The present disclosure relates generally to the field of waste containment and disposal and, more particularly, to an integrated waste container, waste liner, and/or rail system that facilitates the automatic deployment of liners and that is adaptable to fit in cabinetry.
Conventional waste container liners and trash bags generally consist of independent flexible plastic bags that are individually placed into a waste container by a user as needed. While the waste container liners and trash bags may generally contain waste and allow for removal of the filled liner from the container and while the interior of the container may remain reasonably clean, there are, however, several problems with current methods and devices for lining waste containers.
For example, conventional waste container liners are generally provided in separate boxes where a user must locate and retrieve the box, must remove each individual liner from the box on an as-needed basis, must take the separated and retrieved liner from the box and to the waste container, and must ready the liner by inserting the liner through the mouth of the container, cuffing the liner over the rim, repositioning the interior of the liner in the container so it is ready and able to receive waste, and the like. As a result, a significant amount of time and energy may be expended during the process of locating, applying, inserting, and securing the liner into the container. The process is inefficient and includes multiple steps that may be difficult or cumbersome.
Moreover, waste containers are often kept in a cabinet, holder, or hidden space. Waste containers may not be easily accessible or maneuverable. For waste containers that are kept in a cabinet, holder, or hidden space, an additional step of removing the waste container from the cabinet may be required in order to access the container to position the new liner. Additionally, where the conventional waste container is separate from the cabinet or holder, it may be difficult to find a waste container of the appropriate dimensions and size to correspond to the holder, the entire apparatus may be unnecessarily bulky and there may be less space for waste, the waste container may undesirably dislodge from the holder when, as an example, the liner containing waste is pulled, and, like separate liners, the separate waste containers may become misplaced during use or in the household, thus rendering the system unusable until found or replaced.
As a result, there is a need for an automatic and sequentially deployed waste container and liner system that may be integrated into a defined space or cabinetry.
The following presents a summary of this disclosure to provide a basic understanding of some aspects. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements or define any limitations of embodiments or claims. Furthermore, this summary may provide a simplified overview of some aspects that may be described in greater detail in other portions of this disclosure. It is noted that although some aspects may be described in reference to a particular embodiment, the embodiments are adaptable and the aspects interchangeable so that various combinations of aspects are encompassed broadly by this disclosure.
Disclosed is a waste container, liner, and rail system. The system may include one or more waste containers or one or more basketless systems or liner receivers to direct, hold, and facilitate the sequential replacement of a waste liner. The system may comprise a pull out track system that is adaptable to cabinetry or another defined space for a waste container. The pull out track system may generally include front, rear, side, and/or base panels, as well as at least one internal panel. The at least one internal panel may define an interior space configured to receive waste liners and to dispense the waste liners automatically.
Disclosed is a bucketless waste container and liner system. In an embodiment, the system may comprise a front panel, a rear panel, and two side panels. The two side panels may connect the front panel and the back panel. The front, rear, and side panels may form a housing. In an embodiment, the system may further comprise at least one middle panel. The at least one middle panel may be positioned within the housing and may define a first chamber configured to receive and hold a liner and a second chamber configured to receive a liner packet. In an embodiment, the middle panel may include a feed slot that is configured to allow the feeding of a liner into the first chamber from a liner packet in the second chamber.
In an embodiment, the system may not include a removable waste bucket. In an embodiment, the liner when positioned in the first chamber may be configured to receive waste. In an embodiment, at least one of the front, rear, or side panels may include at least one cut-out. Each of the two side panels may include a plurality of cut-outs. The at least one cut-out may be formed by computer numerical control with diamond tooling, electrical discharge or spark machining, laser, water-jet, sand blasting, sawing, or grinding.
In an embodiment, the liner packet may include a plurality of liners. The liners may be fed sequentially from the liner packet in the second chamber, through the feed slot, and into the first chamber when the used liner in the first chamber is removed. The liners may be fed and replaced automatically from the liner packet in the second chamber, through the feed slot, and into the first chamber when the used liner in the first chamber is removed.
In an embodiment, the system may further include a rail and pull out track system. The system may be configured to be put into a cabinet and the rail and pull out track system may facilitate the selective access to and closure of the system into the cabinet.
