Patent Publication Number: US-2007095839-A1

Title: Garbage can liner

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a garbage can liner wherein this liner can be placed on the bottom of a garbage can.  
      Other garbage can liners may be known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,213,194 to Hill; U.S. Pat. No. 1,341,507 to Jacobsen; U.S. Pat. No. 1,985,508 to Lasell; U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,637 to Wachter; U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,675 to Brizard; and U.S. Patent Publication no. 2003/0226773 to Shaffer published on December 2003 wherein the disclosures of these patents and this patent application publication are hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A garbage can liner which can be disposed in a bottom inside surface of a garbage can. The liner can comprise a liquid absorbent permeable material in the form of at least one layer, including a deodorant material embedded therein and at least one handle coupled to the permeable material wherein the handle extends up a side of said garbage can. This liner can also include a tray, wherein the garbage can liner can be placed in this tray. In this case, the handle can further comprise an attachment element for attaching the handle to a side of the can.  
      In this case, the device can be sold as individual components or as an integrated system.  
      This liquid absorbent permeable material can optionally include zeolite for its liquid absorbing and also its deodorant qualities. Furthermore, the garbage can liner can include baking soda, fragrances or other beneficially smelling elements can also be incorporated into this material. The liquid absorbent permeable material can also be in the form of a multi-layer liquid absorbent permeable material. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.  
      In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:  
       FIG. 1  is a side cross-sectional view of the garbage can liner wherein this liner can be disposed in an optional tray;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view of another embodiment of a garbage can liner;  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of another embodiment of the garbage can liner wherein this liner is disposed in a removable tray; and  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a side cross-sectional view of a garbage can liner  10  wherein this liner is in the form of a cloth or absorbent type material that can be composed of a cloth like substance having layers  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  that also includes deodorant or a fragrance smelling type material  30 . For example, the liner can be embedded with zeolite powder which can be used as both fluid absorbent and also as a deodorant. In addition, multiple layers of this material may be provided wherein these different layers can be used to store different levels of water or other fluid.  FIG. 1  shows these different layers  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  which are essentially a paper based material which can contain zeolite or a similar type powder such as baking soda or odor and liquid absorbing material  30  stored therein. Water or other fluid can flow or be drawn up into this material via a capillary effect to cause this fluid to be drawn either down into this material from a dripping bag or up from the bottom of the can and into this material.  
      In addition, there is shown a bag  19  which can be disposed in a can  11  wherein this device  10  can be disposed on a bottom surface of can  11  below bag  19 . Coupled to this device  10  is at least one string  15  which can be used to allow a user to remove this device  10  from the bottom of the can. There can also be another optional string  17  wherein this optional string  17  can be coupled to an opposite side of bottom liner or device  10 .  
      Essentially, once a bag has been removed, a user can remove this liner  10  from a can by reaching down and grabbing a string  15  to remove this liner. The string provides the benefit of allowing the user to remove this liner without reaching deep into a bottom region of the can. In addition, the string allows the user to handle liner  10  without actually touching the liner once it has been used.  
      An additional optional string  17  can also be used to allow the user to remove the liner from the can, this additional string allows a user to pull the liner up from both sides.  
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of another embodiment of the invention. In this case, there is shown at least one handle  34  coupled the liner  10  wherein handle  34  can be in the form of an extension  35  that is formed from rigid material with a handle or loop portion  40  disposed on an end of this handle. There can also be an attachment element  50  which can be in the form of tape or any other type of adhesive. Attachment element  50  can be coupled to an inside surface of a can so that once a bag has been removed from can  11 , the user can detach the attachment element from the inside surface of the can and then remove liner  10  from can  11  by grabbing handle portion  40  and then pulling the liner from the can.  
      There can also be another optional handle  36  having extension element  37  wherein the user can alternatively or simultaneously, detach handle portion  42  by detaching the adhesive  52  from the inside surface of a can and then grasping handle portion  42  and pulling liner  20  from the can.  
       FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, there is a tray  47  wherein this tray  47  can be in the form of a rounded or curved tray which can be used to receive liner  10 . In this case, there can be handles  64  and  66  which can be used to attach to tray  47 . Handles  64  and  66  can include handle grip portions  70  and  72  be attached to the inside surface of a can using attachment elements  80  and  82  which can be in the form of an adhesive or tape.  
      In use, once the user has removed the bag, the user can detach handles  64  and  66  from the inside of the can by removing attachment elements  80  and  82  from the inside surface of this can. The user can then grasp handle grip portions  70  and  72  to lift tray  47  along with liner  10  out of the can to dispose of liner  10 .  
      The user can then remove liner  10  from tray  47 , place tray  47  back in place in can  11  and then place a new liner  10  inside of tray  47 . Tray  47  can be made from any material such as metal or plastic. This tray can be made from either a solid sheet or a perforated material.  
       FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the invention wherein these attachment elements are shown in the form of clips  90 ,  92 , wherein these clips can be clipped to the top of the can so that once a bag has been removed, these clips can then be unclipped from can  11  and the handles can then be used to pull either liner  10  or by pulling tray  47  out from can  11 .  
      Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.