System for automatically lining a trash receptacle

A system is disclosed for automatically lining a trash receptacle. The system includes a trash receptacle having a side wall portion, an open upper end and a floor portion interconnected to the side wall portion at a lower end of the receptacle. The floor portion has a slot formed therein. A holder includes a peripheral wall portion, a bottom portion interconnected to the peripheral wall portion and an opening that receives the lower end of the receptacle. The receptacle and the holder are interengaged such that the floor of the receptacle is spaced above the bottom portion of the holder to define a bag accommodating chamber in the holder. A spindle carries a roll of perforated plastic trash bags. The spindle is rotatably mounted to the holder such that the spindle extends across the holder chamber. The trash bags are pulled sequentially from the roll through the slot and into the receptacle, whereby each bag is temporarily positioned to line the receptacle and then removed from the receptacle to pull a following bag from the roll into the receptacle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improved system for automatically lining a 
trash receptacle and, more particularly, to an apparatus having an upper 
trash receptacle component and a lower holder component for accommodating 
a roll of perforated trash bags. Each bag is pulled sequentially from the 
holder through a slot in the receptacle such that the bag is automatically 
positioned as a liner in the receptacle. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Household trash receptacles are typically lined with a plastic bag to 
facilitate disposal of the trash that is collected and to minimize soiling 
of the trash container. A number of products are known that incorporate a 
supply of perforated plastic bag liners in a holder located at or near the 
bottom of the trash receptacle. Typically, these bags are connected in an 
end to end fashion along transverse perforations. A leading bag is drawn 
upwardly into the receptacle and is positioned therein as a liner. After 
the bag is filled with trash, it is removed by lifting it out of the 
receptacle. This pulls a trailing bag up into the receptacle. As a result, 
when the leading bag is separated from the trailing bag and disposed of, 
the trailing bag is in position in the receptacle to act as a fresh liner. 
Although a number of known apparatuses operate in the above manner, these 
products usually exhibit one or more of a number of problems. Most employ 
a fairly complex construction that can be difficult to mold or otherwise 
manufacture. Additionally, it is often annoying to replace a depleted roll 
or box of plastic bass with a fresh supply because access to the holder is 
restricted. In a number of conventional products, these difficulties 
result from the fact that the holder is formed unitarily with the 
receptacle. In other products of this type, the holder is received by or 
otherwise incorporated into the receptacle. This invariably complicates 
manufacture of the device and periodic replenishment of the plastic 
liners. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved system 
for automatically lining a trash receptacle, which system employs an 
improved, simplified construction. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a trash receptacle that 
is releasably received by and engaged with a separate and distinct bag 
holder. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a system for 
automatically lining a trash receptacle, which permits a fresh supply of 
replacement liners to be quickly and conveniently installed. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a trash receptacle 
wherein a fresh plastic liner is drawn quickly, conveniently and reliably 
into the receptacle each time a trash filled liner is removed from the 
receptacle. 
This invention relates to a system for automatically lining a trash 
receptacle. The system includes a trash receptacle having a side wall 
portion, an open upper end and a floor portion interconnected to the side 
wall portion at a lower end of the receptacle. The floor portion has a 
slot formed therein. There is a holder including a peripheral wall 
portion, a bottom portion interconnected to the peripheral wall portion 
and an opening that receives the lower end of the receptacle. There are 
means for interengaging the receptacle and the holder such that the floor 
of the receptacle is spaced above the bottom surface of the holder to 
define a bag accommodating chamber in the holder. Spindle means carry a 
plurality of perforated plastic bags. There are means for rotatably 
mounting the spindle means to the holder such that the spindle means 
extend across the holder chamber. The trash bass are pulled sequentially 
from the roll through the slot and into the receptacle. As a result, each 
bag is temporarily positioned in the receptacle to line the receptacle. 
The bag is then removed from the receptacle to pull a following bag from 
the roll into the receptacle. 
In a preferred embodiment the receptacle and the holder comprise separate 
and distinct components, each of which has a unitary construction. The 
side wall portion may include four interconnected side walls and the 
peripheral wall portion may include four complementary interconnected 
peripheral walls. The peripheral wall portion may define the opening of 
the holder. The peripheral wall portion may also include a tapered inner 
surface for interengaging, the side wall portion of the receptacle. 
Preferably, the means for interengaging include a lip element that is 
disposed between the receptacle and the holder when the receptacle is 
received in the opening of the holder. The lip element may include a 
resilient gasket and is preferably attached to the peripheral wall portion 
of the holder. Specifically, the peripheral wall portion may include an 
inner surface that carries the lip element. 
The means for rotatably mounting may include a pair of rotation holes 
formed in the peripheral wall portion for rotatably receiving the spindle 
means. Alternatively, the means for rotatably mounting, may include other 
varieties of bearings such as a snap lock bearing or the types of bearings 
used to rotatably mount a roll of toilet tissue. Releasable latch means 
may be provided for selectively interlocking the receptacle and the holder 
.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a trash collection apparatus 10 that incorporates 
the automatic lining system of this invention. Apparatus 10 includes an 
upper trash receptacle 12 and a lower bag holder 14 that is releasably 
engaged with receptacle 12. Receptacle 12 includes a side wall portion 16 
comprising specifically four generally vertical side walls interconnected 
unitarily at right angles. Holder 14 includes a complementan/peripheral 
wall portion 18 likewise having four vertical side walls interconnected 
unitarily at perpendicular angles. In alternative embodiments, various 
other side and peripheral wall configurations may be employed, although 
four walls is a preferred construction. Preferably receptacle 12 and 
holder 14 employ respective, one-piece molded plastic constructions. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, receptacle 12 includes a conventional open 
upper end 20. A floor portion 22, shown specifically in FIG. 2, is 
connected unitarily to the lower end of side wall portion 16. An elongate 
slot 24 is formed in floor portion 22. 
Holder 14 includes a bottom portion 26, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 that is unitarily 
connected to a lower end of peripheral wall portion 18. As illustrated in 
FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, holder 14 has an open upper end that, unlike the prior 
art, receives the lower end of receptacle 12. 
As best shown in FIG. 4, peripheral wall portion 18 of holder 14 and side 
wall portion 14 of receptacle 12 taper inwardly toward the lower ends of 
the respective components. In other words, the open upper ends of the 
receptacle and the holder are wider than the lower ends. As a result, side 
wall portion 16 interengages the inside surface of peripheral wall 18 and 
supports the receptacle within the holder such that receptacle floor 22 is 
spaced above holder bottom portion 26. Additionally, a peripheral lip 30, 
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, carried by the inside surface of the holder's peripheral 
wall portion 18 interengages the holder and receptacle 12. This lip may be 
composed of a resilient rubber or synthetic gasket that is secured to 
holder 14 by an appropriate adhesive or in an appropriate groove or 
channel. In preferred embodiments, the lip is molded permanently into the 
holder. Lip 30 supports the lower surface of receptacle floor 22 and helps 
to support the receptacle above the bottom surface 26 of holder 14. The 
lip provides such support even if the side wall portion 16 and the 
peripheral wall portion 18 are not tapered inwardly and do not directly 
interengage. In alternative embodiments, the peripheral lip may be 
attached directly to the bottom surface of receptacle floor 22 or the 
outside peripheral surface of side wall portion 16. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, receptacle 12 carries a pair of latch elements 
31 and 33 that are connected unitarily or otherwise to opposing side walls 
of receptacle 12. Latches 31 and 33 are flexible as indicated by double 
headed arrows 35 and 37 in FIG. 4. The latch elements are biased inwardly 
toward the side walls of the receptacle. Holder 14 carries a complementary 
pair of catches 39 and 41 that are molded or otherwise formed permanently 
in the corresponding opposing peripheral walls of holder 14 engaged by the 
side walls carrying latch elements 31 and 33. Receptacle 12 and holder 14 
are locked together by flexing, latch elements 31 and 33 apart from their 
respective side walls and inserting receptacle 12 into the open upper end 
of holder 14. The latches 31 and 33 are then released such that they 
engage and lock with complementary catches 39 and 41 on holder 14. This 
interlocks the receptacle and the holder. 
Receptacle 12 is supported within holder 14 in the above manner such that 
an interior bag accommodating chamber 32 is defined in holder 14. A 
conventional roll 34 of perforated plastic trash lining bags is mounted 
within chamber 32 on a rotatable spindle 36. As used herein, "perforated 
bags" refers to a conventional roll of plastic bags that are connected end 
to end along transverse perforations. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 
1-4, spindle 36 is rotatably mounted through side openings 38 and 40 
formed in opposing peripheral walls of holder 14. The spindle may be 
constructed of any suitable material such as wood or plastic. As best 
shown in FIG. 3, O-ring washers 45 and 47 are mounted to the spindle 
outside of holder 14. These hold the spindle in place and prevent it from 
moving longitudinally in the openings 38 and 40. A leading end 42 of 
plastic bag roll 34 extends from the roll, through slot 24 in receptacle 
floor 22, and out through open upper end 20 of receptacle 12. 
