Abstract:
The invention discloses a waste disposal apparatus including a waste packet forming device integrated with a tool for cutting the packet, and a method for using the apparatus. The disclosed integrated twist-and-cut system provides an improvement over existing waste disposal systems by reducing steps in the disposal of waste material.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to a waste disposal apparatus and a method for disposing waste material. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus having a cutting tool integrated with a mechanism for sealing a tubular sealing material containing waste, and to a method of using the waste disposal apparatus.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventional waste disposal devices and systems are generally available to dispose waste ranging from kitchen refuse to soiled diapers. Most waste receptacles require separate and numerous actions for packing waste and disposing them.  
         [0003]     European patent application No. 0005660 describes a device for disposing kitchen refuse in packages enclosed by flexible tubing derived from a tubular pack of tubing surrounding a tubular guide. The device includes a tube sealing mechanism. The tubing passes from the pack over the top of and then down the guide to a position beneath the guide where it has been closed by fusion to provide a receptacle within the guide means. When this receptacle is full of refuse, a lever is manually operated to actuate an electro-mechanical apparatus including clamping and fusion devices that travel round closed tracks to perform the four-fold task of drawing the receptacle down below the tubular guide, fusing the tubing walls together to seal the top of the receptacle, sealing the tubing walls together to provide the closed base of the next receptacle and dividing the tubing by heat at a location between these two fusion locations to separate the filled package.  
         [0004]     A popular approach for disposing of diapers has been a device using, for example, a tube twisting mechanism to form a pouch about a diaper. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,049. The patent discloses an apparatus to form packets containing disposable diapers comprising a tubing which passes through the top edges of a core opening and then down through the core. The core is turned by means of a twist ring/drive (should be twist ring if this is talking about the current diaper genie) about a cylinder to twist the flexible material at locations between the adjacent packets to seal the packets at their ends thereby providing disposal of the waste. A manually rotatable cutter in the lid is provided for severing the flexible tubing above the twisted packets.  
         [0005]     A commercially available waste storage device for disposal of baby diapers is known as the Playtex Diaper Genie®. In the Diaper Genie®, a waste storage container is fitted with a lid designed to contain odors when the lid is closed. The lid also has a rotatable cutting device designed to sever a storage film from a film cassette positioned in the waste container body. The film cassette having a hole concentrically located therein, is positioned in the waste container body. The film cassette has a top surface from which the storage film extends and has a removable twist drive placed in the concentric hole of the cassette. The storage film extends from the film cassette, over and then down through the twist drive, down through a hole in the film cassette and into the waste container body, all in the shape of a tube. The user manually opens the lid assembly by hand and places waste such as a diaper through the twist drive and hole in the film cassette, into the storage film tube. The twist drive is then manually rotated by the user&#39;s hand, which causes the film cassette and stored film to rotate, sealing off the disposed waste in the storage film to form a packet or a pouch with a continuous twisted link still attached to the storage film. The storage film is continuously fed from the film cassette as additional links of packets or pouches are formed. The last link is then severed from the storage film when the waste receptacle has been filled to capacity. This is accomplished by closing the lid and pressing down and rotating a rotatable cutting device accessible from the top of the lid, thereby severing the film from around the rim of the film cassette, now exposed in the absence of the twist drive.  
         [0006]     The contents of the entire prior art references cited herein are incorporated by reference. From the above it can be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that there are a number of disadvantages associated with prior art waste disposal devices using flexible tubing and tubular sealing material to form packets for disposal of waste materials. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the steps of placing and positioning the twist drive in the device first by opening a lid, then twisting the ring to seal the waste material inside the film tube, closing the lid, then reopening the lid, closing the lid again before cutting the film may be cumbersome and time consuming. It is clear that a device is needed that will eliminate these disadvantages. Such a device should be relatively safe, economical to purchase, and easy to operate with fewer interventions by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a waste disposal apparatus and a method for disposing waste material. Specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus having a cutting tool integrated with a mechanism for twistably sealing and cutting a tubular sealing material containing waste, deposited in such sealing waste in a tubular sealing material to form a series of waste packages, and to the use thereof. The disclosed integrated twist-and-cut (ITAC) system provides an improvement over existing waste disposal systems by eliminating intervening steps of disposing waste material.  