In an embodiment, a portion of the side panels that defines the first chamber may be a first height and a portions of the side panels that defines the second chamber may be a second height. The height may refer to the height from a side perspective, e.g. side walls, noting that the first chamber and second chamber may share a wall, e.g. the middle panel, and the middle panel may be the first height. In an embodiment, the second height of the side panels defining the second chamber may be smaller than the first height of the side panels defining the first chamber.
In an embodiment, the system may include a second middle panel. The second middle panel may define a third chamber. The third chamber may be configured to receive and hold a liner. The second middle panel may include a feed slot that is configured to allow the feeding of a liner from a second liner packet into the third chamber from the second liner packet in the second chamber. In an embodiment, a portion of the side panels that defines the first and third chamber may be a first height and a portion of the side panels that defines the second chamber may be a second height. In an embodiment, the second height may be smaller than the first height.
Disclosed is an integrated waste container and liner system. The system may comprise a first chamber configured to receive a liner and a second chamber configured to receive a liner packet. The first chamber and second chamber may be adjacent and separated by a middle panel. The middle panel may comprise a feed slot that is configured to allow the feeding of a liner into the first chamber from a liner packet in the second chamber. In an embodiment, the first chamber may be a first height and the second chamber may be a second height. The height may refer to the height from a side perspective, noting that the first chamber and second chamber may share a wall, e.g. the middle panel, and the middle panel may be the first height. In an embodiment, the second height may be smaller than the first height.
In an embodiment, the system may further include a third chamber configured to receive a liner. The second chamber and third chamber may be adjacent and separated by a second middle panel. The second middle panel may comprise feed slot that is configured to allow the feeding of the liner into the third chamber from a second liner packet in the second chamber. In an embodiment, the third chamber and first chamber may be a first height and the second chamber may be a second height. The height may refer to the height from a side perspective, noting that the first chamber and second chamber may share a wall, e.g. the middle panel, and the second chamber and third chamber may share a wall, e.g. the second middle panel, and the middle panel and second middle panel may be the first height. In an embodiment, the second height may be smaller than the first height.
In an embodiment, the system may not include a removable waste bucket. In an embodiment, the chambers may include a plurality of cut-outs. In an embodiment, the liners may be fed sequentially and automatically from the liner packet in the second chamber, through the feed slot, and into the first chamber when the used liner in the first chamber is removed.
The following description and the drawings disclose various illustrative aspects. Some improvements and novel aspects may be expressly identified, while others may be apparent from the description and drawings.
The present teachings may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present teachings. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present teachings. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and that would still be within the spirit and scope of the present teachings. In this disclosure, numerous specific details provide a thorough understanding of the subject disclosure. It should be understood that aspects of this disclosure may be practiced with other embodiments not necessarily including all aspects described herein, etc.
As used herein, the words “example” and “exemplary” means an instance or illustration. The words “example” or “exemplary” do not indicate a key or preferred aspect or embodiment. The word “or” is intended to be inclusive rather than exclusive, unless context suggests otherwise. As an example, the phrase “A employs B or C,” includes any inclusive permutation (e.g., A employs B; A employs C; or A employs both B and C). As another matter, the articles “a” and “an” are generally intended to mean “one or more” unless context suggest otherwise.
Further, unless context suggest otherwise, descriptions of shapes (e.g., circular, rectangular, triangular, etc.) and the nature of the shapes (e.g., straight, curved, elevated, sloped, wavy, etc.) refer to shapes meeting the definition of such shapes and general representation of such shapes. For instance, a triangular shape or generally triangular shape may include a shape that has three sides and three vertices or a shape that generally represents a triangle, such as a shape having three major sides that may or may not have straight edges, triangular like shapes with rounded vertices, etc. A panel may have any number of sides, such as four, and may generally adopt the shape of a parallelogram, rectangle, square, or the like. A panel may have any number of cut-outs or may be solid. Although general measurements or indications of height, length, width, and thickness may be disclosed, it is noted that these aspects are broadly defined within this disclosure.
