CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/622,364, filed Jan. 26, 2018, and entitled “Shopping Bag Distribution Station”, which is incorporated entirely herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field This invention relates to retail store fixtures, and specifically to a shopping bag dispenser that couples to a wire rack in a retail store.
State of the Art A shopping bag distribution station is a fixture located in a retail store that holds a stack of shopping bags, often plastic shopping bags, and dispenses these bags so that the bags can be filled with products a customer has purchased. Bagging stations for dispensing shopping bags have traditionally been located at checkout stations where customers pay for their products, because that is where the products have traditionally been transferred from a shopping cart to the shopping bags. With the advent of electronic purchasing and self-checkout, however, customers are now able to pay for and bag their products as they shop, and these actions can occur at locations other than at checkout stations. There is a need for shopping bag distribution stations at locations in retail stores besides the checkout station so that shoppers can obtain shopping bags for their purchased items as they shop.
Accordingly, what is needed is a shopping bag dispenser that can be mounted to a wire rack in different locations in a retail store.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a shopping bag distribution station;
FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the shopping bag distribution station of FIG. 1 with a bag dispenser in an open position;
FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the shopping bag distribution station of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of a shopping bag dispenser;
FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of the shopping bag dispenser of FIG. 4 in an open position;
FIG. 6 shows a side view of the shopping bag dispenser of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 shows a top view of the shopping bag dispenser of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 shows an upper rear perspective view of a box front portion;
FIG. 9 shows a lower rear perspective view of the box front portion of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 shows a front perspective view of a back plate; and
FIG. 11 shows a rear perspective view of the back plate of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Disclosed herein are embodiments of an invention related to retail store fixtures, and, more specifically, to a shopping bag distribution station that includes a shopping bag dispenser and a wire rack. The disclosed shopping bag dispenser stores plastic shopping bags and is used by customers to obtain bags, so that they can bag their purchases as they shop. The shopping bag dispenser is hung from a wire rack in a retail store so that shopping bag dispensers are available at different locations throughout the retail store. The shopping bag dispenser includes a box front portion and a back plate that couple together to form a rectangular enclosure for the plastic shopping bags. The box front portion has at least one bag holder hook inside the enclosure that shopping bags are hung from. An opening in the box front portion is used to access the shopping bags hanging from the bag holder hook in the enclosure. At least one rail coupler hook is coupled to the back plate to couple the shopping bag dispenser to a wire rack. The shopping bag dispenser can be coupled to wire racks at various locations throughout the retail store, creating shopping bag distribution stations for customers to use to obtain shopping bags for their purchases.
A shopping bag dispenser stores and dispenses shopping bags to be filled with purchased products. A bagging station is a type of shopping bag dispenser that both dispenses shopping bags and holds the shopping bag open while it is being filled. Bagging stations are located at checkout counters in retail stores so that items that have been purchased can be bagged. Bags are opened one at a time and filled with one or more items that have been purchased. When one bag is full, it is removed from the bagging station and the next bag is opened and filled if needed. A shopping bag distribution station includes a shopping bag dispenser mounted to a wire rack. Shopping bag distribution stations can be located throughout a retail store so that customers can get bags to bag their purchases as they shop. A customer using electronic checkout no longer needs to visit the checkout counter to pay for items. Using the shopping bag distribution station provides the customer the means to bag their items while they shop, without having to get bags from a bagging station at a checkout counter. The shopping bag distribution station includes a shopping bag dispenser and a wire rack. The shopping bag dispenser has a box-type enclosure that stores shopping bags until needed by the customer. The shopping bag dispenser does not hold the bag open for the customer while the bag is filled, but instead provides the stack of shopping bags for the customer to access and remove bags one at a time to fill with purchased items.
FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 show an embodiment of a shopping bag distribution station 110. FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of shopping bag distribution station 110 that includes a shopping bag dispenser 108 and a wire rack 106. Shopping bag dispenser 108 is holding one or more shopping bags 122. FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of shopping bag distribution station 110 with shopping bag dispenser 108 opened to show how shopping bag dispenser 108 is filled with shopping bags 122. FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of shopping bag distribution station 110 showing how a first rail coupler hook 101 and a second rail coupler hook 102 couple shopping bag dispenser 108 to wire rack 106.
