Bag with bail handle

[57] ABSTRACT

A bag having a pair of bail handles is provided for use in bag vending machines. The bail handles are each connected to a different panel of the bag with the bag being folded into a planar configuration. The panels which have bail handles connected thereto are disposed in opposed relation with one of the handles having a projection which extends from the handle in the plane of the bag and the other of the handles having an opening therein for receiving the projection so that the handles are secured together by insertion of the projection in the opening to prevent the handles from being separated in a bag vending machine.

Claim, 6 Drawing Figures

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PATENTEDJAM 81974

3,784,084

SHEET 1 OF 2

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PATENTED JAN 81974

3,784,084

SHEET 2 OF 2

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BY

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ATTORNEYS,

3,784,084

BAG WITH BAIL HANDLE

This invention relates generally to bags having bail handles and more particularly to a bag having bail handles for use in a bag vending machine.

In automatic shopping bag dispensing machines, shopping bags are stacked in a pile with the handles thereof telescoped over a vertically extending shaft having an end portion which is provided next to a vending mechanism. The vending mechanism enables one bag to be pulled through the mechanism over the end of the shaft at a time. The vending device normally includes instructions to a shopper which states that both of the handles of the shopping bag should be pulled through the mechanism simultaneously. A problem arises when the shopper disregards the instructions on the vending machine and pulls up only a single handle instead of both handles together. When either one or both of the handles are pulled through the mechanism, the coin used for vending the same is delivered into the coin storage department and the mechanism is shut.

Thus, if only one of the handles is pulled through the mechanism, the other handle remains over the shaft and cannot be pulled through unless another coin is placed in the vending mechanism.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior shopping bags having bail handles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shopping bag which facilitates the use thereof in an automatic shopping bag dispensing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shopping bag having bail handles which has a securing means for releasably securing the two bail handles together.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shopping bag having a pair of bail handles which include a snap fastening arrangement for releasably securing the bail handles together.

Yet another object of the invention is achieved by providing a shopping bag having a pair of bail handles one of which includes a lug and the other of which includes an opening for receipt of the lug to releasably secure the bail handles together.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a bag having a pair of bail handles for use in a bag vending machine. The bail handles are each connected to a different panel of the bag. The bag is folded into a planar configuration with the panels having the bail handles connected thereto disposed in apposed relation with one of the handles having a projection which extends from the handle in the plane of the bag and the other of the handles having an opening therein for receiving projections so that the handles are secured together by insertion of the projection in the opening. This prevents the handles from being separated in a bag vending machine.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag vending machine in which the shopping bags with bail handles of this invention are utilized;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of line 2—2 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away for the purpose of clarity, of a bag vending machine utilizing a conventional shopping bag known in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view taken in the direction of line 2—2 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away for the purpose of clarity, of the bag vending machine shown in FIG. 1 utilizing a shopping bag with bail handles embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the uppermost portion of the bag showing the bail handles secured together;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to that of FIG. 4 with the bail handles separated; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6—6 in FIG. 5 with a portion of the lug shown in full for purposes of clarity.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, a plurality of shopping bags with bail handles embodying the invention are shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bag 10 basically comprises a conventional receptacle portion 12 having a pair of apposed main panels 14 which when the receptacle 12 is folded, are caused to be pressed flat against each other. Each of the panels 14 includes a bail handle 16.

As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, one of the bail handles 16 includes a lug or projection 18 which extends generally in the plane of the bag 10, when folded, in a direction away from the bag. The other of the bail handles 16 includes an opening 20 which is adapted to receive the lug 18 when the handles are aligned and the lug 18 pressed and telescoped therethrough. The lug 18 is so dimensioned with respect to opening 20 that it snaps into the opening. That is, the uppermost end of the lug 18 is slightly thicker to cause a snapping action as the end of the lug is pressed through the opening 20.

The bail handles 16 are both otherwise of similar construction and are preferably of a planar or ribbonlike configuration so that at the central portion 22 thereof adjacent the securing means of the lug 18 and the opening 20, the handles are in a plane which extends transverse to the direction of the plane of the bag 10. Thus, the handle is easily held by a shopper. The handles 16 are arcuately bent and secured at their ends to the panels 16 by suitable fastening means 24. The ends which are twisted approximately 90° are in a plane parallel to the panels 14. That is, the bail handles 16 each include ends which are arcuately wrapped around and twisted at the ends which are each secured to the panels 14 by a suitable fastener.

As also best seen in FIG. 6, the cross-section of the handles 16 is basically comprised of a straight or planar portion 26 and a pair of end ribs 28 which extend transversely to planar portion 26. The ribs add structural rigidity to the handle 16. Both the handle and the bag are preferably made of a suitable thermoplastic material such as polyehylene or polyvinylchloride. The bag may also be made of a paper material.

As set forth above, the bags 10 are preferably used with a bag vending machine which is generally shown at 30 in FIG. 1. The bag vending machine 30 utilizes a cash box which includes a coin slot and means for dispensing a bag at a time. The bag vending machine 30,

3,784,084 thus, basically comprises a frame 32, a bag metering housing 34 and a shaft 36 which projects vertically upward on the frame 32. The frame 32 comprises a base 38 having levelling discs 40 at each of the comers thereof. A U-shaped beam 42 projects vertically upward from base 28 and includes a pair of outwardly extending flanges 44. A pair of L-shaped braces 46 are connected to flanges 44 by suitable fasteners such as nuts and bolts directly below the bag metering housing 34 and at their lower end are connected by similar fastening means to base 38. The L-shaped braces 46 extend somewhat vertically.

Shaft 36 is secured on the top surface of base 38 by a suitable collar and projects vertically upward from the base. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shaft includes an angled portion 50 adjacent its top, and terminates in a horizontal portion 52 at the top. A longitudinally extending slot 54 is formed in the top surface of the portion 52 and in the upper portion of angled portion 50 of shaft 36.

As seen in FIG. 1, bag metering housing 34 includes a front wall 56, a top wall 58, a pair of side walls 60 and a bottom wall 62 (FIG. 2). A flange 64 (FIG. 1) projects inwardly from the rear end of each side wall 60. A coin return rod 66 projects through top walls 58 adjacent a coin slot 68. A lock 70 is secured on top wall 58, which lock is used for securing the bag metering housing in place.

A coin return slot 72 is formed in the front wall 66 of housing 34. A coin box door 74 is pivotally mounted on wall 60 by a hinge 75. This door is locked in its closed position by lock 76.

The housing 34 is mounted on flanges 44 which have upper portions of reduced width to accommodate the housing. The mounting is accomplished by sliding the flanges 64 of side wall 60 behind the upper portions of flanges 44 (FIG. 1). The housing rests on a pair of Lshaped braces 62 (FIG. 2) which are secured to the front faces of flanges 44 adjacent the outer edges thereof. The housing is locked in place by rotating a finger mounted on lock 70 in a slot formed in one of the flanges 44.

The foregoing description briefly summarizes the structure of the bag metering housing 34. Greater detail on the entire bag metering housing and its coin mechanism can be found in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 130,117, filed Apr. 1, 1971 by Henry Verbeke. The bag vending machine shown herein is shown for the purpose of illustration to show one type of vending machine in which the bag with bail handle of this invention can be used. It should be understood, however, that the bag with bail handles embodying the invention has utility in any machine in which cash is deposited and retained and which includes a shaft over which the bail handles are dispensed.

For the further purpose of illustration, the operation of the bag vending machine will be briefly described. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that a bag metering plate 80 depends from the bag metering housing 34. The bag metering plate 80 is pivotably mounted in housing 34 and passes or projects through a slot in bottom wall 62 of housing 34. Plate 80 includes a notch 82 at the bottom thereof, which notch is dimensioned to accommodate the bail handles of the bags 10 dispensed by the vending machine. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, plate 80 projects into slot 54 formed in shaft 36.

The vending machine 30 is used for dispensing of bags 10 which have bail handles 16 (FIG. 1). The device is used by first inserting the required amount of money in coin slot 68. Thereafter the uppermost bag is lifted from the stack of bags shown in FIG. 1 and pulled upwardly until the bail handle 16 is engaged in notch 82 of bag metering plate 80. This causes the bag metering plate to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. As the plate is rotated, if the proper amount of money has been inserted in the machine, plate 70 is pivotable to a position whereby the bail 16 can be removed from shaft 26.

At the time the bag is removed, the money that was deposited in the coin slot 68 passes through into a money box within the housing 34. The plate 80 is therefore immediately spring urged back to its at rest position whereby it is ready to receive a pair of new bails 16 from the uppermost bag from the stack of bags shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 has been provided to show the disadvantages inherent in prior art shopping bags. Specifically, a pair of bail handles 90 and 92 are shown which are provided from a single bag. When only a single one of the handles 90 is engaged in notch 82 of plate 80, the single handle 90 is drawn over the shaft 36 after a coin has been deposited in slot 68.

Handle 92 is thereby prevented from being removed by the plate 80 since only handle 90 is drawn through the portion of shaft 36 surrounding slot 54.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can, therefore, be seen that both of the bail handles 16, since they are secured together by the lug 18 and the opening provided therefor in the other of the bail handles, are always drawn through the portion of shaft 36 surrounding slot 54.

It can, therefore, be seen that a new and improved bag with bail handle has been provided. The shopping bag 10, since it is folded in a planar configuration with the main panels flat against each other, normally has its bail handles adjacent one another. The securing means comprised of the lug 18 and the opening 20 in the bail handles enables a removable securement between the bail handles which facilitates the securement of the handles while in a bag vending machine yet which can easily be separated when the bag is opened by the purchaser or user thereof. The positioning of the lug 18 assures against the separation of the handles since it extends transversely to the plane of the handles at the position at which the lug is provided.

It should be noted that this invention also contemplates the use of more than one lug and one opening. For example, the handles can both be made from the same mold by providing both a lug and opening adjacent each other and centrally located on each handle. By reversing the outer handle, the openings of both handles would have the opening of one handle aligned with the lug of the other. The lug of the inner handle extends in the plane of and away from the bag and the lug of the outer handle extends in the plane of and towards the bag. As long as the lugs extend in the plane of the bag, the handles are not easily separable by a force transverse to the plane of the bags. Accordingly, the bags embodying the invention are easily drawn out of a bag vending machine of the type described herein.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

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