Abstract:
A packaging and disposal system for sealing waste and related materials within flexible plastic tubing for odorless and sanitary disposal. Improvements in the latch, including the addition of a transverse mounted latch spring, and improvements in the support retention springs serve to increase the ability of the device to operate efficiently and effectively and reduce the potential of accidental spills or other exposure of the waste package. The latch requires two independent motions to actuate and incorporates a transversely mounted latch spring. The reduced cross-sectional area of the retention spring design concentrates force applied to the package to increase the effective holding ability of the system.

Description:
This application is a continuation of 08/768,034 filed Dec. 17, 1996 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,200. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a disposal device using packs of flexible tubing in packaging, and more particularly, to an improved apparatus and method for the sanitary and odorless disposal of diapers and similar or related waste. 
     Prior devices incorporating flexible tubing are used to dispose of diapers filled with waste by twisting plastic lining at the end of a diaper to seal each diaper individually. As more diapers are added, the previously sealed waste packages are pushed further into the container. A series of waste packages is created, each package contained within the plastic tubing and sealed at each end by the twisting process. When the container reaches capacity, the flexible tubing is severed, and the series of sealed waste packages is removed through an access door at the bottom of the container. 
     On prior devices, lids can be disengaged merely by supplying sufficient force while lifting the lid. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hinged lid secured with a latch incorporating a transversely mounted latch spring with dual catches. This latch requires two definite and independent motions to open the hinged lid. 
     The retention springs in the disposal device are designed to hold the waste stationary while the flexible tubing which surrounds the waste is twisted. One embodiment of the present invention allows a greater variety of products to be introduced into the disposal system. A further improvement of the present invention is the retention spring design and location which allows the springs to act independently, and in concert with, adjacent springs to accept a larger variety of waste sizes, shapes, and consistencies while allowing the flexible tubing to change shape independently. The retention springs incorporated into one preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, are flexible enough to accommodate pliant waste packages while providing sufficient force to stabilize the waste packages during the twisting and sealing process. Further, the retention springs of the present invention retain their general shape and engagement with the waste package during the twisting and sealing process. 
     The present invention decreases the possibility that the lid can come loose and increases the sealing ability of the device. Both of these conditions, a loose lid and an insufficient seal on a package, may result in odor and unsanitary conditions. The novel latch spring secures the hinged lid to the cover of the disposal device. Retention springs designed in accordance with the invention better support and hold waste packages stationary while the device used to seal packages. Further, a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the retention springs distributes force over a smaller area, increasing the effective retention force and preventing the waste packages from deviating while being sealed. In addition, waste packages can be pushed through the retention springs into the cylindrical container more easily. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sanitary apparatus and method which uses flexible tubing to dispose of waste such as disposable diapers. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disposal apparatus and method which effectively contains odors. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved disposal apparatus and method which remains closed when the device is tipped or jarred and prevents accidental spills. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved disposal apparatus and method capable of sealing waste inside flexible tubing which more securely stabilizes the package while the device is rotated to twist and seal the waste package. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sanitary disposal apparatus and method which incorporates tapered retention springs engaging packages. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention that are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a package disposal device constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  2   a  is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the cover, lid, and latch of the package disposal device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  2   b  is an enlarged end view of a support that supports the latch spring; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a retention spring constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a retention spring taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the disposal device of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the figures and more particularly to FIG. 1, a device in accordance with one form of the present invention is illustrated at  10 . The device  10  comprises a substantially cylindrical container  12  having a removable cover  14  at the top of the cylindrical container  12  and an access door  18  at the bottom of the cylindrical container  12 . The removable cover  14  has an opening covered by a hinged lid  20 . A ring-shaped flange  22  is located inside the cylindrical container  12 , and a tubular core  24  rests on the flange  22 . Continuous length flexible tubing  26  is stored within the tubular core  24 . A twist rim  28  is rotatably coupled to the tubular core  24 . Rotating the twist rim  28  twists the flexible tubing  26 . 
