Pre-formed bags and a dispenser for use therewith

Abstract

 In a stack of pre-formed bags (30) of the kind each having a body (31) with a mouth (32) and a pair of handles (33) at opposite ends of the mouth, and supplied flat against one another in the stack, each bag has joined to side edges of the handles integral attachment parts (34) formed with apertures (36) and lines of weakening(35). The apertures (36) are engageable by retaining pins (49) of a dispenser (44) for the stack to be located in the dispenser. The lines of weakening (35), preferably joining the attachment parts (34) to the handles at inside edges of the handles, allow detachment of the bags from the retaining pins (49). Further attachment parts (38) may be provided on the bag bodies (31) at the mouths (32) for engagement by further retaining pins (49) of the dispenser. The dispenser (44) comprises a holder (45), preferably formed as a cartridge which encloses the stack of bags, supporting the retaining pins.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to pre-formed bags and a dispenser for use therewith, the bags each being of the kind having a body with a mouth and a pair of spaced handles at opposite ends of the mouth and being supplied flat against one another in a stack to be applied to a dispenser for the bags to be dispensed individually therefrom. Such bags are hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described".

[0002] Pre-formed bags of the kind described are provided, for example, for dispensers installed in stores, supermarkets or other outlets for customer use in the packaging of purchased goods. They may be provided for other uses.

[0003] Examples of known pre-formed bags are shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 also shows a known kind of dispenser for bags, and a further example of a known kind of dispenser is shown in Figure 2.

[0004] Referring to Figure 1, a stack of flat pre-formed bags 1 of the kind described is shown. Each bag 1 comprises a body 2 having a mouth 3 from opposite ends of which a pair of spaced handles 4 extend. The handles 4 of the bags are in register with, but are not connected to, the handles of adjacent bags in the stack. Each handle 4 is formed with a through hole 5, 6, the holes in the superimposed handles in the stack being aligned. Centrally of the mouths 3 of the bags the stack has a block 7 which is formed from superimposed tongues 8 extending from the bodies 2 of the bags, at the mouths 3. The tongues 8 are heat-bonded together. Each tongue 8 is connected to the adjacent part of the body 2 of the respective bag 1 by two webs 9 which can be readily broken, there being a slit 10 between the webs. A through channel 11 extends through all of the tongues 8 in the block 7. There is a glue spot 12 connecting adjacent bags in the stack centrally of the mouths, just below the tongues 8.

[0005] The dispenser shown in Figure 1 comprises a frame or body 13 from which project forwardly a pair of horizontally spaced prongs 14 and a pair of horizontally spaced guide members 15, outside the prongs 14. Centrally positioned between the prongs 14 and guide members 15, slightly below the level of the latter, is a forwardly and upwardly projecting U-shaped catch 16. The prongs 14, guide members 15 and catch 16 are all formed from metal rod and fixed to the frame or body 13.

[0006] For use of the dispenser 12 the frame or body is fixed on a support. The stack of bags is located on the dispenser through holes 5, 6 of the handles 4 of the bags, the handles being splayed apart for engagement of the prongs in the holes, and engaging the catch 16 in the through channel 11 of the tongues 8 in the block 7.

[0007] The bags are removed from the dispenser individually by pulling the foremost bag of the stack forwards along the prongs 14, which results in breaking the webs 9 of the tongues 8 of that bag, leaving the detached tongues in the block on the catch 16. By virtue of the provision of the glue spot 12 connecting the bag to the next bag in the stack, the mouth of the next bag is caused to be partially opened as the foremost bag is removed, thereby preparing the next bag to be loaded. The glue spot 12 provides a relatively weak bond between the bags which breaks as the foremost bag is pulled from the prongs 14 of the dispenser.

[0008] The bags and dispenser just described and illustrated suffer from a number of disadvantages. Specifically, the loading of the stack of bags on the dispenser and subsequent removal of single bags is awkward and time-consuming. Loading is a two-handed operation because of the need to splay the handles as they are engaged with the prongs 14 of the dispenser. Once loaded, the stack must be pushed along the prongs to the back of the dispenser and the catch 16 engaged in the through tunnel 11 of the block 7 of the stack. This can result in breakage of the webs 9 connecting the block to the bags, impairing the intended function of the dispenser and bags.

[0009] It is currently feasible to manufacture the stacks only in units of 50 bags because of the configuration of the block 7. The loading sequence must therefore be repeated to achieve the usually intended working complement of 500 bags at supermarket checkouts, for example, which causes delays in loading and can give rise to customer annoyance at checkouts, in addition to increasing likelihood of careless loading. One solution has been to pre-load the stacks for a dispenser onto tubes which are then slid over the prongs to load all the stacks in one operation onto the dispenser. The tubes are subsequently removed.

