25 respectively
and pulling the bags tishtly together to hang onto the rear
section mernbers therein. The bracket 10 is then connected back
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to the mountîng section 23 for mounting to the wall bracket.
When a bag needs to be used, the first bag from the front end
of the rear section members is pulled along the artïculated
arms to extend over the front and mîddle section members.
The articulated arms 11 and 12 normally maintain the
opening of the bag for use in a closed condition. When it is
required to fill the bag, the bag may be opened by pulling the
operatlng joints 20 and 21 outwards away from each other so
that the articulated arms 11 and 12 are extended in a diamond-
shaped configuration as shown in Figure 3 to maintaîn the bag
ln an opened condition. The bag may he closed again by simply
returning the operating joints 20 and 21 towards each other
until the articulated arms 11 and 12 are în the substantially
parallel posLtîon again. Thus, the bag mounted on the
articulated arms 11 and 12 may be used for temporary storage
purposes until the bag is full then, if desired, it can he
removed from the bracket. To remove a bag from the bracket,
the bag is pulled towards the cross member 19 along the
articulated arms all the way until the pipings on its top edge
are squeezed around the front end arms of the front section
members.
A tie 2~ may be provided on the bag such that it is
operati~Te conveniently for tying the bag after ît top edges
have been squeezed to close together.
Two spring-mounted severing cutters 27 and 28 are
- provided at the front end of the front sectîons 13 and 14 as
best shown in Figure 4. The cutters 27 and 28 may be operated
~ to sever the pipings or tubings 24 and 25 of the bag such that
r the latter may be removed from the articulated arms 11 and 12
after it has been fllled and tied by the tie 26. The filled
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bag may then be removed by pullîng away along the perforated
line from the next spared bag. Since the pipings 24 and 25 are
continuous from bag to bag, whenever a bag is pulled towards
the front of the bracket to he removed, a new bag is
automatically pulled forward to replace it and it is already
raounted on the bracket 1n a closed cond-Lt-on and is ready to
be used as soon as the bracket is opened, as described above.
This operation may be repeated unt-Ll all the baos nounted on
the rear section members are expended, at which point another
group of bags may he mounted onto the rear section members as
described above.
Alternat~vely, instead of rnounting the bags onto arms 17
and 18, the bags raay be supplled from a cont~nuous roll, also
having mounting pipings or tubings provided in their openings
with the bags serîally connected by an impression line one
after another. The bags will be mounted onto the bracket 10
through the front end of the front sect-ion members 13 and 14.
Tlowever, ln this case, the cross meraber 19 will not be used.
In th1s conflguration, the rear portion of the rear section
mernbers 17 and 18 may be extended and bent to form an L shape
and to act as a stand by -itself. The bags -in thLs case may be
pulled, after being filled, all the way along section members
17 and 1~ hor~zontally and then through the L-shaped portion.
Cutters may eîther be located at the horizontal part of the
rear section rnembers 17 and 18, or at the vertical or slanted
part of the rear section memhers 17 and 1~. Also, the rear
sect-~on members 17 and 1~ may be made shorter or eliminated
for certain applications, and the rear portion of the middle
section members 15 and 16 may be used for mounting.
Alternatively, the bags may have perforated lines at the
c~Q535aC)
Il
top edge therein so that in order to remove each bag from the
arms, the bag may be pulled down and it will breal~ away from
the mounting bracket alono the perlorated line. To further
facilitate the removal of the bags from the arrns, instead of
pipinos or tubings 24 and 25, the bags may be provided w-ith a
plurality of mounting loops 29 as shown in F1gure 7 and the
bags may be mounted onto the art1culated arms 11 and 12 with
the loops 29. The loops may also be perforated at the top edge
therein.