         [0008]     An embodiment of the present invention comprises an integrated cutting system for a waste storage receptacle. A container body defines a waste bin. An opening provides access to the waste bin. A support in the form of a collar resides adjacent the opening. The collar has a flange extending therefrom and is cylindrically configured for mounting a film cassette above the waste bin. The collar encloses less than all of the opening to the waste bin so that waste material can be passed through the opening and into the waste bin. The invention further comprises a film cassette mounted to the flange of the collar, and a lid hingedly adjacent the collar. The lid portion encloses a first device for a film sealing means for forming waste packets by twisting a flexible film tubing that is dispensed from the film cassette. The lid portion also encloses a second device operably connected to the first device for cutting the waste packet from the film tubing.  
         [0009]     Another embodiment of the present invention comprises an integrated cutting system for a waste storage receptacle. The waste storage receptacle has a body, a collar, a lid and a storage film cassette adapted to be positioned in the collar. The cassette has a continuous length of a tubular storage film therein. The invention further comprises a handle operably connected to the lid. The operation of the handle engages a cutting device and a film sealing device to uniform rotational motion, and twistably seals the film extending from the cassette. A button is also operably connected to the lid. The operation of the button disengages the sealing device from rotation and exposes the cutting device to the film in a stationary state. Further operation of the handle rotates a blade affixed to a blade shoe, the blade severing the film from the cassette.  
         [0010]     Still another embodiment of the present invention involves a method for disposing waste material from a waste disposal apparatus. The method provides a lid having a sealing device and a cutting device therein. The sealing device is operable by a rotatable handle, and the cutting device by a button. A length of film tubing is provided. The tubing has a first sealed portion of the tubing at a location along its length and an open end. The method involves inserting, with the lid open, waste material through the open end of the tubing until it contacts the first sealed portion of the tubing; closing the lid; rotating the handle to rotate the sealing device and the cutting device simultaneously to only twist and seal the open end of the tubing; operating the button downwards and disengaging the sealing device; operating the rotatable handle to rotate the cutting device only, and cut the waste packet only; and discarding the waste packet from the waste disposal apparatus.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of the waste disposal apparatus of the present invention showing the primary parts, including the body, collar, rotatable handle, and cutting button of the apparatus.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   a  is an exploded view showing the components of an embodiment of an integrated twist-and-cut (ITAC) system, according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic drawing of a tubing refill cassette, according to U.S. application Ser. No: 60/499,443.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is a partial cut-away of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the forming of waste packets by twisting and sealing of a flexible material, according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the placement of a film cassette in relation to a rotary twist drive and a blade shoe, according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4   a  is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the position of the components of the ITAC system in twist mode, only.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4   b  is a partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing the position of the components of the ITAC system in cut mode, only. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3   a - 3   b  and  4   a - 4   b , there is shown one waste disposal apparatus embodiment of the present invention utilizing an integrated twist-and-cut system for packing and disposing of waste materials.  
         [0019]     In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  10  generally represents a waste storage and disposal apparatus having a body  100 , a collar  200  and a lid  300 . Body  100  serves as a receptacle for temporarily storing waste materials introduced into apparatus  10  through lid  300  and sealed in packets in the collar section  200 , as will be explained more in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  below. Body  100  as shown is substantially cylindrical in shape. However, alternative shapes for body  100  can also be used including rectangular or cubical. Body  100  has a hinged base  105  and a latch  115  to lock and release the bottom base of the receptacle to provide access to stored waste products inside the receptacle. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the hinged base  105  can be located at any other surface of body  100 , such as the side.  
         [0020]     Collar  200  is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a diameter substantially the same size as at least one the diameter of body  100  to provide a sealing engagement of the collar with the body along the conjoining portions. If an alternative shape of body  100  is used, such as rectangular or cubical, then the corresponding mating shape would also be used for collar  200  to provide a sealing engagement of the collar with the body along the conjoining portions.  
         [0021]     Lid  300  provides the function of housing the mechanisms for the ITAC system of the present invention. The lid and the integrated twist-and-cut system therein will be described more in detail in the preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2, 3   a - 3   b  and  4   a - 4   b  below. Lid  300  as illustrated is also substantially cylindrical in shape and has a diameter substantially the same size as the diameter of collar  200  to provide a sealing engagement of the lid with the top along the conjoining portions. Lid  300  is pivotally connected to collar  200  by a lid hinge preferably in the rear (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). Lid  300  has a lid slot  305  formed therein. Lid slot may comprise a button for ease of latching and unlatching. Lid slot  305  may be a u-shaped channel that is operably connected to a lid latch  205  to allow user to open and close lid  300 . Lid latch  205  is better seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3   b  discussed below.  
