Trash bag raincoat

Abstract

The trash bag raincoat is a waterproof, biodegradable trash bag that has been adapted so as to convert between trash bag and rainwear. A conventional trash bag is altered by the addition of a hood, sleeves, and fasteners in such a manner as to ensure easy conversion from trash bag to rainwear and back to a trash bag. The invention addresses the age-old practice of tearing holes in trash bags so as to use as protection when caught in unexpected precipitation. This hole-tearing practice destroys the use of the trash bag for its intended purpose and makes for unsatisfactory protection as the head and arms remain exposed to the weather. The current invention addresses the issue of full protection for the head, arms, and torso and offers the ability to reuse the trash bag for its original design. This is accomplished by manipulating the hood, sleeves, and fasteners in a manner designed to fit the need at hand—use as trash bag or protection against the elements.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the altering of a trash bag so that it can be used to protect the wearer from inclement weather. Conversion to such doesn't eliminate the option of reusing it as a trash bag. Specifically, altering a trash bag with the addition of hood, sleeves, and closures; and composing it of biodegradable, waterproof material render a bag that can be worn as protection against the weather or used as a typical trash bag. Conversion from trash bag to weather protector and back again to trash bag is the intended cycle of use.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Hitherto a number of proposals have been offered that speak to the conversion of garments into other useful items such as, tote bags, knapsacks, bib-tray cover, etc. They offer the multi-use ability to convert back and forth and are considered long-term use garments. Likewise, the production of inexpensive disposable garments, particularly raingear, has been proposed in various configurations. The commonality of convertible and disposable garments is that their production origin is that of an article of clothing. This proposal differs in that the production origin for the trash bag raincoat is that of a trash bag not an article of clothing or a garment. There are no patents or pending applications proposed that applies to the conversion of a trash bag to a useable protection against precipitation and has the ability to be converted back to its original purpose—a trash bag

The trash bag raincoat differs from prior proposals in that a trash bag has been improved by the addition of a hood, sleeves, and fasteners so that its intended use as a trash bag can be temporarily interrupted to be used as a raincoat. This invention is an improvement of the current practice of using a trash bag as a raincoat by tearing holes in the bag for the head and arms. Improvements allow the use of the trash bag for protecting the head, arms, and torso rather than the current practice that protects only the torso. The addition of fasteners further improves the trash bag by making it possible to convert from raincoat back to a trash bag. Further, the proposal eliminates the hole-tearing practice of using a trash bag for protection against the elements; a practice that destroys the trash bag for further use. The use of the trash bag as a raincoat doesn't destroy its continued use as a trash bag.

The trash bag can be used as a raincoat by extending the hood and sleeves from the interior of the trash bag and leaving the fasteners unattended or as a trash bag by tucking in the hood and sleeves and activating the fasteners to seal the openings. It improves inexpensive, disposable raincoats in that it is made from biodegradable plastic granules rendering the trash bag as environmentally friendly when disposed of. When used as a raincoat, the improvement is found in the use of a drawstring to secure the bottom of the raincoat against the body at the thigh level or lower; this improves the protection offered by inexpensive, temporary, throw-away rainwear.

The typical user of the trash bag raincoat—campers, hikers, construction workers, spectators of outdoor events, walk-a-thon participants, etc.—would tuck it into a knapsack, pocket, glove compartment, etc. to be extracted when caught in unexpected, inclement weather.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Due to the unpredictable nature of the weather many people find themselves in the position of needing protection because of unexpected precipitation. Reluctance to carry umbrellas and raincoats or the impractical manner of using such during certain kinds of activities leave many people without protection when precipitation hits. The trash bag raincoat addresses the need for an inexpensive, compact, biodegradable protection against precipitation that can be derived through the adaption of the typical trash bag. The trash bag raincoat formalizes the age-old practice of people using trash bags as protection against unexpected precipitation. This practice results in poor protection against the elements and destroys a useful trash bag. The current invention modifies the trash bag so that it includes a hood and sleeves so that when worn as a raincoat it offers protection for the torso, head, and arms. It can also be reused as a trash bag by tucking in the hood and sleeves and sealing the openings. In this disposition, it can be filled with rubbish, cinched closed with the drawstring, and disposed off in typical fashion.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts front elevation with the addition and location of the hood and sleeve alteration to the typical trash bag for use as a raincoat.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the trash bag raincoat depicting the location of the adhesive tape on the hood and sleeves used to seal the bag closed for use as a trash bag.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation depicting the hood and sleeves tucked into the bag with openings sealed for use as a trash bag.

