Method of and means for dispensing shopping bags from different size bag packs

Abstract

A method and means for dispensing plastic T-shirt type shopping bags which are in several different packs, each pack having bags of the same size, but different packs having bags of different sizes, the means comprising a rack having a supported transverse bar behind and below which are provided, for example, three downwardly extending hooking elements spaced from each other and centrally aligned with the bar. The bags of the smallest size are hooked over the uppermost hooking element by their central detachable upper edge closures, and brought up and draped over the mounting plate in reverse position. The bags of the next larger size are hooked over the next lower hooking element and brought up over the mounting plate and draped over the smallest bags. Similarly, the bags of the next larger size bag pack are hooked on the next lower hooking element and draped in reverse position over the second pack of bags. The bags are then folded forward from their reverse positions over a transverse bar to cause them to hang downwardly over and parallel to the bags of the largest bag pack in front of the hooking elements. A large part of their lower portions is draped over the transverse bar. Removal of a bag of any size is accomplished by grasping the top downwardly hanging bag of the desired size and pulling it out from the draped bags and detaching it from its closure over the hooking element.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of providing a suitable sized shopping bag from a plurality of packs of plastic bags, each pack having bags of the same size, but each pack being of a different size bag; each bag of each pack being of the "T-shirt" type having a closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along their top edges, and an open top between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said method comprising: (a) providing a rack .[.with.]. .Iadd.comprised of .Iaddend.a .[.projecting.]. transverse .Iadd.plate and a transverse .Iaddend.bar .Iadd.projecting forward from, parallel to, and spaced from said plate, and mounting said plate for support against a vertical surface.Iaddend.;   (b) providing a plurality of vertically aligned U-shaped members, spaced apart from each other, each member being bent downwardly at an angle, said U-shaped members being aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar with the uppermost U-shaped member being spaced from, and disposed below the level of the bar;   (.Iadd.c) slipping the side trap ends of a first and smallest bag pack over the transverse bar and down between said bar and the rack plate;.Iaddend.   .[.(c).]. (.Iadd.d).Iaddend. hooking the detachable slotted pieces of .[.a first pack of bags of a predetermined size over one U-shaped member, and the detachable slotted pieces of a second pack of bags of a larger size over another U-shaped member, the slotted pieces of the bags of larger size being hooked over a U-shaped member disposed below the U-shaped member over which the slotted pieces of bags of smaller sizes are hooked;.]. .Iadd.the first and smallest pack of bags over the uppermost of the U-shaped members;.Iaddend.   .[.(d).]. (.Iadd.e) .Iaddend.draping the lower portions of the bags of the first .Iadd.and smallest .Iaddend.bag pack over the .[.transverse bar.]. .Iadd.rack plate .Iaddend.in a reverse position;   (.Iadd.f) slippinq the side strap ends of the next largest and second bag pack over the transverse bar and down between said bar and the rack plate;   (g) hooking the detachable slotted pieces of said next larger bag pack over the U-shaped member which is next below the uppermost of the U-shaped members;.Iaddend.   .[.(e).]. (.Iadd.h) .Iaddend.draping the lower portions of the bags of .[.the larger and second size bag pack in a reverse position over the lower portions of the bags of the first bag pack which latter portions are draped over the transverse plate in a reverse position;.]. .Iadd.said next larqer and second size bag pack over the rack plate in a reverse position;.Iaddend.   .[.(f).]. (.Iadd.i) .Iaddend.folding the lower portions of the .Iadd.two .Iaddend.hooked bag packs .[.of various sizes.]. from their reverse positions over the transverse bar forward over the transverse bar to cause said lower portions to hang downwardly over .[.and parallel to the bags of the third bag pack.]. .Iadd.the bar .Iaddend.in front of the U-shaped members; and   .[.(g).]. (.Iadd.j) .Iaddend.removing a bag from any of the first or second bag packs from the rack and the U-shaped members by grasping a lower portion of the bag draped over the transverse bar or hanging downwardly therefrom, and pulling the bag to detach it from its slotted piece on the U-shaped member on which its said detachable slotted piece is hooked.   
     
     
       2. A method of providing a suitable sized shopping bag from .[.a plurality of.]. .Iadd.three .Iaddend.packs of plastic bags, each pack having bags of the same size but each pack being of a different bag size; each bag of each pack being of the "T-shirt" type having a closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along their top edges, and an open top between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said method comprising: (a) providing a rack .[.with.]. .Iadd.comprised of .Iaddend.a .[.projecting.]. transverse .Iadd.plate and a transverse .Iaddend.bar .Iadd.projectinq forwardly from, parallel to, and spaced from said plate, and mounting said plate for support against a vertical surface;.Iaddend.   (b) providing .[.a plurality of.]. .Iadd.at least three .Iaddend.vertically aligned U-shaped members, spaced apart from each other, each member being bent downwardly at an angle, said U-shaped members being aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar with the uppermost U-shaped member being spaced from, and disposed below the level of the bar;   (.Iadd.c) slipping the side strap ends of a first and smallest bag pack over the transverse bar and between said bar and the rack plate;.Iaddend.   .[.(c).]. (.Iadd.d) .Iaddend.hooking the detachable slotted pieces .[.of the pack of bags of a first size over one U-shaped member and the detachable slotted pieces of a pack of bags of a second and larger size over another U-shaped member, and the detachable slotted pieces of a third pack of bags of an even larger size than the bags of the second pack, over a further U-shaped member, the slotted pieces of the bags of each larger size being hooked over a U-shaped member disposed below the U-shaped members over which the slotted pieces of bags of smaller size are hooked;.]. .Iadd.over the uppermost of the U-shaped members;.Iaddend.   171 (d).]. (.Iadd.e).Iaddend. draping the lower portions of the bags of the first .Iadd.and smallest .Iaddend.bag pack over the .[.transverse bar.]. rack plate in a reverse position;   (.Iadd.f) slipping the side strap ends of the next larger and second bag pack over the transverse bar and between said bar and the rack plate;.Iaddend.   (.Iadd.g) hooking the detachable slotted pieces of said next larger bag pack over the U-shaped member which is next below the uppermost of the U-shaped members;.Iaddend.   .[.(e).].(.Iadd.h) .Iaddend.draping the lower portions of the bags of the next larger .[.and second size.]. bag pack over the .[.lower portions of the bags of the first bag pack, also.]. .Iadd.rack plate .Iaddend.in a reverse position;   (.Iadd.i) slipping the side strap ends of the further next larqer and third bag pack over the transverse bar and between said bar and the rack plate;   (j) hooking the detachable slotted pieces of said third baq pack over the U-shaped member which is the second below the uppermost of the U-shaped members;.Iaddend.   .[.(g).]. (.Iadd.k) .Iaddend.folding the lower portions of the .[.hooked bag packs of various sizes.]. .Iadd.first and smallest bag pack and the next larger and second bag pack .Iaddend.from their reverse positions over the transverse .[.bar.]. .Iadd.plate .Iaddend.forward over the transverse bar to cause said lower portions to hang downwardly over .[.and parallel to the bags of the third bag pack.]. .Iadd.the bar .Iaddend.in front of the U-shaped members; and   .[.(h).]. (.Iadd.l) .Iaddend.removing a bag from any of the first, second and third bag packs from the rack and the U-shaped members by grasping a lower portion of the bag draped over the transverse bar or hanging downwardly therefrom, and pulling the bag to detach it from its slotted piece on the U-shaped member on which its said detachable slotted piece is hooked.   
     
     
       3. Rack means for providing a suitable sized shopping bar from a plurality of packs of plastic bags, each pack having bags of the same size, but each pack being of a different bag size; each bag of each pack being of the "T-shirt" type having closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along their top edges, and an open top between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said rack means comprising: (a) a transverse bar;   (b) means to support said bar at its ends from a vertical wall, or other vertical surface;   (c) means extending vertically downwardly from, and secured to said bar intermediate its ends; and   (d) a plurality of hooking members spaced apart from each other, each of stud members being secured to said means extending vertically downwardly from said bar and being aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar with the uppermost member being spaced from, and disposed below the level of the bar;   whereby the detachable slotted pieces of the pack of bags of one size may be hooked over one member and the slotted pieces of a pack of bags of a different size may be hooked over another member, and each pack of bags may be draped over the transverse bar or over another pack of bags draped over the bar.   
     
     
       4. Rack means for providing a suitable sized shopping bag from a plurality of packs of plastic bags, each pack having bags of the same size, but each pack being of a different bag size; each bag of each pack being of the "T-shirt" type having a closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along their top edges, and an open top. between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said rack means comprising: (a) a transverse bar;   (b) means to support said bar at its ends from a vertical wall, or other vertical surface;   (c) means extending vertically downwardly below and fixably secured in relation to said bar intermediate its ends; and   (d) a plurality of hooking members spaced apart from each other, each of said members being secured to said means extending vertically downwardly from said bar and being aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar with the uppermost member being spaced below, and disposed below the level of the bar;   whereby the detachable slotted pieces of the pack of bags of one size may be hooked over one member and the slotted pieces of a pack of bags of a different size may be hooked over another member, and each pack of bags may be draped over the transverse bar or over another pack of bags draped over the bar.   
     
     
       5. A method of providing dispensable shaping bags from a pack of plastic bags, each bag of the pack being of the "T-shirt" type having a closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along .[.heir.]. .Iadd.their .Iaddend.top edges, and an open top between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said method comprising: (a) providing a rack .[.with a projecting.]. .Iadd.comprised of .Iaddend.a transverse .Iadd.plate and a transverse  bar projecting forwardly from, parallel to, and spaced from said plate, and mounting said plate for support aqainst a vertical surface;.Iaddend.   (b) providing a U-shaped member, said member being bent downwardly at an angle, said U-shaped member being disposed below the level of the bar and aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar and spaced from the bar;   (c) hooking the detachable slotted pieces of the pack of bags over the U-shaped member;   (d) draping the lower portions of the .[.bas.]. .Iadd.bags .Iaddend.of the bag pack over the transverse .[.bar.]. .Iadd.plate .Iaddend.in a reverse position;   (e) folding the lower portions of the hooked bag pack from their reverse position over the transverse .[.bar.]. .Iadd.plate .Iaddend.forward over the transverse bar to cause said lower portions to hang downwardly over the bar in front of the U-shaped member; .[.ad.]. .Iadd.and.Iaddend.   (f) removing a .[.bar.]. .Iadd.bag .Iaddend.in the bag pack from the rack and the U-shaped member by grasping a lower portion of the bag draped over the transverse bar and hanging downwardly therefrom, and pulling the bag to detach it from its slotted piece on the U-shaped member on which its said detachable slotted piece is hooked.   
     
     
       6. Rack means for providing dispensable shopping bags from a pack of plastic bags, each bag of the pack being of the "T-shirt" type having a closed bottom and sides, and side straps closed along their top edges, and an open top between the side straps, said open top being initially partially closed by a detachable slotted piece centrally attached along the edges of the bag defining the open top between the straps, said rack means comprising: (a) a transverse bar;   (b) means to support said bar at its ends from a vertical wall, or other vertical surface;   (c) a hooking member, said member being disposed below the level of the bar and aligned centrally with the bar to project below the bar and being spaced from eh bar;   whereby the detachable slotted pieces of the pack of bags may be hooked over the member, and the pack of bags may be draped over the transverse bar for removal by lifting the uppermost bag on the bar upwardly and pulling it away from the hooking member to detach its detachable slotted piece from the remainder of the bag and free said remainder from the hooking member.