Apparatus for loading bags

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing individual plastic handle bearing bags from a stack of bags and holding the dispensed bag in an open position for loading. The apparatus comprises a bottom support member and two spaced-apart, oppositely disposed upwardly projecting tab members such that the apparatus has an opening corresponding approximately to the size of the open bag it is designed to contain. The upwardly projecting elongated tabs are compatible in size with the open portion of the bag handles and each is adapted to engage a handle of the bag in such manner that the bag is held suspended within the apparatus.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus that facilitates the loading of articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, whereby said bag is suspended within said apparatus and held in open position by means of said handles, said apparatus comprising: a. a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading;   b. a first upwardly projecting elongated .Iadd.fixed .Iaddend.tab, supported at an elevation above said horizontal support surface approximately equal to the vertical distance between the open area of a handle of such a bag and the bottom of said bag when said bag is in open condition and resting on said horizontal support surface;   c. a second upwardly projecting elongated .Iadd.fixed .Iaddend.tab, .Iadd.fixedly and immovably .Iaddend.spaced apart from said first tab and supported at substantially the same height above said horizontal support as said first tab, said second tab being disposed substantially parallel to said first tab and spaced apart therefrom at a distance substantially the same as the distance between said handles when said bag is in open condition;   d. both of said tabs being of substantially similar configuration and each of which tabs is adapted to fit within the open area of one of said handles; and   e. a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion of each of said tabs, each of which protrusions is adapted to retain on its tab a handle of said bag when said bag is suspended in said apparatus.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and said second tabs are supported by a single support means to which both of said tabs are attached. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first tab and said second tab are separately supported .Iadd.by respective separate support means .Iaddend.at said elevation above the bottom supporting surface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said separate support means are upstanding from and connected to said bottom support surface and are oppositely disposed thereon. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said separate support means comprises a side wall upstanding from said horizontal bottom support surface, and wherein said first and second upwardly projecting elongated tabs each project from the top edge of one of said walls and is of reduced width relative to the width of said walls. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a horizontally disposed member, adapted to hold a stack of said plastic bags, each end of said member being attached to the upper portion of one of said side walls such that said member spans the open area between said side walls but does not interfere with a bag suspended within said apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 constructed as a freestanding unit. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6 installed in a check-out counter of a business establishment. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 constructed as a built-in, integral component of the check-out counter. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rearwardly directed protrusions are constructed from a separate strip of material, which material is bent into a curved configuration to form said protrusions and the remaining length of which material is made to conform to the contour of the upper edge of said tab. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rearwardly directed protrusions are an integral part of said tabs. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rearwardly directed protrusions are constructed separately from said tabs and are adjustably mounted thereon. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rearwardly directed protrusions are constructed separately from said tabs and are rigidly mounted thereon. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plastic bag, having integral handle loops on opposite sides of the opening thereof, suspended therein by means of said handle loops being stretched over said upwardly projecting tabs and with the bottom surface of said bag resting on said horizontal support surface. .Iadd. 
     
     
       15.  The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one of said open mouth plastic bags. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a horizontally disposed member for holding a stack of said plastic bags, said holding member being located rearwardly of said first and second tabs, and a stack of said plastic bags located on said holding 
     
     
        member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said tabs is respectively supported by support means which is integral with said tabs, said tabs having a reduced width with respect to the width of a respective integral support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said tabs is supported by a single support means which is integral with said tabs, said tabs having a reduced width with respect to the width of a respective integral support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for supporting said tabs in said spaced apart relationship, said supporting means supporting said tabs in respective planes which are parallel to one another and in a manner which defines an unimpeded opening between said planes at a front side of said tabs, permitting the passage of a said bag 
     
     
        through said opening and between said tabs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  An appartaus as in claim 1, wherein said tabs are located in respective, different planes which extend upwardly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said separate support means extend upwardly relative 
     