[0010] With regard to the webs 9 of the block 7, even if they are properly intact when a stack has been loaded on the dispenser, their function and that of the glue spots may not be satisfactory. As the foremost bag is being removed from the dispenser, a group of bags behind it is often pulled forwards with it along the prongs. This effect, known as concertinaring or "daisy-chaining" leads to the dispensing of several bags which can result in wastage of bags, or the interjection of a checkout operative or other attendant to arrange the bags properly on the prongs for the next foremost bag in the stack to be removed by a customer.

[0011] It is usual for the dispenser described to be mounted on a checkout counter such that the bags of a stack loaded onto the prongs hang vertically, the bottoms of the bags commonly being lower than the level of the counter. In consequence, it is usual for a person loading items into the foremost bag of the stack, while the bag is still on the dispenser, to have to perform bending, stretching and twisting movements, before pulling the loaded bag forwards along and off the prongs whilst its splayed handles are stretched sideways.

[0012] An alternative known design of dispenser is shown in Figure 2. This dispenser has a body 17 including an anchor part 18 for a stack of bags. The anchor part extends upwards from a base plate 19 of the body and has a canted-over support plate 20. A catch 21 is mounted on the support plate for the retention of a stack of bags on the anchor part 18. In the region of the catch 21 the bags in the retained stack lie substantially horizontally on the support plate 20. For most of their lengths the bags lie on the anchor part at an angle to the vertical and only at the lower ends hang vertically. In order to restrain a loaded stack on the support plate a stack restraining means is provided comprising a relatively heavy hinged restraining member 22 biased against the stack by its weight. The restraining member 22 includes an articulated portion 23 which bears squarely on the stack to retain the stack but can be deflected to allow a leading side of the foremost bag of the stack to be drawn out to open the bag readily for loading he bag before it is removed from the dispenser. As in the earlier described example, adjacent bags in the stack are "daisy-chained" together such that when the leading side of the foremost bag has been drawn past the articulated portion 23 that portion then bears on the trailing side of the bag, and so on the remaining bags in the stack to hold them in place on the anchor part of the dispenser.

[0013] A stack of bags for use with the dispenser just described is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Each bag of the stack has two handles 24 bridged by a web 25 of a block header 26 of a generally inverted U-shape connected at side-limbs 27 of its U-shape to the handles along lines of weakness 28. The block header 26 is held together by spot heat welds 26' at the webs 25 at side limbs 27. The connection of the block header 26 to the handles 24 is along substantial parts of the lengths of the handles. Glue spots X are provided between adjacent bags in the stack near to the mouths of the bags. A relatively large through channel 29 is left in the stack between the block header 26 and the mouths of the bags for receiving the catch 21 of the dispenser when the stack is loaded onto the anchor part 18 of the dispenser.

[0014] In order to load the stack onto the dispenser an operative must lift up the restraining member 22 and pass it through the through channel 29 in order for the catch to be engaged in the through channel, the web 25 of the block header co-operating with the catch. The restraining member is then lowered onto the bags of the stack to retain the stack in place on the anchor part.

[0015] An alternative arrangement has the catch as a large central hook and removable with the restraining member, as an assembly, from the anchor part of the dispenser for a stack to be loaded onto the anchor part. The assembly is releasably attached to the anchor part by locating lugs. It has to be re-attached to the anchor part to hold the loaded stack in place.

[0016] Both arrangement require some dexterity and effort in loading and retaining a stack of bags on the dispenser. Periodic maintenance is necessary as a result of wear and tear on the dispenser caused by the relative movement of the restraining member, catch and anchor part.

[0017] When a stack of bags is located on the dispenser there is appreciable loading on the dispenser resulting from the cantilever effect of hanging the stack from the canted-over support plate of the anchor part. Thus the dispenser needs to be a robust structure.

[0018] There is the possibility that more than one bag may be dispensed at one time because of the fact that unrestricted access is available to the bags in the stacks and a person may grab more than one bag at a time to be removed from the dispenser. This can result in wasted bags.

[0019] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a stack of pre-formed bags and a dispenser for use therewith which enable avoidance of at least some of the drawbacks mentioned of the known stack of bags and dispenser described.

[0020] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a stack of pre-formed bags of the kind described in which each bag has at the handles thereof integral attachment parts joined to side edges of the handles, being formed with apertures to be engaged by retaining pins of a dispenser and having lines of weakening, the arrangement being such that the stack is located in use with respect to a dispenser by engagement of the attachment parts of the handles of the bags with retaining pins of the dispenser at the apertures, and each bag is detachable from the stack and dispenser by manipulation of the bag to detach its handles from the retaining pins at the lines of weakening.

[0021] Preferably the attachment parts are at inside edges of the handles, that is side edges of the handles which are opposite one another in the stack. The attachment parts may be individual tabs or other projections on the side edges of the handles. They may alternatively, be part of a web extending between the inside edges of the handles of each bag. The webs of the bags in the stack may be formed in a header block of the stack. It is desirable for the attachment parts of the handles to be similarly positioned on the handles and for the apertures of the parts to be symmetrically positioned about the longitudinal centreline of the bag, thereby allowing the weight of each bag in the stack to be evenly distributed between the retaining pins in the dispenser.