Disclosed is a waste management system. Disclosed is a waste container, liner, and rail system. The system may include one or more waste containers or one or more basketless (or bucketless) systems or liner receivers to direct, hold, and facilitate the sequential replacement of a waste liner. The system may comprise a pull out track system that is adaptable to cabinetry or another defined space for a waste container. The pull out track system may generally include front, rear, side, and/or base panels, as well as at least one internal panel. The at least one internal panel may define an interior space configured to receive waste liners and to dispense the waste liners automatically.
The waste management system may be configured to comprise, receive, or accommodate any number of buckets and/or liners as desired, including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. buckets or liners. Each bucket receiver or liner receiver may be referred to as a chamber and may be defined by panels or portions of a panel (e.g. front panel, middle panel, and portions of each side panels or middle panel, rear panel, and different portions of each side panels). For examples, the various buckets or liners may be used to organize and categorized different types of waste including compostable materials, medical waste, recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, items that are not compostable or recyclable, and the like. The waste management system may generally include a body having a front panel, rear panel, two side panels, and a bottom panel. The body may further include an internal panel to define spaces or chambers for receiving a bucket, open liner, or liner pack. The internal panel may comprise a slot to facilitate the transition of the liner from its pack to an opened position in the bucket or basketless system. It is noted that the term basketless system and liner receiver may be used interchangeably. It is also noted that each the bucket receivers, liner receivers, and liner packet receivers may also be referred to as chambers configured to receive these items. The body may be selectively coupled to a track or rail system, or otherwise inserted into a cabinet, to store and selectively access the waste management system.
It is noted that any system herein described as including waste buckets and liners may also be provided as a basketless system by integrating and replacing the “panels” of the waste buckets as panels of a basketless system, see
Any system herein described may also be adapted to include any number of buckets, bucket receivers, and liner receivers or basketless systems (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, etc.), including a combination of the different types of waste holders (i.e. buckets, liners only, etc.). In an example, the system may include a removable bucket and a basketless system, a secured bucket and a basketless system, only removable buckets, only secured buckets, only basketless systems or integrated buckets, any combination of the foregoing, and the like.
The body 205 of the waste management system 200 may further comprise two middle panels 260, 270, shown in
The slot or liner passing port slot, when included in the actual middle panel(s) (and not above or below the middle panel) may generally look like slot 123 shown in
In an embodiment, middle panel(s) 260, 270 may form an area defined as the liner/bag dispenser or liner package housing chamber 122. The housing chamber 122 and a liner passing port slot within each middle panel 260, 270 may facilitate the automatic feeding of sequential liners from liner package(s) positioned in the housing chamber 122, through the liner passing port slot, and into the cavity or body of the buckets 140, 150. Automatic is defined as the continued feeding and access of liners in a sequential sequence or individual form when, for example, the first liner in the sequence is pulled or removed through the bucket (e.g. when it is full with waste and a new liner is desired). The liner passing port slot may be located at the bottom of each middle panel 260, 270.
Liner package(s) may have an indicator marked on its outer packaging to facilitate opening of the package, exposing and accessing the liners, and where to align or line up the liners with the liner passing port slot located in the housing chamber 122. The first liner may be pulled out half way in order to feed it through the liner passing port slot, from the housing chamber 122 and into the body of the bucket 140, 150. The liner may be pulled up and positioned in the body of the bucket 140,150. The liner may be opened and fit or secured about the top rim or circumference of the bucket 140, 150.
After the liner is filled, the liner may be cinch closed with a closure tab provided at the top edge of the liner(s), or if no tab is provided or desired, the liner may be folded over the top rim or circumference of the bucket. The liner may be pulled up and sequential liner that is thereby removably connected (e.g. by perforation) in sequence will rise up through the liner passing port slot. The liners may be detached and the process repeated. In some embodiments, the liners may be attached end-to-end such that as the first liner is pulled out to be used it is detached from the next sequential liner (e.g., the adjacent liners may have perforations to remove the first adjacent one from the second adjacent one.) It is noted that the buckets 140, 150 may further include a slot that aligns with the liner passing port slot or the slots of the any middle panels so that the liners can be fed from the liner package, through the middle panel or other panels if applicable, through the bucket or basketless system, including any panels that form the holder for the bucket or panels of the basketless system, and into the interior of the bucket or basketless system where it is opened and positioned to receive waste therein, while remaining attached to the sequential liners below.
