Waste Disposal Container

Abstract

This invention relates to a waste disposal container comprising a support rack; a hollow container further comprising two openings and attached to the support rack; and waste disposal bags detachably affixed to each other and contained by the support rack and external to the hollow container; wherein at least one bag is dispensed through the underside of the container and opened at the top of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from an earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application, entitled Waste Disposal Container, U.S. Application No. 61/625,109 filed on Apr. 17, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem of waste removal, in relation to infant diapers in particular, has been discussed many times in a variety of prior art inventions. One well known prior art diaper pail is sold under the trademark Diaper Genie (U.S. Registration No. 1,827,510). Diaper pails of the Diaper Genie® type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,049 (Richards et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,512 (Richards et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,200 (Jacoby et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,890 (Firth) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,240 (Jacoby et al,). Other examples of waste disposal containers are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,339 (Garland), U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,314 (Stravitz), U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,785 (Stravitz), and U.S. Pat. No. (Chomik, et al.).

The problem of prior art solutions to waste removal is that they concentrate on masking odors and allowing a user to delay emptying the diaper pail by providing a large receptacle for waste and systems for sealing in odors. Typically this involves pushing a diaper into a sealed receptacle and twisting the bag contained within to further seal odors. While these solutions are commonly used by consumers, common complaints are that they do not work well at masking odor and that the bags containing the soiled diapers are difficult to remove from the receptacle.

One other disadvantage to this system is that they are designed to be used in a home setting, In a public setting, it is not practical to utilize a system such as these so diapers are commonly disposed of in the public area trash can. This leads to an unpleasant setting as trash cans in public settings are not emptied often and there is the risk that waste product can be left exposed in a trash can creating an unsanitary situation.

This invention provides a solution to these problems by utilizing a small container with single use bags that are easy to dispense, seal, and remove for proper disposal.

There are other systems that relate more generally to trash receptacles, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,694 (Nehrbass), U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,490 (Lang), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,697 (Morales). These systems all utilize a system for trash disposal having a disposable bag. However, the problem with all of these systems is that the garbage bags are all internal to the unit, meaning that a user has to put his/her hand into the unit to pull up a new bag. This invention solves that problem by utilizing a small container with single use bags that are external to the container. This and other advantages will be fully realized in more detail below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a small waste disposal container for the disposal of diapers in one setting. While this invention is described in terms of infant diaper disposal, it is anticipated that it may be used in other settings, such as pet waste disposal cat litter, dog waste in a yard), or any other suitable setting whereby it is important to the user to quickly remove the waste from the setting it is in.

This invention relates to a waste disposal container comprising a support rack; a hollow container further comprising two openings and attached to the support rack; and waste disposal bags detachably affixed to each other and contained by the support rack and external to the hollow container; wherein at least one bag is dispensed through the underside of the container and opened at the top of the container.

It is anticipated that this waste disposal container may be releaseably affixed to a surface, such as a table or counter, by way of hooks on the support rack. By hooking the waste disposal container on a surface, this allows a user to easily dispose of a diaper or other waste without having to leave an infant unattended on the changing table or having to juggle holding an infant while maneuvering the diaper into a container. One skilled in the art will recognize that this waste disposal unit is also capable of acting as a standalone unit when there is no appropriate surface to affix it to.

The hollow container is affixed to the support rack. It is anticipated that this hollow container will affixed in a fixed, yet releasable manner. This is to ensure that the container does not come loose from the support rack and cause the contents to fall and spill. The hollow container can be affixed by screws or other similar fasteners to ensure stability on the support rack. If the hollow container needs to be removed, for cleaning as an example, it may be possible for a user to unscrew the container from the support rack and then re-affix the container when cleaning is complete.

The hollow container comprises two openings, one at the top of the container and one at the bottom. The opening at the bottom receives a disposal bag that can be dispensed up through the opening and then covers the inside of the container. The disposal bag is wrapped around the opening at the top to completely cover the inside of the container.