[0022] It is preferred that the attachment parts of each bag are separably joined to the side edges of the handles by the lines of weakening so that when the bag is detached from the stack the handles become detached from the attachment parts, which remain on the retaining pins. It is possible, however, for the lines of weakening to extend between the apertures and edges of the attachment parts, in which case when the bag is detached from the stack the lines of weakness are caused to be broken to open the apertures to the edges of the attachment parts, and thereby release the attachment parts from the retaining pins, the attachment parts remaining on the handles.

[0023] There may be further attachment parts at the mouths of the bags intermediate the handles, integral with the bodies of the bags, which have lines of weakening, and are formed with apertures to be engaged by a further retaining pin or pins of a dispenser to which the stack is applied for use. Manipulation of the bags to detach their handles from the retaining pins with which their attachment parts are engaged, for detachment of the bags from the stack, may also detach the bodies of the bags from the retaining pins engaged by the attachment parts at their mouths. Preferably, again, the further attachment parts of the bags are separably joined to the bodies of the bags by the lines of weakening, for the attachment parts to remain on the respective retaining pin or pins when the bag is detached from the stack. The further attachment parts are conveniently provided centrally of the mouths of the bags between the handles. They may be individual tabs or other projections on the bodies at the mouths of the bags. Alternatively they may be joined to a web, as mentioned above, extending between handles of the bags. Thus the attachment parts at the handles and mouths of the bags may be parts of unitary components, preferably detachably joined by lines of weakening to the handles and bodies of the bags, engageable by retaining pins of the dispenser to which the stack is applied for use. The unitary components may be formed in a T-shaped header block of the stack.

[0024] The attachment parts of each bag, at the handles and mouths of the bodies, will normally each comprise two superimposed leaves, one formed in each of the two layers of material of the bag forming opposed walls of the body and opposed parts of each handle.

[0025] It is desirable that pre-formed bags of the kind described are caused to be opened as they are detached from the stack, so that they are immediately made ready to be filled by the user. The stack of bags in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention is able to meet this requirement. Preferably the foremost bag, and each successive bag, of the stack, is caused to be detached from the stack by the user pinching the body of the bag, for example near to the mouth, and pulling the bag away from the neighbouring bag in a direction generally normal to the stack. This action opens the mouth of the pulled bag. Alternatively hand pressure may be applied on the body of the foremost bag to bear on the body whilst urging the body away from the handles, the action causing the mouth of the bag to open as well as detachment of the bag from its attachment parts.

[0026] It has been found that the provision of the further attachment parts at the mouths of the bags has several advantages when a bag is detached from the stack in the ways described. The further attachment parts afford a means of additional support for the stack in the dispenser to which the stack is applied for use. These parts also have the effect of creating at the mouths of the bags resistance to separation of a bag from its neighbour. This resistance causes the bag which is being detached from the stack to peel open across its mouth and separate at a leading wall (nearest to the user) of the body from the attachment part or parts. The bag may be filled by the user whilst it is in this state, thereby facilitating the process of filling. The bag is positively supported at the dispenser by the attachment part or parts still connected to a trailing wall of the bag at the mouth and by the attachment parts at the handles. When the bag is urged further away from the stack the handles separate from their attachment parts. also with a peeling action. Upon continued urging of the bag the trailing wall of the body separates from the attachment part or parts at the mouth so that the bag is then fully detached from the stack.

[0027] By virtue of the resistance to separation of the bags created at the mouths of the bags by the provision of the further attachment parts, it is unnecessary to provide adhesive connection, as by spots of glue, between the bags in the stack adjacent to their mouths for "daisy-chaining" the bags together. The absence of such adhesive connection simplifies the manufacture of the stack of pre-formed bags now provided and saves on production costs.

[0028] Detachment of the foremost bag from the stack in the ways described is easy to effect. Whilst, when attachment parts are provided at the mouths of the bags, resistance is afforded to separation of the bags by those attachment parts, it has been found, nevertheless, that because of the peeling effect at the mouth and handles of a bag as the connections at the attachment parts are released, the bag that is being urged to separate from the stack will separate readily from its neighbour in the stack, and so the urged bag alone is detached from the stack.

[0029] The lines of weakening at the attachment parts may be defined by perforations. They may be defined in other suitable ways, for example by thinning of the material of the bags of the attachment parts and/or partial slitting of the material.

[0030] Manufacture of the stack of bags may be automated and may be in accordance with conventional methods.

