TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to containers, and more specifically relates to refuse receptacles.
BACKGROUND
It is well known to most homemakers, that, while preparing foods in a kitchen small particles of refuse are frequently needed to be discarded, such as the twisty from the bunch of parsley, the plastic collar from a milk jug cap or the foil wrapper on a wine bottle Often this refuse item is too small to warrant the need of reaching down to the under-counter refuse receptacle each time, and therefore, it temporarily accumulates in the sink corner, or on the countertop where it clutters the workspace. This can be messy and space consuming, so that this situation is, accordingly, in need of an improvement.
Additionally, refuse often accumulates in an automobile. Thus a small refuse container would be useful in an automobile in order to dispose of small trash like gum wrappers, parking receipts, or bottle-caps. Similarly, refuse accumulates on a boat, also making a boat a desirable location for a small refuse container.
Additionally, the need to recycle objects is of major concern to many individuals. Reusing what is typically thrown away is an important way to preserve our environment. Thus there is a need for a container that is able to reuse what has been typically thrown away.
SUMMARY
The disclosed apparatus relates to a cartridge container system comprising: a cartridge with an open end; a cap configured to fit over the open end of the cartridge; an opening located in the cap; and wherein the system is configured such that when the cap is fitted onto the open end of the cartridge, a user can deposit items via the opening located in the cap into the cartridge.
The disclosed apparatus also relates to a cartridge container comprising: a tube; a cap attached to the tube via a hinge; and wherein the cartridge container is configured to enclose a cartridge selected from the group consisting of a toilet paper tube, a yogurt container, flexible grocery bag, and a paper towel tube.
The disclosed apparatus, in addition, relates to a cartridge container comprising: a generally rectangular container; a generally rectangular cap attached to the generally rectangular container via a hinge; and wherein the cartridge container is configured to enclose a cereal box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed cartridge container;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the disclosed cartridge container from FIG. 1 with a cartridge;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a cartridge with a tube cap;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a cartridge with a pinched end;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cartridge container;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a cartridge container;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the cartridge container of FIG. 6:
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cartridge container with a spring loaded door;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed cartridge container;
FIG. 10 is a side view of the disclosed cartridge container from FIG. 8 with a cartridge;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed cartridge container;
FIG. 12 is a front view of the cartridge container of FIG. 10;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cartridge container with a larger slot;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cartridge container configured for flexible bags;
FIG. 15, is perspective view of a tube from the cartridge container of FIG. 14, with a bag installed in the tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the disclosed cartridge container 10. The cartridge container 10 comprises a cylindrical tube 14 attached to a cylindrical cap 18. the cylindrical tube 14 has an opening 22. The bottom 26 of the cylindrical tube 14 may be closed, that is the bottom 26 is not opened. However, in other embodiments of the disclosed cartridge container, the bottom 26 may be opened. The cap 18 may be coupled to the tube 14 via a hinge 38. In another embodiment, the cap 18 may simply snap on and off of the tube 14. In still another embodiment, the cap 18 and the tube 14 may both be threaded, such that the cap 18 is configured to screw onto the cylindrical tube 14. The cap 18 has a top 30 that may contain a slot 34. The slot 34 may be rectangular as shown, oval, or any other shape. Additionally, the top may comprise a flexible material, such as rubber, fabric, cloth, nylon, or any other suitable material. The flexible material may be configured so that the slot 34 is relatively flexible. Thus, the slot 34 can be configured to be a relatively thin slot, which can be flexibly widened when one places an object, such as trash, into the slot, whereupon the slot 34 goes back to its original relatively thin orientation, thereby keeping objects from exiting the cartridge container 10 through the slot 34. The cap and cylindrical tube may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, nylon, PVC, or any other suitable material able to contain a cartridge.
FIG. 2 shows the disclosed cartridge container 10 ready to receive a cartridge 42. In a preferred embodiment the cartridge 42 may be a cardboard tube used to hold toilet paper and/or paper towels. In another embodiment, the cartridge 42 may be an empty yogurt container. If cardboard toilet paper tubes are used, then the container 10 will be sized to fit common cardboard toilet paper tube sizes. Similarly, if cardboard paper towel tubes are used, then the then the container 10 will be sized to fit common cardboard paper towel tube sizes. The container 10 is configured such that it will be able to allow a cartridge to slide into the cylindrical tube 14 and have the cap 18 closed. Thus, when the cartridge is located within the container 10, a user may place trash and garbage into the container via the slot 34 or the opening 22. Once the cartridge is filled with trash or garbage, the user can open the cap 18, and remove the cartridge 42, and then dispose of the cartridge. This method allows a user to re-use his or her cardboard tubes left over from using up his or her toilet paper or paper towels, allowing the user to contribute to preserving the environment. The cylindrical tube 14 may have closed bottom 15, or an open bottom 15.