     
        to said bottom support surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  An apparatus that facilitates the loading of articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, whereby said bag is suspended within said apparatus and held in open position by means of said handles, said apparatus comprising: a. a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading;   b. a first upwardly projecting elongated fixed tab, supported at an elevation above said horizontal support surface approximately equal to the vertical distance between the open area of a handle of such a bag and the bottom of said bag when said bag is in open condition and resting on said horizontal support surface;   c. a second upwardly projecting elongated fixed tab, fixedly and immovably spaced apart from said first tab and supported at substantially the same height above said horizontal support as said first tab;   d. both of said tabs being of substantially similar configuration and each of which tabs is adapted to fit within the open area of one of said handles;   e. a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion of each of said tabs, each of which protrusions is adapted to retain on its tab a handle of said bag when said bag is suspended in said apparatus; and   f. a rearwardly located means for holding a stack of said plastic bags.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  An apparatus that facilitates the loading of articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, whereby said bag is suspended within said apparatus and held in open position by means of said handles, said apparatus comprising: a. a first elongated fixed tab means upwardly projecting from a first support means;   b. a second elongated fixed tab means upwardly projecting from a second support means fixedly and immovably spaced apart from said first support means at substantially the same height as the first tab means; said first and second support means, together with said tab means, being adapted to maintain said bag, suspended therefrom by said handles, in an open position;   c. each of said tab means having a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion thereof adapted to retain said bag handles on said tab means when said bag is suspended in said apparatus; and   d. rearwardly located means for holding a stack of said plastic bags   
     
     
        between first and second support means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  The combination of a bag pack with apparatus that facilitates the loading of articles in an open mouth plastic bag, said bag pack comprising: a plurality of open mouth plastic bags having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, said bags being assembled into said pack by heat welding through an area adjacent to the bag mouth and within the confines of a perforated tab section on the upper portion of the front and rear walls of the bag,   said apparatus comprising:   a. a first elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a first support means;   b. a second elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a second support means spaced apart from said first support means at substantially the same height as said first support means; said first and second support means, together with said tab means, being adapted to maintain said bag, suspended therein by said handles, in an open position;   c. each of said tab means having a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion thereof adapted to retain said bag handles on said tab means when said bag is suspended in said apparatus;   d. a rearwardly located support for holding said stack of plastic bags at said perforated tab section to suspend said bag pack from said support; and   e. said apparatus being adapted to be positioned above a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading;   whereby a user removes the topmost bag from said stack of bags, places each of said handle loops of said bag on a respective one of said first and second tabs, loads said bag, and removes said loaded bag from said apparatus by lifting said handle loops from said first and second tabs.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  An apparatus that facilites the loading of articles in an open-mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, whereby said bag is suspended within said apparatus and held in an open position by means of said handles, said apparatus comprising: a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading;   first and second oppositely disposed, upstanding side support means, said second support means being spaced apart from said first support means at substantially the same height as said first support means;   first and second upwardly projecting elongated tab means projecting respectively from said first and second support means, said tab means being of reduced width with respect to the width of said support means;   said first and second tab means being spaced apart at a distance substantially the same as the distance between said handles when said bag is in an open condition;   said first and second support means, together with said tab means being adapted to maintain said bag, suspended therefrom by said handles in an open position;   a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion of each of said tabs, each of which protrusions is adapted to retain on its tab a handle of said bag when said bag is suspended in said apparatus; and   a bag support attached to an upper rear portion of said support means spanning a U-shaped opening in which said bag is suspended therefrom by said handles, said support holding a stack of said plastic bags. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.26.  A method of loading articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth in an apparatus comprising a first elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a first support means, a second elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a second support means fixedly and immovably spaced apart from said first support means at substantially the same height as said first support means, said first and second support means together with said tab means being adapted to maintain said bag suspended therefrom by said handles in an open position, said tab means comprising rearwardly directed protrusions adapted to retain said bag handles on said tab means when said bag is suspended in said apparatus, and rearwardly located means for holding a stack of said plastic bags, said apparatus being adapted to be positioned above a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading; comprising the steps of: a. locating a stack of plastic bags on said holding means,   b. removing the topmost bag from said stack by grasping its handles, holding one handle in each hand,   c. opening the handle area,   d. placing each handle over a respective one of said tab means,   e. loading said bag, and   f. lifting said handles from said tab means to remove said bag from said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A method of loading articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, a plurality of said bags being assembled into a bag pack by heat welding through an area adjacent to the bag mouth and within the confines of a perforated tab section on the upper portion of the front end rear walls of the bag, said method being performed on apparatus comprising:   a. a first elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a first support means;   b. a second elongated tab means upwardly projecting from a second support means spaced apart from said first support means at substantially the same height as said first support means, said first and second support means, together with said tab means, being adapted to maintain said bag, suspended therein by said handles, in an open position;   c. each of said tab means having a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion thereof adapted to retain said bag handles on said tab means when said bag is suspended in said apparatus;   d. a rearwardly located support for holding said stack of plastic bags at said perforated tab section to suspend said bag pack from said support; and   e. said apparatus being adapted to be positioned above a substantially horizontal support surface to support the bottom of said bag during loading, said method comprising the steps of: suspending said bag pack on said support by means extending through said perforated tab section of the bags in said pack;   removing the topmost bag from said stack by grasping its handles, holding one handle in each hand;   opening the handle area;   placing each handle over a respective one of said tab means;   loading said bag; and   lifting said handles from said tab means to remove said bag from said     
     
