The present invention relates to an improved support for bags.

A common way to support a stack of bags is to mount them on a bent wire support.

Supports are commonly used to retain stack of bags typically used throughout food manufacturers and retailers, and in particular, but not exclusively, bakery preparation and in-store bakery departments. Typically, supports are created by bending a steel wire (approximately 3mm in diameter, although this can vary) at an angle of 90 degrees at 2 localised points. This creates a 'U' shaped wire profile. The support is designed such that the 2 parallel arms that are created by the 'U' shape profile are dimensioned so as to locate through two corresponding holes punched into the upper region of the bag stack (which the support is designed to retain and dispense). To prevent the bag stack sliding off the support (upon the removal of the bags from the carton, and/or during the assembly of the stack of bags on the support), typically a plastic washer or grommet is arranged on each arm of the support and slid along to position each against the stack of bags. The friction fit of each grommet on the steel wire prevents the bags from sliding off the support, enhancing functionality and operational efficiencies in bakery and in store.

A potential issue with the existing support systems has been identified, whereby the small (typically approximately 20mm diameter) plastic grommets are seen to be a choking hazard. Furthermore, they are manually applied and operationally inefficient at manufacture.

A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

According to the invention, there is provided a support for dispensing one or more bags which support comprises two arms and a connecting portion for spacing the arms wherein each arm has a bag support portion and a retention portion to retain a bag on the arms wherein each arm is shaped to provide the retention portion.

Advantages of the invention include that by shaping each arm to provide the retention portion, the need for grommets is avoided, making the supports safer, easier to manufacture, and easier for the dispensing of bags.

In some embodiments, the support may be formed from metal wire, for example steel wire. In some embodiments, the metal wire may have a diameter of from 2 to 6mm, for example about 3mm. In some embodiments, the arms and connecting portion of the support are formed from a single continuous piece of wire which is shaped to form the arms and connecting portions. The length of the support is determined by the number of bags to be supported by the arms and by the width of the bags. In some embodiments, the bag support portion of each arm has a length suitable for accommodating a stack of bags. In some embodiments, the bag support portion may have a length which is greater than the thickness of the stack of bags. Advantages of this feature include that the bag support portion provides stress-free conditions for the stack of bags when they are placed on the support and that the performance of the dispensing of each bag is no longer compromised by variations in grommet pressure which is applied manually. Previously, when grommets were used to retain the bags on the support, bags could fail by tearing if there was too much pressure applied by the grommets when mounting a stack of bags on a known support. If a grommet presses too much, too strongly, or too deeply on the stack of bags, then the bags will be held too tightly which results in the bags tearing at the holes since the bags are clamped too strongly by the support. When the bag support portion has a length which is greater than the thickness of the stack of bags, this problem is avoided.

In some embodiments, the support connecting portion has a length which is shaped to suit the width of the stack of bags, typical widths include 75mm, 125mm, 130mm wide, for example. In some embodiments, the width of the support may be determined by the end user requirements and/or the width of the bag stack it is designed to support. Typically, a bakery, retail or end user may utilise a number of different support sizes in line with their range of bags and packaging. In some embodiments, the connecting portion is suitable for supporting the arms.

In some embodiments, the support may be free from an additional component which is suitable for retaining a bag on the support; an example of an additional component is a plastic grommet, and/or a plastic tie for linking the ends of each arm.

In some embodiments, the one or more bags have a bag mount from which a bag may be removed by means of a tear line which separates a bag from the bag mount. In some embodiments, a tear line may be formed by one or more weakened parts such as a perforation. In some embodiments, the bag mount forms at least two holes through which the arms of the support may be inserted.

In some embodiments, the retention portion may be formed by a fold in a support arm. In some embodiments, the retention portion may be in the form of a notch in each arm. In some embodiments, the retention portion may be formed by a 90° bend in each arm. In some embodiments, the retention portion may be an inward retention portion formed by an inward fold towards the other arm. In some embodiments, the retention portion may be an outward retention portion formed by an outward fold away from the other arm. In some embodiments, the retention portion restricts the bags from falling off the arms.

In some embodiments, the arms and connecting portion of the support may have a "U"-shape. In some embodiments, the arms may form an angle of about 90° with the connecting portion. In some embodiments, the arms of the support have a corresponding shape. In some embodiments, the arms of the support are substantially parallel. In some embodiments, the arms of the support are arranged to align with holes in an upper portion of a stack of bags so that the arms may support the stack of bags. In some embodiments, the retention portion of the arms may be shaped to prevent the stack of bags from sliding off the support during use. In some embodiments, each arm of the support has a loading portion for receiving the one or more bags to be supported.

