Convenience trash bag

A trash storage method for a package of goods which attaches a layer of material to a package thereby providing a volume for storing trash generated from the goods as the goods are removed from the package and consumed or used.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of trash containers. More particularly the invention relates to a trash container which is formed by a layer of material affixed to a package of consumer or industrial goods.

STATEMENT REGARDING THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS

No federal funding, direct or indirect, has been utilized in conjunction with the development of the present invention.

STATEMENT REGARDING MICROFICHE RECORDS

No microfiche records are used in the application submitted for the present invention.

PUBLICATION

The invention disclosed in this application was the subject of an application filed in another country or under a multilateral agreement that requires publication at eighteen months after filing. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C.122(b), this application was published other than in the United States.

PRIOR ART

No prior art can be found which discloses the present invention. Comment is required to understand why this seemingly obvious technology has not been utilized in the past in spite of a long standing need. Historically, trash containers have been considered to be distinct from regular packaging materials and, as such, their form has evolved into a wide diversity of independent bags, sacks and receptacles. The use of both regular packaging materials and trash container to achieve an integrated result is long overdue. Even so simple a method as including a loose trash bag within a container which holds goods, so as to afford a storage means for the trash generated when the goods are unwrapped is unknown. The packaging industry has jealously embraced the need for (1) secure containment, (2) attractive appearance and (3) suitability for given goods as paramount. Trash containment for this commercial sector is, at best, a remote concern.

The following patents are cited as representative of designs or containment means which ignore such a joint functionality and which address only (1) packaging or (2) trash containment; U.S. Pat. D/348, 922, Baxley, G A, an ornamental design for a trash bag system; US Patent Application 2000282755, Kim Bum Kee, a portable trash collector, and; U.S. Pat. No. 7,758,243, Bonke, Douglas D, an elastic drawstring closure means for a plastic liner for a receptacle. All of these are remote from the present invention and none teach the simplicity of the joint functionality described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses an integrated combination of a package of consumer or industrial goods and a trash container to allow trash which is generated from goods contained within the package to be routinely and immediately disposed of in the trash container. The trash container is formed by a layer of material affixed to the package. The present invention provides a convenient disposal arrangement for the trash generated when some types of consumer and industrial goods are accessed and used.

Current disposal means are separate from packaging means, an arrangement which in many cases is inefficient and inconvenient. This problem is completely resolved by the present invention by integrating the design to encompass both functions. The result is an environmentally desirable combination. Although such a configuration is simple, this very favorable result has not been obvious even though the need has been long standing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new configuration for goods by creating a disposal enclosure as part of a package holding goods.

These and other objects an advantages of the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and the applicability of the preferred embodiment as described herein and as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trash which is generated from packaged goods, as the goods are removed from a container and consumed or used, is currently disposed of in various types of trash enclosures. Currently these trash enclosures are not attached to or part of the containers.

Best Method for Carrying Out the Invention

The best method for carrying out the present invention is as set out below. A container is defined to include, but is not limited to, an enclosure, a flexible enclosure, a plastic enclosure, an envelope and a paper bag. A container is defined to include, but is not limited to, bag, a wooden box, a cardboard box, a metal box, a barrel, a can, a jar and a crate. A lid is defined as a closing or sealing element for a container to include, but is not limited to, one or more flaps of a box or the removable and the hinged end of a barrel, box or can. Trash is defined to include, but is not limited to, nut shells, packaging materials and support materials. Closure means is defined to include, but is not limited to, a drawstring, an elastic rim, a tie, one or more snaps, a flap, a velcro fastner and a ziplock closure. Attachment means is defined to include, but is not limited to, an adhesive, one or more snaps, a velcro fastner, a ziplock fastner and means to bond a surface of a bag to the surface of a container.

