Abstract:
An embodiment of a garbage collection system includes a receptacle comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and an interior cavity, the top portion comprising an opening into the interior cavity, a liner for insertion through the opening into the interior cavity of the garbage receptacle, and an attachment mechanism disposed between the bottom portion of the garbage receptacle and the liner, the attachment mechanism for detachably securing the liner to the bottom portion of the garbage receptacle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    An embodiment relates to a garbage can liner and techniques for detachably securing the garbage can liner to a garbage can. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Garbage cans or other garbage receptacles are ubiquitous features of homes, offices, and virtually all public spaces. So too are the bags or liners that shield the garbage cans or receptacles from the garbage therein and aid safe and sanitary disposal thereof. 
         [0003]    Often the garbage cans or receptacles are relegated to locations that hide their aesthetically displeasing appearance. The garbage bag or garbage can liner inserted into the garbage can or garbage receptacle is often the culprit. As a result, and often to the detriment of its function, a garbage can or receptacle may be hidden under a desk, inside a cabinet, or otherwise obstructed from view. Unfortunately, hiding the garbage can or receptacle or otherwise setting the can or receptacle aside may impede the availability of the garbage can or receptacle for waste disposal. 
         [0004]    Numerous approaches exist to secure a garbage bag or liner to the garbage can or receptacle. A simple method is to fold excess bag or liner material over the top opening of the can or receptacle. Further methods elasticize one or more portions of the bag or liner opening to engage the can or receptacle to detachably hold the bag or liner in place. For bags or liners that are too large or contain excess material (e.g., given that the variety of cans or receptacles may exceed the variety of bag or liner sizes available) often the bag or liner is knotted to decrease the size of the bag or liner opening so that the bag or liner more substantially engages the can or receptacle to secure the bag or liner in place. 
         [0005]    Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,708 to Newton describes a garbage bag restraint to detachably secure a garbage liner to a garbage container, in particular when the liner is larger than the garbage container. Generally, Newton discloses a pocket-sized plastic restraint including a ridged edge and a flexible gripping center to grip a gathered portion of the liner. More specifically, the flexible gripping center is a serrated opening that bites into the gathered liner like teeth to hold the bag tightly without cutting it. Further included in the plastic restraint is a tucking strip opening in which excess liner may be tucked. 
         [0006]    The present inventor has recognized the desirability of increasing the aesthetics of garbage cans or receptacles and their respective bags and liners while simultaneously increasing the functionality of each. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a garbage can including a liner of an embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a garbage can including a liner of an alternate embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the inside base of the garbage can including a puck to detachably engage the liner of an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of the puck of an embodiment including flexible arms; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the puck of an embodiment and the liner of an embodiment that includes a plug to detachably engage the liner to the puck; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4C  is a side view of the puck of an embodiment detachably engaging the liner of an embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a plunger of an embodiment including protrusions to insert the liner into the garbage can; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of the plunger of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a top view of the plunger of an alternate embodiment including roller bearings around its circumference; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6C  is a top view of the plunger of another embodiment including a serration around its circumference; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6D  is a top view of the plunger of yet another embodiment including retractable fingers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Embodiments of a garbage collection system including a garbage can liner and method and apparatus for inserting the garbage can liner into a garbage can or receptacle will be described. Reference will now be made in detail to a description of these embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. While the embodiments will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit them the drawings disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the accompanying claims. 
