Abstract:
A waste-disposal unit comprises a bin having an open top end for accessing an inner cavity of the bin. A support in the bin is adapted to support a bag unit at the open top end for waste to be received in the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin. A covering device is removably positioned on the bin at the open top end. The covering device comprises a body for covering at least a portion of the bag unit when installed on the top open end. A downward projection on the covering device, the downward projection adapted to have at least a tip thereof positioned lower than an uppermost edge of the bag unit, and inward of an outermost edge of the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin. A method for inserting a bag unit in the bin is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/444,237, filed on Feb. 18, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    The present application relates to waste-disposal systems of the type having a bin or pail supporting film-dispensing units, with the tube-dispensing units dispensing a closed-end tube or bag in the bin to receive and conceal odorous waste. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0003]    Waste-disposal systems having tube-dispensing units or refills are commonly used, for numerous reasons. One of the reasons is that such systems often have mechanisms to retain odors. Also, such waste-disposal systems are made to limit the manipulations of bags, to avoid hand contamination. However, any configuration ensuring that the tube-dispensing units are correctly installed in the bins, and that the tube-dispensing unit remains in place in the waste-disposal bin, are desirable. By having the tube-dispensing units correctly installed in the bins, one ensures that the bag is properly sealed and that the risk of hand contamination is minimized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0004]    It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel waste-disposal system and bin. 
         [0005]    It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a waste-disposal system and waste-disposal bin addressing issues associated with the prior art. 
         [0006]    Therefore, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present application, there is provided a waste-disposal unit comprising: a bin having an open top end for accessing an inner cavity of the bin, a support in the bin being adapted to support a bag unit at the open top end for waste to be received in the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin; and a covering device removably positioned on the bin at the open top end, the covering device comprising a body for covering at least a portion of the bag unit when installed on the top open end, at least one downward projection on the covering device, the at least one downward projection adapted to have at least a tip thereof positioned lower than an uppermost edge of the bag unit, and inward of an outermost edge of the bag unit in the inner cavity of the bin. 
         [0007]    Further in accordance with the first embodiment, the covering device is a funnel comprising an annular wall defining a central opening for dumping waste therethrough into the bin. 
         [0008]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the funnel is pivotally connected to the bin. 
         [0009]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, one downward projection is a peripheral wall. 
         [0010]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the peripheral wall has a 360° annular periphery. 
         [0011]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the bag unit is a tube-dispensing unit having an annular body with tubular film in an accumulated condition within the annular body, the tubular film having a free end projecting out of the annular body through a central opening thereof, the free end being closed within the inner cavity of the bin. 
         [0012]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the annular body comprises an outer annular wall. 
         [0013]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the downward projection is received in an annular cavity of the annular body inward of the outer annular wall. 
         [0014]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the outer annular wall is sandwiched between the downward projection and the support of the bin. 
         [0015]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, a flange is defined on the outer annular wall, the flange cooperating with the support of the bin when the bag unit is supported by the bin. 
         [0016]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the tube-dispensing unit comprises a cover, with an annular opening being defined between an edge of the cover and an edge of the outer annular wall, with the free end of the tube exiting the annular body through the annular opening and with the downward projection entering the tube-dispensing unit through the annular opening and outward of the free end of the tube. 
         [0017]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the covering device is a lid closing the open top end of the bin. 
         [0018]    Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, snap-fitting means are between the covering device and the bin for releasably locking the covering device to the bin. 
         [0019]    In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for inserting a bag unit in a bin comprising: positioning the bag unit in an open top end of the bin such that the bottom end of the bag is in an inner cavity of the bin; and inserting a downward projection lower than an uppermost edge of the bag unit and inward of an outermost edge of the bag unit by installing a covering device on the open top end of the bin. 
         [0020]    Further in accordance with the second embodiment, a previously used bag unit is removed from the bin prior to positioning the bag unit therein. 
         [0021]    Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the covering device is pivoted into engagement with the bin. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waste-disposal system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a sectional assembly view illustrating a bin and a tube-dispensing unit of the waste-disposal system of  FIG. 1 , prior to the installation of the tube-dispensing unit into the bin; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the waste-disposal system subsequent to  FIG. 2 , with a funnel being pivoted toward engagement with the tube-dispensing unit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the waste-disposal system subsequent to  FIG. 3 , with the funnel and a lid in a closed position; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the waste-disposal system of  FIG. 1 , with tubular film dispensed by the tube-dispensing unit during use of the waste-disposal system. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a waste-disposal system  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The waste-disposal system  10  is of the type having a bin  11  for accommodating waste. 
         [0028]    The bin  11  defines an inner cavity for accommodating waste. Any appropriate waste may be dumped into the bin  11 , but the waste-disposal system  10  may be used efficiently with diapers, pet litter, and other such odorous waste. 
