Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02824487 2013-08-14
MULTI-PURPOSE BAG RACK
FIELD
The present invention relates to a multi-purpose bag rack. More particularly,
the present
invention relates to a multi-purpose bag rack having the multi-purpose of
holding and dispensing
disposable plastic bags as well as holding open reusable bags of different
sizes, shapes and
dimensions.
BACKGROUND
In the grocery industry there has been a growing trend towards encouraging use
of reusable bags
over disposable plastic bags. However as more and more customers make the
switch to using
reusable bags, many grocery stores and supermarkets may experience
difficulties in maintaining
previous levels of efficiency and services at the checkout counter, in
particular when using both
types of bags with current bag racks.
When compared to conventional disposable plastic bags, reusable bags are
generally more
difficult to keep in place and have opened when placing purchased items
inside. Further, given
the wide variations in sizes, shapes, dimensions and materials, cashiers often
need to readjust
their bagging techniques for different reusable bags, while at the same time
still accommodating
use of disposable bags. Currently although many retailers have implemented
various measures to
address the problem, customers are often finding increased wait time and
decreased satisfaction
at the checkout counter.
SUMMARY
There is a need in the relevant industry for a new multi-purpose bag rack
which could be adapted
for the multi-purpose use with both traditional disposable plastic bags and
more environmentally
friendly reusable bags. In particular, the ability for convenience of
positioning, retaining, and
removing of both reusable and disposable bags when using the bag rack is
desired.
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It is therefore an object to provide a multi-purpose bag rack which could be
used efficiently and
conveniently with both disposable plastic bags and a wide variety of reusable
bags. Specifically,
an object is to provide a multi-purpose bag rack which may be adapted to hold
and dispense
disposable plastic bags as well as to hold open a reusable bag for placing
contents inside.
A second object is to provide a multi-purpose bag rack which can be mounted on
a surface or a
wall for more stable operation and easier access.
In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a multi-purpose bag rack
comprising first and
second bag support arm assemblies. Each of the first and second bag support
arm assemblies
may comprise a pair of resiliently opposing armssuitable for frictionally
engaging reusable bag
handles. In a preferred embodiment one of the opposing armscomprise a
resiliently deformable
pinching wire for enabling placement and opening of reusable bags in a wide
variety of
configurations. In different embodiments the opposing armsmay be of the same
length or of
different lengths and may even be replaced by a plurality of handle hold-down
clamps.
Preferably, the multi-purpose bag rack further comprises a support frame. The
first and second
arm assemblies are preferably attached to either side of the support frame and
perpendicular to
the front surface of the support frame. Most preferably the first and second
bag support arm
assemblies are positioned at the same vertical position on either side of the
support frame in
substantially parallel orientation to each other.
Preferably, the multi-purpose bag rack further comprises a hook attached at an
upper center
position of the support frame. The hook may preferably be used to insert into
a breakable center
loop found on many types of conventional disposable plastic bags so as to
allow securing of a
bundle of disposable plastic bags to the support frame. To secure and permit
convenient
dispensing of the disposable plastic bags, the first and second bag support
arm assemblies are
preferably sized to slidably receive plastic bag handles and in such positions
and orientations to
allow inserting the hook through the bags' breakable center loops.
Preferably, the multi-purpose bag rack further comprises a base or a wall
mount. The base is
most preferably attached to the lower portion of the support frame and
comprises at least one
screw hole for receiving attachment screws.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description, taken together
with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-purpose bag rack;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the multi-purpose bag rack of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the multi-purpose bag rack of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose bag rack of FIG. 1 in
operation with a reusable
bag;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-purpose
bag rack of Fig.
1;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the multi-purpose bag rack of
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-purpose
bag rack of Fig.
1;
FIG. 8 is a side view of the upper portion of the multi-purpose bag rack of
FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-purpose
bag rack of Fig.
1;
FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the bag support arm
assembly of Fig. 1;
5 FIG. 11-15 shown an alternative embodiment of the bag rack of Fig. 1;
FIG. 16-23 shown an alternative embodiment of the bag rack of Fig. 1; and
FIG 24 shows an alternative embodiment of the lower arm of Fig 1.
15
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The most preferred embodiments of the present invention are henceforth
described with
reference to Figures 1 to 24. The most preferred embodiments are provided as
mere examples
which are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It
will be readily
apparent to a person skilled in the art that variations and modifications may
be made to the most
preferred embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag rack 10 which is adapted for the multi-
purpose of holding
and dispensing disposable plastic bags as well as holding a reusable bag in
different
configurations in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The multi-
purpose bag rack 10 can comprise a support frame 20, a base 30, and first and
second bag
support arm assemblies 40 and 50.
In reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame 20 is rectangular in
structure and comprises a
pair of lateral support beams 21 and 22 and a top beam 23. The support frame
further comprises
a plurality of ribs 24 traversing widthwise for added structural rigidity. A
pair of cross beams 25
and 26 which attach on one end to the lowermost one of the plurality of ribs
24 and on the other
to the lateral sides of the base can be provided to support the orientation
(e.g. substantially
vertical) of the support frame 20.
In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a hook 60 attaches to the front side of the top
beam 23. The hook
60 bends vertically upward to provide securing of a plurality of disposable
plastic bags through
their breakable center loops.
In reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 30 comprises a pair of lateral base
beams 31 and 32, an
anterior base beam 33 and a base platform 34. The base platform 34 fixedly
rests on the base
beams 31 and 32 and the anterior base beam 33. A plurality of screw holes 35
is provided on the
surface of the base platform 34 to provide fixing the multi-purpose bag rack
10 using screws or
nails.
In reference, to FIGS. 1 and 3, the first and second bag support arm
assemblies 40 and 50 extend
horizontally and perpendicular to the front surface of the support frame 20.
Each of the first and
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second bag support arm assemblies 40 and 50 comprises a pair of resiliently
opposing upper and
lower arms. In particular, the first bag support arm assembly 40 comprises a
first upper opposing
arm 41 above a first lower opposing arm 42. Both the first upper and lower
opposing arms 41
and 42 are attached on the proximal end close to the support frame 20 and can
be biased in
movement towards each other. Likewise, the second bag support arm assembly 50
comprises a
second upper opposing arm 51 and a second lower opposing arm 52. Both the
second upper and
lower opposing arms 51 and 52 are also attached on the proximal end close to
the support frame
20 and can be biased in movement towards each other. As such, the upper arm
41,51 has a
greater degree of flexibility than the lower arm 42,52, thus providing for
advantageously of
facilitating insertion, retention, and subsequent removal of handles 71 of
reusable bag 70 (see Fig
4) between the arms 41,42 51,52 of the arm assemblies 40,50, while at the same
time providing
for rigidity and support of the both bag types (e.g. disposable and reusable)
and their contents
when hung from the arm assemblies 40,50.
The first and second lower opposing arms 42 and 52 can have flat upper surface
and bevelled at
the distal end sloping downwards away from the support frame 20. The first and
second upper
opposing arms 41 and 42 can have upwardly bent distal tips, as desired.
In reference, to FIGS. 1 and 3, the proximal ends of the first and second
upper opposing arms 41
and 51 can be connected to the opposing ends of an upper connecting tube 44
which attaches to
the front face of the support frame 20. Similarly the first and second lower
opposing arms 42 and
52 can have proximal ends connected to the opposing ends of a lower connecting
tube 45 which
cross-wise (e.g. horizontally) attaches to the front face of the support frame
20. A posterior
support tube 46 which attaches to the rear side of the support frame 20 have
two arms which
cross-wise (e.g. horizontally) attaches to the upper opposing arms 41 and 51
on the upper surface
and attaches to the lower opposing arms 42 and 52 on the lower surface.
In reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second upper opposing arms 41 and
51 include first
and second arm portions 43 and 53, respectively, to allow deformably and
frictionally engaging
bag handles in a wide variety of configurations and positions. The first and
second arm portions
43 and 53 can have opposing ends which curve upwards to attach to the bottom
surface of the
first and second upper opposing arms 41 and 51, respectively. To allow
frictional engagement of
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bag handles, the arm portions 43 and 53 are closely spaced or in physical
contact with the lower
arms 42 and 52. As such, the upper arm portions 43 and 53 has a greater degree
of flexibility
than the lower arm 42,52, thus providing for advantageously of facilitating
insertion, retention,
and subsequent removal of handles 71 of reusable bag 70 (see Fig 4) between
the arm portions
43 and 53 and arms 42,52 of the arm assemblies 40,50, while at the same time
providing for
rigidity and support of the both bag types (e.g. disposable and reusable) and
their contents when
hung from the arm assemblies 40,50. As such, the bag rack 10 can have each of
the arm
assemblies 40,50 include the arms as the upper arm 43, 53 and the lower arm
42,52 and an
additional arm 41,51 positioned above the upper arm 43,53. The additional arm
41,51 can be of
the same degree of flexibility as the lower arm 42,52, such that the upper arm
43,53 is positioned
between the additional arm 41,51 and the lower arm 42,52.
