Packing and waste disposal system
Patent No. US7080750 (titled "Packing and waste disposal system") on Sep 12, 2003. The application was issued on Jul 25, 2006.
What is this patent about?
’750 is related to the field of material packaging and waste disposal systems, specifically focusing on receptacles that utilize multiple nested liners. Traditional systems often suffer from liners slipping into the container or require cumbersome manual replacement once a bag is full. The background context involves improving the efficiency of liner management by providing a way to store and deploy multiple bags simultaneously without complex mechanical clamping hardware.
The underlying idea behind ’750 is a unitary liner structure that functions as a single, multi-layered unit secured to a container by a shared elastic tensioner. The invention recognizes that by anchoring a stack of bags to the exterior of a container rim using a common elastic band, the tension of that band can serve as a stationary 'anchor point.' This allows a user to tear away the innermost bag along a perforated line while the elastic force keeps the remaining stack perfectly seated and ready for use.
The claims of ’750 focus on a system comprising a receptacle with a circumferential lip and a plurality of nested liners that are joined together. A key limitation of the independent claim is the inclusion of an elastic attachment device that must be stretched over the lip to compressibly mate with the receptacle. Furthermore, the claim requires that each liner in the stack features a specific inwardly folded bottom portion, which is a mechanical solution designed to prevent the corners of adjacent bags from tangling or sticking together during removal.
In practice, the system works by stretching the integrated elastic band of the liner stack over the top of the trash can so it snaps into place under the rim. When the top bag is full, the user pulls a dedicated grip, which concentrates force on a perforation line located between the grip and the elastic anchor. Because the elastic band remains firmly squeezed against the container body, the force easily shears the plastic at the perforations, freeing the full bag while the next clean liner is already draped and positioned over the opening.
This approach differs from prior solutions that relied on individual bag handles, complex internal cleats, or manual drawstrings that required tightening and locking. By integrating the compressive mating force of an elastic band with a pre-perforated stack, the invention eliminates the need for the user to interact with the container's attachment mechanism during every bag change. The specific use of inward folds at the base further differentiates the design by ensuring that the friction between nested plastic layers does not cause the entire stack to pull out when only the top layer is retrieved.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the early 2000s when ’750 was filed, waste disposal and packaging systems were typically implemented using rigid receptacles designed to hold single, manually replaced liners. At a time when liner retention was commonly achieved through mechanical clamping structures, internal wire brackets, or integrated wall tabs, these systems often relied on manual dexterity to secure the liner edges against the receptacle rim. Hardware constraints in these designs made it non-trivial to maintain a flush fit between the liner and the receptacle wall, frequently resulting in gaps that allowed debris to bypass the liner or caused the liner to collapse under the weight of its contents. Furthermore, the management of multiple liners generally required external storage and individual installation, as integrated dispensing mechanisms were often complex, multi-part assemblies that were difficult to manufacture and operate.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention achieves a technical advancement in waste management through the integration of a unitary, nested liner structure with a simplified elastic engagement architecture. By utilizing a circumferential attachment lip on the receptacle in combination with an elastic attachment device on the liner assembly, the system overcomes the constraint of complex mechanical fasteners while ensuring a secure, gap-free fit. The architectural shift involves the use of a shared elastic member that anchors the entire nested assembly to the receptacle exterior, while individual liners are separated via a perforated interface. This configuration enables a continuous replacement capability where the uppermost liner can be removed without disturbing the tension or positioning of the underlying liners, thereby reducing the maintenance burden and improving the sanitary efficiency of the disposal process.
Claims
The patent contains a total of 26 claims, with claim 1 serving as the sole independent claim. This independent claim focuses on a material packaging system featuring a unitary structure of multiple nested liners that are removably attached to a receptacle via an elastic device, utilizing specific folds and perforations to allow for the individual removal of the uppermost liner without disturbing those beneath it. The dependent claims serve to further define the mechanical components of the system, specifying various configurations for the elastic attachment device, such as bands, clips, and sheaths, while also detailing the construction of the liner walls, closure mechanisms like drawstrings, and the specific geometry of the folded bottom portions.
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US7080750
- Application Number
- US10661053A
- Filing Date
- Sep 12, 2003
- Publication Date
- Jul 25, 2006
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO , Google Patents