The present invention relates to trash receptacles and in particular a trash receptacle having an inner bag and strap for attaching peripheral items to the bag or for attaching the bag to a surface.
A robust and spill proof waste receptacle is desired in many circumstances. However, many waste receptacles may provide a partial solution. Some receptacles may provide for a safe and secure place to dispose of waste, such as trash and other garbage, but may not be easily accessible or usable by people needing to later move the waste receptacle to a larger garbage bin. For example, in the marine context, it is very detrimental to the environment when waste is spilled from a boat into the water. Even in circumstances where the boaters attempt to place their waste into a receptacle on boat; in rough seas those receptacles can easily go overboard and the waste then escapes the receptacle and enters into the water where it can disrupt the environment. Further, the receptacles that may be used on board a boat do not allow for easy attachment to the boat surfaces and easy removal of the receptacle when the boat is docked. When the waste must be removed from the boat, taken to land and placed in a land based garbage bin there are complications with currently available receptacles. The present invention overcomes many of these disadvantages.
The present invention is a waste receptacle comprising an outer bag having a flexible construction forming an opening at a top side and at least a pair of upper straps capable of attaching the receptacle to a rail, a lid attached at a top of bag to close the opening, an inner bag having a backbone circumferentially disposed around the inner bag to help maintain the inner bag in a generally cylindrical shape, the inner bag insertable through the opening of the outer bag, a pull string disposed at the top of the inner bag being capable to cinch the top of the inner bag closed and a buoyant float member disposed in the outer bag. A third strap is provided for attaching a peripheral item such as a shoulder strap or providing additional securement means to the boat. The third strap may include a D-shaped ring or a sliding track system.
The straps may have a fastener to clamp sides of the strap together on the rail. The fastener may be a velcro type member on each side of the strap. The backbone may be a plastic or metal wire that is sewn to the inner bag. The float member may be sewn into a bottom panel of the outer bag. The lid may include a slit having flexible sides including a resilient cord disposed along each side of the slit, the slit capable of being stretched apart by at least 1 inch in order to allow for insertion of waste into the interior of the outer bag and to be received by the inner bag, the flexible sides movable between an open and closed position and the sides automatically retractable to the closed position.
An elastic band may be disposed across the top of the outer bag in order to maintain the bag in a collapsed condition. A pair of lower straps may be located along a base of the outer bag. The pair of straps may include fasteners for holding the sides of the straps together and to clamp onto a post. The pair of straps may form a generally cylindrical area capable of receiving a rail or other mounting member therein and the cylindrical area having an axis disposed in a generally vertical orientation with respect to the receptacle. The pair of upper straps may form a generally cylindrical area capable of receiving a rail or other mounting member therein and the cylindrical area having an axis disposed in a generally horizontal orientation with respect to the receptacle. A band may be disposed at the bottom of the outer bag and for maintaining the buoyant member within the outer bag. A rigid plate may be disposed on a back panel of the outer bag.
A zipper disposed along a top edge of the opening of the outer bag may fasten the lid in a closed condition. At least a pair of zipper pulls may be provided for opening and closing the zipper. A locating device may be disposed within the receptacle including one of a transmitter, light emitting device and reflector so that the receptacle may be more easily located if the receptacle is floating in water.
In an embodiment, an outer bag is provided having a lid attached at a top of the outer bag to close an opening at the top of the bag, the outer bag formed from a flexible material capable of orienting the outer bag between a collapsed and upright condition. An inner bag formed of a flexible nylon material is provided and the inner bag is insertable through the opening of the outer bag; and a buoyant float member is disposed in the outer bag and a strap to secure a peripheral item. The lid may be hingedly attached to the outer bag, the lid including a slit having flexible sides including a resilient cord disposed along each side of the slit, the slit capable of being stretched apart by at least 1 inch in order to allow for insertion of waste into the interior of the outer bag and to be received by the inner bag, the flexible sides movable between an open and closed position and the sides automatically retractable to the closed position.
In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of managing waste material to avoid polluting water systems comprising the steps of providing an outer bag having a lid attached at a top of the outer bag to close an opening at the top of the bag, a slit formed in the lid, a pair of straps disposed on the outer bag, an inner bag formed of a flexible nylon material, the inner bag inserted through the opening of the outer bag and a buoyant float member disposed in the outer bag, mounting the outer bag to a rail of a boat by fastening the pair of straps around the rail, zipping the lid in a closed condition so that in case of rough water affecting the orientation of the outer bag, the outer bag will maintain waste disposed inside the outer bag, disposing of waste material within the inner bag by inserting through an expandable slit formed in the lid, accessing the inner bag when full by unzipping the lid of the outer bag in order to flip the lid upward and expose the inner bag, cinching a pull string on the inner bag to close the top of the inner bag, pulling the inner bag through the opening of the outer bag, grabbing a strap of the inner bag attached via a peripheral item strap and carrying the inner bag off the boat and emptying the waste material of the inner bag into a garbage bin on land. The method may further comprise the step of registering the boat as an environmentally compliant vessel, being equipped with a water friendly waste receptacle and attaching a shoulder strap to a metal or plastic D-shaped clip attached to a third strap extending from the top of the outer bag.
