System and apparatus for waste disposal and changing infant-toddler behavior

• US 9,434,537 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1316, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Mcconnell
• Inventors: McConnell, Thomas E., Lu, Yafei
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/473,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20160060027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/247, 446/236, 446/241, 446/243, 446/246, 446/257, 534/69, 535/67, 220/495.01, 220/495.06, 220/495.08
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0006 Flexible refuse receptables, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1607 with filling openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1623 with means for assisting the opening or closing thereof, e.g. springs spring-actuated swinging wings E05F1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/163 Pedal-operated lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2001/1676 relating to means for sealing the lid or cover, e.g. against escaping odors
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1675 by twisting, e.g. of a flexible tube
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2220/128 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2240/132 Diapers

Abstract

A diaper pail having a top chamber with top transparent doors, and a transparent outer casing, allowing a user to see the rotating inner barrel as it spins within the transparent outer casing. The inner barrel holds a disposable bag and as it rotates the inner barrel untwists a neck of bag, thus opens the bag for a dirty diaper to fall into the bag from the top chamber. The dirty diaper falls into the bag while the doors of the top chamber remain shut, keeping malodorous gas from escaping. The visual spectacles provided by this diaper pail also act to change infant and toddler behavior by associating diaper change to a fun and fascinating event.

Claims

1. A waste disposal system, comprising:

a container assembly having;

a base;

an outer casing;

an inner barrel having an inner volume, and the inner barrel is disposed inside of the outer casing; and

a top chamber having at least one door disposed at a top of the top chamber;

a disposable bag detachably disposed within said inner barrel;

an actuator to control a rotational movement of the inner barrel;

wherein when the actuator is at rest, a neck of the disposable bag is in a twisted-closed formation;

wherein when the actuator is activated, the inner barrel rotates in a first direction untwisting the neck to an open formation;

wherein when the actuator is deactivated, the inner barrel rotates in a second direction returning the neck to the twisted-closed formation;

wherein a movement of the at least one door of the top chamber is independent of a movement of the inner barrel.

2. A waste disposal system of claim 1 further comprising a clearance height of at least 5 cm between an upper rim of the disposable bag and the at least one door of the top chamber, when the at least one door is closed.

3. A waste disposal system of claim 2, wherein the clearance height is at least 7 cm.

4. A waste disposal system of claim 2, wherein the at least one door of the top chamber is transparent or translucent.

5. A waste disposal system of claim 4, wherein the at least one door is biased closed, and opens in a downward direction.

6. A waste disposal system of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a foot pedal.

7. A waste disposal system of claim 2, further comprising:

a first bag attachment mechanism coupled to the outer barrel to detachably attach to a top rim of the disposable bag, keeping the top rim stationary when a body portion of the disposable bag rotates along with the inner barrel; and

a second bag attachment mechanism to detachably attach the body portion of the disposable bag to the inner barrel.

8. A waste disposal system of claim 7, wherein the first bag attachment mechanism is a frame assembly disposed above the inner barrel, wherein the frame assembly comprises a roller base and a bag roller;

and wherein the bag roller is rotatable relative to the roller base.

9. A waste disposal system, comprising:

an enclosure to hold waste material;

a container assembly to contain said enclosure, the container assembly having;

a top door;

an outer casing coupled to the top door;

an actuator to control an opening and a closing to an entrance to the enclosure independent of the top door; and

a clearance space between the top door and the entrance to the enclosure.

10. A waste disposal system of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is a bag, and wherein the closing of the entrance is created by twisting a neck portion of the bag.

11. A waste disposal system of claim 9, wherein the top door is transparent or translucent.

12. A waste disposal system of claim 11, wherein the clearance space is at least 5 cm.

13. A waste disposal system of claim 12, wherein the enclosure is a bag, and the bag does not twist within the container assembly.

14. The waste disposal system of claim 12, wherein the outer casing is transparent or translucent.

15. A method of inspecting a fullness of a waste container while minimizing escape of odor from the waste container, the method comprising:

providing a container assembly having a top transparent/translucent door and an outer casing;

wherein the container assembly holds a disposable bag;

providing an actuator for a user to selectively control opening and closing of the disposable bag independent of the top transparent/translucent door being open or shut, thereby allowing visual inspection down into the bag when the user selectively opens the bag while keeping the top transparent/translucent door closed.

16. The method of claim 15, further providing a clearance space of at least 5 cm between a top rim of the disposable bag and the top transparent/translucent door, while the door is shut.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the actuator is controlled by a foot pedal.

18. A method of changing infant behavior by providing positive reinforcement in connection with diaper change, the method comprising:

providing a diaper pail having a transparent outer casing and an inner barrel;

wherein the inner barrel holds a disposable bag therein to contain dirty diaper, and the inner barrel is disposed within the transparent outer casing, and is rotatable relative to the outer casing;

providing an actuator to rotate the inner barrel while opening the disposable bag to dispose the dirty diaper into said bag;

providing visually enticing graphics on an exterior of the inner barrel, so as to provide visual stimulation to the infant whenever a dirty diaper is being disposed into the diaper pail.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the enticing graphics is one selected from stripes, contrasting colors, and cartoon characters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the diaper pail has a top transparent door, allowing an infant to see a dirty diaper staying on top of a closed bag, prior to being dropped into the bag by selectively actuating the actuator, wherein the actuator is controlled by a foot pedal.