In a second embodiment as shown in Figures ~ and 9, the
mounting braclcet 30 comprîses of two sets of parallel
articulated arms namely an upper articulated arms 31 and a
lower artLculated arm 3?. ~ach art-iculated arm has a
construct1on similar to the articulated arms 11 and 12 as
described above. The upper articulated ar-n 31 has a left
art1culated arm 33 and a rigl-lt articu1ated arm 34. The lower
articulated arm has a left articulated arm 35 and a right
art1culated arm 3~. Three -inverted IJ-shaped coupling brackets
37, 3~, and 39 a~e provided at the front, middle and rear
sections respectively of the upper left articulated arm 33,
and three s1MLlar lnverted U-shaped coup1Lng brackets 40, 41
and 42 are provided at the front, mlddle anc~ rear sectlons
respect1vely of ~he upper right artlculated arrn 34. Fach
coupl1ng bracket has an inner leg IL and an outer leg OI.
extending respectively downwards from the upper articulated
braclet 31 to locate 1n a spaced manner on the lnside and
outside of the lower articulated arm 32. The coupling brac!~ets
37 through L2 wlll cause the upper and lower artLculated arms
31 and 32 to operate ~Ln unl<,on with each ot'ner, namely, when
the upper articulated braclet 31 is -in the closed or opened
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IZ
condîtion selectively, the lower artîculated arm 32 will also
correspondingly be in the closed or opened condition
simultaneously as selected.
The free end of the lower articulated arm 35 and 36 may
curve slightly downwards and be slightly pointed such that a
bag 43 may be pulled from a roll 4L~ to mount onto the lower
art~culated arms 35 and 36 simîlar to that described above for
art~culated arrls 11 and 12 in the f~rst embod-iment. The
spaclng between the coupling braclcets 37 through 42 permits
the bags to be mounted without any obstacle. Re:inforcing
braclcets 45 and 46 are p~votally mounted on the left upper
articulated arm 33 and right upper articulated arm 34
respeclLvely. These reinforc1ng braclets have a hool-shaped
lower free end and they may be pivotally operated to pos~tion
in a vertically downward pOSitiOII as shown in F~gure 10 such
that they may be respect1vely and select~vely securing the
rear section of the upper and lower art~culated arms 31 and 32
together to prov~de extra reinforcement of, part~cularly, the
rear sections of the lower articulated arm 32 during its
openin~ and closlng operations. lhe reinforcing braclcets 45
and L~ may he pivoted away lo disengage from the lower
articulated arm 32 during the mounting of the bags 43 thereto.
It can he apprecLated by lhose s'~illed in the art that
the system as shown ~n the second emhodiment may have a
reversed construct~on in wlich the lower art~culated arm may
he secured to the vert1cal wall and t,he upper articulated arm
is provided with free ends for mount~ng the bags. In such
reversed constructions the coupling braclcets would have a C-
shape coupled at its lower end to the lower articulated arm,
allowing free space around the upper articulated arm.
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13
Furthermore, instead of the sectional articulaed
construction, the articulated arm may be in the form of
elongated arms made of a flexible material and having a cross
sectional con:figuratloll there-Ln such that the arms will bow
sideways outwardly away from each other in their middle
portlon wllen an axial force LS al)plied to their cantilever;ed
free end or when theîr middle portions are pulled away from
each other. Thus, the bowed out mLddle portions of the two
arms form an expanded loop s-imilar to the sectional
articulated arms. The flexible arr,ls will resume their parallel
condit~on wheil the ax~al force is rernoved. The bowed out
rlliddle port~ons of the two arms may maintain the expanded loop
aft,er the axLal force ~s removed by us~llo a rnovable stopper
d~aoonally across the loop from one arm to the other.
Also, the ilexible bap,s for the present system may bave
handle holes or harldle extension loops below the top edge
piplngs or tubings. This w-Lll facilitate carrying the bag
after being removed from the arms, and also allows the bag to
be re-used as a normal carrier bag.
Obvlously, numerous modif~catlons and variations of the
present invent~on are possible in l~ght of the above
teachings. It is therefore to be understood that withln the
scope of the appended clair,ls, the -invent~on may be pract-iced
otherwise than as spec1fically descr~bed herein.
