US20080083757A1

US20080083757A1 - Liner replacement trash can

Info

Publication number: US20080083757A1
Application number: US11/542,807
Authority: US
Inventors: Roderick Parker; Charles Bryant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-04
Filing date: 2006-10-04
Publication date: 2008-04-10

Abstract

In combination with a trash receptacle having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, such trash receptacle including a liner disposed within the trash receptacle for providing collection of trash and for easy removal of the trash collected therein, the improvement comprises a replacement liner storage compartment disposed closely adjacent a bottom of the trash receptacle for holding replacement liners. There is a slot disposed on an upper surface of the storage compartment for dispensing the replacement liners and a hinged door for loading the storage compartment with such replacement liners.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a trash can and trash can liner, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a trash can liner system in which such trash can is provided with a compartment designed to hold and dispense replacement liners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Busy households fill trash cans quickly. This means that replacement liners must be easily accessible for frequent replacement of the bags. Most consumers spend a great deal of time in getting a replacement liner after removing full trash bags without having a replacement bag conveniently nearby. Generally people keep replacement bags in a different place from where the trash can is located. It is incumbent on the individual to remember to get a replacement bag when he is removing the filled bag or the trash can will sit without a liner until someone is ready to put trash in the can and realize that the liner is not there.
Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a trash can designed so as to have a means for storage of replacement bags so the new liners would always be available and handy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides in combination with a trash receptacle having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, such trash receptacle including a liner disposed within the trash receptacle for providing collection of trash and for easy removal of the trash stored therein. The improvement comprises a replaceable liner storage compartment disposed closely adjacent a bottom of the trash receptacle for holding replacement liners. There is a slot like means disposed on an upper surface of the storage compartment for dispensing the replacement liners and a hinged wall portion disposed one of horizontally and vertically on one of the storage compartment and the trash receptacle for loading the storage compartment with such replacement liners.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a trash can with a compartment built in for dispensing replacement liners.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trash can where the can has a door for providing access to the storage compartment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a trash can wherein the trash can has a predetermined shape.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a trash can where the storage compartment has a roller for holding the replacement liners.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trash can where the roller is spring loaded similar to a toilet paper holder.
These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trash receptacle according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the slot like means for dispensing replacement liners.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holder for replacement liners according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cutaway portion of the holder showing the spring means.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a round trash receptacle according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the trash receptacle according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 showing a lid member for the trash receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
The present invention provides an all-in-one unit that eases the process of trash bag removal and replacement. There is a fully functional trash receptacle, generally designated 10. The trash receptacle 10 is provided with a built in storage compartment for storing replacement garbage bags. The present invention is primarily designed with a kitchen trash receptacle in mind, since these are the containers that fill up the fastest and which require frequent disposal of collected trash as well as needing replacement bags or liners frequently. Although primarily designed for kitchen receptacles, it is within the scope of the invention that the invention could be adapted to be used with other size trash receptacles.
In a first aspect the present invention provides in combination with a trash receptacle 10 having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, such trash receptacle 10 including a liner 2 disposed within the trash receptacle 10 for providing collection of trash and for easy removal of the trash stored therein. The improvement comprises a replaceable liner storage compartment 4 that is disposed closely adjacent a bottom of the trash receptacle 10 for holding replacement liners 6. There is a slot like means 12 disposed on an upper surface of the storage compartment 4 for dispensing the replacement liners 6 and a hinged wall portion, generally designated 20, disposed one of vertically and horizontally on one of the storage compartment or the trash receptacle for loading the storage compartment 4 with such replacement liners 6.
Such storage compartment 4 further includes a roller member 14 that is engageable with the sides of the storage compartment 4 for holding a roll of replacement liners 6. It is presently preferred that such roller member 14 be spring loaded 16. This roller arrangement would be similar to that of a paper towel holder and the spring loaded holder would be similar to that commonly found for holding a roll of toilet paper.
The storage compartment 4 is formed as part of one of the side walls of the trash receptacle 10. In the case of a round trash container it is formed as part of the wall of the container since the round container just has one wall member as seen in FIG. 5. Such storage compartment 4 is provided with a means 20 for providing access to the storage compartment 4 for loading replacement liners 6. Such access is provided by a door 18.
The slot like means 12 dispenses the liners by pulling the liner 2 through slot like means 12 up to a top of the trash receptacle 10. As one liner 2 is pulled up through the slot 12 to be placed in the trash receptacle 10 the next bag, attached to the bottom of the previous liner 2, is already accessible and ready for use. Thus, a new liner 2 is removably engageable with a bottom portion of the previous liner 2 that was removed from storage compartment 4 for engagement with the trash receptacle 10. The next liner 2 is accessible and ready for use when the liner 2 engaged with the trash receptacle 10 is filled and ready for disposal.
It is presently preferred that the top of each liner 2 have an elastomeric band 22 disposed around a perimeter of the liner 2 so as to secure the liner 2 to the trash receptacle 10 when the replacement liner is pulled up to the top of the trash receptacle 10. Generally the top of the liner 2 folds over the top of trash receptacle 10 to the elastomeric band 22.
The predetermined shape of such trash receptacle 10 is one of substantially rectangular and substantially round. It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape is substantially rectangular.
The present invention, as stated previously, is primarily designed wherein the predetermined size of the trash receptacle 10 is one having sufficient size for use with large kitchen bags as are commonly found in a super market.
It is also presently preferred that such trash receptacle is made of plastic.
The trash receptacle 10 according to an embodiment of the invention functions in a manner similar to that of a standard trash can whereas the bag or liner fits inside the receptacle for filling with refuse. It is within an embodiment of the invention that the trash can is further equipped with a lid 24 and that such lid 24 may raised by the use of a foot petal or manually. The lid 24 shown in FIG. 6 is a manual lid.
The inside bottom of the can is slightly elevated slanted from one side to another in order to protect the replacement liner holding area in the event that the bag that is in place with refuse should rip or tear and thereby leak or spill garbage.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In combination with a trash receptacle having each of a predetermined size and a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, said trash receptacle including a liner disposed within said trash receptacle for providing collection of trash and easy removal of said trash stored therein, the improvement comprising:

