Abstract:
A vacuum-operated trash receptacle which is characterized by a container fitted with an air blower, vacuum pump or the like, either on the perforated lid, bottom or on the side thereof and having a like-shaped, removable, typically slotted liner inserted therein. In a preferred embodiment, the outer wall or walls and/or bottom of the liner are spaced from the corresponding inside wall or walls and bottom panel of the container, respectively, to define a separate or connected annulus between the bottom and wall or walls of the container and liner. The container is further provided with a top flange which receives a corresponding liner flange on the liner to seal the separate or connected bottom and wall annulus and facilitate development of a vacuum in the bottom annulus and wall annulus or both and in the liner by operation of the air blower. This vacuum operates to deploy a trash bag against the inside wall of the liner, either when the container is open or when a perforated lid is fitted over the container to close the liner. The embodiments provide for timed development of the vacuum, use of a bottomless liner, with or without pleats and a liner with a pre-installed bag.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/464,055, filed Apr. 21, 2003 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/822,928 filed on Apr. 13, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,168. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Trash handling, particularly in institutional environments, is a less than pleasant activity. This is due in part to the practice of containers with a manual deployment that involves time and prolonged contact with a possibly germy piece of equipment. The invention facilitates the ability to retrofit existing trash receptacles for vacuum-operated trash receptacle operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention includes a vacuum-operated trash receptacle which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a cylindrical container having a top flange that receives a perforated lid or cover and a cylindrical liner which is smaller in diameter and typically shorter than the container, fitted inside the container and provided with a top flange and slots or openings in the wall thereof. A trash receptacle or bag is placed inside the liner and in a first preferred embodiment an electric air blower or inflator or a vacuum pump (hereinafter called air blower) is provided in the bottom of the container and communicates with an annulus defined by the liner bottom and the container bottom and optionally, the outside liner wall and the inside container wall. The liner has slotted holes over its length. 
     This structure facilitates the development of a vacuum inside the liner and the annulus, with corresponding deployment of the wall of the trash bag against the liner from top to bottom to optimize deployment of the trash bag to full volume inside the liner for containing trash by operation of the air blower. In a second embodiment of the invention the air blower is positioned in the side or wall of the container and communicates with the annulus between the outside liner wall and the inside container wall, to effect the same vacuum in the liner and annulus and optimum deployment of the trash bag in the liner. In a third embodiment an air blower is mounted on the inside of the lid or cover and the liner flange is omitted from the liner or is perforated, for introducing air directly into the trash bag and deploying the bag against the liner. A timer circuit is added to allow unattended deploying of the bag within the liner. 
     A bottomless liner is alternatively provided, with or without pleating and with or without a separate drip pan. A portable vacuum source may be substituted for the built-in blower. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by reference to the following drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle having a bottom-mounted air blower, with the trash bag deployed in the liner and the liner located in functional configuration inside the container; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more particularly illustrating the slotted liner and the trash bag, both disposed for deployment in the container; 
         FIG. 3  is an inverted view, partially in section, of the bottom segment of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating the air blower mounted in the bottom panel of the container; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the container illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the liner in place in the container and the trash bag positioned inside the liner, more particularly illustrating the connected bottom and side or wall annulus formed between the respective bottom and wall of the liner and the container for generating a vacuum inside the liner adjacent to the trash bag when the air blower is operating; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle, wherein the air blower is mounted in the wall of the container; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the wall of the container illustrated in  FIG. 5 , more particularly illustrating the wall-mounted air blower detail with the blower suction in communication with the wall annulus between the outside wall of the liner and the inside container wall; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a perforated container cover or lid fitted with a blower for introducing air directly into the trash bag and deploying the trash bag against the liner or container under circumstances where the liner flange is perforated or omitted from the liner; 
         FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of a timing circuit for operating an air pump; 