         [0022]     An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention involves a handle  310  operably interconnected to a button  320 , both formed in lid  300 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Handle  310  is configured to be mechanically rotatable by hand. Rotatable handle  310  engages and rotates in unison a rotary twist drive  360  and a cutting tool  370 . Thus, rotatable handle  310  performs not only the conventional function of forming continuous waste packets  227 , such as shown in  FIG. 3   b , from a flexible film  223 , but also the function of severing the packets from the film; however, without having to open the lid and performing additional steps. This is accomplished, according to the present invention, by depressing button  320  which automatically disengages the rotary twist drive  360  and continuing with the rotating action of the handle only to expose now a nonmoving, stationary flexible film  223  to a rotating cutting tool  377 , such as a blade, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3   b.    
         [0023]     Aspects of an embodiment of the present invention are shown in  FIG. 2   a , which is an exploded view of collar  200  and lid  300  of  FIG. 1 . Lid  300  is pivotally connected to collar  200  by a lid hinge at  207  preferably in the rear, as shown in  FIG. 2   a . Lid  300  can easily be opened or sealably closed over collar  200  by engaging or disengaging lid latch  205  to and from lit slot  305 . Lid  300  is configured to house the various components of an integrated twist-and-cut, ITAC, embodiment system, including wave spring  330 , clutch plate  340 , yoke  350 , rotary twist drive  360 , and blade shoe  370 , as explained below in detail, so that, when opened, the lid carries with it all the ITAC components, and provides direct access to a flange  209  of the collar where a cassette of film is placed. Cassette  220  is shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0024]     Collar flange  209  is formed circumferentially about the inner circular wall  210  of the collar as shown in  FIG. 2   a . Circular wall  210  extends substantially vertically upward from flange  209 . As used here, horizontal refers to the direction between collar latch  205  in the front and lid hinge  207  in the rear as oriented in  FIG. 2   a , which is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls defining collar  200 . Vertical refers to the direction between lid  300  and collar  200 . Circular wall  210  has a diameter larger than the diameter of cassette  220  as shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  and  4   a - 4   b  (not shown in  FIG. 2   a ). Circular wall  210  provides support for cassette  220  to prevent it from moving in a horizontal direction yet allowing it to rotate about the center of the collar.  
         [0025]     Referring again to  FIG. 3   b , cassette  220  stores the flexible film which emanates from the cassette through gap  225  and then fords flange  209  area (hidden underneath the film). Rotatable handle  310  then engages the rotary twist drive  360 , thereby twisting the film  223  having waste material, such as a soiled diaper, garbage, etc. previously introduced into the film through the open lid, and sealing the film in a tubular form, thus sequestering the waste material in packets  227 . The same rotatable handle is then used to sever, for example, the last packet from the film of the cassette when receptacle  100  is full and ready to be emptied by releasing latch  105  in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]     In one embodiment of the present invention shown in the exploded view in  FIG. 1 , rotatable handle  310  has a substantially round upper portion  311  and a cylindrical neck  313  which extends through all the openings centrally formed in the components of the ITAC system, in the order starting from lid  300 , wave spring  330 , clutch plate  340 , yoke  350 , rotary twist drive  360  and engages shoulder  373  of blade shoe  370 . Handle  310  is, therefore, capable of imparting rotational motion directly to blade shoe  370  with rim  375 . In one embodiment, it is preferred that the engagement of neck  313  to shoulder  373  is in the form of a split spline as shown in  FIG. 2   a , although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the engagement of the neck to the shoulder can be accomplished in different ways, including a press fit neck into a sleeve.  
         [0027]     In an embodiment of an aspect of the invention, wave spring in  FIG. 2   a  comprises an undulating shape with opening  335 , and the undulating portions press upon the upper portion of lid  300  (not shown) when inserted about the neck  313 . The bottom surface of the wave spring has protrusions  333  as shown in the same Figure. It will be understood that springs of other shapes, including types of protrusions other than shown in  FIG. 2   a  can also be used. Protrusions  333  of the wave spring press against corresponding recesses (not shown) formed in a lower surface of clutch plate  340  shown in  FIG. 2   a . Clutch plate  340  has an upper surface  341  in the form of a ring with geared teeth  343 . Teeth  343  engage rotatably with teeth located in lid  300  (not shown) when button  320  is depressed. The clutch plate locks the rotary twist drive  360  in place when button  320  is pressed.  
