Patent ID: 7694838

Claim:
A trash can, comprising: an outer shell structure having a lower end portion and extending upwardly from the lower end portion to an upper end portion, the shell structure defining a cavity disposed below the upper end portion; a liner body having a surrounding wall and an upper portion including a top edge that defines a mouth, the body being configured to fit inside the cavity of the outer shell structure; and wherein the liner body further comprises a trash bag securing mechanism configured to secure a top end of a trash bag to the liner body, the trash bag securing mechanism further comprising an oblong opening having a major axis and a minor axis and first and second ends at opposite ends of the major axis, the oblong opening having a width along the minor axis, the minor axis extending generally transverse to the top edge of the liner body, the trash bag securing mechanism further comprising a plurality of slots extending inwardly from a periphery of the trash bag securing mechanism, each slot terminating at an outer terminal end of the slot and extending inwardly from the terminal end toward the oblong opening, each slot further including an inner end having an opening connecting the slot with the oblong opening, each slot also including a width that is smaller than the width of the oblong opening, and wherein at least a first plurality of the slots are disposed at the first end of the trash bag securing mechanism and a second plurality of slots are disposed at the second end of the trash bag securing mechanism.