Patent Publication Number: US-2003226773-A1

Title: Garbage collection device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an improved garbage collection device. More specifically, it relates to the use of a layer of liquid absorbing material to collect and hold liquid leachate or other liquids which are discarded with or produced from garbage which is discarded into a garbage bag or garbage can.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Many forms of garbage cans and garbage bags are known in the art. Various forms of garbage compaction is also known. Most existing garbage bags are fabricated from plastic material of various thicknesses which are typically measured in mils. Various forms of handle ties, cinching strips or other devices to secure the top of the bags in a closed position are known. Typically, however, such bags are formed from a single layer of plastic which is intended to fully contain the contents of the bag. Such bags, in actual practice, however, are prone to becoming punctured or torn and thus allowing leachate and other liquids to drain from the bag either into the garbage can or onto the floor or ground or even onto the feet of the person who is taking out the garbage.  
       [0005] Garbage cans typically consist of a container with a bottom, four walls and optional top portions. Some bottom walls are closed and some bottom walls are provided with holes to allow drainage of liquids which may accumulate in the can. The cleaning and disposal of liquids collected in the bottom of the can is a difficult and disgusting task. The alternative of allowing such liquid to drain from the can onto the property of the owner is extremely unsanitary and should be avoided.  
       [0006] There remains a need for a garbage bag and a garbage can which addresses the issue of leachate or other liquid collection and which eliminates the above-described problems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention meets these needs by providing, in essence, a “disposal diaper” type product for use in combination with a conventional garbage bag or garbage can or both. In its simplest form, the present invention includes a garbage collection device comprising at least one of a garbage bag and a garbage can, said garbage bag having a garbage bag bottom portion and garbage bag side wall portions and said garbage can having a garbage can bottom portion and garbage can side wall portions; and a disposable layer of liquid absorbing material juxtaposed adjacent to at least one of the garbage bag bottom portion and the garbage can bottom portion.  
       [0008] In a presently preferred embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably placed inside of said garbage bag adjacent an inner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage bag.  
       [0009] In another embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably adhered to an inner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage bag.  
       [0010] In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material and is removably placed outside of said garbage bag adjacent an outer surface of the bottom portion of said garbage bag. In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material and is removably adhered to an outer surface of the bottom portion of said garbage bag.  
       [0011] In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably placed inside of said garbage can adjacent an inner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can. In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material removably adhered to an inner surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can. In yet another embodiment, the garbage collection device of said bottom portion of said garbage can is provided with drainage holes and said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material is removably placed outside of said garbage can adjacent an outer surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can. In yet another embodiment of the invention, said bottom portion of said garbage can is provided with drainage holes and said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material is removably adhered to an outer surface of the bottom portion of said garbage can.  
       [0012] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the garbage collection device has said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material provided adjacent at least one of garbage bag side wall portions and garbage can side wall portions.  
       [0013] In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material preferably further comprises an impervious lower layer and an upper layer of liquid absorbing material. Preferably, said impervious layer is formed of a plastic material.  
       [0014] The liquid absorbing layer of the present invention may be composed of any known liquid absorbing material. For example, but not intending to limit the scope of the present invention, said layer may include any one or more of the following:  
       [0015] fluff pulp fibers;  
       [0016] at least one superabsorbent polymer selected from the group consisting of starch; copolymers of starch with grafted acrylic acid; polyacrylates; a saponification product of a starch-acrylonitrile copolymer; and a cross linking of sodium carboxymethycellulose and an acrylic acid (or acrylate) polymer;  
       [0017] a sponge material; and  
       [0018] a cotton material.  
       [0019] The present invention may provide said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material with odor absorption properties. For example, said layer may include superabsorbent polymers of the p 61 yacrylic type and of certain boron derivatives including sodium tctraboratc pentahydrate.  
       [0020] Further, said garbage collection device may also provide said disposable layer of liquid absorbing material with an air scent material of any type which are well known in the art, such as Glade, for example. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the present preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0026] Referring to the figures, the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.  
