Garbage can & support for use with disposable bags

Abstract

An apparatus and method for releasably supporting a liner, such as a trash bag or laundry bag, within a container, such as a trash can or laundry basket. The apparatus includes a body and a base. The base includes a top opening and a bottom opening, with the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening. Additionally, the body gradually slopes inward from the bottom opening to the top opening. The body is configured to receive a liner, which removably fits inside the body to protect the body from direct contact with soiled objects. The liner is longer in length than the body to allow the liner to wrap around the top opening of the body. The base releasably attaches to the body at the bottom opening. The inner surface of the base supports a bottom of the liner. The apparatus protects the liner from puncture when the body is inserted into the liner before being filled. The method includes inserting the bottom opening into an opening of the liner, gathering the opening of the liner and sides of the liner about the bottom opening of the body, attaching a base to the bottom opening with a securing device, securing the liner to a lower portion of the body, filling the body with objects, and when filled, removing the base to cause the objects to fill the liner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 561,969 entitled “Easy Empty Trash / Garbage Receptacle” and filed on Apr. 14, 2004 for Jack D. Fisher.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to storage containers. More particularly, the invention relates to containers that facilitate the removal of liners, such as trash bags, within the container and that protect the liner from tearing and punctures. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] When utilizing a garbage can to support a plastic garbage bag having a peripheral end portion folded over the top edge of the can, the bag generally adheres to the sidewall of the can even when it is only partially loaded. It is thus often difficult to withdraw the bag due to the adherence thereof to the can sidewall as well as to the vacuum which is created between the bottom of the bag and that of the can when t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to releasably support a liner. The apparatus includes a body and a base. The base includes a top opening and a bottom opening, with the area of the top opening being less than the area of the bottom opening, which advantageously enhances the stability of the apparatus. Further, because top opening is smaller than the base, advantageously, material spilled on the outside surface of the apparatus will be more likely to rest in the base, instead of on the floor around the apparatus. For example, a liquid would flow down the exterior surface of the apparatus to the base instead of dripping on the floor.

[0011] Additionally, the body gradually slopes inward from the bottom opening to the top opening. The body is configured to receive the liner, which includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a bottom. Advantageously, the apparatus may provide for easy removal of the liner, wherein separation of the apparatus from the liner does not involve significant vacuum forces as in conventional trash cans and liners. In one embodiment, the liner removably fits inside the body to protect the body from direct contact with soiled objects. This advantageously allows one to fit considerably more material inside the apparatus by compressing the material with forces which may otherwise damage the liner. This adds a further advantage wherein fewer liners are needed for the same amount of material. The liner is longer in length than the body to allow the liner to wrap around the top opening of the body. The base releasably attaches to the body at the bottom opening, which advantageously makes the apparatus easier to clean, avoiding odors, germs, and pests, an advantage especially important for uses such as in hospitals. The inner surface of the base supports the bottom of the liner.

[0013] The apparatus, in another embodiment, is advantageously configured to protect the liner from puncture. Specifically, the body protects the liner from puncture when the bottom opening is inserted into the liner first. The base attaches to the body, thus trapping the liner between the base and a lower lip of the body. Securing devices hold the liner in a generally fixed zone about the body to prevent the liner from snagging twigs, limbs, etc. Additionally, the handles remain uncovered to allow easy movement of the apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

It is thus often difficult to withdraw the bag due to the adherence thereof to the can sidewall as well as to the vacuum which is created between the bottom of the bag and that of the can when the bag is pulled out of the can.

On the other hand, one can hardly do without a garbage can or the like to support a garbage bag since the bag itself has no body as such and is therefore not self-supporting, and without external support the bag can be loaded only with great difficulty.

In addition, the presence of sharp objects does not permit the garbage to be compressed inside the bag since otherwise the latter would pierce, thus resulting in one not being able to load the bag to its full capacity.

These garbage cans suffer from additional deficiencies.

First, holes formed into the garbage cans decrease the garbage can strength and liquids and smells may begin to seep therefrom.

Secondly, collapsible garbage cans lack the structural integrity to adequately hold trash bags at full capacity as the collapsible garbage cans may unintentionally unwrap.

The bag support devices have been described as taller than the garbage bags, they use awkward, elongated handles, and because the garbage bag is pulled over the entire length of the bag support device, the garbage bag is still left unprotected from external hazards, such as bushes, shrubs, thorns, etc.

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