Trash receptacle and collection system

Abstract

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 INVENTION

The 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a container system in accordance with the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the container system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the container system as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of a vented container.

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a vented container.

FIG. 6 is an additional embodiment of a vented container.

FIG. 7 illustrates the use of the vented containers as liners for an unvented container.

FIG. 8 is a disc type bag restraint.

FIG. 9 shows use of the disc bag restraint of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a wedge clip type bag restraint.

FIG. 11 shows use of the wedge clip bag restraint as an independent clip.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show use of the wedge clip bag restraint as an integral feature of the container system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The trash container system of the subject invention is shown in an exploded view in FIG. 1. The container 10 is a frusto-conical shape with a narrow top opening 12 and a wider open bottom 14. Integral handles 16, 18 may be provided to facilitate handling and lifting of the container. A base 20 is provided for supporting the container. As shown, the base includes a sidewall in which the container fits to assure secure placement of the container on the base. Also as shown, the base includes rollers or wheels 24, whereby the container and base may be moved about. In the preferred embodiment a lid 26 is provided to fit on the open top 12 of the container. As shown, the lid 26 includes a side wall 28 which fits over and outside the wall of the container to hold the lid in place and fully close the container when the lid is placed thereon. Also as shown, the lid includes a handle 30 for ease of handling. Typically, the lid will have a slight friction fit with the container to assure closure. The container, lid and base may be made of metal or plastic or any combination thereof.

The assembled container system is shown in FIG. 2, with the lid removed. The container 10 sits on the base 20 and inside the base sidewall 22. A bag 32 is placed in the container for collecting refuse or garbage 34. As better seen in the cut-away view of FIG. 3 the upper end 36 of the bag 32 may be folded over the top edge 12 of the container to maintain the bag in an open condition as it is being filled.

As shown in FIG. 2, once the bag 32 is filled, it is closed while still in the container 10. With prior art systems this was not encouraged because the bag would create a vacuum seal between the bag and the container. However, with the present invention, the bag 32 may be closed because the container 10 is simply lifted off of the bag as shown in FIG. 1. The frusto-conical shape facilitates removal of the container 10 and minimizes any vacuum seal effect.

The entire container bag assembly as shown in FIG. 2 may be moved about on base 20, or the bag alone may be moved, as shown in FIG. 1.

Venting systems are shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The venting systems may be used in combination with the container system of FIGS. 1-3, or may be used independently. The venting systems are particularly useful when the container shape is cylindrical, or straight walled, or when the bottom of the container is smaller than the top opening. In all of these configurations the tendency of the bag to create a vacuum seal is very common, making removal of a filled bag from the container cumbersome and difficult. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the venting system is a series of through vent holes 40 placed around the lower end of the side wall 39 of the container 38. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the container side wall 39 includes a plurality of longitudinal channels or slots 42 to define a ribbed or corrugated container. The channels or slots 42 may be closed or open, depending on preference.

A perforated liner system is shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment the liner 50 is adapted to be placed in a container 52, as shown in FIG. 7. The liner 50 is perforated with holes 54 throughout its sidewall 53. The holes will prevent a vacuum lock between a bag placed in the liner and the container when the liner is positioned in the container. It should be noted that the vented containers of FIGS. 4 and 5 could also be used as liners for a closed container 52 if desired.

Retaining clips are disclosed in FIGS. 8-13. The clip 60 is a round, flat disc. The center of the disc includes to perpendicularly oriented slots 62, 64. The disc is made of a flexible material such that when the disc is flexed, the slots will spread, permitting the edge 33 of the bag 32 to passed therethrough, see FIG. 9. This permits the bag top to be cinched around the top 62 of the container 60. When the bag is full and ready to be closed, the bag edge may be pulled back through the retaining clip and the clip may be reused if desired.

A “U”-shaped clip 70 is shown in FIG. 10. The clip is made of a material with a spring return memory, such as a semi-hard plastic or the like. The two prongs 72 and 74 extend outward and touch at their outer ends 73, 75, respectively. A live hinge spring 76 is located at base of the U. An edge 33 of the bag 32 is wedged into the U to cinch the bag on the container 60, see FIG. 11.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the U-clip 70 can be mounted on or an integral feature of the container 70. The clip can be in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 11 or the vertical position shown in FIG. 13. It should also be understood that the clip can be used separately in the same manner as the disc clip 60, described above.

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.