Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GARBAGE SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING THE POSITIONING OF A
GARBAGE BAG INTO A GARBAGE CAN
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a garbage system for facilitating the positioning of
a garbage bag into a garbage can. More particularly, the invention relates to
a
garbage system comprising a garbage can, a lid and ventilation means, the
ventilation means cooperating with the garbage can and lid to expand a garbage
bag inserted inside the garbage can so as to facilitate the positioning of
this
garbage bag.
Backgiround of the invention
It is known in the art that it is difficult to properly install and position a
garbage bag made of a soft material such as plastic into a garbage can, also
called sometimes "refuse container" or "trash can", in such a manner that the
upper edge of the bag does not come off and fall down from the rim of the can
when one starts filling up the bag.
This problem is mainly due to the fact that, after opening the top portion of
the bag and installing the upper edge of the bag onto the rim of the can, the
bottom portion of the bag usually remains "clinged". Thus, when one starts
filling
up the bag, the load pressure is applied to the walls of the bag and causes it
to
come off and fall within the can. Many attempts have been made to solve
garbage
can related inconveniences.
Known in the art is US patent No. 6,000,571 granted on December 14,
1999 to Brooks et al. This patent describes a new trash receptacle for
permitting
easy removal therefrom of a filled trash bag. The receptacle includes outer
and
inner portions each having a base and a side wall. The inner and outer
portions
are spaced apart to define an air space therebetween. The inner base of the
inner
portion has a plurality of apertures therethrough into the air space between
the
inner and outer bases to permit air flow from the air space into the interior
space of
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the trash receptacle to help relieve the vacuum formed when a trash bag is
removed from the interior space.
Also known in the art is US patent No.3,836,037 granted on
September 17, 1974 to Bass. This patent describes a support device for
replaceable soft material bags in which the bag is attached to a foot-operated
segmented lid. The lid, when open, spreads the bag to an extreme open position
and, when closed, functions to close the bag and to somewhat compact its
content. The segmented lid closure mechanism holds, prepositions, and provides
a sanitary lid for the trash receptacle bag.
Also known in the art of garbage can are the following US patents which
describe different types of trash receptacles: 4,294,379; 4,765,579; and
5,957,319.
Known in the art of transportation is US patent No. 4,911,317 granted on
March 27, 1990 to Schloesser et al. This patent describes a storage system for
storing or shipping goods in a controlled environment. The storage system
comprises a bag made of a flexible gas and water impermeable material placed
in
an ISO type shipping container, with the bag having an entry flap equivalently
sized with and positioned adjacent to the door of the container with an air
and
water resistant zipper sealing the flap with the bag, and having a resealable
port
for inflating and evacuating the interior of the bag. A method of using the
storage
system is also disclosed.
Also known in the art of transportation is US patent No. 5,059,084 granted
on October 22, 1991 to Krein. This patent describes a liner installation
device
including a liner for being disposed in a container. A manifold is operable to
be
disposed at the peripheral opening of the container and be connected to a
vacuum
source through a hose. After the liner is disposed in the container, the
peripheral
edges thereof are held against the peripheral edges of the container. A vacuum
is
pulled on the space between the interior surfaces of the container and the
exterior
surfaces of the liner.
None of the above-mentioned patents provides a system for facilitating the
positioning of a garbage bag into a garbage can or suggests to use such a
system
in this very specific field.
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Summary of the invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for facilitating
the positioning of a garbage bag into a garbage can.
In accordance with the present invention, this object is achieved with a
garbage system comprising:
a garbage can,
a lid, and
ventilation means cooperating with the garbage can and lid to expand a
garbage bag inserted inside the garbage can so as to facilitate the
positioning of
said garbage bag into the garbage can.
The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading
the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof,
made
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 is a schematic front sectional view of a garbage system according
to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic front sectional view of a garbage system according
to another preferred embodiment of the invention.
Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. The embodiments shown in the figures are preferred.
The garbage system according to the preferred embodiment of the
invention as it is illustrated with accompanying drawings is a garbage system
1
comprising a garbage can 3, a lid 5, and ventilation means cooperating with
the
garbage can 3 and lid 5 to expand a garbage bag 9 inserted inside the garbage
can 3 so as to facilitate the positioning of the garbage bag 9 into the
garbage can
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3. 9a shows the garbage bag 9 in a "clinged" position and 9b shows the garbage
gab 9 in an expanded position.
Referring now to figure 1, the garbage system 1 according to a preferred
embodiment basically consists of a garbage can 3, a lid 5, and ventilation
means.
