Abstract:
An Improved diaper container to temporarily store soiled diapers, before disposing of or washing. The dirty diaper freezer, employing a quiet mechanical refrigeration system, produces temperatures at or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) to retard and stop the growth of bacteria thereby getting rid of the unpleasant gasses and odors stemming from activity and growth of bacteria.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This version of the invention is concerned with the field of storage devices for dirty diapers. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with a diaper freezer into which dirty diapers can be frozen and stored before washing or disposing so as to eliminate unpleasant odors that would otherwise emanate from dirty diapers stored at ambient room temperature.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     After disposable, reusable or washable cloth diapers are used, said diapers are usually stored before washing in a hamper, laundry basket, or the like. Inevitably, such diapers, which have become soiled during use, emanate unpleasant odors from bacteria deposited thereon. Such diapers are stored in containers or receptacles that are usually not airtight as a certain amount of infiltration or air exchange is necessary to ventilate the interior thereof so as to prevent moisture and mold from accumulating thereon. However, such containers or receptacles while permitting infiltration or air exchange for ventilation also allow the unpleasant odors of soiled diapers to reach the ambient spaces and rooms around said containers or receptacles. These impart a disagreeable experience to those people living in those spaces or rooms. If the diapers are not washed, laundered or disposed of soon after being placed in a storage receptacle or container, the odors emanating from them will worsen. This situation will intensify in ambient spaces or rooms of high temperature or humidity as such conditions promote the growth of bacteria deposited upon the diapers, sometimes leading to unhealthful situations.  
         [0003]     Various strategies and devices have been employed to retard, confine, or eliminate the unpleasant odors emanating from soiled diapers. A popular strategy is to disinfect diapers before washing. Diapers are also confined in containers or receptacles with reduced ventilation, which prevent unpleasant odors from escaping into the ambient spaces around the container but suffer from the disadvantage of providing an environment amenable to increased moisture and mold.  
         [0004]     The subject of the instant invention presents a dirty diaper freezer for storing a quantity of diapers therein at a temperature at or below freezing (32 deg. F.) so as to virtually eliminate unpleasant odors emanating from soiled diapers. The dirty diaper freezer, employing an efficient, quiet mechanical refrigeration system, produces temperatures at or below freezing to retard and stop the growth of bacteria, thereby getting rid of the unpleasant gases and odors stemming from activity and growth of bacteria.  
       DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0005]     Numerous designs for diaper storage devices have been provided in the prior art. Even though these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present version of the invention as such designs are intended for storage of either clean or soiled diapers with no provision for reducing unpleasant odors emanating from soiled diapers. Dirty diaper storage devices that are intended to eliminate unpleasant odors do not have the ability to produce freezing temperatures for maximum odor reduction, means to sufficiently reject heat drawn from receptacle or container storing dirty diapers, or operate at reduced or low ambient sound levels. These designs are exemplified by the following patents:  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,852, Refrigerated Garbage Storage Device, issued to Palmer on 3 Jul. 1962;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,030, Garbage Receptacle With Refrigerating Unit, issued to Brewton on 15 Dec. 1964, a design that only cools the contents stored therein and employs a noise-producing condenser fan;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,845, Diaper Dispensing And Disposal Unit, issued to Schnurer et al. on 17 Nov. 1987;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,238, Carrying Device, issued to Widinski et al. on 16 May 1989;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,055, Diaper Container, issued to Samson et al. on 15 Sep. 1992;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,199, Temporary Diaper Storage Container, issued to Pontius on 27 Oct. 1992;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,393, Refrigerated Waste Container With Germicidal Lamp, issued to Lott on 26 Jan. 1993, a design that does not employ a heat rejecting condenser, thereby limiting its ability to cool contents stored therein;  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,891, Sanitary Control Device, issued to Wiersma on 25 Aug. 1998; and  
         [0000]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,103, Diaper Dispensing And Disposal Apparatus, issued to Silvers on 1 Apr. 2003.  
         [0006]     As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved dirty diaper freezer, which has the capacity to store an optimum quantity of soiled diapers therein at freezing or sub-freezing temperatures and to maintain said temperatures indefinitely by use of an efficient condenser that rejects heat without a noise-producing fan. In these respects, the present version of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein.  
