WO2019067290A1

WO2019067290A1 - Bag dispenser cover

Info

Publication number: WO2019067290A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/051828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allison WYATT
Original assignee: Walmart Apollo, Llc
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2018-09-19
Publication date: 2019-04-04
Also published as: US20190099016A1

Abstract

Systems and methods herein provide a bag dispenser cover for covering or concealing various types of bag dispensers. In some examples, the bag dispenser includes a body and an edge configured to cover the bag dispenser. The edge may be configured to fit in a gap located between the bag dispenser base and a counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted, for example a rotating carousel. Bag dispenser covers may protect bags associated with a bag dispenser from unauthorized access or removal.

Description

BAG DISPENSER COVER

BACKGROUND

[0001] A bag dispenser is typically located at a checkout area of a commerce site. The bag dispenser may provide a structure for containing or holding bags for access at the checkout area where goods are purchased, in order to provide individual bags for transporting goods out of the commerce area.

SUMMARY

[0002] Examples of this disclosure provide a bag dispenser cover for maintaining bags at a bag dispenser when a corresponding checkout area is not in use. In some examples, the bag dispenser cover conceals the bag dispenser and associated bags. The bag dispenser cover may prevent unauthorized access to the bags associated with the bag dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 A is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover in accordance with the disclosure.

[0004] FIG. IB is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover implemented on a bag dispenser in accordance with the disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 2A is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover with elastic securing means in accordance with the disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2B is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover with magnetic securing means in accordance with the disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3A is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover in accordance with the disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 3B is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover implemented on a bag dispenser in accordance with the disclosure. [0009] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser carousel in accordance with the disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating covers for bag dispenser carousels in accordance with the disclosure.

[0011] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Examples of the disclosure provide a bag dispenser cover for covering or concealing various types of bag dispensers. In some examples, the bag dispenser cover protects bags associated with a bag dispenser from unauthorized access or removal. In other examples, the bag dispenser cover conceals the bag dispenser and associated bags from view to deter unauthorized access or removal.

[0013] The bag dispenser cover may be configured to encompass all sides and a top portion of a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area, with a bottom edge portion of the cover configured to secure under a base component of the bag dispenser or a base component associated with the bag dispenser area.

[0014] At times, in a commercial or retail environment, unauthorized individuals may remove bags from bag dispensers located at unused checkout areas in order to perpetrate an illusion of a completed transaction associated with goods placed in the removed bags. As a loss-prevention measure, aspects of the disclosure provide a cover that conceals bags associated with bag dispensers at unused checkout areas in order to prevent unauthorized access of the bags. The cover may be secured around and/or encompass a substantial portion of the bag dispenser and/or bag dispenser area.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 A, an exemplary diagram illustrates a bag dispenser cover in accordance with the disclosure. Cover 100 includes body 102 and edge 104. Body 102 comprises the majority of cover 100 configured to encompass and/or enclose a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area. Edge 104 is a portion of cover 100 configured to secure cover 100 around and/or under the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area. In some examples, edge 104 is configured to be disposed under a base of the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area to secure cover 100 around the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area.

[0016] For example, in a bag carousel configuration, where the bag dispenser is implemented on a round or substantially round carousel base configured to rotate in a circular motion, the carousel base may be secured to a base component of a checkout area, such that the carousel base rotates in a circular fashion along a parallel plane of the base component. A gap may be provided between the carousel base and the base component of the checkout area to facilitate rotation. In this example, edge 104 may be configured to securely fit in the gap provided between the carousel base and the base component of the checkout area, with the edge portion of the cover extended into the gap area along the circumference of the carousel in order to secure the cover around the bag dispenser disposed atop the carousel base. The edge portion of the cover may be configured to provide a sufficient length of material, such that when the edge portion is tucked under the carousel base, the cover is secured around the bag dispenser and carousel.

[0017] Cover 100 may be comprised of any suitable material and/or textile, or combination of materials and/or textiles, such as, without limitation, cotton, vinyl, polyester, canvas, coated fabric, impregnated fabric, and/or any other suitable material. The material may be of sufficient weight and type as to provide durability for the cover. The material may be deformable and/or compressible, such that when not in use cover 100 may be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed for storage.