Shopping bag dispenser 108 is hung from wire rack 106 to create shopping bag distribution station 110. Shopping bag dispenser 108 is hung from a rail 107 of wire rack 106 using rail coupler hooks 101 and 102, as shown in FIG. 3. Each rail coupler hook 101 and 102 is coupled to a back plate outer surface 132, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 11. Each rail coupler hook 101 and 102 is a hook that couples shopping bag dispenser 108 to rail 107 of wire rack 106.
Shopping bag dispenser 108 holds one or more shopping bags 122 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. One or more shopping bag 122 is hung from a bag holder hook 114 inside of shopping bag dispenser 108 (bag holder hook 114 best seen in FIG. 9). The handles of shopping bags 122 are hung from a first and a second handle holder hook 116 and 117 (see FIG. 9). A customer can use shopping bag distribution station 110 to obtain shopping bags as they shop. When the customer wishes to obtain a shopping bag 122, shopping bag 122 is accessed through an opening 112 (FIG. 1) to remove shopping bag 122 from shopping bag dispenser 108. Shopping bag 122 is removed from bag holder hook 114 and handle holder hooks 116 and 117 through opening 112. Once shopping bag 122 is removed from shopping bag dispenser 108, the customer can fill shopping bag 122 and put the full bag in their cart or carry it from the retail store. Shopping bag dispenser 108 has a box front portion 120 that partially encloses shopping bag 122 so that shopping bag 122 does not look messy or fall off of bag holder hook 114 (box front portion 120 shown alone in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). Box front portion 120 is hingedly coupled to a back plate 130 and rotates on a hinge 190 (FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 through FIG. 10) to open shopping bag dispenser 108, as shown in FIG. 2. When shopping bag dispenser 108 is in an open position, as shown in FIG. 2, shopping bag dispenser 108 can be loaded with shopping bags 122. Shopping bag distribution station 110 can be coupled to the front, sides, back, interior, or exterior of many types of wire racks found through the retail store, so that shopping bags 122 are always accessible to the customer. Shopping bag distribution station 110 can be coupled to many different forms of wire racks.
FIG. 4 through FIG. 11 show details of shopping bag dispenser 108 of FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of shopping bag dispenser 108 in a closed position with no shopping bags 122 inside. FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of shopping bag dispenser 108 in an open position with no shopping bags 122 inside. FIG. 6 shows a side view of shopping bag dispenser 108 in a closed position. FIG. 7 shows a top view of shopping bag dispenser 108 in a closed position. FIG. 8 shows an upper rear perspective view of a box front portion 120 of shopping bag dispenser 108, with back plate 130 removed. FIG. 9 shows a lower rear perspective view of box front portion 120 showing bag holder hook 114, a first handle holder hook 116, and a second handle holder hook 117 of shopping bag dispenser 108. Shopping bag 122 can be one shopping bag or a stack of shopping bags, and is hung from bag holder hook 114 by the center hole as best seen in FIG. 1, with the handle tabs of shopping bag 122 hung from first and second handle holder hooks 116 and 117. FIG. 10 shows a front perspective view of back plate 130. FIG. 11 shows a rear perspective view of back plate 130.
Shopping bag dispenser 108 includes a box front portion 120, back plate 130 (best seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11), bag holder hook 114 and first and second handle holder hooks 116 and 117 (FIG. 9), rail coupler hooks 101 and 102 (FIG. 3 and FIG. 11), and an opening 112 in box front portion 120. Back plate 130 is hingedly coupled to box front portion 120 to form an enclosure for shopping bag 122 that can be hingedly opened to load shopping bags 122 in shopping bag dispenser 108, see FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. Shopping bag 122 hangs from bag holder hook 114. Opening 112 provides access to shopping bag 122 when shopping bag dispenser 108 is in a closed position. Rail coupler hooks 101 and 102 couple shopping bag dispenser 108 to rail 107 of wire rack 106. Shopping bag dispenser 108 is hung on wire rack 106 in the retail store. A customer that needs a shopping bag reaches through opening 112 to access and retrieve shopping bag 122.