The height and shape of the front 210, rear 220, and side panels 240, 250 may be adjusted as desired. For example, as shown in
The waste management system 200 (or any of the waste management systems as described herein) may further comprise a rail or track 160, see
The body 305 of the waste management system 300 may further comprise at least one middle panel 360, shown in
In an embodiment, middle panel 360 may form an area defined as the liner/bag dispenser or liner package housing chamber 122. The housing chamber 122 and a liner passing port slot within the middle panel 360 may facilitate the automatic feeding of sequential liners from liner package(s) positioned in the housing chamber 122, through the liner passing port slot, and into the cavity or body of the bucket 140. Automatic is defined as the continued feeding and access of liners in a sequential sequence or individual form. The liner passing port slot may be located at the bottom of the middle panel 360.
Liner package(s) may have an indicator marked on its outer packaging to facilitate opening of the package, exposing and accessing the liners, and where to align or line up the liners with the liner passing port slot located in the housing chamber 122. The first liner may be pulled out half way in order to feed it through the liner passing port slot, from the housing chamber 122 and into the body of the bucket 140. The liner may be pulled up and positioned in the body of the bucket 140. The liner may be opened and fit or secured about the top rim or circumference of the bucket 140.
After the liner is filled, the liner may be cinch closed with a closure tab provided at the top edge of the liner(s), or if no tab is provided or desired, the liner may be folded over the top rim or circumference of the bucket. The liner may be pulled up and sequential liner that is thereby removably connected (e.g. by perforation) in sequence will rise up through the liner passing port slot. The liners may be detached and the process repeated. In some embodiments, the liners may be attached end-to-end such that as the first liner is pulled out to be used it is detached from the next sequential liner (e.g., the adjacent liners may have perforations to remove the first adjacent one from the second adjacent one.) It is noted that the bucket 140 may further include a slot that aligns with the liner passing port slot or the slots of any middle panels so that the liners can be fed from the liner package, through the middle panel or other panels if applicable, through the bucket or basketless system, including any panels that form the holder for the bucket or panels of the basketless system, and into the interior of the bucket or basketless system where it is opened and positioned to receive waste therein, while remaining attached to the sequential liners below.
The height and shape of the front 310, rear 320, and side panels 340, 350 may be adjusted as desired. For example, as shown in
The waste management system 300 (or any of the waste management systems as described herein) may further comprise a rail or track 160, see
The body 405 of the waste management system 400 may further comprise two middle panels 460, 470, shown in
In an embodiment, middle panel(s) 460, 470 may form an area defined as the liner/bag dispenser or liner package housing chamber 122. The housing chamber 122 and a liner passing port slot within each middle panel 460, 470 may facilitate the automatic feeding of sequential liners from liner package(s) positioned in the housing chamber 122, through the liner passing port slot, and into the cavity or body of the basketless systems 480, 490. Automatic is defined as the continued feeding and access of liners in a sequential sequence or individual form. The liner passing port slot may be located at the bottom of each middle panel 460, 470.
Liner package(s) may have an indicator marked on its outer packaging to facilitate opening of the package, exposing and accessing the liners, and where to align or line up the liners with the liner passing port slot located in the housing chamber 122. The first liner may be pulled out half way in order to feed it through the liner passing port slot, from the housing chamber 122 and into the body of the basketless system 480, 490. The liner may be pulled up and positioned in the body of the basketless system 480, 490. The liner may be opened and fit or secured about the top rim or circumference of basketless system 480, 490.
After the liner is filled, the liner may be cinch closed with a closure tab provided at the top edge of the liner(s), or if no tab is provided or desired, the liner may be folded over the top rim or circumference of the bucket. The liner may be pulled up and sequential liner that is thereby removably connected (e.g. by perforation) in sequence will rise up through the liner passing port slot. The liners may be detached and the process repeated. In some embodiments, the liners may be attached end-to-end such that as the first liner is pulled out to be used it is detached from the next sequential liner (e.g., the adjacent liners may have perforations to remove the first adjacent one from the second adjacent one.) It is noted that the system may include other slots as needed that align with the liner passing port slot or the slots of any middle panels so that the liners can be fed from the liner package, through the middle panel or other panels if applicable, through the bucket or basketless system, including any panels that form the holder for the bucket or panels of the basketless system, and into the interior of the bucket or basketless system where it is opened and positioned to receive waste therein, while remaining attached to the sequential liners below.
