Abstract:
A film-supporting device is used with a waste-disposal unit. The device comprises an annular body. The annular body has an annular wall. The inward radial surface of the wall defines a central opening of the body. The outline of the central opening in a transverse plane of the device has variable diametrical dimensions with a first diameter of greater dimension than the second diameter. The outline has two of the first diameter of generally equal dimension and two of the second diameter of generally equal dimension. The device has tubular film about an outward radial surface of the annular body. A free annular end is dispensed outwardly from the annular wall. The free annular end is closed to form a bag. The opening of the bag is accessible through the central opening and is of optimized shape via the central opening for the disposal of waste. A method for disposing of waste on a scooping tool is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/392,603, filed on Oct. 13, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/412,614, filed on Nov. 11, 2010, and Canadian Patent Application No. 2,726,926, filed on Jan. 7, 2011, all incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
     The present application relates to film-dispensing cassettes and rimmed bags of the type supported at an opening of a waste-disposal unit and dispensing tubular film in the form of a closed-end bag, or supporting such closed-end bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     Waste-disposal units of the type having an internal mechanism used with a film-dispensing cassette are commonly used to throw away odorous waste, such as diapers and litter. In such waste-disposal units, the film-dispensing cassettes are supported at an opening of a bin and dispense tubular film projecting into the inner cavity of the bin of the waste-disposal unit. The free end of the tubular film is closed, thereby defining a bag. The internal mechanism in the waste-disposal unit presses the bag shut, thereby isolating the waste in the bag below the internal mechanism, and capturing the odors in the bag. 
     However, the refill cassettes are costly for the consumer, whereby it is desired to increase the amount of tubular film per cassette, without increasing drastically the dimensions of the cassette, for instance to be compatible with existing formats of waste-disposal units. By increasing the quantity of bag per cassette for similar dimensions, the transportation costs and shelving costs may also be reduced. 
     In some instances, it is desired to facilitate the disposal of the waste, for instance to reduce the amount of by-products such as dust created in the disposal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel film-dispensing cassette for waste-disposal unit. 
     It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel rimmed bag for waste-disposal unit. 
     It is a still further aim of the present disclosure to provide a novel method for dispensing waste in a film-dispensing cassette. 
     Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a film-supporting device for use with a waste-disposal unit comprising: an annular body having at least an annular wall, with an inward radial surface defining a central opening of the annular body, an outline of the central opening in a transverse plane of the device having variable diametrical dimensions with a first diameter being of greater dimension than a second diameter, the outline having in the transverse plane of the device two of the first diameter of generally equal dimension and two of the second diameter of generally equal dimension; and tubular film about an outward radial surface of the annular body, with a free annular end dispensed outwardly from the annular wall, the free annular end being adapted to be closed to form a bag with an opening of the bag being accessible through the central opening. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a film-supporting device for use with a waste-disposal unit comprising: an annular body having at least an inner annular wall and a radial wall projecting at least partially radially outwardly from the inner annular wall, with an inward radial surface defining a central opening of the annular body, an outline of an outer periphery of the annular body in a transverse plane of the device having variable diametrical dimensions with a first diameter being of greater dimension than a second diameter, the outline having in the transverse plane of the device two of the first diameter of generally equal dimension and two of the second diameter of generally equal dimension; and tubular film about an outward radial surface of the inner annular wall, with a free annular end dispensed outwardly from the inner annular wall, the free annular end being adapted to be closed to form a bag with an opening of the bag being accessible through the central opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a film-dispensing cassette for waste-disposal unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 , as dispensing film; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of an annular body of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 , with outer annular wall and with clearance; 
         FIG. 4B  is a sectional view of an annular body of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 , with outer annular wall and without clearance; 
         FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of an annular body of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 , without outer annular wall and with clearance; 
         FIG. 4D  is a sectional view of an annular body of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1 , without outer annular wall and without clearance; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1  as used with a scooping tool; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of the film-dispensing cassette in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, with a rectangular outline for central opening; 
         FIG. 6B  is a top plan view of the film-dispensing cassette in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, with an oval outline for central opening; 
         FIG. 6C  is a top plan view of the film-dispensing cassette in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, with a hexagonal outline for central opening; 
         FIG. 6D  is a top plan view of the film-dispensing cassette in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, with a trapezoidal outline for central opening; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the film-dispensing cassette of  FIG. 1  in a waste-disposal unit; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a rimmed bag in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a comparative view of the film-dispensing cassette of FIG.  1 /rimmed bag of  FIG. 8  and of a film-dispensing cassette of the prior art; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of another rimmed bag in accordance with yet another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a waste-disposal unit  10  of the type having a bag-closing mechanism  11  used with a film-dispensing cassette  12 , recipient or cartridge (hereinafter cassette  12 ), or alternatively used with a rimmed bag  12 ′ (described hereinafter for  FIGS. 8 and 10 ). The waste-disposal unit  10  may be used for any type of waste items, but is well suited for the disposal of cat litter and hygienic items such as diapers. The waste-disposal unit  10  is shown as having a bin, but the waste-disposal unit  10  may have any other configuration capable of supporting the cassette  12  (such as a wire rack), and having the mechanism  11 . 