         FIG. 9  shows a diagrammatic view of a liner and drip pan combination; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a diagrammatic view of a pleated liner embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings in a first preferred embodiment the vacuum-operated trash receptacle of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1 . The vacuum-operated trash receptacle  1  is characterized by a typically cylindrical container  2 , defined by a cylindrical container wall  3 , fitted with a container flange  4  at the top thereof and having a round cover or lid  5 , provided with lid openings  5   b  and optionally, with a downwardly-extending lid flange  6  deployed around the periphery of the lid panel  5   a  of the lid  5 . The container wall  3  extends to a container bottom  8 , having a container-supporting panel flange  10  extending around a bottom panel  9 , to define a container interior  7 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. A panel flange slot  11  is provided in the panel flange  10  of the container bottom  8  to assure a continuous flow of air to the air blower  13 , having a blower suction  14  mounted in an opening provided in the bottom panel  9  of the container bottom  8 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The blower suction  14  is characterized by a suction opening  14   a  that extends through the opening in the bottom panel  9 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and communicates with a bottom annulus  28 , defined by the liner bottom  24  of a liner  21  inserted in the container  2 , and the bottom panel  9  of the container bottom  8 . A battery container  16  is typically mounted on the bottom panel  9  adjacent to the air blower  13  and contains one or more batteries  17 , having wiring  18  connected to the air blower  13  and a switch  19 , according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, for operating the air blower  13  by means of the switch  19 . Alternatively, the blower  13  and switch  19  can be wired for 115-volt household current or the like, as desired. The liner  21  is characterized by a cylindrical liner wall  22  which is typically smaller in diameter than the container wall  3  of the container  2 , to facilitate a wall annulus  29 , that typically connects to the bottom annulus  28 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. One or more liner wall slots  25  of selected number, length and width are provided in the liner wall  22  to facilitate air communication between the liner interior  26  and the wall annulus  29 . A liner flange  23  extends around the top periphery of the liner wall  22  and fits over the container flange  4  of the container wall  3  when the liner  21  is fully inserted inside the container  2 , to seal the wall annulus  29 , space the liner bottom  24  from the container bottom  8  and define and seal the bottom annulus  28 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawings. The liner wall  22  and liner bottom  24  of the liner  21  define the liner interior  26  that accommodates a trash bag  31 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 . The trash bag  31  is conventional in design and includes a flexible or resilient trash bag wall  32 , with a trash bag bottom  34 , defining a trash bag interior  33  for containing trash, as further illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In operation of the embodiment described above and referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings, under circumstances where it is desired to deploy the trash bag wall  32  and the trash bag bottom  34  of a trash bag  31  against the liner wall  22  of the liner  21  inside the container  2 , the lid  5  is typically, but not necessarily, seated on the liner flange  23  to close the liner  21  and the container  2  and the air blower  13  is operated by manipulating the switch  19  to the “on” position. The air blower  13  is typically energized by the batteries  17  and air is caused to flow into the trash bag  31  through the lid openings  5   b , if the lid  5  is in place on the container  2 , or directly into the trash bag  31 , if not air also flows from the liner interior  26  of the liner  21 , through the liner wall slots  25  and from the bottom annulus  28  and the wall annulus  29 , into the suction opening  14   a  of the air blower  13 . The air continues to flow through the blower discharge opening  15   a , to create a vacuum inside the liner  21 , between the inside wall of the liner  21  and the flexible, resilient trash bag  31 . This vacuum causes the trash bag wall  32  and the trash bag bottom  34  to fully deploy against the inside liner wall  22  and liner bottom  24 , respectively, and facilitate complete filling of the trash bag  31 , utilizing the full volume of the trash bag interior  33 . After deployment of the trash bag  31  in the liner  21 , the switch  19  is turned to the “off” position, or may be alternatively wired to automatically terminate operation of the air blower  13  by use of a timer or the like, with the trash bag  31  remaining in fully deployed configuration inside the liner  21  for filling with trash. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the air blower  13  is mounted on the container wall  3  of the container  2  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings. In this embodiment the blower suction  14  is secured to the container wall  3  of the container  2  and the suction opening  14   a  communicates with an opening in the container wall  3  and the wall annulus  29 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6  to facilitate operation of the air blower  13  and expelling air from the liner interior  26 , the wall annulus  29  and the bottom annulus  28 , since the bottom annulus  28  is connected to the wall annulus  29 , to fully deploy the trash bag  31  inside the liner  21  in the same manner as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawings and as described above. Accordingly, under circumstances where the air blower  13  is mounted on the container wall  3  of the container  2  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings, when the switch  19  is manipulated to the “on” position, the air blower  13  is operated to cause air to flow from the liner interior  26 , through the liner wall slots  25  and into the wall annulus  29 . Air continues to flow from the wall annulus  29  and the connected bottom annulus  28 , through the suction opening  14   a  of the blower suction  14  and from the air blower  13  through the blower discharge opening  15   a  of the blower discharge  15 . Accordingly, a vacuum is generated in the liner  21  and this vacuum causes the trash bag wall  32  to fully deploy against the liner wall  22  of the liner and the trash bag bottom  34  to seat against the liner bottom  24 , and allow optimum use of the trash bag interior  33  for receiving trash. As in the first embodiment of the invention, when the switch  19  is manually turned to the “off” position, or is deployed in “automatic” mode according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art, operation of the air blower  13  is terminated and the trash bag  31  remains deployed in an optimum trash-receiving configuration inside the liner  21  