Abstract:
A waste disposal system with flexible tubing comprising a container defining a waste chamber; a lid connected to the container and movable between an open condition and a closed condition; an iris with a first disk, a second disk and a web connecting the disks; a cartridge of flexible tubing removably situated in the container, extending from the cartridge through the iris into the waste chamber and positioned to receive waste therein; and a guide system, causing the iris to close by rotating one disk in relation to the other, thereby twisting and cinching the flexible tubing and enclosing the held waste, the guide system further causing the iris to displace in a direction opposite to the lid and to carry the held waste into the waste chamber.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention relates generally to the field of disposing of odoriferous waste, and more specifically to waste disposal system with flexible tubing.  
         [0005]     Certain types of wastes generate offensive odors that may be difficult to control in a closed environment, such as a home, a hospital, a restaurant or an office. Examples of these wastes include soiled absorbent articles like diapers, adult incontinence products or sanitary napkins; animal droppings; putrefying foods; and combustion products.  
         [0006]     A number of containers for the disposal of odoriferous materials are known in the prior art. These containers generally comprise a waste chamber that can be accessed by removing a lid; a bag within the chamber for holding the odoriferous material; and a constrictor system for maintaining the bag closed, in order to prevent the emission of odors.  
         [0007]     More recently, a flexible tubing system has been developed that facilitates the use of containers for odoriferous materials. This flexible tubing system essentially comprises a ring-shaped cartridge, within which a continuous flexible tube is stored. The cartridge is positioned in an appropriate lodging at the mouth of the container and the tube is then extended into the waste chamber. After each load of waste is thrown into the flexible tubing, the portion of the flexible tubing holding the waste is closed by twisting or by other means, encapsulating the held waste. A new load of waste can then be thrown into the flexible tubing repeating the process.  
         [0008]     The containers in the prior art have been disclosed in a number of patents but exhibit a number of deficiencies. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,303 to Bernstein et al. discloses a diaper pail having a lid, a trash bag and a rotating ring-shaped flange at the mouth of the bag that causes the mouth of the bag to twist. This container is not suitable for use with flexible tubing and operation of this container, including the rotation of the flange, is entirely manual.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,680 to Asbach et al. discloses a container suited for use with a trash bag, the mouth of which is closed by a constrictor system that includes two rotating disks connected by straps. The mouth of the bag is closed by the intersection of the straps when the disks are rotated relative to each other by 180 degrees or more. This container, however, is not suited for use with flexible tubing, does not prevent emission of odors when the constrictor is opened to insert new waste, and the operation of the constrictor system is entirely manual.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,200 to Jacoby, Hickman and Gallo discloses a disposal system for use with flexible tubing, wherein rotation of a ring-shaped flange at the mouth of the container causes the flexible tubing to twist and to encapsulate the held waste. This container is entirely hand-operated and laborious to use. For instance, in the case of a diaper pail, a mother must rotate the flange by hand and then push the twisted tubing inside the waste chamber while holding a baby. This is not only inconvenient, but also potentially dangerous because the various steps required to operate this container must be balanced with the care of the baby.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,847 to Jensen et al. discloses a diaper disposal container with flexible tubing and with a rotating inner lid. This invention also requires that waste be pushed into the container by hand.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,099 to Stravitz discloses a waste disposal device using flexible tubing, wherein the flexible tubing is twisted by means of a rotating ring-shaped flange that is turned when the hinged lid is closed. This device is of complex construction and also requires that the twisted section of the flexible tubing be pushed into the container by hand.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Disclosed herein is a waste disposal system with flexible tubing, and more specifically a waste disposal system with flexible tubing wherein an iris, comprising disks connected by a web, twists and cinches a portion of flexible tubing holding waste and also carries the held waste into a waste chamber in a single operation.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment of the invention, a waste disposal system with flexible tubing comprises a container defining a waste chamber; a lid connected to the container and movable between an open condition, in which access to the container is provided, and a closed condition, in which the container is covered; an iris comprising a first disk, a second disk and a web, wherein the first disk and the second disk are ring shaped, parallel and coaxial, and wherein the web connects the first disk and the second disk; a cartridge of flexible tubing removably situated in the container, wherein the flexible tubing extends from the cartridge through the iris into the waste chamber and is arranged to receive waste therein; and a guide system, causing the iris move from the open position to the closed position by generating a relative rotation between the first disk and the second disk, further causing the iris to twist and cinch the flexible tubing and to enclose the held waste, and still further causing the iris to displace in a direction opposite to the lid and to carry the held waste into the waste chamber.  