In any event, it is recognised that the arm assemblies 40,50 include a pair of
arms spaced apart
(e.g. opposed) from one another, in order to provide for insertion, retention,
and subsequent
removal of handles 71 of reusable bag 70 (see Fig 4) between the arm pair. One
embodiment of
the opposed arm pair configuration is the arm 41 and arm 42 of one arm
assembly 40 for one of
the handles 71 and the arm 51 and arm 52 of one arm assembly 50 for one of the
handles 71,
such that only two opposed arms are present and the upper arm 41,51 is greater
in degree of
flexibility than the degree of flexibility of the respective lower arm 42,52
of the two arms of the
arm assembly 40,50. In a further embodiment, the opposed arm pair
configuration is the arm
portion 43 and arm 42 of one arm assembly 40 for one of the handles 71 and the
arm 513 and
arm 52 of one arm assembly 50 for one of the handles 71, such that the opposed
arms are present
including arms 41,51 and the upper arm 43,53 is greater in degree of
flexibility than the degree
of flexibility of the respective lower arm 42,52 of the multiple arms of the
arm assembly 40,50.
The difference in degree of flexibility between the arms 41,51 and 42,52 or
between arms 43,53
and 42,52 can be provided by using different materials having different moduli
of elasticity.
Alternatively or in addition to different modulus of elasticity, it is
recognised that difference in
degree of flexibility between the arms 41,51 and 42,52 or between arms 43,53
and 42,52 can be
provided by differing material thickness (e.g. diameter), such that arms 41,51
or 43,53 have one
or more sections along the arm length of lower cross sectional area than the
cross sectional area
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of arms 42,52. For example, the cross sectional area of the arms 41,51 43,53
can be uniform
over their length or can have region(s) of smaller cross section than other
regions of the arms
41,51 43,53 to provide for a greater degree of flexibility of the arms 41,51,
43, 53 relative to the
lesser degree of flexibility of the lower arms 42,52.
FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of the multi-purpose bag rack 10 in
operation with a reusable
bag 70 in one open configuration. The reusable bag 70 comprises first and
second handles 71 and
76 on opposite sides. The first handle 71 comprises two first strap ends 72
and 73 which
connects to the rim of the reusable bag 70 on one side. Likewise, the second
handle 76 comprises
two second strap ends 77 and 78 which connects to the rim of the reusable bag
70 on the other
side. To place the reusable bag 70 into the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the
handles 71 and 76
are inserted through the first and second bag support arm assemblies 40 and
50, respectively. In
particular, to frictionally engage the first handle 71 the first strap ends 72
and 73 are inserted
between the first lower opposing arm42 and the first arm portion 43. Similarly
to frictionally
engage the second handle 76 the second strap ends 72 and 73 are inserted
between the second
lower opposing arm 52 and the second arm portion 53. To provide more open
access to the
interior of the reusable bag 70 as shown in FIG. 4 the first strap ends 72 and
73 are adjusted apart
from each other and similarly the second strap ends 76 and 77 are adjusted
apart from each other.
Although only a single reusable bag is shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of
reusable bags may be
engaged and held in the multi-purpose rack 10.
Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 4, the bag rack 10 may be adapted for
the multipurpose of
also mounting a plurality of disposable plastic bags between the support frame
20 and the
reusable bag 70. To load the disposable plastic bags the first and second bag
support arm
assemblies 40 and 50 slidably receive the handles of the disposable plastic
bags. Once placed
close to the front side of the support frame 20 the disposable plastic bags
are secured to the
multi-purpose bag rack 10 by inserting the hook 60 through the breakable
center loop found on
many types of conventional disposable plastic bags. As such, the handles of
the disposable bags,
not shown, would go around and encircle both the upper arm 41,51, 43,53 and
lower arms 42,52
simultaneously, once mounted on the arm assemblies 40,50, as compared to the
reusable bag
arms 71,76 which are inserted and retained between the opposed arm
configuration of upper
arms 41, 51 and lower arms 42, 52 or between upper arms 43, 53 and lower arms
42, 52, as
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desired. It is the advantage of difference in flexibility as discussed above
that provides for ease
of insertion, retention and removal of arms 71,76 for the reusable bags 70
while at the same time
providing for hanging and support of bags and bag contents from the arm
assemblies 40,50 (via
relatively rigid lower arms 42,52) for both reusable and disposable bags.
