Retractable bagging station
AssigneeWal-Mart Stores, Inc.
InventorYurgis Mauro Bacallao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described is a retractable bagging station for use in a retail store. The bagging station includes a frame and a bag dispenser retractably coupled to the frame. The bag dispenser holds and dispenses shopping bags. The bag dispenser is retractably coupled to the frame such that the bag dispenser extends out of and retracts into the frame. The bagging station is retractable into the frame so that the bagging station can be stored in a retracted position under a counter, for example, when the bagging station is not needed. When the bagging station is needed, it can be extended out from the frame to be used. The bagging station can be mounted under a counter of a checkout station, for example, so the bagging station can be used at the checkout station when needed.
Claims20
A retail store bagging station comprising:
- a frame, wherein the frame is configured to mount to a counter of a retail store checkout station, and wherein the frame comprises:
- a frame first side;
- a frame second side;
- a frame bottom coupled to the frame first side and the frame second side;
- an open frame front side;
- and
- an open frame back side;
- a bag dispenser, wherein the bag dispenser is configured to hold and dispense at least one shopping bag, and wherein the bag dispenser comprises:
- a bag dispenser support frame having a bag dispenser support frame top edge, a bag dispenser support frame bottom edge, a bag dispenser support frame first side edge, and a bag dispenser support frame second side edge;
- a bag holder coupled to the bag dispenser support frame top edge;
- a first and a second bottom brace each coupled to the bag dispenser support frame bottom edge;
- and
- a bottom plate coupled to the first and the second bottom braces;
- and
- a set of drawer slides that couple the bag dispenser to the frame, wherein the bag dispenser retracts into and extends out of the frame on the set of drawer slides.
A checkout station for a retail store, the checkout station comprising:
- a counter;
- and
- a bagging station comprising:
- a frame, wherein the frame is mounted to a bottom surface of the counter;
- a set of drawer slides coupled to the frame;
- and
- a bag dispenser coupled to the set of drawer slides, wherein the bag dispenser extends out of and retracts into the frame on the set of drawer slides.
A method of mounting a bagging station to a checkout station of a retail store, the method comprising:
- assembling a bagging station frame comprising:
- a frame first side comprising:
- a frame first side top edge;
- and
- a frame first side bottom edge;
- a frame second side comprising:
- a frame second side top edge;
- and
- a frame second side bottom edge;
- and
- a frame bottom coupled to and extending between the frame first side bottom edge and the frame second side bottom edge;
- mounting the bagging station frame to a counter of the checkout station;
- and
- retractably coupling a bag dispenser to the frame, wherein the bag dispenser comprises:
- a bag dispenser support frame having a bag dispenser support frame top edge, a bag dispenser support frame bottom edge, a bag dispenser support frame first side edge, and a bag dispenser support frame second side edge;
- a bag holder coupled to the bag dispenser support frame top edge;
- a first and a second bottom brace each coupled to the bag dispenser support frame bottom edge;
- and
- a bottom plate coupled to the first and the second bottom braces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.