         [0007]     The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present version of the invention, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, relates to the field of storage devices for dirty diapers. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with a diaper freezer into which dirty diapers can be frozen and stored before washing or disposing of so as to eliminate unpleasant odors that would otherwise emanate from dirty diapers stored at ambient room temperature. My version of the invention overcomes all of the shortcomings listed previously, in addition to novel aspects that will be described in detail hereinafter.  
         [0009]     Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment, the invention presents a dirty diaper freezer that consists of a rectangular storage container and a lid hingedly attached to the top of said container; a diaper storage cavity located within said container, and a mechanical refrigeration system producing freezing or sub-freezing temperatures within said cavity. The container is comprised of four exterior sidewalls, a bottom sidewall connected to said exterior sidewalls, and a base; a top sidewall, four lateral sidewalls and a bottom sidewall enclosing the cavity; and four internal lateral sidewalls and a connected bottom sidewall between the exterior sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall of the container and lateral sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall enclosing the cavity. A second cavity is located between the lateral sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall enclosing the cavity and four internal lateral sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall. A third cavity is located between the four exterior sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall of the container and four internal lateral sidewalls and connected bottom sidewall.  
         [0010]     A mechanical refrigeration compressor is located upon the bottom sidewall of the container below the diaper storage cavity. An evaporator cooling coil, located within the second cavity, surrounds the lateral sidewalls enclosing the diaper storage cavity, and a high capacity, heat-rejecting condenser coil is located upon the bottom sidewall of the container at the bottom of the front sidewall of said container. A slotted vent is attached to the bottom of the front sidewall over the condenser coil. Heat rejected by the high capacity condenser coil passes through the slots into the ambient environment.  
         [0011]     A temperature thermostat or sensor is centrally located within the lid and is connected to the compressor. The sensor can be adjusted to control operation of the compressor in order to obtain a desired freezing or sub-freezing temperature within the diaper storage cavity. If the ambient temperature of the diaper storage cavity exceeds the setpoint of the sensor, the sensor transmits said temperature to the compressor, which is activated to deliver liquid cooling refrigerant to the evaporator cooling coil. The compressor continues to operate until temperature within the diaper storage cavity reaches setpoint of temperature sensor. Heat drawn from the diaper storage cavity is rejected by the high capacity condenser in an efficient, noise-free manner without use of a conventional, noise-producing condenser fan.  
         [0012]     My invention, therefore, resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed. It is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.  
         [0013]     In order that the detailed description of the invention may be better understood and that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated, additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods and structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0014]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0015]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.  
         [0016]     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0017]     Accordingly, it is an object of my version of the invention to provide a low-cost, easy-to-manufacture, and easy-to-market dirty diaper freezer.  
         [0018]     A further object of my version of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use and versatile dirty diaper freezer.  
         [0019]     A significant object of the invention is to provide a dirty diaper freezer that is comprised of a rectangular container with lid hingedly attached at the top end thereof, a diaper storage cavity located within said container, and a mechanical refrigeration system capable of cooling diapers stored within said cavity at or below freezing temperatures.  
         [0020]     A final but very significant object of the invention is to provide a dirty diaper freezer having the capacity to store an optimum quantity of soiled diapers therein at freezing or sub-freezing temperatures and to maintain said temperatures indefinitely by use of an efficient high capacity condenser that rejects heat without a noise-producing fan.  
         [0021]     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more fully understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a dirty diaper freezer in accordance with the present version of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a dirty diaper freezer with a lid thereof in an upright, opened position in accordance with the present version of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view in partial cross-section of a dirty diaper freezer in accordance with the present version of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a dirty diaper freezer along line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the present version of the invention.  
