TRASH BAGS, BINS AND ACCESSORIES

Abstract

A suitcase with an improved shoe compartment is disclosed. An outer shell to enclose contents being carried in the suitcase. A plurality of wheels movingly connected to the outer shell. A handlebar railing attached to the outer shell on one end and having a handlebar on the other end, for a user to control movement of the suitcase using the plurality of wheels. A shoe compartment includes four or more individual compartments for four or more pairs of shoes, accordingly. The second compartment slides up the handlebar railing, when the suitcase is stationary, to a supported position at a higher elevation than when the suitcase is mobile.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/080,357, filed on Nov. 16, 2014, by Ardavan Yazdi, the content of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to trash containers, and more specifically, to improved trash bags, bins and accessories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional trash bags are designed to be supported by a trash bin. To this end, a single bag is removed from a stack or torn from a roll and then taken to the trash bin for installation. Conventional trash bags are also designed for a single monolithic use with a single cavity. The assumption has been that multiple individual trash bags should be used for multiple requirements. Unfortunately, the conventional approaches can be more expensive and require more effort from installing trash bags.

Another conventional assumption is that trash bags are stored separately from trash bins. A trash bin is typically stored in a position for easy access while trash bags are purchased separately and are stored out of the way because they are accessed with significantly less frequency that the trash bins. As a result, each time a trash bag currently inside of a trash bin fills up, a new bag is retrieved from where ever the trash bags are stored.

It is desirable to overcome these shortcomings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following drawings, like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements. The Figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that other embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the described principles.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating trash bags nested to form a trash bin, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating trash bags nested for automatic pull-up in a trash bin, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag accessory for hanging to a trash bin, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag dispenser for attachment to trash bins, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag dispenser integrated within a bottom of a trash bin, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag with separate bins, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagram illustrating trash bag dispensers from an interior vertical orientation on a wall of a can, according to one embodiment. The can has railings to which a book of bags is connected. An individual plastic bag can be pulled out from the book of bags and hooked under a lip of the can. The bag breaks apart when lifted out of the can for dispensing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Various Embodiments of the Improved Trash Bags, Bins and Accessories

The following section of the description describes details of improved trash bags, bins, and accessories. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize variations of the examples given within, that are within the scope of the disclosure. Advantageously, trash handling is easier for users to change and use.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating trash bags nested to form a trash bin 110, according to an embodiment. Multiple trash bags can be manufactured to be consecutively embedded within each other in a self-supporting manner. Each bag is open and expanded without being folded or compressed, in some embodiments. The combination of multiple bags, although individually thin, provides enough support to keep the trash bin in the open and expanded position. In some embodiments, inner bags can be progressively smaller for each bag, every five bags, or any appropriate increment, for easier nesting. At the top, bag shapes can be circular, oval, square or rectangular. At the bottom, bag shapes can be the same shape and size as the top, the same shape and a smaller size, or a different shape.

During manufacture, individual trash bags can be connected by implementation-specific processes. In one example, a small line or several dots of glue is set between each bag. In another example, a flash heat cure melts a small part of each bag which sets to adhere to each successive bag. In still another example, adjacent bags are formed from a single roll and perforations assist a tear that permits bags to be separated. In one case, adjacent bags are connected at a top edge. In a second case, adjacent bags are connected at a bottom, or both top and bottom.

A supporting structure can be provided to prevent the nested bins from tipping over. More support may be provided when only a few bags remain due to deterioration of self-support. The supporting structure can be disposable and made of an inexpensive material such as cardboard.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating trash bags 220 nested for automatic pull-up in a trash bin, according to an embodiment. Each trash bag has an accordion shape that compresses to a flat form factor for storage and distribution. As shown in close up 210, a bottom portion of one trash bag interlocks with a top portion of an adjacent trash bag, through the accordion shape of each.

In use, a trash bag is fully opened by expending the accordion shape and attaching handles at the top of the trash bag to sides of a trash bin. After use, the handles are lifted to pull out the old trash bag and, in turn, pull up a new trash bag. Due to the interlocking of the two adjacent trash bags, the new bag is expanded during the same effort of removing the old bag.