     
        apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  A method as in claim 27, wherein said bag is separated from said pack at said perforated tab section as it is removed from said stack and the handles thereof placed on respective tab 
     
     
        means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  An apparatus for holding open the mouth of the plastic bag having a pair of handle loops respectively disposed on opposite sides of the mouth, said apparatus comprising: a pair of upwardly projecting tabs, over which said handle loops are respectively mountable, each tab having substantially all portions thereof residing in a respective plane; and   means for supporting said pair of tabs at substantially the same level, said tabs projecting upwardly from said supporting means, said supporting means supporting said tabs such that the respective tabs and planes in which they reside are substantially parallel to one another, and said tabs are fixed in position, when said handle loops are mountable thereon, and spaced a fixed distance apart, said supporting means including support portions respectively connected with and supporting said tabs in a manner which defines an opening in a direction in front of and between said tabs and respective support portions to permit the passage of a bag therebetween during the mounting and demounting of respective handle loops of a bag on and off said tabs, said support portions residing in substantially the same plane as the tabs to which they are connected and defining surfaces at said supporting means on opposite ends of the tabs   
     
     
        for supporting bag handles placed over the tabs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each of said support portions comprises a side member upstanding from a horizontal bag bottom support surface, and wherein said upwardly projecting tabs each project from the top edge of one of said side members and is of reduced width relative to the width of said side members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a plastic bag, having integral handle loops on opposite sides of the mouth opening thereof, suspended therein by means of said handle loops being mounted over said upwardly projecting tabs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein each of said tabs has at one end portion thereof a protrusion to help retain a handle loop on a tab. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said protrusion is on a rearward end portion of a tab away from said opening. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.4.  The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said rearward protrusions are constructed from a separate strip of material, which material is bent into a curved configuration to form said protrusions and the remaining length of which material is made to conform to the contour of an upper edge of a 
     
     
        said tab. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said rearward protrusions are an integral part of said tabs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said rearward protrusions are constructed separately from said tabs and are adjustably mounted thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said rearward protrusions are constructed separately from said tabs and are rigidly mounted thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a horizontally disposed member, adapted to hold a stack of said plastic bags, each end of said horizontally disposed member being attached to one of said support portions, such that said horizontally disposed member spans the open area between said support portions but does not interfere with a bag suspended within said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The apparatus of claim 38, constructed as a freestanding unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising a stack of plastic bags supported to and held by said horizontally disposed member. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.41.  The apparatus of claim 38, installed in a check-out counter of a business establishment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The apparatus of claim 41, constructed as a built-in, integral component of the check-out counter. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.43.  An apparatus that facilitates the loading of articles in an open mouth plastic bag having integral handle loops disposed on opposite sides of the mouth thereof, whereby said bag is suspended within said apparatus and held in open position by means of said handles, said apparatus comprising: a. a first elongated fixed tab upwardly projecting from a first support means;   b. a second elongated fixed tab upwardly projecting from a second support means, said second tab being disposed substantially parallel to said first tab and spaced apart therefrom at a distance substantially the same as the distance between said handles when said bag is in open condition;   c. both of said tabs being of substantially similar configuration and each being adapted to fit within the open area of one of said handles;   d. a rearwardly directed protrusion at one end portion of each of said tabs, each of said protrusions being adapted to retain a handle of said bag when said bag is suspended in said apparatus; each of said rearwardly directed protrusions being formed of an elongated material bent into a curved configuration. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said rearwardly directed protrusions are constructed separately from said tabs and are mounted thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said bent elongated material extends to form a top of   
     
     
        each of said tabs. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46.  The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said bent elongated material is a round metallic material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein said bent elongated material 
     
     
        is one of a wire and metal rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48.  The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said bent elongated material is a round metallic material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein said bent elongated material is one of a wire and metal rod. .Iaddend.