Box front portion 120 is generally in the shape of a rectangular enclosure with an open back, in this embodiment, as best seen in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. FIG. 8 shows an upper rear perspective view of box front portion 120. FIG. 9 shows a lower rear perspective view of box front portion 120. Box front portion 120 includes a front plate 140, a top plate 150, a bottom plate 160, a first side plate 170, and a second side plate 180, as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 11. Front plate 140, top plate 150, bottom plate 160, first side plate 170, and second side plate 180 are coupled together to form a rectangular enclosure with no back and with opening 112 in box front portion 120. In this embodiment, front plate 140, top plate 150, bottom plate 160, first side plate 170, and second side plate 180 are formed as an integral structure, but this is not meant to be limiting. In some embodiments, front plate 140, top plate 150, bottom plate 160, first side plate 170, and second side plate 180 are separate elements that are coupled together.
Front plate 140 is a rectangular shaped plate in this embodiment, with a front plate top edge 142 that is an edge of opening 112, see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Front plate 140 has a front plate area that is larger than an opening area of opening 112, as seen in the figures. In other words, opening area of opening 112, which is the area of opening 112, is smaller than the front plate area of front plate 140. The front plate area of front plate 140 is the area of front plate 140. Front plate 140 has a front plate height 146, see FIG. 6. Opening 112 has an opening height 113 (FIG. 6). Front plate height 146 is about 4 to 10 times opening height 113, to make opening large enough for shopping bags 122 to be accessed with a hand, but not so large that front plate 140 loses its structural integrity. In this embodiment, front plate height 146 is 5 times opening height 113.
Top plate 150 is a rectangular shaped plate in this embodiment, best seen in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Top plate 150 has a top plate front edge 156 that is an edge of opening 112. Top plate 150 includes three clip slots 152, 153, and 154, see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Clip slots 152, 153, and 154 are rectangular holes through top plate 150 that are used to couple back plate 130 to top plate 150, see FIG. 1, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7. Top plate 150 also has a top plate inner surface 151 (FIG. 6), a top plate outer surface 155 (FIG. 7), a top plate rear edge 157 (FIG. 9), and a top plate lip 158 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 6). Top plate lip 158 is a rectangular shaped plate that acts as a lip on top plate front edge 156. Top plate lip 158 extends into opening 112 from top plate front edge 156 in a direction towards bottom plate 160 and perpendicular to top plate 150. Top plate lip 158 couples to top plate 150 at top plate front edge 156. Top plate lip 158 has a lip bottom edge 159 (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).
