Patent Application
20150239663
The present invention relates to trash cans or waste baskets for convenient dispensing and positioning empty trash bags within a trash container. More particularly, the invention relates to a trash can with a base portion design to store a plurality of trash bags, a body portion designed to store a single trash bag full of trash in such a way as to allow the full bag to be easily removed from the body portion, and a lid portion that seals the body portion closed.
Waste baskets or trash cans are commonly used in a variety of locations around a typical home or office. However, there are numerous problems associated with standard household waste baskets that have made trash storage and removal a dreaded task.
Often, a trash bag or trash bag is used inside the trash can or basket to keep the inside clean, but the bags are stored in a separate location away from the can or basket. Once the full bag of trash has been removed from the waste basket, the user must also locate a new bag to put in the waste basket. Still further, a user rarely realizes that all bags in the storage container have been used until the last remaining trash bag is filled and discarded. Therefore, until a new package of bags is purchased, the trash must be placed in an unlined can.
Another frustrating task is attempting to remove a full bag from the waste basket. This is often rather difficult because the trash stored in the bag tends to bulge against the walls of the waste basket, thus making it difficult to remove. In addition, as the bag is filled up, air is often trapped between the bag and the waste basket walls. This causes a vacuum effect that makes it even more difficult to remove the full bag. Because a full bag is so difficult to remove, when the bag is pulled straight upward, the entire waste basket often lifts up with the bag rather than the bag lifting out of the waste basket. Therefore, the user must often call on the assistance of another person to hold the waste basket steady, or else the user must squeeze the waste basket between the knees while pulling the bag out.
Another problem with conventional style waste baskets is that they do not force trash to be compacted within the waste basket. Therefore, when the full bag is removed, the user must attempt to shake the trash further down into the bag and compact it so that the bag may be tied shut.
Unfortunately, even properly positioning a new bag within conventional trash bags is often difficult because the walls of the empty bag tend to cling together in the center of the waste basket rather than fitting against the walls and bottom of the waste basket. This is especially undesirable as the bag begins to be filled, as air becomes trapped between the wall of the container and the bag. This prevents the bag from being completely filled, and makes it difficult to remove the bag from the waste basket once it is filled with trash. Accordingly, techniques for making changing bags in trash cans easier and less time consuming are desirable.
The present invention features a waste basket system for convenient storage of waste basket trash bags close to a point of use. The trash bag refill drawer minimizes time consumed in obtaining and replacing trash bags, and promotes complete and efficient use of trash bags. Importantly, the trash bag container must be easily and completely removable from the trash container to facilitate intermittent cleaning in the event of trash bag breakage. Removal also facilitates replacement of bags within the trash bag refill drawer. Finally, the trash bag drawer should be sufficiently substantial so that it will not collapse when it bears the weight of a heavily loaded bag of trash.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a waste basket with a removably attached trash bag refill drawer wherein the trash bag drawer can be easily and completely detached from the trash can.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a waste basket with a trash bag refill drawer wherein the user can easily clean the trash container or the replace the trash bags within the trash container when the trash bags therein have all been dispensed.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a waste basket that stores trash bags within the trash bag so that a new trash bag is readily accessible each time a full bag is removed from the trash can.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a waste basket with an automatic trash bag refill system wherein when the full trash bag is removed from the waste basket, the full trash bag pulls on the next trash bag from the trash bag refill drawer, thereby the next trash bag is automatically retrieved and ready to use.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a trash can with a trash bag drawer that allows for the store of a large quality of trash bags, thus minimizing the need to locate trash bags from another location when replacing a full trash bag.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a trash can with a trash bad drawer which can be conveniently detached, refilled with trash bags, and re-attached to the trash can as needed.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a trash can with a trash bag drawer that is sufficiently substantial that it will not collapse when it bears the weight of the heavily loaded bag of trash.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide a trash can from which it is extremely easy to remove a full bag. This is accomplished by placing ventilating slots in the base portion of the trash can to prevent air from being trapped between the bag and the body's walls and creating a vacuum. Alternatively, the ventilating slots can also be placed in the body portion of the trash can to eliminate the vacuum.
It is also the object of the present invention provide a configuration that actually forces trash to naturally compact as it is placed in the bag because when trash is placed into the bag, any air between the bag and the waste basket walls is forced out of the waste basket through the ventilation slots, thus compacting the trash and giving the bag more area to expand within the body portion.
