Abstract:
A diaper pail is provided including an outer body, an inner body, a lid, a pedal, and an eccentrically driven ring. The pedal is drivingly connected to the driven ring. A disposal bag is removably affixed to the driven ring. A first actuation of the pedal rotates the driven ring in a predetermined direction and lifts the lid. Removal of the actuating force upon the pedal causes the lid to descend, and the driven ring to rotate further in the predetermined direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention generally relates to containers, and more specifically, to a container for insulating odors of its contents.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     As known to new parents, babies generate significant waste, and much of the waste is malodorous. Diapers rapidly pile up and while one diaper may have only a slightly unpleasant odor, the existence of several diapers compounds the problem.  
         [0003]     One solution to the odor problem is simply removing each diaper and immediately placing in a garbage bucket outside the home. While effective, this solution leads to numerous trips to the dumpster, and is not particularly easy while simultaneously caring for the baby.  
         [0004]     Other solutions have been proposed, and met with significant commercial success. These solutions tend to provide a specialized garbage can designed to seal odor inside.  
         [0005]     For example, the Diaper Champ® is a garbage can with a lid. The Diaper Champ lid includes a weighted plunger disposed in a diaper channel. The lid diaper channel is held inside a rotatable port. A diaper is inserted into the channel, and the port is rotated, causing the plunger to force the diaper into a disposal bag. However, the Diaper Champ requires use of a hand to operate the port.  
         [0006]     In another example, the Diaper Genie® is somewhat similar. The Diaper Genie includes a pail portion with a lid. The lid may be actuated by a foot pedal, or by lifting the lid. A dirty diaper is placed in a receptacle, manually pressed down and rotated to encase the dirty diaper in a closely wrapped portion of the bag. The result is similar to a diaper “sausage.” 
         [0007]     The present invention advances the art.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The invention provides a disposal can including an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall carried within the outer wall. The invention further includes a lid hingedly affixed to one portion of the outer wall at an upper position on the outer wall, a pedestal affixed to a lower position on the outer wall and affixed to at least one of the inner wall and outer wall and a pedal operably connected to a driving rod at a base end. The rod is disposed between the inner wall and outer wall and operably and eccentrically connected to a ring at a rotation end by at least one gripping connector.  
         [0009]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a gripping connector in accordance with one aspect of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a device in accordance with one aspect of the invention  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one embodiment of driving gear for the device in accordance with one aspect of the invention  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of one embodiment of a pail in accordance with one aspect of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a back view of one embodiment of a pail in accordance with one aspect of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a lid in accordance with one aspect of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view of one embodiment of a pulley with clips in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a gripping connector in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The gripping connector is configured so that two connectors are offset such that vertical rotation of a first connector  101  disposed translates into horizontal rotation of the second connector  102 . In one embodiment, first connector includes a gripping surface  103 . In one embodiment, gripping surface  103  comprises teeth. In another embodiment, gripping surface  103  is knurled. In another embodiment, gripping surface  103  comprises a surface with relatively high friction, such as rubber. In another embodiment, second connector  102  includes a complementary surface to connect with gripping surface  103 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the second connector  102  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The second connector  102  is illustrated as substantially oval in  FIG. 2 , although other configurations are envisioned.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the first connector  101  illustrated in  FIG. 1  eccentrically attached to a driving rod  104 . Actuation of driving rod  104  causes first connector  101  to rotate in an eccentric fashion. Not illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a pedal operably connected to driving rod  104  to actuate movement of the driving rod  104  and rotate the first connector  101 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a canister in accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention. As shown at  400 , the canister  10  includes a pedestal  405 , a lid  410  and an outer wall  420 . Canister  10  further includes a pedal  430  which is operably attached to a rod (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). In one embodiment, scent device  403  is operably attached to pedal  430 . When actuated by pedal  430  in such embodiments, scent device  430  releases a predetermined scent. Pedestal  405  is connected to at least one of the inner wall and outer wall  420 . In another embodiment, the lid  410  is rotatably affixed to at least one portion of the outer wall  420  at an upper position on the outer wall.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a back view of the canister in accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention. As shown at  500 , the canister  10  includes hinge  525  in addition to pedestal  405 , lid  410  and outer wall  420 . Hinge  525  hingedly attaches lid  410  to outer wall  420 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of a lid in accordance with another aspect of the invention at  600 . The lid  410  includes protrusion  655 . In one embodiment, protrusion  655  is coaxial with at least one of an inner wall and an outer wall. In another embodiment, the center point of protrusion  655  is located at substantially the center of the outer wall diameter. In one embodiment, protrusion  655  is shaped substantially hyperbolically. In one embodiment, protrusion  655  is shaped substantially parabolically. In one embodiment, protrusion  655  is shaped substantially sinuously.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a pulley in accordance with one aspect of the invention at  700 . Pulley  700  includes chain  760  and clips  765  operably attached along chain  760 . Clips  765  are configured to clip to a bag. Chain  760  is configured, in one embodiment, to rotate clips  765 . Chain  760  is operably attached to pedal  430  such that actuation of pedal  430  rotates chain  760  and moves clips  765 . In one embodiment, chain  760  is ratchetedly connected to pedal  430 .  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, the gripping connector is disposed substantially near the top of the canister, and configured so that the gripping connector rotates near the top of the canister. In other embodiments, the gripping connector is disposed not substantially near the top, and may be configured so that rotation occurs substantially near the center, or substantially near the bottom of the canister. In yet other embodiments, the gripping connector is attached to a pulley similar to that described in  FIG. 7  such that rotation of the gripping connector takes place at variable positions along an axis of the connector.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, the canister is top loading, such that the lid is configured to create an access gap that is coaxial with the inner and outer walls. In another embodiment, the canister is configured to be side loading, such that an access gap is perpendicular to the axis of the inner and outer walls, and the access gap comprises a gap created in the inner and outer walls.  
         [0026]     In another embodiment, a bag is clipped into a gripping mechanism that translates vertically along the height of a canister, while rotating about its axis. In such embodiment, the gripping mechanism translates in a “screw” fashion, and is configured to reach a lower portion of the canister when the bag is full. Actuation of the foot pedal causes the gripping mechanism to rotate and translate vertically. In some embodiments, the interface between the gripping mechanism and the canister is ratcheted in such a fashion. Further, the bag and gripping mechanism may insertable into the canister such that the gripping mechanism is affixed to the bag and is disposable with the bag.  
         [0027]     In certain embodiments, rotation of the gripping mechanism is governed by a system comprising a pair of opposing driving rods. The driving rods are configured such that actuation of the foot pedal drives one rod to rotate the gripping mechanism in a first direction while simultaneously driving the second rod to an intermediate position. When pressure is removed from the foot pedal, the second rod releases from the intermediate position, rotating the gripping mechanism further in the first direction.  
         [0028]     The above-described device is an example device, illustrating one possible approach for a diaper pail with odor protection. The actual implementation may vary from the device discussed. Moreover, various other improvements and modifications to this invention may occur to those skilled in the art, and those improvements and modifications will fall within the scope of this invention as set forth in the claims below.  
         [0029]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.