of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle  1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawings in a third embodiment of the invention, the blower  13  is mounted on the inside of the lid panel  5   a  of the lid  5 , along with a battery container  16  and batteries  17  and a switch  19 , with the blower  13  deployed to eject air from the blower discharge  15  into the trash bag  31  and deploy the trash bag  31  in the container  2  using a perforated liner  21  or one that has no liner flange  23 . This liner configuration allows air to flow from around the trash bag  31 , through the liner wall slots  25  and from the side annulus  29  at the top thereof, due to the increase in air pressure inside the trash bag  21 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vacuum-operated trash receptacle  1  of this invention is characterized by convenience and flexibility, in that while the container  2  and liner  21  are illustrated as cylindrical in configuration, other cross-sectional configurations, including various polygons, such as a square, hexagon, pentagon and the like, can be utilized to shape the container wall  3  and the corresponding liner wall  22 , as well. Furthermore, openings such as variously shaped holes other than the liner wall slots  25  may be provided in the liner wall  22  of the liner  21  to facilitate creation of a vacuum in the liner interior  26  by operation of the air blower  13  or an alternative inflating or pressurizing device or a vacuum pump of choice. In addition, the air blower  13  can be operated by direct current supplied by the batteries  17  or by alternating current, as described, and can be placed at any desired location between the container flange  4  of the container wall  3  and the panel flange  10  at the bottom of the container wall  3 , as well as on the lid  5  and may be sized to handle the air flow from a liner  21  of selected size and volume, as desired. Likewise, the switch  19  can be placed at any desired and convenient location on the container bottom  8 , the container wall  3  or on the lid  5 , according to the desires of the user. 
     It will be appreciated that the liner  21  can be sized to fit inside the container  2  snugly or loosely, such that either a bottom annulus  28  or a wall annulus  29  is formed, and the air blower  13  then positioned to locate the blower suction  14  accordingly. In the case of only the bottom annulus  28 , an opening or openings (not illustrated) must be provided in the liner bottom  24  to facilitate creation of the desired vacuum in the liner interior  26  of the liner  21 . 
     It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the materials of construction of the container  2  and the liner  21  of the vacuum-operated trash receptacle  1  can be varied, although in a preferred embodiment the container  2  and the liner  21  are constructed of metal or of a plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, in non-exclusive particular, for simplicity and minimum expense in fabrication, weather resistance, lightness of weight and optimum longevity. Furthermore, the container  2  and the liner  21  can be constructed of any desired size to receive standard-sized trash bags  31 , according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     A further embodiment of the invention adds a timer to allow the blower to be activated for one or more set time intervals. This increases the efficiency of the use of the invention in environments having several trash containers according to the invention. A trash collection crew can make faster rounds collecting trash from several containers by, after a new bag has been placed in the liner, activating the blower for a fixed interval selected from one or more intervals depending on the trash container characteristics. Once the blower is activated, the crew member can move on to the next container while the new bag inserted in the just emptied container deploys unattended into the liner as described above. The time interval is selected to shut off the blower after a time sufficient for the new bag to fully deploy. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates this embodiment having a timer  102  from which one or more time intervals may be selected according to the type of container as described above. The time interval selected is activated by a start button or switch  104 , connecting power from a battery  106  to blower  108 , all largely as described above. 
     In yet a further embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9 , a perforated liner  81  may be provided without a bottom in which case its sides  87  would rest upon a bottom  183  of the trash container  118  or a drip pan  85  may be provided as shown with the liner  81  resting on its bottom or hanging from the container rim. 
     A blower  88 , as described above, is provided to withdraw air from the spaces  124  and  126  (in the case of drip pan  85 ) allowing deployment of a trash bag as described above. 
     The bottomless liner  81  reduces production costs and may even allow for bag pre-deployment by a collection crew allowing liner and deployed bag to be installed together. 
     A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 10  in which the liner  82  is pleated, may be slightly porous or perforated with folds. The pleats help to support such a liner and allow for the installation into any trash receptacle configuration or shape to facilitate vacuum-operated trash receptacle operations or retrofitting thereof. The liner  82  is bottomless and installed in a container  95  as described above with respect to  FIG. 9 . The blower permanently installed in the container as described above, may be eliminated to save costs. In its place a portable vacuum pump  89 , or hand-held, dust buster-type vacuum device, can be used by supplying its suction head  89  into the annulus  91  between the liner  82  and container  95  via an entry port  142  in the container at its rim edge or valleys created by the pleats and side wall. The vacuum thus generated draws air down the space formed by the pleats on the inside of the liner  82  and through the pores or perforations, thus successively closing as the trash bag deploys downward. 
     Alternative apertures are provided at the bottom of the liner to allow air to flow from inside the liner  82  between it and a bag inserted for deployment in inner space. The folds act as traps to hold the bag against the line as it deploys down into the liner.