Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a waste disposal bag. More specifically, the present invention relates to a large waste disposal bag which has a capacity of two cubic yards or more and can support itself to maintain an open, upright position. 
   Large dumpsters are often used for the disposal of construction debris, yard waste, household junk, and other trash or garbage. Due to the unwieldly nature of traditional dumpsters, large plastic or fabric bags potentially could be more convenient to use. 
   Thus, there is a need for a large capacity waste disposal bag that is capable of maintaining an upright and open position during the filling process. There is also a need in the art for a waste disposal bag, which is easily transported when full. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention allows a waste disposal bag to support and maintain itself in an upright, open position, so it can be easily filled with debris and it also allows the waste disposal bag to be easily lifted for transportation purposes. 
   The present invention is a waste disposal bag, which has loops attached to it. One set of loops may be used to raise and lower the bag during transportation. Another set of loops may be connected to adjacent loops to support and maintain the body in an upright, open position. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention is a self-supporting waste disposal bag system, which has pockets attached to it. The pockets are adapted to receive support members which support and maintain the body in an upright, open position. The bag may also have loops attached to it that are used to raise and lower the bag for transportation purposes. Another set of loops may be attached to the bag which are connectable to adjacent loops to further support and maintain the body in an upright, open position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a waste disposal bag. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the waste disposal bag of  FIG. 1  in which a first and second plurality of loops are connected together to provide support for the waste disposal bag. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a waste disposal bag having a plurality of pockets and a plurality of support members. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view showing a support member which is inserted into a pocket of the waste disposal bag of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of waste disposal bag  10 , which can support itself to maintain an open, upright position. Waste disposal bag  10  is used to contain construction debris, yard waste, household junk, and other trash or garbage. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , waste disposal bag  10  comprises wall panels  12 A,  12 B, wall panels  14 A,  14 B, bottom panel  16 , first plurality of loops  18 A- 18 D, and second plurality of loops  20 A- 20 D. However, in other embodiments more or less loops may be used. Waste disposal bag  10  may be any suitable material, which has a tensile strength sufficient to support at least 3,300 lbs., and preferably is comprised of a flexible material, such as woven polypropylene. In addition, waste disposal bag  10  may be collapsible. 
   Waste disposal bag  10  may be assembled by joining four separate pieces of polypropylene to form wall panels  12 A,  12 B,  14 A and  14 B and bottom panel  16  with each piece connected at the seams by stitches. Additionally, a single piece of polypropylene may form bottom panel  16  and wall panels  12 A,  12 B or wall panels  14 A,  14 B with the three pieces connected at the seams by stitches. Waste disposal bag  10  is relatively large and has a capacity of about 2 to about 3 cubic yards. When assembled, waste disposal bag  10  weighs approximately 6-7 lbs and is configured to hold up to about 3,300 lbs. In  FIG. 1 , the 3 cubic yard configuration is shown and the desired dimensions are approximately as follows: wall panels  12 A,  12 B are about 50 inches long (i.e. width) and about 30 inches high (i.e. height); wall panels  14 A,  14 B are about 98 inches long (i.e. length) and about 30 inches high (i.e. height); and bottom panel  16  is about 50 inches by about 98 inches. While not shown, the desired 2 cubic yard configuration has a length of about 63 inches, a width of about 36 inches, and a height of about 42 inches. In addition, waste disposal bag  10  can have any combination of dimensions in between the two described configurations. 
   Loops  18 A- 18 D are made of polypropylene, or another suitable material, and are securely attached to the inside of wall panels  12 A and  12 B with stitches. In this embodiment, loops  18 A- 18 D extend over the top edge of wall panels  12 A,  12 B about 11.5 inches and have a width of about 4.5 inches. Loops  18 A and  18  B are attached to wall panel  12 A and are about 17 inches apart and are located about 12 inches from the nearest corner of waste disposal bag  10 . Loops  18 C and  18 D are attached to wall panel  12 B and are also about 17 inches apart and are located about 12 inches from the nearest corner of waste disposal bag  10 . 
   Similarly, loops  20 A- 20 D are made of polypropylene and are securely attached to wall panels  14 A,  14 B with stitches. Loops  20 A- 20 D extend over the top edge of wall panels  14 A,  14 B about  12  inches and have a width of about 4.5 inches. Loops  20 A and  20 B are attached to wall panel  14 A and are about 57 inches apart and are located about 15 inches from the nearest corner of waste disposal bag  10 . Loops  20 C and  20 D are attached to wall panel  14 B and are about 57 inches apart and are located about 15 inches from the nearest corner of waste disposal bag  10 . However, since loops  20 A- 20 D are configured to be used in conjunction with a lifting means, such as a crane, forklift, or other machine, they need to be fastened securely to waste disposal bag  10 . Therefore, loops  20 A- 20 D are secured to the inside of wall panels  14 A,  14 B all the way down to bottom panel  16  for additional strength. 
