Liner for trash container

Abstract

A liner for a waste basket or trash container having flexible side walls, a top portion and a bottom portion. The cross-section of the liner closely conforms to the cross-section of the container. An elastic band is attached circumferentially about the top portion of the liner. The elastic band retains the top portion of the liner to the outer wall of the top of the trash container. The liner is color coordinated with the decor of the room where the trash container is disposed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to provisional application Ser. No. 61/157,418 filed Mar. 4, 2009.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present application is directed to liners for trash containers and more particularly to liners with an elasticized top and a reinforced bottom which conform to the shape of the trash container.

2. Description of Related Art

The large variety of trash can sizes and shapes has prompted trash liner manufacturers to offer a few “one size-fits-all” liner sizes that ultimately do NOT really fit popular can sizes (i.e., “Tall” liner size). This adds to the unprofessional appearance of the trash can liner. The size of the bag ends up being too small or too big. The result is a trash can liner that falls into the can; tears; or hangs down over the edge.

The shape of currently available trash can liners does not fit correctly into the trash cans. The shape of the bottom of the hag simply does not match the shape of the bottom of the trash can. As the bag fills with trash, the bag is pulled further into the can because the hag is sinking into the can—the corners that do not match the bottom edges of the can ultimately sink down, pulling the top edge of the trash can liner down with it. To compound this problem, currently available trash can liners do not fit the top of the can in a way that they form-fit the top edge of the trash can. The result is a trash bag that has sunk into the can where it is necessary to continually reach a hand in and pull the top edges back up over the trash can. This is unattractive, unsanitary and, as will be described, unnecessary.

The applicant is aware of the following publications:

Inventor        Publication
McHugh          U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,052
Perkins         U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,701
Cortese         U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,704
Bowman          U.S. Patent Application Publication,
                U.S. 2006/0237462A1
Wein, et al.    U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,750
Sleight, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,395

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention there is disclosed in combination with a waste basket or other trash receptacle or container, a liner having a top perimeter and a bottom portion. An elastic means is retained on the top perimeter of the liner forming a narrow band thereabout. The liner may be removably inserted in and retained on the trash receptacle or container and fitted in place within the container. The liner has a transverse cross-section conforming closely to the container, thereby avoiding bulges or gaps between the liner and the container and wherein material deposited in the trash receptacle or container are received in the liner.

In further accordance with the teachings of the present application, there is disclosed a disposable removable liner for a container. The container has surrounding walls, a bottom and an open top. The liner comprises flexible film side walls, a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion has a planar reinforcement and a transverse cross-section conforming closely to the bottom of the container. When the liner is disposed in the container, the side walls of the liner are disposed in the container without bulges or gaps between the side walls of the liner and the walls of the container. An elastic means is attached circumferentially about the top portion of the liner. When the liner is fitted in the container, the elastic means holds the top portion of the liner to the outer wall of the container. The liner is color coordinated with the decor of the room in which the container is disposed.

In addition, there is disclosed a method of collecting trash in a waste basket or other trash receptacle or container, wherein the container has a transverse cross-section. The method comprises the steps of providing a disposable liner having a transverse cross-section which substantially conforms to the cross-section of the container, unfolding the liner and inserting the liner into the container. The liner, when unfolded, lies neatly within the container without bulges or gaps and conforms to the base of the container. The top of the liner is provided with an elastic band, and the elastic band is snapped over a peripheral lip of the container.

Despite the extensive research and development devoted to liners for trash containers, as exemplified above, the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art have persisted for many years and there is a need for improvement.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trash bag liner of the prior art disposed in a trash container.

FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away view of a trash bag liner of the prior art showing a heavy object in the liner collapsing the liner.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the trash bag liner of the present invention in a trash container.

FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away view of the trash bag liner of the present invention showing a heavy object not affecting the liner.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the present invention in a container showing a reinforced bottom portion.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the top perimeter of the trash bag liner having a thin elastic band taken across the lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partial cut-away view of the trash bag liner of the present invention in a circular trash container.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the trash bag liner of the present invention conforming to the shape of the trash container.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a square trash container having a trash liner therein conforming to the shape of the trash container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The improved trash bag liner 10 is formed having walls of plastic film 22 and has a top perimeter 12 which is openable to receive trash and has a closed bottom portion 14 (FIGS. 3-5). An elastic band 16 is secured around the top perimeter 12 of the trash bag liner 10. It has been found that an elastic marketed as “stretchrite”® has been used successfully (FIG. 7). This material is usually used in sewing and is a continuous strip approximately ⅜″ wide. Other elastic materials known to persons skilled in the art may be used.

The bottom portion 14 of the trash bag liner is reinforced 18 or formed with an integral double thickness to assure that the liner 10 is sturdy enough to retain a full load or heavy object and conforms with the container (FIG. 6). In a preferred design, a layer of plastic film is disposed interiorly or exteriorly on the bottom 14 of the liner to form the double thickness. The layer may be sealed, fused or adhered to the bottom of the liner. When the liner with the reinforced bottom 18 is fitted in the container, the reinforced bottom 18 is disposed in contact with the bottom of the container and there are no gaps or bulges between the liner 10 and the container 20. Due to the additional thickness of the reinforced bottom, the liner is more easily placed in the container.

The trash bag liner 10 may be formed of a shape with conforms to the shape of the trash container 20. This shape may be circular, oblong, square, rectangular or of other configurations (FIGS. 8-10). Further, the trash bag liner may have a tapered shape with the top perimeter 12 having a larger cross-section than the bottom portion 18.

In use, the stored liner 10 is unfolded, the bottom portion 14 of the liner 10 is placed in the trash container 20 and the perimeter of the top of the liner is snapped around the lip of the trash container 20. The liner snuggly fits around the top of the trash container 20 and the liner 10 is disposed in the trash container avoiding bulges or gaps between the liner and the container. A sanitary, attractive closure is formed.

The trash liner 10 is easily removed by expanding the elastic band 16 and lifting the liner from the trash container. Due to the reinforced bottom, the liner resists tearing even if there is a heavy load within the liner.

The trash bag liner further is formed from colored plastic to match the decor of the room in which the trash container is placed. This maintains a professional appearance in a business or non-commercial environment.

The liners may be formed in small, medium, large and extra large to be usable with popular trash containers found in the market.

Claims

1. In combination with a waste basket or other trash receptacle or container, a liner having a top perimeter and a bottom portion, an elastic means being retained on the top perimeter of the liner and forming a narrow band thereabout, such that the liner may be removably inserted in and retained on the trash receptacle or container and fitted in place within the container, the liner having a transverse cross-section conforming closely to the container, thereby avoiding bulges or gaps between the liner and the container and wherein material deposited in the trash receptacle or container are received in the liner.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the liner is color coordinated with the decor of the room in which the trash receptacle or container is disposed.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the liner is an integral planar reinforcement conforming substantially to a base of the trash receptacle or container.

4. A disposable removable liner for a container, the container having surrounding walls, a bottom and an open top, the liner comprising flexible film side walls, a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a planar reinforcement and a transverse cross-section conforming closely to the bottom of the container, wherein when the liner is disposed in the container, the side walls of the liner are disposed in the container without bulges or gaps between the side walls of the liner and the walls of the container,

an elastic means attached circumferentially about the top portion of the liner wherein when the liner is fitted in the container, the elastic means holds the top portion of the liner to the outer wall of the container, the liner being color coordinated with the decor of the room in which the container is disposed.

5. A method of collecting trash in a waste basket or other trash receptacle or container, wherein the container has a transverse cross-section comprising the steps of providing a disposable liner having a transverse cross-section which substantially conforms to the cross-section of the container, unfolding the liner and inserting the liner into the container, such that the liner, when unfolded, lies neatly within the container without bulges or gaps and conforming to the base of the container, the top of the liner being provided with an elastic band, and the elastic band being snapped over a peripheral lip of the container.