         [0019]    Simply stated, an embodiment is a garbage can or receptacle liner is disclosed, including one or more decorative and functional elements. For example, the liner of an embodiment may resemble tissue paper inserted into the garbage can or receptacle by incorporating a plurality of undulating and non-uniform creases and the like. An alternate embodiment may contain a plurality of folds substantially uniformly distributed around the circumference of the liner, each parallel with a longitudinal axis of the garbage can or receptacle. The liner of each embodiment may detachably engage the bottom of the garbage can or receptacle by way of, for example, a puck of an embodiment that includes flexible fingers to interact with the liner. Each liner may further be inserted into the garbage can or receptacle with the plunger of an embodiment. The plunger of an embodiment may aid the interaction of the liner with the puck and/or facilitate forming a particular decorative shape as the liner is inserted into the garbage can or receptacle. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a garbage collection system  100  including garbage can  110  and garbage can liner  120 . Though illustrated as substantially cylindrical, it is to be understood that the garbage can  110  may have substantially any shape capable of collecting garbage. The garbage can liner  120  of an embodiment, before it is inserted into garbage can  110 , may be a planar sheet of material. In one embodiment, the garbage can liner  120  may therefore be formed of a variety of materials including “tissue paper” having a density between about 10 and 35 grams per square meter (gsm). Other types of paper may be used, such as parchment, waxed paper, or the like. Alternatively, non-paper materials may be used, including biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (boPET) polyester film (commonly known as Mylar), fabric, metal foil, or any other material that may be formed into a substantially deformable sheet. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the garbage can liner  120  may be scented or include an odor-absorbing or deodorizing agent. For instance, perfume, scent, etc., may be added to the liner material. Similarly, disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine compounds may be added to eliminate odors caused by microorganisms. Absorbent deodorizers, such as activated charcoal and silica gel, may be included to remove odorous molecules by attracting them to the adsorbent surface. Some substances, such as chlorophyll, eliminate odors by combining chemically with odorous impurities, and may added to the liner material in one embodiment. Glycols, which are disinfectant as well as deodorizing substances, may also be used. In certain embodiments, anti-bacterial agents, such as Triclosan, may be applied to the liner material. 
         [0022]    Furthermore, the garbage can liner  120  material may or may not be moisture-resistant or -proof depending on the application of garbage collection system  100 . In one embodiment, when the garbage can liner  120  is inserted into the garbage can  110  cavity, excess garbage can liner  120  material bunches up, forms undulating and non-uniform creases, or otherwise randomly deforms to create an aesthetically improved appearance for garbage collection system  100 . Said alternatively, excess garbage can liner  120  material may overflow from the top of the garbage can  110 , providing a bouffant appearance. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a garbage collection system  100  including garbage can  110  and garbage can liner  210  of an alternate embodiment. Versus the substantially random undulations or deformations of the garbage can liner  120 , garbage can liner  210  may contain a plurality of folds, creases, or corrugation substantially uniformly distributed around the circumference of the liner, each substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the garbage can or receptacle. Though illustrated with a particular number and size, it is to be understood that an embodiment may contain more or fewer creases. Further, though illustrated with substantially hard creases, the garbage can liner  210  may, in one embodiment, have softer or radiused creases (i.e., the crease may more substantially resemble a fillet). For each embodiment, the garbage can liner  210  may include a bottom that has a shape and size substantially similar to the bottom section of the garbage can  110  into which the garbage can liner  210  will be inserted. Like garbage can liner  120 , garbage can liner  210  may therefore be formed of a variety of materials including tissue paper, waxed paper, Mylar, metal foil, or the like. The garbage can liner  120  material may or may not be moisture-resistant or -proof depending on the application of garbage collection system  100 . In addition, the garbage can liner  210  may be scented or made of an odor-absorbing material. 