The preferred bag rack 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, has feature of the first and
second upper
opposing arms 141 and 151 and/or the first and second arm portions 143 and 153
being shorter
than first and second lower opposing arms 142 and 152. It is envisioned that
only a single strap
end of each bag handle could be slidably inserted between the lower opposing
arms 142 and 152
and the arm portions 143 and 153 while the other strap end loosely rests on
the proximal end of
the lower opposing arms 142 and 152. The lower opposing arms 142 and 152 could
have distal
ends which curves upward to prevent the loose strap ends from falling off. For
more secure
engagement the lower opposing arms 142 and 152 can also comprise split
clamping ends to
securely fasten the loose strap ends. As such, it is advantageous that the
upper arms 41,51 and/or
43,53 are shorter that the lower arms 42,52, as the length of travel of the
straps 71,76 between
the upper arms 41,51,43,53 and lower arms 42,52 is minimized while at the same
time providing
for proper use and support of the disposable bags by the arm assemblies 40,50.
It is recognised
that ease and efficiency of usage of strap 71,76 retention by the arm
assemblies 40,50 decreases
as the upper arms 41,51,43,53 become too close to the length of the lower arms
42,52. For
example, the length of the upper arms 41,51,43,53 can be less that 4/5 of the
lower arms 42,52.
For example, the length of the upper arms 41,51,43,53 can be less that 3/4 of
the lower arms
42,52. For example, the length of the upper arms 41,51,43,53 can be less that
1/2 of the lower
arms 42,52. For example, the length of the upper arms 41,51,43,53 can be less
that 5/8 of the
lower arms 42,52. Also, it is recognised that preferably, the arm assemblies
40,50 can each have
a minimum of components to facilitate ease of use of the bag rack 10, for
example each having
only one upper arm 41,51 and one lower arm 42,52.
FIG. 10 provides a variation of a bag support arm assembly 450 comprising a
lower opposable
arm 452 and a pair of handle hold-down clamps 454 and 455. It is envisioned
that strap ends of
bag handles could be conveniently inserted and held down by the handle hold-
down clamps 454
and 455 to permit open holding of reusable bags in a very consistent manner.
It is further
envisioned that the handle hold-down clamps 454 and 455 are movably
configurable along the
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axial length of the lower opposable arm452 so as to permit consistent bag
holding in a desired
configuration. The handle hold-down clamps 454 and 455 may also be removed or
more hold-
down clamps may be added to hold more than one reusable bag at a time.
FIGS. 7 and 8 provides another variation product 200 similar to the variation
product 100 shown
20 in FIGS. 5 to 6, however no arm portions 43,53 are provided. Further, first
and second upper
opposing arms 241 and 251 are adjacent or physically in contact with lower
first and second
opposing arms 242 and 252, respectively. A posterior tube 246 which attaches
horizontally on
the rear surface of a support frame 220 have arms which extend below the lower
opposing arms
242 and 252. For more convenient insertion of strap ends of bag handles the
first and second
25 upper opposing arms 241 and 251 have upwardly curved distal tips.
FIG. 9 provides another preferred variation product 300 similar to the
preferred multipurpose bag
rack 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, however instead of a support frame and a base,
a wall mount 370
30 is provided. The wall mount 370 is rectangular in structure and attaches
to the rear side of upper
and lower connecting tubes 344 and 345. Although not explicitly shown in FIG.
9, it is
envisioned that the wall mount 370 can comprise attachment means to attach the
variation
product 300 to a wall.
Referring to Figures 11-15, shown is an alternative embodiment of the bag rack
10 holding a
single reusable bag 70 via handles 71,76.
Referring to Figures 16-23, shown is an alternative embodiment of the bag rack
10 holding either
a single reusable bag 70 via handles 71,76 or double reusable bag 70 (see
Figure 11). In this
embodiment, the support frame 20 includes a box to which the arms 41,51,42,52
are connected
(e.g. welded or otherwise mechanically affixed). In turn, the support fame 20
provides mounting
regions 400 (e.g. holes) for using fasteners such as screws to attach the
support frame 20 to a
support wall adjacent to a bagging station of a store.
Figure 24 is an alternative embodiment of the lower arm 42,52 to provide for
the degree of
resiliency of the lower arm 42,52 to be greater than the degree of resiliency
of the upper arm
41,51. In other words, the lower arm 42,52 has the degree of flexibility to be
less than the degree
of flexibility of the upper arm 41,51.