Bag holder hook 114, first handle holder hook 116, and second handle holder hook 117 are each coupled to inner surface 151 of top plate 150 (FIG. 9). Bag holder hook 114 holds shopping bag 122 and extends towards back plate 130. Bag holder hook 114 extending towards back plate 130 means that a hook opening of bag holder hook 114 faces back plate 130 once back plate 130 is coupled to box front portion 120 and bag dispenser 108 is in the closed position. Bag holder hook 114 is an elongate member formed of a rigid material. In this embodiment, bag holder hook 114 is formed of two metal or plastic rods extending side-by side and coupled together at a bag holder hook second end 125, but this is not meant to be limiting. Bag holder hook 114 has a bag holder hook first end 123 and a bag holder hook second end 125 opposing bag holder hook first end 123, see FIG. 9. Bag holder hook 114 has a bag holder hook first bend 124 that divides bag holder hook 114 into a straight hook top section 135 and a straight hook bottom section 136. Hook top section 135 is coupled to and extends from inner surface 151 of top plate 150. In this embodiment, hook top section 135 is perpendicular to top plate 150. Hook top section 135 extends from bag holder hook first end 123 to bag holder bend 124. Hook bottom section 136 extends from bag holder bend 124 to bag holder hook second end 125. Bag holder bend 124 forms an angle 137 between hook top section 135 and hook bottom section 136. Angle 137 is about 80 degrees in this embodiment. In some embodiments, angle 137 is between 70 and 90 degrees. Angle 137 with values in the range of 70 to 90 degrees provide for a bag holder hook 114 that holds shopping bag 122 but does not make it difficult to add or remove shopping bag 122 from bag holder hook 114. Hook top section 135 and hook bottom section 136 are straight in this embodiment, but this is not meant to be limiting In this embodiment, bag holder hook 114 extends towards back plate 130. Bag holder hook 114 extending towards back plate 130 means that bag holder bend 124 bends bag holder hook 114 towards back plate 130. Having bag holder hook 114 extending towards back plate 130 allows shopping bag 122 to be hung from bag holder hook 114, but tends to keep shopping bag 122 from sliding off of bag holder hook 114 and out of shopping cart bagging station 110. When shopping bag 122 is removed from bag holder hook 114, shopping bag 122 is not slid off of bag holder hook 114, but torn off. This is how the shopping bag hanger hole is designed to work—the hanger hole is torn when opening shopping bag 122 and when removing shopping bag 122 from bag holder hook 114. Since shopping bag 122 does not have to be removed from bag holder hook 114 with the hanger hole intact, it is preferable to have bag holder hook 114 extend towards back plate 130. It is easier to tear the hole and remove shopping bag 122 when bag holder hook 114 extends towards back plate 130.
First and second handle holder hooks 116 and 117 are each used to hang a handle tab of shopping bag 122 from. First handle holder hook 116 has a first handle holder hook first end 118 coupled to top plate inner surface 151 of top plate 150, and a first handle holder hook second end 119 opposing first handle holder hook first end 118, see FIG. 6 and FIG. 9. First handle holder hook 116 is an elongate member formed of a rigid material. In this embodiment, first handle holder hook 116 is formed of two metal or plastic rods extending side-by side and coupled together at first handle holder hook second end 119, but this is not meant to be limiting. First handle holder hook 116 has a first handle holder hook first bend 174 that divides first handle holder hook 116 into a handle holder hook top section 175 and a handle holder hook bottom section 176, both of which are straight sections in this embodiment. Handle holder hook top section 175 is coupled to and extends from inner surface 151 of top plate 150. In this embodiment, handle holder hook top section 175 is perpendicular to top plate 150. Handle holder hook top section 175 extends from first handle holder hook first end 118 to first handle holder hook bend 174. Handle holder hook bottom section 176 extends from first handle holder bend 174 to first handle holder hook second end 119. First handle holder hook bend 174 forms an angle 178 between handle holder hook top section 175 and handle holder hook bottom section 176. Angle 178 is about 80 degrees in this embodiment. In some embodiments, angle 178 is between 70 and 90 degrees. Angle 178 with values in the range of 70 to 90 degrees provide for a first handle holder hook 116 that holds a handle tab of shopping bag 122 but does not make it difficult to add or remove shopping bag 122 from bag holder hook 114. Handle holder hook top section 175 and handle holder hook bottom section 176 are straight in this embodiment, but this is not meant to be limiting. In this embodiment, first handle holder hook 116 extends towards back plate 130. First handle holder hook 116 extending towards back plate 130 means that first handle holder hook bend 174 bends first handle holder hook 116 towards back plate 130. Having first handle holder hook 116 extending towards back plate 130 allows a shopping bag handle tab of shopping bag 122 to be hung from first handle holder hook 116, but tends to keep the shopping bag handle tab from sliding off of first handle holder hook 116. When shopping bag 122 is removed from shopping bag dispenser 108, the handle tab is not slid off of first handle holder hook 116, but torn off.
