Abstract:
A trash receptacle having a trash bag or liner attached thereto. The trash receptacle includes an evacuation device designed to evacuate or depressurize the area between the trash receptacle and the trash bag upon insertion of the trash bag within the receptacle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field 
   The present invention generally relates to receptacles used to hold various items which utilize an inner protective liner. More specifically, the present invention relates to trash receptacles having a trash bag fitted therein and a mechanism adapted to evacuate air from the area between the bag and receptacle. 
   2. Background 
   Receptacles are well known in the art and are used to hold and store a variety of items. One such receptacle common in the art is a trash receptacle. In household applications, it has been found desirable to fit a trash bag within the receptacle to facilitate easy removal and disposal of the contents accumulated therein while also preventing leakage within the trash receptacle. Once filled, removal of the trash bag is often resisted by a vacuum created between the bag and the trash receptacle. As one attempts to remove the trash bag, this vacuum impedes removal of the trash bag. 
   To overcome this problem several references have suggested a variety of solutions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,717 to LeVasseur suggests incorporating openings in the lower portion of the trash receptacle to break the seal thus allow the trash bag to be easily removed rather than become suctioned to the container. Although this design may operate effectively for its intended purpose, it does so by compromising the integrity of the trash receptacle. In the event that the trash bag is perforated, trash or debris may leak from the can. In addition, bugs and external contaminates may freely enter the receptacle through the hole. 
   Other references suggest devices which both break the seal between the trash bag and the receptacle while also deflecting fluid away from the openings formed in the receptacle. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,755 to McArthur Jr. et al. describes a trash receptacle having a central stalk with a dome shaped roof overhang. In addition to breaking the seal between the trash bag and the receptacle upon removal of the trash bag as in the &#39;717 patent, the dome shaped roof deflects fluid and debris away from the vent holes. Although adequately deflecting fluid, the stalk and domed roof reduces the overall volume of the receptacle. Moreover, the stalk and roof presents a complicated geometry which itself may snag or perforate the liner. 
   Other references broadly disclose a trash receptacle which vents the inner cavity about the upper periphery of the receptacle such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,571 to Brooks et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,732 to Bowers et al. The &#39;571 patent describes a trash receptacle with dual side walls which define an air passage therebetween. The base of the inner wall has apertures which are in communication with the air passage permitting air trapped within the receptacle to escape. The device suggested in the &#39;732 patent has an air conduit extending from the base to the upper periphery of the receptacle. The conduit has a plurality of openings formed along its length. Both of these devices may assist in breaking a vacuum within the receptacle; however, they are difficult to manufacture and reduce the overall volume of the receptacle. 
   Still other devices have been suggested using one-way valves to allow entry of air into the receptacle upon removal of the trash bag while sealing the receptacle in the event that air is forced in the opposite direction. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,760 to Nicoll, Sr. et al. discloses a trash receptacle having a flexible flapper valve which covers air holes in the base of the trash can. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,269,434 and 5,390,818 to LaBuda disclose a trash receptacle having a one-way duckbill valve. 
   Although the above described devices suggest various solutions to breaking the vacuum of a trash receptacle, none of these devices even recognize the problem associated with inserting the trash bag. When inserting a trash bag, the area between the trash receptacle and trash bag becomes pressurized. Although openings in the trash receptacle may provide some assistance, they do not positively assist in evacuating air trapped between the bag and receptacle. The user would still need to physically force the bag into the receptacle and expel the air trapped within the receptacle which often requires substantial labor and bending over at the waist which may be difficult for older users. As discussed above, openings in the trash receptacle compromise the integrity of the trash receptacle. In the event that the trash bag is perforated, trash or debris may leak from the can. In addition, bugs and external contaminates may freely enter the receptacle through the openings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention attempts to overcome the deficiencies present in the prior art. 
   An object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a vented receptacle; 
   Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to prevent leakage and isolate the contents of the receptacle; and 
   Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a vent which evacuates air from between the liner and the receptacle. 
   In accordance with one exemplary embodiment constructed in accordance with certain teachings of the present disclosure, an assembly is provided having a receptacle. The receptacle includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. Together the bottom wall and the side wall define an inner cavity to receive trash, debris, or other objects. To isolate the objects contained within the receptacle, a liner or trash bag may be inserted into the inner cavity of the trash receptacle. 
   The assembly further includes an evacuation device such as a bellows attached to the receptacle. The bellows is in fluid communication with the inner cavity to evacuate air therefrom. Preferably, the bellows is disposed below the receptacle with a base to support the bellows and receptacle. The base may be either a separate member or integrally formed with the bellows. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the trash receptacle includes an indentation terminating at an ear that extends from the bottom wall of the receptacle. A bellows is placed on the ear and extends at least partially within the indentation. The indentation permits access to the bellows by the user. 
