Trash Receptacle Vent Tape

Abstract

A thin, flexible polymer tape (10) with longitudinally formed grooves (12) allows a section of tape (10) to be creased into a substantially rigid profile having multiple mounting flanges (16). Pressure-sensitive adhesive (14) on the mounting flanges (16) provides a means for fastening the tape (10) to an interior surface of a trash receptacle (17) in specific fashion, thereby creating an air channel. The air channel allows atmospheric pressure to equalize the potential vacuum beneath receptacle liners due to upward pull on liners when removing them from the receptacle. The equalization of potential vacuum results in less tearing and reduced effort in removal of the liners. The tape's flat profile (11) before creasing allows it to be configured into a tightly rolled form (18), thus increasing shipment options, facilitating a more compact shipment of product, and minimizing the air volume in product shipments.

Claims

1. A vacuum alleviation vent tape for trash receptacles comprising (a) a flat, elongated ribbon constructed of substantially flexible material; (b) a plurality of hinge members longitudinally formed into a surface of said ribbon, said hinge members being positioned in predetermined locations and of a predetermined quantity that facilitate said ribbon to be creased so as to form a profile of predetermined shape; (c) pressure-sensitive adhesive located between outermost edges of said ribbon and said hinge members nearest said outermost edges; and (d) removable, non-stick backing material of sufficient size to cover said pressure-sensitive adhesive; whereby an economically manufactured, readily-configurable, and easily-applied vacuum alleviation vent for trash receptacles may be substantially condensed into a tightly rolled form thereby increasing shipping efficiency and multiplying shipping options.

2. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said substantially flexible material is polymer-based.

3. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said hinge members are grooves.

4. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said hinge members are scores.

5. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said hinge members are perforations.

6. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said predetermined quantity of said hinge members is four.

7. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said predetermined quantity of said hinge members is three.

8. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said predetermined quantity of said hinge members is two.

9. The vent tape of claim 1 wherein said profile of a predetermined shape comprises a plurality of mounting flanges.

Description

DRAWINGSFIGURES

[0019] In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

[0020] FIG. 1APreferred vent tape embodiment, four-groove profile.

[0021] FIG. 1BPreferred vent tape, four-groove profile, formed, ready for application.

[0022] FIG. 1CPreferred vent tape applied to trash can.

[0023] FIG. 2Preferred vent tape in rolled configuration.

[0024] FIG. 3Rolls of vent tape in an alternate shipping configuration around roll of trash can liners.

[0025] FIG. 4AAlternate vent tape with three-groove profile.

[0026] FIG. 4BAlternate vent tape, three-groove profile, formed, ready for application.

[0027] FIG. 4CAlternate three-groove tape, formed, applied to trash can.

[0028] FIG. 5AAlternate embodiment vent tape, two-groove profile, formed

[0029] FIG. 5BAlternate two-groove tape, applied to trash can.

[0030] FIG. 6ATwo-groove tape with curved profile

[0031] FIG. 6BTwo-groove tape with curved profile, mounting flanges formed, ready to apply

[0032] FIG. 7AAlternate vent tape with no grooves

[0033] FIG. 7BAlternate tape with no grooves, applied to can corner

DRAWINGSREFERENCE NUMERALS

[0034] 10 Vent tape, preferred embodiment [0035] 11 Vent tape's flat profile before creasing [0036] 12 Groove [0037] 13 Outermost edges of vent tape [0038] 14 Pressure-sensitive Adhesive [0039] 15 Non-stick backing for adhesive [0040] 17 Trash can [0041] 18 Preferred embodiment, rolled configuration [0042] 19 Roll of trash can liners [0043] 20 Alternate tape, three-groove embodiment [0044] 30 Alternate tape, two-groove embodiment [0045] 40 Alternate tape, curved profile

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONPREFERRED EMBODIMENTFIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C

[0046] A ribbon of polymeric material, or tape 10 having a planar, or flat profile 11 as viewed if FIG. 1A, has four longitudinal hinge members, or grooves 12, two on one side of tape 10, and two on the other side, as shown. Grooves 12 are positioned so that tape 10 may be creased into a profile similar to that of FIG. 1B, thus creating two mounting flanges 16. Pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 is applied longitudinally to flanges 16 on the same side of tape 10 as the grooves which are nearest to outermost edges 13, as shown. A removable, non-stick backing 15 covers adhesive 14 to prevent premature adhesion.

