REUSABLE SHOPPING BAG DEVICES

Abstract

A shopping bag suspension and storage device comprising a clip and suspension rod for suspending a reusable shopping bag.

Claims

1. Reusable shopping bag and suspension apparatus comprising: a clip for clipping to the side of a shopping cart; an elongated suspension rod supported by the clip and extending horizontally from the opposite sides thereof; a flexible container bag suspended from the rod; a clip; a magnet in the clip for generating a magnetic field around the suspension rod; and a plurality of folded flexible reusable bags supported in the container bag.

2. (canceled)

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the suspension rod includes opposite extremities; and caps received on the opposite extremities.

4.-9. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reusable shopper bag hanger device incorporated present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, partially cut away;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in reduced scale, of the device of FIG. 1 suspended from a shopping cart; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view, in an enlarged scale of the device shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the reusable shopping cart hanger device of the present invention includes, generally, a clip device 21 for clipping to the side of a shopping cart 23. The clip device includes a clip 25 carrying a horizontally projecting rigid hanger rod 27 for suspension of a flexible shopping container bag 31 containing a plurality of folded flexible reusable shopping bags 33 for ready access by a shopper. The proximal wall of the container bag is formed along its upper edge with a pair of spaced apart horizontal sleeves 44 (FIG. 4) for receiving the opposite lengths of the rod 27

[0022] The demand for a device for carrying and presenting reusable shopping bags for ready use has long existed. Busy consumers on a grocery shopping trip have little time to locate and arrange shopping bags for ready use and in a manner that will encourage reuse thereof. It is thus important that a device for housing and dispensing reusable shopping bags to a busy shopper be convenient to use, convenient to load, and constructed for ready presentation and deployment of numerous shopping bags which might be needed during a grocery shopping trip. It is this objective to which the present invention is directed.

[0023] In my preferred embodiment, I incorporate a spring clip device 21 including an elongated split cylindrical spring barrel 41 open along one side to terminate opposite longitudinal, confronting edges 43 which press radially inwardly against the medial outside surfaces of respective rectangular clamp plates 45 to press the distal edges thereof together for clamping over an item such as the top bar 51 of a shopping cart 23 (FIG. 3). The plates 45 are affixed to the clip edges 43 by glue 42 (FIG. 1) or similar fastening material. The back edges 40 of the plates abut the back wall of the barrel to be partially supported thereby.

[0024] The barrel 41 is formed in its backside with cylindrically spaced apart, parallel slots 61 through which respective elongated divergent cars 63 project to form pressure 64 for access by the operator. The convergent ends of the cars 63 within the barrel 41 carry the respective plates 45 for, upon relax of the barrel 41, press the distal edges of the plates together. In my preferred embodiment, I incorporate cushioning caps 48 in the opposite ends of the rod 27.

[0025] For my preferred embodiment, I selected a barrel, pressure plates, and rod all of ferromagnetic material and select a magnet 46 with a rectangular beam like construction to fit in the space outside the pressure plate 45 and within the barrel such that the magnet forms a magnetic field around the barrel, pressure plate, and rod thereby maintaining the magnet and rod in their selected positions for convenient adjustment and support of reusable bags hung from the rod. My work has proven that the described construction is economical to manufacture and performs well in practice.

[0026] In operation, it will be appreciated that the shopper may conveniently carry the suspension device and the container bag 31 into the store, a shopping cart 23 may be retrieved and the device over the top rail 51 of the cart 23 (FIG. 3). With the device so suspended and the opposite extremities of the rod 27 received in the respective bag sleeves 44 (FIG. 4) the proximal wall of the bag 31 will be suspended in a vertical plane along the side of the sidewall of the cart 23 to allow the distal wall of such container bag to deploy outwardly and expose the contained bags 33 for ready access as the shopper moves about the store collecting items for purchase.

[0027] Grocery items selected may be selectively placed in the selected reusable bags and the loaded bags place in the hold of the shopping cart for presentation at the check-out counter. As the items are retrieved and checked by the cashier or by the customer, they may be placed back in the respective bags to be conveniently transported by a cart or otherwise to the shopper's automobile trunk or other automobile space. The bags may be then be placed in the trunk or backseat and the shopping cart returned to the return area.

[0028] Upon arriving home, the respective bags 33 filled with groceries may be transported to the kitchen or pantry area for unloading. As the respective bags are unloaded, they may be again folded in accordion fashion and placed back in the container bag 31 to be stored for subsequent use in the next trip to the grocery store.

[0029] From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the reusable shopping bag apparatus for the present invention is economical to manufacture, convenient to use, and will serve to attract ready and convenient use by everyday shoppers to encourage.