         [0029]    The interior of the bin  11  is accessible via an open top end thereof. The open top end of the bin  11  may be covered and/or closed by different covering devices, namely lid  12  and funnel  13 . The open top end may have any appropriate shape, such as that of a square, a rectangle, an ellipse, a circle, etc. In an embodiment, the lid  12  is pivotally connected to a rim of the bin  11 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is also shown the funnel  13 . The funnel  13  is provided to protect a tube dispensing unit  14  that is supported by the bin  11 . Additional covering devices should also be used in addition to the lid  12  and the funnel  13 . 
         [0031]    The tube-dispensing unit  14  (also referred to as bag unit) dispenses tubular film and is therefore manipulated by the user, and is typically sold separately from the waste-disposal unit (i.e., bin  11 , lid  12 , funnel  13 , and closing mechanism) of the waste-disposal system  10 . Due to its manipulation, it is therefore preferred to protect the tube-dispensing unit  14  from waste, by way of the funnel  13 . Moreover, as described hereinafter, the funnel  13  may ensure that the tube-dispensing unit  14  maintains its shape when dispensing film. The tube-dispensing unit or bag unit  14  may include any adapter by which it will be installed in the bin  11 . The tube-dispensing unit  14  has a shape that may be similar to that of the open top end of the bin  11 . 
         [0032]    Jaw  15  is of the type having a handle portion projecting out of the bin  11 , which handle is used to manually displace the jaw  15 . The jaw  15  shuts the bag of the tube-dispensing unit  14  shut to capture odorous gases within the waste-disposal system  10 . Any other type of jaw or bag closing mechanism may be used, such as pedal mechanisms, etc. For instance, the mechanisms shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,406,814, 7,617,660 and 7,931,150, PCT application publication No. WO 2011/011895, incorporated herein by reference, may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the jaw  15  is part of a mechanism that extends out of the bin  11 , but other configurations are known and may be used as alternatives. It is also considered to not have any bag closing mechanism in the bin  11 . 
         [0033]    Detent  16  may be provided on the outer surface of the bin  11 . The detent  16  is pressed to separate the bottom from the upper part of the bin  11 , so as to access an interior of the bin  11 , for instance, to cut away full bags. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the tube-dispensing unit  14  is positioned above an open top end  20  of the bin  11 , for subsequent installation along direction A. The bin  11  has an inward wall  21 , projecting into its inner cavity. A flange  22  extends toward a center of the bin  11 , and is generally horizontal. The flange  22  supports the tube-dispensing unit  14 , such that tubular film from the unit  14  may extend into the inner cavity of the bin  11 . Any other appropriate support that is equivalent to the flange  22  are considered, such as a shoulder, an abutment, etc., provided that some abutment surface(s) are provided to support the unit  14 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2-3 , the tube-dispensing unit  14  has a generally annular hollow body  23  to accommodate tubular film in an accumulated condition (as seen in  FIG. 5  with bag C), for subsequent dispensing thereof. The annular hollow body  23  may have a generally U-shaped section, with the tubular film being accumulated in the bottom of the U. However, any other appropriate tube-dispensing unit  14  may be used, such as sleeves supporting bag, rimmed bags, etc, with appropriate hook means to hang the tube-dispensing unit  14  to the bin  11 , as detailed hereinafter. Moreover, the outer shape of the hollow body may be any appropriate shape, such as that of a square, an ellipse, a circle, etc. The expression “annular” indicates the presence of a central opening. 
         [0036]    A cover  24  may be provided to partially cover the annular hollow body  23 , such that an annular spacing  25  is defined concurrently by the body  23  and the cover  24 . The annular spacing  25  may be initially covered by a tear strip. The tubular film is dispensed via the annular spacing  25 , as shown in greater detail hereinafter. However, in an embodiment, the tube-dispensing unit  14  does not have any cover  24 , and the annular spacing  25  is defined as the spacing between the top edges of an outer annular wall  26  and an inner annular wall of the hollow body  23 . 
         [0037]    The outer annular wall  26  is part of the annular hollow body  23 . The outer annular wall  26  defines the outer peripheral portion of the tube-dispensing unit  14 . A peripheral flange  27  projects radially from the outer annular wall  26 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the peripheral flange  27  is seated on the flange  22  of the bin  11 . As alternatives to a peripheral flange  27 , the tube-dispensing unit  14  may have an upper rim to be seated on the flange  22 , or hooks or tabs instead of the outer annular wall  26 . As yet another alternative, the annular hollow body  23  may be seated directly on the flange  22 . In such cases, the distance between the flange  22  and the open top end  20  of the bin  11  is defined as a function of the seating arrangement between the tube-dispensing unit  14  and the flange  22 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the funnel  13  is shown being displaced into a closed position relative to the open top end  20  of the bin  11 . The funnel  13  has an annular wall  30 , that will define a central opening  31  of the bin  11 . In the illustrated embodiment, the annular wall  30  is pivotally connected to the bin  11 , and is therefore pivoted as shown by direction B. It is pointed out that the funnel  13  may also be detachable from the bin  11 , and simply be disposed in the closed position. 
