SANDWICH BAG DISPENSING DEVICE

Abstract

A sandwich bag dispensing device includes a box for storing a plurality of sandwich bags in a stacked and planar orientation. A mating member is attached to a back wall of the box which is matable to a vertical support surface to inhibit the plurality of sandwich bags from falling out of the box. A lid is removably attachable to the box thereby enabling the lid to retain the plurality of sandwich bags within the box. The lid has an opening to enable a user to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags from the box. A membrane is aligned with the opening in the lid to inhibit the plurality of sandwich bags from falling through the opening. The membrane has a cut to enable the user to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags through the cut.

Claims

1. A sandwich bag dispensing device for dispensing sandwich bags on a vertical plane thereby inhibiting the sandwich bags from falling while being stored, said device comprising: a box having an outer wall defining an interior space of said box which has dimensions sufficient to store a plurality of sandwich bags in a stacked and planar orientation wherein said box is configured to enable said plurality of sandwich bags to be stored without having said plurality of sandwich bags being rolled for enhancing a user's ability to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box without disturbing remaining ones of said plurality of sandwich bags; a mating member being attached to a back wall of said box, said mating member being matable to a vertical support surface thereby enabling said plurality of sandwich bags to be vertically oriented in said box wherein said mating member is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling out of said box when the user removes a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box; a lid being removably attachable to said box thereby enabling said lid to close said interior space such that said lid retains said plurality of sandwich bags within said interior space of said box, said lid having an opening extending through said lid wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box; and a membrane being attached to said lid, said membrane being aligned with said opening in said lid wherein said membrane is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling through said opening, said membrane having a cut which extends along a full length of said membrane wherein said cut is configured to enable the user to reach through said membrane for removing a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said cut.

2. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: said mating member includes a first half and a second half; said first half has a first mating surface being bonded to an outer surface of said back wall of said box; said second half has a first mating surface being bonded to said vertical support surface; and said first half has a second mating surface which is releasably matable to a second mating surface of said second half thereby enabling said box to be removable from said vertical support surface wherein said mating member is configured to enable the user to remove said box from said vertical support surface and place said box on a horizontal support surface to assist the user with refilling said box with said sandwich bags when said box is depleted of said plurality of sandwich bags.

3. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: said opening extends through a front surface and a back surface of said lid; said opening is elongated along an axis extending between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of said lid such that said opening has a width being sufficient to accommodate a width of said plurality of sandwich bags wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening without deforming said single sandwich bag; and said opening is centrally located between a top edge and a bottom edge of said lid such that said opening is centrally positioned over said plurality of sandwich bags wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to pull a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening in a manner which inhibits additional sandwich bags from being pulled through said opening when the user pulls said single sandwich bag through said opening.

4. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: said lid has a lip being coupled to and extending away from a back surface of said lid; said lip is continuous such that said lip extends along each of a top edge and a bottom edge and a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of said lid; and said lip is spaced from each of said top edge and said bottom edge and said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge such that an outwardly facing surface of said lip frictionally engages an interior surface of said outer wall of said box when said lid is placed on said box thereby inhibiting said lid from being dislodged from said box wherein said lid is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling out of said box when the user removes a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening.

5. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein said back surface of said lid rests against a distal edge of said outer wall of said box such that each of said top edge and said bottom edge and said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge is aligned with an outer surface of said outer wall of said box wherein said lid is configured to inhibit the user from inadvertently snagging said lid and inadvertently removing said lid from said box.

6. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: said membrane has a front surface being bonded to a back surface of said lid such that said membrane is positioned in said interior space of said box when said lid is removably attached to said box wherein said membrane is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from extending into said opening prior to the user pulling a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said cut; said cut is centrally located in said opening wherein said cut is configured to enhance the user's ability to reach through said cut without touching a bounding surface of said opening; and said cut extends along a full length of said opening wherein said cut is configured to enhance the user's ability to reach through said cut.