   Lifting straps  22  are approximately 62 inches long and are connected between loops  20 A and  20 B and loops  20 C and  20 D. Loops  20 A- 20 D are attached to waste disposal bag  10  in a manner that allows them to remain accessible even when waste disposal bag  10  is filled with debris. As a result, when waste disposal bag  10  is full and needs to be transported from the site where it was used, loops  20 A- 20 D are not buried under debris and can be easily connected lifting straps  22 . Lifting straps  22  are then used in conjunction with a lifting means, such as a forklift, to transport waste disposal bag  10 . 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of waste disposal bag  10  of  FIG. 1  in which loops  18 A- 18 D and loops  20 A- 20 D are connected together to provide support for waste disposal bag  10 . Shown in  FIG. 2  are waste disposal bag  10 , wall panels  12 A,  12 B, wall panels  14 A,  14 B, bottom panel  16 , loops  18 A- 18 D, loops  20 A- 20 D, lifting straps  22 , and loop connectors  24 . As described with reference to  FIG. 1 , waste disposal bag  10  is relatively large, preferably about 2 to about 3 cubic yards capacity, and is comprised of a flexible material. As a result, when waste disposal bag  10  is empty, the pliable sides (i.e. wall panels  12 A,  12 B,  14 A and  14 B) of waste disposal bag  10  tend to sag downward. Also, due to its size, the opening of waste disposal bag  10  may droop inward upon itself making it extremely difficult to fill with debris. In addition, when heavy pieces of debris are deposited in waste disposal bag  10 , the debris may apply pressure to wall panels  12 A,  12 B,  14 A and/or  14 B causing waste disposal bag  10  to tip or the debris to fall out. Loops  18 A- 18 D are connectable with loops  20 A- 20 D to provide support for the waste disposal bag  10 . Loop connectors  24  can be comprised of any suitable material, such as fabric rope or tie, a plastic hook, or a metal ring, and are used to connect loops  18 A- 18 D and loops  20 A- 20 D. 
   As shown, loop  18 A is connected to loop  20 C, loop  18 B is connected to loop  20 A, loop  18 C is connected to loop  20 D, and loop  18 D is connected to loop  20 B. When loops  18 A- 18 D and loops  20 A- 20 D are connected, tension is exerted on wall panels  12 A,  12 B,  14 A and  14 B, which pulls them inward providing support and allowing waste disposal bag  20  to maintain and open, upright position. Depending upon the desired support, two or more loops can be connected. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of waste disposal bag  50 . Shown are wall panels  52 A,  52 B, wall panels  54 A,  54 B, bottom panel  56 , loops  60 A- 60 D, lifting straps  62 , plurality of pockets  66  and plurality of support members  68 . Pockets  66  are attached to wall panels  52  and  54  with stitches. Pockets  66  can be any suitable shape and are preferably attached so that a receiving end of each pocket  66  is facing a receiving end of another pocket  66 . Support members  68  are inserted into pockets  66  so that the overall angle of each support member with respect to the plane of bottom panel  56  is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. The insertion of support members  68  into pockets  66  provides support, which allows waste disposal bag  50  to maintain an upright, open position. Support members  68  may be comprised of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , four pockets  66  are attached to each of wall panels  52 A,  52 B,  54 A and  54 B with two pockets  66  placed in each of the upper corners of each wall panel  52 A,  52 B,  54 A and  54 B. Four support members  68  are inserted into pockets  66 . However, more or less pockets  66  may be used. In addition, depending upon the desired support, one or more support members  66  can be inserted. In addition, if more support is needed, loops, such as loops  18 A- 18 D shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , may be used in conjunction with loops  60 A- 60 D, as described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . When waste disposal bag  50  is full and needs to be transported, lifting straps  62  are connected between loops  60 A and  60 B and loops  60 C and  60 D and are then used in conjunction with a lifting means to transport waste disposal bag  50 . 
     FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view showing support member  68  which is inserted into pocket  66  of waste disposal bag  50  of  FIG. 3 . Pocket  66  comprises receiving end  70  into which support member  68  is inserted. Pocket  66  may also comprise reinforced edge  72 . Reinforced edge  72  reduces the likelihood of pocket  66  tearing or becoming detached when tension is exerted on support member  68 . 
   The present invention has advantages over traditional metal dumpsters in that waste disposal bag  10 ,  50  can be sold directly through merchandising stores and do not require delivery. Waste disposal bag  10 ,  50  may be collapsed into a folded configuration for packaging. A customer can, therefore, pick one up at his or her convenience and easily transport it to a home or other usage site because the present invention. Waste disposal bag  10 ,  50  is more flexible and lightweight than a dumpster, and when the customer is finished filling it with debris, only one call is required to arrange a pickup time. Additionally, unlike traditional dumpsters which are reused numerous times, waste disposal bag  10 ,  50  is only used once, so it is sanitary and the customer may keep it as long as he or she wishes. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7