The height and shape of the front 410, rear 420, and side panels 440, 450 may be adjusted as desired. For example, as shown in
In the embodiments shown, the panels may include cut-outs, holes or apertures of any appropriate configuration. The cut-outs, holes or apertures may be of any appropriate shape and configurations. The cut-outs, holes or apertures may be formed after the formation of a panel from a sheet material or may be formed as the panel is formed as during injection molding, for example. The cut-outs, holes or apertures may reduce the weight of the panels and reduce the amount of material required to produce the panels while maintaining the panels' strength and integrity, may streamline production, may reduce costs in material and transport, and the like. The panels may be made of any appropriate material, including, without limitation plastic, rubber, wood, composite materials such as medium density fiberboard or particle board, metal, or a combination of the foregoing. The material may be stiff enough to maintain its shape and rigidity to accept a bag as described herein.
The waste management system 400 (or any of the waste management systems as described herein) may further comprise a rail or track 160, see
The body 505 of the waste management system 500 may further comprise at least one middle panel 560, shown in
In an embodiment, middle panel 560 may form an area defined as the liner/bag dispenser or liner package housing chamber 122. The housing chamber 122 and a liner passing port slot within the middle panel 560 may facilitate the automatic feeding of sequential liners from liner package(s) positioned in the housing chamber 122, through the liner passing port slot, and into the cavity or body of the basketless system 580. Automatic is defined as the continued feeding and access of liners in a sequential sequence or individual form. The liner passing port slot may be located at the bottom of the middle panel 560.
Liner package(s) may have an indicator marked on its outer packaging to facilitate opening of the package, exposing and accessing the liners, and where to align or line up the liners with the liner passing port slot located in the housing chamber 122. The first liner may be pulled out half way in order to feed it through the liner passing port slot, from the housing chamber 122 and into the body of the basketless system 580. The liner may be pulled up and positioned in the body of the basketless system 580. The liner may be opened and fit or secured about the top rim or circumference of basketless system 580.
After the liner is filled, the liner may be cinch closed with a closure tab provided at the top edge of the liner(s), or if no tab is provided or desired, the liner may be folded over the top rim or circumference of the bucket. The liner may be pulled up and sequential liner that is thereby removably connected (e.g. by perforation) in sequence will rise up through the liner passing port slot. The liners may be detached and the process repeated. In some embodiments, the liners may be attached end-to-end such that as the first liner is pulled out to be used it is detached from the next sequential liner (e.g., the adjacent liners may have perforations to remove the first adjacent one from the second adjacent one.) It is noted that the system may include other slots as needed that align with the liner passing port slot or the slots of any middle panels so that the liners can be fed from the liner package, through the middle panel or other panels if applicable, through the bucket or basketless system, including any panels that form the holder for the bucket or panels of the basketless system, and into the interior of the bucket or basketless system where it is opened and positioned to receive waste therein, while remaining attached to the sequential liners below.
The height and shape of the front 510, rear 520, and side panels 540, 550 may be adjusted as desired. For example, as shown in
In an embodiment, the waste management system 500 (or any of the waste management systems as described herein) may further comprise a rail or track 160, see
In an embodiment, the waste management system 500 (or any of the other embodiments of the waste management system described above) may optionally comprise one or more wheels 600. An embodiment of the wheels 600 is shown in
In an embodiment, the wheel 600 may include a locking or braking mechanism 610. When engaged the locking or braking mechanism 610 may prevent further rotation of the wheels and otherwise keep the waste management system 500 in the same position. The locking or braking mechanism 610 may be actuated by a force, for example, such as pressing down by a user's foot. The locking or braking mechanism 610 may also be actuated by any other mechanical or electrical mechanism. The wheels 600 may be used for domestic and commercial purposes and the size and shape of the waste management system and baskets or basketless systems may be modified for the particular application and anticipated waste loads and types. In some embodiments, the wheels 600 may be used with the tracks and drawer systems described herein. In these embodiments, the waste management system 500 may be removed from the track system (such as that described above) to facilitate relocating the waste management system 500 such as to remove the waste therefrom. In one embodiment, the waste management system 500 may include a track (such as the ones described above) onto which the wheels 600 can operatively engage such that the waste management system 500 may be rolled out from the drawer system to be positioned in a different location.
