Abstract:
A garbage bag has a bag having an open top area. A plurality of ring members is formed in an interior of the bag.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to a garbage bag, and more particularly, to a garbage bag having a closable top cover to seal the contents within the garbage bag to prevent odors from emanating out of the garbage bag and to also protect products inside the garbage bag from the elements such as rain, snow, sun, etc. The garbage bag may further prevent water from collecting inside the garbage bag thereby preventing mosquitoes from breeding. The garbage bag may also be used in the health care industry to provide a more hygienic and healthier work area. 
         [0002]    Garbage bags are commonly used for collection and removal of household waste. Garbage bags are typically formed from two panels of thermoplastic materials. The two panels may be sealed along opposing vertical sides. A horizontal seal may be formed along a bottom section of the panels. The top side of the panels is left unsealed and provides an opening or mouth (hereinafter opening) for access to the interior of the garbage bag. In use, the garbage bag may be inserted as an interior section of a container or receptacle. The edges of the opening of the garbage bag may then be loosely laid over the top end of the receptacle to provide an unobstructed opening for inserting trash into the mouth of the garbage bag. 
         [0003]    Most garbage bags typically have a bag closure system. In a typical bag closure system, the area below the mouth of the garbage bag is gathered together. This area may then be tied into a knot to secure its contents. Alternatively, a tying device may be used to secure the area below the mouth of the garbage bag in order to prevent the garbage bag from reopening. Typical tying devices may be formed of paper coated flexible wires or a plastic strip with a self-adjusting locking mechanism. 
         [0004]    An alternative to the above is to have a closure system integral to the overall bag design. For example, a channeling may be formed around a perimeter of the opening. A string or strip of plastic may be positioned within the channeling. One or more slits may be formed in the channeling to expose the string/plastic strip. A person would then pull on the string/plastic strip, through the slits in the channeling, thereby gathering and closing the opening. The string/plastic strip may then be tied together to prevent the mouth of the garbage bag from opening. 
         [0005]    While the above bag closure systems do work, they have one major drawback. Current bag closure systems do not prevent odors from within the garbage bag from emanating out. Thus, when certain items, such as fish, chicken, baby diapers, and the like, may be placed with the garbage bag, the smell from these items emanate out. This is especially problematic when multiple garbage bags may be placed in large garbage receptacles. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A garbage bag has a bag having an open top area. A plurality of ring members is formed in an interior of the bag. 
         [0008]    A garbage bag has a bag having a pair of vertical seals, a horizontal seal formed on a bottom area of the bag. The bag has an open top area. A plurality of ring members is formed in an interior of the bag. An enclosure device is attached to the open top area of the bag to form an approximately air tight seal over the open top area. 
         [0009]    A garbage bag has a bag having a pair of vertical seals, a horizontal seal formed on a bottom area of the bag, the bag having an open top area. Handles are formed on an exterior surface of the bag. A plurality of ring members is formed in an interior of the bag. An enclosure device is attached to the open top area of the bag to form an approximately air tight seal over the open top area. The enclosure device comprises a cover member attached to the open top area of the garbage bag and a sealing device to secure the cover member to the bag and to form the approximate air tight seal. 
         [0010]    The features, functions, and advantages may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the trash bag of the present invention positioned in a receptacle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side exterior view of the trash bag of the present invention, the other side being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side interior view of the trash bag of the present invention with the cover removed, the other side being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front exterior view of the trash bag of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front interior view of the trash bag of the present invention with the cover removed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear exterior view of the trash bag of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a rear interior view of the trash bag of the present invention with the cover removed; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a magnified view of the cover and zipper assembly used in the garbage bag of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  a magnified view of the cover and adhesive tape used in the garbage bag of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  a magnified view of the cover and adhesive tape used in the garbage bag of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring to the Figures, a garbage bag  10  is shown. The garbage bag  10  is configured to prevent odors from the contents stored within the garbage bag  10  from emanating out of the garbage bag  10 . The garbage bag  10  is further configured to allow the garbage bag  10  to conform to the shape of the receptacle to which the garbage bag  10  is inserted. This prevents the garbage bag  10  from collapsing inward thereby allowing one to easily place contents within the garbage bag  10 . The garbage bag  10  is further configured to allow one to fully load and close the garbage bag  10  without having the contents of the garbage bag  10  falling out. 
