Bags and bag-dispensing devices and methods of using same
OwnerElizabeth B. Moulton, Caroline Park +3inventors
InventorsElizabeth B. Moulton, Caroline Park, Deanna Griffith, Daniel Ashcraft, Britt Ashcraft
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for dispensing a bag which are configured to receive and retain one or more objects. Some bag dispenser embodiments can comprise a pair of guiderails angled toward each other so that a bag positioned between the two guiderails can slide along guiderails to press open the mouth of bag. Other dispensers can comprise a pair of guiderails that are parallel. Other embodiments of the present disclosure comprise bags that are configured for use with the dispenser. Still other embodiments are described.
Claims20
A bag dispenser comprising:
- a housing that defines an interior volume and an opening and comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, where the outer sleeve is configured to move relative to the inner sleeve and to circumscribe the inner sleeve to form the housing;
- first and second guiderails spaced apart and parallel to each other, each guiderail comprising a supporting surface and disposed in the interior of the housing;
- and
- a plurality of bags disposed between the guiderails, where each of the bags comprises opposing side panels defining a mouth and a foldable band coupled to an upper portion of one of the opposing side panels adjacent the mouth, the foldable band extending between the guiderails and having first and second ends supported by a corresponding one of the supporting surfaces of the guiderails,
- wherein the foldable band is configured such that once folded it will retain its folded orientation.
A method of using a bag dispenser comprising:
- first and second guiderails spaced apart and parallel to each other, each guiderail comprising a supporting surface;
- a plurality of bags disposed between the guiderails, where each of the bags comprises opposing side panels defining a mouth and a foldable band coupled to an upper portion of one of the opposing side panels adjacent the mouth, the foldable band extending between the guiderails and having first and second ends supported by a corresponding one of the supporting surfaces of the guiderails,
- wherein the foldable band is configured such that once folded it will retain its folded orientation,
- the method comprising removing one of the plurality of bags from the dispenser and placing a used hygiene product in the one of the plurality of bags and folding the foldable band to retain the used hygiene product therein.
A bag dispenser comprising:
- first and second guiderails spaced apart and each extending between a rear-end and a front-end, wherein:
- each of the guiderails comprises a guiding surface and a supporting surface, where the guiding surface extends along the supporting surface;
- the first and second guiderails are disposed such that a first distance between the guiderails at their rear-ends is greater than a second distance between the guiderails at at least one point between the rear-ends and the front-ends;
- and
- the guiding surfaces are configured to guide a bag and compress a portion of the bag as the bag is drawn toward the front-ends of the guiderails;
- and
- first and second stops, each disposed along one of the first and second guiderails, a third distance between the first and second stops being less than the first distance and the first and second stops configured to resist sliding movement of a bag supported by the guiderails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.