Second handle holder hook 117 has a second handle holder hook first end 128 coupled to top plate 150, and a second handle holder hook second end 129 opposing second handle holder hook first end 128. Second handle holder hook 117 is formed to the same shape as first handle holder hook 116 and the description of first handle holder hook 116 also describes second handle holder hook 117. When box front portion 120 is coupled to back plate 130, bag holder hook 114 and first and second handle holder hooks 116 and 117 all face back plate 130.
Bag holder hook 114 is coupled to top plate inner surface 151 about halfway between first side plate 170 and second side plate 180, see FIG. 9. First and second handle holder hooks are on either side of bag holder hook 114.
Bottom plate 160 is a rectangular shaped plate in this embodiment, best seen in FIG. 8. Bottom plate 160 has an area that is larger than an area of top plate 150 because opening 112 extends through a portion of top plate 150, see FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. Top plate 150 and bottom plate 160 each have the same length, but different widths. Top plate 150 has a top plate width 185, see FIG. 6. Bottom plate 160 has a bottom plate width 186. Bottom plate width 186 is larger than top plate width 185. Bottom plate 160 has a bottom plate inner surface 161, a bottom plate front edge 165 coupled to front plate 140, and a bottom plate rear edge 166, hingedly coupled to back plate 130 with hinge 190, see FIG. 6. Hinge 190 includes a first hinge portion 197 and a second hinge portion 198. Second hinge portion 198 is coupled to bottom plate inner surface 161 near bottom plate rear edge 166, see FIG. 8.
First side plate 170 is a five sided plate with a curved cutout along a first side curved edge 172 where opening 112 extends through first side plate 170, see FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 8. Similarly, second side plate 180 is a five sided plate with a curved cutout along a second side curved edge 182 where opening 112 extends through second side plate 180.
Opening 112 is configured to allow shopping bag 122 to be removed from shopping bag distribution station 110. Shopping bag 122, which can be one shopping bag or a stack of shopping bags, is hung on bag holder hook 114 by opening bag dispenser 108 as shown in FIG. 2, and hanging shopping bag 122 or the whole stack of shopping bags, on bag holder hook 114 by extending bag holder hook 114 through the hanger hole in shopping bag 122. The handle tabs can be hung on first handle holder hook 116 and second handle holder hook 117. Bag dispenser 108 is opened by uncoupling clips 191, 192, and 193 from clip slots 152, 153, and 154, and hingedly opening box front portion from back plate 130 using hinge 190, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. Once shopping bag 122 is installed in bag dispenser 108, bag dispenser 108 is closed and hung on wire rack 106. When it is desired to remove shopping bag 122, the user reaches through opening 112 and pulls out one or more shopping bag 122.
Opening 112 is through a portion of front plate 140, top plate 150, first side plate 170, and second side plate 180. Top plate 150 is smaller than bottom plate 160 (FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8), because opening 112 extends through a portion of top plate 150. An area of top plate 150 is smaller than an area of bottom plate 160. Opening 112 is smaller in area than front plate 140, see FIG. 6, for example.
Opening 112 extends through a portion of first side plate 170 and second side plate 180, see FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, for example. First side plate 170 has first side curved edge 172 that extends from a lip bottom edge 159 to a front plate top edge 142, see FIG. 6. First side curved edge 172 defines an edge of opening 112. Second side plate 180 has a second side curved edge 182 that extends from lip bottom edge 159 to front plate top edge 142, see FIG. 5. Second side curved edge 182 defines another edge of opening 112. Opening 112 is bound by lip bottom edge 159, first side curved edge 172, front plate top edge 142, and second side plate curved edge 182, as shown in the figures. Opening 112 is large enough for a hand to easily reach into shopping bag dispenser 108 to remove shopping bag 122.
Back plate 130 is hingedly coupled to box front portion 120 using hinge 190, to form bag dispenser 108 into a rectangular enclosure with opening 112. Box front portion 120 with back plate 130 coupled to box front portion 120 forms an enclosure around shopping bag 122 hanging from bag holder hook 114.