[0018] Although cover 100 is illustrated as substantially cylindrical, the shape of cover 100 when expanded for use in covering and/or enclosing a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area may be any suitable shape or approximation of a shape configured to surround or cover the associated bag dispenser. For example, when configured for use with a cuboid shaped bag dispenser area, cover 100 may appear as substantially cuboid when expanded for use in covering the associated area. [0019] FIG. IB is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover implemented on a bag dispenser in accordance with the disclosure. Cover 100 in FIG. IB is illustrated as implemented over a carousel-type bag dispenser, including carousel base 106 and bag dispenser 108. Edge 104 is depicted as secured under carousel base 106, with body 102 of cover 100 encompassing bag dispenser 108 and carousel base 106.

[0020] FIG. 2A is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover with elastic securing means in accordance with the disclosure. Cover 200 may be an illustrative example of one implementation of cover 100 in FIGS 1A and IB.

[0021] Cover 200 includes body 202 and edge 204. Body 202 and edge 204 may be comprised of substantially the same material. Edge 204 may be configured with an additional elastic element secured to the edge portion of the cover, such as stitched to the edge portion to provide an elastic edge for cover 200. The elastic element provides cover 200 with a means of securing cover 200 around a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area, such as by constricting a size of the edge portion of cover 200 around a base, such as carousel base 206.

[0022] FIG. 2B is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover with magnetic securing means in accordance with the disclosure. In this illustrative example, cover 200 includes edge 204 configured with a plurality of magnetic elements 210 secured to the edge portion of the cover 200. The magnetic elements provide cover 200 with a means of securing cover 200 around a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area, such as by providing a magnetic attraction with the magnetic elements secured to the edge portion of cover 200 and a base, such as carousel base 206. In this example, the carousel base may have magnetic properties, or may have opposing magnetic elements implemented and/or disposed along a bottom portion of the base in order to provide magnetic attraction with the magnetic elements of the edge portion of the cover.

[0023] FIG. 3A is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover in accordance with the disclosure. Cover 300 includes body 302 and edge 304. Body 302 comprises the majority of cover 300 configured to encompass and/or enclose a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area. Edge 304 is a portion of cover 300 configured to secure cover 300 around and/or under the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area. In some examples, edge 304 is configured to be disposed under a base of the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area to secure cover 300 around the bag dispenser or bag dispenser area.

[0024] For example, in a dual-dispenser side-by-side configuration, where two bag dispensers are implemented side-by-side on a rectangular or substantially rectangular base, the rectangular base may be secured to a base component of a checkout area. A gap may be provided between the rectangular base and the base component of the checkout area in some examples. In one example, edge 104 may be configured to securely fit in the gap provided between the rectangular base and the base component of the checkout area, with the edge portion of the cover extended into the gap area along the four edges of the rectangular base in order to secure the cover around the bag dispensers disposed atop the rectangular base. The edge portion of the cover may be configured to provide a sufficient length of material, such that when the edge portion is tucked under the rectangular base, the cover is secured around the bag dispensers and rectangular base.

[0025] In other examples, the bottom of the rectangular base may sit flush along a top portion of the base component of the checkout area. In this example, the edge portion may be configured with an elastic element, such that the edge portion of the cover is constricted in size to secure around the rectangular base.

[0026] Cover 300 may be comprised of any suitable material and/or textile, or combination of materials and/or textiles, such as, without limitation, cotton, vinyl, polyester, canvas, coated fabric, impregnated fabric, and/or any other suitable material. The material may be of sufficient weight and type as to provide durability for the cover.

[0027] FIG. 3B is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser cover implemented on a bag dispenser in accordance with the disclosure. Cover 300 in FIG. 3B is illustrated as implemented over a dual-dispenser, including rectangular base 306 and bag dispensers 308. Edge 304 is depicted as secured under rectangular base 306, with body 302 of cover 300 encompassing bag dispensers 308 and rectangular base 306.

[0028] FIG. 3B is provided for illustrative purposes only and it should be understood that the depictions herein do not limit aspects of the disclosure in any way. For example, edge 304 may secure to and/or around rectangular base 306 without being disposed in part under rectangular base 306. In some examples, securing means may hold the edge portion of the cover in place at the base of a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area in order to maintain the cover enclosing the bag dispenser in place.