To install a fresh roll of bass 34, the latches 31 and 33 are disengaged 
from their respective catches 39 and 41 and the receptacle 12 is removed 
from holder 14. If an empty spindle 36 is located in the holder, that 
spindle is removed by first removing one of the washers 45 and 47 and then 
pulling the empty spindle longitudinally out of the holder. A fresh roll 
of bags 34 is then mounted on spindle 36 and the spindle is re-engaged 
with the holder openings 38 and 40. The previously removed washer is 
re-attached and the receptacle 12 is re-engaged with holder 14 by 
inserting the lower end of the receptacle into opening 28 of holder 14. 
The leading end 42 of roll 34 is pulled upwardly through slot 24 in 
receptacle 12 until a leading bag 34a is positioned in the receptacle, as 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A leading circumferential portion 44 of bag 34a 
overlaps the open upper end 20 of receptacle 12 and holds bag 34a in place 
and in position to line receptacle 12. Trash and other debris are then 
deposited into bag 34a in a conventional manner. 
When the leading bag 34a is full, it is removed and disposed of in the 
manner shown in FIG. 4. The leading end 42 of the bag is closed and may be 
secured in this condition by an appropriate bag tie. The bag is then 
lifted from receptacle 12 in the direction of arrow 50. As bag 34a is 
pulled upwardly, a following or trailing bag 34b is pulled from roll 34 
through slot 24 and into receptacle 12. When the bottom of bag 34a, 
represented by perforation 52, reaches the upper open end 20 of receptacle 
12, the uppermost bag 34a is separated from second bag 34b by tearing 
along perforation 52. The full trash bag 34a is then disposed of in a 
conventional manner. The second bag 34b is now positioned in receptacle 12 
and is engaged with the receptacle in a manner identical to that shown for 
leading bag 34a in FIG. 1. Specifically, the leading circumferential 
portion of second bag 34b is wrapped around the upper open end 20 of 
receptacle 12 and is held in place to line the receptacle and receive 
trash. 
The above process is continued until all the bags on roll 34 are depleted. 
Then, the receptacle 12 is unlocked from holder 14 by pulling latches 31 
and 33 outwardly and disengaging them from catches 39 and 41, 
respectively. The receptacle is lifted out of the holder and a fresh roll 
of bags 34 is added to the holder in the manner described above. 
FIG. 5 shows an alternative spindle 136 that is mounted in a preferred snap 
lock bearing 138. A pair of such bearings are provided on opposing walls 
of the holder. Bearing 138 is composed of a resilient plastic and may be 
unitarily molded with the holder. The bearing is resiliently flexible, as 
indicated by double headed arrow 140, so that the mouth 142 of the bearing 
may be selectively expanded. Spindle 136 is introduced into bearing 138 by 
pushing the end of the spindle in through opening 142. The bearing flexes 
open in the direction indicated by double-headed arrow 140 to admit the 
end of the spindle through widened mouth 142. After the spindle is 
admitted into the bearing, the opening 142 closes to lock the spindle in 
place. Subsequently, the spindle is removed from bearing 138 by urging it 
out through mouth 142. Again, the bearing is resiliently flexible such 
that mouth 142 temporarily widens under the urging of spindle 136 to 
permit the spindle to be removed. 
A further alternative technique for mounting the spindle in the holder is 
illustrated in FIG. 6. Therein, a collapsible, telescoping spindle 236 is 
utilized. A bearing 238 is mounted in the side wall of the holder. A 
complementary bearing is formed in an opposing wall of the holder for 
holding the opposite end of the spindle. This structure resembles a 
conventional telescoping spindle used to mount a roll of toilet paper in a 
holder. Longitudinal components 280 and 282 are resiliently collapsed to 
introduce spindle 236 into and remove spindle 236 from bearing 238. As a 
result, roll 234 carried by spindle 236 can be replaced when necessary. 
Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and 
not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined 
with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. 
Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within 
the following claims.