Back plate 130 is a rectangular shaped plate with a back plate top edge 183, a back plate bottom edge 184, a back plate first side edge 187, and a back plate second side edge 188, see FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. Back plate 130 has a back plate inner surface 131 and a back plate outer surface 132. Hinge 190 is coupled to back plate inner surface 131 at back plate bottom edge 184, and couples back plate 130 to box front portion 120. Hinge 190 includes a first hinge portion 197 coupled to back plate inner surface 131 at back plate bottom edge 184 (FIG. 10), and a second hinge portion 198 coupled to bottom plate rear edge 166 (FIG. 8 and FIG. 9). Coupling first hinge portion 197 to second hinge portion 198 to form hinge 190 hingedly couples back plate 130 to box front portion 120 (FIG. 6).
Back plate top edge 183 removeably couples to top plate 150 of box front portion 120 so that back plate 130 can fold open on hinge 190 to load bag dispenser 108 with shopping bag 122. Back plate top edge 183 can couple to top plate 150 in many ways. In some embodiments, a lock is mounted at back plate top edge 183 that locks back plate top edge 183 to top plate rear edge 157. In some embodiments, other coupling and/or locking means are used to removeably couple back plate top edge 183 to top plate rear edge 157. Uncoupling back plate top edge 183 from top plate rear edge 157 allows back plate 130 to swing open on hinge 190, putting bag dispenser 108 in an open position for loading shopping bag 122 into bag dispenser 108. Once bag dispenser 108 is loaded with one or more shopping bag 122, back plate 130 is swung back up so that back plate top edge 183 meets top plate rear edge 157, putting bag dispenser 108 in a closed position.
In the embodiment shown in the figures, three locking clips 191, 192, and 193 are used to couple back plate top edge 183 to top plate rear edge 157, see FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 10. Locking clips 191, 192, and 193 extend from, and are coupled to, back plate inner surface 131 adjacent back plate top edge 183, as shown in FIG. 10. Locking clips 191, 192, and 193 removeably couple to one of three clip slots 152, 153, and 154 in top plate 150, as shown in the figures. Locking clips 191, 192, and 193 are each hook-shaped structures that each engage with one of clip slots 152, 153, and 154 of top plate 150 to removeably couple back plate 130 to top plate 150. Clip slots 152, 153, and 154 are square holes through top plate 150 near top plate rear edge 157. Each clip slot 152, 153, and 154 receives a locking clip 191, 192, or 193 to removeably lock back plate 130 to top plate 150. Locking clip 191 couples to clip slot 154 to couple back plate 130 to top plate 150. Locking clip 191 extends through clip slot 154 of top plate 150 from top plate inner surface 151 to a top plate outer surface 155, as shown in FIG. 5 through FIG. 7. Locking clip 192 couples to clip slot 153 to couple back plate 130 to top plate 150. Locking clip 192 extends through clip slot 153 of top plate 150 from top plate inner surface 151 to top plate outer surface 155. Locking clip 193 couples to clip slot 152 to couple back plate 130 to top plate 150. Locking clip 193 extends through clip slot 152 of top plate 150 from top plate inner surface 151 to top plate outer surface 155, see FIG. 6.
Locking clips 191, 192, and 193 are flexible enough to bend slightly when back plate 130 is pressed against box front portion 120. Locking clips 191, 192, and 193 give slightly and then engage with their respective clip slots 152, 153, or 154 to removeably couple back plate 130 to box front portion 120.
Shopping cart bagging station 110 includes at least one rail coupler hook that couples shopping bag dispenser 108 to rack 106, as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3. Shopping bag dispenser 108, in the embodiment shown in the figures, includes two rail coupler hooks, first rail coupler hook 101 and second cart coupling hook 102, see FIG. 3, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 11. Each one of first rail coupler hook 101 and second rail coupler hook 102 are configured to be coupled to a rail such as rail 107 of rack 106, as shown in FIG. 3. Each one of first rail coupler hook 101 and second rail coupler hook 102 are coupled to and extend from back plate outer surface 132. Each one of first rail coupler hook 101 and second rail coupler hook 102 are hook shaped and hook onto or hang from a rail such as rail 107 to couple shopping bag dispenser 108 to wire rack 106. Each one of first rail coupler hook 101 and second rail coupler hook 102 face towards bottom plate 160 because rail coupler hooks 101 and 102 are meant to hang from rail 107 of wire rack 106, not to have items hang from themselves. Having each one of first rail coupler hook 101 and second rail coupler hook 102 face bottom plate 160 means the hook opening of each of rail coupler hooks 101 and 102 face bottom plate 160. Rail 107 can be any elongate object similar to a rail, such as a wire, a bar, a rod, a cord, etc.