Additionally, the wheels 600 may be used for a variety of other purposes and attached to different portions of the system or components of the system. For example, the wheels 600 may be attached to a bucket that is inserted into a bucket receiver to allow the bucket to be wheeled around within the system (and locked in a particular position if desired). The system may also include a ramp so that the wheeled bucket may be wheeled into the bucket receiver and system instead of needing to be picked up and set down into bucket receiver and the system. In an embodiment, the front panel side panel, portion of the side panel, and/or cabinet face may be hinged and selectively opened on the hinge to facilitate the removal of the bucket (which may be made easier by wheels 600 on the bucket).
The track may include an extension that may engage the wheels such that the user may push or pull the waste management system 500 from the drawer system. The extension may slide, rotate, pivot, etc. from the main track to provide a ramp surface that can engage the wheels 600 to roll the waste management system 500 from the drawer system in which it is positioned. The extension may then be folded back to its storage position such that it does not interfere with operation of the waste management system 500 in the drawer system and is hidden from view. Once the extension is needed to help roll the waste management system 500 from its position, it may be folded from its storage position to an operative position in any appropriate manner.
In an embodiment, the waste management system 500 may optionally comprise one or more of a tilt mechanism 700 that may include a stabilizer. An embodiment of the tilt mechanism 700 and stabilizer is shown in
Further, the tilt mechanism 700 may allow the waste management system 500 (or any of the other embodiments of the waste management system described above) to be tilted to help remove the waste from the waste management system 500. The tilt mechanism 700 may keep the waste management system 500 from tilting beyond a predetermined angle. In one embodiment, the waste management system 500 may include a pair of wheels 600 and a tilt mechanism 700 to help facilitate removal of waste from the waste management system 500. The wheels 600 may help facilitate tilting of the waste management system 500 while the tilt mechanism 700 prevents the waste management system 500 from tilting beyond the predetermined angle. The tilt mechanism 700 may be attached to any suitable area of any of the disclosed systems, including the exterior side or outwardly facing side of the rear panel, the side panel, the bottom panel, or the like. The tilt mechanism may also be included within the cabinet or holder of the system, or within one of the disclosed receivers, including also on the front panel or cabinet face.
In an embodiment, the exterior shape of the body in any of the foregoing described embodiments may be square, round, ovular, asymmetrical, and the like. The exterior panels may include any number of slots, apertures, or design, or may be solid. As shown in the figures the panels may include large square or rectangular slots that extend across much of the face of the exterior panels. Such slots may make the waste management system 200 lighter, and may make the waste management system 200 more cost effective to produce. The attachments and connections between panels may be carried out by one or more fasteners, latches, snaps, protrusions and recesses, projections and apertures, tab and aperture, mating bayonet parts, slot and tab, multiple slots and tabs, any female to male or male to female engagement, adhesives, and the like. The attachments and connections between panels may be friction fit, snap fit, pressure fit, or secured by mechanism attachment like a screw or adhesive. In an embodiment, attachments and connections between panels may be carried out by one or more screws or nails inserted through the side panels. In an embodiment, attachments and connections between panels may be carried out by dovetail joints.
In an embodiment, the panels may be formed from PVC plastic, wood, medium density fiberboard, particle board, or other composite, or any other suitable material. For example, other suitable materials may include one or more of plastic, glass, wood, metal, a composite thereof, and the like.
In an embodiment, bags or liners 122, 124 may be provided in a package 126. The package 126 may include a sequential plurality of bags 124, each bag 124 being linked to the next bag 124 in the sequence, and whereby a first bag 124a in the sequence extends at least partially through the opening 138 to ready the container assembly 100 for use. Although sequentially linked bags 124 are discussed, the container assembly 100 will also work with conventional bags that are not sequentially linked to one another.
