PERFORATED REFUSE BAG AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved perforated refuse bag inoperable of retaining fluids and therefore resistant to conducting a controlled fermentation process within the bag. Embodiments of the present invention provides a plastic bag with perforations of a particular shape, size, and distribution that renders the bag inoperable of retaining liquids but still operable of holding refuse without rupturing. The combination of the bag composition and the particular arrangement of perforations provides a durable low-cost refuse bag operable of supporting a substantial load without rupturing and inoperable of conducting a controlled fermentation process.

Claims

1. A perforated refuse bag inoperable of retaining fluids wherein the perforations are arranged in a predetermined manner that enable the perforated refuse bag to support a substantial load without rupturing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said perforations are evenly distributed and each have a circular shape with a diameter in the range of about 0.85 cm to about 1.15 cm.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said perforations have a diameter in the range of about 0.95 cm to about 1.05 cm.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 1 cm.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said perforations are each evenly distributed about 1.75 to about 2.25 inches apart horizontally and 2.75 to 3.25 inches apart vertically.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said perforations are each evenly distributed about 1.95 to about 2.05 inches apart horizontally and 2.9 to 3.1 inches apart vertically.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said perforations are each evenly distributed about 2 inches apart horizontally and 3 inches apart vertically.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said perforated refuse bag further comprises a fluid reservoir located on the area proximal to the inferior edge of said perforated refuse bag, lacking said perforations, and operable of retaining waste.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said fluid reservoir has a radius of about 1 inch to about 3 inches wherein the radius is measured from the inferior edge, seam, or lowest point of said perforated refuse bag.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein said perforated refuse bag is comprised of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture thereof.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein said perforated refuse bag is comprised of high density polyethylene.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the combination of high density polyethylene that comprises said refuse bag and arrangement of perforations provides a perforated refuse bag optimized for fermentation resistance, rupture resistance, low production cost, and substantial load support.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said substantial load is a load comparable to that of which a standard non-perforated bag of similar composition, thickness, and size can support.

14. A method of creating a low-cost perforated refuse bag inoperable of retaining fluids and support a substantial load without rupturing comprising selecting the appropriate bag material and utilizing a hole-punching device to add perforations to the bag in a predetermined manner

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said appropriate bag material is low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture thereof.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said appropriate bag material is comprised of high density polyethylene.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said perforations are evenly distributed and each have a circular shape with a diameter in the range of about 0.85 cm to about 1.15 cm.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said perforations have a diameter of about 1 cm.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said perforations are each evenly distributed about 1.75 to about 2.25 inches apart horizontally and 2.75 to 3.25 inches apart vertically.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said perforations are each evenly distributed about 2 inches apart horizontally and 3 inches apart vertically.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of the perforated refuse bag opened slightly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 provides a front view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 provides a back view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 4 provides a top plan view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 5 provides a bottom plan view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 6 provides a left-side view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 7 provides a right-side view of the perforated refuse bag, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 8 provides a view of the perforated refuse bag full of refuse, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the perforated refuse bag 100 is comprised primarily of plastic material, such as low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture thereof. The perforated refuse bag 100 may be available in a variety of shapes and sizes such as rectangular, elliptical, triangular or polygonal or a standard combination thereof with seams 102 that enable to the bag to conform to a to the shape of a garbage receptacle during use and bag opening 104. For example, an embodiment of the present invention intended for a 10-gallon box-shaped garbage receptacle, may have a generally rectangular shape with a width of about 24 inches and a height of about 24 inches operable of conforming to the box-like shape of the receptacle. As shown in FIG. 2, the perforated refuse bag may have a generally rectangular shape 103 with a width in the range of about 15 inches to 65 inches (e.g., about 15-30 inches, about 40 inches, about 50 inches, about 61 inches, or any value therein) and a height in the range of about 15 inches to 70 inches (e.g., about 12 to about 20 inches, about 20 to about 46 inches, about 50 inches, about 68 inches, or any value therein). The present invention is also operable to carry a substantial load, or a load comparable to a bag of similar size, thickness, and material.

