The present application relates to waste-disposal systems of the type having a bin or pail supporting film-dispensing units, with the tube-dispensing units dispensing a closed-end tube or bag in the bin to receive and conceal odorous waste.
Waste-disposal systems having tube-dispensing units or refills are commonly used, for numerous reasons. One of the reasons is that such systems often have mechanisms to retain odors. Also, such waste-disposal systems are made to limit the manipulations of bags, to avoid hand contamination. However, any configuration ensuring that the tube-dispensing units are correctly installed in the bins, and that the tube-dispensing unit remains in place in the waste-disposal bin, are desirable. By having the tube-dispensing units correctly installed in the bins, one ensures that the bag is properly sealed and that the risk of hand contamination is minimized.
It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel waste-disposal system and bin.
It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a waste-disposal system and waste-disposal bin addressing issues associated with the prior art.
Therefore, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present application, there is provided a waste-disposal unit comprising: a bin having an open top end for accessing an inner cavity of the bin, a support in the bin being adapted to support a bag unit at the open top end for waste to be received in the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin; and a covering device removably positioned on the bin at the open top end, the covering device comprising a body for covering at least a portion of the bag unit when installed on the top open end, at least one downward projection on the covering device, the at least one downward projection adapted to have at least a tip thereof positioned lower than an uppermost edge of the bag unit, and inward of an outermost edge of the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin.
Further in accordance with the first embodiment, the covering device is a funnel comprising an annular wall defining a central opening for dumping waste therethrough into the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the funnel is pivotally connected to the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, one downward projection is a peripheral wall.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the peripheral wall has a 360° annular periphery.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the bag unit is a tube-dispensing unit having an annular body with tubular film in an accumulated condition within the annular body, the tubular film having a free end projecting out of the annular body through a central opening thereof, the free end being closed within the inner cavity of the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the annular body comprises an outer annular wall.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the downward projection is received in an annular cavity of the annular body inward of the outer annular wall.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the outer annular wall is sandwiched between the downward projection and the support of the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, a flange is defined on the outer annular wall, the flange cooperating with the support of the bin when the bag unit is supported by the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the tube-dispensing unit comprises a cover, with an annular opening being defined between an edge of the cover and an edge of the outer annular wall, with the free end of the tube exiting the annular body through the annular opening and with the downward projection entering the tube-dispensing unit through the annular opening and outward of the free end of the tube.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the covering device is a lid closing the open top end of the bin.
Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, snap-fitting means are between the covering device and the bin for releasably locking the covering device to the bin.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for inserting a bag unit in a bin comprising: positioning the bag unit in an open top end of the bin such that the bottom end of the bag is in an inner cavity of the bin; and inserting a downward projection lower than an uppermost edge of the bag unit and inward of an outermost edge of the bag unit by installing a covering device on the open top end of the bin.
Further in accordance with the second embodiment, a previously used bag unit is removed from the bin prior to positioning the bag unit therein.
Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the covering device is pivoted into engagement with the bin.
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to
The bin 11 defines an inner cavity for accommodating waste. Any appropriate waste may be dumped into the bin 11, but the waste-disposal system 10 may be used efficiently with diapers, pet litter, and other such odorous waste.
The interior of the bin 11 is accessible via an open top end thereof. The open top end of the bin 11 may be covered and/or closed by different covering devices, namely lid 12 and funnel 13. The open top end may have any appropriate shape, such as that of a square, a rectangle, an ellipse, a circle, etc. In an embodiment, the lid 12 is pivotally connected to a rim of the bin 11.
Referring to
The tube-dispensing unit 14 (also referred to as bag unit) dispenses tubular film and is therefore manipulated by the user, and is typically sold separately from the waste-disposal unit (i.e., bin 11, lid 12, funnel 13, and closing mechanism) of the waste-disposal system 10. Due to its manipulation, it is therefore preferred to protect the tube-dispensing unit 14 from waste, by way of the funnel 13. Moreover, as described hereinafter, the funnel 13 may ensure that the tube-dispensing unit 14 maintains its shape when dispensing film. The tube-dispensing unit or bag unit 14 may include any adapter by which it will be installed in the bin 11. The tube-dispensing unit 14 has a shape that may be similar to that of the open top end of the bin 11.