   In another embodiment, an assembly is provided having a receptacle and a separate bellows having a pair of one-way valves. In still yet another embodiment, an assembly is provided having a receptacle and an electronic evacuation device. The electronic evacuation device may be integral to the receptacle or a separate member. As a separate member, the electronic evacuation device is connected to the receptacle via a tube. This invention contemplates that the electronic evacuation device may be either a unidirectional or bidirectional pump. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify identical elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a one-way valve; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view of a valve and associated plug of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with a bellows shown in an expanded orientation; 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with a bellows shown in a compressed orientation; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the base of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the receptacle of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial cross sectional view of the receptacle of  FIG. 10  along line A-A of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the bellows of the assembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a side cross sectional view of the bellows of  FIG. 12  along line B-B; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a side cross sectional view of the receptacle of  FIG. 15  along line C-C; 
       FIG. 17  is a partial side cross-sectional view of the receptacle of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a sixth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the bellows of the sixth alternative embodiment. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   As best appreciated with reference to  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides an assembly  10  having a receptacle  12  wth a trash bag or liner  18  (shown in  FIG. 16 ) inserted therein. The trash liner  18  is sized to be securely fitted to the receptacle  12  to isolate trash or debris contained therein as is well know in the art. The receptacle  12  is coupled to an evacuation device  14  which is supported by a base  16 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , the receptacle  12  has a bottom wall  20  with an undercut  22  about the periphery of the bottom wall  20  and hole  24  extending through the bottom wall  20 . The receptacle  12  also includes upstanding side walls  26  which terminate at an upper lip  28  which provides structural rigidity to the receptacle  12  and also serves to retain the trash liner  18  (shown in  FIG. 16 ) as the liner  18  is stretched over the upper lip  28 . A pair of scalloped portions  30  are recessed into the side walls  26  and terminate at a ledge  32  thus forming a pair of handles  34  (only one shown). 
   The evacuation device  14  includes a bellows  36  and a spring  38  disposed within the bellows  36 . The bellows  36  has a pair of annular rings  37  and holes  76  (only one shown in  FIG. 2 ). The evacuation device  14  also includes a first valve  40  and a second valve  41 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the assembly  10  has a plug  42  with ribs  44  and a centrally disposed aperture  46 . The plug  42  is configured to be fitted into hole  70  and hole  76  to secure the bellows  36  and base  16  together. The ribs  44  are provided to permit airflow and prevent something from easily sealing the evacuation device  14 . When in use, the ribs  44  prevent the plug  42  from sealing against the floor. Each valve  40 ,  41  has a first housing  48  with an internal conduit  54  and second housing  50  with an internal conduit  56 , The first housing  48  and second housing  50  are coupled together with a flapper valve  52  contained in an internal cavity  58  formed therebetween. The flapper valve  52  includes an annular ring  60  connected to a membrane  62  by an integral hinge  64 . The flapper valve  52  is oriented such that when air is forced into the first housing  48  the integral hinge  64  opens to permit airflow through the valve  40 ,  41 . When air is forced into the second housing  50 , the integral hinge  64  closes such that the membrane  62  seals against the internal conduit  54  to prevent airflow through the valve  40 ,  41 . A gasket  66  is fitted about the first housing  48  and inserted into the aperture  46  to provide a hermetic seal between the plug  42  and the valve  40 ,  41 . 
   The base  16  has a hole  70  with an undercut  72  adapted to securely engage with the one annular ring  37  of bellows  36  while undercut  22  of receptacle  12  sealingly engages with the other annular ring  37  (not shown) of bellows  36 . About the periphery of the base  16  is a plurality of channels  74  to permit air to pass out from below the base  16 . The bellows has a pair of holes  76  sized to receive and for a substantially hermetic seal with the plug  42 . The first valve  40  is oriented to permit airflow out of the receptacle  12  through the hole  24  while resisting airflow into the receptacle through the hole  24 . The second valve  41  is oriented to permit airflow out of the bellows  36  and into the external environment. As the bellows  36  is operated, air is removed from the interior of the receptacle  12  and expelled into the environment. When a liner  18  is secured to the receptacle  12 , the evacuation device  14  evacuates air captured between the receptacle  12  and the liner  18  to permit the liner  18  to conform to the interior of the receptacle  12 . 
   An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-9 , the assembly  10  includes a support structure to provide additional structural integrity to the assembly  10  including a plurality of tabs  78 ,  82  and recesses  80 ,  84 . The assembly  10  of this embodiment also includes a plurality of tabs  78  and recesses  80  formed on the receptacle  12 . In addition, the base  16  includes corresponding tabs  82  and recesses  84 . As the receptacle  12  is filled with debris, the tabs  78  on the receptacle  12  abut the tabs  82  on the base  16 . This embodiment allows the weight of the receptacle  12  to be directly transmitted to the base  16  and reduce fatigue on the spring  38  which would occur due to the weight of the debris in the receptacle  12 . In addition, this embodiment increases the stability of the assembly  10  during operation by the user. To operate the evacuation device  14 , the user simply rotates the receptacle  12  relative to base  16 . Once the tabs  78  are aligned with recesses  84  and tabs  82  are aligned with recesses  80 , the assembly  10  permits the axial freedom of motion to facilitate axially pumping the bellows  36  to evacuate any air trapped between the receptacle  12  and liner  18 . Tabs  78 ,  82  and recesses  80 ,  84  of this embodiment assist in maintaining alignment between the base  16  and receptacle  12  such that the force exerted upon the receptacle by the user is transmitted axially through the assembly rather than permitting the receptacle  12  to torque relative to the base  16  and become unstable. 