         [0039]    Therefore, the annular wall  30  of the funnel  13  may be shaped so as to taper slightly towards the middle, and may have any appropriate outer shape, usually in accordance with that of the open top end. Because of the slightly tapering top surface of the annular wall  30  of the funnel  13 , any waste inadvertently received on the top surface of the funnel  13  may be guided towards the central opening  31  by the effect of gravity on the slightly tapering surface of the funnel  13 . 
         [0040]    The funnel  13  has a plunger wall  32  extending downwardly from an undersurface of the annular wall  30 . As observed in  FIG. 1 , the plunger wall  32  of the illustrated embodiment does not cover the full periphery of the annular wall  30 , as it is disrupted near the pivot of the funnel  13  with the bin  11 . The plunger wall  32  could cover the full periphery of the annular wall  30  (i.e., 360° as in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), or could be made of separate segments of plunger wall  32 . The funnel  13  may have one or more downward projection of any suitable shape, as alternatives to the plunger wall  32 . For simplicity, reference will be made to the plunger wall  32  hereinafter. 
         [0041]    As also shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the funnel  13  may have a tab  33  to snap into engagement with a portion of the bin  11 , for releasably securing the funnel  13  in place. The wall  34  may be used to strengthen the wall  30 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the plunger wall  32  is shown penetrating into the annular hollow body  23 , through the annular spacing  25 . The plunger wall  32  is in close proximity to the outer annular wall  26 , but is spaced from outer peripheral edge of the cover  24 , such that the tubular film may be dispensed between the plunger wall  32  and the outer peripheral edge. It is observed that the tip of the plunger wall  32  (or other downward projection) is lower than an uppermost edge of the tube-dispensing unit  14 , and inward of an outermost edge of the tube dispensing unit  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the uppermost edge of the tube-dispensing unit  14  is part of the cover  24 , and the outermost edge of the tube dispensing unit  14  is part of the outer annular wall  26 . The uppermost edge of the tube-dispensing unit  14  may alternatively be part of the outer annular wall  26 , and/or the inner annular wall of the unit  14 . The tip of the plunger wall  32  parentheses or other downward projection) therefore penetrates a volume defined by the annular hollow body  23  or by a combination of the tube-dispensing unit  14  and the bin  11 . 
         [0043]    Once the funnel  13  is in the closed position as in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the lid  12  may be pivoted or installed in the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 4 . During use, the funnel  13  remains in the closed position, while the lid  12  is opened and closed to access an interior of the bin  11 . Although not shown, the lid  12  may have a tab (or more) similar to the tab  33  but offset therefrom, to snap into releasable engagement with the bin  12 . 
         [0044]    According to an embodiment, the plunger wall  32  may be part of the lid  12 , in the absence of a funnel  13 . In such a case, the lid  12  would not close if the tube-dispensing unit  14  is not oriented correctly. 
         [0045]    Because of the plunging feature of the funnel  13  via the plunger wall  32 , the lid  12  and the funnel  13  may not close correctly (i.e., to the closed position of  FIG. 4 ) unless the tube-dispensing unit  14  is installed in the correct orientation ( FIG. 4 ). If the tube-dispensing unit  14  were installed upside down (the U being inverted), the plunger wall  32  would abut against the tube-dispensing unit  14 , preventing the funnel  13 , and the lid  12 , from reaching the closed position. 
         [0046]    Some parts of the tube-dispensing unit  14 , such as the outer annular wall  26 , may be made of relatively thin plastic walls. In some cases, thin-wall molding techniques may also be used to mold the outer annular wall  26 . Considering that a pressure is exerted on the outer annular wall  26  by the weight of waste in the tubular film, or by pulling manipulations on the tubular film for the dispensing thereof, there may be a risk that the outer annular wall  26  deforms, potentially resulting in the tube-dispensing unit  14  dislodging from engagement with the flange  22 . However, the close proximity between the outer annular wall  26  and the plunger wall  32  increases the structural integrity of the assembly, and may keep the peripheral flange  27  caught into engagement with the flange  22 . The outer annular wall  26  is sandwiched between the plunger wall  32  and the flange  22 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , tubular film C is shown dispensed out of the tube-dispensing unit  14 . The free end of the tubular film C passes through the annular spacing  25 , between a top surface of the cover  24  and an undersurface of the funnel  13 , to then pass through the central opening  31 . The free end of the tubular film C is knotted or closed inside the inner cavity of the bin  11 , to form a bag to accommodate the odorous waste. The tubular film C may be any appropriate type of film. For instance, it is considered to use a polypropylene film with a coating of EVOH, among other possibilities. It is observed that the tubular film C covers the cover  24  and the annular body  23 , protecting same from being contamined with the waste. If the cover  24  were incorrectly inserted, the tubular film C would not shield the annular body  23 , exposing same to contamination. Hence, the use of the downward projection prevents the tube-dispensing unit  14  from being misoriented, and thus ensures that the tubular film C shields the annular body  23 .