OperationPreferred EmbodimentFIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3

[0047] A section of vent tape 10 is first unrolled from roll 18 (FIGS. 2,3). Tape 10 is then cut to a predetermined length, typically, slightly less than the depth of trash can 17 (FIG. 1C) to be vented. In FIG. 1B, tape 10 is shown creased longitudinally opposite each groove 12 in such fashion that an angle is formed at each groove, resulting in approximate profile as shown.

[0048] In FIG. 1C, tape 10 has been formed and the non-stick backing 15 removed from adhesive 14. The formed section of vent tape 10 is applied in vertical orientation to the inside of can 17, as shown. By adjusting the angle of the mounting flanges, Tape 10 may also be positioned in can corners in similar fashion to that shown in FIG. 4C.

DescriptionAlternative Three-Groove EmbodimentFIGS. 4A, 4B

[0049] Vent tape 20 is identical in construction to the preferred embodiment tape 10, except that it has three longitudinal grooves, two on one side and one groove in the center of the opposite side as shown, so that tape 20 may be creased into a profile similar to that of FIG. 4B.

OperationAlternative Three-Groove EmbodimentFIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 1C

[0050] Alternative embodiment vent tape 20 is cut, formed, and applied in identical fashion as the preferred embodiment tape 10. FIG. 4B shows the approximate finished shape of the alternative embodiment. By adjusting the angle of the mounting flanges, the tape may be applied to can corner, as in FIG. 4C, or to can side, similar to FIG. 1C.

DescriptionAlternative Two-Groove EmbodimentFIG. 5A

[0051] Vent tape 30 is identical in construction to the preferred tape 10, except that it has two grooves on one side of tape 30, as shown, so that it may be creased into a profile approximating that of FIG. 5A.

OperationAlternative Two-Groove EmbodimentFIGS. 5A, 5B

[0052] Tape 30 is cut, formed, and applied in identical fashion as the preferred tape 10. FIG. 5A shows the approximate shape of tape 30 after creasing. FIG. 5B shows tape 30 mounted in a can corner.

Additional EmbodimentsFIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B

[0053] FIGS. 6A and 6B present a curved tape 40, which may also be configured into a rolled form 18, similar to FIG. 2, and whose curved profile may, in some cases, prove beneficial. Also, FIGS. 7A and 7B show the profile and application of a vent tape 50 with no grooves. For some receptacle shapes including those with short-radius or 90 corners, tape 50 may be desired. Additionally, for receptacle styles having built-in channels, tape 50 may be used to eliminate blockage of the channels and to protect their integrity.

Ramifications and Scope

[0054] Thus, the reader will see that the vacuum alleviation vent of the present invention provides an efficient, lightweight, and economical device that is easily applied to trash receptacles having no prior venting provisions. Additionally, our vent reduces the use of natural resources, and may be configured into a compact form that minimizes shipping space requirements and maximizes shipping options.

[0055] While our above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, materials other than polymeric may be used for all tape embodiments if desired results are attainable. Also, a specific number of hinge members, or grooves is used in the above embodiments to obtain the desired shapes of tapes 10, 20, 30 and 40. Any number and position of longitudinal grooves and the resultant configurable shapes is possible.

[0056] Additionally, the hinge motion required to attain the desired profile of the above embodiments is facilitated, as noted, by longitudinal grooves 12. Longitudinal scores, perforations, or means other than grooves 12 may be used.

[0057] Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.