BAG STORAGE DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a bag storage device.

[0002] Bags such as plastic shopping bags are in widespread use. In many countries bags which are made from plastic sheeting which is below a minimum thickness are banned for environmental reasons and to promote recycling.

[0003] Bags which are made from a thicker sheet material are reusable and a typical shopper would store this type of bag so that it is available for use when required.

[0004] The storage of a plastic bag in a neat and unobtrusive manner can be problematic. Preferably a bag of this type, when stored, should be easily transported, for example to a shop, and should be easily accessible by a shopper who wishes to pack commodities into the bag.

[0005] The invention aims to provide a bag storage device which addresses the aforementioned requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a bag storage device which includes a housing in which is formed a chamber, a base, and an elongate support which extends from the base and around which the bag can be wrapped, and wherein the base in engageable with the housing with the support and wrapped bag located inside the chamber.

[0007] The support may include at least two elongate side-by-side members, which preferably are slightly flexible, and between which a portion of the bag is located to facilitate wrapping of the bag. The members may be in contact with each other and may be resiliently deflectable so that, when a portion of the bag is inserted between the members, the bag portion is then frictionally gripped on opposing sides by the members. The base, which is preferably in the form of a handle which can be gripped by a user, can then be rotated, about an axis which is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the elongate support, so that the bag is then wrapped around the elongate support.

[0008] The housing may have a mouth to the chamber and the base may be engageable with the mouth with a twisting action or by means of frictional forces. In the former instance the base and mouth may have complementary screw-threaded formations or include a bayonet-type fastening arrangement. In the latter instance the mouth and base may be tapered in a complementary manner so that, when the base is engaged with the mouth, a degree of frictional interlocking is achieved which ensures that the base is kept engaged with the mouth.

[0009] The housing is preferably tubular with the mouth at one end of the housing and a closure at an opposing end of the housing.

[0010] The invention also extends to a method of storing a bag which includes the steps of wrapping a bag around an elongate support and placing the support and wrapped bag inside a chamber which is formed inside a housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag storage device according to the invention in an exploded configuration;

Figure 2 illustrates how a bag is wrapped around a support in the device; Figure 3 shows the device in an assembled condition; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled device; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 2 i.e. during the wrapping of a bag.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate a bag storage device 10 according to the invention. The device includes a tubular housing 12 in which is formed a chamber 14. The housing has a closed end 16 and an opposing end, which is open, forms a mouth 18 which enables the chamber to be accessed.

[0013] The device further includes a base 20 which is shaped so that it can manually

' be gripped by a user, not shown. An elongate support 22 extends from the base. The support includes two members 24 and 26 respectively which are side by side. Each member is made from a slightly resilient and slightly flexible material such as polypropylene. Each member has spaced apart components 28 and 30.

[0014] The base has an externally threaded spigot 32 and the mouth 18 of the tubular housing has an internal thread formation 34 which is complementary to the thread on the spigot.

[0015] Figure 1 shows a bag 40 which is made from a flexible plastic sheet material, as is known in the art. The bag can be engaged with the support 22 in a number of ways. A portion of the bag can be inserted between the elongate members 24 and 26. Alternatively a portion of the bag can be inserted between the elongate components 28 and 30 of one of the members. In each case it is preferred that the members or components, as the case may be, contact each other lightly but are movable so that the bag portion can be inserted between opposing surfaces of the members or components which thereafter can frictionally engage with outer surfaces of the bag portion. A user, not shown, then rotates the base about a longitudinal axis which is coincident with the direction in which the support 22 extends. The bag is rotated with a circular motion indicated by a curved arrow marked 44 in Figures 2 and 5 and, in the process, the bag is wrapped around the support. Thereafter the support and the wrapped bag are inserted into the chamber 14 which fully encloses the bag. The threaded spigot 32 is then engaged with the formation 34 and the base is thereby securely attached to the housing. Figure 4 shows the assembled device in cross-section while Figure 3 is an external view of the assembled device.

[0016] The interengaged base and housing provide a neat and unobtrusive storage mechanism for the plastic bag. The base and housing are made from a suitable lightweight plastics material so that the device, itself, is not heavy. The device is formed with rounded surfaces so that it is user-friendly. Depending on the volume of the chamber 14 more than one bag can be wrapped around the support. The bags can be simultaneously wrapped i.e. with one bag overlying another or they can be wrapped in succession i.e. with one bag being wrapped around a bag which previously has been wrapped around the support.

[0017] The base can be engaged with the housing in a different way. For example a bayonet fastening arrangement could be employed or, more simply, the base and housing could include complementary tapered surfaces which are frictionally engageable with each other to ensure that the base is kept engaged with the housing.