Referring now to FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment, a reusable tube cap 46 may be attached to the bottom of the cartridge 42 to hold the trash in the cartridge, when the cartridge is removed from the container 10. In another embodiment, the tube cap 46 may be disposable. Referring to FIG. 4, in still another embodiment, the bottom of the cartridge 42 may be pinched shut and then the pinched end 50 may be twisted, stapled, taped, or otherwise semi-permanently or permanently shut.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the disclosed cartridge container 10. In this embodiment, the bottom 15 of the cylindrical tube 14 is opened. A cartridge 42 is shown within the cylindrical tube 14 and partly in the cap 16. A bottom cap 16 is configured to slide over the cylindrical tube 14, and provide a friction fit to the tube 14. The bottom cap has a floor 17. Attached to the floor 17 is a plug 19. The plug is configured to fit into the cartridge 42, and keep objects from exiting out of the bottom of the cartridge 42.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a disclosed cartridge container 54. In this embodiment, the container 54 comprises a top cap 58, and a bottom cap 62. The caps 58,62 are coupled to each other via at least one elastic member 66. The elastic member may be a rubber strap, nylon strap, or any strap-like or ribbon-like material that will provide a compressive force between the top cap 58 and bottom cap 62 when placed on a cartridge 42 (see FIG. 7). The top cap 58 may have a slot 70, for trash or other material to be deposited into the cartridge. FIG. 6 shows the cartridge container 54 with the cartridge 42 having been placed into it. The caps 58,62 are configured to fit about the ends of the cartridge 42.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a disclosed cartridge container 74. In this embodiment, the container 74 comprises a top cap 58, and a bottom cap 62. The caps 58,62 are coupled to each other via at least one elastic member 66. However, instead of a slot located in the top cap 58, a spring loaded door 78 is located in the top cap. The spring loaded door 78 has a spring 82 which keeps the door closed until a user pushes a piece of debris through the door into the container 74 and cartridge 42, whereupon the spring loaded door 78 is configured to open, to allow the debris or other objects to enter the container, and then close when the user removes any force acting against the door 78. The top cap 58 and bottom cap 62 may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, nylon, PVC, or any other suitable material able to contain a cartridge.
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a disclosed cartridge container 86. The container 86 comprises a bottom receptacle 90 that is generally rectangular and a top cap 94 that is generally rectangular. The top cap 94 may be attached to the bottom receptacle 90 via a hinge 98. The top cap 94 may have a slotted opening 102.
FIG. 10 shows a side view of the container 86. A cartridge 106 is shown just about to be placed into the container 86. In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge 106 for this container 86 may be an empty cereal box. The container 86 is configured to allow a cereal box to fit within it. Once the cartridge 106 is in the container 86, the top cap 94 is closed, and a user may use the container 86 to dispose of refuse. Once the cartridge 106 is filled, the user simply opens the cap 94 and removes the cartridge, and either empties the cartridge 106 in order to reuse the cartridge, or the user may simply discard the cartridge 106 and its contents at the same time, and simply use a different empty cereal box as a new cartridge 106. The container 86 and cap 94 may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, nylon, PVC, or any other suitable material able to contain a cartridge.
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a disclosed cartridge container 110. In this embodiment, the container 110 comprises a top cap 114, and a bottom cap 118. The caps 114, 118 are coupled to each other via at least one elastic member 122. The elastic member 122 may be a rubber strap, nylon strap, or any strap-like or ribbon-like material that will provide a compressive force between the top cap 114 and bottom cap 118 when placed on a cartridge 106 (see FIG. 11). The top cap 114 will have a slot 126, for trash or other material to be deposited into the cartridge. FIG. 12 shows the cartridge container 110 with a cartridge 106 placed in it. The caps 114, 118 are configured to fit about the ends of the cartridge 106. The top cap 114 and bottom cap 118 may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, nylon, PVC, or any other suitable material able to contain a cartridge.
FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a disclosed cartridge container 130. In this embodiment, a larger slot 134 is located in the top cap 114. In fact any size slot may be used for slot 134, or a spring loaded door may be used, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 8.
FIG. 14 shows the disclosed cartridge container 140 configured for use with flexible bags, such as grocery store plastic shopping bags. The cartridge container 140 comprises a tube 144. A cap 148 is configured to slide over the tube 144. The tube 144 and cap 148 may be generally cylindrical, or rectangular shaped. The cap 148 has a top 152 that may contain a slot 156. The slot 34 may be generally rectangular, oval, or any other shape. Additionally, the top may comprise a flexible material, such as rubber, fabric, cloth, nylon, or any other suitable material. The flexible material may be configured so that the slot 156 is relatively flexible. Thus, the slot 156 can be configured to be a relatively thin slot, which can be flexibly widened when one places an object, such as trash, into the slot, whereupon the slot 156 goes back to its original relatively thin orientation, thereby keeping objects from exiting the cartridge container 140 through the slot 156. The cartridge container may contain storage space and a slot 160 for storage of extra flexible bags.
FIG. 15 shows just the tube 144 with a flexible bag 164 placed into the tube 144, with a large portion of the bag 164 hanging down into the tube 144, with a portion of the bag 164, such as, but not necessarily, the handles 168 of the bag 164 hanging off the side of the tube 144. Thus, the cap 148 is configured to slide over the tube and bag 164, and hold the bag in place as the cap 148 presses against the top of the tube 144. The cap 148 and tube 140 may be made out of plastic, wood, metal, nylon, PVC, or any other suitable material able to contain a cartridge.
The cartridge containers disclosed herein may be configured so that they can attach to various surfaces in order to place it in a convenient location. For example, Velcro may be placed on the cartridge container and a desirable surface, or a magnet may be attached to the cartridge to allow the container to attach to a refrigerator, stove, or other metallic objects. A clip may be attached to the cartridge container to allow it to clip to various objects, including, but not limited to the inside of a car, a pocket, or the inside of a boat, or a wall.
The cartridge container has been described mainly for use with refuse and trash. However, the cartridge container may be used for storing small objects or coins. Additionally, the device may be made to appeal to children by the addition of a plastic or rubber molded head in the shape of licensed characters such as, but not limited to Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch or Disney's Tigger. The bottom of the cartridge container may be made to look like feet. Children may collect many different characters as a collection.
The disclosed cartridge container allows people to reuse what is normally thrown out, items such as cardboard toilet paper tubes, cardboard paper towel tubes, yogurt containers, cracker boxes, cereal boxes, and any suitable container that is thrown out. This allows users to make a contribution toward being environmentally conscious. The disclosed cartridge container also provides for a small and convenient trash receptacle or storage unit.
It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070062945