It is also the object of the present invention to provide an affordable and efficient trash can and trash bag system, wherein the various types of trash bags can be used in combination with the trash bag refills drawer and the trash can itself.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
The present invention features a waste basket system for convenient storage of waste basket liners close to a point of use. In some embodiments, the system comprises a waste basket. In some embodiments, an inner ledge is located on a waste basket side wall inner surface thereon offset from and parallel to a waste basket bottom.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a generally planar waste basket false floor having an aperture located therein. In some embodiments, a raised aperture wall is located on a waste basket false floor top surface and surrounds the aperture. In some embodiments, a raised lip surrounds a waste basket false floor outer periphery. In some embodiments, the waste basket false floor is placed on the inner ledge located on the waste basket side wall inner surface.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a pliable waste basket liner. In some embodiments, the waste basket liner is a bag. In some embodiments, the liner is located on an inside of the waste basket. In some embodiments, the liner top wraps over a waste basket top terminating lip. In some embodiments, the waste basket liner covers the waste basket side wall inner surface and the waste basket false floor top surface.
In one embodiment, a waste basket system for convenient internal storage of waste basket liners proximal to a point of use, wherein the system comprises: (a) a waste basket having an open waste basket top, a planar waste basket bottom having a waste basket bottom inner surface, and a waste basket side wall having a waste basket side wall inner surface, wherein an inner ledge is disposed on the waste basket side wall inner surface thereon offset from and parallel to the waste basket bottom; (b) a generally planar waste basket false floor having an aperture disposed therein, wherein a raised aperture wall is disposed on a waste basket false floor top surface and surrounds the aperture, wherein a raised lip surrounds a waste basket false floor outer periphery, wherein the raised aperture wall and the raised lip both project out and away from the waste basket false floor top surface, wherein the waste basket false floor is removably disposed on the inner ledge disposed on the waste basket side wall inner surface; and (c) a pliable waste basket liner having an open liner top, a liner bottom, and a liner side wall, wherein the waste basket liner is a bag, wherein the waste basket liner is disposed on an inside of the waste basket, wherein the liner top wraps over a waste basket top terminating lip, wherein the waste basket liner covers the waste basket side wall inner surface and the waste basket false floor top surface.
In another aspect of the invention, the aperture is centrally disposed in the waste basket false floor. In another aspect of the invention, the aperture is disposed on and intersects an edge of the waste basket false floor. In another aspect of the invention, the aperture is disposed on and intersects a corner of the waste basket false floor.
In another aspect of the invention, the raised aperture wall comprises a curved wall in a cross-section therein. In another aspect of the invention, the raised aperture wall comprises a conical wall having a flat wall top at an upper opening. In another aspect of the invention, a lid is disposed on the waste basket.
In another aspect of the invention, a plurality of pliable waste basket liners is disposed in a series and wrapped around a waste basket liner roll, wherein the plurality of waste basket liners is sequentially attached to one another, wherein the waste basket liner roll is disposed on the inside of the waste basket beneath the waste basket false floor, wherein a first waste basket liner is inserted through and pulled through the aperture in the waste basket false floor from beneath, wherein the first waste basket liner is disposed on the inside of the waste basket, wherein the first liner top wraps over the waste basket top terminating lip, wherein the waste basket liner fully covers the waste basket side wall inner surface and the waste basket false floor top surface.
In another aspect of the invention, a side aperture is disposed in the waste basket side wall adjacent to the waste basket bottom, wherein a guiding ridge is disposed adjacent to the waste basket bottom on the waste basket side wall inner surface, wherein a drawer having an open drawer top and a planar drawer bottom is slidably inserted into the waste basket via the side aperture, wherein the drawer slides on the guiding ridge, wherein one or more waste basket liner rolls are disposed in the drawer.
The present invention is an improved trash can having a base, a body, and a lid portion, and a trash bag storage drawer wherein trash bag refills can be stored and dispensed as needed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a trash can system draws from a roll of trash bags in a supply container to replace a full bag. In another embodiment, a trash can system draws from a folded or inter-folded trash bags in a supply container to replace a full bag.
In one embodiment, the system comprises a trash can with a false floor wherein underneath the false floor is the storage drawer wherein trash bag refills are stored. The false floor is generally planar and has an aperture located therein. In some embodiments, a raised aperture wall is located on a waste basket false floor top surface and surrounds the aperture. In some embodiments, a raised lip surrounds a waste basket false floor outer periphery. In some embodiments, the waste basket false floor is placed on the inner ledge located on the waste basket side wall inner surface.
The false floor hides the trash bag refills and prevents the trash bag refills from being contaminated if there are any leaks from the trash bag in the trash can. The false floor also provides an aperture to allow one trash bag to be accessed and retrieved from the trash bag refills underneath the false floor in the storage drawer.