The sequentially linked bags 124 of the package 126 are arranged in a zig-zag or fan-fold pattern as shown in
A plurality of bags 124 can be folded, stacked, and/or rolled into a package 126. The plurality of bags 124 can be detached from each other, or the plurality bags 124 can be connected in series and torn apart (e.g., along a perforation line between each of bag liners). The package 126 may include an opening through which a single bag 124 can be pulled. The opening of the package 126 can be generally shaped, sized, and positioned such that the opening generally aligns with the slot or opening of the middle panels. Each of the bags 124 can include a tabbed portion to facilitate removal of each bag 124 from the package 126. In an embodiment, the last bag of the package can include an indicator to signal that the package of bags should be replaced. For example, the last bag can be colored, include a message, or otherwise indicate that the package should be replaced.
In some methods of providing bags, a supplier may provide a package of multiple bags to a user of a container assembly, along with instructions to the user to insert the package of multiple bag liners into basketless system such that an opening in the package can be oriented to generally align with the bag-access opening in the middle panel to facilitate access to the bags within the package from inside of the container assembly.
The result is a package 126 of fan folded bags 124 for use in the waste management systems disclosed here. The bag 124 may be extended through a slot of the middle panel into the interior of the bucket or basketless system when one bag 124 is pulled through the slot. The sequential plurality of bags 124 may be a stack of bags fan folded to at least partially overlap each other one to the next so that pulling one bag lifts the next bag in sequence. This particular embodiment resembles a stack of tissues contained in a dispensing box having a dispensing slot and allows a user continually, easy access to one bag at a time as needed. Access to the liner packets permits periodic replacement of the package 126 of sequential fan folded bags 124, and allows a first bag in the sequence to once again be pulled through the slot of the middle panels.
In an embodiment, the bucket or basketless system may include a container partition that generally horizontally divides the bucket or basketless system into an upper waste portion and a lower weight sensor portion and include, optionally, a weight sensor. In an example, the weight sensor may be suitable for commercial use applications. In an embodiment, the partition may be a panel joined at its perimeter to an internal surface of one or more of the panels. In an embodiment, the partition may include intersecting sets of supports, such as wires.
As the bag in the waste chamber (e.g. bucket or basketless system) collects waste, the bag increases in weight and volume. When the bag reaches a predetermined weight, the sensor located below the waste chamber will emit a signal notifying the user that the liner is full and should be replaced. Preferably, the sensor will emit an RF signal to a receiver located near the top of the waste container having one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other signal device. The one or more LEDs may change color based on the signal received from the weight sensor thus notifying the user that the bag should be removed and replaced. The sensor may emit a near field communication and/or Bluetooth signal to a user indicator device, such as the LEDs described. Moreover, the user indicator can also include a program or app on a smart device (such as a smart phone or tablet), computer, laptop or any other smart device. In such embodiments, the sensor can send a signal to the app or program and notify the user that the bucket/bag is full, no bag is in the bin, that the liners/bags are running low or out or that the system is in an operative condition, i.e., the bag is in place in the bucket, the bag is not full and/or that liners/bags are available in the body 505.
When a filled bag is removed from the bucket or basketless system, an integrated closure cinch tab, tie, clinch or other closure tab can be seen along the upper perimeter of the bag. The integrated closure cinch tab, tie, clinch or other closure tab can be a bendable wire or a tape-like adhesive that permits the user to tighten the closure cinch tab, tie, clinch or other closure tab around the open upper edge of the liner for proper disposal.
In an embodiment of the present technology, a motion-activated trigger causes a spray or mist to discharge into the waste chamber from a spray container. The spray or mist can be scented or unscented, and can also have antiseptic qualities such as a germ or bacteria killing agent. A movement sensor, preferably located on the edge of the liner passing port, records the movement of the liner when the liner is being replaced. In an embodiment, the container includes a spray canister. The spray canister releases the spray or mist into the waste chamber after receiving a signal from the movement sensor.
Although the embodiments of the present teachings have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present teachings are not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the present teachings described herein are capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.
The This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 63/006,751 filed on Apr. 8, 2020 and entitled “WASTE CONTAINER, LINER, AND RAIL SYSTEM,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2021/026424 | 4/8/2021 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63006751 | Apr 2020 | US |