[0031] With regard to the retaining pins of a dispenser with which the apertures of the attachment parts are to be engaged, although the term "pins" has been used herein, it is to be understood that the term is intended to cover not only pins as such but also pegs, rods, bolts, tubular shafts, or other pin-like elongate retention elements.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispenser adapted to receive a stack of pre-formed bags in accordance with the first aspect of the invention herein set forth, the dispenser comprising a holder which is adapted to receive at least a part of the stack containing the attachment parts of the bags, and which supports retaining pins positioned and adapted to be engaged in the apertures of the attachment parts, thereby locating the stack with respect to the dispenser for use.

[0033] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided in combination a dispenser and a stack of pre-formed bags in accordance with the first aspect of the invention herein set forth, the dispenser comprising a holder or housing which receives at least a part of the stack containing the attachment parts of the bags and retaining pins supported by the holder or housing engaged in the apertures of the attachment parts, thereby locating the stack with respect to the dispenser for use.

[0034] When the bags in the stack include attachment parts at their mouths, the holder will also support an attachment pin or pins to engage in the apertures of those attachment parts.

[0035] The holder may be of a generally U-shape to fit around the stack at least at the handles of the bags.

[0036] The holder may be, or may be part of or be incorporated into a housing, of a form designed to enclose the sack partially or fully. It, or the housing, conveniently takes the form of a cartridge which is easily stored and handled for use. The holder or housing may substantially enclose the stack, having an opening only for access to the foremost bag of the stack for detachment of that bag. As another possibility the holder or housing may fully enclose the stack and have a removable section to provide an opening for access to the foremost bag. Typically the holder or housing is made to hold no more than 500 bags in the stack so as to keep the weight of the loaded dispenser to a manageable level for one person to handle.

[0037] A restricting member may be included in the dispenser which restricts access by a user to bags in the stack in the region of the handles of the bags. The object of providing the restricting member is to deter a user from attempting to detach more than one bag at a time from the stack.

[0038] Preferably the restricting member is positioned to be disposed at the region between the handles of the bags in the stack received in the holder, thereby to prevent or at least restrict access for a user's hand into the space in the stack between the handles and above the mouths of the bags. The restricting member may be of sheet material, for example plastics, metal, paper or cardboard, and may be rigid or flexible. It may be positioned to be disposed adjacent to the foremost bag in the stack.

[0039] The restricting member may be attached to, or form part of, the holder. It may or may not bear on the stack at the body of the foremost bag of the stack adjacent to the mouth of that bag. The member may taper towards the bodies of the bags in the stack. If the restricting member bears on the stack it is desirable that it is flexible and urged towards the body of the foremost bag. By tapering the member towards the bodies of the bags, and thereby varying its flexibility or spring rate along its length, the force required to remove the foremost bag against the bearing load of the restricting member falls off no-linearly as the member is deflected. Preferably the force required to deflect the restricting member in the course of detaching the foremost bag from the stack is only marginally greater than the resistance to separation of the bags created at the mouths of the bags, as referred to above.

[0040] There may be more than one of the restricting members. Sheet metal, plastics, cardboard or other suitable preferably rigid or substantially rigid, material, or a combination of materials, may be used in the manufacture of the holder and/or housing.

[0041] It is possible that the dispenser may be designed to be re-usable, i.e. refilled with a stack or stack of bags as the or a stack is exhaustcd, or to be disposable when the stack it holds is exhausted. In the latter form it is desirable for the dispenser to be made in a manner suitable for ready recycling. The holder and retaining pins may be returnable to the manufacturer or a distributor for re-use in a dispenser.

[0042] In one embodiment, the retaining pins each comprise a tube of metal or plastics material which threads through the aligned apertures in superimposed attachment parts of the bags in the stack to be located in the dispenser. When the tube is in place in the holes it is retained to the stack and holder by means of headed retainers at opposite ends of the tube.

[0043] The dispenser may be adapted to be mounted on a base which may be fixed, for example by bolts or clamps, on a suitable support, for example on a counter or superstructure of a checkout of a store. The base may be of a generally U-shape to receive and fit around a bottom and sides of the holder or housing of the dispenser, such that the dispenser may simply be lowered into position on the base for use, and lifted away from the base for refilling with a stack of bags or disposal.

[0044] Just one dispenser may be mounted on the base at a time, or the base may be made to receive more than one dispenser for use together. For example, the base may be made to receive two of the dispenser back-to-back so that stacks of bags are available to users for detachment of bags from opposite sides of the base. The base may be swivable to change the position of the dispenser or dispensers for accessibility of users to the stack or stacks of bags.

[0045] The dispenser may be arranged, or be arranged to be mounted on a base, such that the bags of the stack it holds are presented vertically, horizontally, inclined or even bent at an intermediate part of their lengths for access by a user.