In some embodiments, each retention portion has a retention return portion wherein the retention return portion is shaped such that the width between the arms before the retention portion is substantially the same as the width after the retention portion. In some embodiments, each retention portion has a retention spacer portion and a retention return portion wherein the retention spacer portion spaces the retention portion from the retention portion to avoid any sharp angles in the support.

In some embodiments, the support may be formed from a substrate which comprises multiple types of metals and alloys, including: steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, cobalt, nickel and titanium. It might also be formed from a resilient plastics material.

In some embodiments, the support may be suitable for use with different types of bag, including but not limited to: a plastic bakery bag, paper bakery bag, a plastic and paper combination bag.

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention: Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation of a support according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure la shows a schematic elevation of the support according to the first embodiment with a stack of bags; Figure 2 shows a schematic elevation of a support according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2a shows a schematic elevation of the support according to the second embodiment with a stack of bags;

Figure 3 shows a schematic elevation of a support according to the third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3a shows a schematic elevation of the support according to the third embodiment with a stack of bags;

Figure 4 shows a schematic elevation of a support according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4a shows a schematic elevation of support according to the fourth embodiment with a stack of bags;

Figure 5 shows a schematic elevation of a support according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5a shows a schematic elevation of support according to the fifth embodiment with a stack of bags;

Figure 6 shows a support according to the fifth embodiment in use with a stack of bags in a first position; and

Figure 6a shows a support according to the fifth embodiment in use with a stack of bags in a second position.

A support according to the first embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 101 on Figures 1 and la. Support 101 is formed from a single piece of steel wire which is shaped to form a connecting portion 102, a first arm indicated at 103, and second arm indicated at 104. Each arm 103,104 is formed by a 90° bend 110 in the wire at each end of connecting portion 102 such that support 101 is substantially U-shaped. Each arm 103,104 has a bag support portion 120, an outward retention portion 140 for retaining the bags on the support 101, and a loading portion 130 for loading a stack of bags 160 on the support 101. Retention portion 140 is formed by two 90° bends or folds 112,114 in the wire. Each retention portion 140 is parallel to connecting portion 102 and is spaced from connecting portion 102 by support portion 120. Each retention portion 140 extends outwardly to each side of connecting portion 102 such that the distance between each loading portion 130 of each arm 103,104 is wider than the distance between each support portion 120 of each arm 103,104. A support according to the second embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 201 on Figures 2 and 2a. Like features to the support 101 according to the first embodiment of the invention are identified with like reference numerals, prefaced with numeral 2 to indicate that they refer to the second embodiment. Support 201 is formed from a single piece of steel wire and is shaped to form a connecting portion 202, a first arm indicated at 203, and second arm indicated at 204. Each arm 203,204 is formed by a 90° bend 210 in the wire at each end of connecting portion 202 such that support 201 is substantially U-shaped. Each arm 203,204 has a bag support portion 220, an inward retention portion 240 for retaining the bags on the support, and a loading portion 230 for loading a stack of bags 160 on the support 201. Retention portion 240 is formed by two 90° bends 212,214 in the wire. Each retention portion 240 is parallel to connecting portion 202 and is spaced from connecting portion 202 by support portion 220. Each retention portion 240 extends inwardly to each side of connecting portion 202 such that the distance between each loading portion 230 of each arm 203,204 is narrower than the distance between each support portion 120 of each arm 203,204.

A container according to the third embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 301 on Figures 3 and 3a. Like features to the support 101 according to the first embodiment of the invention are identified with like reference numerals, prefaced with numeral 3 to indicate that they refer to the third embodiment. Support 301 is formed from a single piece of steel wire and is shaped to form a connecting portion 302, a first arm indicated at 303, and second arm indicated at 304. Each arm 303,304 is formed by a 90° bend 310 in the wire at each end of connecting portion 302 such that support 301 is substantially U-shaped. Each arm 303,304 has a bag support portion 320, an inward retention portion 340 for retaining the bags on the support, an outward retention return portion 345 for straightening the arms 303,304, and a loading portion 330 for loading a stack of bags 160 on the support 301. Outward retention return portion 345 is shaped such that the width between the arms before the retention portion 340 is substantially the same as the width after the retention portion 340 in that the distance between each support portion 320 of each arm 303,304 is substantially the same as the distance between each loading portion 330 of each arm 303,304. Inward retention portion 340 is formed by two bends 312,314 in the wire which are a 90° bend 312, and a 135° bend 314. Outward retention return portion 345 is formed by two bends 314,316 which are the 135° bend 314 and a 45° bend 316. Inward retention portion 340 forms an angle of 90° with bag support portion 320. Outward retention return portion 345 forms an angle of 45° with inward retention portion 340. Loading portion 330 forms an angle of 135° with outward retention return portion 345.