[0025] As Shown in FIG. 2, the perforations 101 on the refuse bag 100 may be evenly distributed and of the same shape and size. The perforations 101 may have a generally circular shape with each circle having a diameter about 0.8 cm to about less than 1.2 cm (e.g., about 0.85 cm, about 1.0 cm, about 1.15 cm, or any value therein). The perforations 101 may be spaced out 1.5 to 2.5 inches horizontally 105 (e.g., about 1.75 inches, about 2 inches, about 2.25 inches, or any value therein) and 2.5 to 3.5 inches vertically 106 (e.g., about 2.75 inches, about 3 inches, about 3.25 inches, or any value therein). Such arrangement of the perforations prevents the bag 100 from being used for a fermenting process or rupturing when it's supporting a substantial load.

[0026] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the perforated refuse bag may further comprise a reservoir located at the inferior end of the bag and absent of perforations that enable the bag to retain a minimal amount of fluids. The fluid reservoir 107 may comprise the area proximal to the lower edge of the bag and must remain relatively small in order to retain the fermentation resistance properties provided by the perforations. The fluid reservoir 107 may have a radius of about 1 inch to about 3 inches (e.g., about 1.5 inches, about 2 inches, about 3.5 inches, or any value therein) wherein the radius is measured from the inferior edge, seam, or lowest point of the bag during intended use. While retaining fluid enables a bag to be utilized for fermentation, it's worth noting that the fluid reservoir 107, as described above, would render the present invention impractical for fermentation.

[0027] The refuse bag 100 may have a rectangular shape with extra patterned material 150 that is bunched in the bottom portion of the bag 100 to allow the bag to opened up to fill the interior of the receptacle when it is deployed. For example, the bag 100 may have material 150 bunched and sealed in a flat seal pattern, a gusset seal pattern, or a star seal pattern.

[0028] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 8, the perforated refuse bag 100 is comprised of low-cost high-density polyethylene with circular perforations 101 spaced about 2 inches apart horizontally 105 and about 3 inches apart vertically 106 and with each perforation 101 having a diameter of about 1 inch. While any arrangement of perforations 101 would render any bag inoperable of retaining liquids, only the arrangement disclosed in the present invention has been proven, through extensive experimentation, to provide comprehensive resistance to conducting a controlled fermentation process without an increased risk of tearing or rupturing. Thus, it's been determined that the combination of bag composition and the particular perforation arrangement disclosed in the present invention provides a bag that has been optimized for fermentation resistance, rupture resistance, low production cost, and substantial load support.

[0029] FIG. 4 provides a top view of the bag 100, showing the upper opening 120. FIG. 5 provides a bottom view of the bag 100 (flattened and undeployed), with the bunched bottom section 150 of the bag 100. FIGS. 6 and 7 show each side of the bag 100 in a flattened undeployed condition. FIG. 8 shows the refuse bag 100 in a deployed and filled condition with the bag expanded into roughly round shape. In the filled condition, the bottom section 150 is expanded into a small, shallow reservoir that can retain small amounts of moisture that may accumulate from refuse deposited in the refuse bag 100. However, the volume of the bottom section 150 is insufficient to allow for a fermentation process in the trash bag 100.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a method for creating a low-cost perforated refuse bag 100 inoperable of retaining fluids and support a substantial load without rupturing by selecting an appropriate bag material and utilizing a hole-punching device to add perforations 101 to the bag in a predetermined manner. The appropriate bag material may be selected from low density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture thereof. The hole punching device may be an automated machine and may evenly distribute the perforations 101 about 1.75 inches to 2.25 inches apart horizontally 105 and about 2.75 to about 2.25 inches apart vertically 106. Each perforation appended onto the bag may have a circular shape with a diameter in between the range of about 0.85 cm to about 1.15 cm.

[0031] It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.