The aperture of the false floor further allows the full trash bag to be more easily placed into and removed from the trash can. This is because the trash stored in the bags tends to bulge against the wall of the trash can and air is often trapped between the bag and the trash can walls, thereby creating a vacuum effect that makes it difficult to remove the full trash bag. The aperture of the false floor allows the air to flow more freely in and out of the trash can, thereby removing the vacuum effect. As a result, this also allows a new trash bag to be more easily placed into the trash can, because the air between the trash can wall and the trash bag can escape through the aperture of the false floor.
In some embodiments, an inner ledge is located on a waste basket side wall inner surface thereon offset from and parallel to a waste basket bottom. The inner ledge provides support to the false floor and prevents the false floor from pushing down on the trash bag refills, which may be difficult to access and retrieve if the false floor is made immobile against the trash bag refills. When the trash bag is full, the full weight of the trash rests on the false floor. If there are not inner ledge to provide support, the false floor will be pressed down onto the trash bag refills. As a result, the trash bag refill drawer may be difficult to access with the weight of the trash anchoring it down. With the support of the inner ledge, however, the false floor will be able to support the weight of the trash without pressing down on the trash bag refill drawer or the trash bag refills, therefore, allow the trash bag refill drawer and the trash bag refills to be easily accessible even when the trash is full.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a pliable waste basket trash bag. In some embodiments, the waste basket trash bag is a bag. The bag can be drawn from a roll of trash bags in a supply container to replace a full bag. The bags can also be drawn from a folded or inter-folded trash bags in a supply container to replace a full bag.
In some embodiment, the system provides for an automatic trash bag refill system wherein when the full trash bag is removed from the waste basket, the full trash bag pulls on the next trash bag from the trash bag refill drawer. Therefore, when a full trash bag is removed for disposal, the next trash bag is automatically pulled up and retrieve for immediate use, eliminating the user from reaching down to pull on the next bag.
In some embodiments, the trash bag is located on an inside of the waste basket. In some embodiments, the trash bag top wraps over a waste basket top terminating lip. In some embodiments, the waste basket trash bag covers the waste basket side wall inner surface and the waste basket false floor top surface.
The following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element of the present invention referred to herein:
The present inventive waste basket is designed to eliminate many problems commonly incurred through the use of ordinary waste baskets.
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In some embodiments, a raised aperture wall (132) is located on a waste basket false floor top surface (121) and surrounds the aperture (130). In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) is hemispherical (or has radial side walls). In some embodiments, a raised aperture wall (132) is sloped. In some embodiments, a raised aperture wall (132) is perpendicular to the waste basket false floor (120). In some embodiments, the aperture (130) is centrally located in the waste basket false floor (120). In some embodiments, the aperture (130) is located on and intersects an edge of the waste basket false floor (120). In some embodiments, the aperture (130) is located on and intersects a corner of the waste basket false floor (120).
In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) comprises a curved wall in a cross-section therein. In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) comprises a conical wall having a flat wall top at an upper opening.
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In some embodiments, a raised lip (125) surrounds a waste basket false floor outer periphery (122). In some embodiments, the raised lip (125) and the raised aperture wall (132) keep debris and liquid that may have spilled onto the waste basket false floor (120) from running off the side edge of the waste basket false floor (120) or into the aperture (130).
In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) and the raised lip (125) both project out and away from the waste basket false floor top surface (121). In some embodiments, the waste basket false floor (120) is removably located on the inner ledge (118) located on the waste basket side wall inner surface (117). In some embodiments, the waste basket false floor (120) snaps into place.
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In some embodiments, a drawer (170) having an open drawer top (172) and a planar drawer bottom (174) is slidably inserted into the waste basket (110) via the side aperture (160). In some embodiments, the drawer (170) slides on or against the guiding ridge (162). In some embodiments, one or more waste basket trash bag rolls (146) are located in the drawer (170).
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In some embodiments, when the first waste basket trash bag (140) is removed from the inside of the waste basket (110), a second, waste basket trash bag (140) is pulled through the aperture (130) in the waste basket false floor (120) from beneath.
In some embodiments, the second waste basket trash bag (140) is attached to the first waste basket trash bag (140) when the first waste basket trash bag (140) is inside of the waste basket (110). In some embodiments, the second waste basket trash bag (140) is attached to the first waste basket trash bag (140) when the first waste basket trash bag (140) is inside of the waste basket (110)
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In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) comprises a curved wall in a cross-section therein. In some embodiments, the raised aperture wall (132) comprises a conical wall having a flat wall top at an upper opening.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/943,185 “Novel Waste Basket System” which was filed on Feb. 21, 2014, and which is incorporated herein by reference in it entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61943185 | Feb 2014 | US |
