Refuse container to hold pieces of used chewing gum
View Patent ↗A refuse container to hold pieces of used chewing gum includes a receptacle, a top cover, a bottom cover, and a bag. The top cover is pivotable to cover and uncover a top opening. A ring is detachably coupled around the top opening. A tube is coupled to the ring and extends along the ring. The bag is sleeve-shaped and includes a stored portion that is rolled up inside the tube and a closed bottom portion extending out through a slot in the tube and across the top opening. The bottom cover is pivotable to cover and uncover a bottom opening. The bottom cover includes an anchor connectable to the closed bottom portion. The anchor is rotatable to twist the bag about a piece of used chewing gum deposited on the bag and also draw and unroll an additional portion of the bag further out of the tube.
1 . A refuse container to hold pieces of used chewing gum comprising:
a receptacle being configured to contain up to 20 pieces of used chewing gum, said receptacle including a perimeter wall, said perimeter wall including a top portion being positioned about a top opening and a bottom edge portion being positioned about a bottom opening;
a top cover being coupled to said receptacle at said top portion, said top cover being pivotable to cover and uncover said top opening;
a ring being detachably coupled to said top portion, said ring being configured to extend around said top opening;
a tube being coupled to said ring, said tube being configured to extend along an interior circumference of said ring, said tube including a slot being positioned in an upper portion of said ring and extending along said tube;
a bag, said bag being sleeve-shaped, said bag including a stored portion being rolled up inside said tube and a closed bottom portion extending out through said slot and across said top opening; and
a bottom cover being coupled to said receptacle at said bottom edge portion, said bottom cover being pivotable to cover and uncover said bottom opening, said bottom cover including an anchor projecting into said receptacle, said anchor being connectable to said closed bottom portion of said bag to hold said closed bottom portion of said bag, said anchor being rotatable relative to said perimeter wall to twist said bag about a piece of used chewing gum deposited on said bag and also draw and unroll an additional portion of said bag further out of said tube.
2 . The refuse container of claim 1 , further comprising a panel, wherein:
said panel is attached to an inner surface of said perimeter wall adjacent and below said top portion;
said panel is positioned to divide an interior space in said receptacle into an upper interior space and a lower interior space;
said panel includes central flaps divided by slots in said panel; and
said flaps are resiliently flexible such that said flaps temporarily deform when the piece of used chewing gum is drawn through said flaps and then return to cinch said bag above the piece of used chewing gum.
3 . The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein said perimeter wall is oval-shaped with a pair of opposing flat lateral sections.
4 . The refuse container of claim 3 , wherein each of said top cover and said bottom cover is dome-shaped.
5 . The refuse container of claim 4 , wherein said receptacle has a height in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches, a width in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches, and a depth in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 inch.
6 . The refuse container of claim 1 , further comprising a lock tab being attached to said closed bottom portion of said bag, said lock tab being configured to be detachably coupled to said anchor.
7 . The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein each of said top cover and said bottom cover is detachably coupled to said perimeter wall by a spring-loaded snap assembly.
8 . The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein said perimeter wall is cylindrical.
9 . The refuse container of claim 8 , wherein each of said top cover and said bottom cover includes a flat top panel and a cylindrical side wall.
10 . The refuse container of claim 9 , wherein said receptacle has a height in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches and a diameter in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 inches.
11 . The refuse container of claim 2 , further comprising a lock tab being attached to said closed bottom portion of said bag, wherein:
said lock tab is configured to be detachably coupled to said anchor;
said perimeter wall is oval-shaped with a pair of opposing flat lateral sections;
each of said top cover and said bottom cover is dome-shaped;
said receptacle has a height in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches, a width in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches, and a depth in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 inch; and
each of said top cover and said bottom cover is detachably coupled to said perimeter wall by a spring-loaded snap assembly.
12 . The refuse container of claim 2 , wherein:
said perimeter wall is cylindrical;
each of said top cover and said bottom cover includes a flat top panel and a cylindrical side wall; and
said receptacle has a height in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 inches and a diameter in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 inches.