[0046] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 3 show the examples of prior art stacks of pre-formed bags and dispensers therefor described hereinbefore;

Figure 4 is a front view of a stack of pre-formed bags in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention;

Figures 5 to 8 are front views showing modified versions of the stack of bags;

Figure 9 is a front perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the second aspect of the invention to which the stack of bags is applicable;

Figure 10 shows fragmentary sectional views of an attachment pin of the dispenser;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the dispenser showing removal of a bag from the stack therein;

Figure 12 is a front perspective showing a modified version of the dispenser;

Figures 13 and 14 are front perspective views of a further modified version of the dispenser;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a base in which the dispenser may be mounted, and

Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views of the base showing the dispenser and another similar dispenser mounted therein.

[0047] Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, a stack of flat pre-formed bags 30 is shown. Each bag 30 comprises a body 31 having a mouth 32 and a pair of handles 33 extending from opposite ends of the mouth. The bags 30 in the stack are superimposed one on another with their bodies 31 and handles 33 in register. Towards its outer end remote from the body each handle 33 of each bag 30 has a small integral attachment tab 34 projecting from its inside edge and joined to that edge by a line of weakening 35 formed by perforations. The tabs 34 of the two handles are similar and positioned directly opposite one another. Each tab 34 is formed with an aperture 36. The apertures 36 of the respective tabs of the bags in the stack register. Glue spots 37 are applied between the bodies 31 of adjacent bags in the stack near to, and centrally of, their mouths 32.

[0048] Instead of having the lines of weakening 35 at the inside edges of the handles 33 the attachment tabs 34 may have the lines of weakening extending from the apertures 36 to edges of the tabs, for example perpendicularly to the edges which extend over the apertures as shown in Figure 4.

[0049] Modified versions of the stack of bags 30 are shown in Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings. In the version shown in Figure 5 larger attachment tabs 34' are provided on the handles. They extend for a major part of the lengths at the handles 33 but stop short of the bodies 31 of the bags and outer ends of the handles.

[0050] The version shown in Figure 6 has handle attachment tabs 34'' integrally joined to the handles of the bags at lines of weakening 35 and body attachment parts 38 integrally joined to the bodies 31 of the bags at their mouths 32, centrally positioned between the handles. A line of weakening 39, defined by perforations, joins each body attachment part 38 to the body of a bag. An aperture 40 is formed in each body attachment part 38. The respective apertures 40 in the body attachment parts 38 of all the bags in the stack are in register.

[0051] Referring now to Figure 7, the bags in the stack again have body attachment parts 38' comparable to those in the version of Figure 6 but instead of individual handle attachment tabs a web 41 extends between the inside edges of the handles of each bag, at the outer ends of the handles, and serves as a common handle attachment part of the handles of the bag. The webs 41 of the bags are formed in a header block of the stack. Each web 41 is joined at its opposite ends to the inside edges of the handles of the respective bag by lines of weakening 35', and is formed with an aperture 36' near each handle.

[0052] The version shown in Figure 8 extends the header block arrangement of Figure 7. Here a T-shaped block 42 is integrally joined to the handles and body of each bag in the stack. A web 41' of the block 42 is joined at its opposite ends to the handles and a leg piece 43 is joined to the body centrally of the mouth 32 of the bag. Lines of weakening 34'', 39', formed by perforations, respectively join the opposite ends of the web 41' to the handles and the leg piece 43 to the body. Apertures 36'' are formed in the web 41' adjacent to the handles and an aperture 40' is formed in the leg piece adjacent to the body. As before, the web 41' provides a common handle attachment part of the handles of the bag, and the leg piece 43 provides a body attachment part of the body.

[0053] In the versions of the stack described which have body attachment parts, no glue spots are applied between the bodies of the adjacent bags, or between those attachment parts.

[0054] The stack of bags, in any of the versions described, is manufactured in an automated process. A cylindrical plastics film, produced as a blown-film extrusion through an annular dies, is closed by heat-bonding forming two seams at the top and bottom of each bag-forming length of film. The individual bag lengths are then cut from the film in a flat state. A die cuts the top region of the bag, severing the seam at the top of the bag to define the handles and attachment parts as required. The apertures are cut by the die. The lines of weakening are produced by interrupted blades penetrating the film to form perforations. The bags are superimposed one on another to form the stack. Preferably there are no more than 500 bags in the stack so that typically the weight is not more than 5kg for ease of handling.

[0055] Since each bag comprises in effect two superimposed layer of the plastics film each attachment part consists of two superimposed leaves of the film, one formed in each of the two layers.

[0056] The attachment parts of the bags of the various versions of the stack of bags described are provided for the engagement of retaining pins of a dispenser as hereinafter described.