     A plurality of retention springs  30  are attached to the flange  22 . The retention springs  30  hold a waste package  32  within the flexible tubing  26  stationary while the twist rim  28  rotates to twist the flexible tubing  26  and seal the end of the waste package  32 . An aperture in the twist rim  28  preferably contains a clear plastic panel. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the twist rim  28  incorporates a cutting device  36  to sever the flexible tubing  26  when the cylindrical container  12  is filled. 
     The cover  14  is removably attached to the cylindrical container  12 . When the cover  14  is removed, an end of the flexible tubing  26  can be removed from the roll of flexible tubing  26  contained within the tubular core  24  and knotted. This knot of flexible tubing  26  is then placed into the cylindrical container  12  through the flange  22  toward the bottom of the cylindrical container  12  and forms a bag for storing waste packages  32 . Waste packages  32  are placed into the bag formed by flexible tubing  26 , and the flexible tubing  26 , together with die waste package  32 , is held stationary by the plurality of retention springs  30  inside of the cylindrical container  12  coupled to the flange  22 . 
     Once the waste package  32  is deposited in the flexible tubing  26  and the cover  14  is closed, the hinged lid  20  can be opened using a latch  35 . The latch  35  comprises a button  52  and a latch spring  19 . The latch  35  is preferably located in a recessed area  38  of the hinged lid  20 . A rectangular slot  40  is molded into the bottom of the recessed area  38  of the hinged lid  20 , and a corresponding slot  42  is molded into the cover  14  such that the slots  40 ,  42  substantially coincide when the hinged lid  20  is in the closed position against the cover  14 . The four sides of the rectangular slot  40  in the hinged lid  20  extend downward to form a parallelogram  44 . A support  46  extends from the back wall  43  to the front wall  45  of the parallelogram  44 . 
     The support  46  is preferably molded to the hinged lid  20 . The support  46  comprises a substantially semi-circular portion  53  oriented such that a curved side  55  of the semi-circular portion  53  is at the top of the support  46 . A substantially straight side  57  of the semi-circular portion  53  of the support  46  is located beneath the curved side  55  and is coupled, preferably by molding, to an elongated lower piece  59  below. The lower piece  59  preferably has a smaller width  61  than the diameter of the semi-circular portion  53  of the support  46 . 
     The button  52  is located in the recessed area  38  of the hinged lid  20  directly above the slots  40 ,  42 . The button  52  preferably comprises an upper surface area  54 , two aligned pivot points  56 , and two substantially parallel surfaces  58 . The substantially parallel surfaces  58  can, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each comprise a stiffening rib  33  extending perpendicular to and along the outside length of the parallel surfaces  58 . 
     The upper surface area  54  of the button  52  is depressed to actuate the latch  35 . The two aligned pivot points  56  pivotably affix the button  52  to the hinged lid  20 . In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two pivot points  56  comprise two projections  25  at the front edge  27  of the recessed area  38  of the hinged lid  20  which conform to two indentations  37  preferably molded at the front edge  39  of the button  52 . Alternatively, the projections can be molded into the button  52  and indentations can be molded or otherwise formed in the recessed area  38  of the hinged lid  20 . The parallel surfaces  58  preferably extend substantially perpendicularly from the upper surface area  54  and surround the latch spring  19 . 
     The latch spring  19  preferably comprises the pair of dual catches  48 . The dual catches  48  form an inverted U-shape and are centered on the support  46  such that the curvature of the U-shape  49  is adjacent to the semi-circular portion  53  of the support  46  and each of the catches  48  of the latch spring  19  extends downward. The dual catches  48  each comprise two projections  92  at the termination of the curved portion  90  of the dual catches  48  which extend from the dual catches  48  to the back wall  43  and the front wall  45  of the parallelogram  44 . The projections  92  correspond to and fit within nooks  94  molded into the parallelogram  44  of the hinged lid  20 . The projections  92  and nooks  94  operate to maintain the position of the latch spring  19  with respect to the hinged lid  20 . 
