Bag dispensing system

Abstract

A dispensing system for mailing and other bags comprises a plurality of bags (10) arranged as a stack, each bag being frangibly connected along their upper side edge at (15) to a header (16), and a fastener (18) extending through the header (16) of each bag for securing the bags (10) together into an assembly, the system further comprising hanger (24) for supporting the bag assembly, the hanger (24) comprising a formation (26) arranged to engage a complimentary formation (20) on the rear of the fastener (18). The hanger (24) can be permanently fixed to a support structure and the assembly of bag (10) is then fitted to the hanger by engaging the formation (20) on the fastener with the complimentary formation (26) on the hanger (24). The bags (10) then hang from the hanger (24) in such a way that they can easily and singlehandedly be opened and detached by pulling them away from their header (16).

Claims

1. A bag dispensing system comprising a plurality of bags arranged as a stack, each bag being frangibly connected along an upper side edge thereof to a respective header, and a plurality of fasteners each comprising a stem which extends between enlarged front and rear heads, the stems of the fasteners extending through respective apertures in each header, the enlarged heads of each fastener serving to constrain the headers on the stem thereof to secure the bags together into a bag assembly the rear head of each fastener having a circumferential groove, the system further comprising a hanger for supporting the bag assembly, the hanger comprising a back plate having U-shaped formations which define respective vertically-extending channels into which the rear head of the respective fastener can be inserted, the channels being open at an upper end and closed at a lower end and are arranged to respectively engage the grooves on the rear head of respective fasteners, such that a front wall of each U-shaped formation is slidably received inside the groove of the respective fastener, each bag comprising a front sheet and a rear sheet, which are joined around their side and lower end edges, wherein only the rear sheet is attached to the header along its upper side edge, the upper side edge of the front sheet being free, the formation on the fastener being arranged such that the front sheet of the bags faces forwardly and is presented to the user.

2. A bag dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper end of the rear sheet forms a flap for closing the bag.

3. A bag dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the heads of each fastener are provided on respective portions thereof, the portions being interconnected following insertion of the stem through the headers.

4. A bag dispensing system as claimed in claim 2, in which the fastener portions are captively interconnected, such that they cannot readily be separated so as prevent the fastener being re-used.

5. A bag dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, in which the formations on the hanger and fastener are arranged to resiliently engage each other.

Description

(1) An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of bag dispensing system in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a fastener of the system of FIG. 1, when fitted to a plurality of bags;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view through a bag of the system of FIG. 1; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a fastener and hanger of an alternative embodiment of bag dispensing system in accordance with the present invention.

(6) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a bag dispensing system comprising a plurality of bags 10. Each bag 10 bag comprises a front sheet 11 and a rear sheet 12, which are joined around their side and lower end edges to form a compartment 13. The upper side edge of the front sheet 11 is free to provide an opening into the compartment 13. The upper side of the rear sheet 12 is extended to form a flap 14. The upper side edge of the flap 14 is perforated at 15 where it meets a header strip 16. Apertures 17 are formed at opposite ends of the header strip 16.

(7) A fastener 18 comprises a circular rear head portion 19 formed with a circumferential groove 20. A tubular shaft 21 extends axially forwardly of the head 19. The fastener 18 also comprises a circular front head 22 portion formed with barbed projection 23 which extends axially rearwardly.

(8) The bags 10 are fixed together in a stack by two fasteners 18 by inserting their shafts 21 through respective apertures 17 in the header 16. The bags 10 are then locked in-situ by inserting the barbed projection 23 into the front end of the tubular shaft 21, such that the bags 10 are constrained on the shaft 21 by the front and rear heads 22, 19.

(9) A hanger 24 comprises a back plate 25 for fixing to a wall or other vertical surface. The front of the back plate 25 comprises a pair of U-shaped formations 26 which define vertically-extending channels which are open and closed at their upper and lower ends respectively.

(10) In use, an assembly of bags is taken from a storage carton and hung on the hanger 24, which may be conveniently mounted adjacent a dispatcher's desk. The rear head portions 19 of the fasteners 18 engage into respective U-shaped formations 26, such that the front wall of the formations 26 slide are disposed inside respective grooves 20 of the fasteners.

(11) The bags 10 are mounted such that their front sheets 11 are presented to the dispatcher. The upper side edge of the front sheet 11 forms a mouth, which can be opened by the dispatcher with one hand whilst the dispatcher's other hand places an item in the bag compartment 13. The bag 10 can then be detached from the header 16 by pulling it down and can causing it to tear along the perforated line 15. The next bag 10 is then conveniently presented to the dispatcher. The bag 10 can then be closed by adhering the flap 14 to the front surface of the front sheet 11.

(12) Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown an alternative embodiment of bag dispensing system which is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 and like parts are given like reference numerals. In this embodiment, each U-shaped formation comprises a rear wall having a resiliently flexible finger 27. The outer end of the finger 27 comprises a projection which engages into a corresponding recess in the rear surface of the rear head portion 19 of the fastener and locks it in-situ.

(13) A bag dispensing system in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet enables the bags to be filled in a quick and convenient manner.