Portable Disposable Waste Container

Abstract

A portable waste collection device which includes a support frame configured for a user wherein a bag slideably engages to the frame to hold the open end of the bag to collect waste that can be easily sealed for disposal.

Claims

1. A portable disposable waste collection apparatus and method therefor as shown and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable disposable waste collection device herein, showing the open end of the bag held expanded by the frame formed by the elongated member, and also shows an enlargement of the frictional engagement of the aperture formed in the connector, and optional handle.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the elongated member forming the frame, has been pulled through the aperture in the connector, whereby the support frame holds the open end of the bag cinched and closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED DEVICE

[0020] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-2 disclose modes of the portable disposable waste collection device 10 herein. As shown, the device 10 includes a leak proof bag such as the shown plastic bag 12 having an opening 14 at one end providing access to the inner cavity of the plastic bag 12.

[0021] The opening 14 at the open end of the bag 12 is slidably engaged upon a support frame 16. The support frame 16 is preferably formed of a hollow elongated member 18, which is formed from a flexible material having a stiffness or hardness which will resist bending such as a polymeric material or one or a combination of polymeric materials from a group including PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other plastics. The elongated member 18, so formed, has an axial passage 19 running from the first or distal end 20 to and through a connector end 24, such that the distal end 20 can be inserted into the axial passage 19 at the connector end 24, and then through a formed aperture or opening 22 in the wall of the elongated member 18.

[0022] The elongated flexible elongated member 18 is formed to the support frame 16, by the positioning of the distal end 20 of the elongated member 18 through and engaged in an opening 22 formed at a connector 24 at the opposite end of the elongated member 18 from the distal end 20. This opening 22 has a circumference which is slightly smaller than the circumference of the elongated member 18, such that when the distal end 20 is pulled therethrough, the opening 22 elastically engages around the exterior circumference of the elongated member 18. This frictional engagement holds the distal end 20 and a portion of the elongated member 18, in an engagement with the opening 22, and forms the elongated member 18 to a support frame 16 as shown in FIG. 1, which maintains the slidably engaged opening 14, enlarged for use.

[0023] Thus, as noted, the elongated member 18 can be formed into the support frame 16 configuration of FIG. 1, which forms an expanded configuration for the opening 14 of the bag 12, which resists bending when held horizontally by the user during use. As shown, the open end of the plastic bag 12 at the opening 14 is connected to the formed support frame 16, in a sliding connection.

[0024] The formed support frame 16 itself may be held in the hand of the user during use, or optionally, a handle 26 can be provided which extends from a connection to the support frame 16 such as a connection extending from the connector end 24. In use of the device 10, the handle 26 allows the user to hold the support frame 16 from the outside of the opening 14, and elevated during use. Upon finishing their task, the user may seal the opening 14 of the bag 12 by pulling the elongated member 18 through the opening 22 in the connector end 24, whereby the support frame 16 collapses and holds the opening 14 of the bag 12 closed. The frictional engagement of the opening 22 on the circumference of the elongated member 18 will maintain the bag 12 closed. Alternatively, projections 28 extending from the exterior circumference of the elongated member 18, once communicated through the opening 22 at the connector 24, will lock the elongated member 18 from sliding in an opposite direction through the opening 22 and thereby prevent the elongated member 22 from sliding out of engagement therewith. This holds the opening 14 of the bag 12 more securely closed.

[0025] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the disposable self supporting waste collection device herein have been described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instance, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein.