DICKINSON, Adam (19 Francis Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7JX, GB)
| Claims
1. A support for hanging a vest style bag with a connector connecting a handle of the bag to an other handle and / or the bag mouth and / or a bag tab, on a conventional display apparatus, the support comprising: a display apparatus attachment formation to allow attachment of the support to the conventional display apparatus and; a retention formation configured to at least partially surround the connector; such that a main portion of the bag may be removed from the support whilst the connector is retained in the support, wherein the display apparatus attachment formation comprising a tab of material extending from the retention formation, which tab defines a hook or an aperture for receiving a projecting part of a display apparatus.
2. A support according to claim 1 in which the connector comprises a bar block connecting the handle of the bag to the other handle of the bag.
3. A support according to claim 2 in which the bar block is connected to the bag mouth via a bag tab.
4. A support according to any preceding claim in which the retention formation completely surrounds the connector at least partially along its length.
5. A support according to any preceding claim in which the retention formation extends across the majority of the connector.
6. A support according to claim 5 in which the retention formation extends across all of the connector.
7. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is a unitary component.
8. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is a folded net.
9. A support according to claim 8 in which the support defines at least one retention tab and at least one retention tab orifice, in which the retention tab is inserted into the retention tab orifice to retain the retention formation around the connector.
10. A support according to any preceding claim comprising a further display apparatus attachment formation, spaced from the display apparatus attachment formation.
1 1. A support according to any preceding claim further comprising a face portion, the face portion being configured to cover at least a portion of the vest style bag to display information and / or prevent access to the portion of the vest style bag.
12. A support according to any preceding claim further comprising a panel, the panel being configured to be obscured by a portion of the vest style bag such that when the vest style bag is removed from the bar block, the panel is visible.
13. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is at least partially constructed from plastics material.
14. A support according to claim 13 in which the support is at least partially constructed from polypropylene (PP).
15. A support according to claim 13 in which the support is at least partially constructed from high density polyethylene (HDPE).
16. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is at least partially constructed from paper.
17. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is at least partially constructed from fabric.
18. A support according to any preceding claim in which the support is at least partially constructed from bag material.
19. A support according to any preceding claim in which the conventional display apparatus is a Eurohook.
20. A bag dispenser comprising a stack of vest style bags and a support according to any preceding claim.
21. A method of manufacturing a support for hanging a vest style bag with a connector connecting a handle of the bag to an other handle and / or the bag mouth and / or a bag tab on a conventional display apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of material; forming an attachment formation in the sheet of material to allow attachment of the support to the conventional display apparatus and; forming a retention formation in the sheet of material configured to at least partially surround the connector, the retention formation defining a further retention formation for retaining a part of the connector.
22. A method of manufacturing a support according to claim 21 in which at least one of the steps of forming comprises the step of cutting the sheet of material.
23. A method of manufacturing a support according to claim 21 or claim 22 further comprising the step of: forming at least one tab and at least one tab orifice in the sheet in which the tab is configured to be inserted into the tab orifice to retain the retention formation around the connector.
24. A method of manufacturing a support according to any of claims 21 to 23 further comprising the steps of: providing at least one vest style bag; at least partially surrounding a connector of the vest style bag with the support for hanging.
25. A method of manufacturing a support according to claim 24 further comprising the step of: hanging the support on a conventional display apparatus.
26. A support or a method of manufacturing a support as herein described or with reference to the accompanying figures. |
Bag Holder
The present invention relates to a bag support for hanging a vest style bag on a conventional display apparatus, and particularly but not exclusively limited to use on a retail goods display for hanging packaged goods
Stacks of bags are commonly provided in retail establishments at the point of sale to allow a customer to package purchased goods Such bags are generally made of thin- walled flexible plastics mateπal and are sealed at the base ends and sides leaving the upper end open to form the mouth of a bag There are vaπous designs of such bags One common configuration includes two handle members which extend upwardly from the mouth of the bag, one on each side of the bag Such a configuration is commonly known as a "vest bag" or "vest style bag"
The handles of such vest style bags are often held together at a common region known as a bar block This bar block, formed from the bag mateπal, often spans the handle members and is frangibly attached to each, such that the bag body can be removed from the bar block As such, once all of the bags have been removed from the stack, only the bar block of bag mateπal remains It is also known to provide a bar block with a further tab of mateπal extending from the centre of the bar block to the mouth of the bag Such a tab may be used to facilitate removal of bags from the stack by pulling the nearest bag away from the stack by the tab Other connecting means are known whereby bag mateπal extends from one or both of the handles to connect the handles together and/or connect the handles to the mouth of the bag and/or connect the handle to a tab formation extending from the mouth
Vest style bags of the type descπbed are often mounted on a dispensing apparatus A variety of dispensing apparatus are known One such apparatus compπses a housing in which the stack of bags is retained by the bar block and individual bags can be removed as the stack is accessible from the housing (see PCT application WO/00/15515 for example) The bar block is retained in the housing
Known systems require specialised mounting systems for the dispensing apparatus. For example the system of WO/OO/15515 requires a special holder for the dispensing apparatus. This restricts the availability of positions in the retail outlet that the bags can be mounted, and as such restricts the positioning of goods which require bags, which is undesirable.
Furthermore, specialist mounting systems are expensive and reduce the ability of the retail outlet to easily alter bag parameters such as size.
Most retail outlets in the UK employ racking systems which include so-called "Euro Hooks". Euro Hooks are known in the art as a common system for hanging goods, such as battery packs or razorblade packs. They comprise an elongate wire rod bent into a U-shape with the bight of the U projecting outwardly.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of these disadvantages.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for hanging a vest style bag with a connector connecting a handle of the bag to an other handle and / or the bag mouth and / or a bag tab, on a display apparatus, the support comprising a display apparatus attachment formation to allow attachment of the support to the display apparatus and a retention formation configured to at least partially surround the connector such that a main portion of the bag may be removed from the support whilst the connector is retained in the support, the display apparatus attachment formation comprising a tab of material extending from the retention formation, which tab defines a hook or an aperture for receiving a projecting part of a display apparatus.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a support for hanging a vest style bag with a connector connecting a handle of the bag to an other handle and / or the bag mouth and / or a bag tab on a display apparatus, comprising the steps of providing a sheet of material forming an attachment formation in the sheet of material to allow attachment of the support to the
display apparatus and forming a retention formation in the sheet of material configured to at least partially surround the connector, the retention formation defining a further retention formation for retaining a part of the connector.
A bag support will now be described in detail, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the bag support of figure 1 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 1 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 1 in the process of being assembled to a stack of bags;
Fig. 5 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 1 in the process of being assembled to a stack of bags;
Fig. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a front view of the bag support of figure 6 showing fold lines;
Fig. 8 is a front view of a third embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a front view of the bag support of figure 8 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 10 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 8 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 11 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 12 is a front view of the bag support of figure 11 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 13 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 1 1 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 14 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a front view of a sixth embodiment of an unfolded bag support in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a front view of the bag support of figure 15 supporting a stack of bags;
Fig. 17 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 15 supporting a stack of bags; Fig. 18 is a rear view of the bag support of figure 15 supporting a stack of bags, with the stack of bags peeled away.
Referring to figure 1, a bag support 100 comprises a single sheet of material 102. The sheet 102 may be constructed from any suitable material e.g. polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPA), paper or fabric.
The sheet 102 is a net from which the bag support 100 is constructed. The sheet 102 is generally rectangular and comprises a top fastening section 104, a top section 106 a face section 108, a bottom section 1 10 and a bottom fastening section 112. The sections 104, 106, 108, 110 and 112 span the width of the sheet 102 and are generally separated by fold lines 114 (shown hidden). Fold lines 114 may be physical scores or perforations in the sheet 102, or simply marked lines to instruct the user.
Taking each portion in turn, the top fastening section 104 comprises a first pair of semi-circular tabs 116 projecting from a top edge thereof. The first pair of semicircular tabs 116 are symmetrically spaced. Opposite each of the first pair of semicircular tabs 1 16 is a pair of semi-circular slits 1 18 defining a second pair of semicircular tabs 120. The first pair of semi-circular tabs 116 and the second pair of semicircular tabs 120 are symmetrical about the horizontal.
The semi-circular slits 118 also define a pair of opposed semi circular slits 122 at the ends of each of the second pair of semi-circular tabs 120, the function of which will be described below.
The top section 106 is generally rectangular with a U-shaped slit 124 defined in the centre thereof. Each of a pair of circular holes 125 is defined at either end of the U- shaped slit 124, to prevent tearing. As shown, the U-shaped slit 124 may extend into the face section 108.
The U-shaped slit 124 defines an apparatus attachment formation comprising a hanging tab 126 which defines an orifice 128. Orifice 128 is generally shaped as an obround with a circle superimposed at its centre.
Face section 108 is generally rectangular, although may comprise part of the U-shaped slit 124.
Bottom section 110 is generally the same depth (as signified by dimension D) as the top section 106, as will be explained below. The bottom section 1 10 comprises a generally rectangular tab orifice 130 in its centre.
The bottom fastening section 112 comprises a central slit 132 dividing the bottom fastening section 112 in two. The central slit joins the tab orifice 130 such that two L- shaped members 134 and 136 are formed extending from the face section 108.
Each L-shaped member 134, 136 comprises a pair of tab slits 138 joined by a central slit 140.
As shown in figures 2 to 5, the bag support 100 is configured to support a stack of bags 10. Stack of bags 10 comprises a plurality of vest-style bags 12 generally made of thin-walled flexible plastics material and are sealed at a base end 14 and sides leaving the upper end open to form the mouth 16 of the bag 12. Two handle members 18 extend upwardly from the mouth 16 of the bag 12, one on each side of the bag.
Between the handle members 18 there is a bar of bag material 20. The bar 20 is frangibly attached to each handle via a perforation or weakening 22 as shown in figure 4. A bag tab 24 also extends from the mouth 16 and joins the centre of the bar 20 where it is frangibly attached to the mouth 16 via a perforation or weakening 26. As such, bags 12 can be removed from the stack 10 by pulling a bag 12 such that the bag detaches from the bar 20 at weakenings 22 and the bag tab at weakening 26. When all of the bags have been removed from the stack, only a T-shaped bar block 28 of waste bag material remains.
Each of the bags 12 also comprises a base tab 30 projecting from the base, wherein the stack of bags 10 is folded such that the base tab 30 is adjacent to the bag tab 24 and attached thereto. The base tab is connected to the bags by a frangible portion or weakening 31.
To assemble the bag support 100 to the stack of bags 10, the face section 108 is placed adjacent to the bar block 28 as shown in figure 4. Each of the L-shaped sections 34, 36 are passed under the bar block 28 such that the bag tab 24 projects through the orifice 130. The bottom fastening section 112 can therefore be placed adjacent to the bar block 128 as shown in figure 5. It should be noted that the bottom section 1 10 is therefore adjacent to the bottom of the bar block 28 and preferably of the same depth, D.
The top section 106 is then folded over the top of the bar block 28 and the top fastening section 104 is laid over the bottom fastening section 112. In order to fasten the bag support 100, each of the tabs 116, 120 is passed into the corresponding tab slit 138 as shown in figure 5. It should be noted that the opposed semi circular slits 122 prevent tearing of the sheet 102 when the tabs 120 are moved.
The assembled bag support 100 can then be hung on a conventional display by extending the hanging tab 126 and hanging the support 100 onto a conventional hanging bar 142 (shown in figure 2 only).
The bag support 100 may be manufactured in a number of ways. Preferably, the sheet 102 is cut from a piece of sheet plastics material, and subsequently folded. A scoring or pre-folding process may produce the fold lines 1 14, or alternatively a printing process may create lines for the user to fold along.
A bag support 200 shown in figure 6 is substantially identical to that of figures 1 to 5, with the exception that no fold lines are present. Therefore the manufacturing timescales and costs of the sheet 202 are lower.
A bag support 300 shown in figure 7 is substantially identical to that of figures 1 to 5, with the exception that only a pair of fold lines 350 and 352 are present. As such, no top section 106 or bottom section 110 are defined. Instead, the face portion 354, the top fastening section 356 and the bottom fastening section 358 are sufficiently flexible to deform into an ogive shape (in section) at either end to accommodate the bar block (not shown).
A bag support 400 shown in figure 8 is substantially identical to bag support 100 of figures 1 to 5, although substantially wider (reference numerals for analogous features are 300 greater). The face section 408 extends around the bottom section 410 and bottom fastening section 412 via U-shaped slit 450.
As shown in figures 9 and 10, when assembled to a bag stack 10, the face section 408 extends over the bag stack 10 when compared to bag support 100 (see figure 2). The larger face section 408 may be used to display consumer information / advertising slogans or alternatively bag dispensing instructions. The face section 408 may also prevent consumers from grabbing bags at the incorrect position, e.g. by providing open areas (e.g. via a recess 452) where grabbing is desired. Additionally, the recess 452 may be configured to expose information on the bags themselves.
A bag support 500 shown in figures 11 to 13 is substantially identical to bag support 100 of figures 1 to 5 (reference numerals for analogous features are 400 greater). Bag support 500 comprises no orifice similar to orifice 130, rather the face portion 508 extends downward to a panel 552 defined by arcuate slit 550. As such, the profile of bottom section 510 and bottom fastening section 512 differs slightly (see figure 13).
Referring to figure 12, when assembled, the extended face portion 508 of bag support 500 may be used to display consumer information / advertising slogans or alternatively bag dispensing instructions. Additionally, it may be shaped to obscure the bag tab 24 to prevent tampering or for aesthetic reasons.
A bag support 600 shown in figure 14 is substantially identical to bag support 100 of figures 1 to 5, however a pair of hanging tabs 626 which define an orifices 628 are provided such that the bag support can span a pair of display rails. Therefore extra stability and torque resistance is provided.
A bag support 700 shown in figures 15 to 18 is substantially identical to bag support 100 of figures 1 to 5 (reference numerals for analogous features are 600 greater and figure 15 is inverted with respect to figure 1).
Face portion 708, top portion 710 and top fastening portion 704 are wider than face portion 108, top portion 110 and top fastening portion 104. Furthermore, top fastening portion 704 extends via a pair of opposed arms 750 to a pair of panels 752, meeting at slit 754 to define an orifice 756.
When assembled, due to slit 754, panels 752 can be positioned between the folded stack 10, as shown in figure 18. In this manner, the panels 752 are not visible in normal use but may act to prevent deformation of the folded bag stack 10, or alternatively display a message once the back stack is depleted and needs changing.
Many variations exist that fall within the scope of the present invention.
For example, the bag support may be of multi-piece construction instead of single piece. The display apparatus attachment formation may be a different component from the retention formation and attached during assembly. As such, the different components may be constructed from different materials.
Orifice 128 may be a variety of shapes but will preferably be sized to accommodate a conventional retail hanging rail / display apparatus.
The stack of bags may be in any form; for example may be in a roll formation, interleaved or overlapped.