     The cassette  12  is of the type having an annular shape with tubular film  13  dispensed from a top of the cassette  12 , passing through the central opening of the cassette  12 , and into the inner cavity of the waste-disposal unit  10 . The free end of the tubular film  13  is closed, for instance with a knot  13 A (shown in  FIG. 2 ), to define a bag to receive the waste, with the central opening of the cassette  12  forming the opening of the bag. The free end of the tubular film  13  may be closed in any other suitable way, for instance by using a sealing unit to form a sealing joint at the free end of the tubular film  13 . The mechanism  11  is actuatable to press the bag of the tubular film  13  shut, thereby keeping odors in the bag of the tubular film  13 . 
     It is also possible to have the tubular film  13  dispensed from a bottom of the cassette  12 , instead of being dispensed from the top. In such a case, the central opening of the cassette  12  defines the opening of the bag of tubular film  13 . 
     The cassette  12  is therefore held by a support  14  adjacent to a top opening of the waste-disposal unit  10 , above the mechanism  11 . The support  14  may be of any possible shape or configuration to support the cassette  12 . The tubular film  13  may be of any suitable material. In an embodiment, the tubular film  13  is made of a polymer, or numerous layers thereof. In another embodiment, the polymer is made of a barrier material generally odor-proof, such as EVOH. Moreover, the mechanism  11  may be a lid  15  sealingly secured to a top of the cassette  12  or to a top of the waste-disposal unit  10  to hold odors in the bag of the cassette  12 . 
     Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the cassette  12  is shown in greater detail. The cassette  12  has an annular body  20  that is a recipient of the tubular film  13 , held in an accumulated condition (e.g., pleated) radially outward of an inner annular wall  20 A. The annular body  20  also has a bottom wall  20 B, and may have an outer annular wall  20 C, with the tubular film  13  being respectively on top of the bottom wall  20 B and radially inward of the outer annular wall  20 C. As explained hereinafter, the inner annular wall  20 A, the bottom wall  20 B and/or the outer annular wall  20 C may be arranged to define clearances or the like. 
     The inner annular wall  20 A also defines a central opening  21  of the annular body  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tubular film  13  exits from a top of the annular body  20 , and then projects below the annular body  20  by passing through the central opening  21 . The closed end of the tubular film  13  is knotted at  13 A, thereby forming a bag whose length is deployed from the cassette  12 , until the bag is full. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a cover  22  is connected to a top edge of the inner annular wall  20 A, and defines an outward flange with respect to the inner annular wall  20 A, to help retain the tubular film  13  in the annular body  20  in the accumulated condition. The cover  22  may also/alternatively be connected to a top edge of the outer annular wall  20 C if the cassette  12  has such a wall, or extend beyond the outer annular wall  20 C to define a peripheral shoulder  22 A. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the peripheral shoulder  22 A may be part of the annular wall  20 C. From a plan view, the peripheral shoulder  22 A projects radially beyond the bottom wall  20 B or beyond the outer annular wall  20 C. Moreover, the cassette  12  may not have the cover  22 , with the tubular film  13  being retained solely by the inner annular wall  20 A, or may only have a portion of a cover  22 . 
     The cover  22  may have a plurality of throughbores  23 . The throughbores  23  are provided to help press the accumulated tubular film  13  down with fingers contacting the film therethrough, while the cover  22  is being connected to the annular body  20 . The cover  22  may be welded, glued, or mechanically retained to the annular body  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a tear-off strip  24  may be provided in the cover  22 . The tear-off strip  24  is secured to a remainder of the cover  22  by a frangible joint, whereby a pulling action on tab  25  causes a rupture of the frangible joint and thus the removal of the strip  24 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the removal of the strip  24  defines a radial gap that exposes the tubular film  13 , whereby a user may pull a free end of the accumulated tubular film  13  out of the annular body  20  to form a knotted bag, as explained above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown another embodiment of non-circular self-supported bag, in the form of a rimmed bag  12 ′. The rimmed bag  12 ′ has several components in common with the cassette  12 , whereby like numerals will refer to like elements. The rimmed bag  12 ′ supports a closed-end bag  13 ′ by way of an annular body  20 ′. The closed-end bag  13 ′ is welded, glued, snapped or connected to the annular body  20 ′ in any appropriate manner. Moreover, the bag  13 ′ may simply be folded over the annular body  20 ′ as shown in  FIG. 10 , without the necessity of welding or gluing the bag  13 ′ to the annular body  20 ′. In  FIG. 10 , the annular body  20 ′ is a square-sectioned tube. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the annular body  20 ′ is shaped as a flat ring, and is made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, as it structurally supports a bag and its content. However, it may have other shapes, such as a cylinder ( FIG. 10 ) or a circle of metallic wire. The annular body  20 ′ has a central opening  21 , by which an interior of the bag  13 ′ is accessed. The annular body  20 ′ may be constituted of a pair of parts foldable toward one another to seal the bag shut. Once the rimmed bag  12 ′ is filled, it is discarded. Although not shown, the annular body  20 ′ may have tabs on its periphery or connector holes adjacent the periphery, so as to be clipped or secured to a waste disposal unit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 10 , the central openings  21  of the cassette  12  and of the rimmed bag  12 ′ are shown having a generally square outline  30 , with rounded corners. More specifically, the generally square outline  30  may be a squircle. Accordingly, the central opening  21  has at least one axial dimension (or diameter, axis, namely passing through the center of the outline shape) that is larger than another axial dimension, in a transverse plane of the cassette  12 . This is shown as A 1  being of greater dimension than A 2  in  FIG. 3  (A 1 &gt;A 2 ), in the transverse plane of the cassette  12 . The generally square outline of the central opening  21  shown in  FIG. 3  (i.e., not perfectly square because of the rounded corners), has two diagonals (represented by A 2 ) of the same dimension, and two minimum widths (represented by A 1 ) of the same dimension. It is observed that the outline of the outer periphery of the cassette  12  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and the outline of the central opening  21  are similar figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6D , other outlines respecting the rule A 1 &gt;A 2  are illustrated at  30 A to  30 D, for one or both of the contour of the central opening  21  and outer periphery of the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′. The outlines  30 A to  30 D may be used as shapes for the central opening  21  and/or outer periphery of either one of the cassette  12  and rimmed bag  12 ′, as may the outline  30  of  FIG. 3 . Other shapes are considered as well, such as super-ellipses and squircles (i.e., a specific type of super-ellipse). In an embodiment, it is preferred that the central opening  21  and/or outer periphery of the cassette  12  have an outline shape having at least two axes of symmetry in the transverse plane, such as the square outline  30  ( FIG. 3 ), the rectangular outline  30 A ( FIG. 6A ), the oval or elliptical outline  30 B ( FIG. 6B ), and the hexagonal outline  30 C ( FIG. 6C ). Other outlines with an A 1 &gt;A 2  outline and at least two axes of symmetry include octagonal outlines, decagonal outlines, and the like. The trapezoidal outline  30 D of  FIG. 6D  does not have two axes of symmetry in the plan view (transverse plane). 
     With A 1 &gt;A 2  outlines, the cassette  12  has a greater amount of tubular film than cassettes without such outlines, for a same minimum axial dimension A 2 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 5 , cassettes with A 1 &gt;A 2  outlines allow tools T to be fitted into the central opening  21  while minimizing the size of the cassette  12  or rimmed bag  12 ′. In other words, a cassette without an A 1 &gt;A 2  outline will be of greater dimension than a cassette with A 1 &gt;A 2  outline, if it must receive a tool T in the central opening  21 , in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 . The tool T is illustrated as being a scooping tool, with a width W. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated a comparative view between the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′, and a cassette  12 ″ of the prior art. The cassette  12 ″ does not have an A 1 ′&gt;A 2  outline for its central opening  21 ′, but rather an A 1 ′=A 2  outline. Therefore, when comparing the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′ with the cassette  12 ″ as superposed in  FIG. 8 , it is observed that dimension A 1  in the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′ is greater than dimension A 1 ′ in the cassette  12 ″, for the same minimum axial dimension A 2 . Accordingly, for similar inner and outer dimensions, the cassette  12  can support more tubular film than the cassette  12 ″. As the outlines of the central opening  12  and of the outer periphery of the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′ are similar figures, the A 1 , A 1 ′ and A 2  representations in  FIG. 9  are only for the central opening  12  for clarity of illustration, but could also be made for the outer periphery. 
     According to the arrangement of  FIG. 5 , a sequence of manipulations is performed to dispose of waste in the bag formed of the tubular film  13  dispensed by the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′. The tool T is positioned over the central opening  21  of the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′. The tool T is rotated or oriented such that a width W of the tool is generally parallel to the A 1  dimension of the central opening  21 . The tool T is then lowered into the central opening  21  with the width W of the tool T remaining generally parallel to the A 1  dimension. The tool T is then pivoted approximately about the A 1  dimension, or about an axis generally parallel to the A 1  dimension, such that waste slides out of the tool T, through the central opening  21 , and into the bag of tubular film  13  of the cassette  12 /rimmed bag  12 ′. 
     The sequence of manipulations is advantageously used when the waste has a volatile solid component, such as dust. For instance, when the waste is cat litter, it is desired to reduce the movement of the cat litter from the scoop T to the bag of tubular film  13 , to minimize the creation of dust from the disposal action. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A to 4D , various sections considered for the annular body  20  are illustrated, as dispensing the tubular film  13 .  FIGS. 4A and 4C  show a clearance  40 . The clearance  40  is used in combination with a projection in the support  13  of the waste-disposal unit  10 , to ensure that the cassette  12  is properly inserted into the waste-disposal unit  10 . The clearance  40  may also be at the junction of the bottom wall  20 B and the outer annular wall  20 C, any may take any suitable form, such as screw-in slots (for complementary engagement with retainer tabs), threading, etc. If the cassette  12  dispenses the tubular film  13  from its bottom, the clearance may not be required. According to another embodiment, the bottom wall  20 B projects radially inwardly into the central opening  21 . In such a case, the bottom wall  20 B may serve as a support for the cassette  12 .