     
    
     DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
           10  Dirty Diaper freezer  
           12  Container  
           14  Front Sidewall  
           16  Vent  
           18  Slot  
           20  Lateral Sidewall  
           22  Rear Sidewall  
           24  Base  
           26  Lid  
           28  Hinge  
           30  Seal  
           32  Protuberance  
           34  Cavity  
           36  Top Sidewall  
           38  Lateral Sidewall  
           40  First Bottom Sidewall  
           42  Inner Lateral Sidewall  
           44  Second Bottom Sidewall  
           46  Cavity  
           48  Evaporator Coil  
           50  Insulation  
           52  Third Bottom Sidewall  
           54  Cavity  
           56  Fourth Bottom Sidewall  
           58  Compressor  
           60  Foot  
           62  Liquid Line  
           64  Connection  
           66  Thermal Expansion Valve  
           68  Line  
           70  Condenser Coil  
           72  Bracket  
           74  Hot Gas Line  
           76  Solenoid  
           78  Tube  
           80  Connection  
           82  Connection  
           84  Sensor  
           86  Line  
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0000]     Description  
         [0066]     Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIG. 1  wherein there is illustrated a typical embodiment of the dirty diaper freezer  10 . The present version of the invention  10  consists of a rectangular container  12  having a front sidewall  14  with vent  16  at the bottom end thereof, said vent  16  having a series of slots  18  located therein, first and second opposed lateral sidewalls  20 , and a rear sidewall  22 . The container  12  sits upright upon a rectangular base  24 . A lid  26  is pivotally attached to the top of the container  12  by hinges  28  located at the top end of the rear sidewall  22  of said container  12 . The base  24  possesses a smaller footprint or perimeter than that lid  26 . The smaller footprint of the base  24  allows the dirty diaper freezer  10  to be located in relatively confined areas.  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , therein illustrated is the dirty diaper freezer  10  with the lid  26  disposed upright in an opened position. A rectangular seal  30  is located on the bottom side of the lid  26 , and a protuberance  32  extends for some distance beyond the seal  30 . The perimeter of the seal  30  is slightly less than the perimeter of the lid  26 . In this manner, a gap or space is created when the lid  26  is closed upon the top of the container walls  14 ,  20 ,  22 , which allows fingers to be inserted into said gap under the lid  26  to facilitate opening of said lid  26 .  
         [0068]     The interior of the container  12  contains or encloses a cavity  34 . The cavity  34  is defined in part by a top sidewall  36  and four lateral sidewalls  38 . The top sidewall  36  is located adjacent to the top ends of the front sidewall  14 , first and second opposed lateral sidewalls  20 , and rear sidewall  22  of said container  12 . The lateral sidewalls  38  extend downwardly for some distance in narrowing fashion from the top sidewall  36  to a bottom sidewall connected to bottom end of said lateral sidewalls  38 .  
         [0069]     The perimeter of the cavity  34  at the top sidewall  36  thereof is slightly less than the perimeter of the protuberance  32 . In this manner, when the lid  26  is closed upon the container  12 , the lateral sidewalls  38  of the cavity  34  at the top sidewall  36  thereof receive the protuberance  32  in frictional engagement. As such, the seal  30  and protuberance  32  create an airtight lock over the cavity  34  when the lid  26  is closed upon the top of the container  12 . The volume of the cavity  34  is sufficient to hold therein the optimum number of diapers both in terms of typical rates of use and in conformance with the freezing capacity of the mechanical refrigeration system of the dirty diaper freezer  10 .  
         [0070]     In  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the interior components of the dirty diaper freezer  10  are illustrated. A bottom sidewall  40 , located at the bottom of the cavity  34 , communicates with lateral sidewalls  38  thereof. Four inner lateral sidewalls  42  are located between the lateral sidewalls  38  of the cavity  34  and exterior sidewalls  14 ,  20 ,  22  of the container  12 . A bottom sidewall  44  is connected to the four inner lateral sidewalls  42 . As such, a second cavity  46  is created by the top sidewall  36 , lateral sidewalls  38  and bottom sidewall  40  of the first cavity  34  and by the inner lateral sidewalls  42  and bottom sidewall  44 . An evaporator cooling  48  coil and insulation  50  are located within the second cavity  46 . The coil  48  wraps around the lateral sidewalls  38  of the first cavity  34  to draw heat therefrom.  
         [0071]     A third bottom sidewall  52  is located below the second bottom sidewall  44  and is connected to adjacent interior sections of the exterior sidewalls  14 ,  20 ,  22  of the container  12 . As such, a third cavity  54  is created by the top sidewall  36  of the first cavity  34 , inner lateral sidewalls  42  and connected bottom sidewall  44 , and exterior sidewalls  14 ,  20 ,  22  of the container  12  and third bottom sidewall  52 .  