     The dual catches  48  extend below the bottom edges  47  of the parallelogram  44  as well as below the sides  41  of the corresponding slot  42  in the cover  14 . The dual catches  48  hold the hinged lid  20  against the cover  14  with two hooks  50  extending substantially perpendicular from the dual catches  48 . The dual catches  48  can additionally comprise segments  98  below the support  48  extending nearly to the back wall  43  and the front wall  45  of the parallelogram  44  which maintain the vertical alignment of the dual catches  48  with respect to the walls  43 ,  45  of the parallelogram  44 . 
     Pressing the upper surface area  54  depresses the button  52  and forces the two parallel surfaces  58  to move into the rectangular slot  40  of the hinged lid  20 . The parallel surfaces  58  push the dual catches  48  of the latch spring  19  inward. Once the button  52  is sufficiently depressed, the dual catches  48  are pushed together and can slide through the corresponding slot  42  in the cover  14 . When the dual catches  48  can slide through the corresponding slot  42  in the cover  14 , the hinged lid  20  can be pivotably opened by applying an upward force on the lifting handle  60  of the hinged lid  20 . The hinged lid  20  will not open if the button  52  is depressed without applying an independent upward force on the lifting handle  60 . Further, the hinged lid  20  cannot open if the lifting handle  60  is not lifted when the button  52  is not depressed. 
     The hinged lid  20  can be closed from an open position by pushing the hinged lid  20  downward until it rests on the cover  14 . The sides  41  of the corresponding slot  42  extend down and inward to form a ridge  62 . When the hinged lid  20  in pushed downward onto the cover  14 , the hooks  50  on the dual catches  48  are pushed inside the corresponding slot  42  and caught by the ridge  62 . The hooks  50  on the dual catches  48  are identical in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, but are not required to be. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of shapes of hooks  50  can be used satisfactorily. Unless the button  52  is depressed while the lifting handle  60  is lifted, the hinged lid  20  will remain in the closed position. The present invention is designed to prevent accidental spills by requiring two distinct motions to open the latch  35  of the hinged lid  20 : (1) a depressing motion to unlock; and (2) a lifting motion to open. 
     The twist rim  28  is accessible when the hinged lid  20  is in the open position. Rotating the twist rim  28  twists die flexible tubing  26  not held stationary by the weight of the waste package  32  resting on the retention springs  30  while the flexible tubing  26  resting on the plurality of retention springs  30  is held stationary. Thus, the flexible tubing  26  located above the waste package  32  twists and seals as the flexible tubing  26  is pinched together by the rotation of the twist rim  28  and encloses the waste package  32  individually. In one embodiment of the present invention, a user can see whether the flexible tubing  26  is sufficiently sealed through the clear plastic panel contained in the twist rim  28 . 
     Once a waste package  32  is sealed, the waste package  32  can be pushed downwardly past the retention springs  30  into the cylindrical container  12 . Successive waste packages  32  can be sanitarily stored in the cylindrical container  12  because each waste package  32  is individually sealed. Once the cylindrical container  12  is filled, the cutting device  36  incorporated into the twist rim  28  can be used to sever the end of the most recently disposed waste package  32  from the roll of flexible tubing  26 , and the series of waste packages  32  can be removed from the cylindrical container  12  through the bottom access door  18 . 
     The retention springs  30  are preferably formed from a single piece using a series of bends. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, plastic is used to construct the retention springs  30 . In such an embodiment, each retention spring  30  can be molded such that a parting line  100  is located along the center  102  of each of the retention springs  30 . Preferably, the thickness of the retention spring  30  is greatest at the parting line  100  and narrows toward the edges  31  of the retention springs  30  as shown in FIG.  4 . This narrowing can be substantially linear, elliptical, or spherical. Such configurations concentrate force along the center of each retention spring  30  which improves the gripping and holding action of the device  10 . These configurations improve the force and pressure distribution to gently retain the waste package  32  while the device  10  is operated. 
     The retention springs  30  are affixed to openings  23  in the flange  22  with a plastic upright  64  forming a hook  65 . The plastic upright  64  is attached to a base section  66  which extends inward to the center of the cylindrical container  12  substantially perpendicular to the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 . The base section  66  is terminated by a first one-hundred-eighty degree semi-circular turn  67  upward and back toward the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 . 