         [0015]     In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, the waste disposal system with flexible tubing of the first embodiment can further comprise an actuator connected to the lid to open and a fastening device to permanently fasten the flexible tubing.  
         [0016]     There is further disclosed a process for disposing waste comprising the steps of providing a container comprising a lid, a flexible tubing, and an iris comprising two concentric and parallel disks connected by a web; of placing waste into the flexible tubing; of causing the disks of the iris to rotate angularly in relation to each other, thereby enclosing the held waste; and of causing the iris to displace in a direction opposite to the lid, thereby moving the held waste into the container.  
         [0017]     It is one advantage of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system with flexible tubing that is simple to use and that can be operated with a single hand.  
         [0018]     It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system with flexible tubing that does not require the user to push the waste into the waste chamber by hand or with a separate tool.  
         [0019]     It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system with flexible tubing wherein the flexible tubing is twisted and cinched by an iris that comprises disks rotating 120 degrees or less.  
         [0020]     It is yet another advantage of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system with flexible tubing that is simple to construct.  
         [0021]     It is still another advantage of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system with flexible tubing that can be expanded to include a variety of constructive option, such as a lid actuator and devices for permanently fastening the flexible tubing.  
         [0022]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, embodiments of the present invention are disclosed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a partially cut-away perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the iris, wherein the web connecting the iris disks is not shown.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of the iris in the open position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the iris in the closed position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a top view of yet another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a partially cut-away view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , when the lid is in a closed condition.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a partially cut-away view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , when the lid is in an open condition.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a partially cut-away view of a still further embodiment of the invention, wherein movement of the iris is facilitated by springs.  
         [0034]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of the iris, wherein the web connecting the iris disks is not shown.  
         [0035]      FIG. 10B  is a bottom view of the iris, wherein the web connecting the iris disks is not shown.  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is another partially cut-away view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. A container  20  defines a waste chamber  22  for the storage of odoriferous waste. A lid  24  is movably attached to the container  20  by means of hinges  26 . When lid  24  is open, the mouth  28  of waste chamber  22  is open to the external environment and access to waste chamber  22  is provided. When lid  26  is closed, mouth  28  is covered and waste chamber  22  is closed to the external environment.  
         [0039]     Container  20  may be of different dimensions. For instance, if the invention is used for the disposal of soiled diapers, container  20  may be of a size that is suitable for storing inside a cabinet, or, conversely, of a height comparable to the height of a baby-changing table.  
         [0040]     A cartridge  30  of flexible tubing  32  is located within an appropriate lodging in container  20  near mouth  28 . Cartridges  30  of flexible tubing  32  are already known in the prior art, and flexible tubing  32  can be tailored to exhibit a variety of characteristics, such as different gauge thicknesses, different degrees of resiliency, or an inner surface with adhesive properties that maintain the flexible tubing closed when it is cinched.  
         [0041]     Flexible tubing  32  extends from cartridge  30  into waste chamber  22 . An iris  34  is positioned between cartridge  30  and waste chamber  22 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 5A ,  5 B,  10 A and  10 B, iris  34  comprises a first disk  36 , a second disk  38  and a web connecting first disk  36  and second disk  38 . This web comprises a plurality of parallel string segments  40 , each of which connects a point  54  on the first disk  36  with a point  56  on second disk  38  at a specified angular distance. Each string segment  40  may be a portion of a continuous string connecting first disk  36  to second disk  38 , or may be a separate string piece that is not connected to any other string segment  40 . In other embodiments, different web types may be employed, for instance, a net or a mesh.  
         [0042]     Iris  34  is housed within a cylindrical structure  42 , which comprises two slots  44  running parallel to the longitudinal axis of cylindrical structure  42  and also two grooves  46  running along the wall of cylindrical structure  42  in a spiral pattern. Two first pins  48  extend from first disk  36  and are each housed in one of slots  44 . Two second pins  50  instead extend from second disk  38  and are each housed in one of grooves  46 .  
         [0043]     First disk  36  and second disk  38  are connected longitudinally by retainers  42 , which force the two disks to move simultaneously in the direction of their common longitudinal axis, but which also allow the two disks to rotate relative to each other. In this embodiment, second disk  38  has a smaller diameter than first disk  36  and is supported by lips  68  of retainers  42 . This allows second disk  38  to rotate relative to first disk  36  and retainers  42 , once attached to first disk  36 , to maintain an outer circular surface that is flush with the outer circular surface of first disk  36 .  