[0057] Referring to Figures 9 to 11 of the drawings, a dispenser 44 is shown which is designed to receive the version of the stack of bags shown in Figures 4 and 5 having attachment parts only at the handles of the bags. This dispenser 44 comprises a holder in the form of a cartridge 45 made as a cardboard box into which the stack of bags 30 is fully received in a flat state. The cartridge 45 is rectangular and dimensioned to fit closely around the full stack of bags. A first wall 46 of the cartridge has an inset rectangular opening 47 which occupies a substantial part of the area of the wall and over which a head portion 48 of the wall extends. Two parallel retaining pins 49 locate in the cartridge, extending between the head portion 48 of the front wall 46 and a back wall 50 of the cartridge, and engaged in holes, not shown, formed in the head portion and back wall. A restricting member 51 having a downwardly tapering tongue 51' extending into the opening 47 is adhesively secured behind the head portion 48.

[0058] Each of the two retaining pins 49 consists of an extruded plastics tube 49^', Figure 10, which forms the shaft of the pin, and moulded plastics locking inserts 51 which are engaged in the opposite ends of the tube. Each locking insert 51 comprises a male inner element 52 and a male outer element 53. The inner element 52, which is hollow, is a push-fit in the bore of the tube and has a flange 54 which seats on the end edge of the tube. The outer element 53 has a spiit spigot 55 which is a push-fit in the inner element to cause the element to expand and jam in the tube 49', and a head 56 which extends over the flange 54 of the inner element.

[0059] In an alternative form each retaining pin 49 may comprise a tubular shaft having a head at one end, and a locking insert which is attached to the opposite end of the shaft, the locking insert having a spigot which is a tight push-fit in the bore of the shaft and an integral head similar to that of the shaft. The shaft and locking insert may be made as plastics mouldings.

[0060] The restricting member 51 is made from plastics sheet material which is flexible whilst having some degree of stiffness normally urging the member to a flat state. The tapering tongue 51^' extends centrally into the upper part of the opening 47 in the front wall 46 of the cartridge 45 from the head portion 48. Holes, not shown, are formed in the restricting member and positioned to receive the tubes 49' of the retaining pins 49.

[0061] The stack of bags is loaded into the dispenser by sliding it into the cartridge 45 from one end, the cartridge being provided with a closure flap at one end, or at either end, for that purpose. The stack is orientated so that when it is fully inserted into the cartridge the handles of the bags are at the upper part of the opening 47 and the head portion 48 of the front wall 46, with the apertures 36 of their attachment tabs 34 in register with the holes in the head portion and back wall 50. The retaining pins 49 are then applied to the dispenser and stack of bags. To do this the tubes 49', with locking inserts 51 attached at one end, are inserted through the holes in the back wall 50, or the head portion 48 of the front wall, of the cartridge, through the registering apertures of the attachment tabs, and the holes of the restricting members 51, and located at their inserted ends with respect to the holes in the head portion, or the back wall as the case may be. Locking inserts 51 are then attached to the latter ends to secure the retaining pins in place. The heads 56 of the outer elements 53 of the locking inserts 51 bear on the outsides of the back wall and head portion of the front wall to restrain the retaining pins from axial movement relative to the cartridge.

[0062] The tongue 51^' of the restricting member 51 extends at the front of the stack across the opening 47 almost to the level of the mouths 32 of the bags, thereby denying or significantly restricting access for a person to insert their hand through the opening and into the space in the stack between the handles of the bags.

[0063] In an alternative form of the restricting member 51 shown in Figure 12 of the drawings the tongue 51' is made longer so as to extend to a level below the mouths 35 of the bags and bear flexibly on the foremost bag of the stack adjacent its mouth. The tongue 51' is caused to be deflected forwardly, as indicated, as the foremost bag is subsequently detached from the stack.

[0064] It will be understood that a further retaining pin will be provided when the stack of bags has the attachment parts at the mouths of the bags, as in Figures 6 to 7. In that case the further retaining pin may be anchored to the back wall only of the cartridge, or the head portion of the front wall may be deepened down to about the level of the mouths of the bags in the stack for the retaining pin to be anchored to it. The restricting member will be unnecessary with the latter arrangement. A further possibility is to anchor the further retaining pin to the tongue of the restricting member.

[0065] The assembled stack of bags and dispenser is a compact unit which can be easily handled, stored in readiness for use and transported. The assembly can be produced and put together at relatively low cost by a supplier.

[0066] Instead of being formed with the opening 47 already in it, the front wall 46 of the cartridge may, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, have a removable panel 57 defined in it by a path of perforations 58. Thus the stack of bags may be fully enclosed in the cartridge until it is required to be used. The panel 57 may then be ripped out of the front wall leaving an opening 47' for access to the stack. A notch 59 is cut into an upper edge of the panel 57 into which a finger or fingers can be inserted for ripping the panel from the front wall.

[0067] As shown in Figures 13 and 14 a loop handle 60 may be attached to the cartridge at its upper end for carrying the dispenser.