     A second section  68  begins at the first one-hundred-eighty degree turn  67  and runs above and substantially parallel to the base section  66 . The second section  68  tenninates with a second semi-circular one-hundred-eighty degree turn  69  upward. A top section  70  extends from the second semi-circular one-hundred-eighty degree turn  69  above and substantially parallel to the second section  68  and perpendicular to the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12  inward toward the center of the cylindrical container  12 . The top section  70  exceeds the length of the base section  66  and the second section  68  before terminating in a ninety degree turn  71 . The ninety degree turn  71  marks the highest and inwardmost point of each of the retention springs  30  of said plurality and is rounded. 
     An innermost section  72  extends downward substantially parallel to the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12  and, after making approximately a thirty degree turn  73  outward toward the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 , becomes an angled section  74 . The angled section  74  bends the remainder of ninety degrees  75  to form a bottom section  76  extending toward and substantially perpendicular to the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 . The bottom section  76  terminates with one-hundred-eighty degree turn  77  and runs parallel above the bottom section  76  inward and can be molded back into the bottom section  76 . 
     The relative lengths of the retention spring  30  sections in one embodiment of the present invention are as follows: the base section  66  and the top section  70  are substantially equal in size; the second section  68  and the bottom section  76  are substantially equal; the innermost section  72  is half of the length of the second section  68 ; and die angled section  74  is longer than the innermost section  72 . Constructing the retention springs  30  in accordance with these lengths has been found to provide excellent package retention and ease of use. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the retention springs  30  decreases as the retention springs  30  extend inward to the center of the cylindrical container  12 . In this embodiment, when the retention springs  30  are viewed from the top of the device  10  the retention springs  30  are widest at the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12  and narrowest at the point nearest the center of the cylindrical container  12 . This innovation is an improvement over prior art devices wherein the width of the supporting springs is uniform. Tapering the width of the retention springs  30  reduces the effective cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the pressure on remaining portions of the retention spring  30 . The area reduction, therefore, provides an improved method of holding waste packages  32  stationary while the device is used to twist the waste package  32  closed. 
     The width of the retention springs  30  can be reduced at the innermost section  72  as much as a quarter (25%) or more of the width of said retention springs  30  at the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 . Another alternative embodiment of the present invention is designed such that the cross-sectional area of the retention springs  30  decreases on the vertical plane as the retention springs  30  approach the center of the cylindrical container  12 . The decrease in cross-sectional area of the retention springs  30  can be accomplished using a constant reduction in cross-section as the retention springs  30  approach the center of the cylindrical container  12 . 
     The improved retention spring  30  design of the present invention allows less material to be used to construct the retention springs  30  and concentrates both the radial and axial forces provided by the retention springs  30 . Furthermore, forces are oriented to the center of the cylindrical container  12  and perpendicular to the waste packages  32  being sealed, while retaining sufficient rigidity of the springs  30  to prevent undesired deformation of the spring  30  such as twisting out of shape while the waste package  32  is being sealed. 
     In addition, the improved retention spring design  30  requires less force to push waste packages  32  past the retention springs  30  into the cylindrical container  12 . The retention springs  30  deform axially and radially to accommodate the waste packages  32  as the waste packages  32  are downwardly pressed past the retention springs  30  into the cylindrical container  12 . The deformation on the retention springs  30  when waste packages  32  are pressed past the retention springs  30  will change the relative locations and orientations of the retention spring  30  components from one another. 
     The edges  31  of the retention springs  30  of the preferred embodiment can be molded or otherwise formed such that, the top and bottom edges  31  of the retention springs  30  can be rounded as shown in FIG. 4 or just the top edges alone can be rounded. An additional alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporates retention springs  30  mounted other than substantially perpendicular to the wall  13  of the cylindrical container  12 . This orientation of the plurality of retention springs  30  serves to further assist stabilizing the flexible tubing  26  holding the waste package  32  as the device  10  twists and seals the flexible tubing  26 . 
     While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.