         [0024]    In addition to potentially providing aesthetic improvements, the undulations or deformations of garbage can liner  120  and the plurality of substantially uniformly distributed folds of garbage can liner  210  may contribute to the functionality of each garbage can liner. For example, the increased surface area of garbage can liner offered by each embodiment may improve the garbage can liner&#39;s ability to trap and collect common items, such as chewing gum. Furthermore, the folds of garbage can liner  210  may provide rigidity to the portion of garbage can liner that extends above the garbage can  110  so that, for example, the size of the garbage can  110  may be reduced with respect to the overall volume of garbage the garbage can liner  210  is capable of handling. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates that garbage collection system  100  may further include a mechanism or mechanisms to detachably engage the garbage can liner  120  or  210  to the garbage can  110  in which it is inserted. For example, in one embodiment, the garbage can bottom  310  may include one or more pucks  320 , which may be releasably or permanently secured to the garbage can bottom via double-sided tape, glue, or other adhesive, as discussed below. Alternatively, the puck  320  may include or be integrated with a magnet, which may be attracted to ferrous material within the garbage can bottom  310 . If the garbage can bottom  310  includes only one puck  320 , the puck  320  may be substantially centered on the garbage can bottom  310 . For an embodiment including a plurality of pucks  320 , the pucks  320  may be substantially uniformly distributed along the garbage can bottom  310 . For instance, the pucks may be distributed in a triangular configuration, which holds the garbage can liner  120  or  210  in a non-rotatable configuration with respect to the garbage can bottom  310 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4A through 4C  illustrate the detail and operation of puck  320 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates that the top surface of the puck may include a plurality of flexible fingers  410  that may deform or deflect downward (i.e., toward the garbage can bottom  310 ) into a cavity formed by the body of the puck  320 . By doing so, the flexible fingers  410  define an opening into which the bottom of garbage can liner  120  or  210  may be inserted and detachably secured as the flexible fingers return substantially to their original configuration (i.e., substantially parallel with the garbage can bottom  310 ). Though illustrated as being defined by uniformly spaced diameters of a circular puck  320 , it is to be understood that flexible fingers  410  may be otherwise formed. For example, the flexible fingers  410  may not join at the center of puck  320  and may subsequently define an opening with which the bottom of garbage can liner  120  or  210  may be aligned or registered before insertion into the puck  320 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates garbage can liner  120 , for example, inserted into a single puck  320  and detachably engaged by flexible fingers  410 . 
         [0027]    To remove the garbage bag liner  120  or  210  from the puck  320 , the garbage bag liner  120  or  210  may be pulled to deform or deflect the flexible fingers  410  away from the garbage can bottom  310 . By deforming or deflecting away from the garbage can bottom  310 , the flexible fingers  410  may release the garbage can liner  120  or  210  for disposal. In one embodiment, the puck  320  may be formed of a substantially elastomeric material (e.g., butadiene, styrene butadiene, butyl, ethylene propylene, fluorocarbon elastomer, fluorosilicone, natural rubber, isoprene, neoprene, nitrile, buna-N, silicone) such that the flexible fingers  410  may deform or deflect to detachably engage and disengage the garbage can liner  120  or  210  substantially without ripping or otherwise damaging the garbage can liner  120  or  210 . Simultaneously, the flexible fingers  410  should not be too flexible so as to not detachably engage the garbage can liner  120  or  210  with sufficient force such that the garbage can liner  120  or  210  disengages when, for example, the garbage collection system  100  tips over or is disturbed. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an alternate embodiment for which garbage can liner  120  or  210  includes one or more plugs  420  along its bottom to detachably engage one or more pucks  320  accordingly. Plug  420  may be more forcibly detachably engaged and disengaged from the puck  320  compared to the garbage can liner  120  or  210  alone. For example, a plunger  430  may exert force against the plug  420  sufficient to detachably engage the plug  420  (including garbage can liner  120  or  210 ) that may tear or otherwise damage the garbage can liner  120  or  210 . In one embodiment, the plug  420  may be formed of a substantially rigid material such as plastic or may be a portion of the garbage can liner  120  or  210  that may be reinforced with an additional layer or multiple layers of the garbage can liner  120  or  210  material. The plug  420  may be attached to the liner  120  or  210  using an adhesive or may be applied to the liner  120  or  210  when in a liquid or semi-liquid state, such that a bond is formed when the plug  420  solidifies. A plurality of plugs  420  may be provided on the liner  120  or  210  in a layout that matches the layout of the pucks  320  on the garbage can bottom  310  (e.g., the triangular layout of  