Pet waste bag dispenser

Abstract

A pet waste bag dispenser includes a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment. A pair of positioning plates is located within the interior compartment of the housing and is configured to position at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing. The pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pet waste bag dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment; and   a pair of positioning plates located within the interior compartment of the housing, the pair of positioning plates being configured to position at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, the pair of positioning plates also being configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a back panel, wherein each of the pair of positioning plates comprises a back edge and a sloped edge, wherein the back edge extends generally vertically and abuts the back panel, and wherein the sloped edge extends at an angle relative to the back edge. 
     
     
         3 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a front panel including the opening and configured to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein a bottommost end of each sloped edge is disposed closer to the front panel when the front panel is in a closed position than a topmost end of each sloped edge. 
     
     
         4 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the front panel includes three diamond shapes openings that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations, each of the openings being configured for allowing at least one of the rolled pet waste bags and the stacked pet waste bags to be dispensed therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a pair of hooks, wherein the pair of hooks is disposed above the pair of positioning plates. 
     
     
         6 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the pair of hooks is adapted to support the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that the bags are disposed adjacent the opening in the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the pair of hooks is configured to receive and suspend the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that, when suspended, the plurality of stacked pet waste bags rest on the sloped edges of the pair of positioning plates with the sloped edges positioning the plurality of stacked pet waste bags toward the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 5 , wherein each hook comprises a bend disposed above and vertically aligned with the sloped edge of a corresponding positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates. 
     
     
         9 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 8 , wherein each hook further comprises a shank connected to a top panel of the housing and a tip, wherein the bend extends from the shank to the tip, wherein the shank is vertically aligned with the topmost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate, and wherein the tip is vertically aligned with the bottommost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate. 
     
     
         10 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has three openings in communication with the interior compartment and the housing is configured to receive three boxes of rolled pet waste bags disposed vertically within the interior compartment such that openings in the boxes of rolled pet waste bags are generally aligned with the openings in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a pair of side panels and is further configured to receive:
 a first box of rolled pet waste bags between a first panel of the pair of side panels and a first positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates;   a second box of rolled pet waste bags between the first positioning plate and a second positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; and   a third box of rolled pet waste bags between the second positioning plate and a second panel of the pair of side panels.   
     
     
         12 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 11  wherein the housing further comprises a shelf disposed within the interior compartment of the housing and extending between the side panels and configured to support the three boxes of rolled pet waste bags. 
     
     
         13 . A pet waste bag dispenser comprising:
 a housing defining an interior compartment and having at least one opening in communication with the interior compartment, the interior compartment being sized and shaped to receive one of at least one box of rolled pet waste bags and a plurality of stacked pet waste bags;   a pair of positioning plates located within the interior compartment of the housing, each of the pair of positioning plates including a back edge extending generally vertically and abutting a back panel of the housing, and a sloped edge extending at an angle relative to the back edge; and   a pair of hooks disposed above the pair of positioning plates,   wherein the pair of positioning plates is configured to position the at least one box containing rolled pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the rolled pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, and   wherein the pair of positioning plates is also configured to position a plurality of stacked pet waste bags relative to the opening such that the stacked pet waste bags can be dispensed through the opening in the housing, the pair of hooks being adapted to support the plurality of stacked pet waste bags such that the bags are disposed adjacent the opening in the housing, and the sloped edge of each of the pair of positioning plates being arranged to locate the stacked pet waste bags adjacent the opening in the housing when the stacked pet waste bags are supported by the pair of hooks.   
     
     
         14 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a front panel including the opening and configured to move between an opened position and a closed position, wherein a bottommost end of each sloped edge is disposed closer to the front panel when the front panel is in a closed position than a topmost end of each sloped edge. 
     
     
         15 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the front panel includes three diamond shapes openings that are horizontally arranged in side-by-side relations, each of the openings being configured for allowing at least one of the rolled pet waste bags and the stacked pet waste bags to be dispensed therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 13 , wherein each hook comprises a bend disposed above and vertically aligned with the sloped edge of a corresponding positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates. 
     
     
         17 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each hook further comprises a shank connected to a top panel of the housing and a tip, wherein the bend extends from the shank to the tip, wherein the shank is vertically aligned with the topmost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate, and wherein the tip is vertically aligned with the bottommost end of the sloped edge of the corresponding positioning plate. 
     
     
         18 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the housing has three openings in communication with the interior compartment and the housing is configured to receive three boxes of rolled pet waste bags disposed vertically within the interior compartment such that openings in the boxes of rolled pet waste bags are generally aligned with the openings in the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the housing comprises a pair of side panels and is further configured to receive:
 a first box of rolled pet waste bags between a first panel of the pair of side panels and a first positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates;   a second box of rolled pet waste bags between the first positioning plate and a second positioning plate of the pair of positioning plates; and   a third box of rolled pet waste bags between the second positioning plate and a second panel of the pair of side panels.   
     
     
         20 . The pet waste bag dispenser set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the housing further comprises a shelf disposed within the interior compartment of the housing and extending between the side panels and configured to support the three boxes of rolled pet waste bags.