In some embodiments, shopping bag dispenser 108 includes a shopping bag level sensor 210, see FIG. 7. Shopping bag dispenser 108 as shown in the figures includes shopping bag level sensor 210, as shown in FIG. 7, but it is to be understood that some embodiments of shopping bag dispenser 108 do not have a shopping bag level sensor 210. Shopping bag level sensor 210 is used to automatically sense whether an amount, or level, of shopping bags in shopping bag dispenser 108 is low, empty, or full, and use optical or other reporting means to report the shopping bag level in a way that employees can easily see without opening shopping bag dispenser 108. In the embodiment shown, shopping bag level sensor 210 includes a bag level detector 212 (FIG. 7), that detects the level of shopping bags in bag dispenser 108, and three indicator lights, a green indicator light 214, an amber indicator light 216, and a red indicator light 218, as shown in the figures. Indicator lights 214, 216, and 218 are mounted on the outside surface of shopping bag dispenser 108, in this embodiment on an outer surface of first side plate 170. Green indicator light 214 emits green light in response to bag level detector 212 sensing that a shopping bag level in shopping bag dispenser 108 is full. Amber indicator light 216 emits amber light in response to bag level detector 212 sensing that the shopping bag level in shopping bag dispenser 108 is less than or equal to 25 percent full. Red indicator light 218 emits red light in response to bag level detector 212 sensing that the shopping bag level in shopping bag dispenser 108 is empty.
Indicators lights 214, 216, and 218 are mounted on the exterior of shopping bag dispenser 108 so that a retail store employee can see indicator lights 214, 216, and 218 from a distance and tell whether shopping bag dispenser 108 needs to be filled with shopping bags. Shopping bag level detector 212 can be any type of device that can sense the level of shopping bags in shopping bag dispenser 108. In the embodiment shown, bag level detector 212 includes one light emitter 224 and two light detectors 226 and 228, see FIG. 7, and a processor. The processor is packaged with light emitter 224 in this embodiment. The processor in light emitter 224 is communicatively coupled to light detectors 226 and 228, and indicator lights 214, 216, and 218. Light emitter 224 is mounted to an inner surface of second side plate 180, as shown in FIG. 7. Light detectors 226 and 228 are mounted to an inner surface of first side panel 170, as shown in FIG. 7. Light detector 226 is mounted near back plate 130. When light detector 226 detects light from light emitter 224, the processor mounted in light emitter 224, in this embodiment, receives a signal from light detector 226 that light detector 226 has detected light from light emitter 224. When light detector 226 detects light from light emitter 224, light emitter 224 knows that the shopping bag level in bag dispenser 208 is empty. Light detector 228 is mounted near front plate 140. When light detector 228 detects light from light emitter 224, the processor mounted in light emitter 224, in this embodiment, receives a signal from light detector 228 that light detector 228 has detected light from light emitter 224. When light detector 228 detects light from light emitter 224, light emitter 224 knows that a level of shopping bags in bag dispenser 208 is either empty or less than or equal to 25 percent full. When neither light detector 226 nor light detector 228 detect light from light emitter 224, light emitter 224 knows that the level of shopping bags in shopping bag dispenser 108 is full. Light emitter 224, specifically the processor mounted in light emitter 224, which is in communication with light detector 226, light detector 228, and indicator lights 214, 216, and 218, uses the information received from light detectors 226 and 228 to determine a level of shopping bags in shopping bag dispenser 208, and instructs the proper indicator light 214, 216, or 218 to emit light.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above.