Jaw 15 is of the type having a handle portion projecting out of the bin 11, which handle is used to manually displace the jaw 15. The jaw 15 shuts the bag of the tube-dispensing unit 14 shut to capture odorous gases within the waste-disposal system 10. Any other type of jaw or bag closing mechanism may be used, such as pedal mechanisms, etc. For instance, the mechanisms shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,406,814, 7,617,660 and 7,931,150, PCT application publication No. WO 2011/011895, incorporated herein by reference, may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the jaw 15 is part of a mechanism that extends out of the bin 11, but other configurations are known and may be used as alternatives. It is also considered to not have any bag closing mechanism in the bin 11.
Detent 16 may be provided on the outer surface of the bin 11. The detent 16 is pressed to separate the bottom from the upper part of the bin 11, so as to access an interior of the bin 11, for instance, to cut away full bags.
Referring to
Referring to
A cover 24 may be provided to partially cover the annular hollow body 23, such that an annular spacing 25 is defined concurrently by the body 23 and the cover 24. The annular spacing 25 may be initially covered by a tear strip. The tubular film is dispensed via the annular spacing 25, as shown in greater detail hereinafter. However, in an embodiment, the tube-dispensing unit 14 does not have any cover 24, and the annular spacing 25 is defined as the spacing between the top edges of an outer annular wall 26 and an inner annular wall of the hollow body 23.
The outer annular wall 26 is part of the annular hollow body 23. The outer annular wall 26 defines the outer peripheral portion of the tube-dispensing unit 14. A peripheral flange 27 projects radially from the outer annular wall 26. As shown in
Referring to
Therefore, the annular wall 30 of the funnel 13 may be shaped so as to taper slightly towards the middle, and may have any appropriate outer shape, usually in accordance with that of the open top end. Because of the slightly tapering top surface of the annular wall 30 of the funnel 13, any waste inadvertently received on the top surface of the funnel 13 may be guided towards the central opening 31 by the effect of gravity on the slightly tapering surface of the funnel 13.
The funnel 13 has a plunger wall 32 extending downwardly from an undersurface of the annular wall 30. As observed in
As also shown in
Referring to
Once the funnel 13 is in the closed position as in
According to an embodiment, the plunger wall 32 may be part of the lid 12, in the absence of a funnel 13. In such a case, the lid 12 would not close if the tube-dispensing unit 14 is not oriented correctly.
Because of the plunging feature of the funnel 13 via the plunger wall 32, the lid 12 and the funnel 13 may not close correctly (i.e., to the closed position of
Some parts of the tube-dispensing unit 14, such as the outer annular wall 26, may be made of relatively thin plastic walls. In some cases, thin-wall molding techniques may also be used to mold the outer annular wall 26. Considering that a pressure is exerted on the outer annular wall 26 by the weight of waste in the tubular film, or by pulling manipulations on the tubular film for the dispensing thereof, there may be a risk that the outer annular wall 26 deforms, potentially resulting in the tube-dispensing unit 14 dislodging from engagement with the flange 22. However, the close proximity between the outer annular wall 26 and the plunger wall 32 increases the structural integrity of the assembly, and may keep the peripheral flange 27 caught into engagement with the flange 22. The outer annular wall 26 is sandwiched between the plunger wall 32 and the flange 22.
Referring to
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/444,237, filed on Feb. 18, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4934529 | Richards | Jun 1990 | A |
6128890 | Firth | Oct 2000 | A |
6719194 | Richards | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6974029 | Morand et al. | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7100767 | Chomik | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7350663 | Chomik et al. | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7712285 | Stravitz et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
7931150 | Morand | Apr 2011 | B2 |
7958704 | Stravitz et al. | Jun 2011 | B2 |
8087532 | Brown et al. | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8235237 | Stravitz | Aug 2012 | B1 |
8393489 | Stravitz | Mar 2013 | B1 |
20030121923 | Morand et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20050115207 | Chomik | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20080121640 | Chomik et al. | May 2008 | A1 |
20110056953 | Ohnishi et al. | Mar 2011 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2743357 | Jul 1997 | FR |
2261359 | May 1993 | GB |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report ; International Application No. PCT/CA2012/050093; International Application Filing Date Feb. 17, 2012; dated May 1, 2012. |
Written Opinion; International Application No. PCT/CA2012/050093; International Application Filing Date Feb. 17, 2012; dated May 1, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20120211494 A1 | Aug 2012 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61444237 | Feb 2011 | US |