Garbage can liner

Abstract

A garbage can liner which can be disposed in a bottom inside surface of a garbage can. The liner can comprise a liquid absorbent permeable material in the form of at least one layer, including a deodorant material embedded therein and at least one handle coupled to the permeable material wherein the handle extends up a side of said garbage can. This liner can also include a tray, wherein the garbage can liner can be placed in this tray. In this case, the handle can further comprise an attachment element for attaching the handle to a side of the can.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a garbage can liner wherein this liner can be placed on the bottom of a garbage can.

Other garbage can liners may be known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,213,194 to Hill; U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,507 to Jacobsen; U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,508 to Lasell; U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,637 to Wachter; U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,675 to Brizard; and U.S. Patent Publication no. 2003/0226773 to Shaffer published on December 2003 wherein the disclosures of these patents and this patent application publication are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A garbage can liner which can be disposed in a bottom inside surface of a garbage can. The liner can comprise a liquid absorbent permeable material in the form of at least one layer, including a deodorant material embedded therein and at least one handle coupled to the permeable material wherein the handle extends up a side of said garbage can. This liner can also include a tray, wherein the garbage can liner can be placed in this tray. In this case, the handle can further comprise an attachment element for attaching the handle to a side of the can.

In this case, the device can be sold as individual components or as an integrated system.

This liquid absorbent permeable material can optionally include zeolite for its liquid absorbing and also its deodorant qualities. Furthermore, the garbage can liner can include baking soda, fragrances or other beneficially smelling elements can also be incorporated into this material. The liquid absorbent permeable material can also be in the form of a multi-layer liquid absorbent permeable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the garbage can liner wherein this liner can be disposed in an optional tray;

FIG. 2 is a top view of another embodiment of a garbage can liner;

FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the garbage can liner wherein this liner is disposed in a removable tray; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a garbage can liner 10 wherein this liner is in the form of a cloth or absorbent type material that can be composed of a cloth like substance having layers 20, 22, 24, 26 that also includes deodorant or a fragrance smelling type material 30. For example, the liner can be embedded with zeolite powder which can be used as both fluid absorbent and also as a deodorant. In addition, multiple layers of this material may be provided wherein these different layers can be used to store different levels of water or other fluid. FIG. 1 shows these different layers 20, 22, 24, and 26 which are essentially a paper based material which can contain zeolite or a similar type powder such as baking soda or odor and liquid absorbing material 30 stored therein. Water or other fluid can flow or be drawn up into this material via a capillary effect to cause this fluid to be drawn either down into this material from a dripping bag or up from the bottom of the can and into this material.

In addition, there is shown a bag 19 which can be disposed in a can 11 wherein this device 10 can be disposed on a bottom surface of can 11 below bag 19. Coupled to this device 10 is at least one string 15 which can be used to allow a user to remove this device 10 from the bottom of the can. There can also be another optional string 17 wherein this optional string 17 can be coupled to an opposite side of bottom liner or device 10.

Essentially, once a bag has been removed, a user can remove this liner 10 from a can by reaching down and grabbing a string 15 to remove this liner. The string provides the benefit of allowing the user to remove this liner without reaching deep into a bottom region of the can. In addition, the string allows the user to handle liner 10 without actually touching the liner once it has been used.

An additional optional string 17 can also be used to allow the user to remove the liner from the can, this additional string allows a user to pull the liner up from both sides.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of another embodiment of the invention. In this case, there is shown at least one handle 34 coupled the liner 10 wherein handle 34 can be in the form of an extension 35 that is formed from rigid material with a handle or loop portion 40 disposed on an end of this handle. There can also be an attachment element 50 which can be in the form of tape or any other type of adhesive. Attachment element 50 can be coupled to an inside surface of a can so that once a bag has been removed from can 11, the user can detach the attachment element from the inside surface of the can and then remove liner 10 from can 11 by grabbing handle portion 40 and then pulling the liner from the can.

There can also be another optional handle 36 having extension element 37 wherein the user can alternatively or simultaneously, detach handle portion 42 by detaching the adhesive 52 from the inside surface of a can and then grasping handle portion 42 and pulling liner 20 from the can.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, there is a tray 47 wherein this tray 47 can be in the form of a rounded or curved tray which can be used to receive liner 10. In this case, there can be handles 64 and 66 which can be used to attach to tray 47. Handles 64 and 66 can include handle grip portions 70 and 72 be attached to the inside surface of a can using attachment elements 80 and 82 which can be in the form of an adhesive or tape.

In use, once the user has removed the bag, the user can detach handles 64 and 66 from the inside of the can by removing attachment elements 80 and 82 from the inside surface of this can. The user can then grasp handle grip portions 70 and 72 to lift tray 47 along with liner 10 out of the can to dispose of liner 10.

The user can then remove liner 10 from tray 47, place tray 47 back in place in can 11 and then place a new liner 10 inside of tray 47. Tray 47 can be made from any material such as metal or plastic. This tray can be made from either a solid sheet or a perforated material.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein these attachment elements are shown in the form of clips 90, 92, wherein these clips can be clipped to the top of the can so that once a bag has been removed, these clips can then be unclipped from can 11 and the handles can then be used to pull either liner 10 or by pulling tray 47 out from can 11.

Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A garbage can liner which can be disposed in a bottom inside surface of a garbage can, the liner comprising:

a) a liquid absorbent permeable material in the form of at least one layer, including a deodorant material embedded therein; and

b) at least one handle coupled to said permeable material wherein said handle extends up a side of said garbage can.

2. The garbage can liner as in claim 1, further comprising a tray, wherein said material can be placed in said tray.

3. The garbage can liner as in claim 1, wherein said at least one handle further comprises an attachment element for attaching said at least one handle to a side of the can.

4. A garbage can liner system for placement in a garbage can comprising:

a) a liquid absorbent permeable material in the form of at least one layer, including a deodorant material embedded therein; and

b) a tray wherein said liquid absorbent permeable material can be disposed on top of said tray; and

c) at least one handle coupled to said tray wherein said at least one handle extends up a side portion of the can.

5. The garbage can liner as in claim 4, further comprising an attachment element coupled to said at least one handle, wherein said attachment element is for attaching said at least one handle to an inner side face of the can.

6. The garbage can liner as in claim 1, wherein said liquid absorbent permeable material includes zeolite.

7. The garbage can liner as in claim 1, wherein said liquid absorbent permeable material includes baking soda.

8. The garbage can liner as in claim 5, wherein said attachment element is in the form of a clip.

9. The garbage can liner as in claim 1, wherein said liquid absorbent permeable material is in the form of a multi-layer liquid absorbent permeable material.

10. The garbage can liner as in claim 3, wherein said attachment element is in the form of an adhesive for attaching to an inner side of the can.

11. The garbage can liner as in claim 3, wherein said attachment element is in the form of a clip for clipping to a top part of a can.

12. A garbage can liner which can be disposed in a bottom inside surface of a garbage can, the liner comprising:

a) at least one layer of liquid absorbent permeable material, including a deodorant material embedded therein; and

b) at least one string coupled to said at least one layer; and

c) at least one adhesive coupled to said at least one string wherein said adhesive can be coupled to an inside face of said garbage can to allow said at least one string to extend up above said garbage can liner.