The ventilation means preferably consist of a small, manually operated fan 7
mounted onto the lid 5 and the fan 7 is preferably positioned below the centre
of
the lid 5 inside the garbage can 3 as better shown in figure 1. When the upper
edge of the garbage bag 9a is installed onto the rim 11 of the garbage can 3
and
the lid 5 is positioned onto the rim 11 to secure the garbage bag 9a between
the
lid 5 and the rim 11, the fan 7 is operated, according to a first mode of
operation,
to generate a positive pressure within the bag 9a located inside the can 3.
The
operating of the fan 7 causes an air mass flow 13 from the outside 15 of the
garbage can 3 into the inside 17 of the garbage can 3 causing a positive
pressure
forcing the bag 9a to fully open while its upper edge is still retained by the
periphery of the lid 5. Preferably, the bag 9a inflates until it snugs the
shape of the
inside 17 of the garbage can 3. Of course, apertures 19 must be provided in
the
bottom of the can 3 to allow the air 21 behind the bag 9a to escape from the
can 3.
Preferably, the apertures 19 are positioned sufficiently low with respect to
the
bottom of the garbage can 3 to allow the garbage bag 9a to fully open but
preferably also, the apertures 19 are positioned sufficiently high so as to
not be
obstructed by or allow the entrance of items lying on the ground, such as
grass,
leaves, snow, or the like.
When the bag 9b is fully open inside the garbage can 3 after operating the
fan 7, the lid 5 is removed and the bag 9b is ready to be filled. The risk of
its upper
edge coming off from the rim 11 of the can 3 upon filling of the same is
substantially reduced. Once the bag 9b is filled up, the apertures 19
facilitate the
removal of the garbage bag 9b because they prevent the suction phenomenon
which is common in conventional garbage cans. Of course, instead of using a
manually operated fan 7, one can also use an electric fan 7, like the ones
found in
conventional air dryers.
Referring now to figure 2, the garbage system 1 according to a second
preferred embodiment basically consists of a garbage can 3, a lid 5, and
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ventilation means mounted onto the garbage can 3. In contrast to the
embodiment
of figure 1, the ventilation means here are used to generate a negative
pressure
(vacuum) within the can 3 in order to cause the bag 9a to fully open. As
shown,
the ventilation means which preferably consist of an electric fan 7, is
mounted onto
5 the garbage can 3 provided with a double wall 23, the inner wall 23a
provided with
apertures 19 to allow the "inflating" of the bag 9a in all directions when the
vacuum
is created, so that the bag 9a inflates until it snugs the shape of the inside
17 of
the garbage can 3. That is, the bag 9a is expanded by "sucking" an air mass
flow
13 from the inside 17 of the garbage can 3 to the outside 15 of the same.
When the bag 9b is fully open inside the garbage can 3 after operating the
fan 7, the lid 5 is removed and the bag 9b is ready to be filled. The risk of
its upper
edge coming off from the rim 11 of the can 3 upon filling of the same is
substantially reduced. Optionally, once the bag 9b is filled up and ready to
be
removed, the lid 5 can be repositioned onto the rim 11 to secure the garbage
bag
9b between the lid 5 and the rim 11, and the fan 7 can be operated according
to
another mode of operation, to generate a positive pressure onto the bag 9b
located inside the can 3. The operating of the fan 7 in this manner causes an
air
mass flow 13 through the apertures 19 from the outside 15 of the garbage can 3
into the inside 17 of the garbage can 3 causing a positive pressure forcing
the bag
9b to detach itself from the inner wall 23a, hence facilitating the removal of
the
garbage bag 9a from the garbage can 3 once the lid 5 has been taken out.
Preferably, the fan 7 is mounted sufficiently high with respect to the bottom
of the garbage can 3 so as to not be obstructed by or allow entrance of items
lying
on the ground, such as grass, leaves, snow, or the like.
The garbage bag 9 used for the garbage system 1 according to the
invention preferably consists of a non-porous soft material bag 9 such as the
"plastic" bags regularly found in the market. However, it is worth noting that
the
garbage system 1 can be used with garbage bags made of other different types
of
materials with different characteristics, such as paper for example.
As can be induced from the above reading, the general concept of the
invention consists of providing ventilation means allowing ambient air mass
flow to
be withdrawn from behind a garbage bag inside a garbage can when the garbage
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bag inserted therein is being or is to be filled, and the general concept of
the
invention further consists of conversely inserting ambient air mass flow into
the
garbage can when the garbage can is being or is ready to be removed, so as to
facilitate the positioning and removal of the garbage bag from the garbage
can.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
