IP Library Granted Patent US 12,297,038
Granted Patent B2
US 12,297,038 · App. 17/165,890 · Granted May 13, 2025

Container for receiving multiple flexible bag assemblies

Inventors: Steven Bryan Dunn (Beverly Hills, CA); Mark A. Hatherill (Beverly Hills, CA); Kevin D. Johnson (Tarzana, CA); Matthew Joseph Saxton (Agoura, CA)
Assignee: MUNCHKIN, INC.
B65F1/062B65F1/1615B65F1/163B65F2001/1669B65F2210/129B65F2210/1675B65F2240/132
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,297,038
App. No.
17/165,890
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Containers are described which can accommodate a variety of flexible bag assemblies used for containing waste. Internal accommodating structures are designed to accommodate and secure various types of bag assemblies, including single bag assemblies and cassettes.

Claims (45)

1. A container, comprising:

a base;

a lid assembly having a top lid and an internal lid;

a housing having an interior storage space and a hinge attaching the lid assembly to the housing; and

a waste chamber disposed in the housing that is adapted to receive a flexible bag assembly having either a single bag or tubing, said waste chamber having:

a first stationary support member adapted to receive the single bag;

a second stationary support member adapted to receive the tubing;

an annular cylindrical recess; and

a rotatable member having a resilient opening into the interior storage space,

wherein the rotatable member is adapted to rotate and twist a portion of the bag or the tubing to create a seal in the flexible bag assembly when the top lid is closed.

2. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of protruding keys in the rotatable member for securing the flexible bag assembly therein.

3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag assembly is a singe use bag having a frame.

4. The container of claim 3 , a wherein the first support structure in the waste chamber has a plurality of recesses and tab clips for receiving complementary aligning tabs disposed on the frame.

5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag assembly is a cassette for dispensing pleated tubing.

6. The container of claim 5 , wherein the second support structure in the waste chamber is adapted to receive and secure the cassette.

7. The container of claim 6 , wherein a bottom portion of the cassette includes a plurality of apertures disposed therein.

8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the second support structure includes a plurality of protruding keys that mate with the plurality of apertures to align the cassette in the waste chamber.

9. The container of claim 1 , further comprising a transmission mechanism that drives a gear mechanism in order to rotate the bottom structure.

10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the rotatable member rotates when the top lid is closed.

11. The container of claim 10 , further comprising a foot pedal that is connected to the top lid such that it is adapted to open the top lid when depressed by a user.

12. A container, comprising:

a housing having an interior storage space;

a waste chamber having:

a first stationary support member adapted to receive a single bag;

a second stationary support member adapted to receive a tubing;

an annular cylindrical recess;

a resilient opening leading into the interior storage space; and

a rotatable member adapted to receive a flexible bag assembly having either the single bag or the tubing therein, and to rotate and twist a portion of the bag or the tubing to create a seal in the flexible bag assembly.

13. The container of claim 12 , further comprising a lid assembly having:

a top lid;

an internal lid; and

a hinge that attaches the top lid and the internal lid to the housing.

14. The container of claim 13 , further comprising a transmission mechanism that links the rotatable bottom structure to the top lid.

15. The container of claim 14 , wherein the transmission mechanism is adapted to drive the rotatable bottom structure a predetermined rotational distance when the top lid is closed.

16. The container of claim 12 , wherein the flexible bag assembly is a single use bag having a frame.

17. The container of claim 12 , wherein the flexible bag assembly is a cassette for dispensing pleated tubing.

18. A container, comprising:

a base;

a lid assembly having a top lid and an internal lid;

a housing having an interior storage space and a hinge attaching the lid assembly to the housing; and

a waste chamber having:

a first stationary support member adapted to receive a frame of a bag comprised of a flexible material, wherein the frame is disposed on top of protruding keys in a base of the waste chamber, and under tab clips to secure the bag in place, wherein the tab clips are positioned within recesses on the first stationary member;

a second stationary support member adapted to receive a cassette having a tubing comprised of the flexible material packed therein; and

a rotatable member having a resilient opening that is adapted to rotate and twist to seal a portion of the flexible material.

19. The container of claim 18 , wherein the rotatable member rotates a predetermined rotational distance when the top lid is closed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2025
From: DUNN, STEVEN BRYAN; HATHERILL, MARK A.; JOHNSON, KEVIN DOUGLAS; SAXTON, MATTHEW JOSEPH
To: MUNCHKIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 070862/0217 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16928812 · Jul 14, 2020
Continuation 16006806 · Jun 12, 2018
Continuation 14967255 · Dec 11, 2015
Provisional Application 62090558 · Dec 11, 2014
Related Publication 20210155404A1 · May 27, 2021
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