(a) a replacement liner storage compartment disposed closely adjacent a bottom of said trash receptacle for holding replacement liners;

(b) a slot like means disposed on an upper surface of said compartment for dispensing said replacement liners; and

(c) a hinged wall portion disposed one of horizontally and vertically on one of said storage compartment and said trash receptacle for loading said storage compartment with said replacement liners.

2. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said storage compartment further includes a roller member engageable with sides of said storage compartment for holding a roll of said replacement liners.

3. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said roller member is spring loaded.

4. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said storage compartment is formed as part of one of side walls of said trash receptacle.

5. The combination, according to claim 4, wherein said hinged wall member of said storage compartment is an exterior door for providing access to said storage compartment for loading said replacement liners.

6. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said slot like means dispenses said liners by pulling said liner through said slot like means up to a top of said trash receptacle.

7. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein a top of said liner has an elastomeric band around a perimeter of said liner so as to secure said liner to said trash receptacle when said replacement liner is pulled up to said top of said trash receptacle.

8. The combination, according to claim 7, wherein said liner is secured to said trash receptacle by said elastomeric band when said top of said liner is folded over said top of said trash receptacle.

9. The combination, according to claim 6, wherein a new liner is removably engageable with a bottom portion of said liner removed from said storage compartment for engagement with said trash receptacle, wherein said new liner is accessible and ready for use when said liner engaged with said trash receptacle is ready for disposal.

10. The combination, according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined shape of said trash receptacle is one of substantially rectangular and substantially round.

11. The combination, according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined shape is substantially rectangular.

12. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined size of said trash receptacle is one having sufficient size for use with large kitchen bags.

13. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material used to form said trash receptacle is plastic.

14. The combination, according to claim 1, wherein said slot like means can be on one of a hinged wall and a fixed wall of said storage compartment.