A container according to the fourth embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 401 on Figures 4 and 4a. Like features to the support 101 according to the first embodiment of the invention are identified with like reference numerals, prefaced with numeral 4 to indicate that they refer to the fourth embodiment. Support 401 is formed from a single piece of steel wire and is shaped to form a connecting portion 402, a first arm indicated at 403, and second arm indicated at 404. Each arm 403,404 is formed by a 90° bend 410 in the wire at each end of connecting portion 402 such that support 401 is substantially U-shaped. Each arm 403,404 has a bag support portion 420, an inward retention portion 440 for retaining the bags on the support, a retention spacer portion 447 for spacing the retention return portion 445 from the inward retention portion 440 to avoid a relatively sharp 45° angle in the support wire, an outward retention return portion 445 for straightening the arms 403,404, and a loading portion 430 for loading a stack of bags 160 on the support 401. Outward retention return portion 445 is shaped such that the width between the arms before the retention portion 440 is substantially the same as the width after the retention portion 440 in that the distance between each support portion 420 of each arm 403,404 is substantially the same as the distance between each loading portion 430 of each arm 403,404. Inward retention portion 440 is formed by two bends 412,414 in the wire which are a first 90° bend 412, and a second 90° bend 414. Retention spacer portion 447 is formed by two bends 414,416 in the wire which are the second 90° bend 414, and a first 45° bend 316. Outward retention return portion 445 is formed by two bends 416,418 in the wire which are the first 45° bend, and a second 45° degree bend. Inward retention portion 440 forms an angle of 90° with bag support portion 420. Retention spacer portion 447 forms an angle of 90° with inward retention portion 440. Outward retention return portion 445 forms an angle of 135° with retention spacer portion 440. Loading portion 330 forms an angle of 135° with outward retention return portion 445.

A container according to the fifth embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 501 on Figures 5 and 5a. Like features to the support 101 according to the first embodiment of the invention are identified with like reference numerals, prefaced with numeral 5 to indicate that they refer to the third embodiment. Support 501 is formed from a single piece of steel wire and is shaped to form a connecting portion 502, a first arm indicated at 503, and second arm indicated at 504. Each arm 503,504 is formed by a 90° bend 510 in the wire at each end of connecting portion 502 such that support 501 is substantially U-shaped. Each arm 503,504 has a bag support portion 520, an inward retention portion 540 for retaining the bags on the support, an outward retention return portion 545 for straightening the arms 503,504, and a loading portion 530 for loading a stack of bags 160 on the support 501. Outward retention return portion 545 is shaped such that the width between the arms before the retention portion 540 is substantially the same as the width after the retention portion 540 in that the distance between each support portion 520 of each arm 503,504 is substantially the same as the distance between each loading portion 530 of each arm 503,504. Inward retention portion 540 is formed by two bends 512,514 in the wire which are a 90° bend 512, and a 90° bend 314. Outward retention return portion 345 is formed by two bends 314,316 which are the 90° bend 314 and a further 90° bend 316. Inward retention portion 340 forms an angle of 90° with bag support portion 320. Outward retention return portion 345 forms an angle of 180° with inward retention portion 340. Loading portion 330 forms an angle of 90° with outward retention return portion 345.

Figures 6 and 6a illustrate how the support 501 according to the fifth embodiment of the invention is used. Support 501 is supplied with a stack of bags 70 mounted on its bag support portion 520. Support 501 is removed from its packaging and is suspended such that its connecting portion 502 faces outwards and the stack of bags 70 is presented for use. The stack of bags 70 comprises a plurality of bags 72 which each have an upper loading part 74, and a lip 75. Each bag 72 is removed from support

501 by tear lines 79A,79B which are each formed by a plurality of perforations such that a bag 72 may be separated from support 501 by tearing along the tear lines 79A,79B as illustrated in Figure 6a after the bag 72 has been filled with goods. The bags 72 form circular holes 76,78 which are arranged to receive the arms 503,504 of the support 501. As the bag manufacturer selects the length of the bag support portion 520 in relation to the thickness of the stack of bags 70, the bag manufacturer may select the pressure of the support 501 on the stack of bags 70 to prevent tearing of the bags 72 on their removal from the upper loading part 74.