         [0044]     First pins  48  are joined to lid  24  by means of link plates  52 , which force iris  34  to reside near mouth  28  when lid  24  is in the open position. At this stage, iris  34  is open and allows waste to pass from mouth  28  through iris  34  and into flexible tubing  32 . When lid  24  is then closed, link plates  52  cause first pins  48  to slide along slots  44  in a direction opposite to lid  24 , thereby causing first disk  36  and second disk  38  to move in the direction of waste chamber  22 . In turn, second disk  38  is forced to rotate in the direction of second grooves  46 , extending string segments  40  and closing iris  34 .  
         [0045]     As iris  34  is closed and moves in the direction of waste chamber  22 , flexible tubing  32  becomes twisted and cinched in the proximity of iris  34 , encapsulating the waste material and entrapping the odors emanating from the waste.  
         [0046]     As iris  34  moves towards the inside of container  20 , the waste is carried into waste chamber  22  and cartridge  30  dispenses an additional amount of flexible tubing  32 . When lid  24  is completely closed, iris  34  is in the closed position and at the maximum distance from lid  34 , while flexible tubing  32  between cartridge  30  and iris  34  has assumed a funnel shape, ready to receive waste when lid  24  is opened.  
         [0047]     The process for disposing of the odoriferous waste, therefore, comprises the steps of opening lid  24 ; of placing waste (for instance, a soiled diaper) in flexible tubing  32 ; and of closing lid  24 , causing iris  34  to close encapsulating the waste and to carry the waste into waste chamber  22 .  
         [0048]     When a new cartridge  30  of flexible tubing  32  is inserted in the appropriate lodging of container  30 , the first end of flexible tubing  32  to extend from cartridge  30  must be fastened, in order to provide a closed area within which to encapsulate the first load of waste. Such fastening may be accomplished in a variety of ways, for instance, by knotting the first end of flexible tubing  32 , or tightening flexible tubing  32  with a mechanical clasp or with a metal wire tie, or by wrapping the first end of flexible tubing  32  around a hook extending from an inner wall of container  20 .  
         [0049]     In accordance with the present invention, the ends of string segment  40  connecting first disk  36  with second disk  38  may be angularly spaced.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate one string segment  40  connecting point  54  on first disk  36  to point  56  on second disk  38  at an angular distance of approximately 70 degrees. Instead, the angular distance between two successive string segments  40 , indicated in  FIG. 5A  as the angular distance between point  54  and point  58 , is 45 degrees in the present embodiment. This arrangement maximizes the efficiency of iris  34 , because an angular rotation of second pin  50  by 110 degrees allows an angular separation of points  54  and point  56  of approximately 180 degrees, closing iris  34 . Other embodiments of the invention may include different angular separations between point  64  and point  56 , and between point  58  and point  56 .  
         [0050]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , flexible tubing  32 , when filled, can be removed from waste chamber  22  by opening a container door  60 . In other embodiments, waste chamber  22  can be emptied by accessing waste chamber  22  in other ways, for instance, as shown in  FIG. 4 , by means of a drawer  62 .  
         [0051]     The embodiments described thus far operate entirely with mechanical energy. Although the embodiments previously described are very simple to operate, because the user is required only to open and close lid  24 , the use of the invention can be further facilitated by introducing additional components in other embodiments.  
         [0052]     As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , an actuator  64  may be connected to lid  24  facilitating the opening and closing of lid  24 . Actuator  64  can be electric, for instance, a magnetic solenoid or an electric motor, or may be pneumatic.  
         [0053]     Turning now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 A,  10 B and  11 , one or more springs  66  may also be connected to iris  34 . In one embodiment, when lid  24  is opened and iris  34  moves in the direction of lid  24 , springs  66  extend and are tensed. When lid  24  is successively closed, springs  66  retract to the rest position and facilitate the movement of iris  34  in the direction of waste chamber  22 .  
         [0054]     In yet another embodiment, operation of the invention is further facilitated by the addition of a sensor  70  that causes the lid to displace, that is, to open and/or close, when a hand is detected and an electric signal is sent to actuator  64 . Sensor  70  may be of a type detecting motion or of a type detecting heat. Alternatively, an electric or pneumatic signal may be sent to actuator  64  by means of a hand switch or a pedal.  
         [0055]     In a still further embodiment, a fastening device is added to the first embodiment to provide a permanent sealing of each portion of flexible tubing  32 , within which waste in encapsulated. Such fastening devices include heat-sealing devices, and devices that dispense mechanical clasps, such as the Kwick Lok® clasps commonly used in the United States to fasten bread bags. In this embodiment, the fastening device is powered electrically, but in another embodiment the fastening device may be powered mechanically.  
         [0056]     While the invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.