In other embodiments, alternatives to the accordion interlocking are implemented. In still other embodiments, only the interlocking portions are shaped like an accordion.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag accessory 310 for hanging to a trash bin 320, according to an embodiment. The accessory 310 is adapted to hang on the upper rim of the trash bin 320 for support. Additional embodiments are shown in FIG. 4. Accessory 410 provides four suckers as an alternative mechanism for attachment to a trash bin. Accessory 420 comprises an exterior roll dispenser that allows bag to be peeled off similar to toilet paper on a toilet paper roll. Finally, accessory 430 is attached to the trash bin with a cord while accessory 440 is hangs similar to accessory 310, but in a vertical manner. Many other variations are possible.

A roll of bags are loaded into a cavity and partially advanced to allow a new bag to be dispensed. A user unrolls the new bag and breaks off from the roll for installation. Advantageously, a user does not need to find a roll of bags each time, nor travel away the trash bin 320 in order to retrieve the roll of bags.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag dispenser 510 integrated within a bottom of a trash bin, according to one embodiment. Rather than mounting to a top rim of the trash bin, dispenser 510 mounts to a bottom surface. In one embodiment, the dispenser 510 is integrated into the trash bin with built-in supports, locks and releases. In another embodiment, the dispenser 510 is an after-market product that is manufactured in standard sizes or is capable of being adjusted to different sizes. A roll of trash bags can be loaded from the top, or in an integrated version, be loaded from a side of the bottom by removing a cap.

A new bag is pulled up from the bottom and wrapped around a rim of the trash bin for use. Once full, removal of the old bag can automatically pull up a new bag and be detached upon reaching the rim.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trash bag with separate bins 610, 620, according to one embodiment. In the present embodiment, there are two bins side-by-side of uniform size in a lengthwise direction. Other embodiments can have three or more bins. Still other embodiments can have varying bin sizes.

In one embodiment, the bins can be separately detached and carried away. Both bins may have to be detached before a new pair can be fed through or the two bins can be independently fed. For the consumer, different bins can have different uses, such as one bin for compost and one bin for recycling, and the bags can be separately carried to a street trash can.

New bags can be dispensed as described herein, for example, bottom fed or top fed.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagram illustrating trash bag dispensers from an interior vertical orientation on a wall of a can, according to one embodiment. The can has railings to which a book of bags is connected. An individual plastic bag can be pulled out from the book of bags and hooked under a lip of the can. The bag breaks apart when lifted out of the can for dispensing.

II. Generalities of the Improved Trash Bags, Bins and Accessories

Improved trash bags, bins, and accessories are described herein. The term trash bag used herein can also refer to a bin bag, bin liner, or garbage bag. Trash bags are used to collect disposables which can be compost, recyclables, of the like. Many different materials can be used for manufacture, such as plastic, rubber, paper, or other synthetic materials, or other environmental friendly materials. Trash bins and bags can be of any color, such as black or white, and have additional features such as handles, drawstrings or aesthetic designs.

The embodiments discussed herein are applicable to residential uses of, for example, 5 or 10 gallon sizes, or even smaller containers. The embodiments are also applicable to commercial or industrial uses, for example, 55 gallons or larger. The trash bins used for the new trash bags and accessories described can be small plastic ones, or large metal barrels.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the subject matter described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies, data structures and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the subject matter or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats. The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain relevant principles and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various embodiments with or without various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A suitcase for carrying clothes and shoes, the suitcase comprising:

an outer shell to enclose contents being carried in the suitcase;

a plurality of wheels movingly connected to the outer shell;

a handlebar railing attached to the outer shell on one end and having a handlebar on the other end, for a user to control movement of the suitcase using the plurality of wheels;

a frame within the outer shell, having at least a first compartment for carrying a first content, and a second compartment for carrying shoes, wherein the second compartment includes four or more individual compartments for four or more pairs of shoes, accordingly, and wherein the second compartment slides up the handlebar railing, when the suitcase is stationary, to a supported position at a higher elevation than when the suitcase is mobile.