Adjustable Bag Retaining Apparatus

Abstract

Provided is an adjustable bag retaining apparatus comprising a hook or clamp, the hook or clamp capable vertically sliding movement on or in a track, mast, stand, support or hollow sleeve for accommodating bags of different sizes for packing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable bag retaining apparatus comprising,
 a) a clamp member,   b) a hollow sleeve,   c) a sleeve engaging member attached to the clamp member at one end thereof, the sleeve engaging member capable of vertically sliding movement within the sleeve, and;   d) optionally either
 i) a plurality of flanges attached to the sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom, said flanges optionally comprising one or more apertures for fixedly attaching the adjustable bag retaining apparatus to a surface or substrate, or 
 ii) a plurality of protrusions, said protrusion being optionally threaded and attached to the sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom for fixedly attaching the adjustable bag retaining apparatus to a surface or substrate. 
   
     
     
         2 . An adjustable bag retaining apparatus comprising,
 a) a clamp member,   b) a hollow sleeve,   c) a sleeve engaging member attached to the clamp member at one end thereof, the sleeve engaging member capable of vertically sliding movement within the sleeve, and;   d) a base member attached to the sleeve, the base member optionally comprising one or more apertures for fixedly attaching the adjustable bag retaining apparatus to a surface or substrate.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a structural support frame. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a structural support frame. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the base member is substantially square or rectangular and has one or more apertures for affixing the adjustable bag retaining apparatus to a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the base member is made of steel or metal. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein base member is welded to the structural support frame. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the base member is affixed on top of a loop extension of the structural support frame at the periphery of the base member. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the structural support frame comprises one or more cross braces along its width and/or length to provide rigidity thereto, and height adjustment capabilities with existing checkout counter infrastructure. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the structural support frame comprises two proximal frame piece members affixed to the base member on an upper portion of the plane thereof and extending about vertically therefrom, and two distal frame piece members affixed to the base member on an under portion of the plane thereof and extending about vertically therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the two distal frame piece members affixed to the base member on an under portion of the plane thereof and extending about vertically therefrom form a continuous loop under the base member. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a hook member is affixed to the structural support frame used for holding the tab found at the top center of T-shirt plastic bags. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp member slides vertically and stays in position under frictional engagement within the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp member is attached at the distal end of a sleeve engaging member for sliding vertically within the sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises one or more protrusions extending into the cavity of the sleeve, and said sleeve engaging member comprises one or more stopping members to abut said one or more protrusions on said sleeve to prevent removal or disassembly of the sleeve engaging member from said sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp member comprises a torsion spring that biases the clamp member to closed or clamping position. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least two extension members positioned about opposite sides of the support frame and extending outwardly therefrom and generally parallel to the base member and comprise a terminal end portion that curves upward away from the base member. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable bag retaining apparatus as defined in any of  FIGS. 1-22  or any combination of features shown therein. 
     
     
         19 . An adjustable bag holding apparatus comprising the adjustable bag retaining apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp member is replaced by a hook member. 
     
     
         20 . An adjustable bag retaining apparatus comprising a clamp member or hook member, said clamp or hook member capable of being adjusted to a desired vertical height on a stand, track, mast or support by a height adjustment means.