Abstract:
A waste receptacle configured with at least one wall and a bottom defining an interior volume. The waste receptacle has a mechanism for securing a plastic liner inserted into the container thereby preventing the liner from falling into the receptacle during use. The mechanism consists of a spring bracket with a retaining arm operatively connected thereto. The spring bracket biases the retaining arm against an upper rim of the waste receptacle with the liner positioned therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates a receptacle to receive waste, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a waste receptacle, which has a retaining device for securing a plastic liner disposed internally therein proximate to the opening of the waste receptacle.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Waste receptacles are commonly found in homes and businesses. They are used to collect wasted and debris temporarily until disposal through municipal sanitation systems can be achieved. Frequently, disposable liners, such as but not limited to plastic trash bags are used to line the waste receptacle to facilitate the ease of removal of the waste and debris contained in the waste receptacle. Further, these liners are used to protect the receptacle from various debris in order to maintain the cleanliness of the receptacle.  
         [0003]     Many individuals encounter problems when using the receptacle that is lined with a plastic trash bag. Repeatedly, the weight of the trash in the receptacle or the addition of trash in excess of the capacity of the receptacle causes the liner, or plastic bag, to become detached from the opening of the receptacle. The liner will slip into the receptacle causing the waste contained in the receptacle to contact and soil the receptacle creating an unsanitary condition for the individual charged with removing the waste from the receptacle. In addition, removal of the debris becomes more physically challenging, as the individual can no longer close the plastic bag and lift the bag with waste contained therein out of the receptacle.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for a waste receptacle that has integrated therewith a retaining device that will temporarily bias a liner, such as but not limited to a plastic trash bag, in close proximity to the opening of the container to facilitate the securing of the plastic bag during the process depositing waste into the receptacle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is the object of the present invention to provide a waste receptacle that has a plurality of retaining clips circumferentially disposed around the opening of the waste receptacle that will releasably secure a liner while the receptacle is in use.  
         [0006]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waste receptacle that is generally cylindrical in shape that includes a retaining ring that is releasably secured to the opening of the waste receptacle allowing a user to place a liner therebetween.  
         [0007]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a waste receptacle with a device that can releasably secure a liner proximate to the opening of the waste receptacle that is constructed of metal or plastic.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a waste receptacle with a device that can releasably secure a liner proximate to the opening of the waste receptacle that is easy to use.  
         [0009]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0010]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a detailed view of the attachment mechanism of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of the attachment mechanism of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Referring now to the embodiments in  FIGS. 1-4  and wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 3 , there is illustrated a waste receptacle  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention.  
         [0016]     The waste receptacle  100  comprises an outer wall  105  configured in a substantially perpendicular manner. The outer wall  105  is integrally mounted with a bottom  110  and configured therewith to define an interior volume and an opening  120  distally located in respect to the bottom. The outer wall  105  is generally cylindrical in shape and has an interior-facing surface  165  that is substantially lined with a liner  145 . The liner  145  is constructed of plastic or other flexible material such as but not limited to a plastic trash bag. Opposite the interior-facing surface  165  of the outer wall  105  is an exterior-facing surface  167 . The outer wall  105  and bottom  110  are manufactured from suitable durable material. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the outer wall  105  could be manufactured from plastic, metal, wood or other conventional materials. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the outer wall  105  could consist of a plurality of walls mounted at required angles to integrally form a storage compartment suitable for receiving objects therein. Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the waste receptacle  100  could be manufactured in a plurality of shapes. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the waste receptacle  100  could be manufactured to be oval or rectangular.  
         [0017]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , proximate to the opening  120  and circumferentially superposed on the outer wall  105  distal to the bottom  110  is an upper rim  115 . The upper rim  115  outwardly extends from the outer wall  105  in a substantially perpendicular manner. The upper rim  115  is integrally molded with the outer wall  105 . Contiguous with the upper rim  115  distally located from the outer wall  105 , the upper rim wall  117  extends downward from the upper rim  115  to be configured in a substantially parallel manner with respect to the outer wall  105 . The upper rim  115  functions as a support for the outward end  147  of the liner  145  upon insertion into the waste receptacle  100 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , proximate to the upper rim  115  and mounted to the exterior-facing surface  167  of the outer wall is a retaining clip  130 . The retaining clip  130  is secured to the outer wall  105  by conventional methods such as but not limited to mechanical or chemical methods. The retaining clip  130  comprises of a spring bracket  140  with an aperture  142  for receipt therein of a retaining arm  150 . The spring bracket  140  is manufactured from a conventional tensioned leaf spring or spring-loaded piano-style hinge. The retaining arm  150  is journaled through the aperture  142 . The retaining arm  150  is generally a U-shaped arm having 2 generally parallel rods  170  contiguous with and mounted substantially perpendicular to the connection portion  175  of the retaining arm  150 . The first ends of the connection portion  175  of the retaining arm  150  are journaled through the aperture  142  of the spring bracket  140 .  
         [0019]     The distal portion  152  of the retaining arm is contiguously formed with the parallel rods  170  and inwardly extends to engage with the upper rim  115  when the retaining clip  130  is in its first position. The retaining arm  150  is manufactured from suitable durable material such as but not limited to metal or plastic. The retaining clip  130  is biased in its first position by the spring bracket  140 . Surroundably mounted to the distal portion  152  of the retaining arm  150  a cushion  155 . The cushion  155  serves to protect the liner  145  from any damage that may occur when the retaining clip  130  is biased against the upper rim  115  with the outward end  147  of the liner  145  therebetween.  