While the invention is amendable to various modifications and alternate forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.
A marine soft-sided trash receptacle assembly 10 comprised of two primary components of an exterior bag assembly 20 and interior bag 40 as shown in
The exterior bag 20 is made of a water resistant sunbrella material or the like. The exterior bag has four nylon straps 23a,b, 34a,b which fasten closed around a rail or hook of a boat or vehicle such as by using a Velcro fastener. In an alternate embodiment, a plastic clip or fastener closes the sides of the strap. The over lapped lid 21 extends from the top edge 24 of the body 12 to securely shut, for example by closing a zipper while the boat is in motion. In an embodiment, the exterior bag 20 may be decorated with an embroidered marine figure. Four nylon straps 23a,b, 34a,b total are secured by fasteners such as Velcro. In an embodiment, the straps may be lined with slip-resistant material. A single strap or combination of one or all straps may be used to secure the bag 10 in its desired location on the vessel.
The base of the soft-sided exterior bag is equipped with a floating device 51 built into it made from a plastic foam material such as polyvinyl and polyethylene or the like. This floating device helps to ensure the securely enclosed trash will not end up at the bottom of the ocean. In emergency cases this floating feature may also assist in a man-over-board situation.
The interior component 40 to the soft-sided trash receptacle is what will actually contain the debris. This interior bag is designed to allow the exterior bag to stay in place on the vessel, during removal of the interior bag filled with debris. Tightening a drawstring ensures no spillage and the interior bag may be taken to proper disposal locations. The interior bag 40 is made of a tightly woven water resistant fabric such as nylon or polyester (similar to an umbrella) and sits with in the exterior bag. This oblong shaped bag will be self standing by way of polyamide plastic or coated metal fabricated coil 50 with the strength to hold the bag standing and will be sewn into the polyester fabric of the bag from the top rim to bottom rim to give the bag 40 the upright position needed to stand when empty.
The interior bag 40 will have the nylon material slack at the top 43 several inches without the sewn in coil interior and just a drawstring 41 that can securely lock closed 42 at the outer limit to function as a closing devise for the interior bag. Affixed externally to this interior bag will be a fabric handle 44 made of a nylon material or the like for easy carrying.
The resilient nature of the sides 16a,b will cause the sides to automatically retract and close the slit 18. This feature of the lid allows for the securement of waste within the outer bag 20. In the case of rough seas, where the bag 10 is thrown about and not oriented in a level orientation, the waste will still be retained within the inside of the outer bag 20 due to the closed slit 18. As well, if the receptacle were to break free of its mounting position on a rail or stanchion of a boat and land in the water, it will continue to maintain the waste articles within the interior bag 40 due to the resilient nature of the slit 18 being maintained in a closed position. The lid 21 is secured to the body of the outer bag 20 using any known means of fastening. In an embodiment, as shown in
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In a preferred use of the receptacle 10, the waste material is inserted through the slit 18 of the lid 21 of the outer bag 20 into the inner bag 40 while the top opening of the inner bag is in an open position. When it is desired to empty the waste, the pull string 41 is pulled-tight to cinch the top of the material to the closed position as show in
As depicted in
The outer bag 20 also includes lower straps 34a,b which operate in a similar fashion as described above with respect to the upper straps and include fasteners 65a,b. As depicted in
In an alternate embodiment, the rigid plate may be formed from PVC, plastic, cardboard, fiber glass, metals or heavy duty rubber. The base 60 of the outer bag 20 includes a buoyant member 51 such as a foam insert that may or may not be disposed in a compartment 66 formed at the base 60 of the outer bag 20. In an embodiment, a strap 70 may be provided to maintain the buoyant member 51 in a position at the base of the outer bag 20.
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The exterior bag 120 is made of a water resistant sunbrella material or the like. The exterior bag has four nylon straps 123a,b, 134a,b which fasten closed around a rail or hook of a boat or vehicle such as by using a Velcro fastener. In an alternate embodiment, a plastic clip or fastener closes the sides of the strap. The over-lapped lid 121 extends from the top edge 124 of the body 112 to securely shut, for example by closing a zipper while the boat is in motion. Four nylon straps 123a,b, 134a,b are secured by fasteners such as Velcro. In an embodiment, the straps may be lined with slip-resistant material. A single strap or combination of one or all straps may be used to secure the bag 110 in its desired location on the vessel.
The base of the soft-sided exterior bag is equipped with a floating device built into it made from a plastic foam material such as polyvinyl and polyethylene or the like. This floating device helps to ensure the securely enclosed trash will not end up at the bottom of the ocean. In emergency cases this floating feature may also assist in a man-over-board situation.
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