Trash receptacle and collection system
A trash receptacle is a frusto-conical container with an open top and open bottom. The bottom is of a greater diameter than the top. A standard plastic bag may be placed in the container with the open top of the bag folded over the open top of the container. A lid is adapted to be placed over the open bag and the top of the container. Handles are provided on the lid and on the container to facilitate handling. The container is adapted to be placed on a base which may be a wheeled cart for mobility. When the bag is to be removed from the container, the container is lifted over the bag using the handles. The bag may then be removed from the base for proper disposal. The container may include a venting system to assure that the bag is easily removable from the container. Clips hold the bag in the container while it is being filled. The clips can be separate from or an integral part of the container.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for supporting and closing typical bulk garbage bags and is specifically directed to a bag support container and closure systems.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Flexible, plastic refuse or garbage bags are in widespread use. Large bags with 20 or more gallon capacity have been particularly useful for yard clean-up, contractor site clean up and similar applications. Because of the intended use of these bags, they are generally difficult to handle when full. Removal from a support container presents one problem. Transporting the full bags from the location where they are filled to a location for collection and/or disposal is an additional problem. Also, it is often difficult to properly close the bags when full.
Several efforts to solve these problems exist in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,358 issued to R. Hobday provides a frusto-conical, open bottom support for holding a liner. The holder is open at a narrow top end and open at a wide bottom end. The liner is held in place by folding the liner over the top end and securing it to the walls of the support with a series of snaps.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,358,138 and 5,295,606, issued to A. Karwoski, show a trash container having a drum on a dolly. The drum may be cylindrical, frusto-conical or of rectangular cross-section. There a series of openings in the walls of the drum. The drum may be lifted from the bag, leaving the bag on the dolly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,580, issued to J. Krokonko, shows a holder for refuse bags having a frusto-conical bag support and a dish-shaped base member. A pin and lock assembly secures the base to the support. A hinged lid is provided to cover the support.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,752, issued to R. Meeh, depicts a refuse bag holder having an open frame work for support a bag. A spring loaded clasp is provided on the frame for securing the open upper end of the bag to the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,940, issued to J. Crookston, shows a mobile trash cart comprising a on open cylinder split into two sections along the longitudinal axis and hinged so that it may be opened and closed. The bag is secured in the container and may be removed when the hinged portion is opened.
None of the prior art systems provide easily removable lids, or handles for handling and removing the container. These, in addition to other convenience features, are required to make the system useful in a large number of applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe subject invention is an improvement over the trash receptacle systems of the prior art. It is specifically designed to work with commercially available plastic refuse or garbage bags. The system provides good support for the bag, allows the bag to be closed while in the receptacle, and permits easy removal from the receptacle once full. A wheeled base promotes easy mobility of the system both when the bag is in the receptacle and after the bag has been removed from the receptacle.
The receptacle is a frusto-conical container with an open top and open bottom. The bottom is of a greater diameter than the top. A standard plastic bag may be placed in the container with the open top of the bag folded over the open top of the container. A lid is adapted to be placed over the open bag and the top of the container. Handles are provided on the lid and on the container to facilitate handling. The container is adapted to be placed on a base which may be a wheeled cart for mobility. When the bag is to be removed from the container, the container is lifted over the bag using the handles. The bag may then be removed from the base for proper disposal.
In another embodiment of the invention, the container may include a venting system to assure that the bag is easily removable from the container. The venting system breaks the vacuum that often occurs between the bag and the container when plastic bags are placed in a closed container. When the venting system is incorporated into the container, the container does not necessarily need an open bottom and does not need to be frusto-conical in shape with a smaller top and larger bottom. The vents may be air holes provided in the container or fluted channels running longitudinally along the container. Where desired, the vented container can be a liner for a closed container.
Also disclosed are various clips for holding the bag in the container while it is being filled. The clips can be separate from or an integral part of the container.
The trash receptacle and collection system of the subject invention greatly facilitates the use of standard plastic bags during bulk clean-up such as construction site clean-up or yard work. However, because of the convenient lid, similar to a standard garbage can, the system may be used for routine trash collection.
The invention is shown and described in more detail in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.
The trash container system of the subject invention is shown in an exploded view in
The assembled container system is shown in
As shown in
The entire container bag assembly as shown in
Venting systems are shown in
A perforated liner system is shown in
Retaining clips are disclosed in
A “U”-shaped clip 70 is shown in
As shown in
While certain features and embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications and enhancements within the scope and spirit of the following claims.
Claims
1. A trash container system comprising:
- a. a base;
- b. a hollow container having a sidewall and an open top and an open bottom and adapted to be place on the base with the open bottom resting thereon;
- c. a removable lid adapted to be placed on the open top of the container, the lid having a sidewall that overlaps a portion of the sidewall of the container when properly placed thereon;
- d. a handle on the container; and
- e. a handle on the lid.
2. The trash container system of claim 1, wherein there is further included rollers on the base for supporting the base and permitting it to be mobile.
3. The trash container system of claim 1, wherein the container is of a frusto-conical shape with the bottom being larger than the top.
4. The trash container system of claim 1, wherein there is further included a side wall extending upwardly from the base for receiving and properly seating the container on the base.
5. The trash container system of claim 1, wherein the container is adapted to receive a commercial plastic refuse bag and wherein the top of the bag may be folded over the open top of the container when placed therein.
6. The trash container system of claim 5, wherein the lid is adapted to fit over both the sidewall of the container and the folded over portion of the bag.
7. The trash container system of claim 5, wherein the container further includes an integral clip adapted for accepting an edge of the bag and cinching the bag around the sidewall of the container.
8. A trash container system comprising a container for receiving a commercial plastic reuse bag, the container having a closed bottom, a continuous sidewall and an open top, the sidewall having vents to prevent a vacuum lock between the bag and the container as the bag is filled with refuse.
9. The trash container of claim 8, wherein the container includes a plurality of through holes in the sidewall.
10. The trash container of claim 8, wherein the container includes a plurality of longitudinal channels in the sidewall.
11. The trash container of claim 10, wherein the channels create a corrugated sidewall.
12. A trash container system comprising a container for receiving a commercial plastic reuse bag, the container having a closed bottom, a continuous sidewall and an open top, and a liner to be placed in the container the liner having a sidewall having vents to prevent a vacuum lock between the bag and the container as the bag is filled with refuse.
13. The trash container of claim 12, wherein the liner includes a plurality of through holes in the sidewall.
14. The trash container of claim 12, wherein the liner includes a plurality of longitudinal channels in the sidewall.
15. The trash container of claim 14, wherein the channels create a corrugated sidewall.
16. A retainer clip for cinching a commercial plastic refuse bag around the open top of a container, the clip comprising a flat base having a plurality of intersecting slots therethrough, the slots adapted to be spread for receiving an edge of the bag, whereby it may be pulled and cinched around the top of the container.
17. The retainer clip of claim 16, wherein the base is in the shape of a disc.
18. The retainer clip of claim 16, wherein the slots are perpendicularly positioned relative to one another.
19. A retainer clip for cinching a commercial plastic refuse bag around the open top of a container, the clip comprising a “U”-shaped member made of a spring like material wherein the prongs of the U may be separated for an edge of the bag, whereby it may be pulled and cinched around the top of the container.
20. The retainer clip of claim 19, wherein the clip is mounted on the container.
21. The retainer clip of claim 29, wherein the clip is an integral part of the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 26, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventor: James M. Hume (Elkton, FL)
Application Number: 11/796,066
International Classification: B65D 25/00 (20060101);