7. A sandwich bag dispensing device for dispensing sandwich bags on a vertical plane thereby inhibiting the sandwich bags from falling while being stored, said device comprising: a box having an outer wall defining an interior space of said box which has dimensions sufficient to store a plurality of sandwich bags in a stacked and planar orientation wherein said box is configured to enable said plurality of sandwich bags to be stored without having said plurality of sandwich bags being rolled for enhancing a user's ability to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box without disturbing remaining ones of said plurality of sandwich bags; a mating member being attached to a back wall of said box, said mating member being matable to a vertical support surface thereby enabling said plurality of sandwich bags to be vertically oriented in said box wherein said mating member is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling out of said box when the user removes a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box, said mating member including a first half and a second half, said first half having a first mating surface being bonded to an outer surface of said back wall of said box, said second half having a first mating surface being bonded to said vertical support surface, said first half having a second mating surface which is releasably matable to a second mating surface of said second half thereby enabling said box to be removable from said vertical support surface wherein said mating member is configured to enable the user to remove said box from said vertical support surface and place said box on a horizontal support surface to assist the user with refilling said box with said sandwich bags when said box is depleted of said plurality of sandwich bags; a lid being removably attachable to said box thereby enabling said lid to close said interior space such that said lid retains said plurality of sandwich bags within said interior space of said box, said lid having an opening extending through said lid wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags from said box, said opening extending through a front surface and a back surface of said lid, said opening being elongated along an axis extending between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of said lid such that said opening has a width being sufficient to accommodate a width of said plurality of sandwich bags wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to remove a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening without deforming said single sandwich bag, said opening being centrally located between a top edge and a bottom edge of said lid such that said opening is centrally positioned over said plurality of sandwich bags wherein said opening is configured to enable the user to pull a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening in a manner which inhibits additional sandwich bags from being pulled through said opening when the user pulls said single sandwich bag through said opening, said lid having a lip being coupled to and extending away from said back surface of said lid, said lip being continuous such that said lip extends along each of said top edge and said bottom edge and said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge of said lid, said lip being spaced from each of said top edge and said bottom edge and said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge such that an outwardly facing surface of said lip frictionally engages an interior surface of said outer wall of said box when said lid is placed on said box thereby inhibiting said lid from being dislodged from said box wherein said lid is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling out of said box when the user removes a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said opening, said back surface of said lid resting against a distal edge of said outer wall of said box such that each of said top edge and said bottom edge and said first lateral edge and said second lateral edge is aligned with an outer surface of said outer wall of said box wherein said lid is configured to inhibit the user from inadvertently snagging said lid and inadvertently removing said lid from said box; and a membrane being attached to said lid, said membrane being aligned with said opening in said lid wherein said membrane is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from falling through said opening, said membrane having a cut which extends along a full length of said membrane wherein said cut is configured to enable the user to reach through said membrane for removing a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said cut, said membrane having a front surface being bonded to said back surface of said lid such that said membrane is positioned in said interior space of said box when said lid is removably attached to said box wherein said membrane is configured to inhibit said plurality of sandwich bags from extending into said opening prior to the user pulling a single one of said plurality of sandwich bags through said cut, said cut being centrally located in said opening wherein said cut is configured to enhance the user's ability to reach through said cut without touching a bounding surface of said opening, said cut extending along a full length of said opening wherein said cut is configured to enhance the user's ability to reach through said cut.

8. The sandwich bag dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said device includes a hinge being hingedly coupled between a bottom edge of said lid and an outer surface of said outer wall of said box such that said lid is hingedly retained on said box wherein said hinge is configured to enable the user to open or close said lid without removing said lid from said box.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new sandwich bag device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0020] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the sandwich bag dispensing device 10 generally comprises a box 12 which has an outer wall 14 defining an interior space 16 of the box 12 which has dimensions sufficient to store a plurality of sandwich bags 18 in a stacked and planar orientation. In this way the box 12 enables the plurality of sandwich bags 18 to be stored without having the plurality of sandwich bags 18 being rolled for enhancing a user's 20 ability to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from the box 12 without disturbing remaining ones of the plurality of sandwich bags 18. A mating member 22 is attached to a back wall 24 of the box 12 and the mating member 22 is matable to a vertical support surface 26 thereby enabling the plurality of sandwich bags 18 to be vertically oriented in the box 12. In this way the mating member 22 can inhibit the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from falling out of the box 12 when the user 20 removes a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from the box 12. The vertical support surface 26 may be a rear surface of a cabinet door or other vertical support surface that might be found in a kitchen, for example, or other location where sandwich bags would commonly be employed.

[0021] The mating member 22 includes a first half 28 and a second half 30; the first half 28 has a first mating surface 32 which is bonded to an outer surface 34 of the back wall 24 of the box 12 and the second half 30 has a first mating surface 36 which is bonded to the vertical support surface 26. The first half 28 has a second mating surface 38 which is releasably matable to a second mating surface 40 of the second half 30 thereby enabling the box 12 to be removable from the vertical support surface 26. In this way the mating member 22 enables the user 20 to remove the box 12 from the vertical support surface 26 and place the box 12 on a horizontal support surface to assist the user 20 with refilling the box 12 with the sandwich bags 18 when the box 12 is depleted of the plurality of sandwich bags 18. Each of the first half 28 and the second half 30 may comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop fastener or other type of multiple use, releasable mating member.