         [0028]     In another embodiment of an aspect of the invention, clutch plate  340  has a plurality of vertical projections  345  formed on its lower surface, as shown in  FIG. 2   a . Vertical projections  345  of clutch plate  340  engage in corresponding openings  363  that are formed in rotary twist drive  360  shown in  FIG. 2   a . In operation, any rotational motion imparted by handle  310  is transmitted to the blade shoe  370 , which is operably connected to the handle via neck  313  of the handle. In turn, vertical projections  345  of the clutch plate transmit the rotational motion to the rotary twist drive  360 . It will be noted in  FIG. 2   a  that the blade shoe  370  nests inside the dome-like cavity  365  under the rotary twist drive  360 , wherein blade  377  (there may be two or more blades although only one is shown in the diagram) is positioned coplanarly with ribbed surface  367  of the rotary twist drive.  FIG. 2   a , therefore, shows an embodiment which may be employed in an aspect of the invention, wherein the rotation of handle  310  provides zero, or stationary, relative motion between the rotary twist drive  360  and the blade shoe  370 , thereby providing only a twisting action of the film  223  on the rim  250  of the cassette  230  shown in  FIGS. 2   b and  3   a  to seal refuse previously deposited into the film, and form packets  227 . The cassette rim  250  contains ribs  260  ( FIG. 2   b ) that allow the twist drive teeth to engage it and rotate it.  
         [0029]     A tubing refill cassette is shown in  FIG. 2   ab  as cited in U.S. application Ser. No. 60/499,443. A rotary grip ring or a rotary twist drive may be used to rotate the cassette body  230  effectively twisting the flexible tubing  240  which emanates through a gap  245  between rim  250  of cassette  230  and the open cassette core area  235 , and is folded down through the open cassette core area  235  into an interior bin space. The bottom rim  230  of the film cassette rests on several glide buttons that are affixed, for example, to the flange support which may be affixed to the internal wall side of a waste bin. Glide buttons alleviate friction between the bottom of cassette body  230  and the surface it rests on, and allow the refill to freely rotate in the body  100 .  
         [0030]     Another aspect of the present invention involves a yoke  350  positioned between clutch plate  340  and rotary twist drive  360 . Yoke  350  is generally u-shaped having lateral projections  351  and a curvilinear shoulder  353 , as shown in  FIG. 2   a . In assembly, lateral projections  351  straddle vertical projections  345  of clutch plate  350  and slidably press against the lower surface  347  of the clutch plate. The curvilinear portion of shoulder  353  protrudes beyond the periphery of the clutch plate  340  to accommodate the seating of a button  320  in a recess  355  on the shoulder of the yoke, without interference by the clutch plate. Button  320  is operably connected to lid  300 , and is better seen in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . In its normal position , that is, when the button is not depressed as seen in  FIG. 4   a , vertical projections  345  can rotate freely in between lateral projections  351  when set into motion by rotating handle  310 , thus also rotating the rotary twist drive  360 , as described above. Rotary twist drive  360  has a drive collar  361  with a plurality of openings  363  corresponding to the plurality of clutch plate projections  345  which engage the openings to rotate the rotary twist drive  360 .  FIG. 4   a  shows a cross-sectional view of the positions of the components of the ITAC system in the twist mode, only.  
         [0031]     An embodiment of an aspect of the present invention provides a means for lifting the clutch plate vertically and disengaging the vertical projections  345  of the clutch from openings  363  in the rotary twist drive  360 , thereby allowing only the blade shoe  370  to rotate when set into motion by rotating handle  310  and sever the flexible film  223  from the rim of the cassette, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b . This function is provided by button  320 , which, when depressed, causes the shoulder  353  of the yoke to move downward, while moving the lateral projections  351  upwards to lift the clutch plate  340 . It will be noted that in the absence of any twisting action, flexible film  223  in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  remains stationary, and hence the relative motion between the blades  377  and film  223  will cut the film. Although it may be preferred that a pair of diametrically opposed blades be used along the periphery of the circular blade shoe  370  of the invention, it will be understood by workers in the field that any plurality of various shapes of blades can also be used.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4   b  shows a cross-sectional view of the positions of the various components of the ITAC system in the cut mode, only. Specifically, it will be noted that button  320  is pushed downwards into lid  200 , and yoke  350  is tilted so that vertical projections  345  of clutch  340  are lifted out of the recesses  363  of the rotary twist drive  360 .  
         [0033]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and details may be made without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the handle and button operations can be automated. Furthermore, an indent can be provided for the button so that one need not hold down both the button and the handle during the cutting operation. Also, a number of clicks can be incorporated to the turning of the rotatable handle to signal positively the end of twisting of the film material in forming waste packets. In addition, a sighting can be provided to show the waste bin reaches the full capacity. Cutting blade shown in  FIG. 2   a  can also be made replaceable for ease to the user as depicted by blade cartridge  379  in the same  FIG. 2   a.