         [0023]    The garbage bag  10  may be designed to have two panels  12  and  14 . The two panels  12  and  14  may be sealed along two vertical sides  16 . The two panels  12  and  14  may also be sealed along a bottom side  18  of the two panels  12  and  14 . A top side of the panels  12  and  14  generally remains unsealed thereby providing an opening/mouth  20  for access into the interior of the garbage bag  10 . The panels  12  and  14  may be made from a plastic material. For example, the panels  12  and  14  may be formed a Low Density Polyethylene material (LDPE), a Linear Low Density Polyethylene material (LLDPE) or a (High Density Polyethylene material (HDPE). The panels  12  and  14  may be formed of a biodegradable material as well. The above are given as examples and should not be seen in a limiting manner. Further, it will be appreciated that other formations of the garbage bag  10  known to those skilled in the art are possible as well. 
         [0024]    The garbage bag  10  may have one or more ring members  22 . The ring members  22  may be positioned in the interior of the garbage bag  10 . The ring members  22  may be imbedded within the garbage bag  10 . Alternatively, the ring members  22  may be attached to the interior of the garbage bag  10 . 
         [0025]    The ring members  22  may be formed of a pliable material that is able to hold shape. For example, the ring members  22  may be formed of a flexible wire material, flexible plastic material or the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. 
         [0026]    The ring members  22  may be used to help the garbage bag  10  conform to the shape of the receptacle  24  to which the garbage bag  10  is inserted. By having the garbage bag  10  conform to the shape of the receptacle  24 , the garbage bag  10  is designed to not collapse inward. Thus, allowing a user to easily place contents within the garbage bag  10 . In use, an individual would insert the garbage bag  10  into the receptacle  24 . The user may then pres outward against the interior of the garbage bag  10  so that the ring members  22  conform to the shape of the interior of the receptacle  24 . The ring members  22  will hold its shape thereby preventing the garbage bag  10  from collapsing inward. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the garbage bag  10  may have a first ring member  22 A. The first ring member may be located in a top area of the garbage bag  10 . The first ring member  22 A may be positioned around an interior perimeter of the opening/mouth  20 . The first ring member  22 A may be used so that the opening/mouth  20  of the garbage bag  10  holds to and conforms to the opening in the receptacle  24 . The first ring member  22 A may be formed of an elastic material to better secure the garbage bag  10  around the opening of the receptacle  24 . 
         [0028]    The garbage bag  10  may have a second ring member  22 B. The second ring member may be positioned around a perimeter of a middle area of the garbage bag  10  located between the opening/mouth  20  and the seal formed at the bottom side  18  of the two panels  12  and  14 . The second ring member  22 B may be used so that the middle area of the garbage bag  10  conforms to the shape of the receptacle  24 . 