[0022] A lid 42 is removably attachable to the box 12 thereby enabling the lid 42 to close the interior space 16 such that the lid 42 retains the plurality of sandwich bags 18 within the interior space 16 of the box 12. The lid 42 has an opening 44 extending through the lid 42 to enable the user 20 to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from the box 12. The opening 44 extends through a front surface 46 and a back surface 48 of the lid 42 and the opening 44 is elongated along an axis extending between a first lateral edge 50 and a second lateral edge 52 of the lid 42. Thus, the opening 44 has a width which is sufficient to accommodate a width of the plurality of sandwich bags 18. In this way the opening 44 enables the user 20 to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the opening 44 without deforming the single sandwich bag 18. The opening 44 is centrally located between a top edge 54 and a bottom edge 56 of the lid 42 such that the opening 44 is centrally positioned over the plurality of sandwich bags 18. In this way the opening 44 enables the user 20 to pull a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the opening 44 in a manner which inhibits additional sandwich bags 18 from being pulled through the opening 44 when the user 20 pulls the single sandwich bag 18 through the opening 44.

[0023] The lid 42 has a lip 58 which is coupled to and extends away from the back surface 48 of the lid 42. The lip 58 is continuous such that the lip 58 extends along each of the top edge 54 and the bottom edge 56 and the first lateral edge 50 and the second lateral edge 52 of the lid 42. Furthermore, the lip 58 is spaced from each of the top edge 54 and the bottom edge 56 and the first lateral edge 50 and the second lateral edge 52 such that an outwardly facing surface 60 of the lip 58 frictionally engages an interior surface 62 of the outer wall 14 of the box 12 when the lid 42 is placed on the box 12. In this way the lid 42 is inhibited from being dislodged from the box 12 thereby inhibiting the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from falling out of the box 12 when the user 20 removes a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the opening 44. The back surface 48 of the lid 42 rests against a distal edge 63 of the outer wall 14 of the box 12 such that each of the top edge 54 and the bottom edge 56 and the first lateral edge 50 and the second lateral edge 52 is aligned with an outer surface 64 of the outer wall 14 of the box 12. In this way the lid 42 inhibits the user 20 from inadvertently snagging the lid 42 and inadvertently removing the lid 42 from the box 12.

[0024] A membrane 66 is attached to the lid 42 and the membrane 66 is aligned with the opening 44 in the lid 42. In this way the membrane 66 inhibits the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from falling through the opening 44. The membrane 66 has a cut 68 which extends along a full length of the membrane 66. In this way the cut 68 enables the user 20 to reach through the membrane 66 for removing a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the cut 68.

[0025] The membrane 66 has a front surface 70 which is bonded to the back surface 48 of the lid 42 such that the membrane 66 is positioned in the interior space 16 of the box 12 when the lid 42 is removably attached to the box 12. In this way the membrane 66 inhibits the plurality of sandwich bags 18 from extending into the opening 44 prior to the user 20 pulling a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the cut 68. The cut 68 is centrally located in the opening 44 to enhance the user's 20 ability to reach through the cut 68 without touching a bounding surface 72 of the opening 44. Furthermore, the cut 68 extends along a full length of the opening 44 to enhance the user's 20 ability to reach through the cut 68. The membrane 66 may be comprised of a translucent and flexible material, including but not being limited to plastic or silicone, thereby enabling the user 20 to see through the membrane 66 and to easily reach through the cut 68 in the membrane 66. In an alternative embodiment 74 shown in FIG. 7, a hinge 76 is hingedly coupled between the bottom edge 56 of the lid 42 and the outer surface 64 of the outer wall 14 of the box 12. In this way the lid 76 is hingedly retained on the box 12 to enable the user 20 to open or close the lid 76 without removing the lid 76 from the box 12.

[0026] In use, the box 12 is filled with the plurality of sandwich bags 18 and the lid 42 is placed on the box 12 to close the box 12. The box 12 is placed against the vertical support surface 26 such that the first half 28 of the mating member 22 is mated to the second half 30 of the mating member 22 for retaining the box 12 on the vertical support surface 26. The user 20 reaches through the opening 44 and the cut 68 in the membrane 66 to remove a single one of the plurality of sandwich bags 18 through the opening 44. In this way the user 20 can employ the single sandwich bag 18 for whatever purpose the user 20 may intend. The box 12 is removed from the vertical support surface 26 and the box 12 is placed on a horizontal support surface to enable the box 12 to be refilled with sandwich bags 18 when the box 12 is depleted of sandwich bags 18.

[0027] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.