[0029] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a bag dispenser carousel in accordance with the disclosure. The bag carousel depicted is an illustrative example of one type of bag dispenser that may be associated with a checkout area. In this illustrative example, a three-sided bag dispenser 402 provides dual-dispenser side-by- side configurations on each of the three sides of a central triangular base. The central triangular base is secured to a carousel base 404 configured to rotate along a parallel plane relative to a base component 406 of the checkout area on which the carousel base is secured. The entire three-sided bag dispenser rotates around the central axis of the carousel base, providing access to each of the dual-dispenser side-by-side configurations around the central triangular base.

[0030] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating covers 502 for bag dispenser carousels 504 in accordance with the disclosure. The covers illustrated in this example are configured to encompass and/or surround the exemplary bag carousel depicted in FIG. 4.

Additional Examples

[0031] In some examples, a bag dispenser cover may be configured to enclose and/or surround a single bag dispenser configuration, such that an individual cover surrounds an individual bag dispenser. In other examples, other securing means may be implemented on the cover to provide a means for maintaining the cover around the bag dispenser, such as a drawstring, hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, Velcro, zipper systems, magnetic elements, and/or any other suitable means of securing the cover to a bag dispenser or bag dispenser area.

[0032] Alternatively, or in addition to the other examples described herein, examples include any combination of the following:

wherein the constricting element is a drawstring;

wherein the constricting element is elastic;

wherein the entire edge is disposed within the gap;

wherein the bag dispenser cover covers the entire bag dispenser;

wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the bag dispenser;

wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the bag dispenser base;

wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted;

wherein the counter component is a rotating carousel;

wherein the bag dispenser cover is configured so as to allow rotation of the rotating carousel when secured around the bag dispenser.

[0033] When introducing elements of aspects of the disclosure or the examples thereof, the articles "a," "an, " "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The term "exemplary" is intended to mean "an example of." The phrase "one or more of the following: A, B, and C" means "at least one of A and/or at least one of B and/or at least one of C. "

[0034] Having described aspects of the disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A bag dispenser cover comprising:

a material forming a body and an edge, the edge configured to secure the bag dispenser cover around a bag dispenser; and

a constricting element implemented along the edge, the constricting element configured to constrict the material at the edge, wherein the edge is configured to fit in a gap provided between a bag dispenser base and a counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted.

2. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the constricting element is a drawstring.

3. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the constricting element is elastic.

4. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the entire edge is disposed within the gap.

5. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the bag dispenser cover covers the entire bag dispenser.

6. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of magnetic elements implemented along the edge, wherein the magnetic elements are configured to be in magnetic communication with one or more magnetic elements of the bag dispenser.

7. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of magnetic elements implemented along the edge, wherein the magnetic elements are configured to be in magnetic communication with one or more magnetic elements of the bag dispenser base.

8. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of magnetic elements implemented along the edge, wherein the magnetic elements are configured to be in magnetic communication with one or more magnetic elements of the counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted.

9. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the counter component is a rotating carousel.

10. The bag dispenser cover of claim 9 wherein the bag dispenser cover is configured so as to allow rotation of the rotating carousel when secured around the bag dispenser.

11. A bag dispenser protection system comprising:

a bag dispenser cover configured to surround a bag dispenser; and

a plurality of magnetic elements implemented along an edge of the bag dispenser cover, wherein the edge is configured to fit in a gap provided between a bag dispenser base and a counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted, and wherein the magnetic elements are configured to be in magnetic communication with one or more other magnetic elements.

12. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the entire edge is disposed within the gap.

13. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the bag dispenser cover covers the entire bag dispenser.

14. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 further comprising:

a constricting element located at the edge.

15. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the bag dispenser.

16. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the bag dispenser base.

17. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the one or more other magnetic elements are magnetic elements of the counter component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted.

18. The bag dispenser cover of claim 1 wherein the counter component is a rotating carousel.

19. The bag dispenser cover of claim 18 wherein the bag dispenser cover is configured so as to allow rotation of the rotating carousel when secured around the bag dispenser.

20. A bag dispenser protection system comprising:

a bag dispenser cover configured to surround a bag dispenser; and

a plurality of magnetic elements implemented along an edge of the bag dispenser cover, wherein the entire edge is configured to fit in a gap provided between a bag dispenser base and a rotating carousel component upon which the bag dispenser base is mounted, and wherein the magnetic elements are configured to be in magnetic communication with one or more magnetic elements of the bag dispenser base.