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0029]    Though described with reference to puck  320  interacting with garbage can liner  120  or  210  (and with plug  420  in one embodiment), it is to be understood that other detachable engagement mechanisms or methods are possible. For example, the garbage can bottom  310  and the garbage can liner  120  or  210  may share halves of a hook and loop closure system. Alternatively, the garbage can bottom  310  may include one or more patches, strips, or the like of double-sided adhesive to detachably engage the garbage can liner  120  or  210  to the garbage can bottom  310 . In one embodiment, the strength of the adhesive bond between the adhesive patch, strip, or the like and the garbage can bottom  310  may exceed the strength of the adhesive bond between the adhesive patch, strip, or the like and the garbage can liner  120  or  210 . In such a manner, the garbage can liner  120  or  210  may be removed from garbage can  110  without being torn or otherwise damaged while further not simultaneously removing the adhesive patch, strip, or the like from the garbage can bottom  310 . In yet another embodiment, the garbage bag liner  120  or  210  may integrally include one or more adhesive patches, strips, or the like to detachably engage the garbage can bottom  310 . As noted, in one embodiment, the strength of the adhesive bond between the garbage can liner  120  or  210  and the garbage can bottom  310  should be sufficient to hold the garbage can liner  120  or  210  in position if the garbage can  110  is tipped over or otherwise disturbed while not causing the garbage can liner  120  or  210  to tear or be otherwise damaged when it is removed. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates the plunger  500  for inserting a garbage can liner  120  or  210  into a garbage can  110 . In one embodiment, the plunger  500  may include a plunger body  510 , one or more optional protrusions  520 , and a handle  530  to insert and withdraw the plunger from the garbage can  110 . In one embodiment, the outer diameter or cross section (e.g., if the plunger body  510  and garbage can  110  do not have a substantially circular cross section) of the plunger body  510  is smaller than the inside diameter or cross section of the garbage can  110 . In one embodiment, the one or more protrusions  520  correspond to the one or more pucks  320  arranged on the garbage can bottom  310 . The protrusions  520  (like singular plunger  430 ) operate against the bottom of garbage can liner  120  or  210  to insert a portion or multiple portions of the garbage can liner  120  or  210  into one or more pucks  320 , as described above.  FIG. 6A  illustrates the top view of the plunger  500  to illustrate the alignment of multiple protrusions  520  with multiple pucks  320 . Alternatively, the plunger  500  may have no protrusions  520 , in which case the plunger  500  is used to insert and shape the liner  120  or  210  within the garbage can  110 . In such an embodiment, the liner  120  or  210  may include adhesive strips, suction cups, or other mechanisms for holding the liner  120  or  210  against the garbage can bottom  310 . 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the outer surface or circumference of the plunger body  510  may be substantially smooth and may include filleted edges to reduce the likelihood that the insertion of the plunger  500  into the garbage can  110  and retraction therefrom (e.g., after garbage can liner  120  or  210  is detachably engaged to one or more pucks  320 ) will tear or otherwise damage garbage can liner  120  or  210 . Further, the outer surface or circumference of the plunger body  510  may include one or more additional elements to aid inserting and/or shaping the garbage can liner  120  or  210 . For example,  FIG. 6A  illustrates an alternate embodiment of plunger  500  for which the outer surface of the plunger body  510  may include roller bearings  610  to guide the plunger  500  within the garbage can  110  while reducing friction between the outer surface or circumference of the plunger body  510  relative to the garbage can liner  110  or  120 , in turn reducing the likelihood of tears or other damage during plunger  500  insertion and/or retraction. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6C  illustrates another alternate embodiment of plunger  500  for which the outer surface or circumference of the plunger body  510  may include serrations, ridges, or other uniform or non-uniform undulations  620 . The inclusion of serrations, ridges, or other uniform or non-uniform undulations  620  along the periphery of the plunger body  510  may encourage in particular garbage can liner  120  to form with a particular fold or bouffant appearance. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6D  illustrates yet another embodiment of plunger  500  including one or more retractable fingers  630  that extend and retract to detachably engage and disengage the garbage can liner  120  or  210  to insert the garbage can liner  120  or  210  into the garbage can  110  and withdraw the plunger  500  respectively. The retractable fingers  630  may each be operated by a connecting rod  640  that interacts with the surface of cam  650  as is understood in the mechanical arts. The cam  650  may in turn be coupled to handle  530  or may be rotated independently to operate connecting rods  640  and retractable fingers  630 . The embodiments are not limited in this context. 
         [0034]    It will be understood by those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.