Disposable bag are dispensed by a roll on the support rack. The roll is contained in the lower portion of the support rack, beneath the hollow container so that the bags may be easily dispensed through the opening at the bottom of the container. While a roll is anticipated, one skilled in the art will recognize that there are any number of ways to dispense the disposable bags.

When a diaper or other waste is placed inside the disposable bag within the hollow container, to remove the bag a user simply lifts up the bag. This action draws another bag up into the hollow container. A user detaches the used bag from the newly dispensed bag and seals it and throws it out in an appropriate trash can, thereby removing the soiled diaper from the more public setting. Since another bag is drawn up, there is no need for a user to place his/her hand inside the container cutting down on contamination to user.

The roll of disposable bags may be contained in a housing or may simply rest in a holder on the support rack. The roll of disposable bags may also be wound about a roller on the support rack or may be independent of a roller. The disposable bags are removable from the support rack and are replaceable.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the waste disposal container.

FIG. 2 depicts a view of the front of the waste disposal container.

FIG. 3 depicts a view of the waste disposal container from the top.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of the waste disposal container from the bottom.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of the back of the waste disposal container.

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the waste disposal container utilizing the arrangement of a housing enclosing the disposal bags.

FIG. 7 depicts a view of the front of the waste disposal container utilizing the arrangement with a housing.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of the waste disposal container utilizing the arrangement with a housing.

FIG. 9 depicts a bottom view of the waste disposal container utilizing the arrangement with a housing.

FIG. 10 depicts a view of the back of the waste disposal container utilizing the arrangement with a housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to the Figures, this invention depicts the waste disposal container 2 a support rack 6, a hollow container 4 further comprising two openings 10, 12 attached to the support rack 6; and waste disposal bags 8 detachably affixed to each other and contained by the support rack 6; wherein at least one bag 8 is dispensed through the underside of the container 4 and opened at the top of the container 4.

The support rack 6 comprises hooks 6a for affixing the waste disposal container 2 to a surface (not shown). The support rack further comprises a cradle 6b for supporting the disposable bags 8. As seen in FIG. 1, the disposable bags 8 are placed in the cradle 6b in a rolled manner. FIG. 6 details a situation wherein the disposable bags 8 are contained.

within a housing 14.

The hollow container 4 comprises two opening 10, 12; one opening 12 at the top of the container and one opening 10 at the bottom of the container. It is preferred that the bottom opening 10 is smaller in size to the top opening 12.

The disposable bags 8 are dispensed through the bottom opening 10 of the hollow container 4. The bag 8 is pulled through the bottom opening 10 and wrapped around the top opening 12 so that the hollow container 4 is covered on the inside by the disposable bag 8.

The disposable bags 8 are detachably affixed to one another. After a bag 8 is used, it is pulled upwards and detached from the other bags. This action dispenses another bag 8 through the bottom opening 10. That bag 8 is then pulled through the bottom opening 10 and wrapped around the top opening 12 so that the hollow container 4 is covered on the inside by the disposable bag 8. This process is repeated as many times as necessary.

Throughout the specification and claims the word “comprise” and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word “comprise” and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A waste disposal container comprising

a support rack;

a hollow container further comprising two openings and detachably affixed to the support rack; and

waste disposal bags detachably affixed to each other and contained by the support rack; wherein at least one bag is dispensed through the underside of the container and opened at the top of the container.

2. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the support rack comprises hooks to support it hanging off of a surface.

3. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the support rack is a standalone unit.

4. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the waste disposal bags are a roll of waste disposal bags.

5. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein a used disposable bag is removed by pulling up on the bag; this action dispenses another bag and allows the used bag to be detached from the newly dispensed bag.

6. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the disposable bags are contained in a housing.

7. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the hollow container further comprises a lid.

8. The waste disposal container as in claim 1 wherein the disposable bags are external to the hollow container.