Patent ID: 7290674

Claim:
An apparatus for receiving and storing disposable items therein, said apparatus comprising: a housing provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis and having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion axially spaced therefrom, said housing defining a cavity therein and including a divider member removably positionable along said top portion wherein said divider member traverses the axis along a substantially horizontal plane, said divider member for bifurcating the cavity into a pair of juxtaposed partitions for maintaining separate trash bags therein; a plurality of lids pivotally independently connected to said housing and adjacent to said top portion, said lids being independently and selectively movable between raised and lowered positions along respective arcuate paths for covering said open top portion of said housing; a plurality of bag-supporting members pivotally connected to said housing adjacent said lids respectively, said bag-supporting members being sized and shaped for extending about associated perimeters of said partitions wherein top edge portions of the trash bags can be selectively engaged with said bag-supporting members and securely held in place when said bag-supporting members are pivoted to lowered positions respectively; and means for maintaining said lids and said bag-supporting members at closed positions wherein said maintaining means is disposed about a partial perimeter of said housing; wherein said maintaining means comprises a plurality of lip portions secured to said housing and extending upwardly therefrom, said lip portions being oppositely spaced from said divider member and extending substantially parallel thereto, each said lip portion having a generally L-shape and including a protrusion integrally disposed along a length thereof, said protrusions partially extending into the arcuate paths of said bag-support members so that a frictional force can be generated therebetween and hold the trash bags at operating positions, said divider member including a plurality of protrusions extending along a length thereof for cooperating with said lip protrusions and to support the trash bags at stable positions; wherein said lids comprise: outer edges portions and a central surface integral therewith and engageable with said lip portions and said lip protrusions when moved to lowered positions respectively.