FIG. 4 is a depiction of the trash bag raincoat in its two forms; worn as a raincoat and cinched with hood and sleeves tucked in for use as a trash bag.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OR THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a trashbag that retains all the features typically found in a trash bag rendering it useful for such, as well as additional appendages of a hood and two sleeves that allows its use as a raincoat. Its design is to address the age-old practice of tearing holes in a trash bag as protection from unexpected precipitation. This practice leaves the bag in a state that is useless for its original purpose. The present invention eliminates the need to tear openings in a trash bag as the openings are provided with the addition of a hood and sleeves. After use as a raincoat, the sleeves and hood can be tucked in through the openings, which are then sealed with suitable closing devices so that it returns to its original design as a trash bag. The bag is waterproof, being made of a biodegradable plastic in the like of polypropylene, polyethylene, etc. The base composition is biodegradable, plastic granules rated in testing as biodegradable partially or in full.

FIG. 1 depicts a front elevation of the bag 100 as viewed when used as a raincoat. The bag 100 is shown in an upside down position in that the opening typically found in a trash bag for depositing trash is distinguished by a drawstring 124 oriented to the bottom of the page. Sleeves 125 and hood 130 are attached to the rectangular shape of the body of the bag 100. Sleeves 125 are oriented opposite each other and located immediately adjacent and perpendicular to the bottom 105 of the bag 100. Sleeve opening 110 is sufficient to allow for the easy and comfortable passage of the arms through when worn as a raincoat. The hood 130 is centered on the bottom 105 of the bag 100 with the opening 115 of sufficient size to allow the passage of a person's head. The hood 130 is of sufficient size to totally enclose the head of the wearer thus protecting the head from the elements. Bag 100 construction is accomplished through heat sealing or other like methods. For purpose of clarity, the fasteners 140 and 145 on the sleeves 125 and hood 130 that allow for its transformation back to a trash bag are shown in a see-thru view of the back even though location on the front of the bag 100 is as effective in sealing the bag 100 as those depicted in FIG. 2. The bag 100 may be made in various sizes 126 and 127 to accommodate height and girth of children as well as adults in covering head, arms, and torso below the hips into the mid thigh area. The drawstring 124 has dual purpose as it is used to seal the bag 100 closed when used as a trash bag and as a cinch to pull the bag snug against the body when worn as a raincoat.

FIG. 2 depicts the bag 100 in a rear elevation position with the bag top 120 and opening 122 oriented toward the bottom of the page and distinguished by the presence of the drawstring 124. All features illustrated in FIG. 1 are applicable to FIG. 2 except for the notation of the preferred location of the fasteners 140 and 145. The fasteners 140 for the sleeves 125 are located on the external back of the sleeves 125 in a position adjacent and parallel to the opening 110 of the sleeves 125 to the bag 100. The fastener 145 for the hood 130 is located on the external back of the hood 130 in a position adjacent to and parallel to the opening 115 in the bag 100 for the hood 130. The preferred fastener 140 and 145 is composed of two-sided adhesive tape. When the bag 100 is used as a raincoat, the adhesive tape's backing remains in tack; when used as a trash bag, the backing is pealed away exposing the adhesive surface. When conversion to a trash bag is desired, one tucks in the hood 130 and sleeves 125 into the bag 100, peels away the adhesive backing to the tape, and presses the openings 110 and 115 closed. The adhesive tape runs to full length of the opening 110 and 115 at the hood 130 and sleeves 125 thus completely sealing the openings 110 and 115. With the sleeves 125 and hood 130 tucked in and the openings 110 and 115 sealed, the bag 100 may be filled with trash, closed with the drawstring 124, and disposed off.

FIG. 3 depicts the trash bag raincoat 100 as used for the disposal of trash. The sleeve elements 125 are tucked in as is the hood element 130. The openings 110 for the sleeves 125 are closed with the fasteners 140 or other mechanical means of sealing the openings. The fasteners 140 form a barrier with sufficient strength to support the weight of trash being placed into the bag without popping or breaking open. The opening 115 for the hood 130 is similarly closed with the fastener 145 or other mechanical means of sealing the opening. The fastener 145 forms a barrier with sufficient strength to support the weight of trash being placed into the bag 100 without popping or breaking open.

FIG. 4 depicts a practical view of the dual use of the trash bag raincoat. Person 150 is wearing the bag 100 as a raincoat with the hood 130 and sleeves 125 extended from the bag 100. The drawstring 124 is cinched close to the body thus offering more protection against the elements. The person 150 is holding the bag 100 being used as a trash bag. The hood 130 and the sleeves 125 have been tucked into the bag 100 with the openings 110 and 115 being sealed by the fasteners 140 and 145. The drawstring 124 has been cinched to close the opening 122 in the bag 100.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims

Claims

1) A trash bag that can be converted from trash bag to rainwear and back to trash bag as altered:

by the addition of full length sleeves and a hood so that it can be used as a temporary raincoat.

to have an opening in the mid-range of the bottom.

to have openings on opposing sides adjacent and perpendicular to the bottom.

by the addition of a hood that encompasses the opening in the bottom of the trash bag.

by the addition of sleeves that encompass the openings on the opposing sides adjacent and perpendicular to the bottom of the bag.

by the addition of adhesive or other mechanical closures used to seal the openings at the hood and sleeve locations and any other opening

by the addition of a drawstring closure encircling the opening located opposite the bottom.

2) Rainwear that has been made from or like a trash bag by the:

ions to a trash bag or the like as stated in claim 1; namely, the addition of openings in the bottom and opposing side edges with a hood and sleeves encompassing said openings.

addition of adhesive or other mechanical closures as stated in claim 1 for use in sealing the openings.

addition of a drawstring closure encircling the opening located opposite the hood to be used to cinch the raincoat against the body between the hip and knees.

3) Rainwear that can be converted to a trash bag by tucking the hood and sleeves into the interior of the bag and sealing the openings.

4) Rainwear made from substantially waterproof plastic such as polypropylene, polypropylene, or the like.

5) Rainwear according to claims 1&2 composed of biodegradable plastic granular guaranteeing decomposition when disposed in ground contact/landfill situations.

6) Trash bag rainwear according to claims 1&2 that is composed of waterproof plastic such as polypropylene, polypropylene, or the like.

7) Trash bag rainwear according to claims 1&2 whose closures:

are comprised of two-sided tape.

have a reflective quality for use in dark/night-time situations.

may be an adhesive or adhesive tape designed for a one time application.

may include mechanical closing devices that are typically found in sealing openings in plastic, synthetic, or cloth-like materials.

8) Trash bag rainwear according to claims 1&2 whose closures:

are located on the upper sleeves parallel to the side openings and on the base of the hood parallel to the bottom opening.

may be located on the body/torso side of the opening.

may be located on the inside or the outside of the hood and sleeves or the torso section.

9) A trash bag as noted in claim 1 that has been altered by fusing, gluing, or otherwise heat-sealing a hood to the bottom opening and the sleeves on the perpendicular adjacent sides.

10) A trash bag with appendages noted in claim 1 that would be produced in sizes that adequately protect the torso, head, and sleeves of children, as well as adults when worn as a rainwear.

11) Rainwear as noted in claim 2 produced in sizes that accommodate the variation of sizes found in children and adults.

12) Rainwear that could be converted for use as a liner for trash baskets, barrels, or the like.

13) Rainwear produced in sizes that would accommodate its use as a trash barrel, waste basket, etc. liner when used for trash disposal.