Powder dispensing assembly for a waste container

• US 8,690,017 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Steven B., Hatherill, Mark A., Johnson, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/609,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 222/166, 222/157, 222/172, 220/908.2, 220/521.522, 220/528, 220/521, 220/522, 422/1, 422/5, 422/28, 422/32, 422/122, 422/261, 422/292, 422/300
• US Class Current: 222/166
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/062 having means for storing or dispensing spare bags
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1675 by twisting, e.g. of a flexible tube
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2240/132 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 7/00 Cleaning or disinfecting devices combined with refuse receptacles or refuse vehicles such devices per se A61L, B08B

Abstract

A powder dispenser for a waste disposal system includes a mounting portion that is adapted to be secured to a waste disposal unit, and a container defining an interior space in which a powder such as sodium bicarbonate may be stored. The container is releasably mounted to the underside of a hinged lid member of the waste disposal unit. A directional dispensing system is provided for dispensing powder from the container into a targeted portion of the waste disposal system. The directional dispensing system is constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and includes a dispensing orifice. The dispensing orifice is preferably oriented to limit initial dispersal of the powder within a defined angular range with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lid member, and is spaced axially and laterally with respect to the waste disposal unit at distances that facilitate distribution of the powder to desired targeted portions of the waste disposal unit. The container and waste disposal unit also define a venting path so that the powder within the container can also absorb odors within the waste disposal unit.

Claims

1. A powder dispenser for a waste disposal unit, comprising:

a mounting portion that is adapted to be secured to a waste disposal unit;

a container defining an interior space in which a powder may be stored, said container having a longitudinal axis;

a directional dispensing portion for dispensing powder from the container into a targeted portion of the waste disposal unit, said directional dispensing portion being constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of substantially about 40 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis; and

a venting path defined in said container, said venting path being in communication with said interior space for permitting air circulating within the waste disposal unit to contact powder within the container.

2. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said directional dispensing portion is constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

3. A powder dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said directional dispensing portion is constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of about 50 degrees to about 70 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

4. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said directional dispensing portion has a single dispensing orifice.

5. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a porous membrane interposed within said venting path.

6. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said porous membrane has a Frazier Number permeability to air that is substantially within a range of about 15 to about 500 at a differential pressure of 0.5 inches of water.

7. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a removable lid for permitting a consumer to access said interior space.

8. A powder dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said removable lid is threadingly engaged with said container.

9. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said mounting portion comprises a helical thread on said removable lid, and further comprising a stop portion for limiting rotation of said removable lid with respect to the container.

10. A powder dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a powder disposed in said interior space.

13. A waste disposal system according to claim 1, wherein said directional dispensing portion is constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

14. A waste disposal system according to claim 13, wherein said directional dispensing portion is constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of about 50 degrees to about 70 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11. A waste disposal system, comprising:

a housing;

a lid member hingedly mounted to said housing, said lid having a longitudinal axis that is substantially vertical when said lid is in a closed position;

a powder dispensing unit mounted to an underside of said lid, said powder dispensing unit comprising a container defining an interior space in which a powder may be stored, and a directional dispensing portion for dispensing powder from the container into a targeted portion of the waste disposal unit, said directional dispensing portion being constructed and arranged to concentrate initial dispersal of the powder to a single side of the container and within an angular range of substantially about 40 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lid member; and

a venting path defined in said container, said venting path being in communication with said interior space for permitting air circulating within the waste disposal unit to contact powder within the container.

12. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said container has a container longitudinal axis, and wherein said container longitudinal axis is substantially coincident with said lid member longitudinal axis when the lid member is closed.

15. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said directional dispensing portion has a single dispensing orifice.

16. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, further comprising a porous membrane interposed within said venting path.

17. A waste disposal system according to claim 16, wherein said porous membrane has a Frazier Number permeability to air that is substantially within a range of about 15 to about 500 at a differential pressure of 0.5 inches of water.

18. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, further comprising a removable lid for permitting a consumer to access said interior space.

19. A waste disposal system according to claim 18, wherein said removable lid is threadingly engaged with said container.

20. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said mounting portion comprises a helical thread on said removable lid, and further comprising a stop portion for limiting rotation of said removable lid with respect to the container.

21. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, further comprising a mounting assembly for releasably mounting the powder dispensing unit to the underside of said lid, said mounting assembly comprising at least one helical thread and a stop member for limiting rotation of the powder dispensing unit with respect to the underside of said lid.

22. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said directional dispensing portion has a dispensing orifice, and wherein said dispensing orifice is further positioned a first distance from the underside of the lid member, measured parallel to said longitudinal axis, that is within a range of about 3.0 cm to about 15.0 cm.

23. A waste disposal system according to claim 22, wherein said first distance is within a range of about 4.5 cm to about 8.5 cm.

24. A waste disposal system according to claim 23, wherein said first distance is within a range of about 5.0 cm to about 7.0 cm.

25. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said directional dispensing portion has a dispensing orifice, and wherein said dispensing orifice is :

further positioned a second lateral distance from the longitudinal axis that is within a range of about 0.25 cm to about 6.0 cm.

26. A waste disposal system according to claim 25, wherein said second lateral distance is within a range of about 0.75 cm to about 4.0 cm.

27. A waste disposal system according to claim 26, wherein said second lateral distance is within a range of about 1.0 cm to about 2.5 cm.

28. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, further comprising a powder disposed in said interior space.

29. A waste disposal system according to claim 11, wherein said directional dispensing portion is constructed and arranged to conserve powder material so as to ensure that powder material may be dispensed for a number of lid opening cycles that is substantially within a range of about 600 to about 2000.

30. A waste disposal system, comprising:

a housing;

a lid member hingedly mounted to said housing, said lid having a. longitudinal axis that is substantially vertical when said lid is in a closed position;

a powder dispensing unit mounted to an underside of said lid, said powder dispensing unit comprising a container defining an interior space in which a powder may be stored, and a directional dispensing portion having a dispensing orifice for dispensing powder from a single side of the container into a targeted portion of the waste disposal unit, and wherein said dispensing orifice is positioned a first distance from the underside of the lid member, measured parallel to said longitudinal axis, that is within a range of about 3.0 cm to about 15.0 cm; and

a venting path defined in said container, said venting path being in communication with said interior space for space permitting air circulating within the waste disposal unit to contact powder within the container.