         [0020]     The retaining clip  130  is temporarily secured into a second position whereby the distal portion  152  of the retaining arm  150  is rotated away from the upper rim  115 . In the second position a user can insert along the interior-facing surface  165  of the waste receptacle  100  a liner  145  and position the outward end  147  of the liner  145  adjacent to the upper rim  115 . Upon return to its first position, the retaining clip  130  biases the liner  145  against the upper rim  115  with the retaining arm  150  to secure the liner  145  while the waste receptacle  100  is in use. Although the embodiment in  FIG. 1  illustrates four retaining clips  130 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that as few as one retaining clip  130  would be necessary to perform the function suggested herein of the retaining clip  130 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the waste receptacle  200  comprises an outer wall  205  configured in a substantially perpendicular manner. The outer wall  205  is integrally mounted with a bottom  210  and configured therewith to define an interior volume and an opening  220  distally located with respect to the bottom  210 . The outer wall  205  is generally cylindrical in shape and has an interior-facing surface  265  that is substantially lined with a liner  255 . The liner  255  is constructed of plastic or other flexible material such as but not limited to a plastic trash bag. The outer wall  205  and bottom  210  are manufactured from suitable durable material. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the outer wall  205  could be manufactured from plastic, metal, wood or other conventional materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the outer wall  205  could consist of a plurality of walls mounted at required angles to integrally form a storage compartment suitable for receiving objects therein. Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the waste receptacle  200  could be manufactured in a plurality of shapes. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the waste receptacle  200  could be manufactured to be oval or rectangular.  
         [0022]     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , proximate to the opening  220  and circumferentially superposed on the outer wall  205  distal to the bottom  210  is an upper rim  215 . The upper rim  215  outwardly extends from the outer wall  205  in a substantially perpendicular manner with respect to the outer wall  205 . The upper rim  215  is integrally molded with the outer wall  205 . Contiguous with the upper rim  215  distal to the outer wall  205 , the upper rim wall  217  extends downward from the upper rim  215  and is configured in a substantially parallel manner with respect to the outer wall  205 . The upper rim  215  functions as a support for the outward end  247  of the liner  255  upon insertion into the waste receptacle  200 .  
         [0023]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , superposed to the upper rim  215  and generally circular in shape is the retaining ring  230 . The retaining ring  230  is configured to be of sufficient diameter to be releasably secured adjacent to the upper rim  215  of the waste receptacle. Although the retaining ring  230  is illustrated in the embodiment to be circular in shape, those skilled in the art will recognize that the retaining ring  230  could be manufactured in numerous different shapes in order to releasably secure to the shape of the upper rim  215  of the waste receptacle  200 . More specifically but not by way of limitation, the retaining ring could be rectangular or oval in shape.  
         [0024]     The retaining ring  230  is comprised of an upper wall  270  that is configured in a substantially planar manner. In the first position of the retaining ring  230 , the upper wall  270  is superposed to the upper rim  215  of the waste receptacle  200  when the retaining ring  230  is engaged with the waste receptacle. Contiguously mounted with the upper wall  270  and generally perpendicular thereto is a peripheral wall  245 . Integrally formed thereon the peripheral wall  245  distal to the upper wall is a keeper  250 . The keeper  250  is circumferentially mounted to the peripheral wall  245  distal to the upper wall  270  and is generally knob-shaped. The keeper  250  is designed to engage with the upper rim wall  217  along the outward edge  242  when the retaining ring  230  is placed in its first position. The keeper  250  protrudes inwardly towards the outer wall  205  to bias the retaining ring  230  in the first position and secure the outward end  247  of the liner  255  that is intermediate the retaining ring  230  and the upper rim  215 . In order to release the liner  255  from the waste receptacle  200 , the user disengages the retaining ring  230  from the waste receptacle  200  thereby placing the retaining ring  230  in its second position.  
         [0025]     The retaining ring  230  is manufactured from suitable durable conventional materials. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the retaining ring could be manufactured from plastic, metal or wood. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the retaining ring  230  could be made of plastic that contains a phosphorescent material. This would enable the retaining ring  230  to glow in the dark allowing the user to deposit debris into the waste receptacle without the assistance of artificial or natural light. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that numerous different sizes and colors of the waste receptacle  200  could be utilized and achieve the function suggested herein.  
         [0026]     Referring in particular to the drawings submitted herewith, a description of the operation of the waste receptacle  100  is as follows. In use, the user will place the retaining clips  130  in their second position thereby disengaging the retaining arm  150  from the upper rim  117 . The user then will insert and substantially dispose adjacent to the interior-facing surface  165  a liner  145 . Next, the user positions the outward end  147  of the liner  145  adjacent to the upper rim  115 . The retaining clips  130  are then placed in their first position in order to temporarily secure the liner  145 , more specifically, the outward end  147 , from entering the waste receptacle  100  via the opening while in use. Subsequent to the deposit of debris into the waste receptacle  100 , the user positions the retaining clips  130  to their second position allowing the removal of the liner with the debris contained therein.  
         [0027]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.