         [0072]     A fourth bottom sidewall  56  is disposed at some distance below the third bottom sidewall  52 , directly over the base  24  of the container  12 . A compressor  58  with shock-absorbing feet  60  is attached to the fourth bottom sidewall  56 . As a component of the mechanical refrigeration cycle employed by the dirty diaper freezer  10 , the compressor  58  possesses appropriate cooling capacity in terms of BTUs sufficient to draw heat from within the cavity  34  and maintain the temperature within said cavity  34  at or below freezing (32 deg. F.) In this version of the invention, the compressor  58  employs scroll compression technology, although other forms of refrigerant gas compression may be used. The compressor  58  may be powered by conventional electric house power (110 VAC) with a power line (not shown) extending from the dirty diaper freezer  10  for attachment to a conventional electric house receptacle or by some form of portable electric power, such as internal batteries, or the like.  
         [0073]     A refrigerant liquid line  62  at a first end thereof is attached to and extends from the compressor  58  and at a second, opposed end is attached to the evaporator cooling coil  48  at connection  64 . A thermal expansion valve  66  with sensor line  68  is located on the refrigerant liquid line  62  between the compressor  58  and connection  64  to the evaporator cooling coil  48 . The valve  66  regulates flow of liquid refrigerant from the compressor  58  to the evaporator cooling coil  48  in response to information delivered by sensor line  68  connected to said evaporator cooling coil  48 . The sensor line  68  detects interior conditions of said evaporator cooling coil  48  and delivers information on such to adjust opening and closing of the thermal expansion valve  66 .  
         [0074]     A high capacity heat-rejecting condenser coil  70  is located within the container  12  below the front sidewall  14  thereof behind the vent  16 . The condenser coil  70  is situated in position by first and second opposed brackets  72  to facilitate maximum rejection of heat. A hot gas line  74  at a first end thereof is attached to and extends from the compressor  58  for some distance until attachment to the condenser coil  70  at a second, opposed end thereof. A solenoid  76  is located on the hot gas line  74  between the compressor  58  and condenser coil  70 . An elongate tube  78 , located within the third cavity  54 , is attached at a first end to the evaporator cooling coil  48  at connection  80  under the top sidewall  36  of the cavity  34  and at a second, opposed end to the condenser coil  70  at connection  82 . Vaporized refrigerant leaves the evaporator cooling coil  48  at connection  80  and is drawn by the compressor  58  down the tube  78  to connection  82  for entry into the condenser coil  70  for rejection of absorbed heat and subsequent condensing of hot refrigerant gas to liquid. Rejected heat passes through the slots  18  of the vent  16  located at the bottom end of the front sidewall  14  of the container  12 .  
         [0075]     A freezer thermostat or temperature sensor  84  is located within the lid  26  and is connected to the compressor  58  by a data line  86 . When the lid  26  is closed, the sensor  84  detects the temperature within the cavity  34 . As heat rises, the location of the sensor  84  within the lid  26  allows said sensor  84  to detect the warmest temperature within the cavity  34  so as to maintain optimal freezing temperature within said cavity  34 .  
         [0076]     Depending upon the setpoint of the sensor  84 , the compressor  58  responds appropriately to the ambient temperature of the cavity  34 . For instance, if the ambient temperature of the cavity  34  is above the setpoint of the sensor  84 , the compressor  58  operates to deliver refrigerant into the evaporator cooling coil  48  to draw heat from within the cavity  34 . Conversely, if the ambient temperature of the cavity  34  is at or below the setpoint of the sensor  84 , the compressor  58  remains inactive. As necessary, the setpoint of the sensor  84  can be adjusted to accommodate varying diaper loads or ambient temperature and humidity (enthalpy) of the surrounding environment in which the dirty diaper freezer  10  is located.  
         [0077]     While this version of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the version of the invention are desired to be protected. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
       CONCLUSION AND SCOPE OF INVENTION  
       [0078]     From the foregoing, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that an improved dirty diaper freezer has been provided. The invention is relatively simple and easy to manufacture, yet affords a variety of uses. While my description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the version of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the preferred embodiment thereof. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.