Bag holder

Abstract

A bagging station is provided and includes a bagging station structure including a base and a supportive portion vertically supported on the base, a bag holder, configured to hold bag handles of a bag, to occupy and selectively move between a stowed position, at which the bag holder is stowed, and a plurality of presented positions, at which the bag holder is available for bag holding, and a coupling device to couple the bag holder to the supportive portion such that the bag holder is biased to remain in a currently occupied one of the stowed position or at least one of the presented positions.

1 . A bagging station, comprising:
 a bagging station structure including a base and a supportive portion vertically supported on the base;   a bag holder, configured to hold bag handles of a bag, to occupy and selectively move between a stowed position, at which the bag holder is stowed, and a plurality of presented positions, at which the bag holder is available for bag holding; and   a coupling device to couple the bag holder to the supportive portion such that the bag holder is biased to remain in a currently occupied one of the stowed position or at least one of the presented positions.   
     
     
         2 . The bagging station according to  claim 1 , wherein the supportive portion of the bagging station comprises sidewalls from which bags are dispensed. 
     
     
         3 . The bagging station according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag comprises a recycled bag. 
     
     
         4 . The bagging station according to  claim 1 , wherein the bag holder comprises arms along which bag holding portions are disposed. 
     
     
         5 . The bagging station according to  claim 4 , wherein the bag holding portions are user accessible when the bag holder occupies the presented positions. 
     
     
         6 . The bagging station according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of presented positions comprises:
 a first position, at which a bag, held by the bag holder, exerts a relatively minimal force on the bag holder;   intermediate positions, which are sequentially occupied by the bag holder as the bag exerts increasing force on the bag holder; and   a final position, at which a force exerted by the bag on the bag holder ceases increasing.   
     
     
         7 . A bagging station, comprising:
 a bagging station structure including a base and a supportive portion vertically supported on the base;   a bag holder, configured to hold bag handles of a bag, to occupy and selectively rotate between a stowed position, at which the bag holder is stowed, and a plurality of presented positions, at which the bag holder is available for bag holding; and   a coupling device to couple the bag holder to the supportive portion such that the bag holder is biased to rotate toward a currently occupied one of the stowed position or at least one of the presented positions.   
     
     
         8 . The bagging station according to  claim 7 , wherein the supportive portion comprises a rod, parallel with the base, to which the bag holder is coupled. 
     
     
         9 . The bagging station according to  claim 8 , wherein the bag holder comprises a member about which the bag holder rotates between the stowed and the presented positions. 
     
     
         10 . The bagging station according to  claim 9 , wherein the coupling device biases a portion of the member to pivot in first or second opposing directions when the bag holder currently occupies the stowed position and the presented positions, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The bagging station according to  claim 9 , wherein the member comprises:
 outer portions about which the bag holder rotates between the stowed and the presented positions; and   a central portion interposed between and offset from an axis of the outer portions.   
     
     
         12 . The bagging station according to  claim 11 , wherein the coupling device comprises a hook that captures the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . The bagging station according to  claim 12 , wherein the central portion is configured to prevent a lateral migration of the hook. 
     
     
         14 . A bagging station, comprising:
 a bagging station structure including a base and a supportive portion vertically supported on the base;   a bag holder, configured to hold bag handles of a bag, to occupy and selectively elevate between a stowed position, at which the bag holder is stowed, and a plurality of presented positions, at which the bag holder is available for bag holding; and   a coupling device to couple the bag holder to the supportive portion and to selectively lock the bag holder in the stowed position or, when the bag holder is unlocked from the stowed position, to bias the bag holder to elevate toward at least one of the presented positions.   
     
     
         15 . The bagging station according to  claim 14 , wherein the coupling device comprises a catch which is selectively engaged with notches disposed on arms of the bag holder to lock the bag holder in the stowed position. 
     
     
         16 . The bagging station according to  claim 14 , wherein the coupling device is spring loaded to bias the bag holder to elevate.