[0068] The manner of detaching a bag from the stack in the dispenser will now be described. The user merely has to pinch, between finger and thumb, the exposed front wall of the body of the foremost bag in the stack, as shown in Figure 11, and pull that wall forwards out of the opening 47 of the cartridge. As the front wall of the body is pulled the mouth of the bag peels open, thereby automatically preparing the bag to be filled. The handles also progressively peel open and detach from their attachment tabs 34 at the lines of weakening 35, leaving the tabs on the retaining pins. As the back wall of the body is drawn forwards in the final stages of detachment of the foremost bag from the stack, the glue spot 37 connecting that wall to the front wall of the next bag causes the latter wall to be drawn forwards, thus opening the mouth of the next bag, until the glue spot gives way as the foremost bag is completely detached from the stack. Accordingly, the front wall of the next bag, which then becomes the foremost bag of the stack, is at least partially opened at its mouth, enabling the bag to be readily pinched and pulled at the front wall when the bag is to be detached.

[0069] Instead of pinching and pulling the foremost bag as described for detaching it from the stack, it is possible for the user simply to bear with one hand on the foremost bag, say in the region of the mouth of the bag and, still applying light pressure, draw the bag downwardly relative to the stack. This similarly has the effect of peeling open the mouth of the bag, and its handles, and detaching the handles from the attachment tabs.

[0070] The close fit of the cartridge around the stack of bags and the provision of the restricting member effectively prevents a user from gaining access to more than one bag of the stack at a time, so that only the foremost bag may be detached at each approach.

[0071] When the stack of bags has been exhausted the empty dispenser may be refilled with another stack after the attachment tabs of the exhausted stack have been removed from the retaining pins.

[0072] For use, the dispenser, loaded with the stack of bags, may be mounted on a base 61, as shown in Figures 15 to 17. The base comprises a U-shaped cradle 62 swivably mounted on a channel-shaped bracket 63 by which the base can be fixed, as by bolts, to a suitable anchorage at a point of installation, for example a check-out counter. The cradle 62 and bracket 63 may be made of sheet metal or from extruded metal or plastics sections. The cradle 62 is designed to fit closely round the bottom and sides of the cartridge, the dispenser being slid down into the cradle, as shown in Figure 17. In the form illustrated the cradle 62 is able to accommodate two of the dispensers back-to-back, thereby enabling the stacks of both dispensers to be accessed for detachment of the bags from them.

[0073] Alternatively, the cradle 62 may be set for access to the stack of just one of the dispensers, and when that stack has been exhausted the cradle can be turned on the saddle to present the other dispenser for the stack of that dispenser to be used.

[0074] As a dispenser is emptied it may be replaced by another for a continuous supply of bags to be made available to users.

[0075] The, or each dispenser may have a colour coded surface in its cartridge which is exposed as the stack is exhausted, or is approaching exhaustion, so as to provide a means of prompting an operative that a replacement is needed.

[0076] In the case of the dispenser particularly described and illustrated the cartridge has been provided with an opening, or has provision for an opening, only at the front wall. If desired an opening may be provided in the back wall of the cartridge also, thereby enabling bags to be detached from both sides of the stack, the method of detachment of a bag at either side being the same. With such an arrangement a further restricting member is preferably provided at the back wall as well.

Claims

1. A stack of pre-formed bags (30) each having a body (31) with a mouth (32) and a pair of spaced handles (33) at opposite ends of the mouth and being supplied flat against one another in the stack to be applied to a dispenser for the bags to be dispensed individually therefrom, characterised in that each bag (31) has at the handles (33) thereof integral attachment parts (34) joined to the side edges of the handles, being formed with apertures (36) to be engaged by retaining pins of a dispenser and having lines of weakening (35), the stack being locatable in use with respect to a dispenser by engagement of the attachment parts (34) of the handles of the bags with retaining pins of the dispenser at the apertures (36), and each bag being individually detachable from the stack and dispenser by manipulation of the bag to detach its handles (33) from the retaining pins at the lines of weakening (35).

2. A stack according to claim 1 characterised in that the attachment parts (34) are at inside edges of the handles (33).

3. A stack according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the attachment parts (34) are individual projections on the side edges of the handles (33).

4. A stack according to claim 2 characterised in that the attachment parts are parts of a web (41) extending between the inside edges of the handles (33) of each bag.

5. A stack according to any preceding claim characterised in that the attachment parts (34) of each bag are separably joined to the handles (33) by the lines of weakening (35), so that when the bag is detached from the stack the handles become detached from the attachment parts, which remain on the retaining pins.

6. A stack according to any preceding claim characterised in that glue spots (37) are provided between adjacent bags (30) in the stack in the region of the mouths (32) of the bags, thereby to bond the bags together and cause the mouth of a bag adjacent to a foremost bag in the stack to be opened as the foremost bag is detached from the stack.

7. A stack according to any preceding claim characterised in that further attachment parts (38) are provided at the mouths (32) of the bags, intermediate the handles (33), integrally with the bodies (31) of the bags, the further attachment parts (35) being formed with apertures (40) to be engaged by a further retaining pin or pins of a dispenser to which the stack is applied for use, and having lines of weakening (39) at which the bodies are detachable from the further retaining pin or pins.

