Bag opener component for plastic bag dispenser

Abstract

A bag opener is presented as an accessory component for bag roll dispensers, which allows bags to be dispensed to the user in a partially opened state. The opener may be extruded, molded or machined depending on the design of the dispenser, and is suitable for multiple-ply bags (such as star sealed bags) that are dispensed from a continuous roll.)

Claims

1. An accessory component for retrofitting a bag roll dispenser to facilitate the dispensing of bags from a continuous roll in a partially opened state, the bag roll dispenser comprising: a top having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end; a first side extending generally orthogonal to the top inner surface adjoining the top first end and having a first inner side surface and a first outer side surface; a second side extending generally orthogonal to the top inner surface adjoining the top second end and having a second inner side surface and second outer side surface; a first bottom flange extending generally orthogonal to the first side inner surface in a direction generally parallel to the top inner surface having a first bottom flange inner surface and first bottom flange outer surface and terminating at a first bottom flange end; a second bottom flange extending generally orthogonal to the second side inner surface in a direction generally parallel to the top inner surface having a second bottom inner flange surface and a second bottom outer flange surface and terminating at a second bottom flange end; wherein the first bottom flange and the second bottom flange extend in a direction generally toward one another; wherein the bag roll dispenser comprises a tongue configured to separate a bag from the roll and a finger; wherein the accessory component attaches to the finger by means of an aperture on the accessory component that is sized to match openings on two sides of the finger; wherein the aperture is defined by the boundary of the first bottom flange inner surface, the first side inner surface, the top inner surface, the second side inner surface, and the second bottom flange inner surface, and; wherein at least the top outer surface is constructed from a friction inducing material, whereby said friction inducing material provides sufficient resistance to the bottom ply of a multiply bag in order to separate the plies as a bag is dispensed.

2. The accessory component of claim 1 wherein the friction inducing material is one of silicone, rubber, polyethylene or polyurethane.

3. The accessory component of claim 1 wherein the entire component is comprised of friction creating material.

4. The accessory component of claim 3 wherein the friction inducing material is one of silicone, rubber, polyethylene or polyurethane.

5. The accessory component of claim 1 wherein the top outer surface includes grooves, ridges or other protuberances.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates typical construction of plastic bags that are dispensed from a continuous roll.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a typical bag dispenser.

(3) FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c illustrate the operation of a common type of metal frame bag dispenser.

(4) FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate the operation of a common type of metal frame bag dispenser with a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached.

(5) FIG. 5a is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the dispenser component to which it attaches.

(6) FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1-5b, the bag opener component of the present invention includes a friction element and a means of mounting to an existing bag roll dispenser in such a way as to enable bags to be presented in a partially opened state.

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a typical bag design of the type standardly referred to as star seal. The bag 100 is formed from a tube of thin film plastic that is folded or gusseted creating multiple bag plies. Each bag is welded at one end 101 to form the bag bottom and releasably attached to the next bag by means of a perforation line 102. A slot 103 in the perforation line provides an opening to facilitate separation. A continuous strip of bags is wound on a roll for dispensing in a bag dispenser.

(9) FIG. 2 is a functional illustration of a typical bag dispenser 200 for a roll of bags 201 constructed as described above. As a single bag 202 is dispensed, a tongue 203 engages a slot 103 in the perforation line between the bag being dispensed 202 and the trailing bag 205. A finger 204 creates a gap 206 which traps the leading edge of the trailing bag 205 and holds it in position for the next user.

(10) FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c, illustrate this action in greater detail for multi-ply bags that would be typical of a star-seal design. As shown in FIG. 3a, as the leading bag 302 is being dispensed, it rides smoothly along the top of the tongue 303. When the tongue 303 engages the slot 103 in the perforation line between the leading bag 302 and the trailing bag 305, as illustrated in FIG. 3b, it limits further travel of the trailing bag 305 and facilitates separation of the two bags along the perforation line. As shown in FIG. 3c, as the bags are being separated, the leading edge of the trailing bag 305 is pulled into the gap 306 that is formed between the tongue 303 and the finger 304. Due to the fact that the finger 304 is a smooth surface, the trailing bag 305 rides smoothly over the surface and the bag plies do not separate.

(11) FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate this same action with the bag opener component 406 of the present invention attached to the finger 404 of a typical dispenser. As shown in FIG. 4a, as the leading bag 402 is being dispensed, it rides smoothly along the top of the tongue. When the tongue engages the slot 103 in the perforation line between the leading bag 402 and the trailing bag 405, as illustrated in FIG. 4b, it limits further travel of the trailing bag 405 and facilitates separation of the two bags along the perforation line. However, in this case, the trailing bag 405 encounters the frictional surface of the bag opener 406 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4c, as the bags are being separated, and the leading edge of the trailing bag 405 is pulled into the gap 407 that is formed between the tongue 403 and the finger 404, friction applied against the bottom ply of the trailing bag 405 causes the plies to separate, leaving the trailing bag 405 in a partially opened state for the next user.

(12) FIG. 5a is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is designed for use on dispensers having a finger 502 that is open on both sides, such as a metal frame bag dispenser. The bag opener component 501 may be constructed as a single piece by the extrusion method. The component material is selected to provide adequate frictional force to separate the lower bag ply from the upper bag plies. The material must be sufficiently pliable to conform to the finger 502 element of the dispenser, while having adequate wall strength to hold it securely in position possess Suitable materials include but are not limited to silicone, natural rubber, polyethylene and polyurethane.

(13) FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the bag opener component of the present invention. The top 503 portion of the bag opener component comprises an outer surface 504, an inner surface 505, a first end 506 and a second end 507. The overall height, width and depth of the top 503 may be varied to fit the dimension of varying existing bag dispenser fingers 502. The top outer surface 504 is comprised of a friction inducing material that is capable of separating the lower bag ply from the upper bag plies. Suitable materials include but are not limited to grit paper, silicone, natural rubber, polyethylene and polyurethane. As shown in FIG. 5b the top outer surface 504 of the bag opener component 501 may incorporate a series of ridges, grooves or other protuberances to enhance the friction characteristics required to separate the lower bag ply from the upper bag plies.

(14) A first side 508 extending generally orthogonal to the top inner surface 505 and adjoining the first end 506 comprises a first side inner surface 509 and a first side surface 510. A second side 511 extending generally orthogonal to the top inner surface 505 and adjoining the second end 507 comprises a second side inner surface 512 and a second side outer surface 513.

(15) A first bottom flange 514 extending generally orthogonal to the first side inner surface 509 and generally parallel to the top inner surface 505 comprises a first bottom flange inner surface 515, a first bottom flange outer surface 516 and a first bottom flange end 517. A second bottom flange 518 extending generally orthogonal to the second side inner surface 512 and generally parallel to the top inner surface 505 comprises a second bottom flange inner surface 519, a second bottom flange outer surface 520 and a second bottom flange end 521.

(16) The dimensions of the aperture 522 are defined by the boundary of the first flange inner surface 515, the first side inner surface 509, the top inner surface 505, the second side inner surface 512 and the second flange inner surface 519, and may be adjusted to fit varying dimensions of existing bag dispenser fingers 502. The separation between the first bottom flange end 517 and the second bottom flange end 521 facilitates installation of the bag opener component over existing bag dispenser fingers 502.

(17) As described herein, the present invention provides an accessory and adaptor for existing bag roll dispensers that enables plastic bags to be dispensed from a roll in a partially opened state.

(18) The foregoing description was primarily directed to a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of the embodiments of the invention.