     [0027]FIGS. 1 through 5 show the presently contemplated embodiments of the present invention with the presently preferred embodiment shown as FIG. 1. As all of the drawings have the same reference numerals, all of the drawings will be referred to simultaneously. In each figure, a garbage can  10  is shown which has a bottom wall  14  and side walls  16 . In FIGS. 1 through 3, a garbage bag  20  is shown which has a bottom portion  24  and side wall portions  26 . Garbage bag  20  is preferably made from plastic but may also be desirably made from paper or some other biodegradable material to reduce harm to landfills and the environment. In each embodiment of the invention, a liquid absorbing material  30  is shown which, in its presently preferred embodiment, includes an upper layer  32  of a liquid absorbing material and a lower layer  34  of a liquid impervious material such as plastic. As can be shown from the various figures, the liquid absorbing material may be placed immediately above or below the bottom portion  24  of the garbage bag  20  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Optionally, the liquid absorbing material  30  may be adhered to the inner surface of garbage  20  in FIG. 1 or to the lower surface of the garbage bag  20  in FIG. 2 by any suitable adhesive material such as rubber cement, glue or any other commercially available adhesive spray, liquid or tape product. Alternatively, the liquid absorbing material  30  may be heat bonded to the garbage bag  20 . Such adherence is utilized solely for the purpose of securing the liquid absorbing layer in place. FIG. 3 simply shows a liquid absorbing layer which extends up along the side walls of the garbage can  10  and garbage bag  20 .  
     [0028]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show, respectively, that the liquid absorbing layer  30  may be provided inside or below the lower surface  14  of garbage can  10 . Again, such liquid absorbing layer may be optionally removably adhered to said surfaces. In FIG. 5, when the liquid absorbing layer  30  is provided below the garbage can, it is preferable to provide drainage openings  12  in the bottom portion  14  of the garbage can  10 . This allows any liquid which might otherwise be trapped in a garbage can to be collected by the liquid absorbing material  30 .  
     [0029] As indicated in the Summary of the Invention, a variety of materials are contemplated for use as a liquid absorbing material. A variety of well known configurations for such absorbing materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,003 entitled Contractible Side Portions for Disposable Diaper which issued to K. B. Buell on Jan. 14, 1975; U.S. Pat. No. RE. 26,151 entitled Disposable Diaper which issued to R. C. Duncan et al. on Jan. 31, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,515 entitled Disposable Diaper issued to Tomoko Sugito on Aug. 8, 2000; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,653 issued to Gancet et al. on Jan. 29, 2002, each of which patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto.  
     [0030] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any form of absorbable material may be utilized with or without a lower impervious layer. While it is preferred to use such a lower plastic layer, the invention still has great utility without such layer. In fact, it is envisioned that liquid absorbing layer could also be formed solely from a biodegradable material without a plastic or other impervious layer to reduce ecological harm.  
     [0031] It will be noted that the drawings submitted herewith are informal in nature and do not reflect the proper dimensions of the proposed product. It is envisioned that such product could be produced to be very thin (less than 1″ thick and preferably less than ¼″ thick) so that it will not take up unnecessary volume which could otherwise be utilized for garbage. Further, by keeping the product as thin as possible, landfill space will be limited.  
     [0032] Further, it is contemplated that the present invention may employ some type of odor absorbing material such as baking powder, carbon or other known odor absorbing materials. Still further, it is contemplated that any type of air freshener or air deodorizer which could have the form of a solid or a liquid which could be incorporated into or sprayed onto the liquid absorbing material may be provided to reduce the unpleasant odors which are necessarily associated with garbage collection and storage.  
     [0033] An added benefit of the present invention which will be particularly useful for commercial businesses is that it will aid in absorbing unfinished drinks and the like which are discarded into the garbage at fast food restaurants and the like.  
     [0034] While I have shown and described the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not limited thereto and may be otherwise variously practiced within the scope of the following claims: