US20080135558A1 - Automatic trash bagger - Google Patents

Abstract

The Automatic Trash Bagger introduces the concept of electronically sensed fullness and automatically tying a trash bag within a trash canister, which offers a more sanitary way to remove garbage from the home, office, etc. The Automatic Trash Bagger relieves the owner of the duty of pushing trash down into the receptacle to fit when full, pulling the trash bag up and tying it while contaminating their clothes and hands. Unlike the traditional trash can, the Automatic Trash Bagger is electronic and ties the bag for the owner or user. The only responsibility to the owner is to lift out the tied bag and dispose of it.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Provisional patent application filed for present invention on Dec. 7, 2006, application No. 60/873,302
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Applicable
REFERENCE TO SUBSEQUENT LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
• Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The Automatic Trash Bagger relates to electronics household items; particularly to a trash can containing a sensor, which signals mechanisms within to close and tie a bag within when it senses fullness.
• Typical trash receptacles allow the owner to touch germs and potentially harm their household with contamination. Many diseases and viruses can be contracted from ordinary household trash. In fact, scientific data suggests that trash is a breeding ground for disease, and bacteria can multiply rapidly given the right conditions. In a 24-hour period, a single germ can multiply281 trillion times. After one contaminates themselves with these germs and touches others and their household items, illness is inevitable.
• With typical trash receptacles, usually the owner ties the trash loosely, and when taken to the dumpster near their home, pests invade the trash, and eventually may invade the home. While flies, mice, rats, or cockroaches are added to the mix as a distribution system for potentially harmful pathogens, the situation can evolve into an unhealthy state of affairs.
• It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for a trash bag within the trash can to be touched in order to be closed and tied.
• It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the decision factor pertaining to when the trash receptacle is full enough for the bag inside to be closed and tied.
• It is yet another object of the present invention to lessen the amount of time the user spends in a bent forward position, in effort to fit trash, close and tie the bag.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is a device that electronically bundles and seals garbage to offer a more sanitary way to remove garbage from the house. The invention comprise of a sensor which calculates the weight and mass of contents. The computer chip within the sensor is programmed to know when fullness is reached. When fullness level or weight level is reached, small sticky twist arms positioned circling the sides inside the circumference of the lid, gather the top of the bag inward. When gathered to a closed position, longer bag twist ties, then grab the ends of the bag and tie it in a knot.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it enables homeowners and apartment dwellers, etc. to avoid an unclean appearance in the home, office, etc. due to overflowing garbage cans.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it will resolve the need to push trash down with hands into the canister to make it fit.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it does not force the user to remain in a bent forward position for extended time periods in an effort to push down trash, close and tie bag.
• An advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates the decision making process in regards to the trash container being at a sufficiently full level to discard.
• The advantage of the present invention is that it decreases germ contamination to the person or the user, their household possessions, and to other individuals, thereby promoting an overall sanitary environment.
• The present invention offers the advantage of saving users money on antibacterial products, as well as added doctor visitations due to germ contamination related illnesses.
• The present invention offers the advantage of quick and easy full garbage bag removal, by simply lifting the tied bag out of the trash receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
• FIG. 1 is an above, diagonal full perspective of the present invention while lid is opened, showcasing the overlapping plastic bag, the various electronic grabbing mechanisms, and the sensor inside the lid, as well as foot pedal and trash can outer shell.
• FIG. 2 is a partially broken side view of the present invention in an opened position from the inside, showing the sensor, and the electronic grabbing mechanisms in a grabbing position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.
• FIG. 1 Illustrates one embodiment of a trash can shell1 according to the present invention. Referring first toFIG. 1 the assembly has a trash can shell1, which must contain a trash bag insert4 in order to function properly, which can fit inside the trash can according to size of the present invention, such as a standard 13 lb. trash bag to be retained inside the trash can shell1.
• The trash canshell1 can be made from either plastic or metal. The liner is essentially a container, and can also be made from either plastic or metal. The trash canshell1 is an enclosing wall which can have any desired shape, including oval, triangular, rectangular, square or circular (among others), with electronic mechanisms inside being adapted in length and size to compliment the shape.
• A hinged lid4 is hinged to the upper part of the trash can shell1 using hinged connections that are well-known in the art, and will not be described in greater detail herein. Theshell1 and its hingedlid5 with various electronics can be made of a solid and stable material, such as a metal, stainless steel, and plastic; the electronics being made of electronic material. Theshell1 has a base2, and a foot pedal3 which is secured to the base2.
• FIG. 1 is in an opened position, but the present invention must be closed in order for automatic trash bagging to initiate. The foot pedal3, when pressed down, gives the allowance of thehinged lid5 to be opened.
• FIG. 1 also illustrates the trash canridge11 which thehinged lid5 closes over. The overlapping or closing over of the trash canridge11 is necessary in order for gripping of the trash bag insert4 to be accomplished.
• FIG. 2 A-A Illustrates the present invention in an opened position, showcasing the inner hinged lid withvarious electronics5. A sensor9, which measures weight and mass, is located on the inside of the top of thehinged lid5. A portion of the sensor9 is connectively inside to various electronic wires (not shown), used to send signals from the sensor9 to the electronic mechanisms on the lid.
• When the sensor9 senses fullness, such as a 27 inch high, 17 inch wide, 25 lb capacity segment of the present invention, multiplied by a pre calculated level of full capacity, which is programmed into the sensor9, a signal is sent to the stickybag twist arms10, which are in a defaulted laying position to begin the close and tie process.
• The sensor9 on the inside of the hinged lid withvarious electronics5, triggers the stickybag twist arms10 to come from a laying position into a diagonal, downward extended position, thus grabbing the inside of the trash bag insert4 inside simultaneously. Thebag twist arms10 are on atwist arm rotator15, which then moves thebag twist arms10 about half way around the inner ridge oflid14, as it pulls the trash bag insert4 around to a tight position. As the bag twistarms10, also move inward and downward while grasping the inside of the trash bag insert4 with semi adhesive17 on their ends.
• After the top edges of the trash bag insert4 are in the center, the twobag ties7 and8, come down from the top of the inside of thehinged lid5 from a laying position against thehinged lid5. Thetwist arms10 hold the bag in place, while the twobag ties7 and8, grab the tips of the bag with thebag tie fingers16 and begin tying it into a tight knot.
• Additional length of thebag ties7 and8 is hidden inside thehinged lid5, which comes out as needed in order to give added length to tie trash bag insert4. Thebag ties7 and8 come through the inside of thelid5 out of two smallbag tie holes13. Thebag ties7 and8 are made out of strong stretchable material, which allows them to tie a knot as would a human, but tighter and more efficiently, without error.
• A small green light (not shown) on the top of the lid will indicate that a trash bag insert4 has been closed, tied, and ready for disposal. A small red light (not shown) next to the said green light will indicate if automatic trash bagging is in process. A yellow light (not shown) next to the said red light will indicate the need to recharge the present invention or it may stay plugged in. The present invention has an inbuilt battery and anelectrical cord12 runs from the electronics in the hingedlid5 through the inner trash can shell1 and out the base2 to allow for recharge.
• The hingedlid5 is self locking to the outside of the trash can shell1 when present invention is in motion. No lights on, indicates that trash may be placed inside.
• The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. A trash can assembly, comprising: a shell having a bottom end the shell defining an outer periphery that encloses an interior space; a lid pivot coupled to the outer shell for movement between an open position and a closed position; comprising: a sensor which measures weight and mass of the contents; twist arms which gather the edges of a typical trash bag insert, while rotating around the circumference of the inner lid which comes from a laying down position to an outward diagonal position; twist arm rotator on ridge of inner lid, which spins the twist arms around the lid; bag ties which are the tying mechanisms, in which after bag is pulled by twist arms, come from a laying position on the inner lid to tie bag into a single knot.

2. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the sensor is in the center of the lid, protruding out of the inside of the lid.

3. The assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the sensor measures weight and mass of the trash can contents.

4. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein twist arms comprise of semi adhesive on their ends, and the twist arms are in a semi hook shape.

5. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the twist arms spin about half way around the inner lid circumference as they pull edges of grabbed bag on a twist arm rotator.

6. The assembly ofclaim 4, wherein the twist arm rotator is connected to each twist arm, as their mode of being spun around on the ridge of the inner lid.

7. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein added length of the bag ties is inside of the lid, traveling through two small holes in the lid.

8. The assembly ofclaim 6, wherein bag ties come from a laying position against the inner lid, to an outward downward diagonal position when sensor is activated.

9. The assembly ofclaim 6, wherein bag ties extend out of two holes in the inner lid about an inch from the beginning points of the diameter of the said lid.

10. The assembly ofclaim 8, wherein there are two bag ties.

11. The assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the bag ties each have two outward extended grabbing mechanisms on their ends.

12. A hinged trash can lid assembly, comprising: a sensor which measures weight and mass of the contents; twist arms, which come from a laying down position to an outward diagonal position, connected to a twist arm rotating device which is secured to the circumference of the inner lid; twist arm rotator on ridge of inner lid, which spins the twist arms around the inner ridge of the lid; bag ties which are the tying mechanisms.

13. The assembly ofclaim 11, wherein the twist arms, twist arm rotator and bag ties are signaled from the sensor to automatically close and tie bag.

14. A method of automatic trash bag closing and tying into a knot inside of a trash can assembly, comprising: a trash can assembly that has an outer shell defining an outer periphery that encloses an interior space; a foot pedal used to open and close a hinged lid; and a lid comprising: two bag ties which have two bag tie fingers on the ends of each, which open and close for grasping; many bag twist arms; a sensor, which senses weight and mass of the contents.

15. The assembly ofclaim 14, wherein the bag twist arms grab the plastic mil (top) of the trash bag insert, to allow for closing and tying.

16. The assembly ofclaim 15, wherein, there must be a trash bag insert in order for there to be proper functionality.

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