Bagging station support frame and method of forming the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028597-B2
Application number	US-201715666942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a bagging station support frame that includes a top assembly and a bottom assembly. The top assembly holds a bagging station. A bagging station holds a plurality of shopping bags ready to receive products. The top assembly includes a back structure that couples to the bagging station, and a rail coupler. The rail coupler couples the top assembly to a first rail. The bottom assembly is coupled to the top assembly, and includes a first and a second foot. The first and the second foot couple to a second rail. The bagging station support frame can be coupled to rails anywhere in a retail store. A bagging station coupled to the bagging station support frame will be available for customers to bag their purchases wherever the bagging station support frame with bagging station is mounted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination bagging station support frame and bagging station for supporting a bag, comprising:
a bagging station having a bagging station top rail, a bagging station middle rail and a bottom plate; and
a bagging station support frame comprising:
a top assembly which comprises:
a back structure comprising:
a first support bar, wherein the first support bar is a first straight elongate bar of rigid material having a first support bar first end and a first support bar second end opposing the first support bar first end;
a second support bar, wherein the second support bar is a second straight elongate bar of rigid material having a second support bar first end and a second support bar second end opposing the second support bar first end;
a coupler bar extending between and coupled to both the first and the second support bar;
a first bagging station top rail holder coupled to the first support bar first end;
a second bagging station top rail holder coupled to the second support bar, wherein the first bagging station top rail holder and the second bagging station top rail holder support the bagging station top rail first end, wherein the first and the second bagging station top rail holders hold the bagging station top rail;
a first bottom plate support bar coupled to the first support bar second end, wherein the first bottom plate support bar is a third straight elongate bar of rigid material and wherein the first bottom plate support bar extends from the first support bar second end perpendicular to the first support bar;
a second bottom plate support bar coupled to the second support bar second end, wherein the second bottom plate support bar is a fourth straight elongate bar of rigid material wherein the second bottom plate support bar extends from the second support bar second end perpendicular to the second support bar, and wherein the bottom plate of the bagging station sits on the first and the second bottom plate support bars;
a first bagging station middle rail holder adjustably coupled to the first support bar between the first support bar first end and the first bottom plate support bar; and
a second bagging station middle rail holder adjustably coupled to the second support bar between the second support bar first end and the second bottom plate support bar, wherein the first and the second bagging station middle rail holders extend around the bagging station middle rail and apply pressure on the bagging station middle rail in a direction away from the bagging station top rail; and

a support frame coupler comprising first and second support frame coupler hooks, wherein the first and second support frame coupler hooks are adapted to mounted on a supporting rail;

and
a bottom assembly coupled to the top assembly, wherein the bottom assembly comprises a first foot and a second foot.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the bottom assembly comprises:
a first stem bar adjustably coupled to the first support bar second end;
a second stem bar adjustably coupled to the second support bar second end; and
a crossbar having a crossbar first end coupled to the first stem bar and a crossbar second end coupled to the second stem bar;
wherein the first foot is coupled to the first stem bar, and wherein the first foot is C-shaped opening away from the first stem bar;
and wherein the second foot is coupled to the second stem bar, and wherein the second foot is C-shaped opening away from the second stem bar.

3. The combination of claim 2 , wherein the first stem bar comprises a stem bar slot, wherein a bolt extends through the stem bar slot and the first support bar second end to couple the first stem bar to the first support bar second end, and wherein adjusting a position of the bolt along the stem bar slot adjusts a distance between the first bottom plate support bar and the first foot.

4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first support frame coupler hook comprises:
an extension bar having an extension bar first end and an extension bar second end opposing the extension bar first end, wherein the extension bar first end is coupled to the first support bar first end, and wherein the extension bar extends perpendicularly from the first support bar in a direction away from a first support bar front surface;
a hook bar coupled to the extension bar second end and extending perpendicularly from the extension bar in a direction towards the bottom assembly; and
a bolt, wherein the bolt extends through the hook bar and the first support bar.

5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second bottom plate support bars extend in a direction away from a first support bar rear surface.

6. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first support bar comprises a first support bar slot, and wherein the first bagging station middle rail holder is adjustably coupled to the first support bar slot and slides along the first support bar slot to adjust a position of the first bagging station middle rail holder.

7. The combination of claim 6 , wherein the first bagging station middle rail holder is a U-shaped bracket opening towards the bottom assembly.

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc
• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Bacallao Yurgis Mauro

Classifications

• B65B67/1266

  specially adapted for storing or dispensing sacks from a supply · CPC title

• B65B67/1233

  Clamping or holding means · CPC title

• B65B67/1227

  only by a part of the periphery, e.g. by single points or handles, or by one side or two opposite sides only (B65B67/1244 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B2067/1294

  Holders for multiple sacks · CPC title

• A47F9/042 Primary

  Shopping bags or carton-dispensing systems therefor · CPC title