Waste disposal device including rotating cartridge coupled to lid
View Patent ↗A replaceable rotating cartridge capable of dispensing flexible tubing coupled to a lid of a container housing the cartridge. The cartridge is configured to accept a waste package insertable into the flexible tubing. The lid contacts an actuation device which actuates a rotation mechanism to rotate the cartridge while holding an end of the tubing stationary, thus sealably twisting and encapsulating the waste package inside the flexible tubing.
1. A waste disposal device, comprising:
a container defining a waste chamber for receiving encapsulated waste, said container having a bottom wall and a side wall having an opening, said side wall having an interior side for receiving waste;
a lid coupled to said container which moves between an open position uncovering said opening and a closed position on covering said opening;
a rotatable cartridge arranged in said container and containing a length of flexible tubing therein and a portion of said flexible tubing extending into said waste chamber to receive said waste when said lid is in said open position;
a rotation mechanism for rotating said cartridge to form a twist in said flexible tubing about said waste to encapsulate said waste and form said encapsulated waste package;
an actuation device configured to actuate said rotation mechanism; and
an anti-twisting mechanism comprising a bar having an end connected to said interior side and an opposite end extending into said waste chamber to contact said twist in said length of flexible tubing to prevent said twist from untwisting,
wherein upon closing said lid of said device, said lid contacts said actuation device and actuates said rotating mechanism to rotate said cartridge.
2. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a three-dimensional structure having a cross-section selected from the group consisting of a circle, square, rectangle and a polygon.
3. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said container has a top portion and a bottom portion.
4. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said lid is pivotally connected to said top portion of said container and structurally configured to be coupled to said rotatable cartridge.
5. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said encapsulated waste comprises a soiled diaper.
6. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said rotation mechanism enables movement of said lid to be converted into rotation of said cartridge.
7. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said actuation device includes a toothed member fixed to said lid and a cooperating gear assembly arranged in connection with said container such that a downward movement of said lid to its closed position causes rotation of said cartridge.
8. The waste disposal device according to claim 6 , wherein said rotation of said cartridge causes twisting of said tubing above said waste inside said tubing while said tubing below said waste is held stationary, thereby sealably encapsulating said waste inside said tubing.
9. The waste disposal device according to claim 1 , wherein said container has a window for viewing the amount of accumulated waste package in the waste chamber.