Unitary insert for waste containers
View Patent ↗Waste container includes a base defining a waste-receiving compartment, and an insert supported on the base and adapted to engage a peripheral edge of a bag that extends into the compartment while maintaining an opening of the bag unobstructed. The insert has at least one bag-engagement edge. A movable closure component has a first engagement position in which the closure component engages with the insert to press the bag when present against the bag-engagement edge(s) of the insert, and a second non-engagement position in which the closure component is separated from the bag-engagement edge(s) of the insert. A lid is attached to the base and movable between a first, closed position covering the opening of the bag and a second, open position in which it does not obstruct the opening of the bag.
1. An insert for a container, comprising:
a lower bag support structure defining an aperture and having a substantially planar portion around said aperture, said lower bag support structure having an upper surface and including at least one bag-engagement surface on an upper side of said planar portion, said lower bag support structure including an outer edge region defining an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure facing away from said aperture;
an upper bag support structure having a first state in which said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support along a periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure and also engages with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure to thereby provide multiple engagement locations between said upper and lower bag support structures when said upper bag support structure in is the first state,
said upper bag support structure having a second state in which said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure along the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure and does not engage with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said lower bag support structure to thereby enable insertion and removal of a bag between said upper and lower bag support structures inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure when said upper bag support structure is in the second state,
said upper bag support structure comprising first and second walls defining a channel therebetween, said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure comprising first and second bag-engagement edges that enter into said channel when said upper bag support structure is in the first state,
the insert being configured to exert pressure to retain the bag between said upper and lower bag support structures when said upper bag support structure is in the first state with said upper bag support structure engaging with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure,
said upper and lower bag support structure being a unitary structure when said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure along the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure; and
an attachment structure that enables said upper bag support structure to move between the first and second states,
said attachment structure including a first part arranged on said lower bag support structure, a second part arranged on said upper bag support structure, and a pivot pin mounted between said first and second parts and arranged above said upper surface of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure and said first and second bag-engagement edges being elevated in a common direction from said planar portion of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure being situated between an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure defined by said outer edge region and said first and second bag-engagement edges.
2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said pivot pin of said attachment structure is configured to enable said upper bag support structure to pivot upward relative to said lower bag support structure.
3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said lower bag support structure is annular.
4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said lower bag support structure comprises an annular disc.
5. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower bag support structures are annular when said upper bag support structure is in the first state.
6. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said upper bag support structure comprises a tab configured to allow pressure exerted to an underside of said tab to cause separation of said upper bag support structure from said lower bag support structure when said upper bag support structure is in the first state to thereby enable said upper bag support structure to be moved to the second state.
7. The insert of claim 6 , wherein said tab is configured such that the underside of said tab faces toward said planar portion of said lower bag support structure.
8. The insert of claim 1 , wherein said first and second walls are circular and at different radial distances from a center of said aperture.
9. The insert of claim 1 , further comprising at least one projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral edge region of said lower bag support structure.
10. An insert for a container, comprising:
a lower bag support structure defining an aperture and including at least one bag-engagement surface on an upper side that comprises first and second bag-engagement edges, said lower bag support structure having an upper surface and an outer edge region defining an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure facing away from said aperture;
an upper bag support structure including first and second walls defining a channel therebetween; and
an attachment structure that enables said upper bag support structure to pivot relative to said lower bag support structure,
said attachment structure enabling the insert to have a first state in which said first and second bag-engagement edges of said lower bag support structure enter into said channel of said upper bag support structure while said attachment structure connects said upper and lower bag support structures together and to have a second state in which said first and second bag-engagement edges of said lower bag support structure do not enter into said channel of said upper bag support structure while said attachment structure connects said upper and lower bag support structures together,
said attachment structure including a first part arranged on said lower bag support structure, a second part arranged on said upper bag support structure, and a pivot pin mounted between said first and second parts and arranged above said upper surface of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure and said first and second bag-engagement edges being elevated in a common direction from said upper surface of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure being situated between an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure defined by said outer edge region and said first and second bag-engagement edges,
the insert being configured to exert pressure to retain a bag between said upper and lower bag support structures when the insert is in the first state with said first and second bag-engagement edges of said lower bag support structure entering into said channel of said upper bag support structure,
said upper and lower bag support structure being a unitary structure when said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure by said attachment structure.
11. The insert of claim 10 , wherein said upper and lower bag support structures are annular when the insert is in the first state.
12. The insert of claim 10 , wherein said upper bag support structure comprises a tab configured to allow pressure exerted to an underside of said tab to cause separation of said upper bag support structure from said lower bag support structure when the insert is in the first state to thereby enable the insert to be moved to the second state.
13. The insert of claim 10 , wherein said first and second walls are circular and at different radial distances from a center of said aperture.
14. A waste container for use with a bag, comprising:
a base defining a waste-receiving compartment;
an insert supported on said base; and
a lid attached to said base and that is movable between a first, closed position covering said insert and a second, open position in which said lid does not obstruct access to said insert,
said insert comprising
a lower bag support structure defining an aperture and having a substantially planar portion around said aperture, said lower bag support structure having an upper surface and including at least one bag-engagement surface on an upper side of said planar portion, said lower bag support structure including an outer edge region defining an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure facing away from said aperture;
an upper bag support structure having a first state in which said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure along a periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure and also engages with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure to thereby provide multiple engagement locations between said upper and lower bag support structures when said upper bag support structure in is the first state,
said upper bag support structure having a second state in which said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure along the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure and does not engage with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said lower bag support structure to thereby enable insertion and removal of a bag between said upper and lower bag support structures inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure when said upper bag support structure is in the second state,
said upper bag support structure comprising first and second walls defining a channel therebetween, said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure comprising first and second bag-engagement edges that enter into said channel when said upper bag support structure is in the first state,
the insert being configured to exert pressure to retain the bag between said upper and lower bag support structures when said upper bag support structure is in the first state with said upper bag support structure engaging with said at least one bag-engagement surface of said lower bag support structure inward of the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure,
said upper and lower bag support structure being a unitary structure when said upper bag support structure is connected to said lower bag support structure along the periphery of said planar portion of said lower bag support structure; and
an attachment structure that enables said upper bag support structure to move between the first and second states,
said attachment structure including a first part arranged on said lower bag support structure, a second part arranged on said upper bag support structure, and a pivot pin mounted between said first and second parts and arranged above said upper surface of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure and said first and second bag-engagement edges being elevated in a common direction from said planar portion of said lower bag support structure,
said first part of said attachment structure being situated between an exposed outer edge of said lower bag support structure defined by said outer edge region and said first and second bag-engagement edges.
15. The container of claim 14 , wherein said pivot pin of said attachment structure is configured to enable said upper bag support structure to pivot upward relative to said lower bag support structure.
16. The container of claim 14 , wherein said lower bag support structure is annular.
17. The container of claim 14 , wherein said lower bag support structure comprises an annular disc.
18. The container of claim 14 , wherein said upper and lower bag support structures are annular when said upper bag support structure is in the first state.
19. The container of claim 14 , wherein said upper bag support structure comprises a tab configured to allow pressure exerted to an underside of said tab to cause separation of said upper bag support structure from said lower bag support structure when said upper bag support structure is in the first state to thereby enable said upper bag support structure to be moved to the second state.
20. The container of claim 14 , further comprising at least one projection projecting outward from an outer peripheral edge region of said lower bag support structure.