   A second alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment of the invention, the receptacle  12  has a concave region  86  with a base  16  and a bellows  36  fitted at least partially within the concave region  86 . The concave portion  86  permits access to the bellows  36  by the user. The valves  40 ,  41  extend inwardly from the base  16 . As best appreciated with reference to  FIG. 11 , this embodiment also includes a pressurization device  88 . The pressurization device  88  includes a one-way valve  90  having a surface  92  and a stem  94  with a hook portion  96 . The hook portion  96  is fitted into an opening  98  in the receptacle  12  to secure the one-way valve  90  in place. About the opening  98  is a plurality of air passages  100 . The pressurization device  88  operates to release the vacuum created between the liner  18  and the receptacle  12  as the user removes the liner  18  from the receptacle  12 . 
   To prevent fluid or other debris which may escape from the liner  18  to clog the pressurization device  88 , the one-way valve  90  is located on a domed portion  102  formed in the receptacle  12 . The domed portion  102  operates to direct liquid debris or trash away from the pressurization device  88 . To insure that air can freely pass into and out of the receptacle  12 , the receptacle  12  has channels  104  formed into the bottom wall  20  of the receptacle  12 . The channels  104  extend from the domed portion  102  to the periphery of the bottom wall  20 . Although the pressurization device  88  has been discussed with particular reference to the second alternative embodiment, one skilled in the art can best appreciate that this feature may be incorporated into any of the embodiments described herein. 
   A third alternative embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , this alternative embodiment incorporates the unique features of the present invention into a receptacle  12  having a rectangular cross-section. As in the previous embodiments, the receptacle of this embodiment has a bottom wall  20  and upstanding side walls  26  terminating at an upper lip  28 . The side walls  26  have a pair of legs  106  which extend downwardly to provide additional support to the assembly  10 . This embodiment also includes a base  16 , and an evacuation device  14  having a bellows  36  supported on the base  16 . One unique feature of this embodiment is that it includes a pedal  108  to actuate the bellows  36 . As is well know in the art, pedal  108  provides mechanical advantage to the user. As seen in  FIG. 14 , the pedal  108  is pivotably connected to the base  16  via a pair of hinged projections  110  coupled together with a pin  112 . 
   In the third alternative embodiment, the first valve  40  has a similar construction as the previous embodiments; however, the second valve  41  is shown having a different construction than in the previous embodiments. The second valve  41  of this embodiment has a plug  114  fitted into a hole  118  in the base  16 . The plug  114  extends into and seals a hole  118  with the bellows  36 . The plug  114  includes an aperture  120  into which a one-way valve  122  is fitted. About the aperture  120  is a plurality of passages  124  to permit unidirectional airflow out of the bellows  36 . 
   A fourth alterative embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . In the fourth alternative embodiment, the evacuation device  14  is a bellows  36  that is spaced from the receptacle  12  and connected via a tube  126  and includes a pressurization device  88  as shown in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 18  shows a fifth embodiment of the invention wherein the evacuation device  14  is a pump  128  connected via a tube  126 . One of ordinary skill in the art can best appreciate that the pump  128  may be unidirectional to draw air out from within the receptacle  12  or may be bidirectional to both draw air out of the receptacle  12  to assist with insertion of the liner  18  and force air into the receptacle  12  to assist in removal of the liner  18  from the receptacle  12 . In addition, the pump  128  may be coupled to the receptacle  12  (not shown). 
   As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , a sixth alternative embodiment has a bellows  36  which engage with integral hooks  130  which engage attachment holes  132  formed in the bottom of the receptacle  12 . This embodiment allows for the bellows to be attached to recteptacles  12  which does not have an undercut. This embodiment allows the present invention to be utilized on current receptacles with minimum alteration. Rather than having to modify the receptacle to include an undercut, the user would merely form a hole  24  and a plurality of attachment holes  132  in the receptacle  12 . 
   Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, modifications may be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention. For instance, the present invention has described the particular configuration of the first valve, the second valve, and the one-way valve. The principle operation of these devices is to permit airflow in one direction and resist airflow in the opposite direction. One of ordinary skill in the art can best appreciate that the there are a variety of devices which can achieve this function such as duck bill valves, one-way flapper valves, pumps and the like. The present invention anticipates the substitution of these various other devices without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be limited only by the following claims.