         [0029]    The garbage bag  10  may have a third ring member  22 C. The third ring member may be positioned around a perimeter of a bottom area of the garbage bag  10  near the seal formed at the bottom side  18  of the two panels  12  and  14 . The third ring member  22 C may be used so that the bottom area of the garbage bag  10  conforms to the shape of the bottom of the receptacle  24 . It should be noted that while three ring members  22  are shown in the Figures, this is shown as one example. More or less ring members  22  may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    An enclosure device  26  may be coupled to the garbage bag  10 . The enclosure device  26  may be used to seal the garbage bag  10  to prevent odors from items placed within the garbage bag from emanating out of the garbage bag  10 . Thus, the enclosure device  26  may form an approximately air tight seal on the garbage bag  10 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the enclosure device  26  may be comprised of a cover member  28 . A portion of the cover member  28  may be directly attached to a top rear section of the garbage bag  10 . Alternatively, the entire cover member  28  may be removably attached to a top rear section of the garbage bag  10 . The cover member  28  may be formed of the same and or similar material as the panels  14  and  16 . Placing the cover member  28  at the top of the garbage bag  10  allows a user to completely fill the garbage bag  10 . Further, since the cover member  28  is made of the same and or similar material as the garbage bag  10 , the cover member  28  may slightly stretch and expand, thereby allowing the garbage bag  10  to be completely filled and or slightly over filled with garbage. In prior art garbage bags, if the garbage bag was completely filled, the closing devices would not be able to close the garbage bag without the contents of the garbage bag  10  spilling out. 
         [0032]    One or more enforcement strips  29  may be positioned in the interior of the cover member  28 . The enforcement strips  29  may be imbedded within the cover member  28 . Alternatively, the enforcement strips  29  may be attached to the interior of the cover member  28 . The enforcement strips  29  may be formed of a pliable material that is able to hold shape. For example, the enforcement strips  29  may be formed of a flexible wire material, flexible plastic material or the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. The enforcement strips  29  may be sued to prevent the cover member  28  from collapsing downward into the garbage bag  10 . 
         [0033]    A sealing device  30  may be attached to the cover member  28  and to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . The sealing device  30  may be used to seal the cover member  28  to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . The sealing device  30  may provide an approximate air tight seal thereby preventing odors from emanating out of the garbage bag  10 . The sealing device  30  may be a zipper  30 A. The zipper  30 A may have a first row of protruding teeth  32 A attached to the cover member  28  and a second row of teeth  32 B attached to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . The first row of protruding teeth  32 A and the second row of protruding teeth  32 B are positioned within a slider member  34 . The zipper  30 A is designed so that moving the slider member  34  in a first direction links the first row of protruding teeth  32 A to the second row of protruding teeth  32 B to seal the cover member  28  to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . Moving the slider member  34  in a second direction unlinks the first row of protruding teeth  32 A to the second row of protruding teeth  32 B to unseal the cover member  28  to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . 
         [0034]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing device  30  may be a formed of a channel  34  and a protruding rim member  36 . The protruding rim member  36  may be formed around the perimeter of the cover member  28  and the channel  34  may be formed around the perimeter of the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . Alternatively, the protruding rim member  36  may be formed around the perimeter of the top edge of the garbage bag  10  and the channel  34  may be formed around the perimeter of the cover member  28 . In operation, the protruding rim member  36  would be inserted into the channel  34  thereby forming an approximate air tight seal. 
         [0035]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing device  30  may be a formed of an adhesive strip  38 . The adhesive strip  38  may be formed around the perimeter of the cover member  28  and or around the perimeter of the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . A backing  40  may be formed on the adhesive strip  38 . In operation, the backing  40  may be removed from the adhesive strip  38 . The cover member  28  is then pressed onto the top edge of the garbage bag  10  to seal the cover member  28  to the top edge of the garbage bag  10 . 
         [0036]    The garbage bag  10  may further have one or more handles  40 . The handles  40  may be formed on side surfaces of the garbage bag  10 . The handles  40  may be used to lift the garbage bag  10 . The handles  40  may be formed of the same material as the garbage bag  10 . The handles  40  may also be formed on an exterior surface of the cover member  28 . 
         [0037]    The garbage bag  10  having a closable cover member  28  to seal the contents within the garbage bag  10  prevent odors from emanating out of the garbage bag  10  and also protects products inside the garbage bag  10  from the elements such as rain, slow, sun, etc. The garbage bag  10  may further prevent water from collecting inside the garbage bag  10  thereby preventing mosquitoes from breeding. The garbage bag  10  may also be used in the health care industry to provide a more hygienic and healthier work area. 
         [0038]    While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.