8. A stack according to claim 7 in which the further attachment parts (38) at the mouths (32) of the bags are separably joined to the bodies (31) of the bags by the lines of weakening (39), so that when the bags are detached from the stack the bodies become detached from the further attachment parts, which remain on the further retaining pin or pins.

9. A stack according to claim 7 of claim 8 characterised in that the further attachment parts (38) are individual projections on the bodies (31) at the mouths (32) of the bags.

10. A stack according to claim 6 or claim 8 as dependent from claim 4 characterised in that the further attachment parts (38) are joined to the webs (41) extending between the handles (33) of the bags.

11. A stack according to any preceding claim characterised in that a or the foremost bag (30) in the stack is detachable from the stack by pinching the body (31) of the bag and pulling away from the neighbouring bag in the stack in a direction generally normal to the stack, whereby the mouth (32) and handles (33) peel at least partially open.

12. A stack according to any of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that a or the foremost bag (30) in the stack is detachable from the stack by applying hand pressure on the body (31) of the bag to bear on the body whilst urging the body away from the handles (33), whereby the mouth (32) and handles peel at least partially open.

13. A dispenser characterised in that it is adapted to receive a stack of pre-formed bags as claimed in any preceding claim and comprises a holder (45) which is adapted to receive at least a part of the stack containing the attachment parts of the bags and which supports retaining pins (49) positioned and adapted to be engaged in the apertures of the attachment parts, thereby to locate the stack with respect to the dispenser for use.

14. A dispenser according to claim 13 characterised in that the holder (45) is of a gencrally U-shape to fit around the stack at the handles of the bags.

15. A dispenser according to claim 13 or claim 14 characterised in that the holder (45) is part of, or is incorporated into, a housing which at least partially encloses the stack.

16. A dispenser according to claim 13 or claim 15 characterised in that the holder or housing is in the form of a cartridge (45).

17. A dispenser according to any of claims 13, 15 and 16 characterised in that the holder or housing (45) substantially encloses the stack and has an opening (47) for access to the foremost bag of the stack for detachment of that bag.

18. A dispenser according to any of claims 13, 15 and 16 characterised in that the holder or housing (45) fully encloses the stack and has a removable section (57) to provide an opening (47') for access to the foremost bag of the stack for detachment of that bag.

19. A dispenser according to any of claims 13 to 18 in which the retaining pins (49) each comprise a tube (49') which threads through the apertures in superimposed attachment parts of the bags in the stack to be located in the dispenser, and headed retainers (51) inserted into the opposite ends of the tube.

20. A dispenser according to claim 19 characterised in that each retainer (51) comprises two co-operating inner and outer male elements (51, 52), the inner element (51) being a push fit in an end of the tube (49') and the outer element (52) having a head (56) and being a push fit in the inserted inner element (51) to cause the latter to expand and so become jammed in the tube against separation.

21. A dispenser according to any of claims 13 to 18 characterised in that the retaining pins (49) each comprise a tubular shaft having a head at one end and a locking insert having a head and a spigot which is a tight push fit in the bore of the shaft.

22. A dispenser according to any of claims 13 to 21 characterised in that the holder (45) has a restricting member (52) fixed thereto having a tongue (52') which extends intermediate the handles of the bags towards the bodies of the bags, thereby to restrict access of a user's hand into the dispenser between the handles of the bags of a stack received in the holder for use, in order to deter the user from detaching more then one bag from the stack at a time.

23. A dispenser according to any of claims 13 to 22 characterised in that it is provided in combination with a stack of pre-formed bags (30) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, the holder or housing (45) of the dispenser receiving at least a part of the stack containing the attachment parts (34) of the bags, and the retaining pins (49) supported by the holder or housing being engaged in the apertures (36) of the attachment parts, thereby locating the stack with respect to the dispenser for use.

24. The combination according to claim 23 characterised in that it includes a base (61) on which the holder or housing (45) is mounted for the dispenser to be located on a support for user access to the stack.

25. The combination according to claim 24 characterised in that the base (61) is of a generally U-shape to receive and fit around a bottom and sides of the holder or housing (45) such that the dispenser can be lowered into position on the base for use and lifted away from the base for refilling with a stack of bags or disposal.

26. The combination according to claim 25 characterised in that the base (61) is able to receive the holder or housing (45) of more than one of the dispensers at a time for use of the dispensers together.

27. The combination according to claim 26 characterised in that the base (61) is able to receive two of the holders or housings (45) back-to-back such that the stack of bags (30) in the dispensers are available to users for detachment of bags from opposite sides of the base.

28. The combination according to any of claims 24 to 27 characterised in that the base (61) is swivable to change the position of the or each holder or housing (45) for accessibility of users to the stack or stacks of bags.

Drawing