To understand the range of applications and the details of implementing the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. Referring particularly to the figures wherein like-referenced numbers have been applied to the like-parts throughout the description as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings. According to the present inventionFIG. 2shows a perspective view of a container2and a removable bag14attached thereto with attachment means6and some trash3contained in said bag14, said trash3storable therein through an opening10as shown by motion arrow8, consumer or industrial goods4contained in said container2and removable through an opening11therein as shown by motion arrow9.

FIGS. 2 and 3each show a schematic top view of said container2with a bag1formed by a containing layer13and the surface of said container2according to the present invention.FIG. 2shows said bag1formed as a portion of the interior of said container2.FIG. 3shows said bag1formed as a portion of the interior of said container2.FIGS. 4 and 5each show a schematic top view of said container2with said removable bag14attached to a surface of said container2with an attachment means6.FIG. 4shows attachment of said bag14to the exterior of said container2andFIG. 5shows attachment of said bag14to the interior of said container2.

FIG. 6shows a schematic top view of said container2having a lid5secured to the top edge of said container2by a hinge12, said removable bag14affixed to the interior of said lid5with said attachment means6.FIG. 7shows a schematic side view of said container2having said lid5secured to the top edge of said container2with said hinge12, said removable bag14affixed to the exterior of said lid5with said attachment means6.

FIG8. shows a perspective schematic view of said container2enclosed by said bag14, said bag14attached to said container2with said attachment means6.FIG. 9shows a perspective view of said container2as inFIG. 8, but with said container2uncovered and with said trash3contained in said bag14.FIGS. 8 and 9show a closure means7to close said bag14.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention is further disclosed herein below. A trash storage means is defined to be the functional equivalent of a packaging configuration. Said packaging configuration comprising said first container1,14affixed by said attachment means6to a surface of said second container2, said consumer or industrial goods4containable in said second container2, said first opening10in said first container1,14, said second opening11in said second container2, whereby removal of said consumer or industrial goods4through said second opening11and subsequent consumption or use thereof generates said trash3, said trash3containable within said first container1,14as shown inFIGS. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9.

A packaging configuration comprising said bag1,14and said second container2with said attachment means6there between being (a) temporary, whereby said containers1,14can be separated or (b) said containers1,14are permanently affixed as shown respectively inFIGS. 1,4,5,6,7,8,9and inFIGS. 2,3. A packaging configuration comprising said first container1,14attached to a surface of said second container2, said surface (a) internal to or (b) external to said second container2as shown respectively inFIGS. 3,5,6and inFIGS. 1,2,4,7,8,9.

A packaging configuration with said second container2further comprising a lid5, said lid5rotatably affixed to an edge of said opening11in said second container2whereby said second container2is enclosable with said lid5, said first container1affixed to one side of said lid5as shown inFIGS. 6,7. A packaging configuration comprising said first container1,14affixed to said second container2, said opening10in said first container1,14further comprising said closure means7to close said first opening10as shown inFIGS. 8,9.

A packaging configuration comprising said first container1and said second container2, said consumer or industrial goods4containable in said second container2, said first container1comprising said layer of material13affixed along (a) all of its

periphery to a surface of said second container2, said opening10in and central to said layer13, or (b) a portion of its periphery to a surface of said second container2, said first opening10at and along an unaffixed edge of said periphery of said layer13, whereby said layer13and said surface of said second container2form a volume, accessable through said opening10, whereby said trash3is storable therein.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said bag14is initially inverted and used to encompass and thereby protect said container2whereby when said bag14is opened, access to said container2is then afforded and said bag14is then used to contain said trash3generated as the contents of said container2are consumed or used as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous other modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the baffles can be comprised of structures which are not flat and/or they can be made of different materials such as porous or have large effective surface areas to equal effect. A new functionality and convenience has been realized by the combination provided by the present invention. A person who is skilled in the required art for this invention is anyone who has used a container for goods and a trash bag. The above disclosure is not intended as limiting and the appended claims are to be interpreted as encompassing the entire scope of the invention.